From My Workbench: Late World War Two Canadians

These figures are larger than the last lot I posted - these are 20mm, or in modeling terms, between 1/76 to 1/72 scale. You click on any of the photos to see a larger image.

Platoon of Canadian infantry from 3rd Can Division (indicated by the light blue shoulder patch). These are plastic figures, manufactured by Revell:



Another view of the same lot. The officer on the single base in the middle is a metal figure, sculpted and cast by AB Miniatures in the UK, who make detailed and accurate figures in true 1/76 scale:



Infantry advance up a road. The three figures in the foreground are Raventhorpe (available through the nice and helpful people at RLBPS), another UK maker of metal figures. Not sure I like them - they are larger than most other ranges in this scale, and they lack a lot of raised detail, but they don't look bad when the paint up, somehow. I've mixed some dark green with Vallejo English Uniform to try and capture the more distinctive green Canadian pattern battledress:


Raventhorpe officer with binos and a signaller with a radio backpack - I've based them together to represent a FOO (Forward Observation Officer) who goes forward with the infantry and spots the fall of shots from friendly artillery. Always a useful asset to have on the tabletop:



Finally, the company OC (officer commanding) gives orders to one of his platoon leaders, while the OC's signaller stands nearby keeping in touch with battalion. The two officers are AB - no idea who made the signaller:

From My Workbench: 15mm WW2 Canadian Mortar Platoon

My goodness I paint slowly, but I've finally finished this lot, intended for my Normandy project. These figures are produced by Battlefront of NZ, using their basing system for Flames of War. The figures represent a 3" mortar platoon, a indirect fire support unit at the regimental or brigade level. For about $30 Cdn you get six mortar teams and half a dozen command and prone infantry stands, so it's a pretty good deal. I'm more likely to use these for IABSM than for FOW.

Here's the six mortar teams, set up in a field outside of a Norman village.



Two views of the mortar crews in action:






The figured are painted using Vallejo colours for the uniform and Games Workshop paints for the flesh. I've shown them in Vallejo English uniform which is typical for UK troops but most Canadians wore a more greenish shade of serge battledress. I have however shown them wearing the pale blue shoulderflash of 3rd Canadian Infantry Division that started the Normandy campaign.

I'm very happy with this command stand showing a pointing officer with Sten gun, an NCO listening while he leans on his Lee Enfield, and in the back is a signaller with a radio set.



Two views of the prone infantry included in this pack - they are all sculpted with PIAT anti-tank weapons, or as PIAT number twos with ammo cannister and Lee Enfield. I'm doubtful that so many anti-tank teams were organic to a mortar platoon, but they can be used to augment my infantry platoons, either as designated tank-hunting teams or just as prone infantry with a variety of weapons.