New Stuart V’s

Two more tanks off the ranks.  Bought from toyworld where they were selling them about half price (clearing out their stock, again).  Since I needed a fourth anyway as some lists require four rather than three which was what I had.   Got the extra one because…. well you can’t really have enough light tanks, they always have served me well.  Anyway now I have five, painted in three batches so all a bit different but not to worried.  These were painted I think using Russian Green (surprising I can’t recall was only a week ago), I then gave them a bit of a wash with black, green and brown, (just trying to work out what looked best, for what it’s worth green wash is too bright, brown is good and dirty looking, what doesn’t devlan mud work with? and black looks grimey though can be a bit harsh, if I was doing it again I’d probably do two brown washes or a mix of brown and black).  After that I mixed painting on and drybrushing more russian green (or whatever green I was using) just to smooth out the areas where the wash shouldn’t be.  Drybrushed a little black in areas and khaki to simulate dust and grime.  Tracks were german grey, with black wash and then german grey again with a little bit of khaki drybrushed on later.  Anyway they’re ok.  Did photograph all five together but I mis-focussed and picked up the rear tank which mean the majority of the photo was out of focus.  I’ll redo it later.

Oh one other thing, I used a pencil to go over a lot of the metal bits (which I accidentally painted over some of).  Like the guy did on his terrain building site.  Worked really well, a lot more subtle than metallic paint.

 

Stuart V

One of my three little Stuart V tanks which alongside my armoured squadron (which I seem to no longer be able to field) are pound for pound probably my consistently best achieving models.  I like the Stuarts so much that I have considered purchasing more but I figure that my be taking a good thing to far.  I think there success lies in the fact they’re… well, a tank,  but at least in an armoured squadron a small and insignificant threat when compared to the main battle tanks.  This combined with their speed allows them to get in and behind the enemy, opportunistically seizing objectives and generally causing disruption far beyond their meager points value.  If I took more I think the comparative threat assessment would be considered differently and they would probably have more resource directed at nullifying them and thus their ability to achieve anything would be drastically reduced.

As for the model, they’re such a funny little (by which I mean really quite quite small) boxy tank with a high profile, (so not out of place amongst shermans and cromwells).  Rather endearing really which only adds to the affection for them.  Great little battlers.