‘Nam - PBR and VC on the trail.

 I have completed some more stuff this week that’s been in the “to do” pile for a while . I am trying to get everything non infantry or aircraft cleared off . 

First up the PBR kit and the Apocalypse Now crew from Empress. A very nice item it is too . It was cleanly cast and went together well . 

 

I did the waves and wake with a combination of hot glue and adhesive applied with a cartridge gun then teasing it with a bit of wire . There area at the rear had some bent white pipe I had in the bits box added which then had the hot glue and adhesive applied over it to give an impression of speed. I had made a wedge shim out of XPS to go under the front half of the boat to lift it up as well. 

 

I had made the canopy removable and magnetised it . Then you can also see the chief driving the boat .

 

The figures are a great rendition of the film characters.

The surf board is a good addition with the kit 

Next up is a set of cyclists from Full Metal Miniatures .

I added a couple of RPG’s being carried as well - again these were from FMM

I have one more item of Nm stuff to finish coming up then I will move into something else for a bit.

Nam - adding some new bits

 After a summer of house project work I have finally been able to get the paint desk cleared and get on with some of the pain table lurkers . With an upcoming game at Partizan in October I wanted clear out a few bits . 

First up was a die cast Huey Cobra. It’s had two crew figures added from Full Metal Miniatures and Gringo40s.  The ground crew is by Gringo40s- a great figure . The helicopter-pad is made from A4 MDF and some 10mm XPS with some sandbags picked up from Pendrakem. 

The Cobra has had some highlights added as the paint job was a bit too dark to my eye 

Next up a Marine Corps sniper team , M60 team be a 50 cal crew .

I have also added in a set of NVA Sappers from Gringo40s. 

 

And finally a set of civilians from Empress , plus some pigs picked up from Pendraken . 

A fairly productive couple of days. 

Sudan - Bashi Bazooks and Mounted infantry

Typically of  course when I came to run the recent battle of El Teb and looked at the OOB there were a couple of small scout/skirmish cavalry units in it. While I could have just used some of the existing units that were not planned to be used I decided to actually get on and paint these up.

These bring a nice splash of colour to the table

I was really impressed with the standard of the casting of these (big improvement Perry - big tick from me)  , and faces are really good. The first 6 completed - I think I will take these up to a 24 figure unit.

I picked up some Boer War Wargames Foundry mounted infantry figures at the York show . They mix in well being sculpted by Perry's anyway - almost near identical bar a different water bottle and kind of rifle - I can live with that. I also found an Empress Miniatures figure in patrol jacket which I just fancied painting up.

Both these units were fielded last weekend - while neither actually ran away - I don't think they did much - but at least they are now blooded!

Zulu Wars. British Artillery

It has been a productive weekend , with just varnishing and last touches to bases meaning a number of items are now finished!. I was suitably inspired after doing the Rorkes Drift characters that having found this set I got earlier in the year I decided to complete it. The gun model is a finely detailed piece of equipment - and a total pain to assemble! But once done it painted up nicely. I have gone for a double basing option with the gunners individually based , but  done so they can be put onto a a textured base which has wheel ruts etc for the gun, It gives different options. All figures etc by Empress Miniatures. The blues for the gunners is the ever reliable Andrea Color blue set..

7lb gun & crew

 

9lb gun & crew with base

 

 Or the option without the main base

 So it is back to cowboys and buildings next

Zulu Wars - "What about the soup sir?"

I have finished the other Empress Miniature releases picked up at Salute. Now if you have seen the film you know the quote. This figure is yet another excellent one.  I even checked the film just to see what he was wearing - the striped shirt.

and with the others from the Rorkes Drift defenders set

 

Next up Reverand Smith, Surgeon Reynolds & private Hitch

 

And everything from  this week together

I have also "found" (as in forgotten i had bought last year) a 7lb artillery piece set from Empress too, so have assembled that and the gunners are undercoated. So it is choices time for what to do over the rest of the weekend. Teutonic personalities, Cowboys, Old West buildings, Mahdist horde or Zulu War gunners. Choices indeed! hmmm.. it might just be Cowboys as there may be be a game in the offing..."Hey you in the jail....."...  "Oh the Deadwood stage...."  and I have even found a fantastic Al Swearengen figure - he's on order!"

Zulu Wars.

First lot of recent acquisitions completed. Empress Miniatures new character releases.Assistant Commissary James Langley Dalton & Corporal Schiess. Absolutely superb bit of sculpting by Paul Hicks. Really enjoyed doing these two. More to come over the next week.

Added some troopers - done the "Silver Whistle" way - to test it for future large scale Zulu project.  White undercoat, blocked and acrylic washed - definitely a way of getting them done for an en masse. Cheers Pat.

Also Lt Colonel Pulleine

And a 3 day weekend to come, so some painting time planned

Anything but....

what I had intended to paint this week. You know - the butterfly syndrome - but good for the creative process overall. Having bought some shiny new metal at York I decided to paint some of it up, just for the enjoyment of painting. So I present a mixed bag of chaps with a Hollywood connection..

"The Man with no Name"

The poncho was fun!

 By "Ebob" - right down to the cigar in his mouth - great stuff

"Zulu"

"Empress Miniatures" - the film characters set - I had to have it on in the background while painting. 

'If it's a miracle, Colour Sergeant, it's a short chamber Boxer Henry 4.5 calibre miracle'

Lovely to paint really crisp and clean details - even have the medals on Colour Sergeant Bourne's chest!

"March or Die"

I watched this again after picking up some "Artizan Designs" French Foreign Legion figures from there March or Die range

The desert fort is nearly completed - will be used for Sudan and FFL games - so will have  get these pictured in it!

And the "Elite Miniatures" Legere recently completed are now based by Will - thanks for the photo

 I have a couple of other single figure specials on the go as well at the moment , then its into serious amounts of Sudan stuff - I have checked figure totals and can now cover the battle of El-Teb at a 1-20 ratio - so that's the target for the end of the summer.  Of course there will Napoleonics as well - the Mamaluke band castings have just turned up too.. choices choices....