Korean War Locomotives & War Series nº 1 - by Carlos Briz

(Class GP-9 locomotive - U.S. Transportation Corps)

Over here in Portugal everybody else is enjoying a national holiday today.

But not the Brigada Tripeira guys.

We worked very hard all night to bring you yet ANOTHER brand new Series of Carlos Briz Dioramas, this time related to the Korean War.

(RM-Class locomotive - North-Korean Railways)

When was the last time you saw a North-Korean locomotive?

(Class GP-9 locomotive - U.S. Transportation Corps)

This P-80 is preparing to go hunt some Migs later on in the day.

As usual, this brand new Series is free of charge since we just want to contribute to the greater good of the international modelling society. However, our fine sponsors would be very glad to receive your "clicks" and we would be very glad to pay our Christmas lunch at the expense of our fine sponsors.

By the way: we usually eat a lot...

JF/PC

WWII Locomotives & War Series nº 12 - by Carlos Briz

(Class BR 52 locomotive - German State Railways)

Who said locomotives could not provide protection to airdromes?
Who else could carry a 88 mm AA around?

(Class BR 52 locomotive - German State Railways)

Protection from a 20 mm?

It's just not the same thing...

(Class E 69 locomotive - German State Railways)

(Class Mikado 141 locomotive - French National Railways)

Big tanks?

Bigger is better, when a locomotive is involved. 

JF/PC

British Ordnance QF 25 pounder gun - 1/144 Scale

I now present some pictures from my last job, the British Ordnance QF 25 pounder gun. Is another excellent miniature from Wargames-South, with a fine and detailed casting, a characteristic that this manufacturer has presented to us in the last couple of years.

These awesome miniatures are of such quality that leads me to conclude that I made a great choice for choosing this scale as my favorite one to play WWII.

Just check the excellent gun crew figures, so beautiful.

 

 The twin brothers - "Les enfant terribles"

Cheers

JF

WWII Locomotives & War Series nº 11 - by Carlos Briz

(Class BR 05 locomotive - German State Railways)

We bring you another outstanding set of Carlos Briz dioramas - free of charge...

(Class E 91  locomotive - German State Railways)

(Class E 18 locomotive - German State Railways)

(Class E 94 locomotive - German State Railways)

JF/PC

WWII Locomotives & War Series nº 10 - by Carlos Briz

Class BR 80 locomotive - German State Railways)

When a guy thinks he has seen it all, then comes Carlos with a brand new angle for his dioramas!

(Class BR 01 locomotive - German State Railways)

Snow white looks really good.

(Class V36 locomotive - German State Railways)

And it is right here that this Locomotive Series enters the space age!

This diorama here really does not need to mention any class of locomotives. It is classy just by itself. 

I know you think I had forgoten all about the pending challenge (placed in the post of 27 November) but that is not true. I was giving the guys from Sympatico, Canada, a chance to make a thorough search in order to be able to place the correct answer to that very dificult question.

However, I am sorry to say that our tight time shedule is not compatible with more delays.

The correct answer would be "Léon Blum".

But all is not lost. There is now another chance for the guys in North America to show their history know-how.

This new challenge is directed to the guys from California, USA (hopefully they will have some time to spare from looking at all those California girls...).

The challenge is this: give us the names of 3 cientists that worked on the V1 and V2 rocket projects. 

JF/PC

Greek Hoplite and Classic Roman for AWE - Ancient Wargames Rules

I now present some figures, in this case the bases that represent the commands (Generals), used to play the Ancient or Classic períod, using the AWE rules - Arcane Warfare Excel or ABC rules -Arcane Battle Composer.

A project that has undergone several changes in order to achieve a simulation as close as possible to the historical reality.The balance of this simulation with the competitive aspect, it has been by no means an easy task for the author, Jerboa.However I leave here my thanks to the author of AWE, the fact that I have presented to this new game system, which seems to fill some gaps in other game systems, which are used globally.

More info: http://www.dnir.net/JerboaNet/AWr/AWE.htm

 Greek Hoplite General

Xyston Miniatures 15mm

 Homemade decals

 Classic Roman General

Corvus Belli miniatures - 15mm

 Again homemade shield decals

Litkos bases

Enjoy

JF

WWI Locomotives & War Series nº 6 - by Carlos Briz

(Class 4-6-4 locomotive - Railway Operating Division - BEF)

Here we have another fine example on how to suspended an observation baloon in a diorama. The platoon responsable for it's maintenance is obviously on it's tea time break...

(Class T3 locomotive - Bavarian State Railways)

(Class P4 locomotive - Prussian State Railways)

JF/PC

The "Best General" poll (2)

I must confess to have been forced, after some serious lobbying made by JF, to post an additional reference to our current poll, related to the two other best placed candidates. I had to agree, since he hinted  there could be retaliations involved otherwise, regarding the timing of the painting of my DBA armies he has in his hands.

One of the guys involved is Patton, a professional soldier and a no-nonsense type of guy, when it came to get things done.

In his early years this guy once placed himself on the wrong side of a shooting range just to figure out what his reactions would be under fire. He got plenty of that later, in WWI and WWII, and became an icon in his lifetime. 

Zhukov was a self-made man, who literaly rose from the ranks to become the most decorated general in the history of Russia. In my book, the Battle of Khalkhin Gol is one of his best achievements, both as a strategist and as a tactician.

PC 

German SPG's Part 2 - The "Hummel"

The Hummel (Bumble Bee, in portuguese Abelhão) also known as Panzerfeldhaubitze 18M auf Geschützwagen III/IV (Sf) Hummel, Sd.Kfz. 165, was a self-propelled artillery gun based on the Geschützwagen III/IV chassis (which used the Panzer III driving and steering system and Panzer IV chassis, suspension and engine). 

It was armed with a 15 cm howitzer - 15 cm schwere Feldhaubitze 18 or sFH 18, with a effective range of 13,350 m.

They served in armored artillery battalions or Panzerartillerie Abteilungen of the Panzer divisions, forming separate heavy self-propelled artillery batteries, each with 6 Hummels and one ammunition carrier.

When the war ended 714 Hummels had been built with another 150 ammunition carriers.

I use them as heavy artillery support with the rules Ambush Blitz. The models are in 1/144 Scale, from Wargames South, the crews are adapted from Minifigs 12mm Gunners.

I made a small adjustment to one of my Hummels, I’ve pulled out the gun to become a weaponless ammunition carrier.

Regards

JMM

German SPG's Part I - The "Wespe"

My German self-propelled artillery vehicles - the Wespe (Wasp ou Vespa em português) also known as Leichte Feldhaubitze 18 auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen II ("Light field howitzer 18 on Panzer II chassis") was developed and used during the Second World War.

It was based on the Panzer II tank and was specially allocated to the armored artillery battalions (Panzerartillerie Abteilungen) of the Panzer and Panzergrenadier divisions ( they received two armoured artillery batteries of six Wespe each). About 682 had been produced, with an additional 158 built as ammunition carriers before the end of the war.

The gun - 10.5 cm leFH 18M, had a maximum range of 12,325 m (13,479 yds) and could also fire an 15.71 kilograms (34.6 lb) AP shell. In the latter stages of WW2, it was common to  engaged Wespes in direct anti-tank fire, using armour piercing shells or anti-concrete hollow-charge projectiles, the first  (Pz.Gr. 39) penetrated 106mm and the latter (Gr. 39 Hl/C) penetrated 128 mm, both against vertical armour plate at ranges of 0-100 meters.

 

 

 

I use them as artillery support with the rules Ambush Blitz. The models are in 1/144 Scale, from Wargames South, the crews are adapted from Minifigs 12mm Gunners.

I made a small adjustment to two of the Wespes, one I’ve lowered the back door, which actually could be lowered to increase the rate of fire, since several projectiles were placed on top of it and the other I’ve pulled out the gun to become a weaponless ammunition carrier.

Regards

JMM

The "Best General" poll

It has been very interesting to follow the evolution of our poll regarding the best general of WWII. 

It seems the doubt now is whether the final victory will belong to Rommel or Manstein, since your votes have mostly resided with these two characters, who have been consistently tied.

I think Rommel is more appealing, as a character. The dash and initiative he inspired in his foot soldiers, while leading from the front line, were seldom equaled by any other high ranking officer in the Wehrmacht. 

Manstein was a true blue product of Prussian military tradition. Thorough and highly professional, his credits as a strategist were second to none. From the invasion of France in 1940, to the battles in Russia, this guy's intellectual superiority in war was recurrently proven.

It will be up to you to decide who will be the winner of this (outstanding...) poll.

PC

WWII Dragon kits - by Carlos Briz

 (WWII Dragon Draisine)

That's right folks, be sure to take out your drool napkins before you look at this stuff!

This guy is not real! Check out the storage shelves in the background...

 WWII Dragon E5(1)

The locomotives are the class BR 01 and class BR 52 "Kriegslok" - German State Railways.

WWII Dragon Karl

It is the first time I see a Karl mortar in it's natural "habitat".

By the way, I heard some rumors mentioning that there were serious technical obstacles regarding the placement of  replies in the comment section, to the profound and interesting challenges I usually place around here. 

I think I fixed that (or not...); therefore, there is still time for you to place a reply to the pending challenge!

JF/PC

WWI Locomotives & War Series nº 5 - by Carlos Briz

(Class 231 locomotive - United States Transportation Corps)

The Doughboys (nickname of the American Expeditionary Force for Europe in WWI) and their equipment made all the difference in the Western Front.  

(Class Gt 2x4/4 locomotive - Bavarian State Railways)

The Morser Lang howitzer looks really well.

(Class 0-6-0 locomotive - Railway Operation Division BEF)

Another outstanding diorama here - the open railway wagon brings a nice touch.

(Class 1-3-1 locomotive - Russian Imperial Railways)

JF/PC