6th Australian Division #2

Progress on WDF(Toy) continues. I have completed the Divisional HQ unit: 2 figures with a Tilly Utility Car; three infantry brigades each of three battalions. The head swaps worked pretty well, better than I expected to be honest. I think the brigades have a real Digger feel to them now. The brigades each have their own character: 16th Australian Infantry Brigade is made up of charging./running figures. 17th Australian Infantry Brigade is made up of advancing/static figures. 19th Australian Infantry Brigade is made up of shooting figures.

The division has some way to go before completion: three artillery regiments plus tractors/LOG; divisional recce; divisional engineers plus truck; RASC LOG column; two British infantry battalions and last but not least the anti-tanks.

The pictures:

Div HQ @ Left

Front to Rear: 16th Aus Inf Bde, 17th Aus Inf Bde, 19th Aus Inf Bde

Div HQ Close-Up

"I've got the BBC Forces Programme!"

Close-Up 17th & 19th Bdes

6th Australian Infantry Division Infantry

All the best!

PS I will be at the Derby Wargames Show this Saturday if anyone else is going we could meet up for a chinwag and tea. Splendid!

6th Australian Division #1

The 6th Australian Division, commanded by Major General Iven Mackay, became part of WDF on 14th December 1940. They were posted in to replace 4th Indian Division which was sent to East Africa. The Australians were still in training when ordered to join WDF. They gained quickly a reputation for being well organised, tactically astute and ruthless in attack thus being a one-for-one exchange for 4th Indian Division.

I bought a box of the Matchbox Australians and then did some mix-matching with the desert troops I already had. Mainly head swaps but also one torso grafted onto a new pair of legs. This was the Australian officer who was modelled galloping forward while looking to his side: a ridiculous pose. I pinned the heads with cut-down dress makers pins and a blob of all purpose glue. I also used modelling putty to fill in holes in the head-neck interface. As you can see from the photos the camera sees things the eye doesn't! The toys are at the head-swap stage but prior to having a heated needle run over their excess flash bits. I went for a mix of hats and helmets but with helmets predominating.

The officer got new legs, holster, water bottle and haversack the lucky bleeder!

I like the way he's holding the phone away from his ear. 

Must begetting a right bollocking!

UATH!