Cold Wargamer Hobby News - Summer 2013

Well it's been a great summer for Cold War Gamers, with a lot of useful models and figures being released as ever the focus has been with the usual suspects in the modern gaming space, Elhiem, S&S and Hobby Den but with some notable releases from a range of plastic vehicle manufacturers as well.

Figures

Elhiem

Elhiem figures completed and released there British Cold War figures with SLR, and I must admit to having snapped up a quantity, I'll produce a more detailed review once I have painted them up. Matt has come up with a very comprehensive range which is just what is needed in this space.

In addition and newly sculpted this month but yet to be released are a set of 4 Soviet NCOs, which look like an attractive edition to the existing range of Cold War Soviets.

I also believe he has intentions to expand his Canadian Range which has got my mind back on the 4CMBG trail.

Models

S&S

S&S continue to produce at a frenetic rate in addition they have at last managed to put together a web shop where you can buy direct on line, though with these guys it never hurts to chat about what your after.

Recent Models mastered include for the US army an M6A3 and for a variety of armies the M88A1 recovery vehicle.

In addition the UK range continues to expand with a couple of 1 Tonne Land Rovers, and an FV 432 with a Fox Turret enabeling all those with an obsession for painting grey and blue squares on tanks to have a bash at the Berlin Brigade.

The momentous event is the peak turret which according to Shaun will fit either his FV432 or the Britania one.  If you get a variant with the mortar hatches closed I assume this will need some fileing and filling.  The same turret was used on Saxon so it has a variety of uses.

Hobby Den

A few I have missed from Hobby Den include this M47 Patton useful in the client state and minor nations categories.

This German M113G Beobachtungspanzer, or artillery Observation wagon.

Another rather attractive little runner was this British Recce Land Rover.

US M151 with TOW, very nice for 70's US, a variety of European Nations or indeed the Israelies.

and a very lovley M113

S Models

S Models, a recent arrival on the scene have pushed out a couple of interesting releases with a 2 pack quick build BMP 1 and a Sheridan. The BMP provides an excellent alternative to the ACE BMP 1 and I'll be taking a closer look at this kit, hopefully in the next few months. The Sheridan fills the gap vacated by the airfix kit and together with S&S's, Hobby Den's and Elhiem's US Cold War offerings is starting to make a 20mm early 80s late 70s US Cold War forces far more viable.

There BMP Came out in time for the Spring news but I was so over whelmed with releases from S&S that it didn't really get a look in, so a little late, but if you have missed it worth a look.  They come two to a box and Brian at the HobbeyDen is stocking them

ACE. The Big news this summer is the re - release of the ACE BMP 2 this time with Rubber tracks which could dramatically improve the build time and effort, but then again may just introduce some problems of their own, should allow me to finish my late Cold War Soviet BMP MRR.

The BMP 1 re release a month or so ago is similarly re tooled and has also moved to rubber tracks according to the ACE web site

Revell

Revell have just released a T 90, not to much Cold War there I hear you cry, but the base vehicle if it can be built without the ERA should provide a good T-72B, here's hoping they have created the kit in a way that allows that to be achieved. T-90 started being deployed around 1993 as the T-72 BU so could be part of those late Cold War bear resurgent scenarios. According to the post this will hit the streets in September.

Revelle T-90 Release

Italeri

Italeri are reporting that they are re releasing the Leopard 1 A4 which they reported they were going to do a couple of years ago.

Italeri Facebook Timeline

Black Dog

Black Dog, at the more expensive end of the spectrum black dog have released an M109A2 which at €34 is probably not for the Wargames table

Armorama report release of Black Dog M109A2

Decals

Bison

Bison Decals released a nice set of decals for 1/72 T60 and T55 for Czecheslovakia in 1968.

The Web

The Autumn Cold War Gamer "Magazine"

The Autumn Magazine, will be focusing on the AAR for the Storming The Waidause Gap, completing the Soviet Air Assault story and starting to look at some NATO force building.  The NATO posts should include 4CMBG and its units and sub units, as I get started on the building of my Canadian battle Group which has been a project in waiting for sometime, along with working up the Orbats for the next evolution of my UK forces.

Cold War Gamer on Face Book

As I mentioned in the last edition of Cold War Gammer I now have an active Facebook page which as a micro blog offers a bunch of news as it happens covering:

• new releases,
• upcoming posts, in this Blog and the Dragon Rising
• Links to my work in progress posts on the guild forum
• posts of note from blog sites covering the cold war and ultra modern period.

Together with links to a wide range of pages relevant to the contents of the two blogs. Take a look

Scale Mates

Also worth a look on the web if you have not already found it is the scale mates site. Which is a great modelling resource pulling together a variety of Internet feeds to provide fairly comprehensive information based on searches for the kits or vehicles your looking for including;

• Other a Kits
• After Market accessories
• Pricing and links to on line retailers

And a really great find the model shop tool, all up a great site.

 If you have any cold wargaming product news that you would like to share drop me a line at coldwargamer@gmail.com

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