Undercoating the TOG I Tank Platoon

I ordered the TOG I Tank Platoon for Flames of War.

The TOG 1 was designed in the expectation that battlefields of the war might end up like those of the Great War. Its specifications required it to be able to cross any sort of churned-up countryside and trenches. Armed with a 2-pdr gun and machine-guns.

In the box are three models. These are resin castings, each model consists of a pair of resin tracks, resin hull, and a resin turret. Also in the box are metal weapons and plastic crew.

After washing the resin pieces I assembled the models. I then gave the models a white undercoat.

The next stage will be a green base coat.

Sharpe’s Regiment

This is probably one of my favourite of the Sharpe books. Sharpe’s Regiment takes him back to Colchester in Essex.

Richard Sharpe returns to England to save the regiment. Major Sharpe’s men are in mortal danger – not from the French, but from the bureaucrats of Whitehall. Unless reinforcements can be brought from England, the regiment will be disbanded. Determined not to see his regiment die, Sharpe returns to England and uncovers a nest of high-ranking traitors, any of whom could utterly destroy his career with a word. Sharpe is forced into the most desperate gamble of his life – and not even the influence of the Prince Regent may be enough to save him.

I also think the episode of the TV series is a good adaption of the book. Obviously the book goes into a lot more depth and detail, but I do think the programme captures the heart and essence of the novel.

What I like about the story is how it tells the background to the Napoleonic Wars, what was happening on the home front, the scheming and the politics of the era, as well as how the British army of that time recruited and trained their soldiers.

Buy Sharpe’s Regiment.

Construction of the TOG I Tank Platoon

I ordered the TOG I Tank Platoon for Flames of War.

The TOG 1 was designed in the expectation that battlefields of the war might end up like those of the Great War. Its specifications required it to be able to cross any sort of churned-up countryside and trenches. Armed with a 2-pdr gun and machine-guns.

In the box are three models. These are resin castings, each model consists of a pair of resin tracks, resin hull, and a resin turret. Also in the box are metal weapons and plastic crew.

After washing the resin pieces I assembled the models. Each tank is made up of of four resin pieces, two tracks, the main hull, and the turret. Then the metal parts were added, two hatches, the turret weapon and a barrel for the main hull weapon.

TOG 1 Tank

They have a similar look to the French Char B1.

TOG 1 Tank

I decided against adding crew models to the tanks. Here are all three models.

TOG 1 Tanks

The next stage will be a white undercoat.

We’ve seen this before?

One of the new models announced by Games Workshop at the Adepticon 2026 Preview was the Hippogriff AFV.

Hippogriff AFV

Hippogriff Armoured Fighting Vehicles provide ample firepower in a compact and mobile package that can keep up with roaring tank columns. Six wheels mounted on independent servo-axles gives them a good balance of speed and stability, while the turret can mount a flexible battle cannon, horde-shredding castigator gatling cannon, tank-destroying melta cannon, or bunker-busting lascannon.

Those with long memories may remember Owen Rees’ Imperial Guard – The 374th Tahnelian Airborne army which was on display in the cabinets twenty years ago at Games Day 2006. In his army were some wonderful Chimera conversions.

Imperial Guard Chimera Armoured Car (conversion)
mperial Guard Chimera Armoured Car (conversion). Part of Owen Rees’ Imperial Guard – The 374th Tahnelian Airborne, in the White Dwarf display cabinets at GamesDay 2006.
Imperial Guard Chimera Armoured Car (conversion) Part of Owen Rees' Imperial Guard - The 374th Tahnelian Airborne, in the White Dwarf display cabinets at GamesDay 2006.
Imperial Guard Chimera Armoured Car (conversion). Part of Owen Rees’ Imperial Guard – The 374th Tahnelian Airborne, in the White Dwarf display cabinets at GamesDay 2006.

Owen had created some wheeled armoured vehicles using the Chimera as a base. The new Hippogriff has echoes of these conversions.

Seraphon

The cold‐blooded Seraphon strive to enact the Great Plan of the Old Ones, their ancient and mysterious creators. They are utterly dedicated to the destruction of Chaos, and will show no mercy to any who stand in their way. Commanded by the slann, cohorts of brutal saurus are bolstered by swift skinks and towering reptilian behemoths.

Saurus Scar-Veteran on Carnosaur
Saurus Scar-Veteran on Carnosaur
Aggradon Lancer armed with a Barbed Celestite Club

Char 2c Tank Platoon

I have been thinking about getting some French Char 2c tanks for a while now.

After Agence Rol, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Char 2C was developed during the Great War, but did not enter operational service until after the war. It was a heavy tank landship designed for the trenches of the First World War. By 1921 , ten tanks were built, and were operational during the start of World War Two. After Germany broke through French defences in June 1940, they were sent away from the front to save them. They were unable to reach safety and deliberately destroyed to prevent capture.

I did think about getting some resin models, even a 3D printed version. However in December 2024 Battlefront announced that they were releasing models of the Char 2C.

Sadly they were delayed, but will be released at the end of the month. So, of course I pre-ordered a box, who wouldn’t. You get three models in the box, these are resin kits with metal parts.

Legio Custodes

With the new plastic Legio Custodes models on pre-order I was reminded that I have photographed lots of the Legio Custodes models over the years at Warhammer World.

Legio Custodes Orion Assault Dropship
Legio Custodes Orion Assault Dropship
Legio Custodes Caladius Grav-Tank
Legio Custodes Sagittarum Guard at Warhammer World
Legio Custodes Telemon Heavy Dreadnought
Legio Custodes Aquilon Terminators with Infernus Firepikes

Known as the Legio Custodes during the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy eras, the Adeptus Custodes, is the Imperial Adepta responsible for protecting the Imperial Palace and the physical body of the Emperor of Mankind, as well as serving as His most important emissaries, His companions, and the keepers of His many secrets. The Custodes is an elite cadre of genetically-engineered transhuman warriors who are even more potent in combat than the Adeptus Astartes.

More photographs of Legio Custodes models.

Bristol Sycamore

The Bristol Type 171 Sycamore was an early helicopter developed and built by the helicopter division of the Bristol Aeroplane Company. It has the distinction of being the first British helicopter to receive a certificate of airworthiness, as well as being the first British-designed helicopter to be introduced by and to serve with the Royal Air Force (RAF). It also served with the Belgian Airforce.

Sharpe’s Storm

The year is 1813. France is a battlefield, and winter shows no mercy. Amidst brutal conditions, Major Richard Sharpe finds himself saddled with an unexpected burden: Rear-Admiral Sir Joel Chase, dispatched by the Admiralty with sealed orders, unshakable confidence, and a frankly terrifying enthusiasm for combat.

Sharpe’s mission from Wellington is clear, yet anything but simple: keep Sir Joel alive.

Sir Joel could hold the key to defeating Napoleon once and for all. But to pull off his audacious plan, he needs someone who knows how to fight dirty, think fast, and survive the impossible.

He needs Sharpe …

Get Sharpe’s Storm.

Painting the the Ruined Steele Residence

I purchased two 3D printed ruins from QP3D Wargames. One of these was the Ruined Steele Residence. They are 3D printed models. I bought the 15mm versions to use with Flames of War, but you can buy bigger versions for other gaming systems.

The first stage was to prime the model with a white undercoat.

I wanted to add some darkness to the model, so I sprayed the underside of the model with a black spray.