US Army WIP

[JohnRAndrew]

Here are a few WIP shots of my 45th Division "Thunderbirds". I'm working on a 1000 point list and this is about 600-700 points worth.

Lieutenant, Platoon SSG, and third Rifleman

LMG Team (.30 CAL)

60mm Mortar Team

Sniper! and observer

Bazooka

12 man Infantry squad (Regular, w/2 SMG and 1 BAR)

Sherman and LT/PLT SSG

I have a few other bits to build and finish before 1000, another 12 man squad, a medic plus 2, and a forward observer plus 2. I'm also building a .50 cal HMG and a Flamethrower stand.

[Psykostevo]

The basing is particularly awesome. What are the large rocks?

[Idoites]

John, I love Oklahoma, lived there for years.

[Humbugged]

"Where the wind comes whistling down the plain!"
Very nice indeed. Like the graffiti on the wall. Nice touch.

[JohnRAndrew]

I get a lot of questions about the basing...they are just small shale rocks I bought in a basing kit years ago. I have a few little bins left of them. I prime the bases along with the rocks glued on, then the rocks are painted again in dark gray, black wash, then drybrushed in light gray.

Before that it's a plaster to build up the base off a wooden disk, then fine basing sand glued on with a mix of PVA glue/water.

Thanks for the compliments! Yeah Oklahoma is a fun place to be except for the 110 degree heat lately.

[mikeland]

These are really fantastic I especially love the Sherman!

[Helen]

Very nice work overall, well done.

Cheers,

Helen

[JohnRAndrew]

Thanks guys! The Sherman was a lot of fun to paint, I had a lot more room than on a 15mm model to paint some of the "standard" graffiti and such you'd see on a U.S. Sherman; they really had a lot of personality. The symbols all have meaning, the 1 and the triangle are the 1st Armored Division, and the 45 and bird are the 45th Thunderbirds Infantry Division. These units were in reserve and landed just after the initial beach landing at Anzio, so they fought together there and other locations.

[clivethecelt]

These area great - love the Sherman.

[Parus Ater]

I like them a lot, you've managed to get that patina you see in the photographs of the guys back then.