I had been looking forward to putting together the Expeditionary Forces Australian figures. The detail and finish is quite superb.
They are simple and easy to put together and the plastic glue together nicely with Supa-Glue.
Unfortunately I will not be able to use the Airfix figures as their is a huge size discrepancy between the Airfix 1/35 scale and the Expeditionary Force’s 54mm. I should have checked earlier and it would have saved me the time painting these much smaller figures.
The Lieutenant and two Adjutants
Platoon Sergeant
Platoon Officer
NC\O and second Adjutant
I will gradually put the rest of the Platoon together and prepare them for painting over the next couple of weeks,
Stories of animated skeletons have been around foe aeons.
This Animated skeletons in The Dance of Death (1493), a woodcut by Michael Wolgemut, from Hartmann Schedel’s the Liber chronicarum.
One of the oldest sources for animated skeletons, is the story of Jason and the Argonauts is the Argonautica, written by Apollonius of Rhodes. This was an epic poem, much like the Iliad and the Odyssey, however, instead of focusing on the Trojan War and the aftermath, the Argonautica follows the adventures of the young prince Jason. The fight with animated skeletons has been graphically displayed on the big screen in the 1963 epic of the same name (photo above).
Once upon a time (I am an old guy so I can use it!) I used to have a large WFB Undead army, but it has long since “departed” (yes pun intended!). I searched around the “cave” and couldn’t initially find anything and then I realised I had won a box of Wargames Atlantic Skeletons at a Con some time ago.
These will do nicley for my purposes which is to have just a few for games Like “The Silver Bayonet”.
The skeleton can be equipped with bow, side arm, or spear and can have hoplite like shields which I have not used as I want them to be more generic.
As the boxset has 32 figures I decided to make up ten of each with an officer, standard bearer and musician, starting with some bowmen.
The Officer
The Standard bearer
Musician
Some of the bowmen
I will put together the other two units over the next three days.
The main rifle used by the Australian Army in World War II was the Short Magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE), known for its reliability and accuracy. The SMLE worked well in different combat situations, making it a popular choice among soldiers. Its magazine allowed for quick follow-up shots, increasing its effectiveness in battle.
Besides the Army, the SMLE was also used by the Royal Australian Navy and Air Force, showing its versatility across military branches. This broad use cemented the SMLE’s place as an iconic rifle in Australian military history.
It was during the struggle to save Port Moresby from the Japanese in 1942 that Australian forces first requested a shorter and lighter rifle, and it is not difficult to understand the reasons why. Much of the fighting in New Guinea occurred on the infamous Kokoda Trail, where poorly fed soldiers had to battle their way up steep and slippery trails. Monsoon rains made conditions even worse by soaking all their equipment.
The request for a lighter rifle was certainly reasonable, given the circumstances; however, Australia couldn’t address it at that time due to multiple pressing challenges. After the fall of Singapore in February 1942, which resulted in the devastating loss of approximately 15,000 soldiers from the 8th Division, Australia found itself in a precarious situation. The subsequent bombing of Darwin, along with the invasion of Timor and a series of other military setbacks, created an atmosphere of uncertainty and fear.
During this tumultuous period, the threat of a Japanese invasion of mainland Australia loomed large in the minds of the public and military leaders alike, making it imperative for the nation to bolster its defenses. Although Australia had been working to shift its industrial capabilities to support the war effort since 1939, the reality was that it still lacked the necessary resources and infrastructure for proper self-defense, which left the nation vulnerable and anxious about its future.
Wartime pressure on the small-arms factory at Lithgow meant that it was early 1944 before any substantial progress was made on the requests for a shorter, lighter rifle, which had been increasingly called for by military leaders seeking to improve the effectiveness of their troops in challenging terrains.
To address this urgent demand, two main designs with several variations were created in small batches as prototypes or trial guns, each reflecting innovative adaptations to meet wartime needs. One design was a shorter version of the fully stocked SMLE, aimed at enhancing mobility for soldiers operating in fast-paced combat situations.
In contrast, the other design resembled the half-stocked British “Jungle Carbine,” but intriguingly, it was based on the No. 1 action, since Lithgow did not transition from No. 1 to No. 4 production. This decision to retain the older action mechanism highlighted the complexities and limitations faced by the factory during this period, as they sought to balance historical design elements with the urgent need for improved weaponry in the field.
The Bren fired at an impressive rate of 120 rounds per minute, engaging targets in bursts of three to five rounds for optimal accuracy and control. This versatile machine gun was typically used on the ground, mounted securely on a bipod, which allowed for stability and precision during use. However, it also had the unique capability of being fired from the hip, providing greater mobility for the user in close combat situations. When positioned on the bipod, the Bren demonstrated an effective range of nearly 550 metres, making it suitable for various combat scenarios. Moreover, when mounted on a robust tripod, it could deliver sustained fire with remarkable effectiveness, reaching out to nearly one and a half kilometres, thus making it a formidable asset on the battlefield for covering long distances and engaging enemy forces at a safe range. The adaptability and firepower of the Bren made it a favored choice among soldiers during its operational years.
The Bren light machine gun (LMG) was a key weapon for Australian infantry during World War II particularly during the Battle for Australia.
The Bren was originally a Czech design, and its name comes from the cities of Brno and Enfield, where it was developed.
The Bren was a reliable and accurate weapon that could be fired by a single soldier. It had a quick-change barrel that could be replaced in seconds to prevent overheating and barrel warping.
The Bren fired .303-inch caliber ammunition in 30-round magazines, but they were usually only filled with 28 rounds to prevent jamming.
The Bren gun was used by Australian soldiers during the Kokoda campaign, including by Private Bruce Kingsbury VC, who bravely employed a Bren gun to charge at Japanese soldiers during this crucial conflict, single-handedly killing several adversaries and forcing many others to retreat in fear.
Kingsbury’s exceptional courage and determination not only inspired his fellow soldiers, instilling in them a renewed sense of hope and strength amidst the chaos of battle, but also significantly demoralised the Japanese forces, providing his company with the vital momentum needed to seize the enemy position. This pivotal moment in the Kokoda campaign exemplified the bravery of Australian troops and highlighted the impact of individual acts of valor on the broader course of the war, as Kingsbury’s tenacity became a symbol of resistance and perseverance, leaving a lasting legacy for future generations. See a previous post on Bruce Kingsbury.
This has to be the worst posed Airfix figure ever made. I ju hate it and will replace both of them when I finish the Expeditionary forces ones.
