Fred’s 2026 Painting and Gaming diary

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Monowheels!
Got to love that insanity!

[Steve J]

Brilliant work there !

[fred.]

Thanks both

Yes, the monowheels are bonkers - let alone a whole squadron of them in close formation 

[fred.]

Vallejo Changed Paint Shades?

I've recently got some replacements of Vallejo paints - and they all seem different shades between the new and the old ones.

Photos below of Camo Olive Green, but also seen this on Iraqi Sand, Sick Green and Heavy Skintone. So across model colour, game colour and game colour extra opaque ranges









Sorry images are a bit huge!

[Ray Rivers]

I remember awhile back folks were complaining about how the Foundry paints had changed just a bit and didn't match. Someone posted that basically the same company makes all the hobby paints, though that is certainly an exaggeration. Nevertheless, it's always in the back of my mind and when I start a new project, I try to figure out which paints I will be using and make sure I have enough to finish off the project.

Because of all this, I have a tendancy of buying x2 of any color that is critical to my hobby.

[mollinary]

I remember awhile back folks were complaining about how the Foundry paints had changed just a bit and didn't match. Someone posted that basically the same company makes all the hobby paints, though that is certainly an exaggeration. Nevertheless, it's always in the back of my mind and when I start a new project, I try to figure out which paints I will be using and make sure I have enough to finish off the project.

Because of all this, I have a tendancy of buying x2 of any color that is critical to my hobby.

Given the relative cost of figures and paint this seems a sensible way to go, although this side of the pond I have a tendency to go for colour!

[fred.]

I have an enormous number of different paint colours (well shades really). But relatively few get used regularly. 

Although looking across at my desk - and the all the pots out, rather than on the storage racks, I'm not sure how true that statement is...

I don't think I have ever bought two of a paint (well not deliberately) most of my projects are fairly organic, and tend to evolve. And given the small size of 10mm stuff, I don't get through that much paint either. 

I suppose it's hardly surprising paint shades change between pots produced years apart. But it's still annoying!

[Ray Rivers]

...although this side of the pond I have a tendency to go for colour!

Well, Fred, I must have over a hundred paint pots from at least 5 different companies. But as you say, most of them I don't ever use. However, I do have core group of paints which I use often because I like the look. So... blues, reds, browns, some metallics and my basing colors.

For the colours ( ) I use a lot, I'm always sure to have at least one pot in reserve. And if I switch to another project, I make sure that the base colors all have plenty of paint. I think this is a habit I acquired painting 15 and 25mm.

But, like you say, with 10mm it really isn't necessary to go overboard with paints because they don't need that much. Which is nice.

[fred.]

Been busy with Armoured Clash figures - so most of the updates have been over on LAF - but got some Pendraken figures added to the mix this weekend.

One of the (only) downsides to Armoured Clash as a game is that the troop sprues are all mixed with models for around 6 units on each sprue - this means if you want a lot of one type, you either need deep pockets, or proxies!

Fortunately I already had some Pendraken Janissaries painted up - so a quick bit of rebasing later and I have another reinforced strength unit of Janissaries to take the table. Given AC is based on pseudo late 19th C most of the factions core infantry can be reinforced with some judicial usage of historical 10mm figures.










With an AC Janissary stand in the front rank - showing that they are pretty similar sized troops

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Very cool Forbes

[fred.]

Anyone got the new Human Collective infantry? Particularly the Regular Infantry and Power Infantry (FWC-COL1 and FWC-COL2)

Interested to know the relative bulk and side of the two codes? Hoping the Power troops are a bit bigger, but not huge.

I'm wanting some proxies to add to my Armoured Clash Enlightened infantry - and given the masks on these guys they are a good option.