Friday, August 29, 2014

World War 2 History in North Carolina

Back from a jaunt in the southern USA states and had a few interesting stops. One of them was in the mountains of North Carolina where we visited the Museum of Ashe County History.

Located in the original 1904 county courthouse, the museum has been restoring the building piece by piece and adding displays as they continue to grow. Today, In light of our recent Bolt Action posts, we will focus on the World War 2 Veterans Honor Room.


Immediately upon entering the room you'll notice a large display with various uniforms and larger
artifacts like the mail carriers bike used in Nuthampstead, England..

and the Bomber Crew "Mickey Mouse" Flak Helmet.


The Rifle Case from left to right, one is an 1898 Krag Jorgensen whish was issued to some home guard units. Number two is a 1917 Enfield used for training, home guard, Alaska Territorial Guard and Lend Lease to allies.The third rifle is the 1903 Springfield left over from WWI but also still servicable. Four is the M03A3 Transitional 5 shot bolt action. A modernized version of the 1903 was preferred in the Marines over the M1 because of its accuracy. Five is the iconic M1 Garand 8 shot semi-automatic and Six is the M1 Carbine 15 or 30 shot semi automatic




Other display cases contain a plethora of artifacts and memorabilia...


along with photos of the local veterans who served and contributed to the display.


For more details, visit their site at AsheHistory.org or visit!!

The Museum of Ashe County History, Inc. 301 East Main Street, Jefferson, NC 28640
Phone: 336-846-1904 or email: info@ashehistory.org

Have a Great Battle!
The Old Crow

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Warlord Games Plastic Marines Squad Two for Bolt Action

Warlord Games Plastic Marines
We completed another squad of Marines from the Warlord Games Plastic box set.

Again the amount of options and variables included in the set are phenomenal.

Warlord Games Plastic Marines
Here we have our two crouching body types..
Warlord Games Plastic Marines


Warlord Games Plastic Marines
And here the two standing poses.
Warlord Games Plastic Marines

Warlord Games Plastic Marines
Lastly the runner.

Warlord Games Plastic Marines
Have a Great Battle
The Old Crow

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Warlord Games Plastic US Marine Corp set for Bolt Action - Review

Warlord Games Plastic US Marine Corp Infantry
Lets take a look at Warlord Games US Marine Corp plastic box set for Bolt Action. Warlord keeps producing great figures and armor for Bolt Action. If modelling and World War II are a passion for you, check out the many offerings provided on their site. This squad was made from one of the sprues in the USMC plastic box set.

Warlord Games Plastic US Marine Corp Infantry Sprue
Here is an overview of the sprue with listings for all the items provided. In the box set, there are 5 of these sprues and a weapons sprue. The sprues were clean with very little flashing and seem lines.

Warlord Games Plastic US Marine Corp Wepons Sprue
This is the weapons sprue contents.

Warlord Games Plastic US Marine Corp Infantry Sprue
Back to the infantry sprue, here is a detail of the bodies 2 standing, 2 kneeling, 1 running and 1 prone. There are paired arms with weapons and many single arms with weapons.

Warlord Games Plastic US Marine Corp Infantry Sprue
Arms giving hand signals, positioned to fire weapons, holding binoculars and throwing grenades are included. You'll find many extras like backpacks, water bottles, knives and a machete.

Warlord Games Plastic US Marine Corp Infantry Sprue
Ten heads are included for additional variety and additional ammo bandoleers, bottles and paraphernalia. These five heads are all wearing helmets but there are others with caps and one with a bandaged eye.

Warlord Games Plastic US Marine Corp Infantry
We positioned our prone marine with the BAR on tripod, an ammo bandoleer with knife and water bottle too.

Warlord Games Plastic US Marine Corp Infantry
One of the kneeling figures we positioned firing and the other has his weapon arm slung and binoculars in hand.

Warlord Games Plastic US Marine Corp Infantry
On the back of the first Marine we attached a full pack, knife, bottle and ammo belt. The other soldier has a holstered pistol and extra water bottles.

Warlord Games Plastic US Marine Corp Infantry
Our two standing have a shotgun wielding marine and the second firing his Thompson.

Warlord Games Plastic US Marine Corp Infantry
The backs contain a small pack with trenching tool, ammo bandoleers, a combat knife, and water bottles.

Warlord Games Plastic US Marine Corp Infantry
Lastly the running marine is signalling and brandishing his Thompson. He has the Thompson ammunition pouch too.

Warlord Games Plastic US Marine Corp Infantry
He sports the US Navy Corpman's bag and a belt pouch with grenade. So as you can see, with everything provided, your force can have many individualized Marines.

Have a Great Battle
The Old Crow

Thursday, August 14, 2014

The Joy of Bits

Well I thought there would be time in July to continue the flurry of miniature modelling fun. Life events and work projects keep interfering with modelling. We had started this band of Space Marines to go with the Dreadnoughts from the last couple posts but have not had time to get back to them. I don't think things will let up much until late in October but I am determined to keep everybody updated on anything that gets done.

Anyway, on to modelling mayhem.

The Joy of Bits. As you have probably seen from posts here on Battleground Hobbies, we love to recycle and use bits n pieces of anything and everything. Old computers and printers provide a never ending array of phenomenal pieces parts. Model bits are no exception to this rule. Recent acquisitions for the current projects have brought a plethora of Warhammer 40k bits into our hands!

A local shop in the Pittsburgh area allows hobbyists to unload old armies and bits for store credit and then resells them in their Bits Bin.

You can find single figures, parts, whole squads and even armored vehicles! In the batch we picked up, there are Necron, Space Marine, Tau and Imperial Guard bits.
(Have I mentioned how I hate when Blogger rotates my photos?)

These will all be put to good use as we continue to build our battle weary "Lost Legion" units. These are the first Space Marines to begin the process and some of those grand bits.

So how do you store your bits? Leave them on the sprue? Or do you categorize them in boxes? This is one of the several organizers filled with bits and pieces, mostly recycled parts.

Yes there are bits in organizers too. And if you doubt, we have plenty of sprues in boxes too.

Have a Great Battle,
The Old Crow