Marked for Death?

Hello people,

As shocking as it might be I've actually completed a hobby project that doesn't involve X-Wing!

Behold 24 custom made pin markers for my Brit Commandos and yes I do indeed expect to get shot that much ;) As I'm sure you've noticed they're little piles of British helmets which were spare on the sprue as the vast majority of my "geezers" are instead wearing thier fabled green berets. 

The whole idea just fitted well. Six Painting Points for the lot and they should see some action tomorrow night against Damien's rank and file tommies. A "training exercise" apparently though I've never had a problem with that sort of thing. I'm sure I can be Brandenburgers if push comes to shove ;)

I've also picked up a ticket for Salute on Saturday. I wasn't going to go as there's nothing you can't order online these days and between entry, travel and refreshments it's far from a cheap day out these days. 

However, Shaun is going anyway to see several men about figures and ill catch up with a load of old gaming and GW cronies that I wouldn't see otherwise. Chuck in the chance to play a couple of games of To the Strongest with the author and I was persuaded.

Many moons ago shows were a standard monthly event but far rarer these days. Even buying my ticket has gone virtual with a VR bar-code sent direct to my phone.

I do NEED some replacement Order Dice and will definitely browse KR while I noticed the other day that Crooked Dice will be releasing some cleverly named classic cylons. Otherwise we'll see what happens though I fancy a decent squizz at the painting competition and continue to live in hope of winning the prize draw.

Now that I'm going boots on the ground I'm determined to get the best from the day. Possibly a lesson in there somewhere :p

Meanwhile some of the Pulp City has found an undercoat and the smoke markers need some consideration.

Let's see what Saturday brings!

Bonus Points

Hello people,

As a result of twisting my ankle playing football yesterday I've been forced to have today off sick. It's been horrible.........obviously!!

The bonus, other than two posts in one day, has been an unexpected glut of brush-time, ankle appropriately raised. As such I've finished off painting A, B and D Sections for my Commandos as well as the vaguely converted flamethrower.

I've obviously got a few spares knocking about but that's pretty much about 1200 pts now so plenty for a while. Besides I'm not sure I want to paint another Commando backpack for a little while.

I also specifically use the phrase painted as I still need to put the the shoulder patch transfers onto all of these and the remaining weapons teams, about 40 figures in all. A fun filled night at some point :) Better photos as well!

Meanwhile that's 30 figures for a whopping 60 Painting Points. I still need to sort out the pin markers as well as smoke templates so not quite a completed project just yet but still a big lump of painting off workstation.

Anyway, back to work tomorrow and then the club :)

Maintaining Standards

Hello people,

A potentially oblique reference to a musing that came to me in a similarly oblique manner.

Over the weekend I've had some brush-time with the last 30 rank and file Commandos, representing every last figure that currently have built for the project. In short I've been block painting like the pedant that so many of us are to have them all basecoated and washed.

Having recently read an article, Carmen's Painty Fun Time, about the various standards of painting that we apply to such projects it occurred that if I based them all at this stage they'd look good enough to be deployed as a fully painted army while I finished off the highlight work at my relative leisure.

This also set me to thinking that the whole subject around standard of painted figures / armies is a highly subjective one.

So tracking my own thought processes;

- When starting a new project I won't wait until everything is painted before putting it on the table. I will make sure that it's built to the point of WYSIWYG but otherwise I'm all good with that. An undercoat will make me feel more comfortable though.

- On the gamer / painter balance I'd say I'm probably bang in the middle. Playing with a force that I'm currently painting motivates me to get stuck in with the brush.

- My minimum painting standard for all my figures involves based coat, wash and a couple of layers of highlight.

- I still paint figures as individuals though I'll take a bit more time and effort with a skirmish force than a horde. It does seem that most skirmish and command figures require and allow more painting of them. I still paint by batch when I need to upto a dozen or so at a time.

I suppose, as with so many aspects of the hobby, all of this is subjective to the individual. Back when I worked for GW  we'd encourage a three colour minimum to count as painted. For myself it's whatever the figure requires. I do find that it tend to make more conscious effort with historical figures for a flatter more realistic finish. I suppose that's probably a reaction to my Sci-Fi / Fantasy upbringing.

Anyway another 30 Commandos to a "tabletop standard"....just not quite MY tabletop standard, at least not just yet :)

Illuminations - prt 2

Hello people,

I don't really do un-boxing, as popular as they are amongst so many of my fellow bloggers, but this once is a little different, vaguely review-ish, and hopefully of some actual purpose / value ;)

So my portable / stowable lightbox kit turned up at the end of last week and I've finally had the chance to have a play. Not a lot of instructions but then it is all rather self explanatory. The stowed pack is only a little bigger than an average laptop bag and no thicker, it's definitely as advertised in that regard. The only fly in the ointment is that you you need two 2-pin converter plugs, one for each lamp, which I hadn't realised.

Setup is quick and easy with velcro holding everythign in place securely including the backing cloth. I did find the camera stann too tall for figures, no great surprise, so went with my trusty bendy mini version that allows me to get the camera down to figure level. With only one lamp I also used my painting daylamp, which seemed sensible.

Overall, before even taking a single shot I'm pretty pleased. This has been far less effort than my previous rather jury-rigged setups and is giving me far more confidence of a much better set of photos.  

First test-shot comparison was the recently completed M3 Halftrack, both taken with the proper camera, and it feels like I can already see the rather huge difference. So much more depth of colour and definition.

However moving on to the PIAT and Sniper teams here are the before and after shots though you should bear in mind that thsi is also phone camera vs camera and I'm sure I can do better with the lightbox focus with a bit of practice.

Yeah, not so great with the focus but once I get that sorted everything will be golden. Think I finally have this one sorted, after several efforts. All good :)

Meanwhile A and B sections are base-coated and washed. As is so often the case I've left all the rankers to last on this project but it's gettign there. After this one I will not be looking to paint too many more Commando backpacks for a while :)

Illuminations - prt 1

Hello people,

Bit of a quick one and somewhat interlinked so stay with me. I've finished off, bar the transfer shoulder patches, the last of my Commando support teams, specifically the Sniper, PIAT and 2" Light Mortar teams, for another 10 Painting Points.

The photos are taken by and uploaded from my phone i.e. quick, lazy and acceptable. I've tried to sort out a proper set-up a few times all of which have been jury rigged and fairly high maintenance. That's until I came across this on Amazon

The lightbox is a 16" cube which should be plenty for TOYs. I've already got an adjustable camera stand but will definitely give this one a go. Apparently the lights can get a bit hot but everything folds away into a carry case which seems like a big selling point for me.Once it rocks up and I manage to sort it out I'll take a few test shots of the same figures as a compare and contrast.

Anyway, the boys. As always it's a grim run of rank and file left to do!

Wagon ROLL!!

Afternoon all,

As threatened the Bank Holiday has allowed some bonus brush-time whcih I've put to decent use finishing off an M3 Halftrack that I got for my birthday some weeks ago. Built and painted to go with my Commandos I've head-swapped the driver and applied the relevant stowage.

Another enjoyable paint and build it's certainly a sturdy and well thought out kit with plenty of options. Almost a bit of a shame to spoil my Brit only list but it comes in cheaper than a pair of Bren Carriers with capacity for an extra two chaps, which allows for D Section (Assault) to pick up another 2 troopers. Bit of a no brainer really.

Anyway, another 4 Painting Points and I really need to get down to the Infantry squads!

Wherever I May Roam!!

Heard that one on the radio yesterday and it's still rattling around :)

Brace yourself people, it's a post with newly painted figures!! Yes, I know it's been a while but I finally got a full afternoon in with the brush and finished off the armoured support for my Commandos.

I've enjoyed these and making the effort to do a bit of conversion work and add plenty of detail. I've chucked on a reasonable amount of "liberated" stowage and made the investment in a number of Warlord's decal sheets to mark them up as belonging to the 10th Black Bull Division. It's also been nice to work through the stages of paint, decal, shade, highlight and weather. It's been a while since I've put in this sort of effort, which WWII lends itself to so well.

So an AEC Armoured Car, two Bren Carriers and the Wasp. Working out the Painting Points I reckon an average of four a piece is fair for a total of 16.

While I was playing with the decals I put the shoulder patches on Ponsonby-Smyth and Spatchcock and re-shot them and Polyp as I've finally found the camera charger.

Kind of on a roll.....

 

 

Jolly Hockey Sticks!!

Hello people,

With a day off I've actually managed to finish off painting a few bits. 

In descending order I present 2nd Lt Ponsonby-Smyth, Petty Officer Polyp and Cpl Spatchcock.

Ponsonby-Smyth comes across as a typical member of the uniformed aristocracy yet behind the chortle is something a touch darker. De-bagged after a "misunderstanding" at Burghley horse trials he has found a home in 45 Commando and set about proving himself just as tough as any enlisted man with a zeal a little beyond the necessary......even for a ginger!

Polyp has spent a lifetime in the Royal Navy with a dozen stories to tell to anyone he can collar. A brief spell spent with the Japanese after the fall of Singapore has accentuated his eccentricities to the point where shore duties were the best options for all involved. Constantly accompanied by his bulldog, Archibold, and an overpowering aura of rum soaked tobacco he is a definate "character".

Cpl Spatchcock was once the oldest butchers boy in Millwall as well as one of the youngest terrors on the football terrace. The war came as a blessing for such a young man who was, by twist of admin, trained as a field medic. His medic kit consists of little past his Sykes-Fairburn knife and an "enthusiastic" wound-care manner. Reported casualty rates in his platoon are startling low, many preferring to face the Germans than Spatchcock's tender ministrations.

Plenty to go but 6PPs in the bank and the scheme zeroed in. Meanwhile the "Wheels" are now prepped in British Racing Green awaiting detail and dirt.

Huzzah!

Blimey!!

Evening people,

Just a quick Sunday post to show that I've actually managed a bit of brush-time this week, today in fact, and also to show off a recent purchase that's provided far more geek-gasm than intended.

Having slowly picked up a number of Bolt Action accessories and necessities I'd been looking at a dice bag alternative. Shopping for a Father's Day card yesterday we strolled into Clintons and, also managing to achieve my primary objective, I also came away with this tin for my order dice :) £3.99 or BOGOHP I was rather pleased with myself and got the coffee version as a bonus for Dad!

I had been looking around and found a couple of offerings on the Imperial War Museum web-shop searching for "tin" but Clintons ended up right time, right place.

IWM do also have a range of rather geek-tastic T-Shirts including "Blimey" and Winston with a Tommy Gun!


Meanwhile I present the view from the painting station as PO Polyp, Lt Ponsonby-Smyth and Cpl Spatchcock near completion while the Sniper, PIAT, Light and Medium Mortar teams await highlights. There's a scary possibility that the coming week may actually bring a few Painting Points!!

Bligh-Mey!! :)

Plastic Fantastic

Hello people.

Tuesday night down at Enfield Gamers Rich kicked off the Bolt Action escalation league and I rocked up with my barely built Commandos. 

One lad was missing his beret but other than that it was a good as a paintless patrol could be. Once I'd got used to the paired arm system and moved to the usual assembly line, construction was much smoother. A little bit of attention to detail allowed for plenty of variation across the squads.

OOB for the night;

2nd Lt Gerry Mander

FO Petty Officer Polyp (RN)

2 Section - 9 geezers (Vickers K / 3 smg)

3 Section - 9 geezers (Vckers K / 3 smg)

Sniper 

Light Mortar

First game of the night was against Charlie's Heer Grenadiers as we attempted to capture each other's objective. I decided to try Flanking one squad only to pay no attention to Charlie's objective.

We then engaged in a mutual series of failed orders and tactical nievity while setting up our firing lines and taking pot shots at each other.

I was gifted the early initiative curtesy of some devasting artillery fire brought in by Polyp hammering the Heer left flank, upon which I was flanking. This however didn't help me take the objective on the Heer right defended by an MMG and some Grenadiers bristling with Assault Rifles.

Quickly settling in for the draw I learnt a lot of what doesn't work and the value of co-ordinated fire. Surely I've been at this long enough to catch on. Eventually edging the game on attrition (killing units), 1 to nil, the real winner was the system itself as it earnt the relevant respect from both of us about its hidden depths :)

Second game of the night was against Shado's Russian horde capturing four equidistant supply caches. 

Determined to cut out my tactical errors I just went with getting the rules wrong on a number of occasion in climbing a different learning curve.

Once again Polyp did his stuff to ruin the Russian left flank allowing to establish a fire-base on the left flank objective while I attempted another Flanking move on the right. 

Not needing to risk an assault managed to keep the attrition points racking up to force the Ruskis onto my guns. His Flanking SMG squad were sacrificed to the fire-base (veterans in hard cover) while his left flank stalled. 

Flanking in to contest one of the main objectives on the final turn I took the game 3 VPs to 1 thanks to some solid tactics and some decent dice.

So two wins for the night, one decidedly streaky, primarily thanks to PO Polyp and the fisheads somewhere offshore.

For two weeks time we up the ante by 200 points which see the mortar upgraded to 3", a PIAT for the sniper, and a further squad of geezers kitted for assault. Fairly sure ill up the rifles on the fire squads as they didn't feature too heavily and I feel confident in the Tough Fighters.

That's the plan.....well see if it survives contact! :)

The Simple Life

Afternoon all,

Once again I am soon to love abode and as such am soon to pack up the toys, paints and brushes for a week or so.

Before all of that I've been spending the day putting together my recently acquired Warlord Commandos for Bolt Action. Proper multi-part these chaps so taking a decent bit of work but it's a real pleasure, they're lovely figures and I want to get the most of them.

To accompany Bridge at Remgagen is on and I even managed to stumble across the original Starl Trek Khan episode earlier.

Good stuff :)