Not really done one of these before, and although I've blogged previously I think this is as good a place to rack my hobby as any where it has relevance to Pendraken.
I've mentioned elsewhere my renewed interest in the XXX Commander series, especially Blitzkrieg Commander 4. When I saw there was a dedicated Spanish Civil War supplement, I hooked.
So my intial plan is to refight the Jarama scenario for which I purchased the figures last week. They arrived yesterday at which point I realised I'd forgotten to order the bases :o Nevermind, thinks I, 'tis a problem easily solved.
Nearly £50 lighter (well, I couldn't order JUST bases could I?), the Pendraken laser cutters will be kept bsuy for an hour or so providing me the correct bases. Always buy in bulk, my old grandad used to say, and the bulk deals are well worth the investment.
So, there I was yesterday afternoon, on zoom call after zoom call, wondering if anyone would notice if I slid to the floor from my office chair. In my glazed eyeline was the package that had landed on the door mat that morning. My Pendraken order.
News had spread quickly throughout the village and there had been much rejoicing. The bells had peeled at the local church. Evans, the old butcher, tipped me a wink as he handed me my pound of sausages whilst out on my morning constitutional and even Mrs McGonagall down the road congratulated me. But I had tempered my own joy, for I knew there was much work to be done.
Ted, my old golfing partner, had fallen into the familiar trap two years ago. It's one to which we all can relate. Buoyed with excitement and swayed by the promise of untold birdies, he had ordered a new set of golf clubs from Argos. £200 it had cost him. But on getting home, he had put them in a cupdboard and not looked at them since. I was determined not to fall foul of the same fate. No proliferation of the lead mountain for this soldier.
So using ninja like stealth skills aquired in my youth, I blu-tac'd a battlion of Moroccans to a tongue depressor and set to work; all the while maintaining the pretence of interest and engagement with the zoom call. Whilst my eyes were focussed on the screen, my hands worked quietly, unseen and unnoticed. A short time later, this was the result.
(https://i.imgur.com/0Cmguqw.jpg)
Good use of a zoom!
Good stuff.
Nicely done, and an interesting period in which to dabble
QuoteI was determined not to fall foul of the same fate. No proliferation of the lead mountain for this soldier.
What heresy is this? Surely lead soldiers have to be kept in a hidden pile for years (decades even) to mature or the paint wont stick? ;)
Oh and report to HR first thing in the morning :d :d
That's a great start - looking good. Even more impressive you managed to do this while on a work call! As I read I thought you might have got to the stage of bare metal ready to paint, not fully painted.
It is also traditional to take a picture of all the little bags of figures fresh from the package, so we can all squint and try to work out what you have bought and do we need any of them!
:-bd =D> :-bd
Well done that man =D>
I might suggest having some Internet 'issues' that mean you need to turn your camera off to reduce the bandwidth needed :d
Quote:-bd =D> :-bd
Well done that man =D>
I might suggest having some Internet 'issues' that mean you need to turn your camera off to reduce the bandwidth needed :d
Sounds like someone speaking from experience ;D
:o :o :o
Just someone who spent a year supporting online meetings ;)
Quote from: fred. on 22 March 2022, 05:48:25 PMIt is also traditional to take a picture of all the little bags of figures fresh from the package, so we can all squint and try to work out what you have bought and do we need any of them!
I shall do this with my next package, which will hopefully arrive somtime next week. :D
I'm still awaiting the arrival of my mdf bases, so slowed a bit on the painting front. However, these are the 1939 Germans and Polish troops that I bought for IABSM and now am converting to Blitzkrieg Commander. I've changed my painting approach as mentioned elsewhere, and I think it improves the look from a few feet away, being less 'dirty' looking. I'm happy anyhow so that's all that matters.
(https://i.imgur.com/5uSr09n.jpg)
This is the second Tabor for my Jarama project. I've actually finished it since I took this picture and I'm onto the third one now. But again I need the bases to finish them off properly. At the front was a test piece for my early war Germans. The Army Painter Army Green actually makes a great field grey in 10mm!
(https://i.imgur.com/F5QJ4QQ.jpg)
So my journey into 10mm is going at quite a pace. So far it looks like I have the following projects either underway or planned:
1. SCW - Jarama
2. !939 Germans v Polish, likely to merge into Barbarossa.
3. AWI - long term project to do Germantown via a few smaller battles along the way.
4. FPW using Bloody Big Battles - I bought some samples of these a while ago and in my recent tidy up came across the rules again. Froschwiller will be first.
5. Vietnam - Oh dear, this is getting rather long and I've still not finished. So this is a skirmish project and the figures are purchased. Initially for Charlie Don't Surf, but I'll be searching for other company level rules.
6. Dont shoot me....but 30 Years War having read Europe's Tragedy by Peter Wilson last year.
7. I'm also very tempted to do some early war desert stuff...
8. And maybe get a modern British army for Cold War Commander to play against my mate Baz's Soviets.
That's just 10mm. In 6mm (God's Own Scale! ;) :D ;D ) I have
1. Blenhiem.
2. Pony Wars.
3. 6mm Cold War Commander.
Phew. Can you believe I set out to donwsize a couple of months ago? In fairness, FPW, 30YW and Blenhiem are probably low on the priority list. Other than early desert and the 10mm Cold War British, I have most of the figures already.
Maybe ambitious, but one can dream!
Had a chat with the Rev Parsons this morning whilst doing some weeding of the herbaceous borders at the cricket club. Apparently there's some bother at the old Manor House. He saw two police cars and Mrs Bracewell heard some suspicious noises and lights coming from up there in the early hours when she was letting her cat in.
The Reverend looked most upset as he recounted the tale; so I told him I'd received an email from Leon that my latest order was out for delivery. He seemed very pleased for me and promised to mention it in his sermon the next morning.
It was just then that old PC Carol came around the corner, looking as if he had seen a ghost.
"Ah, PC Carol. I do hope you're well on this lovely spring morning!" chirped Rev Parson.
PC Carol stopped and took a handkerchief to wipe his brow.
"Not at all, Reverend. There's been a murder!" was his reply!
Looking good.
Will Inspector Morose be summoned?
QuoteLooking good.
Will Inspector Morose be summoned?
Do you kno what? I think he might.
**UPDATE**
Cam home from work otday to find this on my doorstep. Now, when I last posted, it was suggested that forum etiquette states that one allows forum members to browse over the photographs to try to decipher just what I have bought! So here you go.
A slow reveal...
(https://i.imgur.com/ecqqavf.jpg)
Some rather curious crumpled paper...
(https://i.imgur.com/lROQ3Dj.jpg)#
Mmmmm...bubble wrap!
(https://i.imgur.com/UkwLuei.jpg)
At last, a glimpse!
(https://i.imgur.com/LTWDwvh.jpg)
Ta Da!
(https://i.imgur.com/2W6NZdO.jpg)
Very pleased to recieve this bundle of joy. It means that the Spanish Civil War project will move to front and centre of the painting desk.
More soon...
Nicely done Sean!
A good amount of MDF in that box - which often seems to be the case with a lot of my orders too.
I'm quite tempted by that fencing, was eyeing it up for my next order. Looking forward to seeing this progress!
:-bd
There looks to be some AWI in there as well and what are you going to do with the French Partizans :-\
8)
Do Pendraken do glasses now? :-B ;)
My house is littered with cheap reading glasses from The Works. I buy a couple of pairs everytime i go in. I use them mostly for painting but as my general readers too.
The French Partizans will be mixed in with my Anarcho-Syndicalist milita for the SCW!
(https://i.imgur.com/IUVhXjA.jpeg)
The first test for my AWI collection. I'm using the black undercoat and block bright colours method.
I know I'm late to the party on this one, but I'm stunned at the quality of these figures.
Having watched the Little Wars TV live play of Hobkirk Hill on their Patreon channel, I'm going to build the forces for that battle on route to Germantown.
Up next... Spanish Civil War.
How I've gone from zero to four 10mm projects in a couple of weeks, I've no idea.
(https://i.imgur.com/Zt8FU83.jpeg)
Here are the completed Tabors for the Jarama scenario. Finished last week. I've also finished the first company of Francoist, but I'll finish a few more before posting pictures.
Tabors and AWI both looking good!
:-bd =D> :-bd
Quote...
Having watched the Little Wars TV live play of Hobkirk Hill on their Patreon channel, I'm going to build the forces for that battle on route to Germantown.
Sounds like a good plan :)
QuoteUp next... Spanish Civil War.
How I've gone from zero to four 10mm projects in a couple of weeks, I've no idea.
Easy done...
Looking good!
QuoteUp next... Spanish Civil War.
How I've gone from zero to four 10mm projects in a couple of weeks, I've no idea.
I'm liking the SCW figures
As to getting so many projects I think it's because the figures are small, they can sneak up on you easily...
Those are brilliant! (*)(*)(*)(*)(*)
Good stuff
Really good ! :-bd
Aaaarrrggghhh! I've hit painters block!
Got lots prepped ready to paint. I'm planning a couple of new projects. But I can't find the enthusiasm to pick my brushes up!
This is something that comes and goes from time to time and I always come out of it soon enough. I tend to explore other areas of the hobby, whether that be making terrain, ready some rules or even just having a clear up of my work area.
But it's so damned frustrating! :(
My sympathies, Sir.
Not to rub it in, but I'm having a few days off and am flying! I'm having a few days off and have managed to complete 1 infantry battalion, 2 Cuirassier regiments and 2 12pdr batteries for my 1813 Austrians. Got a battalion of Hungarian grenadiers on my table at the moment and then a regiment of light dragoons to
"finish" the project. In other words, since Good Friday, I've painted more than I did in all of February.
In my low periods I usually plan new forces, and browse the Pendraken catalogue for ranges I haven't dabbled in yet. Thus low painting periods tend to be expensive.
As a matter of interest what are your projects?
Although I basically done nothing but Napoleonics since January 2021, I find a change usually peps me up. I, for example, really need to paint something with an engine!
I hope your dry-brush spell ends soon. :)
It happens. As fsn said a change sometimes helps. I've taken to keeping a lucky dip box of individual units presorted into little bags so if I'm feeling unmotivated with the current project or in a bit of a lull I can grab something from that for a change of pace. Did that recently and ended up doing a few bases of ancient Greeks, then again with an ECW unit bag, then got on a roll and was able to paint up a good few units from that project.
Prior to being well organised enough to have them prepared I would have just written out a bunch of projects on a piece of paper with numbers beside them (particularly ones I'd not touched in a while or been avoiding) then rolled a dice and painted something from whatever came up, even if it was just a couple of figures or a small unit, just set myself the challenge of doing that then either continuing on with that project or rolling again for something different.
Then yes if all else fails, reading, research, planning are all good too!
OK .. maybe I am going to rub it in ... but I offer this as inspiration. Not as good as your work (which is why everything I do is shown at table distance), but I'm quite taken with the 8 horse limbers for the 12pdrs.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52018382274_ce0249a6f8_c.jpg)
2 12pdr batteries, 2 regiments of Cuirassiers and a bttn of German Infantry (on my "drying tray".)
The two bases in the front are my tests for Danish infantry.
FSN :-bd =D> :-bd
Sean - I try and paint something every day, even if it is just one piece of clothing/equipment. Often I end up doing a little bit more, then a little bit more...
I hope you dry spell ends soon
@paulr - Thank you. I've got that "end of project" impetus. One more (admittedly big) cavalty regiment and I can tick off the Austrians. :)
@Sean - I agree with Paulr about doing a little bit. Those Danish I painted were a test paint because a) I wanted to see how the Danes would look and b) I was so bored with white Austrian uniforms
Thanks all. Seeing those pictures is inspiring - especially the limber which I always seem to avoid doing!
As to projects, I have two active on the go. SCW and AWI. Awaiting their turn are:
1. 10mm Vietnam
2. 10mm early WW2, Polish campaign, then Barabarossa.
3. Very early stages of planning is FPW using Bloody Big Battles. I'm working out an order for phase one currently. Might even use the Neil Thomas rules to get playing a bit sooner.
4. I have a long delayed 6mm FWW using Great War Spearhead.
5. Mexican Revolution in 15mm using Peter Pig figures and rules.
So plenty to go at! Trying not to force the issue and relying on the fact my mojo will return sooner rather than later.
Regrettably neither the Rebellion in the Colonies, nor the unfortunate Iberian conflict hold much of an attraction for me. However I am fighting NOT to get involved in the Viet Nam war. I'd go for Australians, mainly for my favourite tank - the Centurion. :D
(http://aeromodz.com/image/cache/data/Iroquois/aaa-680x680.jpg)
What holds me back is the terrain. Very difficult to do is jungle, though I had my eye on the Samurai range for proxy buildings.
For the Polish campaign are you going to do German vehicles in gey and brown with the solid white (or yellow?) crosses?
(https://www.hobbysta.eu/209882-large_default/world-at-war-pzkpfwii-ausfb.jpg)
I was very tempted, but I had decided upon 1940 France, so chickened out and went all over grey. :(
QuoteFor the Polish campaign are you going to do German vehicles in gey and brown with the solid white (or yellow?) crosses?
I was very tempted, but I had decided upon 1940 France, so chickened out and went all over grey. :(
I did not think the tanks in the Polish campaign were done in stripes but were upper brown and lower grey. A bits much to do white crosses for one campaign unless you are going to do it for many years! My take on it: https://captainnemogamingworldwartwo.blogspot.com/2021/11/poland.html
Niot my most rivetting of posts, but evidence I have listened to the wise words and spent 10 minutes tonight just adding the red to these British for the AWI project. I think I may treat myself to some new brushes. Have my problem is I have cheap old brushes that just don't hold a point anymore.
(https://i.imgur.com/eAyBi9y.jpg)
QuoteRegrettably neither the Rebellion in the Colonies, nor the unfortunate Iberian conflict hold much of an attraction for me. However I am fighting NOT to get involved in the Viet Nam war. I'd go for Australians, mainly for my favourite tank - the Centurion. :D
(http://aeromodz.com/image/cache/data/Iroquois/aaa-680x680.jpg)
What holds me back is the terrain. Very difficult to do is jungle, though I had my eye on the Samurai range for proxy buildings.
For the Polish campaign are you going to do German vehicles in gey and brown with the solid white (or yellow?) crosses?
(https://www.hobbysta.eu/209882-large_default/world-at-war-pzkpfwii-ausfb.jpg)
I was very tempted, but I had decided upon 1940 France, so chickened out and went all over grey. :(
It's a good job we all have different tastes, or else it would be a boring hobby!
For Vietnam, I'm very tempted with Aussies after seeing Danger Close which for me is the best war film for many years.
As to the tanks, I'll likely go with boring panzer grey as I'm intending on using the same figures for a Barborossa campaign - though maybe a few tanks in the scheme in the picture would be nice.
And looking most spiffy they are indeed
QuoteNiot my most rivetting of posts, but evidence I have listened to the wise words and spent 10 minutes tonight just adding the red to these British for the AWI project. I think I may treat myself to some new brushes. Have my problem is I have cheap old brushes that just don't hold a point anymore.
Good to see some progress Sean =D>
Definitely retire those old brushes to painting large areas on vehicles or maybe even dry brushing
Last thing you want is to be struggling with a brush that won't hold a point
Did someone say Aussie centurions .
(https://i.imgur.com/x83LUuE.png)
:)
Those Koalas look very good.
Ah! :x Is there anything more beautiful than a Centurion?
Yes ... more than one Centurion. :D
Quote from: Sean Clark on 21 April 2022, 09:29:28 PMNiot my most rivetting of posts, but evidence I have listened to the wise words and spent 10 minutes tonight just adding the red to these British for the AWI project. I think I may treat myself to some new brushes. Have my problem is I have cheap old brushes that just don't hold a point anymore.
(https://i.imgur.com/eAyBi9y.jpg)
Firstly, I'm very impressed that your keyboard is the same colour as your painting. Good to see you back in action.
Bad brushes are very demotivating. However, I don't like breaking in new ones. :(
What brushes do you favour? I invested in a few W&N Kolinsky Sable brushes about four years back and they're still holding up strong when most of the cheaper brushes rarely lasted a year before being relegated to dry brushing, priming, varnishing, metallics, etc.
Keep youse busy for a while
(https://i.imgur.com/nJilhlX.jpg)
Cracked on today and finished the 64th foot for my fledgling AWI project. I'm enjoying not using washes. It feels like I'm getting brighter colours on the finished figures.
Congrats!
I'm with you on the wash for this period.
They look good - and very rapid work too :)
:-bd =D> :-bd
So the slump is over. I painted these Francoist troops for my Jarama project last night. Basing to finish. Just the HQ/Command units to do and then it's on to the Republicans with the British battlion of the International Brigade and the Dimitriov Battalion.
(https://i.imgur.com/jI7oam2.jpg)
QuoteOK .. maybe I am going to rub it in ... but I offer this as inspiration. Not as good as your work (which is why everything I do is shown at table distance), but I'm quite taken with the 8 horse limbers for the 12pdrs.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52018382274_ce0249a6f8_c.jpg)
2 12pdr batteries, 2 regiments of Cuirassiers and a bttn of German Infantry (on my "drying tray".)
The two bases in the front are my tests for Danish infantry.
Those are very large regiments!
They are :) . Cavalry come in at 40-60, and infantry start at 60 up to 90 for Austrians.
I realise my limitations: I aspire only to command a division.
Also, I'm a big fan of artillery looking like they're a bit of a thing: I plan to have cassions for each gun so they take more of an effort to plan where they should go.