All,
Here we go, this is what you came for! I don't know anyone that doesn't love a big bunch of Red Devils! If that's what you're looking for, you've come to the right place. I need to get more into Pegasus Bridge and other operations by British 6th Airborne on/after D-Day, but let's be honest, these guys are promised to one, big thing, and that's 'A Bridge Too Far.' Battles at The Bridge, in Der Hexenkessel, Stens and Brens stuttering, PIATs busting open German tanks and assault guns, Vickers chattering, one could game nothing but that for the rest of their life and be happy. Not me, of course, I'm too much of a wargaming butterfly, but a smarter 'one.' ;)
So, these guys are not (mostly) painted with Contrast paints, because I didn't paint them! Well, at least mostly I didn't paint them. I bought these guys in two different lots, about half from a guy on Ebay and the other half (used) from Noble Knight Games. I re-did the basing to make them (mostly) match, I re-did all the flesh to make it match (and look the way I like it), and I re-did the berets to make them a bit brighter (the way I like them). I also pulled all the troops off the crew-served weapons bases and re-did the basing to fit into how I've been doing all my other weapons. But other than that, I didn't paint these guys ;) You will get a chance to see my version of British Airborne using Contrast paints when you see the casualty figures I did (but not pictured here, unfortunately).
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2BkK0KlwCgVXdDn7Tz2xl9YWbptUPm6CszlJnzFreC9v-APnzbxcU5oubnQKZ5FYb8jBBe5WocAfyJJfAG7DK5-2NL8HuVsTSwHssyDg_6IRIMm3uemEY-nwsq8RThrJ74oPqHsA_bK8y1rrqfCx06WLegrjzh0FT8YOn3RQvtD0BRtUUn6rYIJOGHoQ/s4032/IMG_1252.jpeg)
A man of some authority.
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho63fY22G5xKOUdroUnUc8MkFTVtSBtfVe30OWTNzlWj_PrYeWnw8bZkLhgmJP3mP-mkIMRVa4KQxzsk5IPodat_BCx0fNFCaYL7m-rqVpdlhElXypkE5sgAR6d8y1YkEIJjr8pupLK-cnpeN2OOD20lnLNvRNfxJLmJulgBmyV9XqZzqRIBuy7Byw7Co/s4032/IMG_1250.jpeg)
I love this one, leader-type dashing forward, directing troops under fire despite being wounded in the head. I'm not generally a fan of figures with visible wounds, but in this force, absolutely.
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvqimm3_W2d-9NvFI7IqXnzdsxk5L9BAelaiE0Gebw6J2c9LsmlnNldckr8adPMgh0Ki5coWhs3axRZPYZ8GGhwOTLVooim1KC529OWgO3uqy6-HGrkv2wQ3azplr8zNPEpLYbJykIzFNDCrfSMT6OOb3_PyR8kte6GuLEPLzQ4ZAIlyd0QaBoA3l4ofU/s4032/IMG_1276.jpeg)
Look at that pair of 'staches!
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrELVuAbjgbR-O6CCpqPw2mBVoBzUogc6kLE-TSy-DmgZ-fJkpB87WB2SU4QUm0SN4tV-KNOl6oeaPMjuqBjkkvjyWkxIGKJjtn7poD6EzUMOaepb0jKyoKrbxR7IrKY0xvhGExtKH-KsVLQcN5ZGmCLBPk_LPpbL-rKQ0cN3UQrcwawcRIzcrCxKZxN8/s4032/IMG_1262.jpeg)
Up and at'em in!
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdULwNids5ZgPP80n253a1htuu22hiz5kzsOV69rJCDbiJacny8W22vw8Q_Og7PLw_YN8kELat8l_sph6kkkCZt-dxiASPnffF2heH6_U1PR3YEOHODujLz5UuaclxKvldiqTBvHNY2M0kwQf4J0oaFAJxMMvUJ8c9QZI3dzReTDqBW5Wr2xW_qoiAPYo/s4032/IMG_1267.jpeg)
Hard pressed, under fire at the bridge.
To see a bunch more photos, please check the blog at:
https://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2025/06/28mm-wwii-british-airborne-from-warlord.html
So, super cool, right? These guys look great, so glad to have them, and especially since I didn't have to build or paint them ;)
V/R,
Jack
British Paras are always good - even more so if you don't need to paint the camo smocks yourself!
As you reference the artistic choice on the beret colour, I'll give you a pass, but I do prefer a more maroon shade myself.
As to the cups, early war they were tin cups covered in white enamel, and I like to think with a blue rim. But later they were changed to a red-brown composite material - I think both for manufacturing and camouflage benefits. It's been a while since I looked this up - but the red-brown colour is certainly correct.
What I am less sure is correct is the warlord sculpts with every man having his cup hanging off his pack...
Very cool
:-bd =D> :-bd
Excellent chaps there Jack and everyone has to hanker after some Operation Market-Garden action!
Or to read several copies of 'Victor' and/or 'Battle' comics...
Jack, for reference:https://shop.2000ad.com/catalogue/RCS2451D
Thanks everyone!
Fred - Yes, someone else painting them makes it much more fun ;). Thanks for the info on the mugs. And not everyone has the mug on his pack, but there are a fair few.
Steve - Indeed! I'm thinking about kicking all this off with some skirmishing in Arnhem.
Lemmey - Wow, those are pretty nifty!
V/R,
Jack
Very nice looking figures Jack, whoever painted the Dennison smocks did a very good job with them.
Being Paras they can of course fire their Stens one handed :)
Look forward to seeing these boys on the table. :-bd
Thanks, Pierre!
"Being Paras they can of course fire their Stens one handed"
Absolutely! Can't wait to get them on the table.
V/R,
Jack