The Draw of Cold War Wargaming

I have been listening to a number of Twilight 2000 podcasts lately. It has reignited my interest in Cold War wargaming again. I would prefer a game set in the 1980s over the Twilight 2000 setting. This had me surfing eBay for some pieces that I had yet to get for my Cold War forces. I ended up with three painted FV432s for my British platoon. (I really need to find those infantry I was given.) I also picked up a pair of M114 scout vehicles.

I have also been looking at the items that I have bought but not yet printed from Flank March Miniatures. I really need to warm up my 3d printer again and getting these moving. I was going back through the blog for where I left off. I know I want to get my M113s finished. I have one that is not Merdec camo'ed up. I should have forces ready for the table top. I really don't have a clue what I am missing or even have for my Soviets at this point.

US Cold War Forces

I went downstairs and began pulling the drawers for these forces. The US forces are interesting. I have three well painted M1 Abrams tanks. But they are painted a different MERDEC pattern from my M113s. There is also a painted Bradley and a painted LAV. Each of these area really nice. I have an unpainted Team Yankee plastic M1 Abrams and three more resin M1s but only one is assembled. I have a primed M60A3 that I want to paint up. I also have two other metal miniatures that I have not been able to place. The bags are labeled "MAT1". I thought they were QRF models. But that may not be right. On Scale Creep, I can't find the code but MAT02 is the M1 Abrams. That brings me to the M113s. One will ned to be repainted in a matching MERDEC pattern with the others. That should not take too long. The Infantry plastoon is ready to go. The extra miniatures that I have are apparently giants as they are much larger than my QRF cold war US Infantry. I have some unpainted infantry on a painting stick but not many figures. I am going to look at supplementing with the Flank March minis that I bought. Definitely want to create some Engineer teams. Lastly there is a Mercedes. This may be better served with the Syrians or PLO. Definitely an objective of somekind.

I would like a complete platoon of M60 tanks to support my forces to represent more reservist units. Also a platoon of bradleys for more regulars with the M113s assigned to reserve units.

Soviet Cold War Forces

Finally, I have a straight picture. The Soviets are in the best shape of all of my minis. Mostly because I received a number of figures from Brian English after he passed away. The miniatures I painted are on the Circular bases for big men and square bases for the soldiers. His area all on round bases. There is a full platoon of mounted infantry. I have the option of BMP-1 mounted or BTR-60 mounted troops. For support options, I have a tripod mounted machine gun and a AGS grenade launcher. There is aslo two Soviet jeeps (not sure if they are UAZ or Gaz). I also have a 3d print of a flat bed truck that needs to be painted. Then a single BMP-2. I am not sure how many BMPs that I have left from the box I purchased a while back. I also have a command vehicle that seems to be based on a BTR chassis. A nice find was the 8 casualty figures. From Brian's collection, there is also 3 Sagger ATGM teams. These offer a nearly ready force that can be used.

Now, I have enough armor that they were stored in a separate drawer. The bulk of the armor is T-64s There are ten of these. However, all have taken some damage. One vehicle had its gunners come loose. All lost their external fuel tanks. It should be a short amount of work to correct. They also need touch up paint on the barrels. Then there are four T-55s. The question I have is should I transfer at least one of these to my Syrians? Only one of the T-55s is painted. Then I have two T-72s. The unpainted one is missing its smoke dispensers. I think they are in the bag in the picture so it is not a tragedy. The painted T-72 looks like it has lost gas tanks as well. The T-72s are Team Yankee Plastic models. Lastly I have a ZSU-23-4. The radar dish has come loose. All relatively simple fixes.

Israelis in Lebanon 1982

I also looked into my 1982 Lebanon Israelis. I have a full three squad Platoon with headquarters. I have one Uparmored M113 and three standard M113s for them. These are all painted. I also have a squad to use as a support element as well that is painted. I have a single M60 Magach with home made ERA armor that is painted.

I also have two 3d prints of a M60 Magach 6. In addition, I have a metal M60 as well without ERA Armor. These all need to be painted. I also have an M113 with the VADS system on it that needs painting and a M113 mortar carrier that needs some paint. Also in the lead pile of shame is a Nagma Sh'ot personel carrier that is undercoated. Lastly, there are three jeeps. They havean MG mounted. If I can find one, I would like to mount a recoilless rifle on one. In addition, I have a large number of spare painted miniatures that need the bases painted. I need some infantry support elements like machineguns. But it is still close to being done. I also have a large number of unpainted infantry as well. I need to check on what I have. I thought that I had purchased a Merkava I but I can't find it.

1982 Lebanon Syrians and PLO

I have a full mounted platoon of Syrians. I also have a wrecked T-55 and a painted T-55. Both painted very differently. I actually like the look of the wrecked one better. The infantry needs work done on their bases. I have some Sagger ATGMsand additional infantry that needs painting. I also have several packs of unpainted Peter Pig Miniatures as well. I only have 8 PLO figures.

The plan is to paint up a few more modern tanks for them and possibly some BMPs. I should have some spares. The infantry also needs some additional support elements.

NOTE: I am pretty sure I messed up Identifying the Soviet tanks.

Sharp Practice AWI

Also on the table is odds and ends from my British Legion project. I want to pull these back out as well and see what is left to do. Then I want to print some more of the Turner Miniatures models that I have. Mainly, I am interested in some regular British and some more cavalry - Continental and British Legion.