Back to the Brushes 337

A couple of Analogue Painting Challenges back a platoon of D.A.K were started for Chain of Command in 20mm. The main platoon and support weapons were completed and then like so many other projects the motivation for the game disappeared. That is until now where its come back and this time also includes a platoon for Big Chain of Command in 10mm figures. 

Battlefield Miniatures Pioneer Squad and regular infantry squad. 

Battlefield figures are currently out of production which is a shame as the figures have a lot of character in them and are great to paint. 

Pendraken 50mm mortar, sniper stand and anti-tank rifle

The Big Chain of Command platoon will also include support options the first of these are below. For the size of the figures the level of detail is exceptionally high making painting harder because if it's there then it needs to be painted. 

Pendraken PAK 38 and crew

The bases for these are from Warbases and will be using the FOW small and medium bases for troops and vehicles to suit along with round cornered bases for smaller support teams as necessary. 

Cheers for now

 

30 Days 30 Miniatures Painting Challenge - August 2021 Round up

Round up for August's 30 Days 30 Miniatures Painting Challenge below. Quite simply ran out of steam on the third rider for the Thessalians 

In the above picture there are the following:

2 x 28mm cavalry riders only - Thessalians from Foundry

2 x 28mm infantry  - Normans from Foundry

2 x 28mm infantry - British and Fallschrimjager from Warlord Games

4 x 15mm cavalry - Bedouin from Museum Miniatures

Above there are:

12 x 15mm infantry - Early Imperial Romans from PSC

6 x 15mm cavalry - Ghulams from Minifigs (?)

1 x 20mm scenery piece

12 x 15mm infantry - Minifigs (?)

This gives a total of 41, not 39 as shown in the pics, tsk, tsk. 

Got a bit of basing to do in the coming weeks!

Stay safe and cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 319

Another two items towards this month's challenge. 

Both are for use in WW2, the first in 1/72nd scale is the row of sandbags. A generic piece of scatter terrain that fits in with another piece painted in recent months.

The second figure is from Warlord Games Bolt Action range and is the first 28mm British Infantryman from this range. A lot of character in these figures and they paint up well. 

This takes the tally this month so far to:

3 x 28mm infantry

6 x 15mm cavalry

1 x 20mm terrain piece

Stay safe and cheers for now

30 Days 30 Miniatures Painting Challenge - July 2021 Round up

Round up pic for July 2021's 30 Days 30 Miniatures Painting Challenge. Managed to add in another 5 crossbowmen for 15mm Late Crusaders army.

This takes the total for last month to 

17 x 15mm infantry

1 x 20mm WW2 terrain piece

2 x 28mm infantry

Totalling 20 figures from 30 or 66% completion. 

Looking to improve on this for next month. 

Stay safe and cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 314

Last update of July and here is the progress so far. Too many things on the table distracting each other and competing for time to be painted results in not completing as much as planned or liked. 

However, another two stands of hoplites have joined the Spartan ranks from the forges of Xyston. The Crusaders are another stand of heavy infantry nearer the finish and the DAK have some cover in 20mm.

The two 28mm figures are at opposite ends of both periods and progress. The Norman is one of the last that will be singularly based for skirmish games and the musket armed fellow is the first Compagnies Franches de la Marine for skirmish based games in the French Indian War.

A larger picture of the 28mm figures. 

The tally so far this month is

12 x 15mm Infantry

2 x 28mm Infantry

1 x 20mm WW2 scenery

Stay safe and cheers for now

30 Days 30 Miniatures Painting Challenge - June 2021 Round up

As August looms it seems that July, June and May have passed in a flash. To be fair there has been a lot going on and a lot of things coming to an end at the same time, so sadly, hobby time was over powered by the challenges of real life. 

On the positive, there has been some painting done and the Spartan army is another two stands of hoplites nearer the finish line. The group shot below showing these and the Platoon 20 US Infantry from earlier in June. 

The Spartans are from Xyston and are great sculpts for 15/18mm figures. At present the hoplons have no markings on and this is only due to the fact that the decals are somewhere safe. You know, that safe place that you just can't find when needed. 

Next are the mortar teams from Platoon 20 and there will be bazooka and flame thrower teams to follow these. The difference a paint job can make to a miniature can't be under valued, especially in the lower scales such as 15 and 20mm.  

Hope that you found this interesting. 

Stay safe and cheers for now

30 Days 30 Miniatures Painting Challenge - July 2021

Will be starting another 30 Day Painting Challenge this evening and looking to catch up on the shortfall from recent months. 

For the 30 Days 30 Miniatures Painting Challenge there is no theme to this, just to paint and complete 30 miniatures regardless of their starting condition or size. 

The outline of the challenge is detailed below, however the main point being to have fun with your hobby.

• To paint 30 figures of all shapes and sizes in 30 days
• The figures can be partly painted at the start as the main point is to complete figures that have been forgotten
• Basing is not necessary to count as completed
• Any scale is good
• Too have fun
• The end date is set by your start date - 31st July will be the end date of this challenge
• To post updates as often as possible
• Lastly to show a round up post with a group picture of everything.

Hope that you will find this interesting.

Cheers for now 

Back to the Brushes 311

The first of a small run of US Infantry that were part of a larger group that has moved on to pastures new. Sadly, nobody wants these in their grey primer; so here they are with a bit more colour to their backs. 

The set comprises of one spotter team, two 60mm mortars and one 4.2" mortar that requires said mortar. The bases have still to be done on these then, its texture, static grass and varnished before going back to the market with them. Once they are complete will post full pictures and a price so if anyone is interested...leave a comment. 

These are also the first finished figures for June 2021

11 x 20mm figures

Hope that you found this interesting.

Stay safe and cheers for now.

2020 Reflections

Managed to get a few things painted last year and here are some of them all together

Stay safe and thanks for the visit

Cheers for now

Hobby Plans 2021

With the passing of 2020 hopefully soon to be forgotten by all its time to look ahead to 2021. 

A year of endless possibilities, change and new challenges? Probably all and many other things.

In terms of hobby plans for this year here is a brief outline:

• Successfully complete the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge XI
• Finish painting the following:

• 18mm Bavarians for the Seven Years War
• 28mm Prussian Landwehr
• 28mm Hoplites
• 28mm Caesarian Romans
• 28mm Phalangites
• 20mm D.A.K.
• 15mm DBA matched pair for the 2nd Punic War

• Try to game as often as possible virtually or once the vaccines are in place safely in person
• Develop painting skills further and possibly look into a basic airbrush set

That should keep things busy for the year without adding in any new shiney that might catch a magpie's eye. 

Stay safe and thanks for visiting

Cheers for now

All Hell Let Loose 19

Another DAK squad based and ready for gaming in the future. The figures are from SHQ's Mediterranean German range and were painted a couple of months back in the 30 Days 30 Miniatures Challenges. 

Support weapons for the above squad including a MG42, a Panzerfaust, PanzerBusch 39 and a grenade rifle.

Next from these will be the first of the engineering squad. 

 Cheers for now

30 Days 30 Miniatures October 2020

A bit late considering that almost a third of November has already gone, however here is the round up picture for last month's 30 days painting challenge. 

Managed to complete the following figures last month:

3 x 20mm WW2 terrain pieces

2 x 28mm Norman Crossbowmen

8 x 28mm Prussian Landwehr

11 x 18mm Bavarian Grenadiers

8 x 28mm Caesarian Romans

Just for the fun of it I started another 30 Days 30 Miniatures Painting Challenge the other night, 2nd November. As with last month there will be no theme to this, just to paint and complete 30 miniatures regardless of their starting condition. 

The outline of the challenge is detailed below, however the main point being to have fun with your hobby.

• To paint 30 figures of all shapes and sizes in 30 days
• The figures can be partly painted at the start as the main point is to complete figures that have been forgotten
• Basing is not necessary to count as completed
• Any scale is good
• Too have fun
• The end date is set by your start date - 2nd December will be the end date of this challenge
• To post updates as often as possible
• Lastly to show a round up post with a group picture of everything.

Hope that you will find this interesting.

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 282

A wee while has passed since the last post and a variety of things have been on and off the painting table. 

Below are three finished terrain pieces set on 100 or 120mm hexes. 

Originally intended for use on a 20mm version of Memoir 44 that hasn't yet happened. 

These came pre-flocked and painted however, this has been redone when based on the hexes. The entire piece has been covered in a mix of static grass, fine clump foliage and fine sand.

Then rubberised horse hair was added and covered with medium and burnt green fine foliage and turf from Footpaths to create the bushes. 

Once the PVA had dried the "flowers" were added by lightly covering set areas by brushing on PVA. Once dried the whole thing was sprayed with watered down PVA to seal everything in place. 

These are the first three things completed for this 30 Days 30 Miniatures Painting Challenge. 

Hope that you found this interesting. 

Cheers for now
 

30 Days 30 Miniatures Painting Challenge September 2020

 Last months 30 Days 30 Miniatures Painting Challenge was successfully completed as below:

A very different month with a return to painting some terrain features for a range of periods from Ancients to WW2. 

• 4 x 20mm Resin Buildings from Hovels (Farm house and out buildings)
• 1 x 28mm ruined Pillar fro Templar Miniatures
• 1 x 28mm resin altar from Grand Manner
• 1 x 15mm Haystack from Hovels
• 1 x 15mm ACW Farm building
• 1 x 20mm Flak 36 - lost the picture some how
• 9 x 15mm Confederate Infantry from Old Glory
• 12 x 28mm Iberian Spanish infantry from Gripping Beast 

Started another 30 Days 30 Miniatures Painting Challenge the other night, 2nd October. As with last month there will be no theme to this, just to paint and complete 30 miniatures regardless of their starting condition. 

The outline of the challenge is detailed below, however the main point being to have fun with your hobby.

• To paint 30 figures of all shapes and sizes in 30 days
• The figures can be partly painted at the start as the main point is to complete figures that have been forgotten
• Basing is not necessary to count as completed
• Any scale is good
• Too have fun
• The end date is set by your start date - 31st October will be the end date of this challenge
• To post updates as often as possible
• Lastly to show a round up post with a group picture of everything.

Hope that you will find this interesting.

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 278

 A quick up date before the finish line

Two 20mm ruined farmyard buildings from Hovels

Nine 15mm Confederate from Old Glory

Four Ancient Spanish from Gripping Beast in 28mm. 

Hoping to get some more done this evening and tomorrow if time allows. 

Day 29

2 x 20mm Resin buildings

9 x 15mm Infantry

4 x 28mm Infantry

This brings the running total to 21 painted miniatures this challenge so far.

Thanks for looking!

Back to the Brushes 277

 Continue the theme from the last post here are several more finished terrain pieces. 

First up is a haystack English Civil War style from Hovells in 15mm. 

Next, a shrine or altar piece from Grand Manner purchased when you could get bare resin from them. 

The next two pictures are of a 15mm farm house for American Civil War based games. This is also from Hovells in 15mm. 

The final piece is again from Hovells, this time from their 20mm Battlefield range and is a doocot from the farmhouse set, which will follow shortly. Whilst sold for use in WW2 based games, this piece and the others in the set could easily be used for earlier conflicts as well. 

This takes this month's 30 days 30 miniatures painting challenge to 

Day 19: 4 resin terrain pieces, for a running to total of 6 finished figures. 

Hope that you found this interesting. 

Cheers for now. 

Back to the Brushes 275

First finished item for this month's 30 Days 30 Miniatures Painting Challenge and this time it is the dread 88mm Flak 36. This model has sat undercoated in desert yellow for many a year and finally saw the soft end of a brush over the last week. 

The model came from Under the Bed Enterprises (think) and was purchased at a show sometime ago; mostly likely Carronade. 

A full crew for this would be ten men and by looking at the base there isn't going to be enough space for them all - looks like a support base at the rear or side might be the order of the day. 

The base is from Warbases and is pre-laser cutting so it has also been gathering dust somewhere just like its figure. 

Now for the stats

Day 10 - 1 x 20mm Artillery piece

A few to go to get on target for this month. 

Cheers for now. 

30 Days 30 Miniatures Painting Challenge September 2020

 Last months 30 Days 30 Miniatures Painting Challenge was successfully completed as below

Struggled with time to post updates for this challenge over the last few days; so here is a final recap of August's painting: 

• 20 x 20mm D.A.K from SHQ and Battlefield Miniatures (sadly out of production at present)
• 2 x 28mm Citadel Orcs
• 5 x 28mm Gondorian Archers from Gamesworkshop
• 3 x 28mm Late Roman Horse archers from Gripping Beast (Footsore mounts)

Starting another 30 Days 30 Miniatures Painting Challenge tonight, 1st September. As with last month there will be no theme to this, just to paint and complete 30 miniatures regardless of their starting condition. 

The outline of the challenge is detailed below, however the main point being to have fun with your hobby.

• To paint 30 figures of all shapes and sizes in 30 days
• The figures can be partly painted at the start as the main point is to complete figures that have been forgotten
• Basing is not necessary to count as completed
• Any scale is good
• Too have fun
• The end date is set by your start date - 30th September will be the end date of this challenge
• To post updates as often as possible
• Lastly to show a round up post with a group picture of everything.

Hope that you will find this interesting.

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 273

Its bloody chaos here

In amongst all of this happening there has been some painting done and now mindful of the date here are the first finished figures; 16 20mm D.A.K from SHQ. 

These complete the basic platoon and support options for the D.A.K in Chain of Command although there are several other support options to be completed to finish the force off. 

Day 23

16 x 20mm figures completed

Cheers for now. 

All Hell Let Loose 18

The next two support stands for the D.A.K. from SHQ Miniatures include an 8cm Grw 34 mortar and crew plus a second MG34 because you can never have enough suppressive fire...

These were started during the AHPC X however where not completed in time to be shown there.

To follow these will be another infantry section and some more support for the poor bloody infantry.

Thanks for visiting and hope you found something of interest. 

Stay safe

Cheers for now.