British CMP 15cwt trucks

Two Rubicon Models British CMP 15cwt trucks for use with both my 2nd NZ Division and LRDG / SAS forces.

There's not much new here from a perspective of painting techniques as these models have been prepared to fit in with the Marmon-Herrington and M3 "Honey" Stuart for the New Zealanders, and the LRDG trucks for my Behind Enemy Lines force.

The Rubicon model has options for an open or enclosed tray, and if the canvas tilt is used then its back panel can be flipped open or tied shut. There can also be either one or two crew; a driver and an optional Bren gunner, positioned through a hatch in the roof. I decided on just the drivers as under the Bolt Action rules 15cwt trucks don't get an option for a gun.

The trucks were undercoated with Stynylrez yellow primer...

...and then base coated in VMA UK BSC 64 Portland Stone. The canvas tilt was painted with VMA Sand Yellow.

I created a simple hard-edged camouflage pattern by masking the vehicles and then spraying areas with VMC Light Green Blue.

The masking removed to show the light blue-grey colour that once weathered will end up a slivery-grey.

Air recognition RAF decals added to the roof and unit markings added to the front bumpers. The NZ Division silver fern was added on the left, and a red "52" for the 20th Battalion to the right.
 
There wasn't anywhere convenient to add the unit markings, so after having a look at some historical examples showing the location of markings I decided to affix a small plate to each side of the bumpers. I ended up making these from scrap sprue (specifically some of the parts numbers from the Rubicon kits), and then painting them to match.

After attaching the wheels and sealing the acrylic paint, AMMO of Mig Jimenez Ochre for Light Sand was used as a filter coat.

First truck fully finished with AK Interactive Africa Dust added to edges and areas where dust would build up, and finally some AK North Africa dust pigment dusted on and another sealing coat applied.

 And second truck done.

Next up the second section for the LRDG / SAS force.

LRDG & SAS troops

Some disreputable lads and their "borrowed" truck.

The first infantry finished for my Bolt Action Behind Enemy Lines force.

I decided I could tackle 10 without feeling overwhelmed and settled on a dismounted LRDG officer and his #2 along with a full strength SAS section, to ride in my captured Opel Blitz (which will be a "counts as" 30 cwt truck with a transport capacity of 10, rather than its original size).

All of the figures used are from Artizan, mostly from their SAS and LRDG range, though the chap with the Vickers K snuck in from the Commandos.

The figures were all primed with Stynylrez yellow and then basecoated largely following Artizan's 8th Army North Africa Colour Guide (PDF). Most of the paints used were the listed Vallejo colours, the flesh is Reaper MSP tanned flesh and flesh wash.

Army Painter Light tone was then used on the KD uniform, beige webbing, berets, and keffiyeh, while Soft tone was used on the darker woolen uniform. Military shader was used on the officer's khaki jersey and the khaki knitted hats.

After the washes highlights were applied in lightened tones of the base colours, and the figures based with fairly simple sand.

LRDG officer and his rather rough looking assistant.

These two could be SAS but just felt like LRDG to me, so the officer has a little brass badge on his hat for a scorpion.

SAS NCO, Vickers K gunner and loader

The NCO of the SAS section got a small plant on his base (like the officer) to make him easy to identify. The section only has a single LMG but it's been upgraded to a Vickers K, though the eagle-eyed will notice that his loader is rather unhelpfully carrying extra Bren clips. I'll have to add some round drums to another loader and swap this chap to a Bren team later.

SAS lads up to no good

The fellow on the left has a large pair of bolt cutters and is rather suspiciously clutching a satchel that's likely to contain something dangerous.

Rest of the section

Two riflemen and another Thompson wielding keffiyeh wearer round out the eight man SAS section.

So, that's HQ and one section, one more section and it'll be a legitimate (albeit, small) force ready to accompany my two LRDG trucks, and truck with Breda.

The second section will however also need transport, but fortunately for them the nice people at Rubicon recently released a CMP 15 cwt, which may be next up on the table.