06/24 Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 This doesn’t really fit in either Armour or Planes, since it’s a bit of both, plus its sort of toys and games. Anyway, but some accident, last week I came across the Battlefront miniatures game, Team Yankee Now I’ve never really played wargames, apart form the ubiquitous airfix figures with my brother 35 years ago. But what caught my eye with this was two things, first, I really liked the source book, which I read way back in the late 80s when it first came out. Second, Battlefront had just launched British equipment. Now 1980s British gear is something I’ve always liked – as a kid I used to watch convoys of equipment heading down the A30 past my house on their way to Salisbury Plain, whilst choppers from Odiham were constant companions. The game is currently too complicated for me to understand, but the 1/100 scale miniatures it’s played with are right up my street. Perfect for the time poor modeller, they go together quickly and without fuss, and offer a decent, if basic, representation of their subject. Box sets can be had as a sort of starter back, and so two of these have found their way chez 06/24. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted October 18, 2016 Author Share Posted October 18, 2016 Each starter box “Charlie’s Chieftains” contains five tanks and two Lynx helicopters. Both have options – the Chieftains can be built with or without Stillbrew armour, whilst the Lynx can be either a utility or TOW armed. Assembly is straightforward: 15mm by jongwinnett, on Flickr 15mm by jongwinnett, on Flickr Lynx AH1 by jongwinnett, on Flickr Lynx AH1 by jongwinnett, on Flickr And features some clever touches, like these tiny magnets to hold the rotors on (stops them breaking if knocked accidentally I presume): Lynx AH1 by jongwinnett, on Flickr 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted October 18, 2016 Author Share Posted October 18, 2016 A day of construction and spraying brought us to this: Chieftain by jongwinnett, on Flickr I probably spent longer cleaning up mould seams and filling than a true war gamer would, but old habits die hard. Chieftain by jongwinnett, on Flickr Chieftain by jongwinnett, on Flickr I couldn’t resist a bit of tinkering, so some got stowed camo nets, whilst others got scrim wrapped around the barrel, a feature I’d seen in photos of BAOR tanks on exercise in the late eighties: Chieftain by jongwinnett, on Flickr Chieftain by jongwinnett, on Flickr 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murdo Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 Looks great. And it's 1/100 scale? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thud4444 Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 I've never played Yankee, but I've played Flames of War a lot. I watched a demo a few months ago and they seem to play very similar. Fast moving and very entertaining. Just the equipment is much more lethal in the 80s than it was in the 40s, so units drop fast. The game runner said just like FoW, each national army has its own distinctive "personality. " Its a great game to start wargaming if you ever wanted to find a group to try it. Your tanks look great, but most hard core wargammers can give any scale modelers a run for their money in details. So yours will look right at home with all those extra details. You gonna weather them up? Or leave them factory fresh? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted October 19, 2016 Author Share Posted October 19, 2016 9 hours ago, Murdo said: Looks great. And it's 1/100 scale? Yes, at least I think so. Sold as 15mm but like most sizes that seems arbitrary, the figures are what is termed "heroic" which seems to be code for cartoonish. Makes painting them easier I hope! 4 hours ago, Thud4444 said: I've never played Yankee, but I've played Flames of War a lot. I watched a demo a few months ago and they seem to play very similar. Fast moving and very entertaining. Just the equipment is much more lethal in the 80s than it was in the 40s, so units drop fast. The game runner said just like FoW, each national army has its own distinctive "personality. " Its a great game to start wargaming if you ever wanted to find a group to try it. Your tanks look great, but most hard core wargammers can give any scale modelers a run for their money in details. So yours will look right at home with all those extra details. You gonna weather them up? Or leave them factory fresh? Weathering has started, but I tend to overdo it so stepped away to give some perspective. No slight on war game modellers and painters intended - they have a skill set and style which I will find hard to live up to. I need to find a black or grey nylon brush to make flexible aerials. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeanM Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 It was a great book alright. One of my favourite authors Harold Coyle 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted October 19, 2016 Author Share Posted October 19, 2016 21 minutes ago, SeanM said: It was a great book alright. One of my favourite authors Harold Coyle I have a set of the US armour on order. Forest green overall, no imaginary MERDC for mine though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 Er, supportive 'likes' mate and nice results, but what's going on... are you introducing Kieran to war gaming? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince1159 Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 Nice job 06/24,they look brilliant... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted October 19, 2016 Author Share Posted October 19, 2016 1 hour ago, Vince1159 said: Nice job 06/24,they look brilliant... Thank you 1 hour ago, CedB said: Er, supportive 'likes' mate and nice results, but what's going on... are you introducing Kieran to war gaming? Maybe Ced, maybe... Or maybe i just fancied something simple and fun to do, rather than the complex stuff I normally set myself. Sort of anti-AMS therapy... Plus who could resist a game which includes this: Wolfgang 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Fox Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 Been playing FOW for 11 year( must be getting tired) and have built 6 different armies. I find the modelling very relaxing and it gives me chance to do some mini dioramas and lots of weathering. It is a different application but uses the same base skill set and gives a bit more freedom to express myself. It is a game not an ultra realistic simulation so there are lots of compromises. I've resisted Team Yankee as it is a bit 'bang your dead' but the toys are really nice and I've always fancied doing BAOR. Enjoy 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted October 19, 2016 Author Share Posted October 19, 2016 At the risk of boring you all to death, I spent lunchtime at my desk putting a couple of Chieftains together, so I’ve done a wee step by step. If nothing else this shows how simple and relaxing these are to build: Sprue as it comes Battlefront Miniatures Chieftain by jongwinnett, on Flickr Main parts cut out and clean up underway – only the attachment points need cleaned, plus a mould seam on the gun barrel Battlefront Miniatures Chieftain by jongwinnett, on Flickr Hull top and bottom cemented Battlefront Miniatures Chieftain by jongwinnett, on Flickr Rear plate added Battlefront Miniatures Chieftain by jongwinnett, on Flickr Skirts Battlefront Miniatures Chieftain by jongwinnett, on Flickr Tracks could be next, but I’m leaving mine separate to ease painting Battlefront Miniatures Chieftain by jongwinnett, on Flickr Turret top and bottom cemented Battlefront Miniatures Chieftain by jongwinnett, on Flickr Rear plate Battlefront Miniatures Chieftain by jongwinnett, on Flickr Then it’s a case of working your way round adding the turret details Battlefront Miniatures Chieftain by jongwinnett, on Flickr Battlefront Miniatures Chieftain by jongwinnett, on Flickr Drill out gun barrel (I use 0.5 then 1mm drills, but you could, just, get away with 1.2mm to be in scale) – excuse grubby fingers Battlefront Miniatures Chieftain by jongwinnett, on Flickr Fit barrel and we’re done. There is a pin to locate the turret, but I left it off as I’ve ordered some magnets to use instead. Battlefront Miniatures Chieftain by jongwinnett, on Flickr Beauty shot – 20 minutes work including taking the photos. Battlefront Miniatures Chieftain by jongwinnett, on Flickr 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raven Morpheus Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 Nice models, they look very nicely detailed for whatever tiny scale they are in (15mm?). I've seen Flames of War models on my ventures round the internet, always thought they look pretty good. It all looks rather reasonably priced compared to products by a certain other tabletop war game company. BTW war gamers deal with seams and mould lines just the same as any other modeller... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted October 19, 2016 Author Share Posted October 19, 2016 32 minutes ago, Raven Morpheus said: BTW war gamers deal with seams and mould lines just the same as any other modeller... Fair cop, although i was mainly referring to the lynx, which had fuselage seams which i might have been better able to ignore if i was slightly less obsessed. YMMV... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 Good stuff Jon - nice quick build and nice results, very therapeutic 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted October 19, 2016 Author Share Posted October 19, 2016 So, after building 7 straight Chieftains, I began to wonder what else I could do. First up I tried opening the drivers hatch, and that seemed to work: Team Yankee game Chieftain modded by jongwinnett, on Flickr Team Yankee game Chieftain modded by jongwinnett, on Flickr Team Yankee game Chieftain modded by jongwinnett, on Flickr The oversized nature of the figures is evident, but it’s not bad 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted October 19, 2016 Author Share Posted October 19, 2016 Next I wanted to scratchbuild a dozer tank – reading the web, it seems the dozer blades were pretty useless, and it also seems to have commonly been one of the troop HQ tanks that was so fitted – the 2IC in several accounts I found: Team Yankee game Chieftain modded by jongwinnett, on Flickr Team Yankee game Chieftain modded by jongwinnett, on Flickr Very impressionistic, but it gives some variety 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted October 19, 2016 Author Share Posted October 19, 2016 Finally, on the last of the ten tanks, I removed one of the bazooka plates. Now this is fiction, I haven’t found a photo of a real Chieftain in this condition, although they did sometimes operate with all the plates removed (one for another batch maybe). Team Yankee game Chieftain modded by jongwinnett, on Flickr Team Yankee game Chieftain modded by jongwinnett, on Flickr Team Yankee game Chieftains modded by jongwinnett, on Flickr They need the paint to blend everything together, but a bit of fun for an evening. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rio Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 Loving this build. Might have to look into these. Rio 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince1159 Posted October 20, 2016 Share Posted October 20, 2016 Great job again,can't wait to see the dozer one finished... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phildagreek Posted October 20, 2016 Share Posted October 20, 2016 like this a lot! Never even heard of this but I am intrigued, might have to have a go. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Procopius Posted October 20, 2016 Share Posted October 20, 2016 On 10/19/2016 at 3:21 AM, 06/24 said: the figures are what is termed "heroic" which seems to be code for cartoonish. Got it in one, toots! I love wargaming, but as I have few friends, I rarely get a chance to. Cold War wargaming, well... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thud4444 Posted October 20, 2016 Share Posted October 20, 2016 No offense taken Mr.24. I'm just glad you posted the step by step assembly, I honestly thought these where resin like all of Battlefront's early FoW line. Now that I can see they are making "proper" tank kits, I'm gonna pick some up. Just a shout out to other FoW players, I played Soviet and Italian mid war, and French early war. Most of my Soviet lists where built around the excellent KV 85 Guards units. My French lists where built around the S35 with as much artillery as I could afford. When I was really wanting a challenge, I used my Italians built around a Semovente 75/18 platoon. I intended to build a late war British unit (using tons of Cromwells) but the early war British expeditionary force controversy really soured me on the whole game. There was a lot of bad blood here locally. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Procopius Posted October 20, 2016 Share Posted October 20, 2016 7 minutes ago, Thud4444 said: I intended to build a late war British unit (using tons of Cromwells) Good man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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