Small Scale Military Headquarters

Well as I said on Phils thread with his beautiful custom jeeps. I have a pair of Motorcycle MPs in the works

Well just finished the articulation additions to them So here`s a few photos of the figures in Dry Run & Unpainted. Also the bikes have not been customized Yet either.

The Pair of them


HOW I got the pair of them






HOW ARTICULATED they are NOW


On there Rides.






Next to Rides


So there you have it. 2 HIGHLY Articulated WWII MPs in the works

Parts used are from 21st XD & PTE. As you can see with one of the MPs he`s got the lower posable XD arms that bend at the elbows (why waist good stuff ). The other MP I added the elasticated cuffs from the S1 arms.
I also used the feet from both XD.
ALL the PTE parts have been sanded down to A, Align well with XD parts & B, Take away any Modern Uniform Styles.

So I`ve just got to sculpt the Elastic waist band to both & then paint & equip. I`ve already made the MP arm bands.

The Bikes I`m thinking of adding wondshields,anyone already done that to there 1/18th harleys? Also how easy is it to make a working scabbard for weapon on the forks?

Well any input would be appreciated as it`ll be the weekend I get to pait these,so please speak up if any ideas

Ja
Steel Bonnet

SB,
Nice! They fit really natually on the bikes. XD alone won't do that.

Ja,

you figs rock !
Now that's what I call articulated figs. They fit naturally on bikes and they will be cool in MPs

Please keep us posted

Take care.

phil

Thank`s very much Razor & Phil.

Very kind of you both to say such kind words

I`ve been tinkering with a shield for one of the bikes,not sure if i`m to happy with it. Also been adjusting some BBI/XD gear to stow on the bikes too.

Question for all of you though,the Rifle scabbard,Thompson,M1 carbine I can see as the main 2 for it,anything else?

I was thinking a Thompson & a Grease gun in the other. Did soldiers put a grease gun in the scabbard?

Again Thank`s & I`m not thinking of extending this treatment to a few Airborne US too.

Ja
Steel Bonnet

With the Thompson and Grease Gun having long protruding magazines, I doubt they were carried in the scabbard (you'd have to unload them for transport. I personally wouldn't do that). Your two likeliest candidates are the M1 Carbine and the Garand. Even the Carbine may have required the use of a specific scabbard (such as the one that comes with the XD paratroopers).

You may want to patent that mod you came up with. Otherwise you might see XD or BBI figures using your idea. lol Very nice work by the way. Wish I had one to go with my 1/18 '42 Harley.

Absolutely beautiful!
Where can I find Harleys like that?

Looking great! Thanks for posting the pics!

If I'm not mistaken, those are the Maisto Harleys. Here's an Ebay link for starters. A couple good Buy it Now auctions.

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dl ... %2F18+1942

I doubt they were carried in the scabbard

That's right - just the M1 rifle would be in those.
An answer is too glue or otherwise insert into the scabbard just the portion of the rifle that would be showing - there is no real shortage of Garands thankfully.

I hate to disagree, but the scabbard attached to the front forks of the WW2 Harley were specifically made to fit the Thompson. The "trench broom" came with 20 and 30 round box magazines (short and long clips) as well as 50 and 100 round drum magazines. The holster/scabbard on the forks was fitted for the Thompson with a 20 round mag and was developed from the saddle holster designed for the cavalry (yup...they had them too) before the cavalry was phased out by motorized units. Although the Garand was just as common, the Thompson was used and well liked by MP's during WW2.

Well thank`s for all the comments guys & also advice & the tip on using the butt only attached to the scabbard.

Folkwulfe,thank`s mate I thought the Thompson was also available to go in these too.

I`ll do one Thompson & one with a garand butt pretruding out (Looking like a M1 carbine then,though I wish the M1 carbine solid stock was available at 1/18)

Again Thank`s for all the input on the MPs & also advice

flpickupman,
Thank`s for pointing out that the bikes are indeed Maisto WLAs Thankfully I have 4 of them though there easy enough to get

Ja
Steel Bonnet

Excellent job on experimenting with different body parts to achieve the desired articulation for your MP Bikers Ja'. ....The Frankenstein of XD !

HAHAHAHA Centone Thank`s mate HAHAHAHA

MG 42,
Thank`s mate...HAHAHA The Frankenstein of XD indeed....LOL have to say i`d have to share that title with Tomd. He`s the same for this

XD,BBI have superb detail BUT not enough articulation.
PTE is proving (in My eyes) to be a great Customizer piece for adding articulation to the likes of BBI & PTE.

Annoying thing with BBI is there ALMOST there with there own anyway,once they give the figures articulated thighs. XD is the one that needs help for articulation IMO & with that I`m happy to help

Ja
Steel Bonnet

Folkwulfe wrote:I hate to disagree, but the scabbard attached to the front forks of the WW2 Harley were specifically made to fit the Thompson. The "trench broom" came with 20 and 30 round box magazines (short and long clips) as well as 50 and 100 round drum magazines. The holster/scabbard on the forks was fitted for the Thompson with a 20 round mag and was developed from the saddle holster designed for the cavalry (yup...they had them too) before the cavalry was phased out by motorized units. Although the Garand was just as common, the Thompson was used and well liked by MP's during WW2.

Okay. I'll buy that. Ya learn something new every day.

Folkwulfe wrote:I hate to disagree, but the scabbard attached to the front forks of the WW2 Harley were specifically made to fit the Thompson...

Don't hate to disagree - good info is always welcome. You are right - I thought that the bikes had M-1938 rifle scabbards but after looking closely you can see there is only one horizontal strap, not 2, and the case is wide and short - not like the M-1938. That said, does anyone know what this holster was called?

I`ll do one Thompson & one with a garand butt pretruding out (Looking like a M1 carbine then,though I wish the M1 carbine solid stock was available at 1/18

Ah, but it is - it comes with a short pack Marine (Tommy the Brit as a matter of fact) making it one of the rarest weapons, but also one of the best. Even has a hole in the stock for a strap.

Ahhhhhh & there`s me with NO pacific USMC XD figures either
Now why couldn`t XD do a weapon packs of both German & US with various weapons in,as in the M1 carbine solid stock,extended folding stock,as well as Thompsons with 20rd mags & others.

Plus IF 21st Ever do WWII British a Weapon pack there would be awesome as you could do .303 SMLE varients,Bren,PIAT,Sten varients,Webley revolver,Browning Hi Power,Flame thrower etc.

Now Anyone got one of the USMC Solid stock carbines for me LOL

Ja
Steel Bonnet

nice work on those figs they fit the bikes great.Old harley's gotta love em'

Good looking figure work-can't wait to see the finished product.
Todd

Thank`s very much

Razor,
Pm sent mate

DocTodd,
Was doing a group of other figures last night so the the sculptings done now,will be painted today & hopefully shown later today finished If not tomorrow

I`ve gave both a M1 helmet but also last night i dremeled out a XD Tanker helmet too (one with goggles on the front).
I have photos of bike riders wearing the Tanker helmets though how frequent would that have been? Also was that a practice done by US MPs to wear the Tanker helmet when actually riding & the M1 for on foot??

Thank`s
Ja
Steel Bonnet

The scabbard for the Harley was just known as the "Thompson SMG Scabbard" and didn't have a designation as far as I can tell. Most of those used were the 1941 design that featured a single strap at the top (secured to the scabbard frame of the right fork) and a single lower strap (secured to the scabbard trunk at the right fork axle attachment). This is one of the better pics I could find of the configuration http://www.aa-ok.com/wla2.jpg. The scabbard was brown leather wrap-around squared at the bottom by a wooden former inside the scabbard. The 20-round box mag was the most common around D-Day and just after, and fit the scabbard perfectly. By cutting the small strap at the welt (around where the pistolgrip protrudes from the scabbard) the whole scabbard opens up farther and a 30-round box mag fits...although tightly...but then it didn't fall out when bouncing around in the field. The object was....if fired upon, lay the bike down to the left (away from the exhaust pipes and the scabbard) and use the bike for cover while drawing the Thompson from its scabbard. Extra mags were carried in either ammo pouches or (more common) a Muset bag over the shoulder. And tanker helmets were most common stateside during training, but overseas in a combat zone the M1 steel helmet was most preferred with tankers or aviators goggles.

That's a great pic.
Shame Maisto doesn't do a German bike...sidecar? It is one of the coolest 1/6 & 1/32 pieces...I would love to see that one day...

Actually...Forces of Valor has a 1/32nd scale Zundapp KS750 w/sidecar and trailer for around $20 (SKN: 82006), DiD (Dragon in Dreams) has a 1/6th Zundapp KS750 w/sidecar, AND Dragon just announced at the Expo they are releasing a 1/6th BMW R75 w/sidecar....prices may vary....your actual mileage may differ....close cover before stricking!

Thank`s very much for all the intel Folkwulfe,much appreciated
Lot of intel to use there.
Thankfully the Tanker helmet now dremelled out can be used where ever i need it,so the M1 helmet for the rider is easy enough

Digger,
Thank`s mate & yes it is a shame noone does 1/18 WWII German motorbikes.

Have you checked out the finished figures in there seperate thread
viewtopic.php?t=3967

Ja
Steel Bonnet