One of my favorite blogs, War Is Boring, had a very timely article this past week on the history of the M-9 bazooka. I had just sat down to work on a small project of outfitting my growing US 101st Airborne 28mm force with some additional support weapons, and the article provided some great inspiration for getting my force outfitted with more explosive back-up with some two-man bazooka crews and a 60mm mortar from Artizan Designs.

I’d recently finished a bazooka team and mortar from Warlord Games, so two more bazookas and another mortar from AD not only fills out my gaming options but also allowed me to compare the metal models from two great manufacturers. The mortar stands look nearly indistinguishable side by side. As for the bazookas, the Warlord weapon is a bit thinner than the bulkier AD sculpts but the soldiers themselves look perfect together when painted using the consistent process below.

Painting 28mm US Airborne Support Weapons

1. Clean flash from metal models with a sharp knife and glue to metal washer or plastic bases.
2. Apply filler putty to bases. When dry, scrape off excess with a sharp knife.
3. Base coat models and bases with flat black spray primer.
4. Paint uniforms and bandages on helmets with Tallarn Sand.
5. Paint helmets and knee and elbow patches with Waaagh! Flesh.
6. Paint faces and hands with Tallarn Flesh.
7. Paint webbing and packs with Baneblade Brown.
8. Paint bases, boots, gun stocks and helmet straps with Dark Brown.
9. Apply Agrax Earthshade wash to uniforms, helmet netting, webbing and packs.
10. Mix 50/50 Baneblade Brown and Off White and lightly dry brush packs, webbing and socks.
11. Lightly dry brush bases, gun stocks, helmet netting, holsters and elbow and knee patches with Baneblade Brown.
12. Paint metal gun, bazooka and mortar parts with black and finish with a light dry brush of metallic silver.
13. Paint eyes with small dots of Off White and Dark Brown. Clean up around eyes with Tallarn Flesh.
14. Mix 50/50 Tallarn Flesh and Off White and brush highlights on cheekbones, chins, forehead, nose and hands.
15. Apply Company B decals to shoulders and helmets, followed by a coat of Solvaset decal fixative from Walthers.
16. Cover bases in white glue and cover in 50/50 mix of fine light green and dark green grass flock.
17. Glue small pieces of clump foliage to base.
18. Spray coat completed models with matte finish.

I really love the detail in the AD miniatures. The two bazooka teams each uniquely portray guys on the move or ready to fire. The figure kneeling with a radio to his ear is a new favorite of mine and will probably be used as a spotter to call in mortar support. Check out all the photos below for the results from the AD miniatures waiting to provide additional back-up to my US Airborne troops.