Weather delays

Probably for one of the first times ever there is a weather related delay in miniature painting and reviewing. The heatwave in the US this week (and in my area, the week before) has put a bit of a hold on my ability to work on miniatures (when super glue starts boiling in the bottle and paint dries as it pours it becomes very difficult to get much building or painting done).

I will also be attending a security conference this month which between preparations and attending will take up most of what would be my normal productive (miniatures) time. I do have a few items for my USCMC project ready to be written up so I will try to put up something so that I can keep semi regular updates going.

My latest QRF order arrived (cleverly packed in an old Purina box) containing what should be the last models required for the USA Stryker Platoon and the c.2003 USMC for Iraq. Once the weather abates I should have plenty to share.

First USCMC units and some US Army zombie hunters/counter-insurgents

Mortar team with M402 Multi-Launch Mortar on the right, on the left Platoon Leader with Synthetic advisor and Civilian Alien-Hunter.

First USCMC fireteam with Squad Leader, Smartgunner, Incinerator, and two Marines. Basing will have to wait until I figure out what I will do with the table. Both this squad and the units above are made by combining QRF's "'Deep Space' Marines" Alpha and Beta from their Sci-Fi range.

US Army light infantry with M1025 HMMWV gun truck mounting an M2HB HMG. Ready for some zombie hunting! Both are QRF sets from their Modern US range.
I'm going to have to pick up some good references for markings and such, Osprey looks like it should have what I need.

Preview of the AA turret I converted for the converted Cafferta. Twin 20mm gatling cannon should prove nasty to those Xenos.

Stage 2, nearly done, only some clean-up work and a little adjustment to the wheel fit.
Progress photos follow.
Left and right side images showing the altered wheel wells with the stock turret.




Also, my order from Scale Creep shipped today so hopefully it will arrive in time for the weekend.

Stage 1 of the Cafferta modifications is complete. Here are a couple of shots of it in it's WIP state.

Here you can see how the wheel wells have been carved out to allow the wheels to be mounted further back on the chassis. I've made a form to help with the next step here of filling in the now unoccupied space. You can also wee how the pronounced protrusions near the middle of each side have been removed (in the original design I think they are intended to be lift ducts for it's hover mode, since this is going to be serving the USCMC I don't see that as being necessary).

I'll likely add some rivet/bolt heads to the edges of the blank areas from those removed ducts.

Here in the front view you can see more clearly the rebuilt starboard edge of the glacis and the cut out for the SAM/HIMAT launch bins.