Revamped Di-casts

Re-vamped di-casts

Getting back into a routine as the weather has improved somewhat, I`ve actually been painting and modelling out on the terrace in the sunshine the last few afternoons   

Some of you may recall I picked a some of those Deagostini di-casts cheaply at a flea market before Christmas, here is the latest work:

They started out like this:

The Chevy got a repaint and lots of added stowage

The CMP, gun and limber just a re-paint 

Here are both vehicles along with a Ford G8 I did last year so you can see the colour match - I`m happy with that

Playing with the camera in the garden (again)

The two patrol trucks with Transjordan Frontier force

The CMP, gun and limber with a mixed crew of Raventhorpe and Britannia gunners

French anti-tank support for Tunisia

 French DCB support for Tunisia

First bits for 2021

An anti-tank (DCB = Defense Contra Blinde) gun section of 1re Batterie de DCB, 47th Colonial Infantry Regiment. Part of the French XIX Corps mobile reserve December/January 1942/43.

All by Shellhole Scenics  (except one odd Blitz gunner who got a touch-up)

Renault UE + trailer plus added stowage & 25mm AT gun

Ian`s crew

All together including the re-done Blitz gunner

A couple of shots playing in the garden

Mexican Revolution game - the forces

 The forces

Padre Ramon and Sister Therez await the coming storm

Whilst their flock flees away (the Colorados have a really bad rep)

Villa`s scout train arrives on table, it carries an infantry company plus a Colt machine gun, the armoured cupola has a 65mm mountain gun. The white painted wagon with the Cruz Azul marking is a medical wagon.

Villa`s "army group"

Villa himself plus staff

Railway company

Villas elite infantry (escort, Yaqui scouts, Chicitas de Muerta)

Yaqui scouts

Chicitas de Muerta

"Madero" Cavalry Squadron (mounted and dismounted)

"Benito Juarez" Artillery battery - 75mm & 37mm Hotchkiss revolving cannon

The "Victoriana Huerta" Motorised column approaches the pueblo - the column has a German armoured car & truck (both gifts from the German Ambassador), a towed 75mm and a couple of platoons of former Rural Guards, the unit is commanded by Col. Pedro Ramierez de Diaz (in the red car)

Col de Diaz forces

2 squadrons of veteran Colorado cavalry (mounted and dismounted)

A horse drawn 75mm

2 platoons of rural guard (VH motorised colum)

Col. de Diaz and staff

Mexican Revolution game table set-up

Mexican Revolution game table set-up

 The basic idea is for an encounter battle, but I`m still working out the details, I thought you`d like to see the table (it may change a little as i write the scenario)

My basic plan is for a battle set during the reign of Gen, Victoriano Huerta (Feb 1913 - July 1914) taking some liberties with equipment :) The two sides to entre at opposite corners, first unit on for the Rebels being a scout train (engine plus cars, maybe a mounted gun plus a company of so on board) whilst the Government (supporters of President Huerta) arrive by road first up be a motorised column with an armoured car and some lorried infantry (maybe a towed gun too).

The rest of both "armies" will arrive piece meal randomly, building into a total fubar of a battle  :D 

I may use exactly the same layout for a attack/defense battle with Pershing`s Yanks against Villaistas too :)

The table is roughly 10` long, but varies in width between 8` and 4`

Looking from the narrow end towards the  wider end

Left side looking towards the river and church hill

Across the whole table

The rights side with the rail yard

Closer view of rail yard and lumber mill

rail bridge

Farm at the right top corner

Right side of the pueblo

Centre of the pueblo

goats

Pueblo market place

Church and cemetery

Looking back across the table from the wider end