Babylon buildings nearly finished

Finished basing the buildings, painted connecting walls and added sand to the base. The only thing I need to do is paint and then dry brush the ground sand. I will add removable shade cover, clutter and barricades to add even more cover in these areas of terrain.

                           

Size comparison showing a back alley skirmish between two heroes.

E100 is in trouble

Winter Child attacking an anti aircraft twin 88mm E100.

        

Completed Buildings for Dust Warfare

Here are a load of pictures of the terrain that I had done for my Sudan collection which I sadly sold to my friend Nathan. The buildings are MDF models from an Australian company who probably started all this precut MDF terrain madness. The models were bought painted from Andrew parr but I added walls and based them to go with my base boards. 

The pictures depict the first company deployment by SSU units into the villages surrounding the ancient ruins of Babylon. Why did they deploy here? Do they know something the Allied and Axis forces have yet to discover about the Ziggurates of Babylon?

         

       

                                  

Proof against the powerful Allied airforce.

                                                                   

Light AT support.

                                 

           

           

All armour forward, here come the Allies.

           

Babylon Buildings under way

Have had these very nice buildings from the 'Miniature Building Authority' for several years and they have seen good service in my Sudan games but I wanted to make them useable for Dust. The end of the year or early 2014 will see Dust Tactics and Warfare move into Mesopotamia with release of 'Operation Babylon' and subsequent models, many of the NDAK models were displayed at GenCon. With all this in mind I have started to get my terrain under way. I have decided to base the buildings creating alley ways and enclosed living areas. The buildings have been based on MDF boards that are 30cm x 45 cm so that they can be stored in cheap Postal boxes. When finished I will add removalable details so that they can be used in 1880s Sudan, 1914-18, 1947, 2002-2009 Mesopotamia and with the addition of some corrugated iron Somalia. 

Will do some close ups of all angles when completed. They are by the way perfect for larger 28mm figures and the Dust figures fit in perfectly.

                                                               

My favourite the Mosque and prayer tower which will not be based as it so large and can be used in several different ways.

                                   

      

Allied support walker

I have three of these very nice kits but have only painted this one so far.

                

               

SSU vehicles

Some photos of my painted SSU vehicles so far. There are some pre painted walkers present but I have based them all to create a cohesive theme. I have not included photos of my two SSU choppers. 

I have yet to complete another two T34 based APCs but they are on the modelling table.

                                          

                                            

                                                           

               

                                                              

                                                            

                                                                                    

                                                                            

                                                                      

                                                               

Dustified 251s

                                               SDKFZ 251 Command ready to paint

Since the discovery of VK technology Axis forces have made rapid advances in the use of this valuable commodity. Despite being the leading user of VK material the Axis forces face the very same problem of supply and demand that has beset the Allied and the SSU military. The worldwide battlefields and weapons of 1947 have ensured that most Axis tanks and APCs were now obsolete without some type of modification. The Axis who had pioneered the use of Armoured Personal Carriers within their Panzer and Panzer Grenadier divisions now had to face the cold hard facts that their numerous APCs (SDKFZ 250 and 251s) could not survive on the modern battlefield.

Axis engineers designed new weapons to replace these out-dated models. VK enhanced models such as the new Katzchen; Prinzluther and Sturmprinz began to hit the battlefields in support of the Panzer regiments but never in the numbers required. Captured modified Allied halftracks gave the Axis engineers the impetus to carrying out similar modifications upon their fleets of existing SDKFZ 250 and 251 APCs.

The simple addition of a VK enhanced steel enclosed structured provided reasonable protection against artillery, mortar fire and small arms fire (T3 D4). Theaddition of firing ports enabled the infantry squad to engage the enemy without exposing themselves. Despite modifications the APC is still only lightly armoured and relies upon its speed, firepower and close co-operation with tanks and walkers to survive on the dangerous battlefields of 1947. These modifications have enabled the hard bitten Panzer Grenadier regiments to provide close and effective support to the proud Panzer regiments of the Axis forces on all fronts.

The modified APCs have been very effective on the open steppes of Russia and Asia and they are especially valuable on the battlefields of Africa and the Middle East. The simple field addition of proper dust filters and wider tracks has enabled the APCs to advance with and even outrun the walkers and tanks of the NDAK. This enhanced mobility and reliability in the harsh conditions can mean the difference between survival and death.  

There have been many versions of the enhanced SDKFZ models but the 3 mostcommon are squad, command and mortar (120mm) variants. The Axis pioneers also use their own variant of the squad model which has two heavy flamethrowers fitted to the top of the APC (R12). This Flammenwerfer variant has remote controlled throwers, internal fuel tanks and is usually seen with field modifications includingmesh Schutzen covering the vulnerable sides. This field modification enables the Pioneer vehicle to approach enemy squads with more chance of success and survivability (T4 D4). Panzer Grenadier platoons usually deploy 4 squad and1command APCs but do add additional vehicles from the Pioneer and Mortar platoons from the Battalion support company for specific missions.

                                                         Squad SDKFZ 251 ready to paint (2 to go)