Back to the brushes

after a few weeks of no activity on either the painting desk or the blog here are few pictures of the almost completed Panzer Grenadiers for Disposable Heroes in 20mm. The figures are all from SHQ and are based on 20mm squares from Warbases - or other suitable sizes for 2 man elements and support weapons. Basing from Impetus has come in to good use here in trying to create a cohesive feel to the sections and the company as a whole as well as helping in the team bases.

HQ Section with attached Sniper

1st Squad

2nd Squad

Each squad has 2 MG34 teams which have been based in 2 differing ways to distinguish on the table as shown below:

The next few pictures show the company support elements:

The Buzzsaw

80mm Mortar

Panzerschreck Team

The final picture shows WIP on a 75mm IG and crew - where obviously the crew still have to see the working end of a brush.

There is still another 10 man section to paint and a few other support options; PAK 40, 120mm mortar and a second MG42 team to complete the company and support options. All being well this will be done and dusted by the end of the year. On that note, the Allied Spartan Phalanx and Macedonian Cavalry are next in line on the desk - all of which need a good dusting before any painting takes place.

Also a quick welcome to:

• Remco de Groot

Hopefully there will be more posts in the next few weeks as the Spartans have been dragging on and there are many plans within plans to complete in the future.

Cheers for now

Beginnings and retro figures

A good break has been had over the last week, with no computers or connection to the Internet. Its amazing how quickly you adapt to not having something that is now taken completely for granted.

On return from holiday a trip to the loft was made to return various items of luggage and assorted items to their respective storage places until the next time; during this time a brief raid was made into the lead mountain in search for some retro figures from the early eighties. The result is below:

This figure was probably one of the very first 25mm miniatures ever painted. No toning at this stage just block colours and orange sleeves. Don't ask why the choice of colours as the figure was painted in 1984 and the memory isn't that good. On reflection the blocking is fairly clean and considering the figure was painted in a mixture of enamels and oils, it still looks fairly crisp. The figure and his 7 other comrades - all from the Citadel C08 High Elves range - are now full stripped and awaiting undercoating. Line drawings of the range can be seen here; needless to say there may be a far bit of ebay searching over the next few months to try and complete this range. 

If anybody has any figures from this range, the Dark Elves and Half Orcs of the same era please contact me if they are no longer required as willing to trade or purchase.

Normal service will resume shortly as routine starts to set in and time presents itself for painting new and retro figures alike.

Also a warm welcome to:

• Geordie an Exiled Fog
• Craig

Hopefully the blog will continue to interest you as it continues to grow in the future.

Cheers for now

Welcome

to the following new followers:

• Amylum
• Greatwhitezulu
• TWD

Thanks for joining and hopefully you'll find something of interest and use in these pages.

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 3

Apologies for the delay since the last post but things have been a little busy here over the last two weeks. The month started well and then rapidly ground to a halt due a variety of reasons including motivation, graduating, work and a few other pressing matters.

The Spartan Allies will require a brief dusting before work can continue and this will not happen until early in August. As will the Macedonian Cavalry that gather dust beside the Allied Phalanx. Oh, and a few packs of phalangites and an armoured Seleucid Elephant arrived the other day from Aventine. They do not disappoint and will fit in well with the existing figures from Gripping Beast and Foundry. Yet more plans within plans to follow.

That said over the last few days 2 platoons of 20mm Late War German Panzer Grenadiers have been finished as a the result of a conversation regarding Disposable Heroes at a recent club gathering. Painters and wargamers tend to be butterflies when it comes to interests and completing projects - well this one is at any rate. This will also allow the opportunity to try out the "Road to Hell" from D& P in the near future. More details and pictures to follow shortly.

Thanks for your patience.

Cheers for now

Allied Phalanx Work in Progress

The first Allied Phalanx for the Spartans is actual meant to represent the Brasidians or Nedamodes. These are mentioned in Thucydides account of Mantinea as holding the left flank alongside the Sciritae. The figure below has been painted to show a lesser Spartiate who will be placed as the Brasidian's officer.

The figure is from Gorgon Studios and is shown with a foundry Hoplon at the top and a Gorgon Hoplon at the bottom. At present no decision has been made as to which shield will be used, although at present the large of the two is preferred. Sorry about the shadows, the ambient light not the best today.

Hopefully more pictures of the rest of the phalanx to follow shortly.

Cheers for now

Comparatively speaking

many miniature manufacturers have different views on what is 28mm, as for that matter do many gamers. Older ranges tend to towards 25mm and some newer ranges are moving towards 32mm. We all have our preferred ranges and manufactures for a variety of reasons. The ranges below are all compatible in size at 28mm and come from several well known manufacturers.

From left to right you have here: Aventine; Gorgon Studios; Aventine; Foundry; Aventine; Foundry and Gripping Beast. 

The Aventine figures are some samples that Kevin from Aventine Miniatures sent through the other day. Great service from Aventine here, with the samples arriving next day and the response time to an emailed enquiry being rapid. That along with the quality of the figures adds to the overall perception that Aventine have their attention fixed on customer service. The comparison figures are from the lead mountain and are all sculpted by Steve Saleh.  The Aventine figures compare well against the other figures and fit in well in terms of size. That said they are excellent figures in their own right, being well sculpted with clear details and clean casts and a few of them will be joining the ranks of Late Macedonians and Successors very shortly as regular pikemen and mercenaries.

Aventine Miniatures are definitely worth taking a look at if you haven't already done so and to be fair that elephant on their front page is bloody marvellous to say the least.

Here are a few more comparison pictures between the ranges above:

Showing heights at 25mm to shoulders 28mm to eyes.

Top: Aventine Bottom: Foundry

From the left Aventine, Foundry, Aventine, Foundry, Aventine, Foundry

From the left Aventine, Gorgon Studios

Top: Aventine. Bottom: Gripping Beast

From the left Aventine, GB, Aventine, GB, Aventine, GB

Hopefully you have found these pictures of use and are better able to resist temptation than some others. Work on the Allied Phalanx progresses well - if slowly and there will be some work in progress pictures presently.

Cheers for now

Welcome

To the new followers:

• Christopher (aka Axebreaker) 

• Kingsley Park

• Captain Richard's Miniature Civil War 

• rousell68

• Prufock

and any other new followers who haven't been welcomed to this blog.

Hope you find the content interesting and worthwhile.

Cheers for now