ITLSU 1917 Project

[Leman]

All the best for Christmas down there. Have a hot one.

[paulr]

Good progress again last evening
- bases labelled
- artillery and armoured cars glued
- dis-Mounted Brigade figure bases painted

and this morning
- dis-Mounted Brigade sorted onto bases
- next batch on painting rods and under coated

The third batch is mainly Ottoman support:
- Machine battalion
- 2 Artillery battalions
- Cavalry regiment
- 2 Rolls Royce Armoured cars (I feel like painting some vehicles)

Now for breakfast...

[paulr]

Dis-Mounted Brigade based  less the MG Squadron as I ran out of basing mix, will make some more up and finish these after lunch

As I was basing these this morning I was thinking about how much I have learned from the forum, some of it actually useful 

Probably three main things:
- basing mix; filler, paint and PVA mix for texturing bases then covered in flock 
- the level of detail that 10mm can be painted to, lots of inspiration 
- using a very wet brush to immediately clean up those little mistakes

The last is probably the simplest but also the most powerful. I had been trying to member who to thank for this, Sandinista solved that with the post linked to below. 

Mickey Sims used the technique in one of his videos on 'How to Paint: Pendraken Miniatures: SYW French Line Infantry'.
Up until then I used touch ups to fix mistakes which as we all know can lead to another touch up being required ...

The wet brush technique has not only sped up my painting it has allowed me the freedom to add more detail

Thanks Mickey and here is a link to a plug for Mickey's services http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,11092.msg139090.html#msg139090

[paulr]

MG Squadron of Dis-Mounted Brigade based 

While waiting for bases and undercoat to dry I have followed up on some suggestions on the Ottomans

...
I might suggest adding a small amount of foliage to the bases, in a pale or burnt shade, rather than bright green.

I have tested out some arid static grass I have, see below. I suspect it blends in a little too much 

They look really good. I would also suggest painting the front and side edges of the stands to neaten them.

I have painted all the sides, of all the Ottomans, I think they look much better

Signallers - before




Signallers - after




More feedback welcome

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Yup, that works.

[fred.]

I agree, the extra bits definately lift the finish base.

[Techno]

Lovely stuff again, Paul.
Cheers - Phil

[Leman]

Like the idea of motorcyclists for signallers. Looking very good. When I was at secondary school in the 60s I had a friend whose parents had married and started a family quite late in life. His father had been a motorcycle despatch rider on the Western Front in 1918. 

[paulr]

Another option for adding some variety to the bases is some 'larger' rocks, actually Medium grit 

A quick grab shot with my mobile



Again feedback welcome

[fred.]

That works as well - I think anything that helps break up the large sandiness is good.

[paulr]

That works as well - I think anything that helps break up the large sandiness is good.

Agreed 

[paulr]

Leon has come to my rescue 

As well as the poor chap I inadvertently behead one of the other MGs had a miscast barrel. Two replacements are on their way from Pendraken HQ 

I have only had two miscast figures from Pendraken, not bad at all out of about 1,500 figures so far

The Pendrakenmas fairy has been kind to me  My replacement MGs have arrived on Pendrakenmas eve 

What's more mi'lady has looked kindly on me and sent a whole pack of ME12 rather than just the 2 gunners I needed 

[paulr]

Another productive day

- Ottomans have had 'larger' rocks added after the edges were tided up yesterday
- Ottomans have had a second varnish to help 'tie in' the rocks
- dis-Mounted Brigade basing finished (including 'larger 'rocks) and will be varnished shortly, 7:30pm and still 23 degrees (thanks DP)  
- horses for third batch base coated, dry brushed and saddle blankets done 
- Artillery and Armoured cars base coated

[Techno]

Agree with Fred.....Works really well.
Cheers - Phil

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Sweet

[paulr]

Well a productive couple of days, despite festivities getting in the way of me posting updates 

- dis-Mounted Brigade basing finished 

so...
Based
186 Infantry, Officers and Signallers
5 Motorcycles
191 Total

- only some detailing left on the third batch before they are ready to wash
- have started on the bases for the third batch

My wife worked Xmas morning in the kitchens at a nearby rest home and we got up at 0330 on Boxing day morning to get her to the airport for her flight to Melbourne... 9 days of painting for me 

There is some bad news... she took the camera with her so no pictures until she gets back 

[paulr]

Uniform help

I'm hoping someone on the forum, perhaps a member from Wales, can provide some assistance with some uniform information for the next batch of figures I will be painting

This batch will include two Imperial Infantry Battalions I am hoping to paint up as part of the 158^th Brigade of 53^rd (Welsh) Division in Feb-Mar 1917, in the lead up to the First Battle of Gaza.

From what I can find so far the brigade consisted of:
- 1/5^th Royal Welsh Fusiliers
- 1/6^th Royal Welsh Fusiliers
- 1/7^th Royal Welsh Fusiliers
- 1/1^st Herefordshire Regiment

Uniform appears to have been a mix of various kit. What I am particularly interested in is the coloured patches worn on the pugaree of the Wolseley helmet, the shape representing the brigade and the colour the unit. Apparently 158^th Brigade worn horizontal rectangles on the back of the helmet.

I haven't been able to track down the colours of the patches for each unit and also want to confirm that the pugaree was khaki.

[Steve J]

The following site has loads of links, so maybe some of these may provide you with your answers? Worth a try I would have thought...

http://www.rwfmuseum.org.uk/us.html

[paulr]

Thanks Steve J, I had found the museum on Faceache but hadn't found their website, will have a hunt through the links 

[paulr]

Good progress again today
- third batch now ready for washing tomorrow morning
- bases for third batch ready to have the magnetic vinyl glued on, will do that before heading off for our ITLSU game this evening 
- fourth batch sorted and ready to clean up tomorrow, there is even a chance they may get undercoated as well