Air support

[Rhys]

(Right, time to give this a spin).
Over the last 40 odd years I've built up a sizable collection of 6mm models based up for Spearhead and Modern Spearhead. As part of this there has also been the obligatory collection of air support (both fixed and rotary wing) to go with it. This tends to look sort of OK for WW2 air support but modern aircraft are much larger. A chance discovery in Mr the Shy's lead mountain (its just as well it lives in the lower floor, I'd worry for his house if it was higher up) of some 3mm aircraft gave me an idea. The models are from Picoarmor and are made from one of the hardest materials known to man. I'm really not sure what it is but it doesn't take drills or solder and won't melt.

Compared to a GHQ P-47which takes up a full spearhead base and then some. The smaller models give you far more options for more dynamic basing.

And lets not forget the RAF

The Germans also get a look in as well. Rudel himself with a backup band of FW190's

And or those of you who prefer your Stukas in a more classic formation

Now the important bit, how do they look on the table?

Unfortunately I was commanding the Tigers and it didn't end well....

And a couple of more modern shots. A10's in european lizard camo.

And some Russian Mig-27's and Su-25's to finish up.

I hope this has been of some interest.

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

They will drill, but take it slow and have several bits around...

[Steve J]

Those are very nice .

[Ithoriel]

Those look brilliant! Well done!

[steve_holmes_11]

Those look really excellent, and address the visual problems of most "on table" air support

The problems:
Either your ground attack aircraft is to large that it dominates the scene (and is flying at 60 scale feet).
Or it's one little aircraft, and seems a bit insubstantial.
Or it's on a massive great stick that destroys any impression of flight.

You've got a good scale ratio (Inverse perspective - but it works), groups of aircraft, and relatively inobtrusive wire.


Let's turn and burn.

[fred.]

Cool

I've got 6mm aircraft to go with 10mm vehicles - and they can look a bit small (even taking into account being far away!). But this method of basing up a flight works really well. Might get me to sort out some more of my aircraft!

[Big Insect]

I think they look great - particularly like the diving Stuka formation 

[slugbalancer]

I've got a mix of OO and Tumbing Dice 3mm aircraft.  Both are very nice but I prefer the TD ones as they are of a more normal metal and so can be filed & drilled easily.

[Rhys]

They will drill, but take it slow and have several bits around...

I had a pile of bits but nothing seemed to work.
In the end I went with a bit of bent wire superglued underneath. Another suggestion I had for the comments section was magnets glued underneath.

[Rhys]

I've got a mix of OO and Tumbing Dice 3mm aircraft.  Both are very nice but I prefer the TD ones as they are of a more normal metal and so can be filed & drilled easily.

I've only had a quick look at the TD models and my feelin was a sacle down H&R style. The OO metal might be a pain to work with but the models just look spot on.

[slugbalancer]

I've only had a quick look at the TD models and my feelin was a sacle down H&R style. The OO metal might be a pain to work with but the models just look spot on.

I've got photos of my TD models on my website.  They look good painted up.

http://www.slugbalancer.co.uk/
Go to the Gallery and then 3mm Gallery and then Air Gallery

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

I had a pile of bits but nothing seemed to work.
In the end I went with a bit of bent wire superglued underneath. Another suggestion I had for the comments section was magnets glued underneath.

What ever works. I have some OO Hinds I got second hand from Nik Harwood. They took an age to drill - seem to be made out of RHA steel plate but I did manage it.

[pierre the shy]

As Rhys mentioned eariler in the thread I have some OO and TD 1/600th stuff for Spearhead/Modern Spearhead. They're painted and I have the decals, decalset etc I that I need.

Any particular advice on actually applying the decals themselves? mainly German and Soviet stuff.

FWIW I have just gone with wire twists to mount my stuff on, not drilled. My stands are very utilitarian compared to Rhys's ones.

[slugbalancer]

Any particular advice on actually applying the decals themselves? mainly German and Soviet stuff.

Assuming the decals are not individual ones, cut the decals out as small as possible, fiddly but they'll fit much more easily.

Use a fixing solution such as Humbrol Decalfix.
Finally, patience, loads of it.

[Rhys]

I use a pricker (of some sort). its essentially a pin on a handle. I suspect a toothpickwould work as well.
I'd hide the swear jar prior to starting.