Sunday, December 31, 2017

15mm Plastic Soldier Company WWII Project - Brits and Germans

All,

So, in 2017 I started two giant (well, at least for me) projects, neither of which actually saw the gaming table even one time!!!  But I did make strides, and while a wise man would not push on to another giant project without having completed his previous two giant projects, I, Gentle Reader, am no wise man!  I will push on with these two, unfinished giant projects, and I will increase the difficulty level by adding one more giant project!  And, it shall be glorious!!! Some day...

Anyway, you've seen a number of posts with hundreds of photos of the first of my two giant 2017 projects: my 10mm Napoleonics project, of which I have been painting French and Austrians and, as of 31 December 2017, I have completed exactly 12 line infantry battalions, three light infantry battalions, two artillery batteries, and two cavalry squadrons for each side.  Plenty of work to do...

Regarding the other giant project, here it is:
This is what I have so far.  But what is it?

Little 15mm troops, guns, and vehicles from Plastic Soldier Company, both German and British/Commonwealth, for those grand fights in and around Caen, maybe even some Market in Operation Market Garden.  So above you see a pack of Sdkfz 251 halftracks that have been assembled and primed, but not finished yet...

I have completed a couple Shermans and a couple Panthers, with more assembled.  Then I found three Old Glory Stug IIIs lying around (hadn't seen them since 2010!) and an Old Glory M-10 Wolverine (same thing), but only one because the other two are too screwed up.  Again assembled and primed, but not finished.

All the British infantry I have completed so far, lots more in the box (close-ups coming below) needing to be assembled, primed, painted, and based.

All the German infantry I have done so far, with none left in the box.  As you can see at bottom left and right, there are plenty of Germans still not based, but they are at least painted.

Here are the two Shermans, or, rather, a Sherman and a Firefly, that I've completed.

Again.

Another.

And one more.

And here are the two Panthers I've finished.

Again.

Another.

Once more.

And the last one.

Here is the German overall commander, a Zvezda Sdkfz 222 and some PSC officer figures.

Again.

Other side.

I've got four 75mm PaK-40 anti-tank guns for ze Germans:

A look at an infantry Company Command stand:

A Platoon Commander Stand:

A Panzerschreck stand:

An MG-42 on tripod stand:

An 80mm mortar team stand:

And then we get to some infantry stands:
I still have so much work to do.  I need a lot more PzSchrecks, some German recce, prime movers for the ATGs, more halftracks, and more Panthers at the very least.

But let's get to the Brits:
The overall British command stand, with a Zvezda truck.

Again.

Another shot.

Once more.

And a look at the OC himself.  Yeah, OC, that's how they say it ;)

How about a 6-pounder anti-tank gun?

A Company Command stand:

A Vickers MG stand:

A British 3" mortar stand:

A British 2" mortar stand:

A British PIAT stand:

And we've come to the British infantry stands:
And that's that, for now.  I need more 2" mortars, PIATs, prime movers for ATGs, more Shermans, enough Bren carriers for a carrier platoon, recce, and the one that's troubling me most, transport for the Brits.  I don't know what they should have: should I buy halftracks or trucks?  I know there are plenty of you British vehicle experts out there, so please tell me: if I'm running a generic force that has Shermans and Fireflies, would their supporting infantry be more likely to have trucks or halftracks?  Thanks in advance!

As you see, the new infantry from PSC are absolutely fantastic, and super cheap as well.  The vehicles are also beautiful, cheap, and they go together easy (if I can do it, anyone can do it!).  So that's where I'm at with my giant 15mm WWII British and German project.  I look forward to continuing to make progress and maybe get a game in sometime around 2027...

Anyway, thanks for looking.

V/R,
Jack

10 comments:

  1. Hi Jack,

    Only British Motor battalions were in half-tracks AFAIK (i.e. the infantry battalion within the armoured brigade); other infantry even within armoured divisions used trucks. If you look here http://www.kerynne.com/games/BritishMotorBattalion.html you can see which units were in armoured brigades that used Shermans.

    I hope that helps

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    1. John,

      Thanks for the link, I'm looking it over. That's very interesting. I was thinking to get trucks as that would be more likely, but the issue there is that we shouldn't be seeing trucks on the battlefield (minus the odd ambush or breakthrough into a rear area).

      What I'm looking for is a capability on the tabletop that could pop up every now and again; that is, I foresee most of the infantry in my games (British and German) being foot-mobile, but there is the possibility for a mechanized element to make an appearance.

      So the question is, I suppose, for the British should that simply consist of the Carrier Platoon, or is it worth it to buy halftracks for the a Motor Battalion? Having said that, I see there are also Canadians and Poles with halftracks and Shermans, so kinda irresistible ;)

      Interesting, and thanks, I really had no idea of the British organization.

      V/R,
      Jack

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    2. No worries. On balance I would probably choose the carriers over the half-tracks, unless you know that you want to concentrate on one of those specific units. That said, all of those units were involved in so much action that you could spend a lifetime re-fighting them all anyway!

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    3. Thanks John! I’m not worried about following specific units, just trying to figure out if it would be out of place to have halftracks with Brit/Commonwealth (to include Polish) forces for Normandy. Sounds like there were very few Motor Battalions (in relation to leg infantry battalions), but that’s never stopped us wargamers before! ;)

      V/R,
      Jack

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  2. Nice work Jack,

    I'm thinking of doing something very similar with PSC 15mm plastics this year. Good to have a lead to follow.

    Happy New Year!

    Jim

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Jim, glad you like them, and the PSC plastics are excellent. The vehicles have always been great, but the new British and German sculpts for the infantry are absolutely fantastic.

      Happy New Year backatcha!

      V/R,
      Jack

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  3. Awesome project Jack !,.. I've got a bunch of the US infantry I'm going to paint up as ARVN . ..Can't wait ..

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    1. Cool, but why use US infantry rather than your own ARVN troops, just for the WWII weapons? Anyway, look forward to seeing them.

      V/R,
      Jack

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    2. Yes , I want WW2 weapons for 'line' ARVN ! ...also as a test ! seems like a great product ,,, I'm a little worried they might be not so table-tough . But I'm going to give it a go for the sake of the exercise. I've got one box of infantry and support weapons to make a Company of ARVN. I might base them for base defence duty - these guys will have a tough future . . I already have an ARVN Ranger group underway.

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    3. I think it’s a good plan, just two issues: the guys are all wearing leggings, and I’m not a fan of the lack of gear on their backs. Also, the new PSC stuff is fantastic, but the early stuff could be kind of flat, and a real pain in the ass to assemble.

      Having said that, I hope it works out for you man! And I need to figure out a way to get those ARVN I got from you on the table!

      V/R,
      Jack

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