The 198 ID project plus Chris generously donating some pieces that would make an ideal HQ for the operation against Rostov (completed in the last update) has given a distinctly Axis flavour to the blog – but there are Russians on the workdesk too.
With a refurb to some of these motorcyclists, I have added a couple of extra machines and resolved how I want to depict the unit .
It’ll be just like the other motorised soldiers … a big base (with the others, it’s a truck or carrier base) which is the unit in transit mode … to which you add a machinegun/leader base when the unit is fully deployed for action …
So, as shown here, between two scout units … all three of these units would just be depicted by the big base when e.g. transiting along a road out of action – add the extra base and it becomes fully deployed: ‘combat base plus supports’.
The m/c combo is a Piggie BMW, converted to M72 with DP …
(you just need to reshape the sidecar and replace the MG)
From the TofOandEs, some of the Motorcycle Battalions were all combinations, some mixed combos and solos (most of these are M72s, but I’ve slipped a Tiz 600 in there for a bit of variety – converted from the Piggie WWI bike)
The ‘wheelie’ is because I imagine the terrain to be bumpy. There is a good image of some motorcycle troops negotiating a very dusty ‘road’ in the Kuban …
In the b&w picture, there’s also one of those little supply trucks like the ones I put in the infantry HQs. It’s a Zvezda Zis, but I cut the plastic out to give them open windscreens. For a simple/speedy conversion, I cut out the complete piece, then add the door pillars back in from card (rather than try to take the window out without damaging the pillars – which is a nicer technique but requires a bit more finesse) ..
They also have a reduced carrying area (which in this case included a metal tilt from the spares box which will give it a nice, weightier, feel on the table). Anything to make these pickups a bit different from the bigger workhorses.
After a little flurry of blogs, I have some medieval things to attend to – so there might be a little pause.
P.B.Eye-Candy 
Hmm, saw off BA10 not seen one of those before
Hi, Will … According to the entry I put on the modelling page, here, somebody mentioned them using turretless BAs as scout carriers on TMP. The only picture I could find was of one in German service (so they might be quite rare … ) ..
Phil
Thanks Phil, I did find the German version. I’ll have a hunt through my references.
There were a few cut down BA64s.
Reblogged this on ausevor.
I like the look of the cut-down BA-10! And it goes without saying that I like all the bikes! 🙂
Love the bigs- have you seen the mortarcycle they made with them? I know you can get them in 20mm but I’m not sure about 15mm.
Cheers,
Pete.
Yes, Pete … the Harley Davidsons with mortars as sidecars? I don’t think anyone makes them in 15mm although it would be something I could probably make from basic components.
I like the idea of chucking all the bikes onto standard battalion-sized base. As ever, they are beautifully painted and finished, Phil. It’s a very Soviet solution to give the riders tank helmets!
Regards, Chris.
Very interesting on the bikes and the BA10!