Tanks! Tanks! Tanks!

Hi there, my names Rob and I am a hobby-holic. I'd like to say a big thanks to Dale for letting me contribute to his wonderful blog. In these times of Covid-19 we're all finding it difficult to get around, game and socialise like we want to so this is a great way for us all to keep our hobbies alive. Now, onto the article.

Back in 2016 the game Tanks! appeared on the shelves. It's a small skirmish type game based on dice rolls and cards it uses little measuring sticks for movement and the weapons don't have specific ranges so there's no need to measure to see if you can hit your target. All tanks and crews have initiative values that affect when they move and shoot. It was a great little game that unfortunately never really caught on as a regular go to game at our local club. Nevertheless, the models (Battlefront plastics) were lovely and I think most of us bought the starter set including me. However, I then  went for the Soviets due to their access to cheap tanks and vodka cards and the original tanks sat in the starter box unloved.

Whilst rooting around the many boxes and drawers for models to divert attention away from my most recent project (Bolt Action Canadians) I remembered the Tanks! box with the M4A3 Sherman's and the Panther sitting in it, patiently awaiting attention.

I decided to paint the Panther first. Originally I'd wanted to paint a bizarre chevron pattern across this tank but having taken it out of the box I realised just how bad it would look and I went back to the drawing board. I like to think my painting has improved a little since 2016 but even now I don't think I could make such a pattern look half decent.

Using Tamiya spray cans and Blu-tac I created the beige and green pattern. Then, using a wet brush with a decent point I traced out the brown patches and filled them in. The tracks were painted with GW Abaddon Black. To bring out the highlights I used Vallejo Stone Grey and Vallejo Green Grey for line highlighting. A pin wash of GW Agrax Earthshade helped  to create definition on the panels without staining the colours. Finally, a little drybrush with Stone Grey to bring up the highlights on the armour and GW Eshin Grey for the track and Machine Gun before adding some decals. I stippled a very watered down Vallejo Flat Brown to the side skirts, tracks and road wheels to simulate the dirt and mud that would build up on the tank in the field. Voila, one finished Kitty.

Now, on to the ubiquitous M4A3 Sherman. The first one was a relatively simple affair, Vallejo US Dark Green basecoat, Agrax Earthshade pin wash and Stone Grey highlight. While I was happy with the result I couldn't help but feel that it was a little plain, those flat sides in particular look very barren. With the second Sherman I decided to add a few accessories, some stowage boxes (from West German and US Team Yankee kits) and tree trunks for extra armour on those big flat sides. The tree trunks were made with cotton buds chopped up and stuck on the side, simple. The painting was the same as the other Sherman, the tree trunks were painted Flat Brown and then drybrushed with GW Steel Legion Drab. The stowage boxes were painted with Vallejo Bronze Green and washed with GW Nuln Oil to break up the mass of green with some different shades.

I really enjoyed getting the set completed and maybe once life returns to normal we can get some interest going for this little gem of a game. After painting these little lads up I decided that the 15mm WW2 bug had sunk its teeth into me and I ordered the Flames of War 'Hit the Beach' starter set, so between that, the Judge Dredd starter set, the Canadian Bolt Action army, the Falangists for my SCW army, Napoleonic Prussians and the Union Army for Epic Battles American Civil War I'll be busy for the next few years at least!

Thanks for reading.

Regards,

Rob