SgtWilTan's mods and conversions of A&A pieces

[LHoffman]

@sgtwiltan:

More Detailed pics put up on page 1.
Since Paul has got most of my early Panthers and Tigers, I got a little carried away to fulfill the final pieces
I owed him and managed to build another 50 Panthers of the Aufs. D and A varieties.
20 Tigers have also been built as well as the detailing of 35 German half-tracks.
Still a long way to go since after completion of build comes base coating, washes, dry brushing and final
detail painting and highlighting. The pics on the thread are constantly going to evolve as I find new ways
to show the details and better pictures to show them through their evolutions.

I also did an informal weight test of the tigers. It took 9 OOB tigers to equal the weight of 1 GHQ tiger.
This is why I expend so much effort on plastic pieces. I’m not sure how well the game boxes would
hold up to the weight of the much more detailed but way heavier GHQ models as you would need hundreds
to replace the OOB game pieces.

Any ways, enjoy.

Incredible Wil, absolutely incredible.

[Tall Paul]

Wil,

––Just a “head’s-up” for you. I just added three sets of HBG’s Japanese Expansion sets to the
three Japanese Supplemental sets that were already pre-ordered. All will be sent to YOU for any modifications you think we need done, as well as your perusal. I’ll order additional numbers of several units whenever they are available for individual sale. You might at least send me some pics whenever they come in, haha.  :-D

“Tall Paul”

[sgtwiltan]

Redid some pics. I like this new format. More organized.
Enjoy

[LHoffman]

@sgtwiltan:

Redid some pics. I like this new format. More organized.

I love the new format. Works great. Still in awe. (Have you modded anything besides tanks/ground vehicles?)

@sgtwiltan:

If you want to see some great scale comparisons, look here.
http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=28294.0

I didn’t even know you linked to my thread… Perhaps I should keep up on it a bit more.

[sgtwiltan]

Thanks Lucas.
I’m doing the Mod part and You are the paint master.
Eventually I’ll have fully painted pics up along with the workup to get to the fully finished stage but that is in the future.
I think I’m going to use my second post on this thread for ships and my third post for Planes and the fourth for etc stuff.
I got lots of plans but they require quite a bit of time to come to fruition as well as finishing commitments to Paul.

[LHoffman]

@sgtwiltan:

Eventually I’ll have fully painted pics up along with the workup to get to the fully finished stage but that is in the future.
I think I’m going to use my second post on this thread for ships and my third post for Planes and the fourth for etc stuff.
I got lots of plans but they require quite a bit of time to come to fruition as well as finishing commitments to Paul.

Very much looking forward to it when it comes. Esp. ships.

[Tall Paul]

Wil and Lucas,

––I am always amazed at the quality of ALL of Wil’s mods, whatever type of unit that’s represented. But I agree with Lucas in saying that IMHO the ships will end up being the COOLEST looking of all of the types. Gunships with gun barrels, carriers with (painted) magnetic tape and decal overlays. Magnets on the bottoms of all ships to be used with my magnetic “Fleet Sheets”(copywrited). And all of the Capital ships having a hole drilled in them vertically behind the bridge so a “flag” can be added representing a “Commander” is on board. We have so much to accomplish but it will all look so cool! I really hope we can get a bunch more units completed before next years HBG Gaming Convention. I’d really like to meet and play some A&A games with you two and others using these detailed/painted units for the very first time.

“Tall Paul”

[sgtwiltan]

Enlarged and increased the contrast of the pics a bit so the details show up better.

[LHoffman]

@sgtwiltan:

Basecoated OOB Mod, Raw mod, OOB, HBG mod, HBG with GHQ

Every time I look at this picture I think… poor T-34, it has ED.

Kinda sad, but funny at the same time.

[sgtwiltan]

I was about to ask which one but you changed the pic.
That is why i usually change out the barrels. Too hard to straighten with hot water without mis-shaping the sculpt
Funny though. It came that way so I am showing it along with the non-mis-shaped ones.

Here is a tip about Gun barrels. I used the teeth of hair brushes I buy at the dollar store. There are literally hundreds per brush
but using them forces you to glue with superglue.

[LHoffman]

@sgtwiltan:

I was about to ask which one but you changed the pic.
That is why i usually change out the barrels. Too hard to straighten with hot water without mis-shaping the sculpt

Yeah, I noticed I picked the wrong one.

I have been meaning to ask you what materials (plastic/glue) you use to modify the pieces? Not that I have time to do so right now, but I might like to try my hand at it sometime.

[sgtwiltan]

I use dollar store superglue rather than hobby superglue due to price and size convenience.
I can get 3 small tubes for a dollar versus $12 for a small bottle of hobby cyano-acrylates.
The hobby glue also has a habit of drying out before I can use all of it which is even more of a waste.
I also use standard styrene glue for larger flat pieces. that aren’t going to get a lot of handling.
Paint adds extra strength for those pieces and acts almost like a second type of glue.
You’ll probably spend over $100 in supplies to include styrene sheets in different thicknesses and rods and block strips.
The multi-sheet packs are around $12, with the rods and strips about $5 per pack.
Tool-wise, you’ll need at least 3 X-acto razors, a pin-vise and multiple drill bits and different blades.
Then there are saws, metal rulers, hole punches of different sizes, micro files, sprue snips and storage containers.
The tools are where you will spend most of your money as the pin-vise alone is more than $20.
You will also need different grit sandpaper as well as many emory boards.

All this isn’t to dissuade you, just an FYI in what kind of commitment you will need in supplies. It is worthwhile for the long run but
A waste for only a few pieces. Considering your investment in painting supplies, it might be worth it for you and may even provide
many more hours enjoying our playing pieces. Beware, it’s a slippery road to obsession. I’ve found that I’m even modifying pieces
I have already put a basecoat on as I learn new techniques and modifications which might not even be noticed on the playing board.

[LHoffman]

Wow… I really did not think it was so involved. WRONG!

I really would like to look into doing this, but I am not prepared with time or money at the moment, so it will have to wait. The problem is that I am constantly learning new techniques and approaches for painting, so it would be difficult to do two at once.

Anyway, thanks for the list. A pin-vise sounds like an interesting tool. Maybe even beneficial for painting, I might look into that.

[sgtwiltan]

Some new Prototypes at the bottom of the first page.
The M15-42 from Europe 1940 was converted into M13-40/M14-41s since the Germans were basically the main user of the M15-42.
You can guess what the new artillery is. If you get it right, I did my job. Enjoy

[Tall Paul]

Wil,

––Even though I know and accept that you are the “Mod King”,….after seeing your latest creations all I can say is;

WOW!

––The artillery units are amazing!  :-o I’m still surprised when I realize that these ordinary units are STILL my favorite that you’ve done. But once I look at your “Mod Magic”, I understand why. Wow! You DEFINATELY have a talent for this.

----I’ve been very busy organizing things for my Railroad & Military History Museum so I have a couple of questions.
1.) Does this latest “batch” of artillery complete the 90 unit order?
2.) Have you been able to complete the “Commonwealth Shermans”?
----You know, it would probably be easier to just send me a list of what you’ve been able to complete so far and what’s still “in the works”. As always, I’m more than happy to pay you whenever you like. Hopefully when “Lucas” returns from his honeymoon we’ll continue production, although possibly on a slower timetable for the painting of units.

Go “Team WARMACHINE!”

“Tall Paul”

[sgtwiltan]

Been busy with other things so this is not a picture update.
Just wanted to clarify the last batch of prototypes.
Italian M13/40 or M14/41, US M3A1 Half-track, More detailed US 105mm Howitzer, Russian 76 mm divisional gun M1939 (USV), Sherman Firefly of the type used mostly by the Canadians and finally the short 25 pounder modified by the anzacz for jungle fighting.

PS 24th anniversary of Desert Storm

Hoorah and Semper Fi

[sgtwiltan]

Happy 240th Birthday Marines and happy 100th to Parris  Island, the land where I come from!!!

Hoorah and Semper Fi

I’ve recently have more time and have been hard at work on some more mods. Stay tuned.

[LHoffman]

@sgtwiltan:

Happy 240th Birthday Marines and happy 100th to Parris  Island, the land where I come from!!!

Hoorah and Semper Fi

I’ve recently have more time and have been hard at work on some more mods. Stay tuned.

Great news Wil. Always love you work.

And I am grateful for your own service.

[John Brown]

Thank you for your service, and I’m looking forward to seeing your modifications. :-)

[cyanight]

Very incredible work here and thank you for your service Sir.