Finished Syrian ZSU-23-4 AAA Tank - 15mm Old Glory

ZSU-23-4 AAA Tank from Old Glory

Another vehicle finished for my Golan Heights Project - a Syrian ZSU-23-4, a 15mm model from Old Glory.  I used the same painting approach as I did for the T-55s from Peter Pig. I did not put any vehicle numbers or marking on this tank, however, as I was not sure where they would have been placed on the vehicle.

The quad 23mm canons on this model are barely hanging together

This model is nicer than the Old Glory T-62s, but not as nice as the stuff from Peter Pig (although check here for an interesting discussion on TMP about some shortcomings I was not aware of on their older T-55 models - I don't care, I still love them - but I digress).  This model had some nice bits of stowage - tow cables, a shovel, even a camo tarp stashed on the back.  But the quality of the casting leaves something to be desired - there was a lot of flash and bad mould lines.

I used weathering powders over the engine and the exhaust

Far and away the worst feature of the model is the very delicate, impossible to assemble quad 23mm cannons that serve as the focus of the vehicle.  They have the sturdiness of spaghetti and are basically hanging together by a prayer.  I doubt they will survive the first appearance on the table top....on this basis alone, I would not recommend this model to other gamers - but then I'm not sure there are many options out there.

This angle shows more of the weathering on the tracks and road wheels

These vehicles formed an important part of the Syrian's very effective air defences in the opening hours of the battle on the Golan Heights in 1973.  The pilots from the Israeli Air Force were not able to effectively counter the Syrian assault - between the SA-6s, SA-2s and ZSU-23-4s, the IAF A-4s were blown from the sky in large numbers.  This would change as Israel gradually reclaimed the initiative and took the battle to the Syrians, but for the first few days, tanks like this one extracted a heavy price from the IAF.

As a wargamer I have always thought the ZSU-23-4 is one of the coolest pieces of Soviet/Russian Cold War kit.  The quad cannons look downright ominous.  I find most gamers imagine using these weapons against opposing infantry and light vehicles, as opposed to the enemy aircraft, and I am no exception - this has happened a fair bit in our 28mm modern games - but I'm sure on the actual battlefield the crew was to keep their eyes on the sky, and not on the ground.

Ready to move out against the defenders of the Golan Heights

The Old Glory T-62s are up next.  Stay tuned!

15mm Syrian Build-Up Continues

15mm tanks on the assembly line - all from Old Glory

I'm continuing to build up my Syrian forces for my 15mm 1973 Golan Heights project, assembling some vehicles to go in the supporting cast for the Syrian army.  These are models from Old Glory (or Battle Honors, or Command Decision, or whatever the f*ck it is called these days - I'm not even sure how I managed to get them).  The Old Glory models are definitely a mixed bag in terms of quality.

ZSU-23-4, an iconic piece of Cold War Soviet kit

One of the reasons the Golan Heights was so touch-and-go for the Israelis in 1973 was the strength of the Syrian air defences.  The Yom Kippur war was a rude shock for the Israeli Air Force, used to doing whatever it liked, and the Israeli Defense Forces, which had based all of their strategic assumptions on the IAF kicking major butt in the opening hours of any conflict.  The IAF found over the Golan (and in the Sinai) that the Soviet-supplied air defences were fearsome and effective, and the pilots paid a terrible price as a result.

On the Golan the ZSU-23-4 air defence tanks were a big part of that, with radar guided quad 23mm cannons accompanying the advancing armoured columns, shredding the IAF A-4s - any that survived the network of SA-6 SAM batteries, that is.  The ZSU is one of the iconic vehicles of the Soviet  Cold War-era arsenal, and I look forward to painting one up.  This one is an Old Glory casting, and like the other Old Glory products it scores good marks for low cost, but you get what you pay for.  In particular, the assembly of the 23mm cannons was painstaking and I'm not confident they will survive the first game....oh well...I added an aerial on the back of the turret.

The BTR-60 APC - not very glamorous, but a big part of the 1973 war

Another key supporting player for the Syrian forces was the BTR-60 wheeled APC.  The Warsaw Pact manufactured a gazillion or so of these things and they were widely given away/exported to client states like Syria.  The BTR-60 doesn't get any of the glory from war gamers like some of the other Soviet kit (such as the ZSU), but this was a widely deployed vehicle among the Syrian divisions that assaulted the heights in 1973, so I have three of these to carry some infantry in support of the tanks.

These are Old Glory models too, but the quality was not bad.  I'm not sure that all eight wheels line up perfectly, but all in all a pretty good buy.

T-62 platoon showing off their new aerials before priming - key question is whether they have the right wireless plan....

I gave my T-55 test model an antenna, and I've found that once you do that on one tank, you sort of feel like maybe all of the tanks should have one, so I drilled out the (poorly cast) antenna mounts on these Old Glory T-62s with a pin vise and added aerials.  The T-62s are supposed to be the elite armoured force for the Syrians, representing the best tank in their arsenal at the time....so far I'm not sure these Old Glory models will live up that, especially beside the wonderful Peter Pig T-55s.  We'll see whether a coat of paint can improve that...but in the interim, I am ordering a brace of T-62s from QRF.

New Project - Arab-Israeli War, Golan Heights 1973, in 15mm

Israeli Centurion - Golan Heights, 1973

I hardly need a new project, but since when has that ever stopped or even focused my approach this hobby?  The summer has arrived here in the Canadian prairies.  Another successful and fun Prairiecon has come and gone. I have been busy with some fun small hobby projects.  But what sort of new venture might be out there - other than the new edition of 40k - assuming it ever arrives? Here is a blurb about my next project....

I have always been a fan of armour and tanks.  To be clear, a hobby fan.  I doubt I could fit safely into a real tank, particularly the Soviet/Russian ones, and I can't imagine what it would be like to be in a battle where all you can see is what is there through a small view-finder....but from a hobby perspective, tanks are very, very cool.  Most of my favourite games have involved lots of tanks.  I still remember back to the days when the Conscripts actually gamed on Fawcett Avenue, and Conscript Mark I. actually rolled out a 1-1 ratio, 6mm scale WW3 battle.  I told him "just fill the table with tanks!" and he obliged - we played a rules set called "Contact" (I think) and he had the better part of a WarPac tank regiment right there, in 6mm scale.  We controlled a thin line of NATO armour, and filled the table with wrecks before getting overrun. What a hoot!

So I wanted my summer/fall project to involve tanks, preferably modern.  But what "period" of modern?  Recently I have been reading about the 1973 Yom Kippur War, and particularly the desperate battle on the Golan Heights.  The Israelis, caught by surprise, and bereft of air support due to the Syrian air defence systems, were on their own as Syrian divisions swarmed the Israeli positions. The courage displayed on both sides was incredible - the Israeli tankers holding against dire odds, and the Syrian tankers advancing grimly into open fields of fire they must have known were already pre-ranged and pre-sighted by the Israeli Armoured Corps from their defensive positions along the heights.  The Israelis knocked out frightening amounts of Syrian amour, particularly in the area that came to be known as the "Valley of Tears".  At the same time, the Israelis were very nearly overrun.  It was a close call. 

Osprey books - even with their terrible writing style, they are great for snagging you into a new project!

The battle on the Golan Heights in 1973 featured all arms, but the primary combatants were tankers.  The Israelis relied on up-gunned and re-engined Centurion tanks, the "Sh'ot Kals".  The Syrians employed the T-55, as well as the new T-62.  With a fearsome 115mm main gun, heaviest in the front line in that time, the T-62 was feared.  This was a tank vs. tank battle more than anything else - very cool for gaming purposes.  So, my new project is the Golan Heights in 1973.

I have decided to go with 15mm as the scale.  I already have 6mm based for Spearhead, which is platoon based.  Those are fun games, but I am looking for a 1-1 ratio game.  The 12mm and N-scale stuff out there is not reliable - the Russian tanks from Minifigs are great, but there is no up-gunned Centurion in that scale. So 15mm it is. 

For the Israeli tanks, I will use models from Peter Pig. These miniatures are by far the best 15mm models out there, and Peter Pig has the most outstanding range of IDF stuff.  Their website is bonkers in terms of how frustrating it is to find stuff, but once you do, it is worth it.  Their IDF range is more tuned to the invasion of Lebanon in the early 80s than the 1973 Yom Kippur war.  The Centurions have some Blazer ERA, and extra MGs - features that were not present in 1973, but I don't care (at this point) - their tank models are so much nicer than anyone else's line, so these tanks will represent the Israelis on the Golan.

15mm scale Centurion "Shot" from Peter Pig - one of the nicest 15mm tanks I've ever assembled!

For the Syrians, I am looking to acquire lots of T-55s an T-62s. For the T-55, Peter Pig is at the forefront again, with an outstanding model in 15mm scale.  

T-55 from Peter Pig - once again, a top of the line model.

For the T-62s, it is trickier.  Peter Pig does not make a T-62 (sadly), so that leaves Old Glory and QRF. My experiences with QRF have been mixed at best, so I ordered a test pack from Old Glory (or Battle Honors, or whatever the f*ck it is called now - Old Glory is so confusing...).

T-62 in 15mm scale from Old Glory....you get what you pay for, I guess....

The Old Glory T-62 is not about to set the hobby world on fire.  Cost wise, it is a great value.  But you seem to get what you pay for...so I am ordering some additional T-62s from QRF.  We'll see what comes along...

I am also playing around with the idea of basing these tanks.  I have not based my 15mm tanks previously, but I have seen a lot of other gamers doing it, and it seems to make sense.  On the other hand, waiting for the bases from Litko will take a while.  So I will probably just paint the tanks, and order the bases...when they arrive, I will test some bases on a couple of them. 

Group shot - from left, a Peter Pig T-55, Old Glory T-62, and a Peter Pig Centurion. Peter Pig models are clearly nicer.

There will be a lot of new things to try.  I have no idea how to get the grey-green-dust colour that the Israeli armour seems to have in the colour pictures I have seen from 1973.  I also have to track down decals for the Israeli tank markings (chevrons, etc).   The Syrians employed a tricky green and yellow camouflage pattern, with arabic numerals on the turrets.  To paint the camouflage, I should really use an airbrush.  But I hate the needy, whiney airbrush, so will see what the regular brush can come up with.  And as for the Arabic numbers, that will take some research....

I hope to have some test models painted on the blog before the summer is too far along, and maybe a game this fall! Stay tuned.