Bundeszollverwaltung VW T1 van

 Bundeszollverwaltung VW T1 van 

Another piece from the hotwheels VW pack. A customs vehicle for my customs troops. 

Customs tax, best follow the number plate advice! 

Cheers

Matt

Bundesgrenzschutz Part 10

 Bundesgrenzschutz Cars 

More VW vehicles for the Bundesgrenzschutz, again a mix of matchbox and hot wheels. Quite happy with them. 

Cheers

Matt

Bundeszollverwaltung - Customs company part 2

Completed the 7 miniatures for my Customs border unit. These chaps are all Esci and Airfix. The figures are from the Esci ground crew (radio operator ) NATO troops man with hand up, and from the Airfix nato ground crew the dog and the three walking (minus their tool boxes)

The unit will be used for my skirmish and larger battles as opposition to my Soviet special forces. 

Bundeszollverwaltung -  Customs patrol

Cheers

Matt

Bundeszollverwaltung - Customs company part 1

 Bundeszollverwaltung 

Bundeszollverwaltung

A small addition to my Cold War west German are some customs border officers, mostly at the suggestion of Carlos on the lead adventure forum as they often were the first person to be encountered when entering West Germany. The Bundeszollverwaltung patrolled the border in a set area up to 10 klm deep, living in the area close where they patrolled.  They even had riverine and ocean going patrol boats. I plan to use up left over airfix and Esci nato figures and another dog handler to make up another 7 figure company, plus a VW van and VW beetle car to come. 

Uniform

Dress uniform 

A lime green shirt, black tie,  green dress jacket, field grey trousers, black shoes, dress cap green, grey cords and black peak.

Field uniform 

A dark green field jacket, with field grey trousers black belts and boots, a green field cap 

Weapons 

Pistol, rifle or SMG. 

Cheers 

Matt

Leopards Roar - Bundeswehr upgrades to nato camouflage

 Bundeswehr upgrades

As the majority of my Bundeswehr are painted with Ammo RAL6014  for the true Cold War period I do have sitting in storage plenty of kit to extend the date past 1984 which is my current cut off. 

This year I have decided after joining a few of Bob Mack’s kickstarters I will go past my cut off date and add Bundeswehr in three colour NATO. My new additions will include-

• 3d printed Marder 2 
• Diecast Fuchs
• Diecast Luchs
• 3d printed trucks 
• Diecast Leo 2
• Diecast ME 109 SP artillery (battery of two) (need to change the muzzle break to reflect the FH70)
• MLRS (M270 Rocket launcher) battery of two 
• Plastic fennek 
• Plastic weisels 

This will extend the playing period past 1986 and plan to paint them all in the coming 8 weeks over summer. 

NATO 3 colour was adopted and rolled out over three years being completed in 1988. Team yankee has a fine guide available Here , I will be using AK three colour nato in their new real colour range. 

Cheers

Matt

Bundesgrenzschutz part 9 - VW 181 car

 One of my Bundesgrenzschutz units is a 1/72nd scale VW181 to complete my command platoon. 

The Germania Figuren vehicle is made from resin and is a very nicely cast model. Hardly and flash and no bubbles. It comes with two options roof on or folded back, plus driver (which is a bonus) with four head variants. Assembly was quite simple and the cabin went together well, although take care with the windscreen removal, and fitting the back parcel shelf and seat which I fitted incorrectly! 

It was a little pricey at €16.50 plus shipping but a great little kit never the less. A solid 9 out of ten, only mi us was the instructions and broken windscreen 

A simple Tamiya nato green paint job, with  highlight, then black lining. The driver was painted in bundesgrenschutz camo smock. Really happy with the result. 

Cheers

Matt 

Bundesgrenzschutz Part 8 - Ambulance

 Another piece for my Bundesgrenzschutz regiment a VW ambulance this time, a few more vehicles to come and a helicopter before the regiment is complete. 

 The vehicle is from Jonny Lightening and needs a windscreen warning lights and rear window and the Elhiem driver adding before truly complete. Really happy with it, I striped the original paint scheme back to bare metal as the acrylic paint did not cover properly over the matt guide coat. Second time round much happier. The crosses are from a job lot I picked up years ago, gloss varnish, then decal, then gloss again, followed by a complete Artist matt varnish. 

Bundesgrenzschutz Ambulance 

Bundesgrenzschutz Ambulance 

Cheers

Matt

Bundesgrenzschutz part 7

 Support weapons and Bundesgrenzschutz company 

Finally on the last of my support units and rifle coy for my Federal Border Guard battalion. These chaps can be used in airfield and key installation protection for my Warpac special forces operations. All of the figs are from the Elhiem miniatures generic NATO range. 

Bundesgrenzschutz Head Quarters platoon, officer and radio, sniper, NCO and medic. 

Bundesgrenzschutz Milan and M92 Stinger teams 

Bundesgrenzschutz Mortar teams 

Bundesgrenzschutz Observer team

Bundesgrenzschutz Observer team 

Cheers

Matt

Bundesgrenzschutz Part 6

  Bundesgrenzschutz VW Van

While I was airbrushing a lot of vehicles last week (while the weather was pleasant) I quickly painted up my remaining Bundesgrenzschutz vehicles. For completed off the table is a van, pretty much match box recovery that had the front pillars missing, which I rebuilt with green stuff and styrene, plus the traffic light which is also green stuff. I have also molded a plastic windscreen in hot water from a vegetable pack, but cannot find it on my messy desk so a cleanup may occur tomorrow! 

I am planning also to add Bundesgrenzschutz writing on the sides in black, but will complete my helicopter and other vehicles first before I play around making up the transfers to be printed, then complete all of the vehicles at once.

 I only have the checkpoint and four more vehicles to come (one truck, one ambulance and Jeep , plus the helicopter and they will be completed. In the meantime I must complete some more vehicles before this weekends Yom Kippur anniversary game! 

Cheers

Matt

VW 181 Kurierwagen Germania Figuren + kit review

 As I start to complete my Bundesgrenzschutz units I thought I would find a 1/72nd scale VW181 to complete my command platoon. 

The Germania Figuren vehicle is made from resin and upon inspection is a very nicely cast model. Hardly and flash and no bubbles. It comes with two options roof on or folded back, plus driver (which is a bonus) with four head variants. Assembly was quite simple and the cabin went together well, although take care with the windscreen removal, and fitting the back parcel shelf and seat which I fitted incorrectly! 

It was a little pricey at €16.50 plus shipping but a great little kit never the less. A solid 9 out of ten, only mi us was the instructions and broken windscreen 

Cheers

Matt 

Bundesgrenzschutz Part 5

 Bundesgrenzschutz Kampfgruppe

Completed my second part of my kampfgruppe of Bundesgrenzschutz, these are from the Plastic Esci NATO troops and Airfix ground crew make up this second group

I have painted these in a mix of splintertarn and green with ochre shirts, so they will be suitable for Warpac SF raids on installations and airports. I still have two pieces to complete the battalion, a 81mm support mortar, and a checkpoint set. For vehicles I have one police car, one VW van, an ambulance, and helicopter to complete the kampfgruppe. I also want to scratch build a armoured car at some stage. 

The fighting patrol

The dog patrol 

Happy with the mustache on this chap   

Cheers

Matt

Leo 1 Bundeswehr

 Leo 1 Diecasts

So Clive (at Clives Diecast and kits) had some Leo 1s on sale recently and I could not resist picking up some to add to my Bundeswehr, so now a new complete battalion,  a second battalion for my cold war Bundeswehr army. I hope to get some games in this year and try to stem the Soviet and Warpac hordes...A repaint in the workshop over the summer months, some stowage and some crew added is on the cards!

cheers

Matt

Modern 20mm Technicals and civilian vehicles

Technicals and civilian vehicles

On facebook last month someone posted a T55 turret mounted on a dump truck, so off to our local charity shop this weekend see if I could pick up a suitable piece, while I was there I also picked up some other pieces, some for my BGS build and some other pieces, I like lots of cars for terrain fillers for modern warfare, it makes the terrain look lived in.

While I failed in my task to find a suitable dump truck I did manage to pick up a number of civilian 80s cars, a big bonus plus some suitable ww2 cars! As with most matchbox, majorette vehicles of the 80s lots of sports cars and not many everyday cars suitable for the wargames table. All of these will be receiving a new paint job at some stage and join my box of terrain filler bits!

Porsche 924 My dream car in 1985 before I knew about V8s....

BMW 733, my uncle had one of these in about 87

Mercedes 350SL two door.....so sexy

Citroen SM I was excited to find this!

James Bond my feature in his swimming lotus esprit!

A caravan, the second one, I think it will join a lakeside camp perhaps

Mercedes Benz 2400, It will join my Bundesgrenzschutz

cheers

Matt

Bundesgrenzschutz part 4

Bundesgrenzschutz Kampfgruppe

Completed my first part of my kampfgruppe of Bundesgrenzschutz, the uniform of the Elhiem Miniatures figures works from 1967 to 1990. The Female figures are only suitable after 87. 

I have painted some in checkpoint colours and some in port and airport khaki trousers, so they will be suitable for Warpac SF raids . I still have two companies in camouflage to complete, plus support mortar, dog section, and bomb disposal. For vehicles I have one car, one VW van, an ambulance, and helicopter to complete the kampfgruppe. I also want to scratch build a armoured car. 

Bundesgrenzschutz part three Painting guide

 Painting guide Bundesgrenzschutz 1976-1990

Below is my Uniform colour suggestions for 20mm bundesgrenzschutz from 1976-1990.

M53 Helmet dark Green Vallejo German Camo dark Green 70979

Beret dark green Vallejo reflective green  70890

Service cap green, black visor and leatherwork Vallejo reflective green 70890

Dress Tunic green Vallejo reflective green 70890

tie green Vallejo 70967

reed green trousers Vallejo reflective green 70890

Khaki trousers (border crossing, customs and port and airport troops) Vallejo Khaki 70988

General service trousers green Vallejo Olive Green 70967

ochre yellow dress shirts Vallejo Green Ochre 70914

boots black grey Vallejo black grey 70 862

skirts (female) green Vallejo Reflective green 70890

leather belts, straps equipment black  Vallejo Black Grey 70862

Webbing black green  vallejo military green Vallejo 70975

bread bag green Vallejo Olive Green 70967

Water Bottle green Vallejo Olive Green 70967 or old style brown Vallejo Beige brown 70875 black cup 

mess tin black old Vallejo Black Grey 70862 or green new model reflective green 70890

shovel handle dark timber Vallejo flat Brown 70984, shovel black Vallejo Black Grey 70862

Great coat green Vallejo reflective green 70890

Waffenfarbe white vallejo 70951

Camouflage uniform 

By the mid eighties the camouflage uniform was phased out and completely gone by the time of the introduction of the new uniform and female officers in 1987. 

My colours suggested are sumpfmuster camouflage uniforms
Basic Grey beige shade: RAL 1019 Vallejo German camo beige 821

Reddish spots: RAL 8012 red brown Vallejo 8012 red brown or Mahogany Brown 70846

Dark gray spots: RAL 7006 beige gray Vallejo beige brown 70875

Equipment Russian green 

Helmet German green Vallejo 995 

cheers

Matt