Gurkhas for Falklands

[alanl]

Is there any intention of doing a set of Gurkhas (or perhaps I have overlooked them somewhere else).

Also, in the British section who is "Barrie" meant to represent?

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Barrie is Barrie Lovell from Timecast, who served in the Falklands with 80th Intel section. He provided a lot of information about the kit used.
He's also a mate!

[alanl]

Ah, that makes sense

Good job I wasn't about to order a battalion of that figure!

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Seeing as hes crouching with a map and only armed with a Stirling smg, I'd say that would be a sensible choice!

[Leon]

Is there any intention of doing a set of Gurkhas (or perhaps I have overlooked them somewhere else).

I've just asked Dave about that one, and he wasn't sure they'd look any different, apart from maybe the hat?  In combat though, the helmet ones should do?

[alanl]

Thanks.

I was just wondering about some figures wielding a kukri: they don't like it up 'em, you know (as a great philosopher once said).

[Sunray]

It all hangs on demand. The minium height  for a Johnnie is 160cm - taller than the MoD 148/151 requirements.  The recruits are the pickof the crop and those who pass the doko are often "bred" for it and come from traditional Gurkha familes - well fed by the standards of Nepal.    So at 1/150 scale there would be no difference.


In addition to the Kurki, a few figures in the Cold weather hat would  be distinctive.  I remember the Gurkhas wearing the Cold weather hat at WSI and Brecon. They are less lid conscious than some elite units who stick to the treasured beret and would rather get frostbite of the ears than wear a sensible craphat.  

Sunray

[Leon]

I'll pop this thread over to the requests section, and we'll see how many votes we get.  It wouldn't be too hard to do a couple of hat swops on the existing figures.

[Techno]

Certainly wouldn't take long to do those.
Sure I've still got quite a few 'beret' masters I can convert, if those are wanted.
Cheers - Phil.

[Leon]

Any particular poses you'd prefer?  If you pick a few options, we'll see if Techno's got those with him, and we can go from there?

[ManchesterDave]

They disembarked in San Carlos and were in standard DPM Camo and 58 Pattern Webbing, SLRs/Sterlngs, with GPMG Gun Groups and Charlie G's - the only difference really would be the Kukri scabard attached at the reat of the left ammo pouch (where the bayonet would normally be carried) though I seem to recall a great many of them wearing cap comforters under thier helmets/arctic hats - dont remember any wearing berets though.

[Techno]

Don't worry Dave.

By saying I had some 'beret masters' .....I meant that these particular 'beret' figures would be relatively easy to convert.
I'm sure (with Leon's say so) I'll be able to do something useful for everyone that's interested.

Good info you've put down....Thanks !
Cheers - Phil.

Hah !!
And I forgot to say....As that was your first post on the forum.....A very warm welcome !

[ManchesterDave]

If you want to go the whiole hog, then you might do a Para with a bren, (7.62mm version) identical to the WW2 version except the flash eliminator is very much like the SLR and not the cone shaped one, also the bren was used with the SLR 20 round mags the 30 round curved ones were problematic with rimless rounds.


And thanks for the welcome

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Welcome Dave, good info!

[Sunray]

The request/discussion regarding the LMG has come up before.  In 1/150 scale the 30rd mag would be practically straight. It had only a slight curve to accomodate the 7.62 unlike the banana of the old .303.  I neverencountered/ heard of feed problems. The key issues was the 20rd was more than often used as it was available, and to those who knewand loved it in Operation Banner there was a lot less bulk above the barrel - thus less liklely to snag in undergrowth or in exit from a Rover/APC.  It was lighter than the GPMG and the mag kept the rounds clean, and you did not have a belt trailing to be loaded.  All old mags are prone to spring fatigue.  Even the "new"
5.56 ones for those cheap plastic/stamped metal thing they call an SA80 and its LSW stablemate.

Dave has a serious request for the LMG gunner.  I know the Royals RASed every LMG they could find before they left base, and it was common to find both GPMG and LMG in a section.

With regards to the Barrie figure. Serious figure to have.  Scares the cr*p out of any squaddie.  Indeed most vets will agree that a British Int cell type -or a senior officer- seen looking at a map, posed the most serious threat to human life on the battlefield....

Sunray

[ManchesterDave]

The bootnecks RAS'd everything that wasnt nailed and superglued down   

And the paint job on the Anchor pub was well out of order.................

[Sean67]

Still does Sunray just had an exercise down here asked troop commander for a grid ref for an incident she was reporting. upon receipt of referance had to contact her again and tell here to turn her map 90 degrees and give me the new grid referance.

Officers are scarry creatures
Sean

[Sunray]

And the paint job on the Anchor pub was well out of order.................

Its been a few decades since I last took a footsie up from the harbour (Philomel St ?) and but the hotel [sic] on the corner with Crozier was and is know as" the Globe"- and the paint job you refer to was to add a laurel. 

The victory in the Falklands was due in no small measure to  the leadership skills and fieldcraft of the 'two tape' section commanders.  Unlike the Argies they could read a map, issue exact FCOs and range of battleskills.  Wargame Rules should reflect this dichotomy.   

Sunray

[Techno]

Right then.

Just starting some 'infills' the Falkland's range...Which will include a few Gurkhas...
But I've got a query on something else to be added.
The L4A2 'Bren'.

The piccy I've got (artwork rather than photo) shows the mag as (as near as dammit) straight...But checking around I'm 'informed' that the mag had a slight curve...and the photo's I've found seem to bear this out.
Which is correct chaps ?
Admittedly the curve seems to be so miniscule that at this scale I don't think it would be truly visible.
Answers on a £50 note for preference.
Cheers - Phil.

[Nosher]

Wish I had a £50 note to offer an answer on but in absence of sufficient funds, I am absolutely certain the mag was straight.

Sure others who served at that point will be more knowledgeable