15mm Egyptian T-55s and SU-100s - Yom Kippur War

The thing about our group is that we love insane new projects. Another thing about us is that we're such inveterate hobbyists that we easily get sucked into one another's insane projects. So it has come to pass here. One of Conscript Greg's ongoing insane projects is the Yom Kippur War (a.k.a. October War) of 1973, and I've been sucked in.

After painting a test PT-76, I've dived straight in with a platoon of T-55s, a Christmas gift from insane-new-project-enabler Greg. (Thanks dude!) They're resin models from Khurasan, and they are quite nice indeed.

I painted then in the same manner as the PT-76: basecoat of Calthan Brown highlighted with Zandri Dust for the tan, and Castellan Green highlighted with Knarloc Green for the green. Wash heavily with Agrax Earthshade, then highlight again with Zandri and Knarloc.

Paint the tracks and machineguns with Mechanicus Standard Grey, wash with Nuln Oil, apply chipping with sponge and a mix of craft black and brown paint. Base to taste!

I painted some random Arabic numerals on the turrets as tactical markings.

I read somewhere that the Egyptians used white stripes on the fenders as tac markings in 1973 as well.

I also left off the auxiliary fuel tanks as I understand they were not taken into action.

Should I add antennas?? They tend to get knocked around during painting so I add them at the end, but it just occurred to me that none of the vehicles have them. I'll have to ponder that.

I really like these models! I may need to get more, particularly considering Greg's comment that "they'll look great burning in the desert"!

This platoon of SU-100s was next in the queue. Also courtesy of Conscript Greg - I swapped him a very nice copy of Warhammer Fantasy Battle 3rd edition that I found in a used bookstore. New insane project escalation goes both ways, I hope!

These are the Battlefront models - resin hulls with metal tracks and accessories. The metal gives them a nice heft - I kinda wish that Khurasan had gone with metal tracks.

The "command" vehicle comes with a very clever molded-in driver and separate hatch. I added the commander as well.

The vehicles were painted in the same style as the T-55s, sans camo. I did find one annoying thing during painting, though - the new pot of Zandri Dust I picked up last week is noticeably darker than the pot I'd just finished. Very annoying.

Fuel tanks were molded onto the hull, mostly, so these vehicles will take them into action.
 

I used a variety of flocking materials for the groundwork - some spongy green stuff that fell of my Woodland Scenics trees, GW static grass, and Army Painter tufts. Those things are pure magic.

Well, there you have it. Two platoons of vehicles for the Egyptians, a good start towards the Arab forces for the participation game that Greg and I are running at PrairieCon in Brandon in early June. Next I'd better get at the infantry platoon...