BRITISH PARA REINFORCEMENTS ARRIVE
A few years ago I completed nine Airfix WW2 British Paras. Later I attached a Britains jeep with a crew of three, so creating a battalion of twelve. In September 2024 a box arrived with 104 Airfix WW2, a gift from Mark (ManofTin Blog). Now he did warn me many were damaged, particularly the British Paras and Desert Rats. However, I've now completed another nine British Paras, including a vital command base. The radio operators were a most welcome addition.
Might decide to reconstitute them into two small battalions of nine, and a command jeep.
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MORE EXPLOSIONS
Pleased with the visual effect of explosions and flames made out of artist paper, decided to increase their number from six to thirteen. They really do add atmosphere to the gaming table. The paint and gloss varnish, on both sides, makes them quite firm. One of these, smoke & fire, is a trial idea.
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FISHING BOAT CREW
The recently acquired fishing boat needed a crew of three. One of the figures picked up at the Exeter show looked suitable, and I mustered another two from my farming community. I'm keen that all my retro-ships have a linked crew, it completes the model.
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And a seated figure has also been completed.
These fishing boats really help capture the Schleswig and Danish look.
SCRATCH-BUILT LIMBER
In my spares box was a set of spoked wheels and enough plasticard bits to construct this very useful limber. It is based on the 1860s ACW design, and I decided on a very utilitarian dark green paintwork. So it will be suitable for late 19th century American, Danish, and Ruritanian armies. 
Not fixing the limber to horses will allow me to use it with both my 50mm and 54mm collections. Here are the new Ruritanian draught horses in the smaller scale.
MGB
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TINPLATE POLICE CAR
I was back in the collectables shop (Feb 25) and decided to purchase this tinplate toy. The trader charging me £8. Now I had been contemplating whether to buy or not on at least four occasions, I'm pleased I did.
Made by METTOY during the 1950s, the full title is METTOY MECHANICAL POLICE PATROL CAR WITH SIREN Article no. 3320
Sadly, my acquisition had lost its siren, so I decided to fabricate my own. This was clearly a weakness in the model as other examples are often missing this same piece. 
This photo is from the excellent VECTIS auction website and shows the siren.
I started with hot soapy water and some cotton buds, to give it a basic clean. No, I will not be paint stripping, lol. But I might use a little metal polish on rusty spots.
Have placed a few W.Britains policemen in my photos, I don't think they look too out of scale?
MGB
Postscript. Have now fabricated a replacement siren (March 4). I like this car, it is a genuine tinplate toy of old.
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The Airfix Paras were a great set of figures MGB.
ReplyDeleteI like all your new additions.
Hello MJT. Absolutely agree, I liked both the Airfix 20mm and 54mm Paras, I had both as a child. Very fond memories gaming with friends.
DeleteMichael
A busy week, the Airfix paras are great and I love the radio operators.Good to see the fishing boat crewed and very nice they look too, the police car is a real beaut, a real classic. Great work on the limber, very nice indeed, another cracking post full of lots of goodies.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Donnie. It has been a very productive week, particularly as I have spent half of my hobby time actually preparing the fruit bushes in the garden. Every one of the toy projects completed has given me a morale boost. This evening, just completed a fairly large naval project too. I'm on a high, lol.
DeleteMichael
Your Paras looks really good! Now you have another battalion for larger battles, but now you almost have a Platoon of them as well if you ever deploy them in smaller 1:1 skirmishes.
ReplyDeleteThe restaurasjon work for your tinplate Police car turned out really good. The Britains policemen looks perfect for it! Great post Michael!
Hello Roger. I have used my 54mm in some skirmish games with friends, and I have found them fun. Not least because others have looked after the rules, lol. But when it comes to photos, which is as important to me as railway terrain is to others, I want lots of different uniforms, flags, artillery, etc. And that is better represented by a battle! As I said to Chris not that long ago, one fellow with a knife is interesting, but a battalion of Gurkhas charging with drawn kukris is impressive!
DeleteYour Paras look great Michael, especially with the command base! I do love your explosions, they add so much color and vibrancy to the battlefield! The versatility of your limber makes it so useful, with unlimited possibilities! The police car is amazing, you have such great skill at creating missing pieces that perfectly resemble the originals! Really well done!
ReplyDeleteMost kind, Brad. It is raining here, so have dropped my garden projects to work on a fairly large wargame/naval project. I hope you find it of interest in the next post. Now I knew you would appreciate my tin car restoration! Tin toys are a perfect complement to lead toy soldiers.
DeleteMichael
Another excellent post Michael, shaming most of us with the speed at which you finish very nice paintjobs and conversions etc. I have salvaged some tinplate cars myself which I will drop in a later blog entry. Keep up the inspirational work!
ReplyDeleteHello Graham, I get fidgety if there are hobby or home jobs needing to be completed, particularly if I know I have the resources or skills to complete them myself. It is a family joke that I work on all my interests with vigour. But I shall look forward to viewing your tinplate toy collection!
DeleteMichael
Glad you managed to make something of those chewed up old Airfix figures.
ReplyDeleteI most certainly have, Mark. First the Indian Legion, now the British Paras. Working on a detachment of Polish Carpathian Rilles to serve with my Desert Rats. Then it's on to the Gurkha battalion, and some odd extras. Thanks again for the donation, have mentioned such on the blog subheading.
DeleteMichael