All Hell Let Loose 6

The last of the entries from Curt's Analogue Painting challenge are below. The vehicles are 15mm from Battlefront and include four Stugs and eight Opel Blitz. 

As with the previous models from this range these are well detailed and great to paint. Only a few more transports to paint and then its on to the infantry and support stands. Not looking forward to these as 15mm is not the preferred scale for painting.

Cheers for now

All Hell Let Loose 4

A mixed batch of WWII armoured vehicles here. The first pair are both from Britannia Miniatures in 1/76 scale. On the left there is a Marder, not sure if a II or III but a Marder it is and on its right could be a Wespe but the barrel of the gun is wrong. Any suggestions would be welcomed.

The models are well defined and great to paint. Hopefully, they and a few of their friends will see the table throughout the remained of this year.

Next there are a pair of Jagdpanzer IV's from Battlefront. At 15mm scale these are very detailed and  also very easy to paint.

Now the Jagdpanzer's big brother, the Jagdpanther. Not much else to say here other than must really complete the 20mm version of the same.

There will be some more form WWII shortly as well as some Vikings and WIP pictures.

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 49

A few pictures of some progress on a variety of different items that are currently being worked on at present. Firstly the mercenary peltasts from Foundry that are so nearly there, one more highlight on the red then its straps and helmets. An easy run into the finish here.

Below are 4 Stug from Battlefront and these are just starting out. In this scale the assault guns are relatively easy to paint and paint up quickly. Hopefully there will be completed pictures of these very soon.

The Vikings below are a that stage when the bulk of the figure is painted, its the remainder however, that takes the time. As with all the bases for the Impetus Vikings that have already been painted there will not be a uniformed approach as it looks wrong for these figures. So there is a still a fair bit of work to go on with these guys.

As always there is always one figure that draws more attention than the rest and as shown below, this one is nearer completion than his fellows.

Lastly, is yet another casualty marker, this time from Perry Miniatures. This is believed to be the last Dark Ages casualty marker, but that has been said before.

Thats all for just now and hopefully there will be more shortly.

Cheers for now

Fury of the Norse 6

Here are a few pictures of a stand of skirmishers for Impetus from Gripping Beast. Still not sure about the bottom colour on the buckler; it may change yet.

More pictures to follow shortly including 15mm armour for Flames of War, 20mm crew men for Disposable Heroes, peltasts and yet more Vikings.

Cheers for now

All Hell Let Loose 2

The following pictures have already been shown on Analogue Hobbies as part of the 3rd Annual Painting competition being held on that blog at present. The two 15mm Sturmtigers are from Battlefront    and are a part of a larger project that is ongoing at present.

The camouflage is made up be layering washes of the green and brown over the base coat. The whole model is then dry brushed with lighter shades of the base colour to achieve the finished results seen here.

There are no markings on these two assault guns as the decals are missing in action and if ever found will be added on.

Good miniatures to assemble and paint and they look the part on the games table when the correct scenery is around them.

More from the painting table shortly.

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 46

There are a variety of projects on the go at present, but one has come out the wood work and is moving fairly well; that is 15mm WW2 German vehicles for, well, for anything really. A session yesterday morning saw the following being undercoated as below:

As can be seen there is a mix of armour and soft tops here and first up will be the Jagdpanzer IV and their big brother the Jagdpanther, then the Opel Blitz and Stugs. The Jagdpanther will be a motivation to complete its big brother in 20mm which has been on the painting table for some months now.

All of the 15mm kit will be entered into the Analogue Painting Competition when completed. On that subject work progresses well with 2 points worth of Vikings for SAGA and a small group of 20mm SHQ WW2 German artillery crew, but more of that later.

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 45

The last few nights has seen a variety of items being worked on the painting table. Vikings, more vikings,  Late War German Armour, artillery and crew and peltasts. Here are some pictures of figures in varying states from the above list:

First up are two Sturmtigers from Battlefront that are very near completion so there will be no further pictures of these two until after their entry into the analogue painting competition. Not the usual scale for WW2 here, and these along with a large amount of other Battlefront pieces will all be up for sale when complete.

The next two pieces of armour are both from Britannia and will hopefully be joining the rest of their 20mm colleagues in the near future.

Artillery crew from SHQ and a 105mm? from Skytrex. Again all in 20mm and very near completion so the last pictures of these too.

Next up are more Vikings from Gripping Beast. Seen here on their newly improvised sabot base so they can be used in both SAGA and Impetus. Hopefully, they all still fit nicely after being based.

The same group seeing their new colleagues for SAGA, the necessary point of Berserkers. Looking forward to finishing these gents off over the next few weeks.

Lastly, another stands worth of peltasts for the Spartans or generic Ancient Greeks. In the foreground, out of focus stands the crew of a Redoubt chariot that is slowly being assembled as well.

Busy times ahead and the clock is ticking.

Cheers for now

Sorting out the entries

Have been thinking about doing this for a few weeks and now that the Analogue Painting Competition is finished now is the time.


This blog was started to help motivate and keep track of the miniature painting and gaming undertaken for both personal use and the club's use. To which point it has succeeded and will continue to do so. However, over the last few months themes have been emerging from the posts and these will now be formalised for future entries as below:

• Back to the Brushes - the main stream of work in progress material will be posted under this heading
• Fury of the Norse - posts relating to SAGA and any Dark Age material will be posted under this heading
• Imperium Sine Fine - posts relating to the Late Romans, their allies and enemies will be posted under this heading.
• The Dance of Bronze - posts relating to the Mycenaeans, the Spartans and any other Greek themed material will be posted under this heading.
• All Hell Let Loose - posts relating to the Second World War will be posted under this heading.
• And Now for Something Completely Different - anything which falls out with the above themes, especially relating to Fantasy and Sci-Fi will be posted under this heading.

The idea behind these themes is to help keep the topics separate and allow for fresh material to be easily posted to the blog. It is hoped that this will also help the painting by adding variety to keep all work as fresh as possible, well that is the plan.

Before finishing this post, a warm welcome to:

• Warlike Rogue

Hope that you find the ramblings here interesting.

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 10

Some days you just need a change and this morning was one of them. The prospect of some serious painting was just not on the cards so a wee change was called for:

The first of the Opel Blitz required for the Flames of War SS Infantry force that has been gathering dust over the last few years.

The natural lighting is too strong today, so there are some heavy shadows on the backdrop, but hopefully the pictures will give the general impression of the models.

There has been a lot of talk over the last few months about playing Flames of War more often but at lower point levels around the seven hundred mark, so these will provide the transport for the first infantry platoons when needed.

Progress on the Mycenaeans continues with the light infantry unit completed and the archers well on their way. Layering paint just wasn't the thing this morning so no new pictures there.

Lastly, a warm welcome to two new followers:

• Alex Mayer
• EinarOlafson

Hopefully you will both enjoy this blog and for those of you who haven't visited EinarOlafson's own blog its well worth the visit. There are some stunning Trojan War figures there.

Thats all for now.

Cheers

Breaking the Widow's Wall 2

With just under a month passing by since the last entry there isn't really that much to report. A little painting has been done on both the Vikings and Spartans Allied Phalanx but nothing major. In fact the biggest use of hobby time has been on prepping the figures for the 12th SS Infantry Company for Flames of War. Considering the amount of superglue that has ended up over fingers and hands it is surprising that anything has actually been stuck down or glued in place; still nearly completed before undercoating.

The next few weeks will see a concentrated effort to complete another base of Spartans and some other Ancient Greek Skirmishers to allow for a few different options in the completed army at 300 points. This however, will all depend on the changes to the army list when EI4 arrives. There may be more use for peltasts than skirmishers but time will tell.

Some WIP pictures to follow shortly.

Cheers for no

Plans for 2011

Well this should be fairly easy so starting at the beginning.

Finish the Spartans, which currently have 3 Allied Phalanx, 1 Peltast and 2 Cavalry bases to paint. That should be nice and easy. Both the Peltast and one cavalry unit are started, so going well there. Not setting any dates for the completion of this as its going to be a busy time with college work as well and that is really going to be the priority.

The original plan was to paint another hoplite army to face the Spartans based around the following description of the Battle of Mantinea from Thucydides:

Now their left wing consisted of the Sciritae, which amongst the Lacedaemonians have ever alone that place. Next to these were placed the Brasideian soldiers lately come out of Thrace, and with them those that had been newly made free. After them in order the rest of the Lacedaemonians, band after band; and by them Arcadians, first the Heraeans, after these the Maenalians. In the right wing were the Tegeats, and a few Lacedaemonians in the point of the same wing. And upon the outside of either wing, the horsemen. So stood the Lacedaemonians. Opposite to them, in the right wing, stood the Mantineans, because it was upon their own territory; and with them such Arcadians as were of their league. Then the thousand chosen Argives, which the city had for a long time caused to be trained for the wars at the public charge, and next to them the rest of the Argives. After these, the Cleonaeans and Orneates, their confederates. And lastly, the Athenians, with the horsemen (which were also theirs) had the left wing.

This is still the plan but it is looking likely that this particular army will be pushed back in the painting schedule and the reason for this is mainly down to Macedonians.

Currently working out the figures required for both an Early Macedonian army and a Late Macedonian army. The figures will come from the lead mountain as there is a 2,000 point WAB army gathering dust in there unpainted. Pages for both armies will be put up in the near future to plot their progress in a similar fashion to that of the Spartans.

Most of the figures will come from the planned WAB army but a few packs from the Polemarch range by Gripping Beast may well make their way here.

Polemarch Successors

These armies will offer some interesting challenges for both painting and on the gaming table; with the colourful appearance of Macedonia troops in certain references and the composition of the army changing greatly between the two periods. It will also offer some interesting opponents including Republican Romans, Persians, Hoplites and the Spartans and allies for the Battle of Megalopolis in 331BC.

If time allows some more work on the Vikings will be done as there are about 2 bases half painted here and there. Oh and if at all possible some time spent painting the FoW Germans as this seems to have taken off at the club lately.

So nothing much really for the painting and gaming tables in 2011.

Cheers for now.

And now for something completely different.

The following are from the CiC section of the Flames of War Late War SS Infantry Company currently being worked on in between painting Spartans and re-basing Vikings.

In painting these figures it has been discovered that painting 15mm is nowhere near as much fun as painting 28mms. This is going to prove a quite a steep learning curve.

Thats all for today