I have mixed feeling about the holidays. They're great for catching up on things because of the relative free time that's available. On the other hand I get lethargic as well for a variety of reasons. As this year closes, I wanted a new project to get my teeth into.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEXIHvNIyne2l7FV-P4dI1shFzUhgIpv395aw6sb3KTQSaosvsxR3PMNYS7z3BaZ_Alqd76b1PT0Y2FgVGBTGtM_26grOyy2lfL08sLNgfj3VSDu_J-B62zcYh_j_QroV6vLfIL_SeYuw/s320/toe-in-the-water.jpg) |
Gingerly getting my toe in the water again. |
I craved some inspiration so I can start blogging about my latest creative push. I also needed a muse to get my juices flowing again. Eye candy is what gets me going. So I either watch some movies from my collection...
*PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL THESE PIX ARE CLICKABLE FOR ENLARGED VIEWING.*
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjArncI3gQwX8AHZ3AeNEXwejeUfE462pxOd3niIDMk7XT1i7KzpFZabNxzkzsr3zdbjHFhvlTKEyZiIGezUaecqBuegkE6ngt7NvF-2n6MgdWI-NSFqSyJ4arQ95XAsaWzMyOoI4ebBM0/s320/EnemyGatesBigGun.jpg) |
Opening sequence from 'Enemy at the Gates". |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJzhE8Not4HAtrNQOIVzqadpsJhMUxO76PDQNoQtLvzRAmHOCyoNzVlJLst19cmGufYYnasqS_wHGx70sCruCJ-CUmOfieZo18G2jTqGvoxytCShZx-WnpXSph59cWXRY085oiXw5n7_w/s320/SovietCharge.jpg) |
The ill fated Strelkovy charge also from
'Enemy at the Gates" |
or go on the web where it'll link me to awesome imagery.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-Zl-qPOBwQYM1mTZLlQT1E6vhQyTmWdDtNkh9eHd391vSCao12ynWbWDNrmfwJHjcmTWO2NEIWFFS9i8v3oM1jYDpoq56Vxw_MUseCYMvBR8Ue4J51C-O56p3fJ8j5kjePx8_Pv_zjg/s320/su-76.jpg) |
The ubiquitous SU-76. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIXenlS14QQ2vkuOLY4T4tLhw07C5iQjRo7DvWl4VIJ3z_YgTnflaPXK0hCjwFcuV3ORUf8U99bXb1gdjJrxBm9PerAPHumcYriitsoz4Jl7f9L0d8mXSxpuEOKLMT-5wibckw6KX0nkc/s320/DSCN2417.JPG) |
The ubiquitous SdKfz 251 HT with 37mm gun. |
Getting inspired yet? I surely did.
And if you'd read my earlier posts you'll note that I'm quite a fan of Stalingrad and the Eastern Theater. My later projects involved lots of 28mm. Bigger scale and better detail for these aging eyes...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2wlmSeJCQe3Ir8C5bZLc8x9qvZ9h6A8ifeto-ceto1iMm5ho_05tYWmRLle2iy_lORJTzY-CktGvMlVHpfK2D30RUElGv26Bik0a01b6lbpsFCx5G3CpYOKp3sk2rOlQ9p5bo9H5iCmU/s320/DSCN3360.JPG) |
A Stalingrad table we set up at Justo's house while he was still in Houston for a game day. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghsp7g_bLUvrwIdsfByedBo8vnMxYq9HtJUA1crJZy-tcENiyJPOI8RjlKQMDe2EJuhUgo3DqMBBIBgGg1jObMXtvAENib7G2CVzkw7skJ0Bsva-P3qEcpdvtopsDYtIOGE4LypAzwr4/s320/DSCN2998.JPG) |
NKVD Maxim mg crew from BTD. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ZPND_XKJeIlDvtPpeia3DPNcaaN2OzSCFsBjte7lLTPSB5bFhbzhLKDRNrpgNBhUCOE3OtzCg1KJJl146qTpTWzLyhmAlqabtdSD4tIfp_vD-B3iIjl-m9euXYcYWszD4amFLvAR2yk/s320/DSCN2243.JPG) |
Assorted Strelkovy from BTD.
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEWSHNeaxTLU-0NiT-IEa-gezFRPAC5o6YV3vGcpuuv7OssMVDsQXDDBHtR9N_8ohIf5ncGy603ohzPfQJssij17sPOgdsWm50ePWi88RE_Py9hn2EsWZUhRLxEIBVJd1VzQ6z0UBnNK0/s320/DSCN1825.JPG) |
Fallshcirmjagers from BTD staging for a mission. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUez5GdSA_GSsQe7gBJ0SNixBCmztqXqdB2l3HhT-uqbzfAYG22p2RdoW4HAT_Oi5oeL1U5QO0e2JBX8BYFhjBZtpq-q7exLl1qfclKmTBDO-WXulX46LhfMCFUb0rVFtiOpG7diTf-QI/s320/DSCN1832.JPG) |
Stealthy Fallshcirmjagers on their way avoiding the T34 beyond. |
"Take out those Stalin's Organs!!"
However, I did start out in 15mm when I was consumed with FoW. This smaller scale has its advantages.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3a658e5XkE0kQFZ5Gyw1CpLjsjlT6JyYY4-emFzuYTXnFztVE9J5v0VX0N6-XLUwjOxBQiLuJPgpjYPof73wEf4ujnQlvoyLIs5-TslQ2HkXrOXD9MV8-VSfpov9FyD9izo_F1JXJhd4/s320/DSCN0263.JPG) |
The infamous 88 from Battlefront for FoW. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIwaTOPUC1n0yAi5IsDtJw-re2cHaGuzFLH93y1-n-rAmg3RFElSR8ycZtKTxrNogkPWtl4O3O2i3P_6Tjog-DiTKsDQ-yOr6zCAWfVRzYa57-On-MCO7YJSnvnyKbri9Xp3ezaWE1N-M/s320/DSCN0269.JPG) |
A pair of Sd Kfz 7/2 with the 37mm AA gun. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihWkdGWZr0YrhDnZV1srBYRd4dCX9hsv4C42xoGCQSggOql37vm3cb8z_eBPJOqNRkLPsCArjsYSNZxdDYyLzt8oTH5IXspRY7fHsF0rcJf22SaOl5bYsOd7QJ5rVc1LepwVgmJjWO1No/s320/DSCN0277.JPG) |
My all time favorite German tank: the Panther!! |
Looking through my collection I realized the wealth of material that I already have in hand. But like most gamers I'm a pack rat/collector/accumulator and I always want more!
Then recently, Chris Trevino from our group (who's NOT my muse) ran a few Crossfire games. That got me intrigued because I've been itching to use my already completed Flames of War (FoW) Eastern Front Germans and Russians for something else. Since I was burnt out of playing FoW I sadly put them in mothballs.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYDHkpRZMjqHMm0fJD7QAh12fxtOAOKSBVN4_GHCtOhw3-vAYWv-mmOVcHSLh9VMiavo9eFmpeWqX1vieH_S07W_yIUPgdKtyv_m4uK4_FSB1_2sGFWxuhxg4vaqcEDZOLj2khaA0KYm4/s320/Flak20mmQuad+Kubelwagons.JPG) |
Kubelwagens and Sd Kfz 7/1 (Quad 20mm AA) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ADIUyldLNf5LXsUG1EJkez6dQzt3AqpTzogu6BVGB5AZ8WngfuxKhzwHnzAVKHS-fI6sI0sphjKfmbrQF4ZreT1abm31FD5DU7Y9fjZRJdFoTSda6LxiMBM80vdDe_y1tP_b2wpeH2s/s320/HTX12+TrucksX4.JPG) |
Assorted Sd Kfz 251 HT and Opel Blitz |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJD2kogj8vuq50ywbJ_oFjqLTjy2gfLNIMrlxUN8tMk7nfLWWVzHiHYgE9P0Lqb1P0wtawBoC2ldO3NbpHmj4gixkDTjgSSzWAHZP93_xQfuIBAE6SiGFbcqyjK28Wv0nebU4k4iN7jE/s320/KV8Flamethrowers.JPG) |
KV8 (flame tanks) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiosARqTFvHw9s0xPwAnFriwBbU7HcXwhqS2ocXynKUptTSumYT98gkk6C9KRr6B4vfUVPL4oY_9c_ZMaEjNADZaBQZ8YvNGq0aZ91OAcQ1KRb9KZd8SCxYqPUQuMNdCef7dLJ06te_mSw/s320/PantherX3+MaultierX4.JPG) |
Panthers and Maultiers |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2c3vpCDTFUtTw25rObHWeJVJSn12OudQO9oiDHDEvGYPGhq_qpB66tybWLdGrQXzZ8M1p5_VgzkcnaMBn_OZhTFPAOpTXtygo_gZYM5_UVfiQOoSRKlidOfetdgKC8XaiKwkQvRy0crs/s320/StuartHoneyX7+BA10X4.JPG) |
BA10M Armored Cars, Stuarts and Honeys |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAlLJHtCbZqpmqwsnd3snkEfSRAddZHfej4d_fEb02cyH43V-dCVDCCYN-dz6O9PweTaXGWIRAJ7EhBKOIwDVYeZYo-vDnzT-tUhP4jL4yOxD2wLc-IfxRDCg0-iPyXKML3pvg1aaEqFw/s320/T3476X10.JPG) |
Mid War T34-76 |
All of a sudden I got excited thinking about using them again with another rules set. I had to get them out of storage and back on the table! And what better way to do so than to start another terrain table.
'So why not another Stalingrad-ish, urban ruins with a rail yard to boot in 15mm?" I thought to myself. And this time, I'll do it better than my previous half-hearted attempts.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi_0whxZpUQdvRTECmkzRQDJOrGFSHpWIJozWAtR6gKlbkJBBxiHpzpwN7w3xPkjkDrbzeJ9vpFaH7SXslmanupiNv6ETb3cw7WJ4j5OQUncSOhv6-5HVyFv06oJQMrmw3F8N-CHwrRvI/s320/RailYard02.JPG) |
My recently sold generic and unweathered box cars on equally uninspired flocked Kato tracks. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYsOVm7RBqZ2_EY2Gxp19B5tTd8eu8B26EIY-WbLhZB8e4n7YOsbIXt5VDQy4YlyB3kRVvid57OhUvXqjZnPjwhm0H0p7bhr1FFDgTmOfr_nxRKGW4mzK1Rd6cecXg1Bp6U_weCLpk3p8/s320/RailYard03.JPG) |
This was taken in February of this year where I staged them with some of my FoW Soviet Scouts with a KV1 in support. |
After a little ruminating and eye candy research to get me primed I immediately set out for my local train store and Eureka! I found all kinds of cool stuff. Here's my latest acquisitions.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9ufndymsHv_buIewH6Lg99nx1eAMd2U4zQ6SF9ko6vtQ_Ikmos13PUTSnYGGP4HAmbsUND7i8eg2R0HnKZdTWibNsoFi6d7LNBxdG9hl6MLvOwAjHjtPwPEaJI-yBtABBPvC51MZ26M/s320/Teaser01a.jpg) |
Compare these beautifully weathered boxcars from the ones above. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFV_6MxlTsFHwKLeeE6tPauHJIX8i7fOQ-svHQxC6wnNOwuhok7j9-B4K05RcSp9Ga9vMbPVsaXy0rzNP5eV0RjeMJCCL750Kr1h2pa1N4Obeix_u5zIs6dwMYZ8xNH5EWBw29l4su0ZY/s320/Teaser02.jpg) |
Just a small part of my Stalingrad and rail yard table. The Kato tracks will definitely be weathered and flocked just in case you're wondering. |
Scav Alert! Make sure that you do check out the consignment shelves of these stores b/c they're chock full of pre-assembled HO scale buildings, water tanks, towers, gantries, weathered boxcars, etc. that's perfect for 15mm.
Stay tuned...