Monday 8 February 2016

From DavidL - A Bit of Brazilians (30 points)

Outside the Painting Challenge, my biggest project last year was putting together a platoon for games of Bolt Action. I went a bit off the beaten path with my choice of force, in that I modeled my platoon on the Força Expedicionária Brasileira (FEB), or Brazilian Expeditionary Force, which fought in Italy during the latter months of the war.

 I wrote about my collection in greater detail here, but in brief the FEB was mostly U.S. kit but with Springfield rifles instead of Garands (and an according difference in tactical doctrine). Part of the draw for modeling this force was the fact that the army was racially integrated, so it presented an opportunity to paint up models that look at once familiar yet subtly different, but I'll be honest: what really sold me was their divisional insignia--a snake smoking a pipe!
Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons.
I got to have a game with my boys from Brazil a couple months ago, and noted that my squads needed some beefing up, both in numbers and firepower. So here are six more recruits (including two BAR gunners) set to join the FEB's ranks in time for my next game.



One thing I didn't have in that game (nor in the pictures taken for the above-linked post) were sleeve insignia. The kind folks at Fighting Pirannha Graphics (and what an appropriate name that was!) took care of that for me, and I am now the proud owner of two sheets of FEB sleeve insignia decals...

So that's six 28mm infantry for 30 points. A small ding in my total, but a good way to get back in the swing after losing January to work obligations. Next week, hopefully, a modest points bomb...
I love it when the Challenge teaches me stuff.  I kinda knew that Brazil joined the allies late in WW2, but hadn't realized that they had fought in Italy.  Nor I had I realized that there were figs available for this army.  This is a very cool looking non-traditional WW2 group.   Great paint job on these boys David, and I like your bases.  
Curt, can I get an Archivist check on this group?  First group of Brazilians?  First Latin American WW2? 
Posted by David Larkins at 10:00 am
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21 comments:

  1. MartinC8 February 2016 at 10:04

    I remember these from last time and they are great. I always used to think the Pele was only in Escape to Victory cos he could play football

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  2. Curt8 February 2016 at 10:13

    Nope, I can't recall any WWII Brazilians in the past. This is pretty awesome David - I love these outlier forces (and those FEB shoulder patches look brilliant). Great work!

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    1. MartinC8 February 2016 at 11:43

      You are right, seen them on his website and annoyingly I left the same comment. Getting old

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  3. john de terre neuve8 February 2016 at 10:13

    Very interesting and well painted. The insignias are particularly cool.

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  4. Greg B8 February 2016 at 10:24

    Super cool. An eye-opener for me, and great job with the painting!

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  5. TamsinP8 February 2016 at 10:52

    That's got to be the coolest divisional insignia I've seen :)

    Nice work on this interesting force David :)

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    1. David Larkins8 February 2016 at 16:16

      Thanks, Tamsin! Even cooler is Walt Disney's cartoon of "the smoking snake:"

      https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/1e/da/55/1eda5566becdde4bc30f5f6ecea0a33a.jpg

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  6. AdamC17768 February 2016 at 10:54

    Great stuff! Always loved that insignia.

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  7. Clint8 February 2016 at 11:03

    A well painted and interesting unit. One I know next to nothing about.

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  8. PatG8 February 2016 at 11:32

    Great painting and a very unusual subject.

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  9. thefrenchjester8 February 2016 at 14:15

    thanks a lot for this discovery, I thought the brasilian were neutral ???
    well done David!

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    1. David Larkins8 February 2016 at 16:17

      @thefrenchjester: Yes, they started the war neutral, then got in and started mobilizing in '43. In fact, their insignia is based on a dig against Brazil that said something along the lines of "they'll join the war when snakes smoke." :D

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  10. Millsy8 February 2016 at 15:55

    Very nice indeed David. Love the faded olive drab colour...

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    1. David Larkins8 February 2016 at 16:18

      Thanks, Millsy! I always try to go a little oversaturated on my WWII colors, since otherwise they're just a bit too, well, drab on the tabletop.

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  11. David Larkins8 February 2016 at 16:18

    Thanks for the lovely comments, all!

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  12. Unknown8 February 2016 at 17:00

    That was great they could make up that insignia for you as it's so very unique. Nice set of figures and good to see something off the beaten path.

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  13. Ian9 February 2016 at 02:02

    These are great and I love the patches

    Ian

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  14. Barks9 February 2016 at 03:21

    Very nice work!

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  15. david bromley9 February 2016 at 07:40

    I wasn't aware of Brazilians fighting in Europe. Really sweet looking force! ;)

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  16. Sander9 February 2016 at 12:22

    Great stuff!

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  17. Moiterei_198410 February 2016 at 13:35

    These Brazilians are nice! I've never really thought about the Brazilian involvement in WW2 but you've tackled the topic nicely.

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