Mindblown Modelling

Operation Groene Brigade - YPR-765 Ambulance complete!

Continuing the lineup with the YPR-765 Ambulance, another essential support vehicle within the Dutch Army.

This build is based on the excellent AFV Club kit, combined with the conversion set from Sylly’s Mini Models. And as expected from AFV Club, the quality is outstanding. Crisp details, great fit, and an enjoyable build from start to finish.

Unlike the PRAT, this vehicle was never intended to be on the front line. Its mission was very different: bringing wounded soldiers to safety and providing support where it was needed most. Because of that, I kept the weathering relatively subtle. A bit of dust, some signs of use, but nothing excessive, just enough to give it that realistic, operational appearance.

Finished in the classic RAL 6014 green, it makes a nice contrast to some of the more aggressive vehicles in the lineup. Not every military vehicle needs big guns and missiles to tell a story.

Another important piece added to Operation Groene Brigade. The collection keeps growing!

Thanks friends, appreciate you all, and stay tuned 👊

Operation Groene Brigade - Leopard 2 Leguan complete!

Sorry for being a bit quiet again lately. Besides work and model building, I’ve been very busy writing a book, which has taken up quite a bit of my free time. Because of that, I’ve been a lot less active on Facebook than usual.

But that certainly doesn’t mean I’ve been sitting still at the workbench!

This time I can finally present the Leopard 2 Leguan Bridgelayer. Built using the HobbyBoss kit, combined with a set of beautiful Friul tracks to add that extra bit of realism and weight to the model.

Finished in the classic NATO Green scheme, with subtle weathering to give it that operational, in-service appearance. The Leguan is a fascinating vehicle in its own right, not a frontline tank, but a highly specialized machine capable of getting an entire armored force moving again by deploying bridges in difficult terrain.

It was a challenging but very enjoyable build, and I’m really happy with how this one turned out. Another impressive vehicle added to the ever-growing collection of Operation Groene Brigade.

Thanks friends for sticking around during my periods of silence. More updates will follow soon!

Stay tuned 👊

Operation Groene Brigade - YPR-765 PRAT, teeth out!

Time to bring in something with a bit more bite: the YPR-765 PRAT.
This one is built for one thing, hunting armor. No subtlety, no compromise. With its anti-tank setup, this is the kind of vehicle that changes the tone of the battlefield real quick.

For this, I used the AFV Club kit, which already is an accurate Dutch vehicle. Built and finished in RAL 6014 green, keeping it consistent with the rest of the lineup, but the weathering on this one leans a bit more towards that hard-used, frontline look. Dust, wear, and just enough edge to match its purpose.

It might not be the biggest vehicle in Operation Groene Brigade… but it definitely has the sharpest teeth.

Another beast added to the lineup 👊

Thanks friends, and stay tuned!

Operation Groene Brigade — M577 Command Vehicle reporting in!

Next up in the lineup: the M577 Command Vehicle, the brain behind the operation.

Built once again on the trusted Tamiya platform, but this one took an interesting turn during the build. Along the way, I ended up with leftover Dutch-specific parts from other conversions, which gave me the opportunity to upgrade and refine it into a more accurate Dutch M577. Always love when a build evolves like that mid-process.

Visually, this one stands out with its raised command section, giving it that unmistakable silhouette on the field. Finished in RAL 6014 green and weathered to match the rest of the fleet, used, operational, but well maintained.

This isn’t the vehicle on the front line, but it’s the one keeping everything running behind the scenes.

Another key piece added to Operation Groene Brigade 👊

Thanks friends, and stay tuned!

Operation Groene Brigade — M113 Ambulance ready for duty!

Continuing the lineup with the second finished vehicle: the M113 Ambulance.

Same base as before, the trusted Tamiya kit, combined with the Sylly’s Mini Models conversion to turn it into a proper Dutch medical variant. Clean build, no surprises, just solid engineering all around.

This one hits a bit different though. No weapons, no aggression, just a vehicle built for support and survival. Finished in RAL 6014 green, with careful weathering to reflect a vehicle that’s been out in the field, doing its job under pressure. Dust, wear, and subtle signs of use, but still maintained, as you’d expect for something carrying the wounded.
It might not be the loudest vehicle in the lineup, but it’s definitely one with a story.

Another one down, Operation Groene Brigade keeps rolling 👊

Thanks friends, and stay tuned!

Just as my focus has shifted toward Vietnam War–era models and dioramas, B&L Models has released something truly exceptional: the “Tango” riverine vessel in an impressive 1/35 scale. It’s a subject that immediately stands out, not only for its size and detail, but also for its historical significance.

The Brown Water Navy remains an underappreciated theme within scale modeling, despite its unique operational context and visual character. With this release, B&L Models demonstrates both insight and ambition by bringing attention to a fascinating and often overlooked aspect of naval history.

This kit has certainly captured my interest. I’m looking forward to seeing more of what B&L Models has in store, especially if it continues to explore subjects with this level of depth and originality.

B&L Models : Vietnam War 1/35 scale ATC (H) ''Tango'' | Armorama™ Another legendary gunboat of Vietnam War - Tango from B&L Models.

Operation Groene Brigade - M113 Infantry complete!

It’s been a while, I took a bit of a break from social media. Sometimes you just need to step away for a bit. That said, I definitely didn’t stop building…

As promised, I’m back and ready to share, starting with the first finished vehicle: the M113 Infantry.

This build is based on the Tamiya kit, combined with a conversion set from Sylly’s Mini Models to bring it closer to a Dutch Army version. As expected from Tamiya, the build itself was smooth and enjoyable, everything fits like a dream.

Finished in the classic RAL 6014 green, with subtle weathering to give it that used, in-service look without overdoing it. The goal was to keep it realistic and in line with how these vehicles would have operated.

Really happy with how this one turned out, a solid start to the lineup, and a great base for everything that follows in Operation Groene Brigade.

More vehicles coming in the next days 👊

Thanks friends, and stay tuned!

Sunday = bench day! What are you working on today?

Please share ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Nothing to share for the moment, so here's a photo of my workshop.

Please share a photo of you're little hideout ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Operation Groene Brigade update, back from sea and straight to the bench!

I’ve been away at sea for work again, but now that I’m back home, it was time to get building. This time I’ve completed the first Leopard Buffel, fully built and ready for primer.

The kit used is the HobbyBoss 84568. It’s not a 100% perfect match for a Dutch Buffel, but what it lacks in absolute accuracy, it more than makes up for in sheer detail. There’s a lot going on in this kit. I also built the full interior, which will remain visible thanks to the large open hatches, definitely worth the extra effort.

To add some extra accuracy and detail, I also used several 3D printed parts from Sylly’s Mini Models, which really help push the build to the next level. The build itself wasn’t particularly difficult, but it was extremely time-consuming due to the massive number of parts.
With this one done, it’s now ready for primer, and I can move straight on to the next Buffel. The collection keeps growing!

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and all the best. Thanks friends, and stay tuned 👊🎄