Post by alexb on Dec 2, 2017 3:38:23 GMT
In an alternate Earth, the SuperPowers have decided to use sanctioned privateer forces to wage conflicts in territories outside of NATO and Warsaw Pact member nations. This was to limit the chances of relatively minor conflict escalating to a nuclear exchange. These privateer forces were also seen as trained reserve units should either side need them in a global conflict. Weapons could tested in real conflict situations. NATO and Warsaw Pact national forces could be downsized.
Western privateer units varied greatly in terms of equipment, role, and size. Soviet and Chinese units were more consistent with their national forces. Other units have organized in Africa, the Middle East, and South America. These tend to use whatever they can acquire.
As of 2012, the program has been viewed as a success by all of the SuperPowers. Diplomatic relations are peaceful. The program has caused fracturing of many nations based on regional, tribal, religious, and political lines. Some are independent, semi-independent, or form regional confederations. Likewise, some nations choose to avoid war on their soil by leasing battleground in areas such as the Gobi Desert.
This began life as the Testors re-box of the Italeri Leopard 1a4. It's an older kit but better that the Tamiya offering and still compares favorably against the Meng Leo 1...or so I've heard. Construction was pretty straight-forward. I used storage boxes for the sides and scratched a simple bustle rack. I armored the gunsight and left off the kit's sight guards. I added a .50cal for the loader's hatch and a SAW for the Commander. Armoured smoke launchers, surgical gauze camo net, and thick yarn/thread for tow cables...using the kit's ends. Visible stowage from the spares and implied stowage is styrene cubes covered by a tissue paper and white glue tarp.
Paint was rattle can primer gray with dark green. I'll be repainting the RadBrad to this same camo scheme. Pretty standard weathering and dustification. I really don't remember what colors I used...I know it didn't involve yellow or pink. Markings come from the decals spare box....except the Jolly Rogers which comes from an Archer Transfer set.
Crew are frankenfigures...fire bad. The commander and loader use the torsos and heads/helmets from Dragon's old US Gulf War Tank Crew Set. Mixed legs and arms. The driver is a Tamiya half-figure. The clothing was painted gunship grey and the body armor dark green. Their right shoulder patches are some WW2 German patch turned upside down. It changed the entire look of the thing. The left side is a styrene circle punchout. It's a light gray skull-crossbones design that did not show up in the picture. I'll probably redo that at some point.
And so it has begun....next up repainting the RadBrad...I forgot what Nemo called it. Shradley...Breridan? I also have plans for a M113 sporting a LAV25 turret and a BMP-1 with a Duster turret. I love my casemate TDs so maybe one based on the M41 Bulldog w/90mm gun and a Pershing based on w/105mm gun. And something special involving a T55.
Western privateer units varied greatly in terms of equipment, role, and size. Soviet and Chinese units were more consistent with their national forces. Other units have organized in Africa, the Middle East, and South America. These tend to use whatever they can acquire.
As of 2012, the program has been viewed as a success by all of the SuperPowers. Diplomatic relations are peaceful. The program has caused fracturing of many nations based on regional, tribal, religious, and political lines. Some are independent, semi-independent, or form regional confederations. Likewise, some nations choose to avoid war on their soil by leasing battleground in areas such as the Gobi Desert.
This began life as the Testors re-box of the Italeri Leopard 1a4. It's an older kit but better that the Tamiya offering and still compares favorably against the Meng Leo 1...or so I've heard. Construction was pretty straight-forward. I used storage boxes for the sides and scratched a simple bustle rack. I armored the gunsight and left off the kit's sight guards. I added a .50cal for the loader's hatch and a SAW for the Commander. Armoured smoke launchers, surgical gauze camo net, and thick yarn/thread for tow cables...using the kit's ends. Visible stowage from the spares and implied stowage is styrene cubes covered by a tissue paper and white glue tarp.
Paint was rattle can primer gray with dark green. I'll be repainting the RadBrad to this same camo scheme. Pretty standard weathering and dustification. I really don't remember what colors I used...I know it didn't involve yellow or pink. Markings come from the decals spare box....except the Jolly Rogers which comes from an Archer Transfer set.
Crew are frankenfigures...fire bad. The commander and loader use the torsos and heads/helmets from Dragon's old US Gulf War Tank Crew Set. Mixed legs and arms. The driver is a Tamiya half-figure. The clothing was painted gunship grey and the body armor dark green. Their right shoulder patches are some WW2 German patch turned upside down. It changed the entire look of the thing. The left side is a styrene circle punchout. It's a light gray skull-crossbones design that did not show up in the picture. I'll probably redo that at some point.
And so it has begun....next up repainting the RadBrad...I forgot what Nemo called it. Shradley...Breridan? I also have plans for a M113 sporting a LAV25 turret and a BMP-1 with a Duster turret. I love my casemate TDs so maybe one based on the M41 Bulldog w/90mm gun and a Pershing based on w/105mm gun. And something special involving a T55.
, and the Italeri Leo certainy can hold up to the Meng 
, love the Leo in winter camo 
