The next Item off the Painting Desk

 As I mentioned in my previous post, I have been doing a bit of painting recently, and here is the next fruit of my labour 

This is the first (of two) 3D printed Studebaker US6 Red Army trucks 

The US6 was manufactured primarily for export under Lend-Lease. The Soviet Union would become the largest foreign operator. The first Studebaker US6 trucks arrived in the USSR in the autumn of 1941. The Red Army organized a test of eleven 6×6 US6 trucks which took place between July 1942 and May 1943. The results were used to direct the enlargement of the payload from 2+1⁄2 to 4 short tons (2,300 to 3,600 kg). In 1945, it was lowered to 3+1⁄2 short tons (3,200 kg), although on improved roads they could carry up to a maximum of 5 short tons (4,500 kg).

I got two trucks but only one set of 6 passengers (more may follow) 

The lady looking over the tail gate is a Bad Squiddo tank rider!

And yes, there is a production fault on the rear portion of the body - it's more obvious under the light than normal conditions

Large numbers of Studebaker US6 trucks were supplied to the Soviet Union via the Persian Corridor in Iran under the US's Lend-Lease programme. The truck fulfilled many important roles in service with Soviet military forces during the war, such as towing artillery pieces and anti-tank guns and transporting troops over long distances. It was renowned for its overall ruggedness and reliability, including its ability to run on poor-quality fuel. The Soviet Red Army also found them to be a suitable platform for conversion into Katyusha rocket launchers, although this was not their main purpose. The truck became affectionately known as the Studer by Soviet troops and was even recognized for its importance (to the Soviet war effort) by Joseph Stalin, who sent a personal letter of appreciation to Studebaker, in which he thanked it for the superb quality of the US6 for Soviet service

I am very happy with how this truck (and its sister) have turned out. I am in two minds about the passengers - should I glue them in place (obvious advantage that they won't fall off the seats etc when the truck is moved around during games) or leave them loose - allowing the truck to be more versatile - carry oil drums or ammo crates, for example. The jury is still out!

Now, for something a little different, yesterday I had to go for a regular bloodletting session (my tenth, as it turns out - I received a gift to mark the occasion!)

Dodgy "selfies" done one handed with my left hand while the right was otherwise occupied!

Not my favourite thing - I wouldn't be doing it if it wasn't basically the only treatment available!

The reason for this quarterly procedure is explained below (thanks to my old pal AI!) 

The "Celtic curse" is a nickname for hereditary hemochromatosis, an inherited genetic disorder. It causes the body to absorb too much iron from food, leading to a dangerous buildup of iron in organs like the liver, heart, and joints.

Causes and Origins

Genetic Mutation: It is caused by a change in the HFE gene (most commonly the C282Y variant) passed down through families.

Celtic Ancestry: The nickname comes from its high frequency in people with Celtic, Irish, Scottish, and Northern European heritage.

High-Risk Hotspots: Recent mapping shows the highest carrier rates occur in northwest Ireland, Northern Ireland, and the Outer Hebrides.

Common Symptoms

Chronic Fatigue: Extreme and ongoing tiredness.

Joint Pain: Aching and stiffness, often in the hands.

Organ Damage: Can lead to arthritis, liver disease, diabetes, or heart rhythm issues if left untreated.

Delayed Signs: Symptoms often appear slowly over decades, sometimes showing up later in life or after menopause in women.

Treatment and Management

Blood Removal: Regular therapeutic phlebotomy (giving blood) safely lowers excess iron levels in the body.

Early Detection: Simple blood tests can catch high iron levels before permanent organ damage happens

That's all from me for tonight - having a 20mm SCW game at Julians place tomorrow so that should be something a little bit different - AAR will appear over the weekend.