tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74737694023581773902024-03-16T21:45:26.064+00:00Small Italian WarsMiniature Wargaming the 16th Century Great Italian Wars, Normandy 1944 and others in 15mm.
My blog <a href="https://midlandshipyard.blogspot.com">Midland Shipyard </a>covers waterline ships in 1:1200 and 1:1250. Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03835786139833010048noreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7473769402358177390.post-83135348192753306242023-12-19T15:57:00.000+00:002023-12-19T15:57:13.379+00:00Rivers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdAFDnjcZNt7gL7h-ULopQjmCytkj0DQ-a1Ko1oiUyAmZ28mwG-cFmd9XboI5nu8bkS1aFvbekf-rDgRM21qMB0OjRgnU_K5-NDob4LKHjZTMzclz78HmH4Ha0CkFbTgGEl2tuvLQBKz9rZ-cay2e06BswseqVZu4vtxpPgpreJD9NynNt9riI9WCbJ8s/s1500/P1061007%20blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="921" data-original-width="1500" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdAFDnjcZNt7gL7h-ULopQjmCytkj0DQ-a1Ko1oiUyAmZ28mwG-cFmd9XboI5nu8bkS1aFvbekf-rDgRM21qMB0OjRgnU_K5-NDob4LKHjZTMzclz78HmH4Ha0CkFbTgGEl2tuvLQBKz9rZ-cay2e06BswseqVZu4vtxpPgpreJD9NynNt9riI9WCbJ8s/w400-h245/P1061007%20blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p>I've spent ages with these river sections half-complete, trying to find an acceptable colour for the water.</p><p>Looking online one can find a variety of approaches to represent rivers on the Wargames table and all have their problems. The 'gold standard', I suppose, is sculpted terrain boards with rivers cut into the surface below 'ground level', the river bed realistically modelled (and coloured) then filled with clear or translucent resin, relying mainly on reflection to give a realistic water effect. As well as the usual terrain board problems of storage and lack of flexibility, this has the additional issues of dealing with resin and getting the levels to match. </p><p>The alternative is having something to lay on top of the table - with the first obvious problem that rivers are not usually elevated above the surrounding countryside! </p><p>The next issue is colour - with no depth of resin, you have to make a conscious choice of colour for the water. Every child knows that water is blue - except, of course, it isn't and the apparent colour depends on the viewing angle, what is being reflected, water depth and anything suspended in the water so it can be a medium blue, pale blue or grey from reflections of the sky; milky white from glacial sediment; dark green from reflected trees; pea green from algae or dark brown/green/grey from a clear view of the river bed. One thing real rivers don't look like is off-white with a light fitting in the middle so a perfectly reflective surface that just mirrors my dining room ceiling won't do.</p><p>In the end, and after a number of false starts, I went with the child's image of a blue river and mixed up a medium greenish blue from cheap craft paints. I wanted to fade this into my base earth colour at the edges and, after trying to do this by brushing and blending, gave up and used my air brush - in fact the household emulsion and cheap craft paints seemed to airbrush more reliably than the model paints I normally use!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKX4Ua8uDAAsg1_TPu7Hlr2ubyrsuFtRGqKLr5CEdHMLSowk4i0o_t_vuBPlJ-j67JklR4rbgoynEF7kYLhydW_qWoFOxkyCKjdsOIJIO7Qdm1gaSCAD43OAyLVcRc6EQXi0BBGPbsv-37xf0syOGv5Hj-Eye843T__PAvbNueTMrvx-DNNuWfa0KMd4/s1500/P1061008%20blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1500" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKX4Ua8uDAAsg1_TPu7Hlr2ubyrsuFtRGqKLr5CEdHMLSowk4i0o_t_vuBPlJ-j67JklR4rbgoynEF7kYLhydW_qWoFOxkyCKjdsOIJIO7Qdm1gaSCAD43OAyLVcRc6EQXi0BBGPbsv-37xf0syOGv5Hj-Eye843T__PAvbNueTMrvx-DNNuWfa0KMd4/w400-h205/P1061008%20blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>To try to hide the fact that the river is sitting above table level, I made the banks quite wide with a shallow angle leading up to the river banks. I built up the level with foamboard that I cut to give a fairly steep river bank and gentle lead-in angle, smoothed it off with repair plaster then finished with my usual figure and scenery basing process. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXOaMBOT_qBJuoZUlNWQgG98zooD-wENWKOT2AzEoPsVd1ASPR4nQ9fo_-EyrB86eSZoa1_betMNO9y6-9Tsg4ikNSVuZRNQECClZb8fFtvSY2Id1swoBKD1fJo92rBEfos96VMBuhJOOEISnwAWIR8wKCe2ciSs2XXz3wEiilhF_F7Hkmu0x6B74bWdQ/s1500/P1061003%20blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="848" data-original-width="1500" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXOaMBOT_qBJuoZUlNWQgG98zooD-wENWKOT2AzEoPsVd1ASPR4nQ9fo_-EyrB86eSZoa1_betMNO9y6-9Tsg4ikNSVuZRNQECClZb8fFtvSY2Id1swoBKD1fJo92rBEfos96VMBuhJOOEISnwAWIR8wKCe2ciSs2XXz3wEiilhF_F7Hkmu0x6B74bWdQ/w400-h226/P1061003%20blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>At some point I'll have a go at a more Normandy-specific river - something narrow, shallow and with heavily vegetated banks. Maybe even take a 1km section of a real river and try to duplicate that but for now these will do. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03835786139833010048noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7473769402358177390.post-28374381916666998402023-11-21T17:40:00.007+00:002023-11-23T19:31:38.513+00:00Bocage Hedges<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfscSLzFjechiWcoOKStZAYalTQNTSjtL7B_Ncm091Lg8ObQXjgvqqo5pBOEF8mGEk-cZziACByBaesZYjQgUtUdj_dNq-3Xc8yKen_sWOxRdv05NZGFkPg86yDAuF945vjoFBd5_WEJDKKK9jiAie70qLU-Ucy30zILak4u-QO0iHD_gwIdz5RE6f9m0/s1500/Hedges%2021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1074" data-original-width="1500" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfscSLzFjechiWcoOKStZAYalTQNTSjtL7B_Ncm091Lg8ObQXjgvqqo5pBOEF8mGEk-cZziACByBaesZYjQgUtUdj_dNq-3Xc8yKen_sWOxRdv05NZGFkPg86yDAuF945vjoFBd5_WEJDKKK9jiAie70qLU-Ucy30zILak4u-QO0iHD_gwIdz5RE6f9m0/w400-h286/Hedges%2021.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>No Normandy Wargames table seems complete without bocage hedges, even if much of the fighting by British and Canadian forces wasn't in the bocage. </p><p>Many years ago I bought a roll of rubberised horsehair, about 2" thick, which I cut up and attached 'leaves' to. This has served as my bocage hedges ever since, even though they lacked the built up banks and took up a lot of table space. I always intended to make something better but have only just got round to it.</p><p>The first question then is what the ideal wargames bocage hedge should look like. An online search shows a wide variety of model hedges, some more satisfying looking than others.</p><p>The online <a href="https://www.dday-overlord.com/en/battle-of-normandy/tactics/hedgerow-warfare" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Encyclopédie du débarquement et de la bataille de Normandie</a> makes the important point that: "The very nature of the hedges in 1944 is not the same as it is today, physiologically as well as utilitarian. At the time of the Normandy landing, the hedges are on average five meters tall, a smaller height than today. Particularly well maintained, they have an economic role predominant in the region, which has largely disappeared these days. Indeed, if the hedges serve to delimit the properties and retain the flow of water, they also serve to keep the cows or the horses. Providing non-negligible food supplements thanks to the presence of numerous apple and pear trees ... this vegetable mass bordered mostly by nettles and brambles.</p><p>I suppose this shouldn't be a surprise - field hedges today in England are no-longer as carefully (and labour-intensively) maintained as they used to be because the job of keeping stock in or out is done by fences. The implication is that we can't rely on modern photographs to show how Normandy hedges would have appeared in 1944. I therefore spent a lot of time looking for contemporary photographs.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf53crJYb9GQI90fPsY42yzClxiNb77tWftYsspUY7vG8iKhwrXZQJt-ZJE1095ZDgrGQ5Iw4u_2vDmU2Z8yGufhXT4-Rdqv8_WwaYBJccUwZ0yinfHcZfnFxW2zrAnfFWXhz1dtmuci4aV7jwl1tvOsikEvUgsQheUkv6N3iWK1t3ptd5wF_c7NIb-_k/s822/A%20origin%20mod.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="484" data-original-width="822" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf53crJYb9GQI90fPsY42yzClxiNb77tWftYsspUY7vG8iKhwrXZQJt-ZJE1095ZDgrGQ5Iw4u_2vDmU2Z8yGufhXT4-Rdqv8_WwaYBJccUwZ0yinfHcZfnFxW2zrAnfFWXhz1dtmuci4aV7jwl1tvOsikEvUgsQheUkv6N3iWK1t3ptd5wF_c7NIb-_k/s320/A%20origin%20mod.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">A regular theme in these photographs was the number of trees growing in the hedges, as in this aerial view.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2EJnOyzauiOewA9TnYuTMHdJ3TjkoW35Ed0NfeKp9in1Ci6TzdM4OPDR9qUg1U4TR1cmyLGzPMQc03cRKah8t2tzn0SYucKIWpuHVKXcsfGhwL9KHyGSIURHJSzr-pwi4k8DKIO0t3ftnE4PWxY6mZQJ6iNv_VxewA-BE4vaHqyhx7__2TeoruRw94Aw/s400/Diagram-1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="392" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2EJnOyzauiOewA9TnYuTMHdJ3TjkoW35Ed0NfeKp9in1Ci6TzdM4OPDR9qUg1U4TR1cmyLGzPMQc03cRKah8t2tzn0SYucKIWpuHVKXcsfGhwL9KHyGSIURHJSzr-pwi4k8DKIO0t3ftnE4PWxY6mZQJ6iNv_VxewA-BE4vaHqyhx7__2TeoruRw94Aw/s320/Diagram-1.jpg" width="314" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">This diagram of a cross-section through a hedge seems to crop up on several Wargames scenery blog posts so I hope the originator won't mind me also reproducing it here. I kept the banks of my bocage hedges within this size range,</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>In summary then, I decided to make my banks 25mm wide and 12mm high (though with some sections a little higher and undulating. I'm also assuming that the hedge is hiding the highest central portion of the bank) with steep sides. The hedges would add another 25 - 35mm, so a bit less in total than the average 5m in scale terms. I would also include numerous trees along the hedge sections and try to strike a balance between making them look solid and well tended enough to be effective barriers to livestock but slightly irregular - field hedges rather than an exercise in topiary at a National Trust property!</p><p>I made the banks on an MDF structure, with a base cut from 2mm sheet (the whole lot came from one 50p remnant from a local builder's merchant) and strips of narrower MDF cut from thicker pieces. I tried to make the edges of the base and the top layer slightly irregular to give a more natural look. The banks were filled in with repair plaster, with PVA applied to the dry MDF to help with adhesion. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__yLqg-wlC9JDw4GXLw-7B6dx6UKUBLfHFsf5lLputkqaLAUdjV6c0V_ipp6vBlmwK8ya7kpoZoMrJJKdmbCVZatRtg0ox5iD3gnat7IWPS37LHTAFDZVI5y0Y0lt0DyGXedv-_Hi4lZYZFt6GE1RYA3uzMA4aBYIAy8E4t4lezDSAMNekOemm-u_QoA/s1500/Hedges%2003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="1500" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__yLqg-wlC9JDw4GXLw-7B6dx6UKUBLfHFsf5lLputkqaLAUdjV6c0V_ipp6vBlmwK8ya7kpoZoMrJJKdmbCVZatRtg0ox5iD3gnat7IWPS37LHTAFDZVI5y0Y0lt0DyGXedv-_Hi4lZYZFt6GE1RYA3uzMA4aBYIAy8E4t4lezDSAMNekOemm-u_QoA/w400-h294/Hedges%2003.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Once the plaster was dry, I smoothed off any obvious lumps and applied my usual basing techniques. Initially I tried applying the static grass with my new electro-static applicator but that actually looked worse than just putting it on by hand as it made the 'grass' grow out at a perfect 90° from the banks rather than vertically. I think I'll save the applicator for more horizontal surfaces! I've made a variety of straight lengths, L and T-sections. </p><p>On a recent trip to Skye, I walked past an area with lots of uprooted heather where the leaves and flowers had come off, leaving a rather tree-like skeleton so I picked a few up for possible later scenic use. These produced some sections that were good as they were but others were a bit lacking in branches so I added these with twisted wire. I wish I'd picked much more as this was nothing like enough and I supplemented the numbers with bits of twig from the garden, again with added wire branches. I covered the wire with a couple of coats of flexible filler before painting - it didn't need to be perfect as it was mostly covered by the horsehair.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizeYOnqsy4ggjlYnCh0TGfTJ4AB6SSg7QX8rh29JI4WkrHGbayAnWl75qbo1Ta11OnllRY2JZQBor9snSW2Q7JCWV4GCzl8kiiSZCz9rUU_HfnZtJV8LK1mw1RnURjV6eZl6lX2ZkGebBbVRqpV7K_LLeYCGiUdWhyuaZ0UHQ8Dr530ZAjWEi65A1eZjg/s1500/Hedges%2004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1009" data-original-width="1500" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizeYOnqsy4ggjlYnCh0TGfTJ4AB6SSg7QX8rh29JI4WkrHGbayAnWl75qbo1Ta11OnllRY2JZQBor9snSW2Q7JCWV4GCzl8kiiSZCz9rUU_HfnZtJV8LK1mw1RnURjV6eZl6lX2ZkGebBbVRqpV7K_LLeYCGiUdWhyuaZ0UHQ8Dr530ZAjWEi65A1eZjg/w400-h269/Hedges%2004.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>I still had some of the 2" thick rubberised horse hair left over from my earlier hedges and bought some 1" thick sheet from a local upholsterer - about 4' x 1' for £10. The 2" thick type proved much better as it was easier to get a more natural, irregular look, without pulling it to pieces and losing all cohesion.</p><p>After cutting the sheet to an approximate size, I sprayed it black and stuck it to the top of the banks with tacky glue. I tried various methods of holding it in place whilst the glue set but the best was to thread short (3 or 4") lengths of florists wire through the hedge and fold it around the underside of the bank - this held it firmly without squashing the upper parts of the hedges. It also made it possible to get some bits to overlap down the sides of the banks. Once the glue was set, I pulled and cut the horsehair to a final shape and dry-brushed it brown.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1zmHJM_IV68WS2kgqGPFCl519tHLx96_8961Y3_iwCs2RBovDabjeC8bb7H7h3Sv6rqRPU4rJdN7NA-dFXuffSocfvVFXvym5F1oxdSu_G8bLQplPFE4JZUc8sepvM7lQsQkkXxInVJywF0Ds7xglCeo8ta2O9bqR1qwVvAO6qKxSCqoxDERVK4twec/s1500/Hedges%2005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1091" data-original-width="1500" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1zmHJM_IV68WS2kgqGPFCl519tHLx96_8961Y3_iwCs2RBovDabjeC8bb7H7h3Sv6rqRPU4rJdN7NA-dFXuffSocfvVFXvym5F1oxdSu_G8bLQplPFE4JZUc8sepvM7lQsQkkXxInVJywF0Ds7xglCeo8ta2O9bqR1qwVvAO6qKxSCqoxDERVK4twec/w400-h291/Hedges%2005.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>The foliage was the cork granules that I'd coloured with acrylic paint - half with Hooker's Green and half with paler Chromium Green. I did some tress or lengths of hedge with one, some the other and some with a mix to try to get variety - where I used the mix, I applied the Chromium Green from the top as a highlight. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeb7xXjrO7PuMO25gDuRSmT0B1BcOqT-ew1ftnkPMS-idxvRE1-fAFsdmv4RF_eeCfGgCY68pdjVX4CVZLhEXNGxpV3EFtS8ksmeBrAdJNFT7ljJbwhdpOV09rPI6wOugMdNGx7KjInReYXGtRiHetlWs1SeAbvY1HQZz9Bg8maMbotHS6Dsk366YidXo/s1500/Hedges%2022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="652" data-original-width="1500" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeb7xXjrO7PuMO25gDuRSmT0B1BcOqT-ew1ftnkPMS-idxvRE1-fAFsdmv4RF_eeCfGgCY68pdjVX4CVZLhEXNGxpV3EFtS8ksmeBrAdJNFT7ljJbwhdpOV09rPI6wOugMdNGx7KjInReYXGtRiHetlWs1SeAbvY1HQZz9Bg8maMbotHS6Dsk366YidXo/w400-h174/Hedges%2022.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Another question was what to do about gates. John Boadle of the <a href="https://handbuilthistory.blogspot.com">Hand-Built History</a> blog had pointed out that I couldn't just assume these would look like the typical English country 5-bar gate, so I spent some time 'driving around' Normandy in Google Street View and looking for contemporary photographs or art work. I wasn't able to find as many contemporary references as I would have liked but a common theme of Northern French wooden gates seems to be a high vertical post on the hinge-side of the gate and more vertical strips of wood than we normally see on UK gates. I was also struck that a lot of field openings appeared to have no gate at all.</p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKawjiWtSdJmn_O0Mz9IS6lnbLKXwJOp1DU4lULvg9ElwA9di5xIsjQfIFx842c_55GjgfezWcz25sJcaiKFtpHPDnNxSmRQkLEYnVo8gJTraINvE24aWVP3l7GyA32baVbwphZZkTWobKEmh2GI6sAEhSV2VTSTE79wJXr1QWe1MgRWnHUTiYWOgT5Y/s1860/Gate%20French_Gate.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1140" data-original-width="1860" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKawjiWtSdJmn_O0Mz9IS6lnbLKXwJOp1DU4lULvg9ElwA9di5xIsjQfIFx842c_55GjgfezWcz25sJcaiKFtpHPDnNxSmRQkLEYnVo8gJTraINvE24aWVP3l7GyA32baVbwphZZkTWobKEmh2GI6sAEhSV2VTSTE79wJXr1QWe1MgRWnHUTiYWOgT5Y/w400-h245/Gate%20French_Gate.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a modern photograph but variations on this theme (some with 4 or 5 horizontal pieces, fewer vertical stakes or an offset V rather than simple diagonal brace) cropped up in street view, old paintings and even a sketch in the Imperial War Museum collection from the first world war.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">So far, I have scratch built 5 different gates out of plastic strip. With the aid of a simple jig, this was nothing like as fiddly as one might expect and I plan to do a few more, and some gate-free but muddy openings, but this will do for now. </div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8PLoCdhkI42QcfPzzsm8ESxSOl1jWYkSNDDP5GYHXPKUPnJG7zlKQ68Jcwmp3pIqR5IwrkRzmfHEKy6sfaUUoia7fyG2nCczI6yDjM6mYY-AXd3YPjJHP_m9owYjKqpEY5aUd1Mgs6bQ3YFyd9MopLKNCEg_hP_JQwvK-mMQnzcgZpLaOkJQSRk7Ynl4/s1500/Hedges%2023.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="1500" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8PLoCdhkI42QcfPzzsm8ESxSOl1jWYkSNDDP5GYHXPKUPnJG7zlKQ68Jcwmp3pIqR5IwrkRzmfHEKy6sfaUUoia7fyG2nCczI6yDjM6mYY-AXd3YPjJHP_m9owYjKqpEY5aUd1Mgs6bQ3YFyd9MopLKNCEg_hP_JQwvK-mMQnzcgZpLaOkJQSRk7Ynl4/w400-h199/Hedges%2023.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I'm very pleased with how the trees have turned out - better, I think than than the commercial bottle-brush trees I currently use for my woods - so I guess replacing those with the twig and horsehair method (or possibly wire armatures) has to go on my jobs to do list. Not too near the top though - I have neglected the figure painting side of things for too long as it is!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1wqeHL87UekzHWz_H7r_ek9MX6BCtSiijuGyWpzwYkY6EOoxgl3hJw0GK1CAD-MF9crxi-65XYNQJz3e9yndFlkOAtN7tOcJkM0pchGwLNbjksVRR8Opi5w7MsYmQU-Uv2i4wsa26R-y_WWPKc4nrNafFblDGP8lOErbq0WilgQHVHpyRA9RBcbt1no/s4915/Hedges%2024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2372" data-original-width="4915" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1wqeHL87UekzHWz_H7r_ek9MX6BCtSiijuGyWpzwYkY6EOoxgl3hJw0GK1CAD-MF9crxi-65XYNQJz3e9yndFlkOAtN7tOcJkM0pchGwLNbjksVRR8Opi5w7MsYmQU-Uv2i4wsa26R-y_WWPKc4nrNafFblDGP8lOErbq0WilgQHVHpyRA9RBcbt1no/w400-h193/Hedges%2024.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>So that's my first 22 feet of bocage. I will make some more gateways and field openings and some curved sections, possible double pieces with a road curve running between them but the latter will have to wait for another project to make some new metalled roads. I also plan to make some non-bocage hedges using the same horsehair and cork granules method.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfYNAG12_Aq7pQMGeTkltvb0OIk0yEb37BKnHGj9kR4dSCRXr9vEJXYPz9Cl2X-EYuR3qoZf9Scmfvp2XureE8WDFGgXK9dDs7TgHagNU7takiv1XSIRD8dIXjb1jhNIRruOdZrfkHZnWxkz6gjbgXNhyphenhyphenQJ95p_HDepBMVk4AnOCX7DnX_1UQNza_j2U/s1500/Hedges%2022%20foot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1257" data-original-width="1500" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfYNAG12_Aq7pQMGeTkltvb0OIk0yEb37BKnHGj9kR4dSCRXr9vEJXYPz9Cl2X-EYuR3qoZf9Scmfvp2XureE8WDFGgXK9dDs7TgHagNU7takiv1XSIRD8dIXjb1jhNIRruOdZrfkHZnWxkz6gjbgXNhyphenhyphenQJ95p_HDepBMVk4AnOCX7DnX_1UQNza_j2U/w400-h335/Hedges%2022%20foot.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03835786139833010048noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7473769402358177390.post-12193694315010343862023-10-06T12:49:00.000+00:002023-10-06T12:49:49.323+00:00German Pak 40 and field fortification.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0MWoGwp9ixn6WtsL9ERwTKW_0qWZl30TSnZqvlnDSvYVVbkxej7UK_ya9fjyos_C7ru_SHDcUuURXhVnC6pdmJcMCcYSdftgH72qyG47Klpx2pyTcykEGHh3T1RHuOvlUCit7uDx9EN6UMgl0DJjnUbaqFP3YJi6LghrnEFyeMCWGlcfv72JupMswUNE/s1500/P1060818%20web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="1500" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0MWoGwp9ixn6WtsL9ERwTKW_0qWZl30TSnZqvlnDSvYVVbkxej7UK_ya9fjyos_C7ru_SHDcUuURXhVnC6pdmJcMCcYSdftgH72qyG47Klpx2pyTcykEGHh3T1RHuOvlUCit7uDx9EN6UMgl0DJjnUbaqFP3YJi6LghrnEFyeMCWGlcfv72JupMswUNE/w400-h196/P1060818%20web.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">These have been a lot of work and cost just to put two guns on the table!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">I already had a Peter Pig Pak 40 painted to my older style and basing scheme but wanted at least two guns with tows and, whilst I was placing an order with PSC in their sale saw that they had a box of 4 guns that could be assembled as Pak 40 or Pak 38 along with the appealingly eccentric looking Raupenschlepper tractors for considerably less than it would have cost for another Peter Pig gun, a bag of crew and a couple of Sd.Kfz. 10s from Skytrex so I added them to the order without much thought. I later realised that the </span>Raupenschlepper wasn't much used in Normandy and the supplied crews were rather flat so I ended up buying a bag of Peter Pig gun crew anyway and, later, a couple of Sd.Kfz. 10s off Ebay. The PSC Pak 40s are very nice but I'm not sure what I'll do with the Raupenschlepper tractors or the spare couple of sprues.</p><p>Another issue was what size base to use, as none of my existing sizes were suitable - the usual squad base at 30x50 fitted lengthways but would have required a very narrow trail leg angle. I initially tried 50mm square but that had a lot of empty space and had a knock-on effect for the emplacement so I eventually settled on 40 wide by 50 deep as a compromise.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglav-kq4pFpc6AZ5P6sv2nnqJHmNGhy8qbW_eE0AHxAY6fhDJq3EB7fayXadUvYjoTcY2i3Hu3TCl3B59HjzDmEpiL6_DlaDLFX6GypmANtxLl9FLFWtyzBOauauz7loS6GG0JTixKzRF3E3U-5BjUZqyM_TH464xFSBxacWCw-yf0ULRcoMVeHtaxWIY/s1500/P1060815%20web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="1500" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglav-kq4pFpc6AZ5P6sv2nnqJHmNGhy8qbW_eE0AHxAY6fhDJq3EB7fayXadUvYjoTcY2i3Hu3TCl3B59HjzDmEpiL6_DlaDLFX6GypmANtxLl9FLFWtyzBOauauz7loS6GG0JTixKzRF3E3U-5BjUZqyM_TH464xFSBxacWCw-yf0ULRcoMVeHtaxWIY/w400-h141/P1060815%20web.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>I thought it would be nice to have some dug in emplacements for the guns. This brings up the usual problem for more modern periods of not being able to dig in to a plywood table so we are left with trying to create a terrain piece to place on top of the table that gives some sense of an excavated position.</p><p>I started with 2mm mdf, made the inner-face of the dugout from card and built up the front from layers of mdf, glued together. I had the front corners of my dugout overlap the gun bases slightly which took a bit of fiddling about to get right.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_55nSoT1XboViCqiMiRw4oXbnMfK7inc0pLB_k3s2mQ9buA1O9x4WagDAoI_gqNy_5GRMn6-Jw8HFJD7ZSKHaBsR831ACCrgzZlro9oaNPK5kelif1YiAeQwVcn9Q0fFioC4BXxK18tzjQRyDaa5YWXBfp5JxWkchtrsE-Fc02wmuUBSDzpf_0P4fFM/s1500/P1060409%20web.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="940" data-original-width="1500" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_55nSoT1XboViCqiMiRw4oXbnMfK7inc0pLB_k3s2mQ9buA1O9x4WagDAoI_gqNy_5GRMn6-Jw8HFJD7ZSKHaBsR831ACCrgzZlro9oaNPK5kelif1YiAeQwVcn9Q0fFioC4BXxK18tzjQRyDaa5YWXBfp5JxWkchtrsE-Fc02wmuUBSDzpf_0P4fFM/w400-h251/P1060409%20web.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>I added some detail of posts and planks from plasticard and plastic rod then smoothed the outer slopes with repair plaster.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHnlMPSWZOA4tskiH5LJPYAEVmRXk225vTWMfKEv1LyM7krv2sD_rnrRZzDButYNiCOOIAYCX1QRw4iNz7cVghsoQ1V0OuTUnvmngUV92gZ75QL0JeCgnrKRh9Ojh5w8EWN5wR-4eHzuiicvDG48zwWTn5-P56Qw-0yzUXn2iYPv2fL79o8QXecOHS3EE/s1500/P1060443%20web.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="885" data-original-width="1500" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHnlMPSWZOA4tskiH5LJPYAEVmRXk225vTWMfKEv1LyM7krv2sD_rnrRZzDButYNiCOOIAYCX1QRw4iNz7cVghsoQ1V0OuTUnvmngUV92gZ75QL0JeCgnrKRh9Ojh5w8EWN5wR-4eHzuiicvDG48zwWTn5-P56Qw-0yzUXn2iYPv2fL79o8QXecOHS3EE/w400-h236/P1060443%20web.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>I used my usual basing scheme and added bushes from rubberised horse hair, sprayed black, dry-brushed with browns and with the 'leaves' made from cork granules coloured with green acrylic paint. On the latter point, a big thank you to John Boadle of the excellent <a href="https://handbuilthistory.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hand Built History</a> blog for kindly giving me a big milk carton full of cork granules and explaining the process he uses for trees and hedges.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoV6siWocbJ-QdTADaGZ-gjprJMNOHNzuMYcATmkFB0jntRPVE4mwcl58QLA7ZnsTrhnOc5mBGBMx8B-HKnfMBhPSPP8EdNVlcd-OCcgcxYwXMx_GNlnUTKEoaFR9_ECGVMuvGAu2R6lIUHGGbZs49g_tPLs-Ka0rrT-Rkf-JpdOLANSiwT1dpgMQCQ4I/s1500/P1060816%20web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="944" data-original-width="1500" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoV6siWocbJ-QdTADaGZ-gjprJMNOHNzuMYcATmkFB0jntRPVE4mwcl58QLA7ZnsTrhnOc5mBGBMx8B-HKnfMBhPSPP8EdNVlcd-OCcgcxYwXMx_GNlnUTKEoaFR9_ECGVMuvGAu2R6lIUHGGbZs49g_tPLs-Ka0rrT-Rkf-JpdOLANSiwT1dpgMQCQ4I/w400-h251/P1060816%20web.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>The Pak 40 bases fit in well - as I mentioned, the front edge and corners disappear under the "wooden" bank reinforcements.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYyY5iGxNuYhfRA3xqwpTg6yf9Gf0x0cfZ0eUuiV_IADmwEipoticeZoNVRy-rejBAC-x621yPxqiRuzVWwGsMg2Y5VADL9iJJV5RRSHyGqA2_RsqbiWr1TURMvDy24DkefBtVu_RTfIpcH2qe73DWJ87nRjfrBGFi2acTT9HZ7gYpXsqKsPijCm_vmY/s1500/P1060817%20web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1105" data-original-width="1500" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYyY5iGxNuYhfRA3xqwpTg6yf9Gf0x0cfZ0eUuiV_IADmwEipoticeZoNVRy-rejBAC-x621yPxqiRuzVWwGsMg2Y5VADL9iJJV5RRSHyGqA2_RsqbiWr1TURMvDy24DkefBtVu_RTfIpcH2qe73DWJ87nRjfrBGFi2acTT9HZ7gYpXsqKsPijCm_vmY/w400-h295/P1060817%20web.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1xl3n0uTHBj0sVujhAlGx9-XUpiif294Zp-6eBZDFhIEFbarvMYvwsrWR2gnt1rdaoT1PqLoA5DsU-5hwE-G8t_3HZS3Ug69sg-m76IDovlXMzxdAdhvwRjArJ_H_5DN7YRruXXJydfdh-lQ-ctzGWykQ-_EUWIRW4HP-5Ulvw0opG633J3-99snWL0/s1500/P1060819%20web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1057" data-original-width="1500" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1xl3n0uTHBj0sVujhAlGx9-XUpiif294Zp-6eBZDFhIEFbarvMYvwsrWR2gnt1rdaoT1PqLoA5DsU-5hwE-G8t_3HZS3Ug69sg-m76IDovlXMzxdAdhvwRjArJ_H_5DN7YRruXXJydfdh-lQ-ctzGWykQ-_EUWIRW4HP-5Ulvw0opG633J3-99snWL0/w400-h281/P1060819%20web.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Next on the table is a project to make new hedges and I'll use the same cork granules, in a couple of different colour mixes, for those so the idea is that these will match in. I'm also going to do some smaller dug-in positions for machine guns and the British 6 pdr guns. These will be of a more hastily prepared design, as a contrast to these which have obviously been prepared some time in advance of the battle.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXaZ3Z8oT5hKvViI6aYxh8AMMarBPvfGu19iM2Zd0VizTU9VtHxxl7R_zxJXLHYgG37O5KpmYoXyIPwRvWyblXRXlkXJ-dQx1yj8jIVXJIgFU5x3mbzqw6m2CuSTlkenTn7fRMPzD_aEwu7_bsqtLNpnUJ3TVw-ggGXJRe7gkSOE3FBnzH5onyCvefuQ/s1496/P1060817%20web1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1346" data-original-width="1496" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXaZ3Z8oT5hKvViI6aYxh8AMMarBPvfGu19iM2Zd0VizTU9VtHxxl7R_zxJXLHYgG37O5KpmYoXyIPwRvWyblXRXlkXJ-dQx1yj8jIVXJIgFU5x3mbzqw6m2CuSTlkenTn7fRMPzD_aEwu7_bsqtLNpnUJ3TVw-ggGXJRe7gkSOE3FBnzH5onyCvefuQ/w400-h360/P1060817%20web1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03835786139833010048noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7473769402358177390.post-62589390392811346862023-08-13T17:17:00.001+00:002023-08-13T17:17:42.314+00:00Basing scheme<p style="margin: 0px 0px 8px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmErYkadYnoDTru0IIysgPDaKyCHNNVCXaASSxlabgYK4Z9_yNJG39eJSxShKQt43eJETtIQCnGLmo7dzoq6Fcz44Oa67alrs7UNu9taiZUHZJBjxcnyFTHEXk6Q2rRXH8jQGacrkaCXFQB5W50Lv1eoXsMGf4ZD9nSxfThTeIUx_HPGaW_2BThYBC4A/s1500/Bases_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="1500" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmErYkadYnoDTru0IIysgPDaKyCHNNVCXaASSxlabgYK4Z9_yNJG39eJSxShKQt43eJETtIQCnGLmo7dzoq6Fcz44Oa67alrs7UNu9taiZUHZJBjxcnyFTHEXk6Q2rRXH8jQGacrkaCXFQB5W50Lv1eoXsMGf4ZD9nSxfThTeIUx_HPGaW_2BThYBC4A/w400-h173/Bases_3.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 8px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;">After a comment asking about what basing recipe I used, I thought it might be interesting to do a more detailed step by step post on basing.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 8px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white;">I first used this scheme for my Italian Wars French army and the idea was to give a sense of Southern European ground - slightly sun-bleached rocky soil with patches of different grasses. I also think a paler basing scheme makes the figures stand out better. </span><span style="background-color: white;">I used the same scheme for my terrain and that rather committed me to keep using it for other armies. Not a bad choice for my Late Romans to inherit but maybe less suitable for Normandy! </span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 8px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Another objective was to be a reasonable match for my table. </span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">I bought my terrain mat some years ago from Antenocitis Workshop. It was called “Mat O War” and is a sort of very stiff synthetic felt - no chance of getting it to drape over hills! They told me they got them from Ireland and that it was made by compressing (presumably with some heat) the type of fibres used for static grass. They did two versions, a pale sand and the multi-tone green that I bought. </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;">The bad news is that I don't think it is available any more - in fact the Antenocities website no-longer seems to exist. </span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 8px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The mat was an exact (as far as I can tell) match for their “DECORPLUS 2mm Gamer Grass Mix” and I originally used that for basing - the Kallistra static grass I use now is brighter, a single colour and more green so I dry brush a bit of yellow ochre to tone it down so the figure bases and scenery still match fairly well with the mat. </span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 8px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;">As a final step, in preparing the figures for basing, I paint the cast figure's base with my base earth colour. This means I don't have to texture and paint right up to their feet when they are glued to the element base so makes the process a little easier.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgubmJKdKNIjLMlMFBSJvcOt_yPs6Vx6TJIxEUJQoW8bigMbz5LHSQSskJb405ukPyxvE29So_Hp3koqDdfceOG6vF1k7v43M4Fj2CnIkp6uQzOigApj_GmSkqFWQg11GeRQMOWizP3-sXbnn1FlrY1QNFIA3h1qRJUjKO8bPmv41-dzvC5z0Xvu6kBPZc/s2375/Bases_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1164" data-original-width="2375" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgubmJKdKNIjLMlMFBSJvcOt_yPs6Vx6TJIxEUJQoW8bigMbz5LHSQSskJb405ukPyxvE29So_Hp3koqDdfceOG6vF1k7v43M4Fj2CnIkp6uQzOigApj_GmSkqFWQg11GeRQMOWizP3-sXbnn1FlrY1QNFIA3h1qRJUjKO8bPmv41-dzvC5z0Xvu6kBPZc/w400-h196/Bases_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="margin: 0px 0px 8px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 8px; text-align: left;"><span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">My bases are 2mm laser cut MDF from Minibits or WarBases with self-adhesive <a href="https://magneticdisplays.co.uk/magnetic-displays/standard-range" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">0.8mm magnetic sheet from Magnetic Displays</a>. I stick the MDF base on the whole magnetic sheet, cut it off with a bit of excess then trim the magnetic sheet more closely with a sharp knife before sanding the edges to give a more or less seamless finish. Recently I've also been giving the underside a dusting of Halfords white primer to give a nice clean base for the unit name labels - also, for those without labels, it makes them less prone to sliding off hills.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJSHPmJ67qHBGTSAnBTvG9t5zbbXY8Z5J1gVhNrKwUhJ_shT8aittgVGXyq1kgnYhoi53O_Ghj3rkgqsXzZIWMoI1recGXheaDpI_WLp-A7t955VBvZses2knshMMQ5i3n_VQY3bYPIRvwb3tUuksW00QQEWEd_sY00eBAIO3BzBU1JD54Z0KkIuf5uHI/s1500/Bases_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="1500" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJSHPmJ67qHBGTSAnBTvG9t5zbbXY8Z5J1gVhNrKwUhJ_shT8aittgVGXyq1kgnYhoi53O_Ghj3rkgqsXzZIWMoI1recGXheaDpI_WLp-A7t955VBvZses2knshMMQ5i3n_VQY3bYPIRvwb3tUuksW00QQEWEd_sY00eBAIO3BzBU1JD54Z0KkIuf5uHI/w400-h199/Bases_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="margin: 0px 0px 8px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 8px; text-align: left;"><span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">I attach the figures with neat PVA adhesive. When that is dry, I fill in around the bases with a water-based filler. A coating of watered down PVA helps this adhere and I use a wet (old) brush to push the filler into place.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 8px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Next I paint the base with slightly diluted PVA, add a few small bits of rock and rounded sand grains (around 1mm) then sprinkle with fine sand, shaking off the excess immediately. When the PVA is dry, I brush off the bits that haven't fully adhered. I take particular care that there is nothing stuck around the edges.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiidFjHXB6yX3sgWRnXHJpixYywrPKKXF0GWGRTodgn6TiZjA9nH0G7e7zJ8jpwTc9z6qKavP7ZJuDtBgr7Ja2Y57wCmrUhKaqVbXLbnZIiO5Fd4D9zRnzjcY-9XOz_10etEy2A5fcAifTfu2-t-GHTnbpiIN6vyMl14l9ASp0FY5ZeJv3zkmzaN9BYwIs/s1500/Bases_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="1500" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiidFjHXB6yX3sgWRnXHJpixYywrPKKXF0GWGRTodgn6TiZjA9nH0G7e7zJ8jpwTc9z6qKavP7ZJuDtBgr7Ja2Y57wCmrUhKaqVbXLbnZIiO5Fd4D9zRnzjcY-9XOz_10etEy2A5fcAifTfu2-t-GHTnbpiIN6vyMl14l9ASp0FY5ZeJv3zkmzaN9BYwIs/w400-h173/Bases_3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="margin: 0px 0px 8px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 8px; text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Originally I used Humbrol Dark Earth as the base colour but I wanted to use the same mix for scenery and that would have been rather expensive so I bought a big tub of discontinued brown emulsion from B&Q. The colour isn't much like the Humbrol but that doesn't seem to matter to the final look. Being water based, it doesn't wet the textured surface as well as enamel paint diluted with white spirit so I usually need to do some touching up once the first coat is dry. There are usually a few bits of sand stuck by the emulsion around the edges so I remove those at this stage.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: left;">Dry brush acrylic yellow ochre, fairly heavily then more lightly with yellow ochre + white. Around the edges, I try to get an effect of vertical streaks rather than a simple dry-brushing and finish them off with some pale olive green - a match pot of emulsion. I find this helps the bases disappear into the terrain cloth and disguises the height of the base somewhat.</div></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The larger rocks are painted with Vallejo London Grey then dry-brushed with Pale Grey. No real logic to this but it makes them stand out nicely. Although I try to be as neat as possible with all this, invariable a stray bit of basing paint gets on one or two figures, requiring some touching up.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi87krqVkRnbQH4rkd0dljf3M8_SXL3RvjvNShITnmBOkIkNKxmcjbYzSPiu68As83Cr-gfWowLw5CXYV0xtWfiJJgapwtRr0tRASdZ7djNnEPhXreChOtjA-PCSAQKLG9eKcNBLzZ4zdVOxlgN2NuzFTVRV66xQ0tVjcFafFgpALqRHNNaOCMZuyF1yUY/s1500/Bases_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="334" data-original-width="1500" height="89" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi87krqVkRnbQH4rkd0dljf3M8_SXL3RvjvNShITnmBOkIkNKxmcjbYzSPiu68As83Cr-gfWowLw5CXYV0xtWfiJJgapwtRr0tRASdZ7djNnEPhXreChOtjA-PCSAQKLG9eKcNBLzZ4zdVOxlgN2NuzFTVRV66xQ0tVjcFafFgpALqRHNNaOCMZuyF1yUY/w400-h89/Bases_4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The tufts are MiniNature 737-22 and the static grass is "Spring Meadow Flock" from Kallistra. As mentioned above, I dry brush over the Kallistra grass with yellow ochre to tone it down a bit.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqIiOG7PRzolaYuRbDaF9gqWng8mzg4qJaX6829l0m3V6DjV39APolvl3RsnvsN5mEAvJIwUkI5FqS0_A9aCoxy-F8Iix3Kf7IBEO7q6ZmQAmflT2CAQK-9CNl6CeCyDVjobsQWAeHFyolgOz2XomAHjUpth3OaNC_GT4ZqC_CRUjdHEh8ZBC5fFMYG1w/s1500/Bases_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="319" data-original-width="1500" height="85" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqIiOG7PRzolaYuRbDaF9gqWng8mzg4qJaX6829l0m3V6DjV39APolvl3RsnvsN5mEAvJIwUkI5FqS0_A9aCoxy-F8Iix3Kf7IBEO7q6ZmQAmflT2CAQK-9CNl6CeCyDVjobsQWAeHFyolgOz2XomAHjUpth3OaNC_GT4ZqC_CRUjdHEh8ZBC5fFMYG1w/w400-h85/Bases_5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></span><p></p>Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03835786139833010048noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7473769402358177390.post-91065344446019643622023-03-08T17:39:00.001+00:002023-03-10T08:13:02.465+00:00Army box labels<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGqGvJI8ZCaVyvnzy2WbwtoTFNeZ3SOkYdstAgY4_DWzAvKtWShlqnu3VIcYhipMwshh_50rQhP9oed3UMftICB7j4hWU4VmXpiqlPeG03axZ51kkVGxA1yoWJM4HX8iOdqSgeHv-F035KArpUFQ7RZWVfI-Y85IEmfsC7fBhsU6lN3WrCLHav1TTl/s1500/Boxes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1045" data-original-width="1500" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGqGvJI8ZCaVyvnzy2WbwtoTFNeZ3SOkYdstAgY4_DWzAvKtWShlqnu3VIcYhipMwshh_50rQhP9oed3UMftICB7j4hWU4VmXpiqlPeG03axZ51kkVGxA1yoWJM4HX8iOdqSgeHv-F035KArpUFQ7RZWVfI-Y85IEmfsC7fBhsU6lN3WrCLHav1TTl/w400-h279/Boxes.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p>With a growing number of Really Useful Boxes full of figures and vehicles, I thought some sort of labelling would be a good idea to avoid having to open each in turn to see what was inside.</p><p>Rather than just having text labels, I wanted some pictures. It was easy enough to find images on the web that would be suitable for the Romans, Italian Wars French and 11th Armoured Division but the WW2 Germans were a bit more difficult - I certainly didn't want boxes with Swastikas on the side but nothing else seemed to have sufficient immediate impact and recognisability. In the end, I went for a plain German cross against a 3 colour camouflage - as seen on the sides of vehicles. After a bit of searching, I found a suitable image which I cropped and edited to make sure the colours were bright and distinct then superimposed the cross.</p>Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03835786139833010048noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7473769402358177390.post-43854961221560833432023-03-07T16:52:00.005+00:002023-03-07T17:02:50.720+00:00More Late Roman skirmishing bowmen - Sagittarii Venatores expanded to 9 bases.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJOvRcHsuTD_E6hRpjekO0brXXxClwRHzkQMgdAn_rh0POZ59XRBQyvkDJ4gr7OhFeJG4Ou16RayIA1UWB-gDbsm8QCn0lh9h0WANSF854eHUE5W1bGYZLQFiyI3b0DaqhFZjtPdLIQQ6tPaak0r5XJBf0C4XndIIr5hDFXsKOkNg65v_RCYN11QK/s1500/Archers1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="1500" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJOvRcHsuTD_E6hRpjekO0brXXxClwRHzkQMgdAn_rh0POZ59XRBQyvkDJ4gr7OhFeJG4Ou16RayIA1UWB-gDbsm8QCn0lh9h0WANSF854eHUE5W1bGYZLQFiyI3b0DaqhFZjtPdLIQQ6tPaak0r5XJBf0C4XndIIr5hDFXsKOkNg65v_RCYN11QK/w400-h139/Archers1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Back in September 2020, I completed a unit of Late Roman skirmishing bowment, the Sagittarii Venatores. <a href="https://smallitalianwars.blogspot.com/2020/09/late-roman-skirmishing-bowmen.html">https://smallitalianwars.blogspot.com/2020/09/late-roman-skirmishing-bowmen.html</a> At that time I only painted 12 figures for 6 bases but Mortem et Gloriam has skirmishers deployed 3 bases deep and 6 is rather a small unit so I have found myself borrowing figures for each game to make up the numbers to 9 bases. </p><p>As a break from Khaki and Field Grey, I've painted 6 more figures to complete the unit. At some point I'll probably do a couple more bases of horse archers, for the same reason. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG8edIioaqgD_scRFUMyEL61E2xcDv2GYLE-nl324bUrK3BlOHjw_PeM5jTON04zqmZC8DFWN7j0jAEgdziT7vBoIySE_Rx_csjv6S3tk8FCpChRMBneHGZKC-cRWO05KPTMFZg5e5kv6XQbKVoUcUgqLVIsH4p_OWyOgU79SxVRCKaduOE2hkpRzi/s1500/Archers2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="741" data-original-width="1500" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG8edIioaqgD_scRFUMyEL61E2xcDv2GYLE-nl324bUrK3BlOHjw_PeM5jTON04zqmZC8DFWN7j0jAEgdziT7vBoIySE_Rx_csjv6S3tk8FCpChRMBneHGZKC-cRWO05KPTMFZg5e5kv6XQbKVoUcUgqLVIsH4p_OWyOgU79SxVRCKaduOE2hkpRzi/w400-h198/Archers2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03835786139833010048noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7473769402358177390.post-62347417034442597742023-02-20T20:56:00.000+00:002023-02-20T20:56:30.445+00:004 KSLI Platoon 12, an 'O' Group Battalion and Support<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPhXsDS_Jngf5vxt1l7W0amI2pbcahooIbsmKQxxK60XtqGcJmXubkYmGPRxPqURHHHepf4cZpNh6VkasGT4G2U1g4ztE8ZWDvGHhbj8D-5RdCmYGIC-XGyYeivDANDV2F8S7nMCgzzsK6TyQpcHqbWdth44b1Mtuk0WBcBIlZakIRvtQkp_hzZRHW/s1500/Plat12_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="651" data-original-width="1500" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPhXsDS_Jngf5vxt1l7W0amI2pbcahooIbsmKQxxK60XtqGcJmXubkYmGPRxPqURHHHepf4cZpNh6VkasGT4G2U1g4ztE8ZWDvGHhbj8D-5RdCmYGIC-XGyYeivDANDV2F8S7nMCgzzsK6TyQpcHqbWdth44b1Mtuk0WBcBIlZakIRvtQkp_hzZRHW/w400-h174/Plat12_01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>The 15 figures of Platoon 12 completes my 4th King's Shropshire Light Infantry, B Company in 'O' Group terms. All the figures are from Peter Pig.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2IbrrWz5RMKQGnPfVx7pBBgca6BUzg16qbjShxCXbWH-q-A5VRc4zBniMZR0bf3iswWcbS1E1yBGBiJthTdo56FR3ccOtyK4f5FZ8_HUSCGoCmyjzV8Nl0Wj7Qupp7G5DvVwrGwGIAMcAXqgP2_QPnlqEkqqlyJh8Z0OQ1CkX-8d_HpxCFw5IGJno/s1500/Plat12_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1176" data-original-width="1500" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2IbrrWz5RMKQGnPfVx7pBBgca6BUzg16qbjShxCXbWH-q-A5VRc4zBniMZR0bf3iswWcbS1E1yBGBiJthTdo56FR3ccOtyK4f5FZ8_HUSCGoCmyjzV8Nl0Wj7Qupp7G5DvVwrGwGIAMcAXqgP2_QPnlqEkqqlyJh8Z0OQ1CkX-8d_HpxCFw5IGJno/w400-h314/Plat12_02.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>It also means I now have the basics of an 'O' Group British battalion plus some supports, albeit one of the companies, the mortar FOO, 6 pdr guns and two Vickers MMGs using bases that I painted years ago for 'Overlord' rules). The Daimler Dingo is also an old one and doesn't match the painting style of the other vehicles (or have the correct markings). </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGXhI3ZN5AS3mX6RN1HUZt1no3Oe6hxgULykiwYhGSq-33NaLI8XcqORCw4a5nUV5cskuCSq3IsB77ZFkGSC6ex3ooLAL69v1JDqhbAdWnq_aH_lQdF5UY_hTF29wpJLhlTIUc5rNurF6yRRCPVU6aHur5RNUQl5s1CIAQn8tl2Gqd6sSf3CAZDnQ/s1500/Plat12_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGXhI3ZN5AS3mX6RN1HUZt1no3Oe6hxgULykiwYhGSq-33NaLI8XcqORCw4a5nUV5cskuCSq3IsB77ZFkGSC6ex3ooLAL69v1JDqhbAdWnq_aH_lQdF5UY_hTF29wpJLhlTIUc5rNurF6yRRCPVU6aHur5RNUQl5s1CIAQn8tl2Gqd6sSf3CAZDnQ/w400-h200/Plat12_03.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Next on the list for the British are the carrier platoon, new bases for the FOO, MMGs and 6 pdrs and Lloyd Carriers as anti tank gun tows. Replacing that third company with new bases is well off to the right of my schedule.</p><p>Before that though, I need to paint some more Germans - infantry, PaK 40s and their tows. </p><p><br /></p><br /><p></p>Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03835786139833010048noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7473769402358177390.post-27044328845774782832023-01-01T17:54:00.001+00:002023-01-01T18:00:13.523+00:00Daimler Armoured Cars and Churchill AVRE in 15mm<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicsTeUEUQf1ny48-lRuU71ZEXN0TqOwk9bKvfPASgT3TorTLRB52HdWrHPy9j_MdGymLMVb9vaOXGEegSMhBaKxBfztYCRa6vM1KDXQ5CAAsPgsqq9aXqf2qfUCiVedRa_pgP_gs3UVC7iF_4QrxRR5XnAg2aHbJhEHL-2R04w0Ll-jbWNx0eJYYqF/s1500/P1059083%20bl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="493" data-original-width="1500" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicsTeUEUQf1ny48-lRuU71ZEXN0TqOwk9bKvfPASgT3TorTLRB52HdWrHPy9j_MdGymLMVb9vaOXGEegSMhBaKxBfztYCRa6vM1KDXQ5CAAsPgsqq9aXqf2qfUCiVedRa_pgP_gs3UVC7iF_4QrxRR5XnAg2aHbJhEHL-2R04w0Ll-jbWNx0eJYYqF/w400-h131/P1059083%20bl.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>These models are something of an indulgence, painted when I should have been working on more infantry platoons. They aren't needed for the core of my 'O' Group forces but are models that I've wanted to have for a long time. </p><p>They were bought with half an eye to possible scenarios. In the case of the Daimlers, I imagine them, with a couple of Dingos and maybe a carrier platoon, seizing an undefended bridge and then trying to hold it against piecemeal German attacks as both sides frantically try to feed in reinforcements. For the AVRE it would be simpler - provide an option to blow up some obstacle or fortification. </p><p>At the start of my career, I worked for Jaguar Cars at their Radford engine plant - or 'the Daimler' as it was locally known so I felt I had a bit of a connection to the Daimler Armoured Car (and the Dingo) and there is a good example in the Coventry Transport Museum. <a href="https://transport-museum.com/visiting/daimler-armoured-car.aspx">https://transport-museum.com/visiting/daimler-armoured-car.aspx</a></p><p>My two models (from Skytrex's Command Decision range) are painted as belonging to the Inns of Court 'The Devil's Own' armoured car regiment. Originally a corps-level asset, elements of the regiment landed early on D-Day, on Juno beach, and were given a special mission of penetrating inland with attached engineer units to block German reinforcements from crossing the Orne by demolishing bridges. They spent the rest of the Normandy campaign scouting for 11th Armoured Division and were eventually allocated formally as division troops. My rather limited markings are meant to represent them after this so would be incorrect for most of the Normandy battle.</p><p>The division symbol is a new Skytrex decal whilst the 44 of an armoured car regiment is a much older decal that I over-painted because the colours and definition were so poor.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQOGQvQ46JMpSaETzg_K40fqR2vecYfP0z4kUUi6NpqfzDk3luB59PbqaeJea7JAOWMxyNFX5qnNQFD6sXfSNM16vP2YYOVio42U4vc10H1r6dm2QRvc3ip0Ra2mI25k1C_nBQIgPgtwlkFKCf1P12pUabOkOhqb6cT4NOetTLkS-T6KhGuDUwM3Lc/s1500/P1059089bl.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="865" data-original-width="1500" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQOGQvQ46JMpSaETzg_K40fqR2vecYfP0z4kUUi6NpqfzDk3luB59PbqaeJea7JAOWMxyNFX5qnNQFD6sXfSNM16vP2YYOVio42U4vc10H1r6dm2QRvc3ip0Ra2mI25k1C_nBQIgPgtwlkFKCf1P12pUabOkOhqb6cT4NOetTLkS-T6KhGuDUwM3Lc/s320/P1059089bl.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhurnIvGnrnDu1t97ohyAYP3-7Jk9SQjEvlBrseREqNg18KmfoTDr94YZCXg4tF1VWGqf6CeLIucdA8Ap41rXTRPoRk3OMbKF0TftgMNYYLQ8GqnYdLztmOP2UmVM9ZD0K0b4RdU9RJUjIWOR_Fre1jIGjA7PYphJTibn33_z1ymudQXmWxFZg2l16R/s1500/P1059085bl.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="1500" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhurnIvGnrnDu1t97ohyAYP3-7Jk9SQjEvlBrseREqNg18KmfoTDr94YZCXg4tF1VWGqf6CeLIucdA8Ap41rXTRPoRk3OMbKF0TftgMNYYLQ8GqnYdLztmOP2UmVM9ZD0K0b4RdU9RJUjIWOR_Fre1jIGjA7PYphJTibn33_z1ymudQXmWxFZg2l16R/s320/P1059085bl.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>The AVRE is painted as belonging to the 6th Assault Regiment of 79th Armoured Division. The division emblem and star are from Skytrex and the blue arm of service rectangle is hand painted.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1kc_EuFThUejzDKfLcRQsJ46UcQYDU20C89LppmyqkqvbBS0pURhpppINAv3bvrtSBcSk1FUXlCa2rZcacjD_yd86wakQ-JLaSJ8hmdg4BacbJ2Z1dV7BumXWINq39bS-XOV_JYfqS2fxcDGmA8Y1ZMeAQbp_7Dh_RUNtf9M3ONctD_AIq6eq3m9/s1500/P1059086bl.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="1500" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1kc_EuFThUejzDKfLcRQsJ46UcQYDU20C89LppmyqkqvbBS0pURhpppINAv3bvrtSBcSk1FUXlCa2rZcacjD_yd86wakQ-JLaSJ8hmdg4BacbJ2Z1dV7BumXWINq39bS-XOV_JYfqS2fxcDGmA8Y1ZMeAQbp_7Dh_RUNtf9M3ONctD_AIq6eq3m9/s320/P1059086bl.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdTSoM9pB32PNNwekp4C15xdKSMmSXfIHDRiMENWFSRNi_Y3Ru8tAi4Kvele2w2c4sbvjYAStHI2_R9kXwBSaX7fc2Y8Rjm3daxFK2XNdnLEJP2dBT5DMgO2YyaK7jWq5Ud7pJSNf5L1umAPFqn3B7VpLFP1ZR3ehyBBYvZT3SJ2SkW7wZOMCkW4a/s1500/P1059087bl.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1500" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdTSoM9pB32PNNwekp4C15xdKSMmSXfIHDRiMENWFSRNi_Y3Ru8tAi4Kvele2w2c4sbvjYAStHI2_R9kXwBSaX7fc2Y8Rjm3daxFK2XNdnLEJP2dBT5DMgO2YyaK7jWq5Ud7pJSNf5L1umAPFqn3B7VpLFP1ZR3ehyBBYvZT3SJ2SkW7wZOMCkW4a/s320/P1059087bl.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03835786139833010048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7473769402358177390.post-87911992644780723012022-12-04T17:56:00.001+00:002022-12-05T14:57:51.680+00:00More Shermans - B Squadron, 3 RTR Complete<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9h7ddzv_brbbzzv74wam03FZ1dG5tCSaAYrIMD2h3OLgaDgIandcYBa_9tzZLb9LbzfXPoLGrwry7sx0oPylNKNUANCXkcZrabBVYQMi9bbO4RRPaedODGdlFqLoj0BflztR3gVbeOE-MVfTPONspbsemxZEqvt8NFwE9yi-eZJRT5RjcEsucMOYJ/s1500/P1048942%20blog.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="571" data-original-width="1500" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9h7ddzv_brbbzzv74wam03FZ1dG5tCSaAYrIMD2h3OLgaDgIandcYBa_9tzZLb9LbzfXPoLGrwry7sx0oPylNKNUANCXkcZrabBVYQMi9bbO4RRPaedODGdlFqLoj0BflztR3gVbeOE-MVfTPONspbsemxZEqvt8NFwE9yi-eZJRT5RjcEsucMOYJ/w400-h153/P1048942%20blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>These three PSC 15mm Shermans and Peter Pig tank commander complete my scaled down squadron of three troops of three tanks each plus an extra 75mm Sherman to represent the squadron HQ. I have a couple of PSC models left over and one Skytrex Sherman V painted in my earlier dry-brushing style. I'll probably complete these at some point to replace the bodged hybrid PSC/Skytrex model or give a fourth troop but that's a very low priority.</p><p>As I post this, I realise I have missed off the aerials, although the holes or all drilled ready so I'll have to add those at some point. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR0unfAMyQlgMZ_DhGwtw8MDBqBebGesIdt72zMgCVSBKWBTxvCsfVIShDuKV0Y2z9eurNkXH5g9jhBfNekrqRcentDTjvJ-gedug8zZbA96cMzApAJrbisRNFZYMN8teVHBe9aEfgjWrTIXQpXJV-An9WVZWGI0I8XmhhJUra_kpOQZD7awIVgy1I/s1500/P1048946%20blog.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="1500" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR0unfAMyQlgMZ_DhGwtw8MDBqBebGesIdt72zMgCVSBKWBTxvCsfVIShDuKV0Y2z9eurNkXH5g9jhBfNekrqRcentDTjvJ-gedug8zZbA96cMzApAJrbisRNFZYMN8teVHBe9aEfgjWrTIXQpXJV-An9WVZWGI0I8XmhhJUra_kpOQZD7awIVgy1I/w400-h214/P1048946%20blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>The painting technique is the same as with the previous ones - airbrushed with successively lighter shades of SCC15 with exaggerated contrasts and the details and final hi-lights by brush then brought together with a filter and pin wash, as described by <a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0782/9619/files/Painting_Guide_Firefly_1.pdf?v=1600448745" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rubén Torregrosa on his Heresy Brush blog</a>. However I skipped the chipping, streaking and mud stages as I wanted a cleaner look and feel that, at this small scale, it is easy to lose the detail and even the overall look of the vehicle. </p><p>Another difference was that I used Vallejo paints, with a base SCC15 mix of 1 part 888 Olive Grey to 1 part 924 Russian Uniform. My shade colour was the 1 part SCC15 mix to 1 part black and the airbrushed first hi-light 3 parts SCC15 to 1 part 976 Buff. The top (brushed) hi-light was roughly 1 part SCC15 to 1 part buff. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkoL3ObmJ4_yZ5Yk0VPWKARPsWSXeUno3ShRKf5UvZUrTsiNMaIPoW8LETv9ogAVN0AWXCmixOT1aWezIwELXAQactxckZCtJjhNL4IwTDaR1ZFRPMg_nkPkRfbD0sPXKFBzZwws7hOWk9D_pWSCla9w58X10O8gtSC2HWkBGei40I_5DKZaIgh7-G/s2924/P1048943%20a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1964" data-original-width="2924" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkoL3ObmJ4_yZ5Yk0VPWKARPsWSXeUno3ShRKf5UvZUrTsiNMaIPoW8LETv9ogAVN0AWXCmixOT1aWezIwELXAQactxckZCtJjhNL4IwTDaR1ZFRPMg_nkPkRfbD0sPXKFBzZwws7hOWk9D_pWSCla9w58X10O8gtSC2HWkBGei40I_5DKZaIgh7-G/w400-h269/P1048943%20a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGCK_2gCrtRXaq0a2qvsROSXNl-8BBihi7tspxtOVz9fnoIYzRqqYv-Y9tjPwm_9uGhx5ZbirV9s00MUjKbix_tWV5kACkfYCdIxvEWLel1kiegJYUt0VwFRVI6un7g1gEQMwhyxyAJ1xZq0WFqy69C3LIbZDLhTwXlFYsYpq28qBO6fOebcbCtNZN/s1500/P1048945%20blog.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1290" data-original-width="1500" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGCK_2gCrtRXaq0a2qvsROSXNl-8BBihi7tspxtOVz9fnoIYzRqqYv-Y9tjPwm_9uGhx5ZbirV9s00MUjKbix_tWV5kACkfYCdIxvEWLel1kiegJYUt0VwFRVI6un7g1gEQMwhyxyAJ1xZq0WFqy69C3LIbZDLhTwXlFYsYpq28qBO6fOebcbCtNZN/w400-h344/P1048945%20blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>With a growing collection of vehicles finished, I needed somewhere to store them. My infantry are in the ubiquitous Really Useful Boxes, 4 litre size with two shallow <a href="https://warbases.co.uk/product/rub-tray/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MDF trays from Warbases</a>. to save space. All my infantry bases are magnetised but I prefer vehicles, at least the larger ones, un-based needed some other solution to stop them moving about and getting damaged. My solution was to buy some 20mm upholstery foam from Dunelm. One £5 piece is enough for three boxes, which should be plenty for all my WW2 vehicle storage. I marked it up with a soft pencil and made the cuts with a new craft knife blade. </p><p>Actually 20mm was too thick - 1/2" or 15mm would have been perfect - but, despite looking for a long time, it was the best I could find without buying huge quantities. The main problem is that the gun barrels on tanks like the Firefly, that overhang the hull, sit lower than 20mm off the ground. My rather awkward solution was to cut the cutouts in half across their depth. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-GEFfEfWD0OwO_AEnt1_UMCfxL0hcnLqQnkg5Uz2UXjK_1Mv3B45XM9CnwI9LdzM4UHpRaM6lSfpk38oLM8Xvx4RoONiLvhZSjB3V1F5NaMhyubTfqW8bJCd1K7ei7nhYlEP2YZ53DUwgmv4ZaRJpjerIbsp9sygmj8WfYISk915sJVFnm49CSWi2/s1500/P1048947%20blog.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1126" data-original-width="1500" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-GEFfEfWD0OwO_AEnt1_UMCfxL0hcnLqQnkg5Uz2UXjK_1Mv3B45XM9CnwI9LdzM4UHpRaM6lSfpk38oLM8Xvx4RoONiLvhZSjB3V1F5NaMhyubTfqW8bJCd1K7ei7nhYlEP2YZ53DUwgmv4ZaRJpjerIbsp9sygmj8WfYISk915sJVFnm49CSWi2/w400-h300/P1048947%20blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03835786139833010048noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7473769402358177390.post-88535206402809543432022-10-24T20:12:00.001+00:002022-10-25T06:44:01.427+00:00British Battalion HQ, Normandy 1944<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhoOJppszV3h9NS6ho8vj75aLkqWR0YvRoxGOC8It5ovINcpghbhVwO0NtD_SQ7OPXmTVscDzVZXB7VUs7WrnTcRO3P43ZAmoq7BwnNmfs-UZFS1Vlnf-ZOgwWaeUzaKB9vMvwfeESAUIeA4Dn9cE4UXKG_6hFiQS35VAp9EwAgrO3WMZbZPvQcPN0/s1500/P1048626blog%20top.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1099" data-original-width="1500" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhoOJppszV3h9NS6ho8vj75aLkqWR0YvRoxGOC8It5ovINcpghbhVwO0NtD_SQ7OPXmTVscDzVZXB7VUs7WrnTcRO3P43ZAmoq7BwnNmfs-UZFS1Vlnf-ZOgwWaeUzaKB9vMvwfeESAUIeA4Dn9cE4UXKG_6hFiQS35VAp9EwAgrO3WMZbZPvQcPN0/w400-h293/P1048626blog%20top.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>I wanted to make a small diorama for my 4 KSLI Battalion HQ in Normandy, 1944. In line with the the pattern established by my platoon and company bases, it would be a round base and, going up another step in size, 60 mm diameter with 5 figures to represent Lt. Colonel Miles, Major Robinson and some immediate support staff. A fairly static grouping, as though they were monitoring the battle and considering what to do seemed appropriate but this is difficult with the late war British Peter Pig figures, as they tend to be in quite dynamic poses.</p><p>Battalion HQ would obviously have a radio (more than one really but compromise is needed with only 5 figures). The Peter Pig radiomen models are either walking about carrying the radio or lying prone as though seeking cover - great for mobile a company command or a forward observer base but not so good here so I scratch-built a Wireless Set No. 18 from plastic, wire and some aluminium foil and chose a kneeling gun crew figure as the operator.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLbjxy9YT2p73JXyz_qr4VYGVXQICVu77SJcEMTJknhzd6vq3U0osIl2_8ECB-cDgN1H9AJI7mvgoaBnUVOp61Obsm6PVEBu_dPjyyYaVOdsUhp_AcVzWXRxSFRbGhipPM3pHbJec_-VleLd6V31jJlDawG1zVQ6OIzZFJUEhq8avMzUaNkX_2qg5R/s1600/Radios.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1242" data-original-width="1600" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLbjxy9YT2p73JXyz_qr4VYGVXQICVu77SJcEMTJknhzd6vq3U0osIl2_8ECB-cDgN1H9AJI7mvgoaBnUVOp61Obsm6PVEBu_dPjyyYaVOdsUhp_AcVzWXRxSFRbGhipPM3pHbJec_-VleLd6V31jJlDawG1zVQ6OIzZFJUEhq8avMzUaNkX_2qg5R/w400-h310/Radios.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Having watched several 1970s war films, especially 'A Bridge Too Far', I learnt that the British Army spends all its time drinking tea rather than showing any sense of urgency or fighting. For Lt. Colonel Miles, I chose a figure in a peaked cap from Peter Pig's British drinking tea pack of figures with another as a guard to stand at the edge of the group. That tea had to come from somewhere so I also scratch built a No.12 camp stove with a kettle sitting on it and a seated crew figure from Plastic Soldier's Universal Carrier to watch over it. Obviously considerable simplification was needed as the stove base is only 2.8 mm square but I hope it is still recognisable. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For the German HQ, I'm thinking eating wurst and drinking weissbier!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7O7vlf2uhvY_ge1Bp5aB7mDuXFu137P4GiSGcO02T94REyuTHacVBxs8MamsPFptazWj7Aq-AKWDTfz5I-yUbJmwGPF3YOLURCXxzqXVvUXuDbpItUth8f_DhDcc7U101Uc_eVowya0qAWWokRnjOlNms7i_6r3udfnJsMiTIMd5opWNkwzOwOJZw/s1194/Stove.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="553" data-original-width="1194" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7O7vlf2uhvY_ge1Bp5aB7mDuXFu137P4GiSGcO02T94REyuTHacVBxs8MamsPFptazWj7Aq-AKWDTfz5I-yUbJmwGPF3YOLURCXxzqXVvUXuDbpItUth8f_DhDcc7U101Uc_eVowya0qAWWokRnjOlNms7i_6r3udfnJsMiTIMd5opWNkwzOwOJZw/w400-h185/Stove.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_Pe6hATMMaZB8estONj49b5EtI1OtDUym1NBdInYKrb7cdlivkljxr0DvwO3x7xKZE21HlQcuyXz3RK2SGP7a1_E98yqViB71sVEzflzszQtHPn9I_Nz72FoX-RxqWykb5ZUVF9j_tsiQ7Soxyerp3cf0iMW4_WRYgi4RPwxn1gRBpIN4_2siMFa/s1200/P1048626blog.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_Pe6hATMMaZB8estONj49b5EtI1OtDUym1NBdInYKrb7cdlivkljxr0DvwO3x7xKZE21HlQcuyXz3RK2SGP7a1_E98yqViB71sVEzflzszQtHPn9I_Nz72FoX-RxqWykb5ZUVF9j_tsiQ7Soxyerp3cf0iMW4_WRYgi4RPwxn1gRBpIN4_2siMFa/w400-h300/P1048626blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p>I completed the group with a parked jeep (also from Peter Pig) and a standing officer to represent Major Robinson, the battalion 2.I.C.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPXnquGsJItr9otWTlmG48-ayMQGRXA0Y6QVGCn9MrC-NQ61ZrntPmuiSO59f3hmpqwqV9Sgd16OeyqMm3bxIZu5GsLQcJZkGX_uP0uBP8sFKOyF5GP65RxpEYhGqS24OqiBJE_j7uQ_7a3FLgS0yA37P0rY1tUah0IEDNrOmpEtk0weGlU-VPhIWb/s1500/P1048623blog.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="1500" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPXnquGsJItr9otWTlmG48-ayMQGRXA0Y6QVGCn9MrC-NQ61ZrntPmuiSO59f3hmpqwqV9Sgd16OeyqMm3bxIZu5GsLQcJZkGX_uP0uBP8sFKOyF5GP65RxpEYhGqS24OqiBJE_j7uQ_7a3FLgS0yA37P0rY1tUah0IEDNrOmpEtk0weGlU-VPhIWb/w400-h216/P1048623blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqsG0pj3KzrCt65REysPxANOauYrgoN5N4xk8BeOMYRUmQFCWp7H5i41T5zolCVpnp84tXsE-8gIO3sUErfF9g3TKzHf8rj22IifdKCVxyWYQcK7qhi2aDs6gVYPyQv7YFYlZStyT6qyuPIlRZ6AjUYKtjQomA7RgEy6nosEsCM3etASApxf8UTb6-/s1500/P1048624blog.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="1500" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqsG0pj3KzrCt65REysPxANOauYrgoN5N4xk8BeOMYRUmQFCWp7H5i41T5zolCVpnp84tXsE-8gIO3sUErfF9g3TKzHf8rj22IifdKCVxyWYQcK7qhi2aDs6gVYPyQv7YFYlZStyT6qyuPIlRZ6AjUYKtjQomA7RgEy6nosEsCM3etASApxf8UTb6-/w400-h216/P1048624blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizIKvwO4gHrWd1hytEV9DX6DU2m2lNA6HEBWRxMog9Uer7IbnixwsacLUTDaacE22lAtKNIPiDt2_760yXIddkT8QY4MAozLYSWRH4m9B02mYv_8PdwS0sKdsp0FEY4FnyyGDrjj15N2rymleDDijOdqoy6_skKBykUDequMWi_BMYj_yqWUzbXQr4/s1500/P1048625blog.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="1500" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizIKvwO4gHrWd1hytEV9DX6DU2m2lNA6HEBWRxMog9Uer7IbnixwsacLUTDaacE22lAtKNIPiDt2_760yXIddkT8QY4MAozLYSWRH4m9B02mYv_8PdwS0sKdsp0FEY4FnyyGDrjj15N2rymleDDijOdqoy6_skKBykUDequMWi_BMYj_yqWUzbXQr4/w400-h216/P1048625blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As mentioned above, the idea was to keep with the theme of my platoon and company command bases but show a clear step up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgvg8rfYxHdAsGYAwHwrrW_QXpnTYf2fRYrbcQUUkbjjCdXh5QvrhF2UHXKmeCF-3Q9DjTQsiPBCmMzUt0DCw5zLnA1jUdy_8vwPtHbmf8FFkVKRqLQZVlMKFx74RNEO1o6TkCy0kXcGqic8xNp9clX7DBGq5DFCrC7Yky3LTUsioG7xlfMSyCdWJL/s1500/P1048627blog.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="548" data-original-width="1500" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgvg8rfYxHdAsGYAwHwrrW_QXpnTYf2fRYrbcQUUkbjjCdXh5QvrhF2UHXKmeCF-3Q9DjTQsiPBCmMzUt0DCw5zLnA1jUdy_8vwPtHbmf8FFkVKRqLQZVlMKFx74RNEO1o6TkCy0kXcGqic8xNp9clX7DBGq5DFCrC7Yky3LTUsioG7xlfMSyCdWJL/w400-h146/P1048627blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03835786139833010048noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7473769402358177390.post-4743700318372996762022-07-01T20:12:00.003+00:002022-07-02T20:33:30.960+00:00Painter's block unblocked.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-DSydNxNgDSPMJUv1xyqFR6qOlG5MJsbEgmBo5E1odx5rd5Q7PLBMfqWJFmuqg0iOwqdMR1AclecWHk-kDraVNcZOhdHmWk38o9t9ntvPU_m8UZ4v3YZT9hPsOpEYSTW8l0_0iKvXjCnyJsRBpDIPGUBeRQxG0nYDUA2aQNiAZsUwQQlM-PSwNUl/s1500/P1036900_low.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="710" data-original-width="1500" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-DSydNxNgDSPMJUv1xyqFR6qOlG5MJsbEgmBo5E1odx5rd5Q7PLBMfqWJFmuqg0iOwqdMR1AclecWHk-kDraVNcZOhdHmWk38o9t9ntvPU_m8UZ4v3YZT9hPsOpEYSTW8l0_0iKvXjCnyJsRBpDIPGUBeRQxG0nYDUA2aQNiAZsUwQQlM-PSwNUl/w400-h189/P1036900_low.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I started these back in April but have been struggling to focus on getting them completed. Part of the problem, I think, I that I have too many half-completed jobs on the go at one: two batches of British infantry, some half-painted vehicles and some part-assembled carriers. It just makes it too easy to go off and do something else - displacement activity rather than real progress. Eventually though, I did get my act together and finish them.</p><p>I've decided the first priority is to get the minimum bases for a full British battalion for 'O' Group. This means three company HQ bases and 9 platoons (so 27 infantry bases) plus a carrier platoon, a FOO (or two), 6 pdrs and AFV support. With this batch, I have the company HQs and just enough infantry bases for the 9 rifle platoons (lets just assume that one of the four rifle companies is left out of battle and accept using PIAT or 2" mortar bases to make up the numbers as well as using my earlier figures based up for 'Overlord') and plenty of support but no carrier platoon. </p><p>This is my first British platoon fully painted to my latest standard. Eventually, I'll have 6 of these plus the carrier platoon. Later I'll add the platoon commanders, PIATS and 2" mortars but, as these aren't needed for 'O' Group, they can be a second priority for now.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZdjzEEYex1s3UaBP25Rpb1bGcMfVKVh51Xr8a1_XeTsf9iyp3VeHC4NXJPpu2h2TUB6wFAtnrm1w7UdTdRKj8OVWPJb0DQFRRE-TeiffJYTcD_ACZiValUHPZvzxQreTbT9c2gVarqcccAjOz0furRzbRC5ggpHUjus3DG718WESsGdNgGabk9McT/s1500/P1036911_low.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="1500" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZdjzEEYex1s3UaBP25Rpb1bGcMfVKVh51Xr8a1_XeTsf9iyp3VeHC4NXJPpu2h2TUB6wFAtnrm1w7UdTdRKj8OVWPJb0DQFRRE-TeiffJYTcD_ACZiValUHPZvzxQreTbT9c2gVarqcccAjOz0furRzbRC5ggpHUjus3DG718WESsGdNgGabk9McT/w400-h211/P1036911_low.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQRVl14_beyO1haWXcX78w_8XzW4IDnd6Ci58ylSrCtb85zoSziYmn1Fz5P1L1kLZqLcXkhytN-1-HRTNJ3LduWEi3qN0ql9NJ440XNPBgFH3NP7LOM3SO9s1Nka1q__tIj40Df9LMYwml5BrWMaG_SkR62emPuDRd9dQqDFespbnlXLoDI5eLTwH/s2000/P1036913_low.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="2000" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQRVl14_beyO1haWXcX78w_8XzW4IDnd6Ci58ylSrCtb85zoSziYmn1Fz5P1L1kLZqLcXkhytN-1-HRTNJ3LduWEi3qN0ql9NJ440XNPBgFH3NP7LOM3SO9s1Nka1q__tIj40Df9LMYwml5BrWMaG_SkR62emPuDRd9dQqDFespbnlXLoDI5eLTwH/w400-h113/P1036913_low.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I've now got my 3 company command groups. I've decided to have round bases for all my commanders: 30mm dia for platoons, 40mm dia with three figures for company and 60mm for battalion. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVd0lzLmV0cmBMrAtb7FEY3S1VubXZHErFE9edkRmYxJLCXaNvLPB2pwGkS1ugbhy8TRoflzdCD5H9_0EQUpnI60LnziHL-LzdqsG6TsTXkRTfU4Hud4sKl-oRtHwXEblNBKGFweCNmgLDUZe3ZRydfoFtNRxw63ot4__92dHvHGk_LiSVqMAu2xxF/s1800/P1036903_low.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="649" data-original-width="1800" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVd0lzLmV0cmBMrAtb7FEY3S1VubXZHErFE9edkRmYxJLCXaNvLPB2pwGkS1ugbhy8TRoflzdCD5H9_0EQUpnI60LnziHL-LzdqsG6TsTXkRTfU4Hud4sKl-oRtHwXEblNBKGFweCNmgLDUZe3ZRydfoFtNRxw63ot4__92dHvHGk_LiSVqMAu2xxF/w400-h144/P1036903_low.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><div><br /></div><div>As previously mentioned, my British force is meant to represent 4th King's Shropshire Light Infantry and supports (mainly 3 RTR) from 11th Armoured Division. This choice was partly based on a visit to Shrewsbury castle, when I lived nearby, and the purchase of an account of the battalion's experiences in Normandy written by Ned Thornburn who had commanded D company. His book included a list of all the officers at the start of the Normandy battle so I decided to use that list for my command bases. It seems rude to not have Ned represented on the tabletop so it will be C company that is left out of battle / in reserve for my force.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1kjBsk73bmW1GaFqF5YHlHYreyNHV8d7azhVHAbHKZtc9cYMLr5aWODBBixo5JhhKFAduBSFQd3EhS6kImYrkiw0q5SWm_JIK6JcYIZNkGxCJmFLwB5RAVBgBuFRU9IuxkghLZue0XBps2g3nyU2XGivwWBQAawJ1XE8vxAU_GX3RhHV-A3vhRPU/s1500/P1036914_low.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="940" data-original-width="1500" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1kjBsk73bmW1GaFqF5YHlHYreyNHV8d7azhVHAbHKZtc9cYMLr5aWODBBixo5JhhKFAduBSFQd3EhS6kImYrkiw0q5SWm_JIK6JcYIZNkGxCJmFLwB5RAVBgBuFRU9IuxkghLZue0XBps2g3nyU2XGivwWBQAawJ1XE8vxAU_GX3RhHV-A3vhRPU/w400-h251/P1036914_low.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>By the way, apart from the last photo of the name labels, I used in-camera focus stacking for these pictures for the first time. I'm not sure I like the effect - there are some strange artefacts around some figures and it just looks a bit unnatural. Maybe this is just a matter of understanding the mode better and changing some details of the settings but at the moment I'm thinking I will revert to normal single shots next time!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p></div></div></div>Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03835786139833010048noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7473769402358177390.post-83915547782388741412022-04-25T16:03:00.000+00:002022-04-25T16:03:29.119+00:00Marker tokens for 'O' Group<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGqQpQiKi22zs0hkNACG4J1HdBiEiGc8lqHsLk1vyFwbg_6nv4jq6bQvUO6TMpX6POxz3rQE6B1hUyYSuxvBLe850uLOXm1ooUD6XYMHeJP2AOEakUFgcFf39dTMQv4Xtw5BWW6lO9trh9Hq-tJShkEnbjmKjPYo8rJEqU7p3mgGWXuFGDNjgx27By/s1400/Tokens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1132" data-original-width="1400" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGqQpQiKi22zs0hkNACG4J1HdBiEiGc8lqHsLk1vyFwbg_6nv4jq6bQvUO6TMpX6POxz3rQE6B1hUyYSuxvBLe850uLOXm1ooUD6XYMHeJP2AOEakUFgcFf39dTMQv4Xtw5BWW6lO9trh9Hq-tJShkEnbjmKjPYo8rJEqU7p3mgGWXuFGDNjgx27By/w400-h324/Tokens.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>'O' Group requires a number of different tokens: Combat Patrols for each side, different levels of shock (the mechanism used to represent casualties and morale), orders and something to denote a hesitate company or a company commander who has been suppressed by enemy action.</p><p>As with most rule sets you can buy these but it is quite easy to make your own, assuming you have access to a printer and some software to layout clipped images and create text boxes. I used Microsoft Excel which, I suppose, shows familiarity is more important than whether the software was actually intended for the job.</p><p>Patrol markers are used for semi-hidden movement and create uncertainty and the fog of war. For these I just found suitable images online of the Allied recognition star and German Iron Cross then cleaned them up in photo-editing software and clipped them into squares suitable to print at about an inch across. The Russian star was drawn in Excel. One thing I found was that a square on the spreadsheet actually printed slightly flattened out so I had to elongate them to get a square print - I don't know whether that's a quirk of my computer, Excel or my printer but once you know it is there, it is fairly simple to fix.</p><p>You can see, in the screenshot below, that I did two sets side by side - one set with dividing lines and one without. When I have previously made tokens, I made them single-sided which leads to the time wasting chore of turning them right side up to see what is what. This time I decided to make them double sided. I just printed them out onto A4 paper (photo paper for the stars and crosses), cut round the large blocks of front and back tokens then spray glued the front set onto some card, cut round the outside then glued the reverse side, taking care to get the alignment as good as I could. The idea is to separate the individual tokens by cutting through from the side with lines so any slight out of register on the reverse side won't show up so much. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiRiPbgnjnEbyuccSnShw6t5106vRWwpzpe_yeAse5EzFK7oDqymSclqqmxJwmo0ClWCQEy7Q0UMjGMNzALttRJTeuvCur8iDMNgg7JYVMoYtruw84Vdzpc_W9huRLvl9CInAmk2tzosAvidn0LASeR1Cuz3VF6AhX5PvTxey-wQkhaWvz0Cr2zWPe8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="862" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiRiPbgnjnEbyuccSnShw6t5106vRWwpzpe_yeAse5EzFK7oDqymSclqqmxJwmo0ClWCQEy7Q0UMjGMNzALttRJTeuvCur8iDMNgg7JYVMoYtruw84Vdzpc_W9huRLvl9CInAmk2tzosAvidn0LASeR1Cuz3VF6AhX5PvTxey-wQkhaWvz0Cr2zWPe8=w325-h400" width="325" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p>For the other tokens, I tried to use colours to group like tokens together and show the escalating seriousness of accumulated shock. Whilst I like the idea of unobtrusive or minimal token, at this stage of learning a game, I find having them pretty obvious and incorporating reminders, like 2 shock - hesitant and 3 shock = suppressed is helpful. Maybe with greater familiarity we can swap to something that looks nicer on the table.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGs_xVz1XiKfbsi1yYbA1OVH7rRAPGRNtJ2yRmrT02HDX02eUcempjpYT-TAFjbsyS_-M6LCPEwDkWAqlADKPaiyCkOx4XCxvIjfDJK4yKMkNUkoZP9zEOS9-icP2RC1WvBsb-wZ7-WNOy1fyzPlXGUZKAGGr5b-Nv2ppsGbTbxEQt3xkioUG74o1l" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1084" data-original-width="1792" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGs_xVz1XiKfbsi1yYbA1OVH7rRAPGRNtJ2yRmrT02HDX02eUcempjpYT-TAFjbsyS_-M6LCPEwDkWAqlADKPaiyCkOx4XCxvIjfDJK4yKMkNUkoZP9zEOS9-icP2RC1WvBsb-wZ7-WNOy1fyzPlXGUZKAGGr5b-Nv2ppsGbTbxEQt3xkioUG74o1l=w400-h243" width="400" /></a></div><br />In the meantime though, this gives a functional set of tokens and markers and, if greater experience shows they need tweaking, it will be easy to make changes.<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><br /><p></p>Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03835786139833010048noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7473769402358177390.post-43812443025887990672022-04-20T07:18:00.006+00:002022-04-20T07:41:55.090+00:00Burning vehicle markers<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh73UG7mSIObRe3IpgI3H7R8E-1yPqMt5bSHOtm9l3mv5f30XtRfQ-UXlSKvhIqfsgvPGi6h6RSRBY5WbYFilOUjIUcXVPMuvUh2wNzIn-k-OSAYbx2BWMjNMK4YGL9jc3skrrpx3WnXqtcig92ImyJ74_fhUcHGOmigqJ1S6PSVGyCTf8rtNetjuPu/s1413/P1025224b.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1413" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh73UG7mSIObRe3IpgI3H7R8E-1yPqMt5bSHOtm9l3mv5f30XtRfQ-UXlSKvhIqfsgvPGi6h6RSRBY5WbYFilOUjIUcXVPMuvUh2wNzIn-k-OSAYbx2BWMjNMK4YGL9jc3skrrpx3WnXqtcig92ImyJ74_fhUcHGOmigqJ1S6PSVGyCTf8rtNetjuPu/w340-h400/P1025224b.jpg" width="340" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rather too much fire and not enough smoke on this one. <br />Easily fixed next time I have my airbrush out.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I have been meaning to make some burning vehicle markers for some time and finally got round to it over Easter. </p><p>The first step was to look at some online photos for burning tanks. The general pattern seemed to be lots of billowing black smoke; the lower part very turbulent, almost bubbling, and red-yellow fire showing through the smoke.</p><p>Some while ago I received a parcel that was packed with a large piece of synthetic wadding. I used some of it to make smokescreen markers and put the rest aside in my hoard of potentially useful things. </p><p>I made two types of markers - some free-standing ones with weighted bases and some others to tuck under tank turrets. For both I glued the wadding to the base and teased it up into the rough shape of smoke rising from a fire.</p><p>After a bit of trial and error the process I settled on was to start by painting the lower part of the 'fire' red (cheap acrylic hobby paint). This left bits of white wadding showing through but as it dried it gave some stiffness and texture. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTH5hJOftoBZRNkAXafnaXvQQLWDSfxeZWZwFcG5mX88VCMoBG85dl-nmyIjalAukt9XJvtBm9bvibfNlZGSSJrHHRvQD3HyjVz3YD6ybLLVf4HUxvizQPmf0ycx04cvYTAIq92AtxC4113FIZgixYcJwPUE67C7KtdgqJzLzmVj8a-85rNC9biLLJ/s1200/P1025221b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1200" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTH5hJOftoBZRNkAXafnaXvQQLWDSfxeZWZwFcG5mX88VCMoBG85dl-nmyIjalAukt9XJvtBm9bvibfNlZGSSJrHHRvQD3HyjVz3YD6ybLLVf4HUxvizQPmf0ycx04cvYTAIq92AtxC4113FIZgixYcJwPUE67C7KtdgqJzLzmVj8a-85rNC9biLLJ/w400-h281/P1025221b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>I then airbrushed more red (watered down Vallejo) to give a uniform coverage. Airbrushing alone left the wadding too fluffy and the subsequent dry-brushing stages didn't work. I then dry brushed over the red with bright orange and then yellow. This left the top part just airbrushed or completely unpainted.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihFdbSMglk25praAp8x4xKn8jV6R9stLqX4LZJTz9-zH43a-pvodJUTC36jmVGq0OHQC_Hc8wqaOEz-RMSg1U2OpB4_s0DRHGY4Q6DpGE_vA3h2y_Gl63pflcnZDzz7bahIJKt1mdtU62MJRF4aRNr_Srt-DBbelw7rVQcieqtQ4mtPauIWM5CbdR/s1200/P1025222b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="977" data-original-width="1200" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihFdbSMglk25praAp8x4xKn8jV6R9stLqX4LZJTz9-zH43a-pvodJUTC36jmVGq0OHQC_Hc8wqaOEz-RMSg1U2OpB4_s0DRHGY4Q6DpGE_vA3h2y_Gl63pflcnZDzz7bahIJKt1mdtU62MJRF4aRNr_Srt-DBbelw7rVQcieqtQ4mtPauIWM5CbdR/w400-h326/P1025222b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>The final stage was to airbrush the top 'smoke', around the base and some lines swirling up through the fires in black. The overall effect is OK, I think, especially as they were quite quick to make and cost almost nothing.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwa-GttGHjj-M1dR7kJubiKibDrsd2xN03c3WtkgWzNVOurc_mWKy3Hvnn_jOq2m6e-L_90nL0qENy7sMfSXnFJNG-tB5p0QKjMD9FkxvjgSfftnngwUZdMaMprM3BzH70W4hzDOKim_VoqQT6HILSUeN_nzIUFT8Edzk3UJIIHs65yCxl11FdQyJF/s1200/P1025223b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="554" data-original-width="1200" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwa-GttGHjj-M1dR7kJubiKibDrsd2xN03c3WtkgWzNVOurc_mWKy3Hvnn_jOq2m6e-L_90nL0qENy7sMfSXnFJNG-tB5p0QKjMD9FkxvjgSfftnngwUZdMaMprM3BzH70W4hzDOKim_VoqQT6HILSUeN_nzIUFT8Edzk3UJIIHs65yCxl11FdQyJF/w400-h185/P1025223b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03835786139833010048noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7473769402358177390.post-27848479234673821262022-03-21T14:21:00.002+00:002022-03-21T14:23:29.676+00:00Normandy back gardens<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4qHmfhicefDUNh4ML_V0hJhrVvNVP5y0-aHzXMxekDfS5IvfaSORTFCUdPPTwUOfkPclTa7jx8FuRfSzzhLPvWciS18xFC-gCeRItNMPgzAdqQouR-AwhphMsntWWQH9vSl1AIHmee7-CjhFvSQGD2sApZarf_80bYX8xIqj19QEh_ziuNjtHKgb/s2000/P1025164b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="693" data-original-width="2000" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4qHmfhicefDUNh4ML_V0hJhrVvNVP5y0-aHzXMxekDfS5IvfaSORTFCUdPPTwUOfkPclTa7jx8FuRfSzzhLPvWciS18xFC-gCeRItNMPgzAdqQouR-AwhphMsntWWQH9vSl1AIHmee7-CjhFvSQGD2sApZarf_80bYX8xIqj19QEh_ziuNjtHKgb/w400-h139/P1025164b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><span>When I painted the </span><a href="https://smallitalianwars.blogspot.com/2018/11/normandy-buildings1.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">first row of buildings</a><span> for my Normandy 1944 collection, back in 2018, I wrote that I didn't like that they just sat on the table with none of the things that surround real buildings. I actually started to do something about that soon after but I stalled on how best to do some of the details and the gardens / pavement base sat half-finished in the cupboard for a long time.</span></p><p>The base itself is a piece of MDF with cardboard and filler to compensate for the extremely uneven base of the the resin buildings. I added 'paving slabs' from thin card and made the walls from more MDF with cardboard coping stones. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZzCHr7KeSlWhcQTK9u2yOCcVtdidIcQjDIUJ3MR-ADJv6AyWruNoOgnBnw8Mz4W9ltXcwuxMfml51wqec44hRCS2ALBdUU3DdHgpuqZaCBfEiSShkG_GM8sgiYFR77wi2wnvN_FPEYJ2UCoLpnoksFe_xknRtjuCB7g-I4qf65RU9pSefFWGxFGqn/s1500/P1023833a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="748" data-original-width="1500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZzCHr7KeSlWhcQTK9u2yOCcVtdidIcQjDIUJ3MR-ADJv6AyWruNoOgnBnw8Mz4W9ltXcwuxMfml51wqec44hRCS2ALBdUU3DdHgpuqZaCBfEiSShkG_GM8sgiYFR77wi2wnvN_FPEYJ2UCoLpnoksFe_xknRtjuCB7g-I4qf65RU9pSefFWGxFGqn/w400-h200/P1023833a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I wanted to depict rendered walls with the rendering breaking away in a few small areas. In a break from my previous practice of sticking on rectangles of card to give a brick or stone effect, I dug out small areas of the MDF, filled them with Milliput in which I sculpted the bricks, rendering over the rest of the wall with filler.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH-v2_cxw3x62elEiBihmRji8FdmWZKHxoo6mbkJF0Inpmcd3qIiUAiUSjTheJ4oaTV0Fc3eob_soRLZbYsCaO8eIS0SSs_fK3CwWiqhC2zLGbArBPT4qUDZHtf2X39I7lvlOtBsjiFMXBWe4pAlReogH8zgzmISCC8d56-WfHojnAf8UE3pmMqbGG/s1500/P1025169a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="956" data-original-width="1500" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH-v2_cxw3x62elEiBihmRji8FdmWZKHxoo6mbkJF0Inpmcd3qIiUAiUSjTheJ4oaTV0Fc3eob_soRLZbYsCaO8eIS0SSs_fK3CwWiqhC2zLGbArBPT4qUDZHtf2X39I7lvlOtBsjiFMXBWe4pAlReogH8zgzmISCC8d56-WfHojnAf8UE3pmMqbGG/w400-h255/P1025169a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Fences and gates are made from 0.5mm plastic with the details scribed in and brushed over with a wire brush to remove the burrs and give a light texture. It turned out that this wasn't enough texture for dry-brushing to work when I came to do the painting and I had to revert to painting them in layers with a fine brush then a final dry-brush along the edges for a top hi-light.</p><p>I wanted to include some details that you might expect to see in 1940s wartime, to bring the scene to life. I assume, as in the UK, many people would be trying to supplement their food supplies by growing a few vegetables, keeping chickens or even a pig so I decided to depict these which would require (apart from a pig and some chickens) a chicken coop and pig stye. These aren't based on research into what was actual French practice at that time - just on what looked 'right'. </p><p>I wanted to divide the back gardens with wooden fences but some of these Hovels houses are very narrow so the back gardens would be equally narrow - narrower than my infantry section bases.</p><p>This is up one of the perpetual dilemmas of Wargames scenery - including too many details makes them less usable as a game backdrop by making it hard to actually place figures in and among the scenery. </p><p>I also found a (sort of) real-world problem with the pig-stye. To make a lean-to structure against the walls, with a front sufficiently high for a crouching pig-owner to enter required a shallow roof - too shallow for tiles or slates. An obvious solution would be corrugated iron but I was reluctant to buy a whole sheet of Wills or Slaters textured plastic sheet for less than a square inch of roof.</p><p>So my progress stalled with the twin problems of gaming usability and making or re-purposing something to represent 1/100 scale corrugated iron.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOr0-fjrqVkQT4uQxdaHSRYSWCSf-N9uXYIT7rVwfsrAF7aYvNKXFFgkc52Fg3eai5btZEdtNXrzd6gWSi6oHjELVcRkYta4heeZFhLnUNROOKCD24dx3uC_Ch8r80_aauLtZEFYqIC3vDNv-iIji8VR-oAcTHsphFgTAR84xya4gVA5QKFIacbEEs/s1500/P1025164a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="703" data-original-width="1500" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOr0-fjrqVkQT4uQxdaHSRYSWCSf-N9uXYIT7rVwfsrAF7aYvNKXFFgkc52Fg3eai5btZEdtNXrzd6gWSi6oHjELVcRkYta4heeZFhLnUNROOKCD24dx3uC_Ch8r80_aauLtZEFYqIC3vDNv-iIji8VR-oAcTHsphFgTAR84xya4gVA5QKFIacbEEs/w400-h188/P1025164a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Eventually I decided to make the main details, including one of the boundary fences as separate pieces that could be moved out of the way when necessary..</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_NypLi7jOZVsHZ7Ggz2e8awpYL3t7fu6ujv7Vn_H2ZO-yTkGuwZv4SYYbFYEP_B8xb8N5RG7dsxIGd6HglhF2KIqTHQgtS3JOsKRlNmSu_4rO59NZw2_3gSImpMzSloHVaEnbt5FZzS8dbk8_esi0sKZ3BTk72WmmJfnhE-jj2zR2M5sM_jjTS29E/s1500/P1025165a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="1500" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_NypLi7jOZVsHZ7Ggz2e8awpYL3t7fu6ujv7Vn_H2ZO-yTkGuwZv4SYYbFYEP_B8xb8N5RG7dsxIGd6HglhF2KIqTHQgtS3JOsKRlNmSu_4rO59NZw2_3gSImpMzSloHVaEnbt5FZzS8dbk8_esi0sKZ3BTk72WmmJfnhE-jj2zR2M5sM_jjTS29E/w400-h189/P1025165a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>The chickens are from Peter Pig. The chicken coop was scratch built from plasticard with sandpaper to represent roofing felt and I made the bucket from an off cut of plastic sprue with a wire handle.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmn9jYzgW4uHXR16iUb8fxkZxUe8biWH7yu4Wxk1DnHv-HGT9ixomxZTe33tidKSi5357Y--aI5_wuvf8TGU6wSfxlQ3BhehYiiaIFPUe6HZMzQuj5clTPWfaRVkqMf_dxsy0FmvTF9CXb3H39UoR0z2GwIO-om-PjCFQ4Kcdw9DRjHEh_BbxTSRB/s1500/P1025166a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="981" data-original-width="1500" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmn9jYzgW4uHXR16iUb8fxkZxUe8biWH7yu4Wxk1DnHv-HGT9ixomxZTe33tidKSi5357Y--aI5_wuvf8TGU6wSfxlQ3BhehYiiaIFPUe6HZMzQuj5clTPWfaRVkqMf_dxsy0FmvTF9CXb3H39UoR0z2GwIO-om-PjCFQ4Kcdw9DRjHEh_BbxTSRB/w400-h261/P1025166a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>The pig is (appropriately) from Peter Pig, from the same pack as the ones I used in my orchard. I suppose the pig should be fairly covered in mud but I was aiming for eye catching colour contrasts rather than genuine realism. He is probably feeling rather aggrieved as I have failed to provide any drinking water and his food trough is empty. </p><p>I came up with a way of making a representation of corrugated iron sheeting by using the cat's flea comb in a metal-working vice to press the corrugations into pieces of thick aluminium foil cut from a tomato puree tube. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHL8yUIQxR_qJi8r6PzrJp-j1Q_VDNKQuowtWyOs4qHRwJUzm4hP6NML31BTkoJtvbA5N88UMvoZSZdLeaFk9UZY65axwQIW6fQAI9_A2IuItFSR7VDN_Sw_MpVoqD-bhzbDfVXu0gE7wfujsj30XeRWGx1JIowFC4jXvlud-dqQ1LRc0nu81yn8vE/s1500/P1025167a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1208" data-original-width="1500" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHL8yUIQxR_qJi8r6PzrJp-j1Q_VDNKQuowtWyOs4qHRwJUzm4hP6NML31BTkoJtvbA5N88UMvoZSZdLeaFk9UZY65axwQIW6fQAI9_A2IuItFSR7VDN_Sw_MpVoqD-bhzbDfVXu0gE7wfujsj30XeRWGx1JIowFC4jXvlud-dqQ1LRc0nu81yn8vE/w400-h323/P1025167a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Originally I was going to do a green house but that proved quite difficult as I didn't have any suitable clear plastic so the third garden had to settle for a cold frame and a couple of raised beds. I'd intended to have some beans growing up the canes but haven't been able to think of a good way of doing that so far. The canes themselves are thin steel wire, with the upright pairs soldered at the top with the cross-piece just glued in place.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwdwT_ZlN2FraoVIoi84H1TR3I5xV5gHWf_LrhZEyFAk-JUxUgaDR26xL0IXIUeXJcrfKzrVFnqH5PCtl50E6sEDSfhCgrST7nwEzeB2Se_Ud9KV8HFJNZGJHT-lLpyG2NYbmH5Bb469ytAzc77dWsTGzZXnhCSUnMxfyoFcUHZaWnpMDK1vKB8lMD/s1500/P1025168a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1123" data-original-width="1500" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwdwT_ZlN2FraoVIoi84H1TR3I5xV5gHWf_LrhZEyFAk-JUxUgaDR26xL0IXIUeXJcrfKzrVFnqH5PCtl50E6sEDSfhCgrST7nwEzeB2Se_Ud9KV8HFJNZGJHT-lLpyG2NYbmH5Bb469ytAzc77dWsTGzZXnhCSUnMxfyoFcUHZaWnpMDK1vKB8lMD/w400-h300/P1025168a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm pleased with the overall effect and plan more of these extra bits of detail scenery in future. Maybe a war memorial, roadside calvary, farm cart - that sort of thing. And a green house when I find some suitable clear plastic. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5AcEHSAc5MXaasjL5luiyAYVEEYCvovV7JYFOGyWjD_xMHl7OXQYrWDYFmdrFrfHwtDaTWaHnOQQbiRZDHAjZ_u0tYsGMJCYT5a_QLjDb1XCbb_7qrEBurdEbT-rBmzChD46CBmMq34hOpa--zmjdSzBR1cVuVMMePJp4f7wCKqqCjRuPD-b4p3st/s1500/P1025160a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="931" data-original-width="1500" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5AcEHSAc5MXaasjL5luiyAYVEEYCvovV7JYFOGyWjD_xMHl7OXQYrWDYFmdrFrfHwtDaTWaHnOQQbiRZDHAjZ_u0tYsGMJCYT5a_QLjDb1XCbb_7qrEBurdEbT-rBmzChD46CBmMq34hOpa--zmjdSzBR1cVuVMMePJp4f7wCKqqCjRuPD-b4p3st/w400-h249/P1025160a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBpXH5xYreGb5ApP7YcunZk-wWPmUAtSNGQNwkSeE6ABGpgJsEYVKy_56JbCBqOMGcZ7YMEj65XGl9WDnD9t792V9fD6gGp5gX6noaZ_UoPrurETapXBkV631Zzgw64OlCdMZgSPn2pJQve2-4Khp__Ao8Ho-1PLZ24GhecrwZ9y53lfH-ZSEa7Xni/s1500/P1025162a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1178" data-original-width="1500" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBpXH5xYreGb5ApP7YcunZk-wWPmUAtSNGQNwkSeE6ABGpgJsEYVKy_56JbCBqOMGcZ7YMEj65XGl9WDnD9t792V9fD6gGp5gX6noaZ_UoPrurETapXBkV631Zzgw64OlCdMZgSPn2pJQve2-4Khp__Ao8Ho-1PLZ24GhecrwZ9y53lfH-ZSEa7Xni/w400-h314/P1025162a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03835786139833010048noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7473769402358177390.post-26354123450793881802022-02-04T12:19:00.003+00:002022-02-04T12:49:23.871+00:00Early Medieval Houses<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEbFjo8Bx0_nxvPXyNum-jFqIsZVLG-6x7puf1zxjLdgp4VlAHUBN1-hdNKkyWppl7Ww3QB7u_rRLDCXtfUY0prh06M5QB6C6ZTiF22OuwdBocJ6lcGd-lHGLxvDz9RavDKS-CgPA2BqbRm-NpEbi0Zr0mb0cwWDVXEgwG2s6qrWhl-ZEKCUFvz0Z_=s1500" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="728" data-original-width="1500" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEbFjo8Bx0_nxvPXyNum-jFqIsZVLG-6x7puf1zxjLdgp4VlAHUBN1-hdNKkyWppl7Ww3QB7u_rRLDCXtfUY0prh06M5QB6C6ZTiF22OuwdBocJ6lcGd-lHGLxvDz9RavDKS-CgPA2BqbRm-NpEbi0Zr0mb0cwWDVXEgwG2s6qrWhl-ZEKCUFvz0Z_=w400-h194" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Having painted a 4th-5th century Roman Army, I thought I should have some buildings to represent the type of small Germanic settlement along the Rhine or Danube that they might encounter. In an earlier period I suppose the classic Iron Age round houses would have been appropriate but, from what I've read, these went out of use before this period, being mostly replaced by ridged long houses. Without going into a great deal of research, I assume these would be much the same as those used through the Saxon-Viking period in the British Isles. <a href="https://www.peterpig.co.uk/21%20%20Scenery.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Peter Pig have a nice and modestly priced selection</a> of these so I ordered a pack of three 'poor houses' and a 'small hall'. Although the hall looks a bit too English half-timbered to my eyes, my thinking is that these will also be generally suitable for use with any 'Dark Ages' Northern European scenario.</p><p>The 'poor houses' basically looked like a thatched ridge tent and differed only on that one of them had what I assume represents a fire wood pile with the wood laid horizontally whilst the others had bigger pieces of timber resting vertically against the back wall. The door end was identical on all three, down to a small clump of foliage to the left of the door (I only left this on one). As I didn't want three basically identical small houses looking like a modern estate, I modified one of them by sticking a rectangle of 10mm MDF on the underneath and chiseling away the resin ends under the thatch so I could add new detail. The resin is rather brittle and I accidentally broke off a few bits of the 'thatch' but that was easily repaired with Milliput. I added new detail using overlapping 0.25mm plastic sheet to represent planking and 0.5mm for the doors.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMqzui9bPSIrUX0OrRhQrIEfTiKxPdHCKxMHYeM026ux1O3yF7BYnooZcdlM2JBAKQz39f2nyO9aMyKtHjSWnjnWbzAECDOQYrCH0fQnAjywu0PvgqBc_7PHMjCuBf7_dehO1oyYFRDcZeS8nWQc-bXzrTndGhnC826x7OBUQ2ewzbYmkN5isk-Won=s1500" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="1500" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMqzui9bPSIrUX0OrRhQrIEfTiKxPdHCKxMHYeM026ux1O3yF7BYnooZcdlM2JBAKQz39f2nyO9aMyKtHjSWnjnWbzAECDOQYrCH0fQnAjywu0PvgqBc_7PHMjCuBf7_dehO1oyYFRDcZeS8nWQc-bXzrTndGhnC826x7OBUQ2ewzbYmkN5isk-Won=w400-h165" width="400" /></a></div><p>I was going to represent a simple cob construction for the lower walls but, as the small hall was half timbered I changed my mind and decided that this aspirational peasant would have used the same building style. The timbers are plastic strips, cut from 0.8mm sheet, with the infill a base layer of Milliput scored to represent an underlying light timber laths/wattle construction then roughly rendered with wood filler, leaving bits of the Milliput showing through.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizVQztQneZDArljWWz-jyGutHY_j1McWTL6hWmsM-uqWpQgUTuVRg1duAfIxuIHXHwGKeTVHAKlYSqU5FEs6Siz4oZEwir8QglkdDcjIO-2SdKKxIh7PTEk3Hk7k1e0l3Sap-CT2Xasm6sP5PWCLXSG4mzivIGlW8UZ6C62LQSQtMo6cVyS0VEtRxr=s1500" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1187" data-original-width="1500" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizVQztQneZDArljWWz-jyGutHY_j1McWTL6hWmsM-uqWpQgUTuVRg1duAfIxuIHXHwGKeTVHAKlYSqU5FEs6Siz4oZEwir8QglkdDcjIO-2SdKKxIh7PTEk3Hk7k1e0l3Sap-CT2Xasm6sP5PWCLXSG4mzivIGlW8UZ6C62LQSQtMo6cVyS0VEtRxr=w400-h316" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>After some helpful advise from John Boadal of the excellent <a href="https://handbuilthistory.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hand-Built History blog</a>, I painted the thatch with Vallejo Khaki, dry brushed with Buff. For the 'hall' I then washed the thatch with Army Painter Dark Tone but I thought that gave too uniform an effect and hid the highlights so much that I had to reinstate them over the top so for the other buildings' thatch and for the wood on all four, I used the same technique as for my <a href="https://smallitalianwars.blogspot.com/2022/01/3-royal-tank-regiment-in-15mm.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">recent Sherman Tanks</a> - two layers of Satin Mig Lucky Varnish applied by air brush then a wash of MIG-1005, Dark Brown for Green Vehicles Enamel Wash applied liberally then selectively wiped off after it had dried for an hour or so. I think this gives a better effect, especially in respect to the definition between the layers of thatch. </p><p>I painted the plaster/daub on the walls with yellow ochre, progressively lightened with two layers of dry brushing. I guess this colour choice isn't very realistic but I thought that muddy brown walls to go with a muddy brown roof and grey-brown timber would be a bit lacking in visual appeal on the table. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6N04gHzGMauXvoN9ODOzfw5T1wWLB_sEcDx025A6XIkitpZThzpNNlKlZX2ZxFd1kaLfMNuHjzDz94XjeAcxg8PiPe9X_DX9f14Jrsw03W6psd2N2ivVUGuoaMA3kjDnk8BwA4vAWdIE11y6b1ihbOu4RGESEOoTPdhK8sjSsLh-qhFniflBNhCK8=s1500" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="1500" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6N04gHzGMauXvoN9ODOzfw5T1wWLB_sEcDx025A6XIkitpZThzpNNlKlZX2ZxFd1kaLfMNuHjzDz94XjeAcxg8PiPe9X_DX9f14Jrsw03W6psd2N2ivVUGuoaMA3kjDnk8BwA4vAWdIE11y6b1ihbOu4RGESEOoTPdhK8sjSsLh-qhFniflBNhCK8=w400-h135" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03835786139833010048noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7473769402358177390.post-1323244944862612002022-01-25T09:18:00.000+00:002022-01-25T09:18:33.350+00:003 Royal Tank Regiment in 15mm - 'Hybrid' Sherman Firefly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZ4szCTZA26X6BJpwm-VNjlrPPMtaBrqnrGufPTsvtQJCb6PX6PAN46PBLtp9Pfd_6hvwrWvGfNoh_QZL8kj7XOPWjTTR94dtxp13cI3k1Yh_vwSyRxh515WKoxCL0FG2nnJGgoawq15-GJSxpeZYJ6TLQyiVxIhM6ORbQZwBZrWbIGSmceIg6gS_b=s1500" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1010" data-original-width="1500" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZ4szCTZA26X6BJpwm-VNjlrPPMtaBrqnrGufPTsvtQJCb6PX6PAN46PBLtp9Pfd_6hvwrWvGfNoh_QZL8kj7XOPWjTTR94dtxp13cI3k1Yh_vwSyRxh515WKoxCL0FG2nnJGgoawq15-GJSxpeZYJ6TLQyiVxIhM6ORbQZwBZrWbIGSmceIg6gS_b=w400-h269" width="400" /></a></div><p>With 5 Skytrex and 5 PSC models, I had a problem - I would have to mix manufacturers within a troop and, though the models match quite well, I thought that would be too much. I decided therefore to modify a spare Skytrex M4 by lengthening the hull a bit, creating new engine deck details and adding the extra armour panels on the turret and hull sides. Fairly quickly I realised that would be a lot of work for questionable results but it occurred to me that every PSC sprue came with two upper hulls and two turret top halves for 75mm and 17pdr variants so I had 5 spares and decided to mate one of them with Skytrex lower hull and running gear components and scratch build the rest of the bits.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgywN8kPkLPyZGTqOltJ0OOJzUwKSHaGlrUtFPCPjAZxY79_L8KgkkkHz0X-ameXOe39F6_yFQiDdLJoCtcDb8I3ZglA2cDN0SRZ1gwW8TFErP6t9VwoBCRPJBQ2WeZvFOUtUcWN225h2lb-ZYmMqNEeSl7mgvWmmTPPAiqlk65rjFUq8yd5SiXPfH2=s1500" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgywN8kPkLPyZGTqOltJ0OOJzUwKSHaGlrUtFPCPjAZxY79_L8KgkkkHz0X-ameXOe39F6_yFQiDdLJoCtcDb8I3ZglA2cDN0SRZ1gwW8TFErP6t9VwoBCRPJBQ2WeZvFOUtUcWN225h2lb-ZYmMqNEeSl7mgvWmmTPPAiqlk65rjFUq8yd5SiXPfH2=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhK3mQ5qfllZGL_FF4aY3l0XdwZg4amk8G2_G8_I9EMI3-_R8HBYDBmDYe0Mt_XDNXyUwzKUtZU9izTz_45Ls5k5MZJEf6kWQMOI0ecexLOF18UMQfIsWaNxuUeg0sv5VkLErfQSCooeBXRm8KV3Sat3iV7HHPELpa4Ni9_3XjxcGvBQUeufNK-GaIb=s1500" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhK3mQ5qfllZGL_FF4aY3l0XdwZg4amk8G2_G8_I9EMI3-_R8HBYDBmDYe0Mt_XDNXyUwzKUtZU9izTz_45Ls5k5MZJEf6kWQMOI0ecexLOF18UMQfIsWaNxuUeg0sv5VkLErfQSCooeBXRm8KV3Sat3iV7HHPELpa4Ni9_3XjxcGvBQUeufNK-GaIb=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4rX3kg1Z2vcKlHRx2SNq_9mLonNaK4hjxSdvd4YWrBhhBCwY-ubgzVKalJ0ub3XjGuaAKNMnqvZDoAigmI3QKkPpF6y5bYQ6a5mFw5CQLOynf7cTovJ_1ePkFl8x7AYPAoWgxCHgeFP4Z4Ji6i2YBf5YS27rQ0GyNGtfMbmo4zwlyp9oSrG8LpUeF=s1500" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="1500" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4rX3kg1Z2vcKlHRx2SNq_9mLonNaK4hjxSdvd4YWrBhhBCwY-ubgzVKalJ0ub3XjGuaAKNMnqvZDoAigmI3QKkPpF6y5bYQ6a5mFw5CQLOynf7cTovJ_1ePkFl8x7AYPAoWgxCHgeFP4Z4Ji6i2YBf5YS27rQ0GyNGtfMbmo4zwlyp9oSrG8LpUeF=w400-h201" width="400" /></a></div><p>This was actually quite straightforward, if a bit time consuming. The only real problem was the join between the bottom of the glacis and the hull front so I hid that behind a lot of stowage, taking inspiration from a picture showing a similar arrangement. The running gear - track components from the M4 are obviously shorter than those of the stretched M4A4 and the track type is the rubber-block version that was apparently less popular with the British but this isn't too noticeable unless you are looking for it and the completed model blends in OK at normal viewing distances.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmJCvQFIWdh-n2s1swbHSjiYoi1wySKnNRF9Bv2-jgrDXTgfkysaWcIzKj_iOBYyxc_kvBd6bvBD7p0DzPA-LthUq7mN5pHWTNER9uw1Mfpa3sbCbVfDyY_wynaQXLpcwXu7MoczUyggPjUf6mVZBBRVQd9O-dvf_loxpNEtWHUMQqUWC8iHb-bGGv=s1500" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="697" data-original-width="1500" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmJCvQFIWdh-n2s1swbHSjiYoi1wySKnNRF9Bv2-jgrDXTgfkysaWcIzKj_iOBYyxc_kvBd6bvBD7p0DzPA-LthUq7mN5pHWTNER9uw1Mfpa3sbCbVfDyY_wynaQXLpcwXu7MoczUyggPjUf6mVZBBRVQd9O-dvf_loxpNEtWHUMQqUWC8iHb-bGGv=w400-h186" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhzGkRL_Mv7UaYsRoigJlXd2z1NaGRxFpP2pgkz3n5_mtnCKskTtSVHtcgudpNmkUv6oYQPvNwrJ56OzkVqAEJB6wvPs5_5wbiBEGHmqLkC3GFbTn-IIvnRLkPec9I15khWfgimuBNjtv1jL_Zzf7Tdknwoug__3KE_I9jB4Oc1IcqFUxwz26ZcSFbI=s1500" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="958" data-original-width="1500" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhzGkRL_Mv7UaYsRoigJlXd2z1NaGRxFpP2pgkz3n5_mtnCKskTtSVHtcgudpNmkUv6oYQPvNwrJ56OzkVqAEJB6wvPs5_5wbiBEGHmqLkC3GFbTn-IIvnRLkPec9I15khWfgimuBNjtv1jL_Zzf7Tdknwoug__3KE_I9jB4Oc1IcqFUxwz26ZcSFbI=w400-h255" width="400" /></a></div>Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03835786139833010048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7473769402358177390.post-13234613690877960272022-01-16T15:39:00.001+00:002022-01-16T16:21:14.759+00:003 Royal Tank Regiment in 15mm - Skytrex and Plastic Soldier Co.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhq7VgtJALkXyWKaC1pH6tNA0umOKfM2Xciyk86eprO97r7AO804gqIlJoizmrh_zMsXZfe5PAgIMQZ61Tt-JViGcl1wTJreZOSypaXCMuYpivphBtzhFl1ysvuNGNsalHBnA1MIcrDq_oA3vpdgjd07xNEkBhEM-FCLfX6JAv5RK3vcmUWgUdz8EXo=s2000" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="2000" height="84" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhq7VgtJALkXyWKaC1pH6tNA0umOKfM2Xciyk86eprO97r7AO804gqIlJoizmrh_zMsXZfe5PAgIMQZ61Tt-JViGcl1wTJreZOSypaXCMuYpivphBtzhFl1ysvuNGNsalHBnA1MIcrDq_oA3vpdgjd07xNEkBhEM-FCLfX6JAv5RK3vcmUWgUdz8EXo=w400-h84" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>From what I've read, 4 KSLI most often found themselves partnered with the 3 RTR in 11 Armoured Division so that was the obvious choice as the main armoured element of my 1944 British force. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2ZbBPJ8fjnamK-CqshMP6Moq2ecK5uRGVfxq2rzpMOo0WZMNWV4lO8YjwLXgqJ3pfEcNlaI9lRPEBG-MrvbK3zhmG4KZ8l7TnL5oDgj9_elQ0Y-wEhu3RQO5DBuNctrUYQF30PsiP4CTcTUr3E_a6tDWTXJhUxaH_l11TFqGMOMXgFty68Qbp13m-=s1500" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="469" data-original-width="1500" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2ZbBPJ8fjnamK-CqshMP6Moq2ecK5uRGVfxq2rzpMOo0WZMNWV4lO8YjwLXgqJ3pfEcNlaI9lRPEBG-MrvbK3zhmG4KZ8l7TnL5oDgj9_elQ0Y-wEhu3RQO5DBuNctrUYQF30PsiP4CTcTUr3E_a6tDWTXJhUxaH_l11TFqGMOMXgFty68Qbp13m-=w400-h125" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">When I first started collecting 15mm WW2, I naively thought a Sherman was a Sherman, only later learning that the British Armoured Divisions used the Sherman V - unfortunately I had bought and painted the wrong variants. I later bought five <a href="https://skytrex.com/collections/15mm-ww11-british-vehicles/products/cd134-m4a4-sherman-v" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Skytrex models of the Sherman V / M4A4</a>, including a <a href="https://skytrex.com/collections/15mm-ww11-british-vehicles/products/cd134a-m4a4-sherman-vc-firefly" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sherman Vc 'Firefly'</a> but only got round to completing one of them before moving on to other projects. By the time I picked them up again, I had decided I wanted ten or eleven tanks to represent a squadron (3 troops of 3 plus an HQ of 1 or 2). Skytrex prices had increased from £10 for three tanks to £7 each. In the meantime injection moulded plastic had arrived and I couldn't resist a pack of five '<a href="https://www.theplasticsoldiercompany.co.uk/product/15mm-ww2-allied-m4a4-and-firefly-sherman-tank/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">15mm WW2 Allied M4A4 and Firefly Sherman Tanks</a>' in the Plastic Soldier Company sale, for only £15.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></p><p>This mix of Skytrex and PSC models of course brings a problem of compatibility. The models actually match quite well in overall sizes but there are a few detailed differences and some features that one represents better than the other. It is interesting to compare the advantages and disadvantages of the two materials and moulding technologies. The PSC injection mouldings are crisper, with none of that distortion sometimes seen on larger spun-cast components from rubber moulds. However there can be no undercuts so many more components are needed and draft angles are a big issue, being very noticeable (for example) on the add-on armour patches on the hull sides. Because of the draft angle issue, PSC seem to have just given up with the pistol ports on the turret side and these bear little resemblance to the originals. There are also significant traces in some areas of what I assume must be scanning lines from a rapid prototype original or cutting the mould.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjypHChV2V-gOeQp1hiIB_zQX0cjTZPNrJb1iK-Grc7TXicUEjUXpFS9yFmH1QkfDoEvJVMUTWNkwn_5-IvL0ueF79BAU_08Z4Q1AbjiRtbglQSFZTkXsKzHZYZovdh623CFzvykZ7tTsaFmeel3e9nA5aCjMKWdBgp9g43xPAGFHZjKkWcfMqbWL2Y=s1500" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="782" data-original-width="1500" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjypHChV2V-gOeQp1hiIB_zQX0cjTZPNrJb1iK-Grc7TXicUEjUXpFS9yFmH1QkfDoEvJVMUTWNkwn_5-IvL0ueF79BAU_08Z4Q1AbjiRtbglQSFZTkXsKzHZYZovdh623CFzvykZ7tTsaFmeel3e9nA5aCjMKWdBgp9g43xPAGFHZjKkWcfMqbWL2Y=w400-h209" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>I corrected the hull-side armour patch draft angles on the PSC models by filing but there was only so much I could do with the pistol ports without effectively free-hand carving them from solid.</p><p>Both manufacturers give the M4A4 75mm a choice of the early M34 or later M35A gun mantlets. Most (but not all) of the pictures I found of 3RTR in Normandy had the M34A variant so I went with that. Skytrex use a one-piece casting which is much smaller and lighter looking and, to my eye, looks wrong so I took spare PSC Firefly mantlets and modified them to match the PSC M34A mantlet. I made the gun barrels using the same miliput around brass rod technique that I used to <a href="https://smallitalianwars.blogspot.com/2015/09/making-lances.html" target="_blank">make lances for my Italian Wars Gendarmes</a>.</p><p>I had bought some packs of Skytrex tank stowage and the PSC models come with lots items like spare tracks, jerry cans and idler wheels so I used a variety of these across both manufacturer's models.</p><p>You might have noticed in the photo above I glued the turret hatches on the PSC model the wrong way up. Even without this basic error, they stuck up much higher than they should and more than the very flat ones from Skytrex. I filed them down to match better and added details of the periscope and handle. The turret hatch diameter on the Skytrex model is quite a lot smaller than on the PSC model but there wasn't much I could do about that without major surgery and adding the same periscope details as for the PSC model would have just drawn further attention so I left them as they were.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieK8y_IsTwluNc5Gi07BzjJyTHbLEsw5HS1HE3tUT-hhh-Ifxs9hcLSSx51P95hSeTZAvUd_-I3CXIZCIXO1B17LVIzWeYqxc--58azwGIE3OJVnHy87Tz-pSf8ZEI1u_lTz4o29IBe8yGtbDhY8Jwiu0t_2DxGQcT8PO9Xle62BHkSnfa2A6OIYfr=s750" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="750" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieK8y_IsTwluNc5Gi07BzjJyTHbLEsw5HS1HE3tUT-hhh-Ifxs9hcLSSx51P95hSeTZAvUd_-I3CXIZCIXO1B17LVIzWeYqxc--58azwGIE3OJVnHy87Tz-pSf8ZEI1u_lTz4o29IBe8yGtbDhY8Jwiu0t_2DxGQcT8PO9Xle62BHkSnfa2A6OIYfr=w400-h186" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The representation of the storage bin fixed to the back of the hull was very different - the Skytrex version was much too small and lacking the correct angle so the top points up when glued in place. Luckily the PSC sprues were almost the right cross section so it was easy to make new ones from those and bits of 0.25mm plastic sheet.<div><br /></div><div>The bins on the back of the turret were quite similar and all I did there was make a new lid for the Skytrex models from 0.25mm plastic sheet to make sure it was square and had about the same overhang as for PSC.<br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjdV0OG31I9dd9-uoNIdVU-2LPJUCqPJQcuPNwqt_2e_FsPwkjL-HCjeM3SMk_pwg6hcgdGJOrf_G8T0Vdlznlqo4hwhmW1LNxdnCk4B8-QjM8A79RZgcjemIZJytkKU_sCsF8As3UW5wCl4o351cWHghHantMSZebPUztn42IApPHPH6oo4WC_GTuk=s1500" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="834" data-original-width="1500" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjdV0OG31I9dd9-uoNIdVU-2LPJUCqPJQcuPNwqt_2e_FsPwkjL-HCjeM3SMk_pwg6hcgdGJOrf_G8T0Vdlznlqo4hwhmW1LNxdnCk4B8-QjM8A79RZgcjemIZJytkKU_sCsF8As3UW5wCl4o351cWHghHantMSZebPUztn42IApPHPH6oo4WC_GTuk=w400-h223" width="400" /></a></div><p>One very noticeable defect on the PSC model is a series of trenches on the glacis plate, looking as though it was made up of separate pieces. Somehow I missed this on the first model but for later ones, I filled them in with Milliput, then scraped, filed and sanded to a smooth finish.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKKv-QHWZ7lFq2EZi-I0dxLXnIdfucJmO2Vo3tciG2xC_H39baYdXFGB4guf80TfiwPOZmCMGw5lfhCgGjpSRrj8s1ZbUcEjCiCAoKo1yt6hM20lRujbDnZX1qgM2i5OVukbZFEIljwcFPLRkmdWmmJl9QX8WeO5h5xwWzL9tIOB3j8DcsixLumzB3=s1500" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="1500" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKKv-QHWZ7lFq2EZi-I0dxLXnIdfucJmO2Vo3tciG2xC_H39baYdXFGB4guf80TfiwPOZmCMGw5lfhCgGjpSRrj8s1ZbUcEjCiCAoKo1yt6hM20lRujbDnZX1qgM2i5OVukbZFEIljwcFPLRkmdWmmJl9QX8WeO5h5xwWzL9tIOB3j8DcsixLumzB3=w400-h234" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skytrex on the left and PSC on the right.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieqvRI7OXEgA2sWrJ_RS9EI85afsKv5ZHhoyW9tUmXj1so6t_A9_9KjJbnrbigCuMeKaJK1p65oZIjAHsBxiksH0t_wKPVRbbhRA2oyh7j0iZ2euyOEAlP2-LzbU9RuJERSbQHKOn3QG-E2Yhnj7WDaFQEC3pOupLh1jbhJOU_2LG41OMqJ5ssjIPb=s1500" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="917" data-original-width="1500" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieqvRI7OXEgA2sWrJ_RS9EI85afsKv5ZHhoyW9tUmXj1so6t_A9_9KjJbnrbigCuMeKaJK1p65oZIjAHsBxiksH0t_wKPVRbbhRA2oyh7j0iZ2euyOEAlP2-LzbU9RuJERSbQHKOn3QG-E2Yhnj7WDaFQEC3pOupLh1jbhJOU_2LG41OMqJ5ssjIPb=w400-h245" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijUQMlciblQpKgb35tFp7YBbKpiBYAxVUNLm5LpTt8Hqe11MyKudYhkmTDCOfuwG1tMTUt1BJf7U5SfYmq3yi5IsLjF8MZZDKdrfzzJg9c63LuvTnckkp6NdwXdCM_zl9HlEnxBOvGdBX5mrbsES0jxBD04ZYPNpCJDWmiMXhx6SkfKERl3oSJtEBo=s1500" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="1500" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijUQMlciblQpKgb35tFp7YBbKpiBYAxVUNLm5LpTt8Hqe11MyKudYhkmTDCOfuwG1tMTUt1BJf7U5SfYmq3yi5IsLjF8MZZDKdrfzzJg9c63LuvTnckkp6NdwXdCM_zl9HlEnxBOvGdBX5mrbsES0jxBD04ZYPNpCJDWmiMXhx6SkfKERl3oSJtEBo=w400-h121" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikcuUdLvuCJLj7ApqNdBHAmbLa6i7gQWFXyTwipUEpSHOTuaIBVtUYI3CroyqKB1F-Rwk68h5krkzfxizQd6PX8PFXSuERwO-vfPvrcZ1P8ZepHGVOmbHKCQF5M_t39N2fnfdyqEsFUfHwCjLuL5e7q2DNrokpuDODIpSycFpywr4MQIxVP-iSzfAr=s1270" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1234" data-original-width="1270" height="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikcuUdLvuCJLj7ApqNdBHAmbLa6i7gQWFXyTwipUEpSHOTuaIBVtUYI3CroyqKB1F-Rwk68h5krkzfxizQd6PX8PFXSuERwO-vfPvrcZ1P8ZepHGVOmbHKCQF5M_t39N2fnfdyqEsFUfHwCjLuL5e7q2DNrokpuDODIpSycFpywr4MQIxVP-iSzfAr=w400-h389" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PSC on the left, Skytrex on the right</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>With a bit of work I think the models match pretty well - certainly well enough to share a table, though maybe not side by side in the same troop. If I was starting from scratch, I suppose I'd have to choose the PSC version on cost and for having more and sharper detail but, even with weights added to the hull, there just seems something wrong with lightweight plastic tank models compared to the satisfying heft of metal and the PSC model takes longer to assemble and tidy up.</p><p>These are the first vehicles I have completed with air brushed panel hi-lighting, filters and washes, rather than my previous dry-brush technique. It was a lot harder and more time consuming than I had expected but I prefer the end result and I'm sure I will get better and quicker with more experience. </p><p>The transfers are all from Skytrex. Although the real ratio is obviously one armoured regiment to one infantry battalion, I am only planning on representing one squadron - B squadron. 3RTR was the second most senior tank regiment in the division so a 52 on the red arm of service marking and yellow for the squadron marking.</p><p><br /></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03835786139833010048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7473769402358177390.post-69369601810634935312021-12-04T21:42:00.000+00:002021-12-04T21:42:03.241+00:00First German company complete for Normandy 1944<p>I've finished my third German platoon plus a couple of tripod mounted MG42s and with them a first company to my new basing (and painting) standard.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi46-i-TclxY0hmG352tIrCiL46IBP7RaLFc0XWiYyTxVdsZFKgufwd9E1pVBCjMwrUxqnJeVOOs0M0h3JLh_-iuCDWpPfI-KUTqAUmwnlptVYg4hd-WBUnqLp8RKedOu3n7ciHbkU0ai4/s1500/Platoon+a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="664" data-original-width="1500" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi46-i-TclxY0hmG352tIrCiL46IBP7RaLFc0XWiYyTxVdsZFKgufwd9E1pVBCjMwrUxqnJeVOOs0M0h3JLh_-iuCDWpPfI-KUTqAUmwnlptVYg4hd-WBUnqLp8RKedOu3n7ciHbkU0ai4/w400-h178/Platoon+a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>This time the varnishing went more smoothly. They were painted in two batches and one was finished with an airbrush application of Mig Ammo Lucky Ultra-Mat varnish whilst the others have my previous usual Windsor & Newton but with a bit of white spirit added - I think my previous problems with this varnish may have been because it had evaporated a bit too much and become too thick. To be honest, I can't now tell which were which.</p><p>One thing I did different this time is that for the figures I was going to paint with helmet covers, I smoothed over the helmet a bit with Miliput to avoid the sharp flare of the lower edge. I'm not sure this is 100% accurate or very visible at this small scale but it made me feel happier about the mix of hemet finishes.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaM2QS8vTi8YWW1rshEMzxoIlpu758tIRJVHEPiDCfiIgekXfBW_nZeGRNYMpIwgY5N27BHhkOQT-_kI8PXLM4YgX2Du3krjCZ0fIQ2MGIuIxzhycwDIgwVAtcrJwIabg5ahFxKoRM-5Q/s1500/Panzerfaust.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaM2QS8vTi8YWW1rshEMzxoIlpu758tIRJVHEPiDCfiIgekXfBW_nZeGRNYMpIwgY5N27BHhkOQT-_kI8PXLM4YgX2Du3krjCZ0fIQ2MGIuIxzhycwDIgwVAtcrJwIabg5ahFxKoRM-5Q/w400-h320/Panzerfaust.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>All the figures are Peter Pig but they are a mix of older and new sculpts. The figure above with the Panzerfaust is one of the old ones and, to a degree, I prefer it to the new ones. The detail is more pronounced and the casting is cleaner with less filled in excess metal, contributing to it being easier to paint. On the other hand, the pose is more wooden, proportions less realistic and the face even more stylised than (the new) normal for Peter Pig. Swings & roundabouts!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxcI_iCjVUDQkHB4mPPDWsX6KY5mk2_stxc8p9H8GypLBXQLatfAScd9TIwCug-_HR5pwNMiAfFwxOdrUgXSzREWEtg1tpAJ_r924xVWrsEwj_dUEYFwx9BcZjtkdNshnrDFcPHrgjHrw/s1500/MMG+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="1500" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxcI_iCjVUDQkHB4mPPDWsX6KY5mk2_stxc8p9H8GypLBXQLatfAScd9TIwCug-_HR5pwNMiAfFwxOdrUgXSzREWEtg1tpAJ_r924xVWrsEwj_dUEYFwx9BcZjtkdNshnrDFcPHrgjHrw/w400-h154/MMG+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1pR9oZSQnUwz9VLCoV4SfSF9D3KJyqTHQgNDriwOstiSdD2qXOBxvF3Rpe-qWHwjWvdZZurMcOjIUAKNj6bJIiLnd_2-uFa9vMajb_3DIDAmKjpp55nwsHYCNp4ZAEZwVN9YzLgZ0LQ/s1500/MMG+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="644" data-original-width="1500" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1pR9oZSQnUwz9VLCoV4SfSF9D3KJyqTHQgNDriwOstiSdD2qXOBxvF3Rpe-qWHwjWvdZZurMcOjIUAKNj6bJIiLnd_2-uFa9vMajb_3DIDAmKjpp55nwsHYCNp4ZAEZwVN9YzLgZ0LQ/w400-h171/MMG+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>I did a couple of tripod MG 42s to go with this company. Again these are the newer Late War sculpts. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi16-91ws3MAwtfOo7SKjlqtBuh2fI_4wLvfgA5ridiCUt5umLJLlW5bs-UEnNMzfYyJq2rsoB6TDpEPtUA4owBhxuS3N5oAVCSNIJo27Z3S1OdQAco_gm6B-hxmPSMMEb24t9g992ntM4/s1500/Company.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="1500" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi16-91ws3MAwtfOo7SKjlqtBuh2fI_4wLvfgA5ridiCUt5umLJLlW5bs-UEnNMzfYyJq2rsoB6TDpEPtUA4owBhxuS3N5oAVCSNIJo27Z3S1OdQAco_gm6B-hxmPSMMEb24t9g992ntM4/w400-h278/Company.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>So that's a first company done and I'm heartily sick of Field Grey. I have another usable company with my old basing and painting so hope that will be enough German infantry to get started. I've a game of 'O' Group arranged for Monday so these will be on the table then. I'll try to take a few photos and post something on here.</p><p>In the meantime I've been busy with some Shermans - 3 RTR to go with my 4 KSLI from 11 Armoured Division. Airbrushing of colour modulation and panel high-lighting complete with filters and washes to do - lots of new techniques to explore.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03835786139833010048noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7473769402358177390.post-3554161355097025612021-11-26T11:03:00.002+00:002021-11-27T16:06:12.163+00:00Battle of Adrianople 378 CE<p>An friend of mine, Dave, is working on a refight of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Adrianople" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Battle of Adrianople</a> for a <a href="https://soa.org.uk/joomla/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Society of Ancients</a> game day in 2022 and kindly offered to give it a run through as a learning exercise for me with <a href="https://mortem-et-gloriam.co.uk/meg/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mortem et Gloriam</a> and to give my 15mm Late Imperial Roman army a first outing. As this was a refight and is intended as a demonstration game, the scenery was pre-defined rather than using the normal MeG pre-game mechanism and there were some special rules, particularly on movement in the deployment phase. </p><p>Goths</p><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Fritigern - Talented, instinctive</li><li>Alatheus - Competent, instinctive</li><li>Saphrax - Competent, instinctive</li><li>ANO - Competent, instinctive</li><li>Camp - Poor, Fortified</li><li>Comitatus Cavalry - 6 Cavalry, Formed, Loose, Superior Protected, Short Spear, Melee Expert, Dismountable</li><li>4x Warriors - 8 Infantry, Tribal Flexible, Average, Protected, Unskilled Javelin, Short Spear</li><li>Ex-Roman Infantry - 6 Infantry, Formed, Flexible, Average, Protected, Unskilled Javelin, Short Spear</li><li>Archers - 8 Infantry, Formed Loose, Average, Unprotected, Experienced Bow</li><li>Comitatus - 6 Cavalry, Formed Loose, Superior, Unprotected, Devastating Chargers</li><li>3x Cavalry Warriors - 6 Cavalry, Formed Loose, Average Protected, Short Spear</li><li>2x Archers - 9 Infantry, Skirmisher, Average, Unprotected, Experienced Bow, Combat Shy</li><li>2x Alans - 6 Cavalry Skirmisher, Average, Unprotected, Experienced Bow, Cantabrian</li><li>Huns - 6 Cavalry Skirmisher, Average, Unprotected, Experienced Bow</li></ul></div><p style="text-align: left;">Romans</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Valens, Cassio, Trajan & Victor - all Competent Professional</li><li>Camp - Formed Loose, Average, Protected</li><li>Scutari - 4 Cavalry, Drilled Loose, Superior, Protected, Unskilled Javelin, Short Spear</li><li>2x Equites - 4 Cavalry, Drilled Loose, Average, Protected, Unskilled Javelin, Short Spear</li><li>Equites Dalmatae - 4 Cavalry, Drilled Flexible, Superior, Protected, Experienced Javelin, Short Spear</li><li>Cataphracts - 4 Cavalry, Drilled Close, Average, ArmHrs/FArm, Long Spear, Devastating Chargers, Shove</li><li>3x Auxilia - 6 Infantry, Drilled Flexible, Average, Protected, Experienced Darts, Short Spear, Shield Cover</li><li>Auxilia Sagitarii - 6 Infantry, Drilled Loose, Average, Unprotected, Experienced Bow</li><li>Equites Sgitarii - 4 Cavalry, Skirmisher, Average, Unprotected, Experienced Bow</li><li>Archers - 6 Infantry, Skirmisher, Average, Unprotected, Experienced Bow, Combat Shy</li></ul><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">The rest of the post below is Dave's summary and assessment of the game, interspersed with my photos and captions.</p><p><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">The test game went quite well. It played for 10-11 turns and was eventually narrowly won by the Romans, who were themselves one break away from their TuG to break limit.</span></p><div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica;">We used three special rules:</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><b>Gothic cavalry arrival:</b></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;">Cards dealt to the two cavalry commands as normal but face up.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;">Black - A cavalry unit arrives at the table edge.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;">White - A cavalry unit moves on to the table</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;">Colours - no arrival but can be played normally on on table units.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;">Arrivals were placed on table before normal movement.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;">For a competent general (so 3 cards per turn) this should generate approx one unit per turn but it could be none, two or three. Once all units had arrived cards were dealt face down as normal.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><b>Roman march column:</b></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;">Roman units arrive on the road in a one wide column with one MU distance between them. Units in this formation may be moved as a group. Move distance over good going is increased to 4 MU. Once within 6 MU of an enemy unit they must convert to a normal formation ASAP. Treated a flank charged if attacked in march column. Roman foot must enter the table edge on the road but do not have to stay on it.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><b>Roman rearguard cavalry arrival:</b></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;">In the test game they were allowed to arrive once all the Roman infantry were on table. This actually proved too slow so we thought they should be allowed to arrive on turn Two in future games as they historically left the road and sped forward to reinforce the heavily engaged Roman vanguard cavalry.</div></blockquote><div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Because the arrival of the Gothic cavalry was a bit delayed the deciding factor was the titanic infantry battle in the centre.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica;">The action started with the Gothic infantry deployed behind the ridge on their side of the table with only a few archers and skirmishes visible to the Roman vanguard cavalry.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica;">The game started with only the Roman forward cavalry units and some auxilia in march columns on the road on table.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdJzeq8_ovEDO08o4Nn0ugeNxebTgQsPoPohihNvdVkN_zOJ_sG1y1q4nL8BOheVuLZ2cvWq4EqHQQ1cK9Q9XFEx9q3q06edmDLK9i9GRMwFb9GO9IhbV0N962tL41mudEZL1KaU4kvE/s1451/Turn+1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1103" data-original-width="1451" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdJzeq8_ovEDO08o4Nn0ugeNxebTgQsPoPohihNvdVkN_zOJ_sG1y1q4nL8BOheVuLZ2cvWq4EqHQQ1cK9Q9XFEx9q3q06edmDLK9i9GRMwFb9GO9IhbV0N962tL41mudEZL1KaU4kvE/w400-h304/Turn+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Scutari heavy cavalry and a unit of horses are front-left for the Romans, advancing confidently on a vulnerable looking unit of foot archers, little suspecting that they were actually a skull-rolling machine that went on to shoot them up on the approach then break them in the impact. A unit of Equites is on the right whilst the first two units of auxiliaries are in column of march on the road. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica;">The Roman Scutari attacked the exposed Gothic foot archers but were badly shot up as the main Gothic battle line appeared over the ridge.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Over the next three turns the Roman foot raced to deploy as the Goths closed the distance between them. The Gothic cavalry started to arrive on the Roman left flank but only the Alan's and Huns appeared which allowed the Romans some more time to deploy their infantry.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqsvtDJNabtrCgzrg7M1-NX8Xjo4bxAeZYtM9I6Jx8-TgdukohptuU1aDo7Jne9nPHTD-x1O41uf8ueoncnmhalsliFVHxhgg_9xvb7ga71yxjvsMPkhjsNIvzAlNPCLd0CNkjBu4TzK0/s1500/Turn+4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="883" data-original-width="1500" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqsvtDJNabtrCgzrg7M1-NX8Xjo4bxAeZYtM9I6Jx8-TgdukohptuU1aDo7Jne9nPHTD-x1O41uf8ueoncnmhalsliFVHxhgg_9xvb7ga71yxjvsMPkhjsNIvzAlNPCLd0CNkjBu4TzK0/w400-h235/Turn+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The start of Turn 4. Two units of auxiliaries have deployed off the road whilst the first two of four units of legionaries are marching across to form a second line. With the Scutari being shot up then broken in melee by the Gothic foot archers, the horse archers were feeling a bit exposed as the Alans and Huns closed in on them. However the surviving Equites are completing their move across the front of the the infantry to come to their support whilst the rearguard cavalry are coming up fast on the left. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjN1Vm2j4hTz8mlLY0bW8yDAhorzYaVQAedZ9rvZKO8DU_4K1mVFPjs-GVhlbW5CJ__6pB1GlDlWzMYaZ8apoXT5NK9mfx-r1875LC74jiP5oBlsk61JBo4d-RQoX-lHds2yCYe3Sf4g/s2048/Turn+6b.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1099" data-original-width="2048" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjN1Vm2j4hTz8mlLY0bW8yDAhorzYaVQAedZ9rvZKO8DU_4K1mVFPjs-GVhlbW5CJ__6pB1GlDlWzMYaZ8apoXT5NK9mfx-r1875LC74jiP5oBlsk61JBo4d-RQoX-lHds2yCYe3Sf4g/w400-h215/Turn+6b.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turn 6. The Roman's first line with only two auxilia is already under pressure but Fritigern's dismounted bodyguard took a battering from the initial volleys of darts and the three legions and another auxilia have completed their moves to form a second line, leaving the superior legion, still in column of march, to the rear.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidQy-Ova2dt7w_hevGByP77NIES9vL66e6Kcrhiep_Z2p_XVvCy0id0TT8Pa1O6ZjUn_H-ajlUHdPKaza_me8J-HbBosgcKDULjCukjUR825N6U8XTx1A4C-k5UJWWoXKgH4UZkesNW8Y/s1600/Turn+6+cavalry.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="827" data-original-width="1600" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidQy-Ova2dt7w_hevGByP77NIES9vL66e6Kcrhiep_Z2p_XVvCy0id0TT8Pa1O6ZjUn_H-ajlUHdPKaza_me8J-HbBosgcKDULjCukjUR825N6U8XTx1A4C-k5UJWWoXKgH4UZkesNW8Y/w400-h206/Turn+6+cavalry.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turn 6, the cavalry. The Roman Equites Sagittarii had evaporated under the arrows of the Alans and Huns and a move by a unit of equites to push back Alans led to them taking a battering too. The Huns were busy getting themselves out of the way whilst the Roman Catphracts and the Equites, who had started off on the right flank, moved up.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Both the Roman rearguard cavalry and the Gothic horse arrived at a similar time to each other and clashed in the centre of the table. The outnumbered Roman cavalry attempting to hold up the superior numbers of Goths while the legions and auxilia confronted the main Gothic battle line.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEMMvMXJwA7VX9R0mLkW8EvhNj5CCC4x_bsj_ixORi6z2P5X4Yh12ykt6_kQUlAH4ncPQI4z5iGZJsBkZ1dlbh6zWb6tdYMrxUc_3t-sbwje0GFaYe1WPTfezDoyMxqBsipAXTGvwsnSE/s1500/Turn+7.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="661" data-original-width="1500" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEMMvMXJwA7VX9R0mLkW8EvhNj5CCC4x_bsj_ixORi6z2P5X4Yh12ykt6_kQUlAH4ncPQI4z5iGZJsBkZ1dlbh6zWb6tdYMrxUc_3t-sbwje0GFaYe1WPTfezDoyMxqBsipAXTGvwsnSE/w400-h176/Turn+7.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turn 7. The right hand auxilia is close to breaking and a legion moves up in support - too close as it turned out and they had to take a KAB test when the auxilia inevitably broke. The legions on the right were doing better, chewing their way through two larger units of Goth infantry.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0vZ3T7ZGc8yegttD-gg5SZg2m-C-HTfR1K_VFayRB8QPhlY4uMDSSEX1xu3TgQlrcaEdp8ndGf6TwksFjHp9TwiKgw3ESJHJyKf9UNeVAP2pwq_HxSWGGxYPfzeZD0cBVPDO1Qwjhnk/s1500/Turn+9.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="694" data-original-width="1500" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0vZ3T7ZGc8yegttD-gg5SZg2m-C-HTfR1K_VFayRB8QPhlY4uMDSSEX1xu3TgQlrcaEdp8ndGf6TwksFjHp9TwiKgw3ESJHJyKf9UNeVAP2pwq_HxSWGGxYPfzeZD0cBVPDO1Qwjhnk/w400-h185/Turn+9.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;">Turn 9, I think. The two Roman legions on the right have broken the two Gothic infantry units and advanced in pursuit but lost three bases in the process whilst more fresh Goths are bearing down on them. </span><span face="-webkit-standard"><span style="font-family: times;">The right hand auxilia is close to breaking and a legion moves up in support - too close as it turned out and they had to take a KAB test when the auxilia inevitably broke. The cavalry battle on the left is at a critical point. The left hand Equites broke in melee with the lead Gothic heavy cavalry but the Cataphracts also charged into the front of the Goths, doing better in the impact, and have expanded out. The last unit of normal Equites have charged into the foot archers and also expanded out in the melee. </span><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHdAGBJ-vf21ZtNiX8Zd3tBxA8ebWckMe-AJxuwvOtd7PfXh9NYms3Iz-LvLMf2r2e09C_j46jO_JCdIntDcnc2VzcSyH4vc7uojyNH-pVJwwBHhr762qZab50-OlblYQXIooWs-_tbLg/s1500/Turn+10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="983" data-original-width="1500" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHdAGBJ-vf21ZtNiX8Zd3tBxA8ebWckMe-AJxuwvOtd7PfXh9NYms3Iz-LvLMf2r2e09C_j46jO_JCdIntDcnc2VzcSyH4vc7uojyNH-pVJwwBHhr762qZab50-OlblYQXIooWs-_tbLg/w400-h263/Turn+10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: times;">Turn 10. The two Roman auxilia have broken but the Gothic infantry centre has taken heavy losses and the survivors are facing two fresh legions. The Roman Cataphracts have broken the Gothic cavalry and their pursuit has taken them behind the flank of the other two units of Gothic heavy cavalry and are about to turn in for a flank charge. The Roman Equites, with their general leading from the front (all his other units had been destroyed so there wasn't much to lose!) are about to break the Gothic foot archers and, with that, narrowly win the race to reach the opposing army's break point.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSb9HYVOWvwau_Ok8mwBbw1MiQLw3Y9H1I2LZqroxx_EikjFJj4rZkMWeYZAo_OhHpGKXFCnO_IKhhr5RX0xqv2KTRAto7q3-gnjNZeDsUD9O17Wh-ExVGckmoQVjjFX3SHq51qZ53zc/s1500/The+end.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="784" data-original-width="1500" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSb9HYVOWvwau_Ok8mwBbw1MiQLw3Y9H1I2LZqroxx_EikjFJj4rZkMWeYZAo_OhHpGKXFCnO_IKhhr5RX0xqv2KTRAto7q3-gnjNZeDsUD9O17Wh-ExVGckmoQVjjFX3SHq51qZ53zc/w400-h209/The+end.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The end. A much thinned-out table, with boxes full of casualties for both sides. It was a thoroughly enjoyable game and I'm looking forward to my next game of MeG and, having learnt from my mistakes in this game, finding a whole lot of new ones to make. </td></tr></tbody></table><div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Overall, I thought it worked well as a game and a simulation. The only thing we didn't really resolve was whether to create some kind of special rule to make the Roman cavalry attack impetuously at the start of the game as in the real battle. In the test game we forced them to advance at full speed and attack the nearest Goth unit then after that as the player wished.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica;">I think it would work well either as a two hander or a four player game. Hopefully we can have another test game before the games day and I might even build some special scenery.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br />Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03835786139833010048noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7473769402358177390.post-12790917915790036772021-10-29T14:35:00.002+00:002021-10-29T18:14:22.868+00:00Vehicles - a learning experience!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKyDbmhPErH1iSYBQ9rs0dVtsdlYlOo2976wdk77pgIP1xp3A4gNcpNFJ_XmI5G8d74VF9aDBsvgbVhj-X9OzAjdeofWl6RNZX4i8vrDVWMYgtf9XLr5RTfQAKOQmXiTtqDZ3bsFnIBM/s1500/Veh_01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1043" data-original-width="1500" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKyDbmhPErH1iSYBQ9rs0dVtsdlYlOo2976wdk77pgIP1xp3A4gNcpNFJ_XmI5G8d74VF9aDBsvgbVhj-X9OzAjdeofWl6RNZX4i8vrDVWMYgtf9XLr5RTfQAKOQmXiTtqDZ3bsFnIBM/w400-h279/Veh_01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>My earlier WW2 vehicles were painted with lots of dry brushing and, for the British ones, using a olive green mixed by eye. Unfortunately this meant I had little confidence I could mix the same colour again and even within the earlier ones I have a lot of variation. Looking at those models now, I am not really satisfied with the effect. I would like to achieve a cleaner and more uniform appearance, as well as a more realistic (and repeatable) match for SCC15.</p><p>My first thought, having relied on the painting tutorials on the Crac des Chevaliers blog for my infantry was to continue with the <a href="http://cracdeschevaliers.blogspot.com/2013/04/painting-clean-vehicles-primer.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"clean style" for vehicles</a>. Although the results on there look great, when I made a test I wasn't really happy with either my execution and thought it was a bit too clean on the larger canvas of a tank. Later vehicles on CdC are painted by airbrush with a panel high lighting style which I think I prefer. Although I have owned an airbrush for a few years, purchased to paint <a href="https://midlandshipyard.blogspot.com/2020/05/hms-queen-elizabeth-aircraft-carrier.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">my 1:1250 / 1:1200 waterline ship models</a>, I have never really learnt to use it for more than laying down a single uniform coat. With my wargames painting focussing on Italian Wars French and then Late Romans, there was little call for airbrushing! However I came across some <a href="https://www.heresybrush.com/en/2021/how-to-paint-12mm-1144-wwii-tanks/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">great tutorials</a> by <span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans"; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Rubén Torregrosa </span>on his <a href="https://www.heresybrush.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">HeresyBrush blog</a>, applying this technique to 1:144 tanks so thought I'd give it a go.</p><p>I had some vehicles part complete by the dry-brush method but looking closely at these, the assembly wasn't that great and some detail was already obscured by the paint so I decided to strip them back to bare metal. I used a cheap paint stripper from Wilco, which worked well, followed up with a soak in Fairy Ultra and good scrub with a stiff nylon brush and a lighter brush with a brass wire brush to really clean up the surface. The brushes were from a set of 3, also from Wilco, for the bargain price of £1.00 - I'm not sure what I'll do with the miniature steel wire brush but it may come in handy for DIY.</p><p>To hold the vehicles for spraying, I attached short sections on dowel to the undersides and appropriate drilled holes in a piece of wood to hold them for drying. The Daimler AC turrets already had their magnets glued on so I just put them on top of round nails, relying on the strong magnet to hold them firmly enough.</p><p>I should at this point give a little shout out for a small model and paint shop near me in Coventry: <a href="https://thepaintrack.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the Paint Rack</a>. I wanted to get the Mig Ammo filters and washes recommended on Heresy Brush and, after recent disappointing results with mat varnish, the Mig Ammo Ultra-Matt varnish that Chevalier de la Terre suggested. The paint rack was able to supply these as well as such much needed advise on airbrushing the primer and varnish.</p><p>I started with an airbrushed primer coat using Mig Ammo One Shot black. In hidsight, I think black was maybe a mistake as it was difficulty to see where the dark base coat was covering it - I'll probably use grey next time.</p><p>My SCC15 is a 50-50 of Vallejo Model Color 888 Olive Grey and 924 Russian Uniform. I started with a base of 50% SCC15 with 50% black then SCC15 applied from above and at 45° then a first highlight of three parts SCC15 to one part buff and final highlight of 50-50 SCC15 and buff. I picked out small details and some edges with a fine brush and painted details like tools and stowage normally.</p><p>The tutorial suggested Vallejo 304 Track Primer, appropriately enough, for the tracks. I didn't have that and figured any medium grey-brown would be OK so used a 50-50 mix of Olive Brown and Medium Grey.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFkHXByl8ntwhgWaeICb4rdPE02CmAQ1FOwo-6VgCnv01LVoa3F2PNLWqSO09YmabRyDOqJMcCGz5qqwQuxIPDrWJajC57r-R3I03S8QlFtHPYEZXlujfnMhj3uuNsViv_qt8HnprPBw/s1500/Veh_02.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="955" data-original-width="1500" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFkHXByl8ntwhgWaeICb4rdPE02CmAQ1FOwo-6VgCnv01LVoa3F2PNLWqSO09YmabRyDOqJMcCGz5qqwQuxIPDrWJajC57r-R3I03S8QlFtHPYEZXlujfnMhj3uuNsViv_qt8HnprPBw/w400-h255/Veh_02.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0DkCIjY_dsYJj-dVA_d6NHjlerLQQC2C8TcdeF4bcEYa0jUbC7cRzDi0Pv60Mp77kwF0iY2wvWgWaI4hKgD2HXa2dv11skImFVUSvnU9DMuNp6y2UTmRPw1G5RPCgjYSI13oBs5_6_I/s1500/Veh_03.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1088" data-original-width="1500" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0DkCIjY_dsYJj-dVA_d6NHjlerLQQC2C8TcdeF4bcEYa0jUbC7cRzDi0Pv60Mp77kwF0iY2wvWgWaI4hKgD2HXa2dv11skImFVUSvnU9DMuNp6y2UTmRPw1G5RPCgjYSI13oBs5_6_I/w400-h290/Veh_03.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>With the painting done, I was looking forward to applying the decals then filters and washes to bring the whole thing together and add definition. To provide a smooth surface for the decals, I brushed on some Tamiya gloss varnish locally where the markings would go and over exposed details to provide a bit of extra protection. This was a huge mistake. The Tamiya varnish reacted with the Vallejo paint to produce a bubby, smeared mess and I didn't realise until I had done the last part of the last vehicle. </p><p>So rather than a series of finished photos, here they are back in the paint stripper.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPXoTBuVYQESz3ILvDt2njIcytcCRUuuVEVg6h7oUlMI_C4Xqk2vns6kt_fS3ZQG6zOoQouulgezFkJU-coh56bbVsKjWCX7uITkyGqt-5C-d2Pb8HPxn6Sws7jxwCL-A1KBAJyY9Mr8Y/s1500/Veh_04.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1147" data-original-width="1500" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPXoTBuVYQESz3ILvDt2njIcytcCRUuuVEVg6h7oUlMI_C4Xqk2vns6kt_fS3ZQG6zOoQouulgezFkJU-coh56bbVsKjWCX7uITkyGqt-5C-d2Pb8HPxn6Sws7jxwCL-A1KBAJyY9Mr8Y/w400-h306/Veh_04.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>As a late addition, adding insult to injury, the paint stripper has turned the black primer into a tar-like goo that is insoluble in everything I’ve tried so far.</p><p>We (hopefully), learn from our mistakes and this is certainly providing a lot of learning opportunities!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03835786139833010048noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7473769402358177390.post-31741888918932391692021-10-14T18:46:00.002+00:002021-10-14T18:46:46.852+00:0015mm WW2 German Company HQ and another platoon.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFBHfYnwIw2ETxWyS2Ew-HCujBopqWrg7iS6F1CvWTWi0RYWBZBI1_a1htr-vXujoF-fTlQnmCbTqhmSQ6tNhwucUSDQwYhKFTbQtORuQEYm-3mY_XhTETopRSB94bWi71EkPa7nK4RZA/s1500/Plat2+01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="1500" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFBHfYnwIw2ETxWyS2Ew-HCujBopqWrg7iS6F1CvWTWi0RYWBZBI1_a1htr-vXujoF-fTlQnmCbTqhmSQ6tNhwucUSDQwYhKFTbQtORuQEYm-3mY_XhTETopRSB94bWi71EkPa7nK4RZA/w400-h155/Plat2+01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>As I've previously written, I started my WW2 15mm collection back in the early 1990s. I'd like to think my painting has improved since then but I didn't want to discard the effort I'd put into painting those earlier figures so my plan was to do a minimal update to blend them in with newly painted figures as I expended and re-based my collection to suit new rules. However the reality was that my colours then were so far off that most details needed re-doing and even the uniform shadow colour was a poor match so by the time I'd given them a wash of Army Painter strong tone, new mid-tones and highlights for the uniforms and all the details repainted, I don't think I saved any time at all. </p><p>The officer, panzerfaust team and a few others are painted from bare metal whilst others, including the riflemen in the three squads are the refurbs. It should be obvious which was which from the faces. All the figures are from PeterPig.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOJlXj5zj49B9Bqv73TXCOwqP_QQcZLmBA1t8Jmhi_eMNU9Az4PH6qyOgLDpZJtURb78umsIfACi7U7nBaV98Q1irjQ8ANySGX-5cy0b1HxrC6VT-rxDZ-wr2M0MojtueEXYCvIICCJNQ/s1500/Plat2+02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1266" data-original-width="1500" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOJlXj5zj49B9Bqv73TXCOwqP_QQcZLmBA1t8Jmhi_eMNU9Az4PH6qyOgLDpZJtURb78umsIfACi7U7nBaV98Q1irjQ8ANySGX-5cy0b1HxrC6VT-rxDZ-wr2M0MojtueEXYCvIICCJNQ/w400-h338/Plat2+02.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>The new figures, including the panzerfaust team above, were painted and varnished after the refurbed figures and didn't suffer the satin varnish drama of my previous German platoon. Although there is a bit of sheen in the photos, this isn't apparent on the models.</p><p>With two platoons done and a third well along, I thought I thought I'd better get a company command base done. As with my British infantry, this is three figures, including a radio, on a 30 mm square base.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEXfXtJZCXZ000rKP-suPHnM-OB7ER2LfO6ioBl5g08WllrlWh1q9oSeby42FdbPcMI-L9l5QTWqKR9qjVn_bnsP6owJDjPwOhAuoyp5ib-OE_eTX9iQyWJUuQVwM5zDFPOFtHYjhsSz4/s1558/CHQ+01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1558" data-original-width="1500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEXfXtJZCXZ000rKP-suPHnM-OB7ER2LfO6ioBl5g08WllrlWh1q9oSeby42FdbPcMI-L9l5QTWqKR9qjVn_bnsP6owJDjPwOhAuoyp5ib-OE_eTX9iQyWJUuQVwM5zDFPOFtHYjhsSz4/w385-h400/CHQ+01.jpg" width="385" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've tried various materials to represent aerials. Bristles from brushes - relatively in-scale but too fragile and too much variation. Very fine piano wire - too many puncture wounds and too much blood dripped onto the miniatures. I did briefly consider cat's whiskers but he is now hiding under the spare bed so this one uses fishing line. It looks way over-scale and a bit curved but it should be tough and safe.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLProF02bk_5RdRZC0XPRO4SWEzQudpqbc-AclN85rTmBBJfn4L3MNmId8NCJgF55HWOhljd-MUW4bgXusIVqJJRj4rjXRDzDVCEbK__YdHuzqBWmVbYlOSCQISVJnGapk9l1i7qzLyRs/s1500/CHQ+02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1404" data-original-width="1500" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLProF02bk_5RdRZC0XPRO4SWEzQudpqbc-AclN85rTmBBJfn4L3MNmId8NCJgF55HWOhljd-MUW4bgXusIVqJJRj4rjXRDzDVCEbK__YdHuzqBWmVbYlOSCQISVJnGapk9l1i7qzLyRs/w400-h375/CHQ+02.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRrwGBS1HPoYu-i3mPF2eDBbQ-KSZGLDZOELNmMk9PW84HRhoeo_TZjI8FHDjlMz8LYwVAu0JKjZ_-SCxEWkbd_noX-mdHK6ZNOsaNmQWo93tb64XGmihh62xHHq5Wyaej1ZQ_-vrNShw/s1512/CHQ+03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRrwGBS1HPoYu-i3mPF2eDBbQ-KSZGLDZOELNmMk9PW84HRhoeo_TZjI8FHDjlMz8LYwVAu0JKjZ_-SCxEWkbd_noX-mdHK6ZNOsaNmQWo93tb64XGmihh62xHHq5Wyaej1ZQ_-vrNShw/w396-h400/CHQ+03.jpg" width="396" /></a></div><p>I'm now most of the way through another platoon. After that I plan to do a couple of MG42s on tripods then I'll be back to the British 4 KSLI for another company and the carrier platoon. 5 platoons down, only another 11 to go, plus vehicles!</p>Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03835786139833010048noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7473769402358177390.post-77893512754573969402021-09-29T20:08:00.000+00:002021-09-29T20:08:18.209+00:00First German Platoon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpAygK4ei57IiBPO7J_7GxpJn5HVb1lKIqYfOBvdE27gTHdT8PjQ03my4QTRkQagl1phId1yeIjUQ2CopAxmFE70NzfZfPsf5z75oaCDFJtqz8y-CrFatxLiUYs-L8kSUik2fhFyIF7uQ/s1500/Plat_1_1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="661" data-original-width="1500" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpAygK4ei57IiBPO7J_7GxpJn5HVb1lKIqYfOBvdE27gTHdT8PjQ03my4QTRkQagl1phId1yeIjUQ2CopAxmFE70NzfZfPsf5z75oaCDFJtqz8y-CrFatxLiUYs-L8kSUik2fhFyIF7uQ/w400-h176/Plat_1_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>For this first platoon, I used all new figures and tried to follow the clean painting style and colour choices on the excellent <a href="http://cracdeschevaliers.blogspot.com/2015/04/painting-field-grey.html" target="_blank">Crac des Chevaliers</a> blog.</p><p>I'm pleased with the result and it is certainly an improvement on my earlier WW2 Germans, painted with lots of dry brushing and with a far too blue field grey, but inevitably it falls a bit short of what I was aiming for. Not quite as clean as I wanted and the varnish has gone satin - not sufficiently mat varnish really is my Achilles heel! </p><p>These took quite a long time. A combination of trying to follow somebody else’s methods and a strictly defined colour scheme with much less space for making it up as you go compared with my Romans or Italian Wars collection. Ah well - practice makes perfect.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrvvNIoZWxMiDe8bGQo2ImSUda5qF3IM_CCx4k2XBquNn5lOx80Ve8h-_Ca52CSvxPVWX3BPeUz4T1QWhF2JqlUzewwHNG2Eo_An15X2ZZq8EoL39wQYLWs5Ur8kp3zOphEH_HZGxuulE/s1500/Plat_1_2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="733" data-original-width="1500" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrvvNIoZWxMiDe8bGQo2ImSUda5qF3IM_CCx4k2XBquNn5lOx80Ve8h-_Ca52CSvxPVWX3BPeUz4T1QWhF2JqlUzewwHNG2Eo_An15X2ZZq8EoL39wQYLWs5Ur8kp3zOphEH_HZGxuulE/w400-h195/Plat_1_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One issue from using a single base for a section, including the LMG team is that you can’t really use prone figures firing a bipod MG42 mixed with upright figures. It looks ok with advancing figures, as below, but I’m not 100% convinced by the standing firing figures. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfD55TWcozIRlaDAsR9MHLs0SlI_Ms3UO1ltzR4lwd0tzdJt1ZqfHZfsixSBY8NrXkRNFaplN0GdkVRq6Zyeq0Sp89v1C00WgSQyNFn57xhUxEFq0iyvRx_e7T6Ay1_5sIIu4T1I8h4k/s1500/Plat_1_3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfD55TWcozIRlaDAsR9MHLs0SlI_Ms3UO1ltzR4lwd0tzdJt1ZqfHZfsixSBY8NrXkRNFaplN0GdkVRq6Zyeq0Sp89v1C00WgSQyNFn57xhUxEFq0iyvRx_e7T6Ay1_5sIIu4T1I8h4k/w400-h213/Plat_1_3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">I especially pity the loader here, being used as a rest for the MG42. Really hope he has some good ear plugs!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpk4C4-6Q816ZUcj2Hx17Hjr1UY6tAqAoWJXTuBTsFfP51-1jwIczqcQtS0hyphenhyphenzDhlaMAPA4vxY9de21FrOx3a4K3WGd3fs15zLmyfRuwQ23LxjvyWA6oxtw-CcP03CQrl1_Jdpz6HsLzE/s1500/Plat_1_4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1500" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpk4C4-6Q816ZUcj2Hx17Hjr1UY6tAqAoWJXTuBTsFfP51-1jwIczqcQtS0hyphenhyphenzDhlaMAPA4vxY9de21FrOx3a4K3WGd3fs15zLmyfRuwQ23LxjvyWA6oxtw-CcP03CQrl1_Jdpz6HsLzE/w400-h246/Plat_1_4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDPOJGJKyDRuCBQqS-pTSIU_dNeuGEI_OzpnjnAnb_1tx-3hetTkzUuOC0zlgZrFD8Ua0Yod_wQPJslazX-DbSvi635No4afYZHRgKXjPSxKt0KjfsJ2knGcbEV2JWgGBKXLPN9MwpWJs/s1500/Plat_1_5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="889" data-original-width="1500" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDPOJGJKyDRuCBQqS-pTSIU_dNeuGEI_OzpnjnAnb_1tx-3hetTkzUuOC0zlgZrFD8Ua0Yod_wQPJslazX-DbSvi635No4afYZHRgKXjPSxKt0KjfsJ2knGcbEV2JWgGBKXLPN9MwpWJs/w400-h238/Plat_1_5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03835786139833010048noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7473769402358177390.post-20959063595728267482021-07-14T20:15:00.004+00:002021-10-10T17:12:45.746+00:00Back to Normandy in 1944 <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwM9NkMZS1MgGAAx9QP4tRgKMrDjMG7IOsNf4-eMDTzTB6LFqMjKXdlLWGXLTcV2k8_hdKildnFu8ForrZ3_8pMS2Gy0ji4d6Ck-HbMmsb6vc8sHdrxK6ft4TOEsgRccqolHik7hVXYo/s1500/Company.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="1500" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwM9NkMZS1MgGAAx9QP4tRgKMrDjMG7IOsNf4-eMDTzTB6LFqMjKXdlLWGXLTcV2k8_hdKildnFu8ForrZ3_8pMS2Gy0ji4d6Ck-HbMmsb6vc8sHdrxK6ft4TOEsgRccqolHik7hVXYo/w400-h160/Company.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i>4th King's Shropshire Light Infantry, A Company. 4 KSLI were part of 11th Armoured Division, landing on Juno Beach on D+7 and playing an important role in the division's battles through Normandy to taking Antwerp, liberating the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp and ending the war on the Baltic coast of Germany to block a feared Soviet advance into Denmark.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>After a sustained effort painting a Late Roman army, I have turned my attention back to World War 2 gaming in 15mm</p><p>My British and German forces were based for "Overlord" by Barrie Lovell / Firebase Games. Whilst these are very detailed and have the feel of being realistic and grounded in personal experience of military practice, they don't give a very quick game and max out at an infantry company plus support per player. It seems to me that most identifiable actions in this period were battalion sized so I would like to be able to depict that on the table top with a reasonably playable game and a satisfying sense of scale. </p><p>The question then is: which rules? Convincingly depicting scale seems one of the hardest challenges for WW2 rules. Having two or three infantry figures on a base seems common then different rules use a base as an sub-component of a squad, a whole platoon or a company and sometimes there is no easy way to tell from looking at the game whether you are seeing a company or a brigade.</p><p>Overlord has an infantry section as three bases - two rifle groups and an LMG team. A British late war platoon is 14 bases, 45 (independently moving) bases plus support for a company. It is easy to see why it bogs down beyond a company per player! I've just bought the new "O Group" rules from Reisswitz Press which look really promising but has just three bases - as few as 9 figures for a platoon and that just seems too few to to me to look like a platoon. </p><p>A regular opponent and I have been trying to write our own rules with one base per section and separately depicted platoon command and support. I'm therefore expanding and rebasing my collection for these potential new rules or O Group, with 5 figures on an infantry section base - enough for an NCO, LMG and three riflemen so three bases looks a bit more like a platoon of three squads.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmb_dZxW_N1aCdKjXp4ywqE9B1t5KKVfZBcY_ibowTXUtHxW-IH0Y2zUrBdKzsU4Av31_D0x0ExUkPdq98_FC_8CeU4NBMLiI-bIvFUYc32qyck8pj0pz1CFlRNvfhs-gqXxhqnUWdaM/s1500/Platoons.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="489" data-original-width="1500" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmb_dZxW_N1aCdKjXp4ywqE9B1t5KKVfZBcY_ibowTXUtHxW-IH0Y2zUrBdKzsU4Av31_D0x0ExUkPdq98_FC_8CeU4NBMLiI-bIvFUYc32qyck8pj0pz1CFlRNvfhs-gqXxhqnUWdaM/w400-h130/Platoons.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i>Different platoon representationss. Left to right: three bases of three figures; three bases of my new five figure section bases; three sections plus command, PIAT and 2" mortar and an Overlord German platoon - a British platoon would have an additional base for the 2" mortar. </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>As well as rebasing, I needed some additional figures. I painted the earlier figures with a lot of dry-brushing and washes but my painting style has moved on since then and I'm trying to use the clean three layer technique, taking advice on paint choices from the excellent Crac des Chevaliers blog. I started off with a lot of enthusiasm for updating the older figures with webbing and packs to match as well as new high-lights and helmets. After the first platoon though I slacked off to just the helmets and a few high-lights on the battledress. Without the closeup lens you only notice the hats and bases anyway.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXTUQBgRSf0_VFlCPnJYfC76kU3yf4W_SAOeIMyyMWDk9ARhSLHhSsAUM8KXdbv9yZYM8o-gcxGzi5XhcuQnqzSdAMjKujv-SgM-gifnQ-zN-LGWhB-A4pqY2VSxTcZDYuAbiLFO0OLfI/s1776/P1012522.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1441" data-original-width="1776" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXTUQBgRSf0_VFlCPnJYfC76kU3yf4W_SAOeIMyyMWDk9ARhSLHhSsAUM8KXdbv9yZYM8o-gcxGzi5XhcuQnqzSdAMjKujv-SgM-gifnQ-zN-LGWhB-A4pqY2VSxTcZDYuAbiLFO0OLfI/w400-h325/P1012522.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLi6XQs1uYTic_RBw3r3LurLFe1Z8H17igDIsIr1ZSqbWFahZbYf6Yw30JNuCf1zMA0GrS6Z8-abttxZtz6dkCg8ju5oSwo2jnPsOQEeJxTQFp6-BcWIBkOq58bqa392fRFFr3hSqMHpk/s1404/a+platoon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1404" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLi6XQs1uYTic_RBw3r3LurLFe1Z8H17igDIsIr1ZSqbWFahZbYf6Yw30JNuCf1zMA0GrS6Z8-abttxZtz6dkCg8ju5oSwo2jnPsOQEeJxTQFp6-BcWIBkOq58bqa392fRFFr3hSqMHpk/w400-h305/a+platoon.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Another dilemma is basing style. I've stuck with the same style as for my Late Romans and (more importantly) all my scenery, with one small difference. The sand to provide texture for my British bases was picked up off the beach at Arromanches, so Gold Beach, a few miles to the West of where 11th Armoured actually landed on Juno. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhuwtTcGOUmuQqVGDoVbJNHFB-ZP_lhp-bP4_tMWiernpSPbuJcJdwpVOhnAx4qsWyLgDIhEQNk2kMxvRYUj55Kx6XFz5QSFP5TTDJww1dRTEb_BkSsxDDRNjGJf0jZalm1mVGvYZ-xO0/s800/Sand.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="729" data-original-width="800" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhuwtTcGOUmuQqVGDoVbJNHFB-ZP_lhp-bP4_tMWiernpSPbuJcJdwpVOhnAx4qsWyLgDIhEQNk2kMxvRYUj55Kx6XFz5QSFP5TTDJww1dRTEb_BkSsxDDRNjGJf0jZalm1mVGvYZ-xO0/w400-h365/Sand.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03835786139833010048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7473769402358177390.post-5164657970757758422021-07-04T08:05:00.002+00:002021-07-04T08:05:31.473+00:00Late Roman Army for Mortem et Gloriam<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0YoCaoPMcELlhTTvSTvhJkPauzlyndR0JS0E_TDrrHNhdsgPZi9Y81xyplYxKr62eNfALA21lgGHieav7oib661KGSQJkTfJgVprX_YoI-VlbwojWq8vulrNuT9AK7zVKPin13BzeFJE/s2000/My+whole+army.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="909" data-original-width="2000" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0YoCaoPMcELlhTTvSTvhJkPauzlyndR0JS0E_TDrrHNhdsgPZi9Y81xyplYxKr62eNfALA21lgGHieav7oib661KGSQJkTfJgVprX_YoI-VlbwojWq8vulrNuT9AK7zVKPin13BzeFJE/w400-h181/My+whole+army.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>One of the invariable rules of wargaming with a competition/points based set of rules is that there are never quite enough points for what you would like to do and choices have to be made. Late Romans seem particularly expensive so this restriction bites especially tightly - a good thing for us slow painters as it reduces the number of figures needed!</p><p>To field the figures I have painted so far as an army under the Mortem et Gloriam rules, my draft army list is below. I'd welcome criticism of this from MeG players and suggestions for improvement, both with the figures I have already painted and the additions and alternatives I have further down.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0bf_e-ZXgZVw7kxfcMWLpkei-r-xBzk48Hxi1umiWqV6JOrY8qd9EClKyjcCqtL06ukiYGDYXAE9cG3QN1a8c6Z0uJViY6gBs2VpKiI0bmTnmM8xSrBKFx9DoDtRsmRQEj8J7z15paro/s2644/Late+Roman+Maximus+2021_a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1189" data-original-width="2644" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0bf_e-ZXgZVw7kxfcMWLpkei-r-xBzk48Hxi1umiWqV6JOrY8qd9EClKyjcCqtL06ukiYGDYXAE9cG3QN1a8c6Z0uJViY6gBs2VpKiI0bmTnmM8xSrBKFx9DoDtRsmRQEj8J7z15paro/w400-h180/Late+Roman+Maximus+2021_a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>I still have some figures left over, some which I am planning to paint, to give me some more alternatives. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivs-jy-naCIeYAnulsiACH7bwCeTnrqA2YS94ygjLRZbgecTfvC9U6qHaa4olyRRemGn0Or38dtxRlmYjUPgrmy0iFLJbEOFrfL8vyB3NIqEXD0C5tH1cT-Ro6xsviTwNjOb9wxWYcNlc/s1200/Alternatives+and+additions.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="804" data-original-width="1200" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivs-jy-naCIeYAnulsiACH7bwCeTnrqA2YS94ygjLRZbgecTfvC9U6qHaa4olyRRemGn0Or38dtxRlmYjUPgrmy0iFLJbEOFrfL8vyB3NIqEXD0C5tH1cT-Ro6xsviTwNjOb9wxWYcNlc/w400-h268/Alternatives+and+additions.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> <br />Top left is three Legio Heroica Ballista so three bases of light artillery, either as a stand-alone unit or as an option for the three Legions, replacing an infantry base.</td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="text-align: center;">Below them some lance and bow armed heavily armoured cavalry with half armoured horses. I have 12 of these and was originally thinking of an extra unit of lance and bow armed loose order cavalry but these don't exist in MeG for the Romans so I thought I'd swap in a couple of fully armoured horses and paint up 8 of them as two bases of close order cavalry to give the option of a 6-base unit of Cataphracts. I can't see me ever having enough spare points to field this however.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;">Bottom left are some heavy cavalry which I want to use to increase the <a href="https://smallitalianwars.blogspot.com/2020/11/late-roman-heavy-cavalry-equites.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Honoriani Taifali Iuniores</a> to 6 bases. Unfortunately I only have 5 riders so some creativity will be needed to avoid having to pay a minimum order postage charge on a single 15mm rider!</p><p style="text-align: left;">Top right are 4 groups to expand my 3 Legions and the <a href="https://smallitalianwars.blogspot.com/2020/06/petulantes-seniores-auxillium-palatina.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Petulantes Seniores</a> Auxillia to 8 bases, including one with integral archers. Another option is to buy another pack of legionaries and/or auxiliaries and paint one or two more infantry units for an infantry-heavy army.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Finally, bottom right, 4 more archers to give the option of expanding the <a href="https://smallitalianwars.blogspot.com/2020/09/late-roman-skirmishing-bowmen.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sagittarii Venatores </a>skirmishers to 8 bases.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03835786139833010048noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7473769402358177390.post-71018555243198801212021-07-01T15:57:00.001+00:002021-07-01T15:57:22.552+00:00Late Romans - my original inspiration<p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0n0jVEckpfgmdAgc-JdGM6SSmqIecwRXTRcPxQsJMyIBqKiusYJBBe1rhsR17Zk-daIcspcqNhlqWbnu-_2xkiMGvLfkwTVDOZ4nVfoQvjbpLuVETdSAmTqWhHgdASGT3x81vkorAi6I/s1188/PSL+guide+cover+low.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0n0jVEckpfgmdAgc-JdGM6SSmqIecwRXTRcPxQsJMyIBqKiusYJBBe1rhsR17Zk-daIcspcqNhlqWbnu-_2xkiMGvLfkwTVDOZ4nVfoQvjbpLuVETdSAmTqWhHgdASGT3x81vkorAi6I/w269-h400/PSL+guide+cover+low.jpg" width="269" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>In my early days of wargaming I was given the PSL Guide to Wargaming, published in 1980 and long out of print. This contained chapters on various periods, each written by a different person. The chapter on the ancient period was written by Phil Barker, of the WRG, and amongst the illustrations were some photos of his Late Roman army using Minifigs 25mm figures:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7aAL-AFYqt1Sda5yZC3uXPzw7GEWWb5iwnTfXz6k1HsF_Kd0Yy2_Kd3307OV6sIR-xY-EwFy6Lm5pPwhizB0HtOhA_HA3gchf0BHplYyFPZJOVIvw1Mva2008PVw1lRgUnZbBIEHsOFE/s1200/PSL+Engines_low.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="834" data-original-width="1200" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7aAL-AFYqt1Sda5yZC3uXPzw7GEWWb5iwnTfXz6k1HsF_Kd0Yy2_Kd3307OV6sIR-xY-EwFy6Lm5pPwhizB0HtOhA_HA3gchf0BHplYyFPZJOVIvw1Mva2008PVw1lRgUnZbBIEHsOFE/w400-h278/PSL+Engines_low.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>'Late Roman artillery with stone-throwing heavy engines and bolt-shooting light engines deployed behind a screen provided by the Batavi. Pack animals and draught oxen wait in rear. The engines are by Hinchcliffe Models.'</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="1200" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkPfwStwC7T3qQzC97YMbPSGvjkDN7NEHDB8D6SKdRUAHWJyb0eq1tfjVJCSmhuoZLurNJBUW05VsL4sDz5z9ZECHhOow01lD4Pf0g0oQnuRZEIk0-icxYzTNKIob5z0snUCaQ5B46Dac/w400-h256/PSL+Persians_low.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>'Late Romans in action against their most dangerous traditional enemies, the Sassanid Persians. Persian super heavy and extra heavy cavalry advancing supported by elephants have been countercharged by Roman cavalry. The Persian infantry huddle miserably in the rear, while their light cavalry attempt an outflanking move. The Sassanid figures are obsolete (</i>and that was in 1980!<i>) Miniature Figurines.'</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkPfwStwC7T3qQzC97YMbPSGvjkDN7NEHDB8D6SKdRUAHWJyb0eq1tfjVJCSmhuoZLurNJBUW05VsL4sDz5z9ZECHhOow01lD4Pf0g0oQnuRZEIk0-icxYzTNKIob5z0snUCaQ5B46Dac/s1200/PSL+Persians_low.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i></i></a></div><p>Phil Barker summed the Late Roman Army up with these words: '<i>Gibbon would have described these as decadent. They would probably have described themselves as up-to-date! Compared with the earlier army described above, they use much more cavalry including super-heavies and horse archers. The infantry have lost their metal armour in favour of moulded leather or none at all, but carry big oval shields painted in colourful regimental patterns, and have added a variety of light throwing darts of very long range to their earlier weapons. Each unit includes a proportion of archers. High quality regular troops can be combined with a variety of barbarian irregulars. A good all-round army and my personal favourite.'</i></p><p>The combination of the rather grainy black and white photos, the captions and Phil Barkers positive comments and personal endorsement had me convinced - I wanted one just like that. The Nottingham Wargames Club, where I was a member, had largely gone for 15mm so I followed suit and started collecting my own Late Roman army but my slow painting, exacerbated by the demands of 'O' and 'A' levels meant that it was still unfinished when I went to University, where other pursuits took over, so it sat in suspended animation for almost 40 years before <a href="https://smallitalianwars.blogspot.com/2019/01/late-roman-army-revived-from-1980s.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">I picked it up again in late 2018.</a></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAkOAEpg5cY8xlq17hO7YrU-653q_Xa19V_AHUGVG8EZM6W68wQdxFbMfZbRhQJTuSRd5noNtCtIfHkwzgGmsTu1qGihSQQmcGJfYWgE6PS-82_e47uGA_DQPCs1Qck2vj6CZZc6mdr_c/s1295/PSL+Late+Roman+Army.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="950" data-original-width="1295" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAkOAEpg5cY8xlq17hO7YrU-653q_Xa19V_AHUGVG8EZM6W68wQdxFbMfZbRhQJTuSRd5noNtCtIfHkwzgGmsTu1qGihSQQmcGJfYWgE6PS-82_e47uGA_DQPCs1Qck2vj6CZZc6mdr_c/w400-h294/PSL+Late+Roman+Army.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><i>'Right wing of Late Roman army formed for battle. Light cavalry of the Promoti and Scutarii on the extreme right, then Catafractarii guard the outer flank of the infantry with the Alani in support behind. Two Palatine Auxilia units, the Cornuti and Victores, form the first infantry line with the Legions of the Lanciarii and Herculiani in support. The Emperor and his bodyguard wait behind the junction of the cavalry and infantry. Figures by Miniature Figurines.'</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>As I haven't painted my bolt-shooters yet and have neither stone-throwing heavy engines nor Sassanid Persian Super Heavy Cavalry to pose for a photograph, here are some of my Late Romans in more or less the same formation:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN97i855FZkXkKQ_Py-WRdI0yJ962S8URCzzrArg6ZgUcplTJe151AObCMs5uH9LvgYopMZDNE67zKHLOT5klr7SbkYOonYP8EOS5Qt3qROGm6_QPk8GGFd8lLseasqT2O_JGhukTNhbE/s1500/My+LR+right+wing.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1099" data-original-width="1500" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN97i855FZkXkKQ_Py-WRdI0yJ962S8URCzzrArg6ZgUcplTJe151AObCMs5uH9LvgYopMZDNE67zKHLOT5klr7SbkYOonYP8EOS5Qt3qROGm6_QPk8GGFd8lLseasqT2O_JGhukTNhbE/w400-h293/My+LR+right+wing.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Right wing of my Late Roman army formed for photography. Light Cavalry of the <a href="https://smallitalianwars.blogspot.com/2021/02/late-roman-horse-archers-equites.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Secundo Sagittarii </a>and <a href="https://smallitalianwars.blogspot.com/2019/03/equites-promoti-seniori.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Promoti Seniori</a> on the extreme right, then <a href="https://smallitalianwars.blogspot.com/2021/01/late-roman-cataphracts.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Catafractarii</a> guard the outer flank of the infantry with the <a href="https://smallitalianwars.blogspot.com/2020/11/late-roman-heavy-cavalry-equites.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Honoriani Taifali Iuniores</a> in support behind. Two Palaitine Auxilia units, the <a href="https://smallitalianwars.blogspot.com/2021/05/auxilium-palatinum-celtae-seniores.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Celtae Seniores</a> and <a href="https://smallitalianwars.blogspot.com/2021/04/tubantes-auxillium-palatina.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Leones Iuniores</a> (probably) form the first infantry line with the Legions of the <a href="https://smallitalianwars.blogspot.com/2019/01/lanciarii-gallienci-honoriani-legio.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lanciarii Galliency Honoriani</a> and <a href="https://smallitalianwars.blogspot.com/2019/01/secunda-britannica-legio-comitatenses.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Secunda Britanica</a> in support. <a href="https://smallitalianwars.blogspot.com/2020/08/late-roman-command-group-started-1980s.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Emperor and his bodyguard</a> wait behind the junction of the cavalry and infantry. Figures by <a href="http://www.miniaturefigurines.co.uk/Catalogue.aspx?ScaleID=2&CategoryID=6&SubCategoryID=35" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Miniature Figurines</a>, <a href="https://www.alternative-armies.com/collections/15mm-dark-age-and-ancients-isarus-range" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Asgard/Table Top Games/<span style="text-align: left;">Alternative Armies' Isarus</span></a>, <a href="https://fighting15s.com/product-category/gladiator-miniatures/late-romans/?v=79cba1185463" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gladiator Miniatures</a> and <a href="http://www.legio-heroica.com/Copia%20di%20Tardo%20Romani-en.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Legio Heroica</a>.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03835786139833010048noreply@blogger.com4