中国人民解放军陆军 (PLA Ground Forces)

Hey Everyone

Hope you all had an enjoyable time over the past Christmas weekend...which is infamous for crazy shopping and maddening traveling, but also holds special significance for some (like me) in the form of Jesus' birthday and the gift of salvation. I'm curious, how many of us actually buys military toys/models for our friends and family?

Today we're taking a slight departure from the Fuchs and moving onto the soldiers of the PLA ground forces, who remain the largest standing army in the world, and have put in considerable modernization efforts to catch up with their contemporaries.

If you'd like to read up more about what's going on in the PLA, there's a database website (which sounds rather official to me) that you could read up about a lot of things, such as write-ups on their equipment and blogs about military events.

http://www.sinodefence.com/

While I was snooping around, I also found out that China enjoyed very close political relations to the US in the 1980s (to counter the Soviets), and China actually acquired Blackhawk helicopters from the US during that time...in spite of the Tiananmen crackdown in 1989 and consequent US sanctions, the PLA was able to keep the Blackhawks in flyable condition, taking part in multiple exercises and high altitude missions (a few were lost to crashes and pilot errors).

More info can be found here:
http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/helicopter/s70.asp

Fuchs from the Back

Hello Everybody

I've been away with some traveling, and just got back home to have some time to do up the next post, so I do apologize for the slight delay.

This time, we have another shot of the Fuchs 6x6 APC from the back, mainly focusing upon the crew doors on the vehicle.

The TPz Fuchs can carry a total of 10 passengers, and has found willing buyers of the APC, ranging from Saudi Arabia and even the United States (as the M93 Fox). It has not been deployed in active combat, but has served in peace-keeping operations such as in former Yugoslavia under the KFOR.

To build on POI's point, wheeled vehicles have their own advantages and disadvantages when compared to track systems...a big "up" for wheels would be the durability of the vehicle, as it can operate even if a wheel or 2 are destroyed (in contrast of complete immobilization in tracked vehicles). Also, wheeled vehicles can operate for prolonged distances, as it does not suffer as much mechanical strain as the tracks. However, tracks (the 'continuous railway' when it was invented in the 1800s) are better at spreading out the weight (improving mobility in mud) and provide a smoother ride across uneven surfaces.

All in all, it really depends on what the vehicle is intended to do...maybe one day we will see walkers, with the Japanese leading the front with their gundams (their Asimo technology is really impressive) :P

Fuchs APC

Hey Everyone!

Great load of thanks goes out to JQ for putting the posts up for the past 4 weeks, and for you all who come down and read the posts/pics we put up.

Today we're featuring the German Fuchs APC, again made by our favorite Galoob (Micromachines)

There's actually a pretty long story how JQ and I tried to guess what the APC was. On first impression, it looked like it came from the BTR series, only to find that the Russian APCs have 8 wheels, and not 6. JQ and I pulled our hair out as we scoured the internet for a picture of a similar APC. The closest we came to was the German TPz Fuchs, which matched the toy, but had an even spacing of wheels (which the toy did not have). And on a random ebay micromachine hunt, we did find that micromachines listed the APC as "panzer-transport" or something to that effect...indirectly confirming the TPz Fuchs identity.

So here it is...the TPz Fuchs (Fox), the 2nd wheeled armored vehicle serving in the Bundeswehr, first made in 1979. It's reported that the Fuchs can run with 1 or 2 wheels totally damaged. Interesting piece of trivia: maximum speed is 105 km/h (65 mph), which is pretty darned fast.

Longbow Ah-64D and Apache AH-64C

Here we have the AH-64D LongBow on the left and the AH-64C Apache on the Right.

While they do not look as close as they are shown in the picture. The Ah-64C and Ah-64D in real life are pretty much the same helicopter.

Unfortunately, Micromachines failed to make a proper scale of both helicopters. The Longbow is distinctively differentiated from the Normal Apache by its large radar dome on the helicoper's main rotors.

The elevated position of the radome allows detection and (arcing) missile engagement of targets even when the helicopter itself is concealed by an obstacle (e.g. terrain, trees or buildings).

Further, a radio modem integrated with the sensor suite allows a D-variant Apache to share targeting data with other AH-64Ds that do not have a line-of-sight to the target. In this manner a group of Apaches can engage multiple targets but only reveal the radome of one D-variant Apache.

Just an extra info would be that the Longbow on the left is Joshua's while the Apache on the right is mine. The ufnny thing is that Joshua's Longbow looksmuch more like the Ah-64 than mine as my cockpit is way fatter.

While military enthusiast like me can tell such a difference easily, there are more detailed military enthusiast that scratch build model kits and can tell the disparity of various model kits that i hardly even noticed. Not too long ago, i was in the http://www.modelwarships.com/ website forum and it was discussing on the disparity of scale for the Shanghai Dragon Arleigh Burke Kit.

Such in-depth research really amazes me at times and makes me aspire to do be better which bring me to the part that I am organising my military kits and models so that i can get ready to take pictures wif Josh. Furthermore, i wanna do my models in an intensive manner as i have not for a long time.

In any case, Hope u have liked the 4 weeks of entries that i have posted. Josh is taking over for now and will be doing lots of interesting entries too.

Stay tuned and thanks for the constant support.

UH1 huey on Greenfield

Undoubtedly the Popstar and Father of Helicopters, the UH1 Huey is a testament to Leonardo Da Vinci's concept on a aircraft that could vertically take off and hover.



Vickers was talking about how the Uh1 Huey go hand in hand with the Vietnam War movie "Platoon". And i have to agree. The Uh1 Huey has always been an iconic helicopter. From Mel Gibson's "We were Soldiers" to "Rambo". Every Vietnam War scenario were filled with these warbirds.

And the evidence of their influence is still seen today around many parts of the world. Even in "Courage under Fire", a Gulf War movie starring Denzel Washington and Meg Ryan had the Huey as a medic helicopter.

As such, We pay homage to the UH1 Huey for being a darn good helicopter, putting men on hoverflight into the new century and the new era of warfare.

On a sidenoteL Sorry guys for the short entry, didn't edit it totally so i am extending it now. I'm gonna get to work on my models soon and will be updating you on it as i progress on.

The UH1 Huey in the night

The UH1 Huey

You know, across every generation of warmachine, there will always be one founding father for each type of warmachine
.
From the infamous Sopwith Camel that took man to the air to the F86 Sabre or Mig 15 that took Man into the jet age, there will always be an iconic warmachine that would revolutionise the way wars are fought.

The UH-1 Huey was one machine that brought a new era in the way of fighting. Deploying troops in the hot zone and taking injured out where no plane can go. The UH-1 Huey was the poster boy for helicopters. It was also the icon for Vietnam.

And as such, I give my due respect to the helicopter that did it all and is still doing it at this current day.

Heres to the UH1-Huey

If u wanna noe, The picture was done using some led lighting to look like as if its the night time and tht spotlights were on the ground giving a coloured outline of the huey.

Hope u guys like it. :)

Cheers

Closeup on the Tu22

Hello Guys, Im back again after a month of exams and studying. Its good to be back and I shall continue of from Joshua's Introduction of the Tu22M.

Here is a Macro shot we did and i though tit was fantastic. Firstly, it gaved a nice touch on closing up on the micromachine. Secondly, the lighting and background were perfect.

Particularly like this picture among our shots on this particular take on the Tu22M



Just another information to share on the plane, The Tu22M is nothing like its Tu22 brother. The designs look different. The external structure of the plane was also undoubtedly different in appearance. However, unlike its older brother, the Tu22M did not suffer the failures of the Tu22.

On a side note, the Tu22M in this picture reminds me of "thunderbirds" as this pic somehow gives a sort of 80s spacey like feel to the plane. Another sort of ambience the picture and more in particular, this plane, is that it looks like the type of plane that would be taking on Gozilla or helping Ultraman in his fight against monsters.

I dunno, but the whole look of the Tu22M reminds me of some past 70s or 80s feel and give me an impression of how designers of tht time envision whas a futuristic bomber would look like from their predecessors.

Other than that, I am please to announce that this next two months or so, I will be going intensive on my military models. I will be continuing my construction of the Ticonderoga VLS Cruiser and proceeding on to try and fix up as many othe rmodel kits and paint as much as possible.

After so many months of not doing it, I feel deprived and am urging to take up my paintbrush and step up the pace on model making. Furthermore, Im still brainstorming on the integration, and it will happen soon.

Cheers

Tu 22M Backfire

Hello

Today we have a shot of the Tu-22 Backfire bomber by micromachines, just that the nose was painted black which kind of took away the 'classic' look of the actual Backfires that did not have black noses. Oh well, I am just picky.

The Tu-22M represented a general trend in 1970s aircraft design: the use of swept wings. The variable sweep wing was initially attractive as it provided a blend of short take off and efficient cruising, famous planes including the Tomcat, Tornado, Flogger and the Aardvark. However, it was found that such designs were complex and added too much weight to the aircraft, which saw a stop to its use in military aircraft design, with the last major military swept wing aircraft was the Tu 160 Blackjack.

Man, I grew up reading about these planes, playing them in flight simulators, and reading that they're obsolete is somewhat sobering to me....at least telling me that I am indeed getting old :P

Well, it's about time for me to hand this blog over to my partner in crime...so let's welcome JQ once again!

The Falcon Flies High

Hey Everyone

Thanks again for your kind comments as we share our interest in modern military models.

This time, we feature another shot of our micromachine F-16 Falcon, in its regular grey scheme (one the few micromachines to have a realistic color scheme I have to add).

For those Battlestar Galactica fans (like myself and JQ), the F16 proved to be such a capable fighter that it was unofficially named the Viper by her pilots, after the mainstay interceptor of the science fiction series.

Interestingly, this unofficial moniker has lived on, as Lockheed Martin has led development in the F16IN "Super Viper" program, implementing 5th generation technology into the 4th generation airframe, making the F16IN the an extremely advanced 4th generation fighter. Technologies include reduced radar signatures, and even advanced radar technology (that is also exported by the US) that the company claims that no other competitor can match in the export market today. The F16IN was designed for the Indian Air Force, and it is interesting that the words 'protecting a nation's sovereignty' and 'global war on terror' appears on the company's website:

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/products/f16/f16in/index.html

Falcon in the Sunset

Hey Folks!

Thanks for your continued support and readership...and we really appreciate it. The integration stated by JQ is still in the theory phase, and it isn't planned to happen in the near future yet. We will provide a definite update when we do get it going.

Today we're featuring another icon of 20th Century Air Combat, and that is none other than the F-16 Fighting Falcon! A veteran of many fronts, the Falcon continues on to roar in the skies of today.

The development of the F-16 is a pretty interesting one, having competition from aircraft that were to become the F-15 and the F/A 18. Initially the US chose to develop the FX aircraft for air superiority missions after Vietnam (the 'pre-F15), while a group of innovators pushed for a mixed budget airforce: have expensive and low cost fighters at the same time, to fulfill required roles at an economical cost.

Prototype competition then became the name of the day, as the Lightweight Fighter (LWF) program was hatched, which looked into making an airplane complementary to the FX. In the end, FX led to the F-15, while the LWF gave us the F-16, but the navy went for the F/A-18 (which lost to the F-16) instead of the navalized F-16.

It is interesting to know that these aircraft all have a shared history, and eventually became so successful that they are still actively deployed by many countries all over the world. USAF is already replacing them with the F-22 and F-35, while advanced versions are still being made for export to other countries...

Not many fighters can make a claim to longevity as much as the Fighting Falcon!

Harriers and Pop Culture

Hey Everyone

Thank you for coming down to this corner of the internet, and thanks also go out to JQ who provided us with a good ol' salvo of articles on the pics we have taken of our miniature micromachines.

This time, we are continuing with our slew of Harrier pics, this time a closeup on the cockpit of a 'Terror Troops' AV8B Harrier II.

The American developed Harrier II is currently deployed by USMC, Spainish navy (Armada Española) and the Italian navy (Marina Militare). As we know, there are different variants of the harrier jet, with the Harrier II starting as a joint US-UK (McDonnell Douglas and Hawker Siddeley) project until the British pulled out due to financial constraints (due to over-runs from the Rolls Royce engine), only to later return and develop a Harrier II variant based on the American design (giving us the Harrier Gr.5/7/9).

The Harrier's ability to hover was a fascinating ability that found homage in popular culture, and it was most well-known for its appearance in the hollywood movie, True Lies (bet some of you guys still remember that scene well). It was reported that the film employed actual Harrier IIs from the USMC with their pilots, provided by the US government at a fee of $100,736 for about 4 hours ($2,410 per hour). Of course, this doesn't include expensive payloads and extensive support network to strategically deploy the aircraft...duh. That's where our tax money goes in haha.

Interestingly, Pepsi ran an ad for a Harrier jet up for grabs at 7 million Pepsi points, and someone actually used a loophole (to by points at 10cents each) to buy the jet for $700,000. He used a certified check (with his earned Pepsi points, to claim the Harrier jet from Pepsi, who of course did not fulfill the demand since the jet easily costs more than a million bucks. This led to a court case, with the judge deciding that the person had ought to know the ad was a joke, and he had no grounds in stating there was a breach of contract and fraud when Pepsi didn't fulfill his demand (details are at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_v._Pepsico,_Inc.).

Interesting stuff huh?

Harriers Veering off

The AV8Bs making a hard right.

Hi there. This week, its still the AV8Bs.
Its funny. Me and Josh were just coming up with better ways to shoot the two harrier jets. But i guess after 13 years into Modern Military Models and also enjoying the beauty of detail and improving on the modelling side, i am not really satisfied with the picture as compared to our others.

What do you guys think?

Problem is, to make better detailed Micro Machine pictures, I will have to paint it over and put in my extra detail. Furthermore, Model kits and other collectibles take a long time to make it into an awesome sculpt.

But like they say. No Pain.. No Gain.

Regardless of it, I hope U like the pictures i have served up for you. I noe the entries are a bit bla dee bla bla.

But now, i will pass the time to Josh to feature one last closeup on the AV8B and many more cool stuff.

On a sidenote, the integration to an UBER hobby Blog will come soon. And hopefully, it will attract more of you guys and also be a good place for ppl who take interest in these stuff. As for modelling progress on my side, I have done nothing because I have nothing with me in KL.
That is because I am pretty sure I cannot accomplished anything during this period and hence i did not bring any equipment or models to do during this few weeks.

Im off to Kill my exams.

Till the next time, Stay tuned and enjoy reading.

Cheers

Harrier and His Wingman

Back again with this weeks post. And posted promptly. But i must say, my schedule is getting insane because I have exams that I will have to deal with very soon. (being a student, of course)

In any case, here is another view of the Harrier AV8B patrolling over the skies. I must say, the detail of micromachine doesnt make this picture that great. And even when it is an SLR camera, it doesnt really showcase the magnificent dynamic and structure of the AV8B Harrier Jet.

Nevertheless, it is a Micromachine, so it definitely lacks the details and makes up for durability to give kids around the age of 8 and beyond the advantage of crashing it around and playing with their Imagination in mind.

Still remember the days as an 11 year old kit getting my hands on some awesome micromachine military and playing with them. Some of the vehicles had great detail for that size..

Ahhh but gone are the days.. Because Galoob went to hell, Hasbro took over, Destroyed everything, and now you dun even see modern military in the toy department other than the Tamiya Models at the small corner. (Talking in retrospect to Singapore Mainstream Toy Department).

Well thats all for today.

Cheerios PPL.

Harriers in the Horizon

Greetings again. Sorry for the late entry. But as usual, it is the busy schedule and the hectic days that have brought me to my delay.

In proceeding today, we shall focus on the Harrier AV8Bs. These were the versions that were improved from the Original Harriers and were also adopted as a close air support for the US Marine Corp.

These VSTOL aircraft have been the primary aircraft that have remain as the one and only VSTOL close air support aircraft in the world. It is a capable plane that has the ability to have a vertical take off.

It has remain the dominant VSTOL aircraft for the best of 20 years or so, but it will most definitely be retired as soon as the F35 VSTOL version get into full production after development progress.

Nonetheless, it will be marked in history as a revolution in aircraft design and development.

On a sidenote, Josh and I have acquired Todd Mcfarlane's Figures, which look exceptionally awesome. The details are jus insanely good and also we have taken pictures that we will be developing soon.

I have also finally cave in and bought a 12 inch figure that i wanna equipped and make it look like a Modern Day Soldier of My own Army :p.

Model Progress for the Ticonderoga has been uberly slow and even as I have pending models to build an dpaint, Im considering to acquire GHQ products of the Russian Udaloy Destroyers and other stuff.

Money Money Money.. Going away real fast.

The eye of the A-10 Thunderbolt II

Im back again!

This time , the picture feature is the A10 Thunderbolt targetting a BLurred out T-80 tank in the foreground. Like a Swooping hawk ready to attack its prey, the A10 can unload a variety of weapons to eliminate the T-80. From its vulcan cannons to hellfire missiles, this tank killer of the sky is a close air support provided by the US Air Force not to be mess with.

The A-10 saw combat for the first time during the Gulf War in 1991, destroying more than 900 Iraqi tanks, 2,000 military vehicles, and 1,200 artillery pieces. One has to wonder, which is more fearful for a tank crew. To be eliminated by the shear power of a M1 Tank's 120mm Gun or getting wipe out from above by the A10.

It is known for an A10 to easily cut through a Russian Tank Platoon with ease and can be said to be more efficient than the M1A1 in taking out heavy armour.

But while record shows its strength, we must understand that in every conflict that the A10 has been in, it is in the environment of which US has Air Superiority.

It can be debatable that if there is no achievement of Air Superiority, the A10's operating range could be limited to zone which are potentially not covered by Enemy Air Support.

Regardless, in modern day conflict, its always the country with the highest technology and experience in war that holds a very strong upperhand.

In the case of today, That would be noneother than the US of A.

Bradley Car Crush

Hey Military fans!

Thanks for the great responses and the discussion that followed...JQ and I really appreciate your readership and support.

For today, we have one of JQ's micromachine M2 Bradleys crushing a hapless car that got in its way.

This was another one of those photos that was perhaps inspired by the boyhood fascination with tanks crushing cars under their sheer weight...for those C&C fans out there, the color scheme of this tank reminds me of the Nod light tank, which was actually a M2 in grey color scheme (not that I remember seeing one like that in real life).

Of course it is possible to state that it is indeed sad that wars have almost always occurred in the vicinity of civilian centers and cities, where civilians not only get killed by cross-fire, but are executed and even tortured for 'strategic purposes' or even ideology. Most of us are fortunate to live in places not touched by war, and yet can we remain blind to what's happening in warzones elsewhere? I find it somewhat disturbing that my life is completely detached from what others are going through right now in wars and insurrections (news on TV is perhaps the closest I'll get), and I wonder what can I do in response? Pray for peace? Donate money to the care of displaced persons? Preach against war and hatred for another?

Well, I hope I didn't bring down your mood for the day, and it's something that I've been thinking about. Thanks again for visiting this humble blog, and allow me to pass the blog back over to JQ!

The Ubiquitous Humvee

Hey Everyone!

For today we have a feature on JQ's 'modified' Humvee micromachine. I guess it is quite noticeable many of our models (especially the recent posts) are all from the US..

I don't know if you'll find this piece of trivia interesting, Lamborghini, the famed makers of classics like the Countach, Diablo and Murciélago, actually made the Cheetah: a competitor with the Humvee for the US Army's search of a dedicated military transport vehicle. Considering the jeeps and mutts of the past, the Humvee provided a much increased level of protection for its crews, and yet it was found short of armor when it went against insurgents in Iraq.

Well, isn't it true that 'victors write history'? Looking at the present situation, we commonly believe that the Nazis were evil (I don't deny that, but I just question the wide generalization), the US did the world good through foreign intervention, Sadaam was an evil ruler ought to be removed etc. History is not as fixed as it seems, and can prove to be fluid under the influence of dominant parties. This happens in religion too, when marginalized groups get exaggerated beyond their beliefs, that they strike us as heretics. The West has a stronger hold on the media than other regions, and especially in the US...the news corporations are indeed very powerful.

On a model collecting perspective, maybe that's why there are much more US models out there than other nations...

M2 Bradley

Hey Everyone!

Thanks for your continued support and readership, it really drives us on to shoot our models and post them on this blog.

This time, we have JQ's M2 Bradley in formation with M1A2 Abrams tanks (note the sculpted CITV, Commander Independent Thermal Viewer).

The Bradley was designed as a response to the Soviet BMP family and brought one crucial aspect over the M113: the ability to move in formation. Interestingly, the M2 stores its fuel in the center, instead of to the left and rear in the M113A3 (which aimed to minimize fires in troop compartment). Although tests have shown that this serves to make the M2 more vulnerable, no modifications have been undertaken by the US Army, and the M2 was still able to serve as a safe vehicle for troop transport when hit by enemy fire.

It is intriguing to note that M2 development was marked with hierarchal opposition, as LTC Burton (who wanted to conduct rigorous testing on the M2) had to have the support of the press and Congress before he was able to conduct the tests he wanted...which actually resulted in a re-design that saw a lowered number of casualties in M2s.

As much as military vehicles are products of engineering prowess, they are still man-made products subject to politics and red-tape...and the very lives of the operators really depend upon the decisions made in designing the vehicle, which might add a sense of 'stress' for the designers!

Announcement Peeps

Before we continue with our usual weekly post. Josh and I have ben discussing a few new ideas. Especially with regards to the two hobby blogs.

We are really grateful for the handful of u who actually frequent to see our pictures. But we want to do more.

AS you may have noticed, theres only so much we can do for Warhammer and Military Modelling jus taking our own pictures.
And we wanna make this a more interactive site wif more community involvment and also raised more awareness on the uber coolness of such hobbies and add extra stuff to show case our interest, humor and other activities.

As such, we are gonna implement an integration of Military Modelling and Warhammer. But not just tht, We are gonna be adding way more new stuff and interesting stuff that are not just our stuff, but a network.

While we have no intention to make it globally popular.. We wanna strengthen the Interest of various stuff as a whole and make it more applicable and appealing to other people who may wanna take these areas of our interest as their hobby.

As such, Me and Josh would like to welcome comments, feedback and recommendations that can most definitely create something out of this two blogs to make it better.

Almost 4-5 years for each blog. Its time we take a different step on our hobby interest.

Hope you guys will be agreeable with this decision.

WARHAMMER!!! AND MILITARYY!!! GO!

Hey folks!

Welcome back to our little blog on military modeling, and thanks to JQ for posting up the past few batch of photos of our modern military models.

Continuing from JQ's previous post, we have another shot of our SCUD micromachine launchers, which are in the stage of deployment in the night. One of the icons of the Persian Gulf War, these missiles accounted for most of the coalition's casualties in the war, and even the patriot missile system had difficulty in effectively neutralizing the Iraqi missiles.

Call me a weird kid, but the MAZ 543 carrier was one of my favorite vehicles due to its distinctive look, and that I read more into Soviet equipment since US/UK equipment was too popular for my liking, and that Soviet stuff needed more effort in researching them.

The scud launcher right in the front was actually my first micromachine (which effectively kick-started my collection hobby), and it was given to me as a gift from a family friend, who has sadly passed on recently. He got it for me as I was a friend of his son, who also had a massive micromachine collection.

I guess this time I will be giving a different post than my typical "Nat Geo" style posts, as this post has brought to me a memory full of emotion, and it was admittedly something I had almost unconsciously forgotten over time. In a way, our models serve as 'time-markers' of our lives, and some models will bring to us particular memories we had in the past...perhaps even reminding us of humble beginnings since we were children, or even representing past wars and history making events that we had lived through too. Models can go very deep into our lives, much more than we think and expect!

God bless Uncle Bobby.

Nuclear Barrage

Lets go nuke crazy with the scud missiles and the scud transport.

Give these two your most radical terrorist and we probably will have a serious global threat on our hands.

Then again, it really is hard to phantom the fact that someone out there is willing to blow up entire cities, killing innocent lives with such a deadly weapon of mass destruction.

But i guess that just naive talk on my part. The news in the world today has shown how anyone is capable of losing our humanity. And that aside, the US of A started such a chain reaction in which it has elevated the insecurity of nuclear attack.

I dun totally blame the USA for dropping the bombs in order to avert or save the lives of Americans and end WW2 quickly. But such an action jus results in opening a can of worms to justify such an action.

Sometimes, it seems more believable that the Americans drop it on convenience sake (not in all literal sense of the word, but more for the fact that it is more efficient in destruction while preventing economic expenditure on an invasion and the lives that would cost on the US side and its interest). To stop the madness of war, greater inhumanity must be commited?

Open for topic, Im sure.

And next week, it will be back to Joshy for his informative posts. Stay tune ;)

Close up on the tank and Infantry

Back again this week with another angle of the Tank detachment and the infantry squad.

This time round, the camera focuses on one of the tank and the infantrymen protecting the unit.
What i really like about the shot is the colour and the detail of the tank and the soldiers adopting defensive positions around the tank.

Furthermore, we see a myriad of task being involve in this shot. Previously, we show how the commanders are cooperating and discussing movement tactics. This shot focus on the overall picture.

Giving a view of different men playing their role in the defense of their convoy.



From this point of view, the camera really bring out the good qualities of the figures and the tanks. Making them look realistic and well painted.

Overall, there is a great sense of happiness to see how the DSLR has bring out a different type of quality that is easily distinct from a happy snapper. And i like the macro details.

And i do hope you enjoy the Figures too.

Woth regards to Modern Warfare Stuff,

COD4 Modern Warfare has been nominated in the BAFTAs for seven categories.
By BAFTA, i mean British Academy of Films and Television Arts. Call of Duty 4 Modern Warfare has been nominated for seven categories in gaming and this includes the Best Game category.

As Modern Warfare 2 begins. This is a good run for the best FPS i have played when it comes to military game.

http://www.gamespot.com/psp/sim/footballmanager2009/news.html?sid=6204501&om_act=convert&om_clk=newsfeatures&tag=newsfeatures;title;2

Check it out :)

Tank Detachment and Its Infantry Squad

If anyone can spot the subtle discrepancy in this setup, you have my respect.

In any case, this is a tank detachment patrolling with its infantry squad. The sky begins to grey which gives the feel of impending firefight. (haha, thats just me trying to build up emotion.)

Well, i cant seem to think of any factual thing to say about this picture other than the fact that I freaking love Forces of Valour Figures.

Unfortunately, the infantry figures are sold out and retired (Not sure if i did mention this before). The M1A2 is also retired, but i think there is a different camouflage rehash of the 1:72 M1A2.

On another note, Construction of my Ticonderoga VLS Cruiser has slowed to a halt. This is due to the usual letup of work and other errands that i have to attend to. So while i stop on my military buildup, i have been browsing and checking out ready made stuff. Being a Modern Military Collector, i open up my range of stuff to more things that increasingly catch my eye.

On one instance, josh and I have been growing keen on the Mcfarlane Military Figures. Its amazing that a reasonably price figure can be so well done and so worth it. On top of that, i am into customising those 12 inch 1/6 Scale Action figures. I wanna plan to do a Modern Asian Dashland Infantry Soldier.

Basically, the model will be suited up in the typical modern outfit. (Mostly US, since they have the best stuff which isnt stereotyping, but stating the fact that they have one of the most advance types of infantry equipment.)

And soon enough, you will see these figures on the blog. So stay tune and keep a watch out on the figures. :)

Cheerios

Directive

Im Back Again. Its been one week delay and i apologise.
Its been a few wonderful weeks and i have been busy. But the good news is im back on the wagon wheel and ready to show some awesome pictures yet again.


In this picture, we observe an Infantry officer directing a Tank commander.

Its a pretty simple action which shows much of the cooperation on all platform levels in the army. The integration of various units of the army is required to ensure the effectiveness of any strategy.

In close quarter battles, Tank Units require the guidance of infantry to provide adequate support and the ability to cover infantry without being a burden for the infantry units.

As military buffs, im sure we all know that the gigantic slug machine that is the M1A2 Abram isnt agile or manuveurable in close spaces. Lesson have been learnt during the Soviet war qith the Afghans where the Mujahideen Fighters have been known to trap tanks in close spaces and burned the crew alive in the tank.

Without the support of infantry protection, the M1A2 Abram and other armoured vehicles alike could prove to be a great liability.

Viewing this very scenario gives us a conclusion that the need for infantry is still relevant in the modern day conflict.

Till we are able to operate terminator like robots, Infantry is stilla vital asset. More importantly, the fluid integration and cooperation between various platforms of the army is also important.

M1A2 Abrams

Hello fellow military buffs!

Thanks for coming down to this blog, and we hope you would enjoy your little visit to this small blog dedicated to the modelling of modern militaries around the world.

For today, we have JQ's modified M1A2 from Forces of Valor, and the green background in actually a flock mat from Games Worshop:

The M1 Abrams is regularly touted as one of the world's finest/toughest MBTs in service today, with a proven track record in battle (against admittedly inferior opponents) and packs one of the most advanced technological suites of its time. Interestingly, the tank was named after General Creighton Abrams, who was the US Army Chief of Staff from 1972 until his death on 1974...he was known for overseeing the drop of US troop numbers in Vietnam, and perhaps unfortnately remembered for the My Lai massacre (he took most of the blame even though he was not in full command at that time). The tank, or more accurately, the prototype (the XM1) was named in remembrance of him after his untimely death on 1974.

Interestingly, it is a myth that no M1 Abrams was ever lost to an Iraqi MBT, and rounds from Iraqi T-72s actually had bypassed the M1's armor, yet these have proven to be very rare occurences. Official US sources stated that there was one instance of an Abrams tank being hit and knocked out by 3 KE rounds (which aren't used by the US, thus ruling out FF), 1 in the front left of the turret and 2 in the rear right side of the turret. Other weapons have also been proven to knock out or diasble other Abrams tanks, such as RPGs, IEDs and recoiless rifles.

With the US pullout already in progress, the Iraqi army needed to build up its own armored forces, and the M1 interestingly featured in their plans. One option they took was to order several retro-fitted T-72-Ms from Hungary, and actually still use Iraqi-built T-72s for training purposes, while keeping the maintenance facility (previously used during Sadaam's era) operational. In another, the Iraqi army requested about 140 M1A1Ms from the US, and 22 are currently being leased for training...this sees Iraq joining the list of known global operators of the famed Abrams tank.

Well, we hope the posts and pictures have been good, and it is our pleasure to keep this blog running in the name of military model hobby! As the rotation goes, it's time for me to hand the blog back to JQ, and let's all give him a warm welcome back to this blog!

Profile of the Sovremenny

Here's one of our favorite shots of JQ's Sovremenny destroyer, as it steadily awaits away from the shore on a calm sea. We actually rested the ship on our 'diorama water plate', raised it up towards to the window and above the treeline...the 'shore' here is actually the top of one of the trees.

It is interesting to note that the Russians claim the Americans had bought a number of the Moskit ASM missiles that come with the Sovremenny. The Americans tested the ASMs against their Aegis, and it was reported that the ASMs were able to pass through the protective envelope of the Aegis. This episode was reported in a rather technical Russian website, where the written English was hard to follow (most probably a translation from Russian to English) and the lack of citations of supporting documents. Do take a look if you're interested:

http://warfare.ru/?lang=&catid=269&linkid=1743

Ka-27 Helix A

Hello Everybody

Thanks for all your support and just coming down to this humble military model blog. We have just started our new batch of photos, and for today, we have the Ka-27 Helix A helicopter that's with JQ's sovremmeny destroyer that was showcased previously.

The successor of the Ka-25 Hormone, the Helix is a ship-borne anti submarine helicopter that had its maiden flight on 1973. The Helix shares almost similar overall dimensions with the Hormone, but features several improvements such as an improved tail design and more powerful engines. The Helix is crewed by 3, and its transport variant can hold a maximum of 16 passengers. Anti-submarine versions can hold a variety of torpedoes and sonobuoys, and its payload varies with the mission. Interestingly, the torpedo bay is heated to ensure the reliability of torpedoes in the cold climates the Helix would be operating in.

Kamov helicopters are renowned to use co-axial rotor system, with both rotors spinning in opposing directions to keep the helicopter from spinning on its own axis (conservation of momentum). This arrangement is compact in design, making the Kamov helicopters well-suited for naval operations and high speed missions. Interestingly, Mil and Kamov (with Rosvertol) have merged back in 2006, with Kamov keeping its brandname, but overlapping product lines have been dropped.

Soviet Sea Power

Hey Everyone

Thanks to JQ for the past couple of posts, and for the responses/discussions to topics that JQ have brought up. The media holds considerable power in their portrayal of various armies, which was aptly demonstrated in the history of the United States...where negative portrayal of US foreign involvement in theaters such as Vietnam, Korea, Iraqi Freedom, had a very contrasting effect on public attitudes in comparison with positive portrayal in WWII and the Gulf War. In the end, we have to ask ourselves why would discourse on the portrayal of war has to be limited to the dualism of the 'good guys' and 'bad guys'? War is a complex entity that tests our sense of 'right' and 'wrong', and (somewhat) cynically speaking, when will Man ever learn to live in peace?

Haha I'll stop the pseudo-philosophy here. On a lighter note, JQ has kindly uploaded a new batch of pics we have taken, and we hope the pictures will successfully carry on the spirit our previous photos have brought to this little corner of the internet.

For today, we have a couple of pictures of JQ's Sovremenny Class Destroyer (Soviet designation: Project 956, Sarych/Buzzard), a Soviet-era anti-surface warship that continues to be in service, primarily with the Russian and Chinese navies (PLAN). Contrary to naval trends during its development, the Sovremenny destroyers were steam powered as opposed to the more advanced gas turbine systems, as the Soviet production of gas turbine systems was insufficient to be implemented in the production of the destroyers.

There are a total of 3 variants of this class:

956 (with 3M80 Moskit anti-ship missiles)
956A (with 3M80A improved Moskit anti-ship missiles)
956EM (PLAN variant, latest in class with various improvements, such as SAMs and SSMs)

Interestingly, China's acquisition and subsequent upgrade of Sovremenny destroyers were a significant security concern for in the Asia-Pacific, especially Taiwan, since they exceeded the capabilities of contemporary Chinese naval vessels, and hence considerably improved PLAN's capabilties. Currently 4 are in the service of the PLAN East Fleet, and their names are as follow:

杭州 (hangzhou)
福州 (fuzhou)
泰州 (taizhou)
宁波 (ningbo)

America All the Way

Isnt it so funny. As long as America leads in the gaming industry and other sectors of the media industry. They will always be the G I Joes and Heroes of the World.

And everybody else that doesnt represent capitalist america and is growing more powerful everyday or more extreme will be the BAD GUY.. Or Enemy.

well Im not saying terrorism is good. I oppose extreminism tactics that are used, especially when many innocent lives are involved. The inhumane or sadistic tactics used to pursue idelogical goals will never be accepted by the people. An oppresion and such inhumane tactics will always never succeed in the end. For it is human nature to want to have an option to choose who to lead and how they can lead us.

In any case. this whole topic can go on forever.

But that not why i am here today. Today Im gonna talk about why does the US of A have to always be the GOOD guys in our world today.

For my entire lifetime, i have been indoctrinated with the American Way. and that AMERICA is No 1 saviour of the world. Hero to fight the evil doers that oppress the people.

But is that so true? Is America so justified to be the Good Guy, tht every other rising economy wif diffrent ideals have to be a bad guy.

Take a look at Operation Flashpoint 2: The Rising Dragon. its about China against US


As usual, anyone or anything that poses as a threat to the USA is a bad guy.
But fine.. thats just the norm.. and it will be for quite awhile. I mean even world of conflict.. USSR = EVIL

So lets get to the next problematic part of the trailer. Chinese Soldiers are portrayed as real doofuses. Dear god.. the guy shot the soldier outside.. and all the soldiers inside never reacted. And what the sentry up in the tower doing if he cant even here that gunshot?

Silencers are not so great to supress all sounds.. Unless every osoldier was listening to their ipods. I feel its a lil ignorant.

But nevermind about tht, we have the whole battle escalating. And all i can see is China Losing out on Every goddamn front. Lol.. its hilarious.

Its like.. YOOOO JO.. *EXPLOSION EVERYWHERE* Bad guy loses like hell. And all main characters of the good guys are still intact.

Well.. i mean maybe im jus angsty cos im asian and asian power is totally not shown in this video. But since US has technological and military superiority that surpasses China by at least 15-20 years.

All that is shown can be possible. What do u think?

PS: At the end of the trailer. Tht island looks very similar to Taiwan.. HAHAAH.. i bet they meant to do that.. as the game reviewers would have noticed.

I love the Colour Red and Yellow

Im probably gonna buy this expansion even though it is only an addition of 6 new missions whil the new maps are already free for me. :P

Love this video though.
Really nice Soviet Weaponary

World in Conflict: Soviet Assault Trailer

On another sidenote. Josh and I have finally finished this collection of shots for the mid year.
Thus Marks the end of My Digicam Macro Clear Pictures.

But now, the shots will be more detailed and more artfully done. As we are always striving to improve. With Josh's DSLR and his macro lens, we will be able to give you better quality pictures. And For the first time. U will be seeing GREEN! ahha.. I have finally come to terms wif the colour green and must accept and enjoy the beauty of tht colour because it is the main basic colour scheme of modern military.

U cant go military if u cant go green.

In any case, i hope u will enjoy the next few posts of the new collection.

But it will be coming in a few weeks time as i have exams to contend to and i will need to load the collection up. So the weekly schedule of shots will be on hiatus for the moment till my exams are done.

But i will be posting interesting stuff every now and then.

So do stay tune still and dun go away ;)

Leave No Man Behind

Today we have JQ's FOV USMC Marines, this time with one carrying his wounded brother on his back with a fireman's lift.


Semper Fi(delis): Always Faithful.

The world famous motto of the USMC also happens to have been used in family crests and even countries back in the 14th century. Mottos are powerful words that call upon individuals to rise up to the ideal it spells out. US Marines adopted the motto in 1883 and have strived to live it up on the battlefield...even going to lengths such as leaving no brother behind. Some people may call it reckless and unneeded, but to me it really stands out as true brotherhood.

Interestingly, I know an ex-Marine from church in the US and his name is Rick. If I remember right he is currently serving chaplain duties to ex-Marines in the area and is pretty busy by going around the area a lot of times. One day in church, we were talking awhile and we were about to leave...I remembered he was a marine and I said 'Semper Fi'...and he went 'SEMPER FI!!! SEMPER FI!!!' Haha he really lit up and he's a very bubbly guy...great dude.

Well it's time for me to hand the blog over to JQ for the next four weeks, and it has been my pure pleasure to be posting the photos for you guys. JQ, back to you dude ;)

More Marines

Hey Everyone

Here's another macro shot we have (from JQ's old camera) of his FOV US marines. In this shot, one DSHCC marine is crouching in the foreground as his comrades are moving into position and taking aim. It is amazing to me how combat movement for infantry was developed over time, to be passed down and modified from generation to generation...

The US Marines have a tradition that stretches back to 1775, when marines were initially deployed as naval soldiers, tasked with several objectives such as boarding other vessels, protecting officers from mutiny...etc. Interestingly, the marines even had their quarters placed between the officers' quarters and the rest of the vessel! Mutinies out at the sea at that time was a very very real risk, since conditions were poor and overpowering a small number of officers wasn't too difficult a thing to do.

Even though the USMC maybe the smallest branch of the Department of Defense, it is still larger than the number of active personnel in the IDF, and even the whole British Army (from Wikipedia)! The USMC is specialized in amphibious warfare, and their ability to quickly deploy in any situation has seen them being actively deployed in all theaters of war the US has engaged in...especially right now as Iraq and Afghanistan have proved to be arenas where quick responses are needed to combat multiple insurgencies. The marines never had a walk in the park wherever they went...

Taking Aim

In this picture we have JQ's FOV US marines, looking at one of the marines who is taking aim with his M16A1. Urban warfare is deadly business. Past experiences have shown that cities make terrible fighting environments (like Stalingrad), and even quick reflexes cannot even save one from death. Survival by chance?

The grenade launcher on the M16A1 gives the infantryman an added edge in combat at the expense of added weight and bulk. Grenades are good for close quarter combat, able to neutralize an area of hostiles with a well placed throw/shot. At least for launchers, the enemy does not have the alternative to throw it back...

For those who played with M16A1s online, some players have exploited the grenade launcher in games, as it really provides a lot of killing power (aka instant kill). One good example I can think of is America's Army, where there's this map two teams start on opposite ends of a bridge. All one guy needed to do was to aim the launcher up at an appropriate height, shoot the grenade. With practice, the grenade can land directly on the other team's spawn point = instantly killing a few enemies at the start of the game.

On the hobby side, I have just finished my spring semester of sophomore year in college, and I will be looking to get an airbrush during the summer. Most probably going to get some acrylic paints and hopefully paint up two projects I have that need to get started: GHQ Soviet tank regiment (T-80 and BMP 3) and a MIG 19 Farmer.

In Fatigues

Hey Everyone

Give a hand to JQ, who has put up posts on the Big E and a little on the modern soldier for all of us! Well, he has once again handed the reins over to me, and I hope we are serving you all well.

For today's post, we will be looking at JQ's Forces of Valor US infantry:

In this picture, we see a lone rifleman with his trusty M4 carbine in the foreground, as his section pours over the urban battlefield for cover. DSHCC (JQ's alternate reality of the US) has been known in history to send troops on foreign deployments on a consistent basis, as the nation attempts to use its military might to combat opposing forces to its constitution, and sustain friendly satellite governments.

It often goes without saying that the assault rifle has truly had a remarkable impact upon infantry combat, and even the history of the world. Its invention has allowed combatants to wield weapons with automatic capabilities that generally light (compared to MGs), powerful, require little training, easy to modify (such as add-ons), cheap to produce (most are, of course there are some real expensive schnazzy ones), and offer a fine balance between range and close combat effectiveness. Assault rifles have become so ubiquitous in their use that it is uncommon to find that is has an overwhelming presence in the media today (news, movies etc.) Let us not forget that this technology has been a legacy of WWII, and even the term 'assault rifle' was coined by Adolf Hitler himself...

The Modern Soldier

Dashland (DSHCC) Troopers in a squad training excercise.

Armed with the latest weaponry and technological system, the Modern Day soldier is in its prime perfection.

This is a shot i have taken with the Battlefield Evolution Soldiers. Although there isnt much distinction from the soldier today in terms of its weaponry and armor as it was from World War 2. The upgrades and material improvements from yester years is phenomenal.

With new technology like GPS positioning system and also thermal and infrared imaging equipment, the common moden day soldier is able to fight more efficiently and direct strike support with precision.

But i must say that the equipment beared by soldiers of different countries are varied. I am pretty sure on a personal account that i wudnt be able to fight efficiently with the weight of the battle gear of a US Army Soldier. I would be slow and easy picking for machine gunners.

Now, its back to Joshua again, who will be doing a month long of post.

Im sure the dude will also be letting in on the stuff he is doing in terms of modern military models or collectibles. So stay tune ;)

Big E

Its another Big E shot on the horizon.

Did you know that the USS Enterprise is the first nuclear power carrier which bears the name which is not linked to any person or iconic figure.

Being the first nuclear powered carrier in the US Navy, it will also be the first to be decommissioned by the US Navy.

Carrying 70 aircrafts on normal deployment, the Big E has the ability to store a maximum of 90 aircrafts. The carrier is laden with mid range anti air weapon system like the Phalanx and Sea Sparrows, its air wing is the mainstay for its defense and offense. Not only does its airwing cover the defense perimeter of its own ship but also the entire fleet.

The carrier is capable of many sorts of missions. From anti submarine to deep strike air assault, the Big E has the capabilities of what a super-carrier ought to have.




On another note, have been playing World in Conflict, and i was telling josh about how awesome it is. For all those out there who have had their hands on it, im sure u can testify to the fact that this RTS is a winner in many levels and its online platform is very user friendly and awesome to play with. First Sergeant Right now.. working onwards!! WOohoo.

As for model kit construction, still grinding SLOWLY at my next Ticonderoga class VLS Cruiser. Its the case of the usual "too many work, too little time" scenario which has dampen my productivity in getting the ship constructed in double time :P

Enterprise Class Carrier

Hi ppl, i am back again. Hope you all enjoyed many of Joshua's informative and really cool entries

The dude has been a real partner in this military blog. He has also been an awesome help when it comes to doing what we enjoy most. And tht is taking good pictures of military collectibles.

Today, we shall focus on the BIG E.

i Cant recall my last picture in which i focused on the BIG E. But i am prety sure that this is the first horizon shot we have done on the ship.

The USS Enterprise is probably the oldest commission ship in the active US fleet at the moment. Furthermore, it is the oldest carrier in the fleet that has seen conflicts that spanned from post WW2 to the modern age. Form the Korean War to the Gulf War 2, the Enterprise has been the oldest and most iconic symbolism of US Supremacy on waters.

And it will continue to be until the USS Gerard R. Ford CVN-78 will replaced her. The decommisioning period is scheduled to be around year 2014-2015.

Its pretty amazing though. That the BIG E is already 47 years old. Some would say that it could be even older than your daddys and mummys. As far as i noe, all of my friends are way younger than the Big E.

To put things in perspective, the BIG E has outlast most of the ships during her commissioning period. She has also outlast majority of the planes that first set on her deck 40 years ago as well as accommodate for new planes on her flight deck.

The USS Enterprise is an inspirational piece of engineering and military might. And it would be interesting to find out what piece of marvellous engineering will continue to be a long and firm presence in the years to come.

F117 Fly-by

Hey Everyone

Today we have the final feature of JQ's F117 model, this time with a portrait perspective as it flies by in the sunset...from this angle the shot captures the 'awkwardness' of the F117's design, as it became an icon in fighter technology of the '90s after its public announcement that occurred in 1988, about 10 years since the decision was made to undertake full development of the aircraft.

I wonder...would anyone want to venture in buying a Nighthawk now? Not sure if the US is interested in selling that kind of technology to another country...even if it is considered 'old', stealth fighters are still a technological niche that is dominated by the US.


Interestingly, the F117's stealth technology presented an unique 'challenge' to friendly planes too. During the Kosovo War, a F117 was escorted by a wing of F15 Eagles during a strike run. The Eagles were notified of the Nighthawk's presence, but the problem is...they couldn't even detect the plane at all! It so happened that the Eagles met a Yugoslav Fulcrum, and one of them shot an AMRAAM missile...luckily the missile barely missed the Nighthawk that flew in between them, and managed to down the Fulcrum in the end. It was said the missile simply just flew past the Nighthawk's cockpit...

Well, it's about time for me to hand over the blog to JQ, and it has been my honor to type on this blog for your military interests. Thanks for reading, and give a good cheer to...JQ!

Night Hawk Grey Sky

Here's another shot of the world-renowned Nighthawk. I remember this shot being a challenge since I had to hold the tip of the wing (and keep the position there), and JQ had the camera in hand and had to make sure the sky was completely sky (no trees/buildings).


The F117 Nighthawk proved to be an effective stealth bomber, recording a disproportionately high amount of successful bombing runs against enemy strategic targets in the Gulf war (they comprised of 2.5% of aircraft deployed by the US, and hit 40% of high value targets). Best known to be the pioneer of stealth technology in warplanes, the F117 served in multiple campaigns that include Operations Just Cause, Allied Force, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom,

Of course, we all know that the Yugoslav army was able to down one of these guys using 'ancient' SA-3 Goa missiles. It wasn't a random shot in the sky, as the Yugoslavs figured out that if you tried hard enough, you could spot F117s via different methods like IR/Nightvision spotting, unusually high wavelength for radar (F117s actually momentarily show up this way), knowledge of previous F117 strike paths, and proper positioning of SAM sites (which had to be altered constantly to avoid being destroyed by other US aircraft). It is understood that the SAM crew at that time were able to locate and track the F117, and managed to shoot it down. One factor against the F117 was that it lacked radar warning indicator, which gave the pilot only 6 seconds to react to a missile if she/he saw flame from the launched missile.

F117 Nighthawk

Hi Everyone

Thanks for all of your support and viewership...it has been really great and inspiring. Makes JQ warm in the heart sometimes, and wanting to take better shots all the time :)

I'm Josh...the guy you hear JQ refer to in some of the entries. He kindly asked me to help with the blog entries, and I'll try to do my best. This first post is going to be about the F117, and the shot we took (to me) was amazing...JQ's F117 silhouetted against the grey heavens as it is deployed for a stealthy strike.



Interestingly, the F117 was based on a Russian engineering paper, written back in the 1960s, that theorized that objects can reflect back less radar not by size, but by the 'edge configuration'. Unfortunately, 'edge configuration' meant that the plane had to be aerodynamically unstable. By the time the Americans got the paper, Skunk Works had the computing power to design such an aircraft that was stealthy and aerodynamic at the same time.

And hence we have the F117! Sporting an unorthodox look, the Night Hawk was deployed by the US from the 1980s to 2008, and has now been retired from active service due to the advent of the F22 and F35. It is mind boggling for me to realize that the F117 is 30 years old (including development time) and the Americans could come up with such a stealth fighter long ago...what can of stuff is Skunk Works working on now???

Cockpit View

Here we have the last of the Mig 29 feature.



The Mig 29 Fighter taken by another right below it.

From this angle, it resembles vaguely to the F15 Eagle. Then again, that could just be my opinion. And Yes, it is yet again another silouette pic. Dun blame me but i tink its nice.

Who doesn't like an artfully done silouette pic? :p

Note: Acquired World in Conflict already and i must say the game is pretty awesome to play. Furthermore, the multiplayer gameplay is fun. Just that i keep on disconnecting at the moment and it is really unnerving when u rack up a good score. They shud broaden servers and make them more sturdy for MY PLAYING Benefit. Other than tht, its a good game and i can't wait to get the expansion called Soviet Assault. Plus the narraor in the game is ALEC BALDWIN, worlds greatest actor. HHAHA

Other than that, Josh, my companion in military models and warhammer shall be taking over a few entries for me. So give him a warm welcome

Cheerios

Perspective Shot

If a Mig 29 swoop over your head, How would it look like?


This is how me and josh envision it to be.

A Mig 29 silouette zooming past u, followed by its deafening roar of its engine.

Of course, if the plane was this close to u and if it were on afterburners, u cud probably have gone permanently deaf by the power of the soundwave.

The Red Star

A closeup on the wing of the Mig 29 and its Red Star.


If u noticed. I lined the plane grill using the inking effect.

All in all the brush gives a rough feel to the planes texture and look. Not sure if it was a good thing. But there is still a pretty good clean slate finish which was what i intended.

The Mig 29 rocks. Still really dig them. The time which i first saw the Mig 29 in the movies was in Air Force One where they were sent to destroyed Airforce One. Really liked the design of the Mig 29 when i first saw them. Too bad the engagement between the F15s and Mig29 was short and really one-sided in the movie, which was kind of crappy. The whole American technology and superiority theme made the Mig 29s looked inferior which is no true.

GO GO SOVIET EQUIPMENT!

Mikoyan Mig 29

By far the most famed Russian 4th Generation fighter jet which was developed to counter the Americans F-15 and F016 Fighters. Alongside with the SU-27 fighter. The Mig 29 has been in many games and has also seen way more action in engagement in the air compared to its western counterparts.

With a speed of Mach 2.25 and the ability to carry a mix combination of air to air missiles, the Mig 29 is a great fighter jet. So much so that the Federation of American Scientists claims the MiG-29 is superior to the F-15 and other US fighters in short aerial engagements because of the Helmet Mounted Weapons Sight (HMS) and better maneuverability.

Behold the Mig 29


I painted this during my first year of Uni and it was the first thing i kinda painted and assembled when was in KL. All acrylic paint. How do u guys find it?

Once again, Ships together.

Two ships alongside again. This time, its the Ticonderoga VLS Cruiser and the Adelaide Class Frigate.

Wish i could put more ships into one shot, but i am already squeezing it as i dun have bigger diorama for the sea and the sky to make it look awesome. Anyone care to spare a bigger sea floor and larger sky scenery?

Let me noe. Here is the pic of two awesome ship in a squeeze shot.

Flight Deck

The Flight Deck with an Australian SH-60 Seahawk Helo

Alongside the DSS Lake is the HMAS Sydney with its complement of the SH-60 Seahawk Helo.

I still miss my old W50. Its macro is so clear compare to my w150. Ugh. W150 takes better overall pics but the macro is real shit. Oh well :p

The Phalanx CIWS

Not too long ago, i was watching Battle 360 on the History Channel. It was reviewing a Naval Battle involving the Japanese Naval Fleet and the US Pacific Fleet which had the USS HOrnet and USS Enterprise.

The programme illustrated the Japanese Coordinated attack of few hundred bomber and fighter planes against the US Naval Fleet.

It got my mind thinking that sincne WW2, the fleets of the world have been decreasing as each ship cost more than it used to be. This is also due to the higher technology each ship possessed.

Last Time, u see ships ladened with macine guns and cannons and their deck cannons. The Common warship had gun power all over its deck.

Now you dun see much guns on each ship as they were before. So what makes the Modern Day Warship for superior in technology if the same fleet or even less ship took on 350 Mitsubishi Zero Fighters?

I can safely say that with regards to the Destroyers and Cruisers of the US Fleet that are armed with the Aegis System, they can lock on multiple targets and exert their Anti-Air SM-2MR Missiles which will be very deadly to at least a big stream of fighters before they even got to visual range. The Ticonderoga Cruiser can armed itself with 122 of such missiles.

Assuming there is a kill rate of 90%. It takes out at least 1/3 of the entire air fleet.

Not forgeting that once the planes are in visual range, they will face the Phalanx CIWS which has around 9km range attack and contains a 20 mm M61 Vulcan Gatling gun autocannon.
Only problem with the CIWS is it does not possess the Identification of Friend or Foe feature (IFF), which has caused a number of Blue on Blue incidents.


Phalanx CIWS on the DSS Lake, a Ticonderoga VLS Class Cruiser