Plastic Soldier Company M4A1 Re-Toolingn Announcement

CATMAN2 of The Plastic Soldier Company writes:

To ensure close historical accuracy, we are delighted to announce that we have reorganized the existing 15mm M4A1 kit into two separate kits:

•M4A1 75mm with a "small hatch" dry stowage hull
•M4A1 76mm Wet Stowage with a "large hatch" wet stowage hull



Bravo PSC. Treadheads pointed out the inaccuracies of using the single hull for both the M4A1 and M4A1 76. You responded to the criticisms, when other companies may have ignored the error with a "buy it or don't buy it approach".

I eagerly await the M4A2 76mm kit and will purchase a few boxes. It's companies like PSC that need the communities support. Having several options available to purchase 15mm or 28mm WWII minis is a good thing and when I see a company respond so quickly and right before a major release is amazing.

Bravo.

You've won a new fan.

Plastic Soldier Company Shermans Release Dates

The Plastic Soldier Company (PSC) made ripples in the 15mm miniatures market with the release of their T-34 kit with a 76mm and 85mm turrets. Instead of having to buy a T-34/76 and a T-34/85 model, a player can just swap turrets on a PSC model. In effect, PSC gave the buyer two tanks for the price of one. The kits have receive positive reviews by the gents over at WWPD (see Steve's June 16, 2011 post showing more T-34's spawning. Yes, Steve finally saw the light and joined the comrades). Craig's Wargamming Blog (see Blog List) also reviewed PSC's Panzer IV kit. I've been hoping and crossing fingers and toes hoping the Sherman would get the PSC T-34 "treatment". The wait is over.











The PSC site hasn't put up the sprue for the M4A2. Hopefully that will be soon. The M4A1 looks like it will have a cast hull, while the M4A2 will be the welded hull (my preference). I'll definitely pick up a couple of M4A2 boxes for use in my third company of Emchas in anticipating of a LW Soviet compilation where some Confident Trained Lend Lease Tankovy formation would be most welcome (cough, cough, cheaper, can field 24 M4A2 at Confident Trained).

Estimated Release Dates-

M4A1: 6/30/11
M4A2: 7/8/11

Tank Aces

The release of Infantry Aces had me thinking if Battlefront will do something similar with armored forces. Back in the days of the Steel Panthers computer game, in order to add spice and variety to the campaign battles, my friend and I would track the progress of individual units. They would gain experience, and became better shots, would recover from suppression quicker and have a higher rate of fire. They'd also have a better chance of surviving a catastrophic hit to their vehicle. Several times my friend and I would race half-tracks to pick up bailed crew and send them to the rear just so they would survive the battle and not lose their experience for the next game.

I like the roleplaying aspect Infantry Aces adds to the game. I think I'll do the same with some of my armies. I'll create characters, name them, and track their progress in AAR's. I find myself looking for something more than just playing FOW. I think a Tank Aces type of fiction might be the thing to add a narrative story to the game.

I found a Vehicle Hit Location table and "borrowered" the ideas. The percentages were changes, as were the results. After a battle, I'll consult the table for each of my "destroyed tanks" and see if the crew survives to fight another day.

I apologize for the big gap between the paragraph and the actual table. I suck at HTML.

If anyone has ideas for Tank Aces, I'd welcome them wholeheartedly.

d100	Hit Location	Result
00-15	Fuel Tank	Roll d6 (1-4, occupants escape. 5-6, vehicle explodes, make Warrior Save)
15-30	Engine	Roll d6 (1-3, engine catches fire. Occupants escape. 4-6, vehicle rolls to a stop, inoperable)
31-40	Main Gun	Main gun inoperable
41-50	Suspension	Vehicle grinds to a stop, inoperable
51-65	Treads	Vehicle immobile
66-80	Hull	Roll d6 (1-4, round passes through, minor crew injuries, crew abandons vehicle. 5-6, Driver, radio operator make Warrior Saves or KIA)
81-90	Turret	Roll d6 (1-4, round passes through, minor crew injuries, crew abandons vehicle. 5-6, Commander, Loader, Gunner make Warrior Saves or KIA)
91-95	Magazine	Vehicle explodes. Crew makes Warrior Save or KIA
96-99	Missed Me By That Much	Smoke, noise, shouting and confusion. Everyone's fine, but wake up after the battle

Old Glory Pz IIIF - Dab Technique

Did a couple of test pieces of the Old Glory Panzer IIIF platoon for the upcoming Barbarossa EW book due in 2012. I used the "sponge technique", dabbing a torn piece of blister foam into Vallejo German Grey around the vehicle to show wear on the winter whitewash.

M4A2 Test Models

A couple of posts ago I asked advice about drybrushing two M4A2 test models. One model was painted with Model Master Forest Green, while the other was Model Master Olive Drab.

I drybrushed Russian Uniform over the Forest Green. As you can see, or can't see, the drybrushing hardly shows up because the Forest Green is a deep color.





Next up is the Model Master Olive Drab M4A2.





It turned out extremely well. It's the best tank I've painted. I was very proud and posed it on the FOW Gallery and received good feedback.

After the Model Master Olive Drab, I a light drybrush of German Camo Beige was used. Then GW Badab Black was used as a wash, being careful to dab up any access. Seal a couple of times with Testors Dullcote and voila.

I'll be doing up a company of M4A2 in this scheme.

Thanks Chevalier de la Terre and Griddon for the drybrushing help.