Gone Plain Bonkers .. WWII Scale Creep

I promised myself never to do this but put a simple bit of temptation my way and after twenty years of resisting the fatal lure I go bonkers and get a 15mm WWII army. Three in fact, US, German and Russian (the Brits had all gone otherwise it would have been four)! All from a local hobby store(?) called Boyes (rather a department store with local managers discretion to add esoteric collections here and there) selling off a large part of their 'toy line' as 'dead lines' (boo hoo). I guess it must have been a bit like the Hobbycraft experimentation with FoW and GW stuff (now dead). Well at a third of the RRP price or less the PSC 15mm (£5 a box) was too good a 'steal' and I even succumbed to their half price (£10) Perry's WWII 28mm Plastics lure, again put a hole in my wallet (blown the toy budget for the first six months of the year). That means I have the insane "biggies" of 28mm too (just two packs, one DAK and one 8th Army, for a skirmish in the desert).

Once started you cannot stop (see below for some pocket money Zvezda Russian tanks that appeared in my shopping trolley!):

Why?

I have a perfectly good unpainted hoard [and then some] in 20mm (1/72 or 1/76 if you like), in fact I also have micro scale 1/300 (or 1/285 if again you like) plus a 1/200 (Skytrex Action Force) vehicles and infantry and 10mm Pendrakon infantry.

Madness .. how can I defend the indefensible? I claim "hobby insanity"!

The Defence's case rests on "being sociable" as I have wargamer friends who collect in the respectable 15mm range and model in the 28mm for skirmish (Chain of Command) games. 20m WWII gaming seems to be a rather niche area, accessible to all but people seem to move on from it (though not grow-up). Well there's another two (or should that be five) 30 Day Challenges ahead of me for this year ;)

PS Fear not Paul I will get round to finishing off the Fairey Battle in time for the hundredth anniversary ;)

October Project: Day 30 "Paint Review"

Project review and wrap-up. First of all these are the paints I used in Project (see below, as much for my memory as for posterity):

Anita's Acrylics:

• Metallic Black (11211)
• Earth Brown (11014)
• Coffee (11044)
• Lemon Yellow (11055)
• White (11001)

Vallejo Acrylics:

• German Field Grey (Model Color: 70830)
• Green Grey (Flames of War: 886)
• Gun Metal  Grey (Model Color: 70863)
• Flat Flesh (Model Color: 70955)
• German Camo Pale Brown (Model Color: 70825)
• German Cam Beige WWII (Model Color: 70821)
• Charred Brown (Game Color: 72045)
• Beasty Brown (Game Color: 72043)
• Dark Fleshtone (Game Color: 72044)
• Stonewall Grey (Game Color: 72049)

Airfix Acrylics:

• Primer Grey (1)
• Black (33)

Tamiya Acrylics:

• Flat Yellow (XF-3)
• Dark Green (XF-61)

Games Workshop Citadel Foundation Acrylics:

• Tallarn Flesh
• Calthan Brown

Games Workshop Citadel Washes: 

• Ogryn Flesh

As I pronounce the figures are now suitable for tabletop wargaming (aka battle ready) I also hope to put them to immediate good use and effect in a mini-campaign set in Normandy '44 for "Chain of Command" so that they can fulfill their 'wargaming destiny' (not bad as they were originally purchased over twenty years ago). Smiles all round!

However, there are several things NOT done (as of yet):

• German Insignia Markings
• Protective Varnish (a practical must)
• Static Grass(maybe?)
• Further German "Odds and Sods" for the Chain of Command Support List, painted in the same fashion

Also thinking ahead, I have these possible follow-on "Thirty Day Projects" from my unpainted legions in the loft?

Normandy 1944

• US Infantry Platoon (1944)
• German "Green Devils" Paratroop Platoon (1944)
• British "Red Devils" Paratroop Platoon (1944)
• US Paratroop Platoon "Screaming Eagles" (1944)

 BlitzKrieg 1940: 

• French (1940) Infantry Platoon
• BEF (1940) Infantry Platoon
• Belgian (1940) Infantry Platoon
• Dutch (1940) Infantry Platoon
• Polish (1939) Infantry Platoon

Decisions, decisions, decisions! Whatever I do methinks I may concentrate on doing it in only twenty steps rather than the thirty I took for these figures, as looking back the 'cleverness and detail' of one layer of paint was often submerged in the next.

October Project: Day 29 "Panzer Grenadier Parade Ground with 251 Transport"

The final force composition for a Chain of Command German Panzer Grenadier Platoon (Normandy):

Four Hanomag 251 Half-Tracks:

• Hanomag 251/10 (37mm AT) x 1: Platoon Commander Half Track
• Platoon Commander and PzShreck Team (2 Men) 
• Hanomag 251/1 x 3: Squad 
• Team 1: Squad Leader + MG Team (2 Men) + Two Rifles
• Team 2: MG Team (2 Men) + Three Rifles

Parade Ground Formation (see below):

The one comment I would make is that the Order of Battle is for Normandy 1944 (which means for 1943 and earlier scenarios you'll end up dropping the PzSchrek team and maybe replace it with something as interesting as an AT rifle tean or the like). Also the Hanomag paint scheme is 1939-42 (early war), so I will (eventually) paint another platoon in 1944-45 three-tone "ambush" camouflage colours. Also yes, only one out of four vehicles has been decalled, but there's nothing new there for me ;)

I now pronounce this formation "battle ready" for a Chain of Command outing ... watch this space :)

Next: The Paints Used Recap and Review

October Project: Day 28 "The Joy of Flocking"

Once again the watered down PVA comes out. This time the figures are dropped into the "flock box" which still after five years of sporadic activity is half full of the original 2009 railway scenic "spring-time grass" covering, I think "buy in bulk" is the morale of the story here. Aiming for between 60-70% flat area coverage a lot of my previous good highlight work gets covered over, never mind (see below):

The group photograph (see below):

For the moment I am not bothering to "static grass" ... as I type I find myself caught in too minds as I technically still have a spare night! As all the figures are now to the same "wargame combat tabletop ready" state so ends my reference to the 2009 Painting Guide.

Next: Panzer Grenadier Parade Ground

October Project: Day 27 "Basing (III) Shade to Highlighting the Earth"

Painting the base proper!

Note to self: Now you do have to let this bit dry thoroughly out or you court disaster if you press too hard on the brush and to be fair it is hard mot to.

Anita's Acrylics yet again come to my rescue, starting with a plain lick of Earth Brown (11014) covering the base using a wet-brush rather than a dry brush technique. You can judge for yourself if you think the extra 'watery base coat of brown-black" was worth it from the previous stage (see below):

Next mix Earth Brown with Anita Acrylics Coffee (11044) in a 1:2 ratio. Again a rough and ready wet-brush application but less searching out the nooks and crannies than the first brown layer (see below):

Then despite it sounding slightly crazy, add Anita's Acrylic (11055) Lemon Yellow on a 1:1 ratio with the left over mix from the previous stage. This time I adopted a very lazy "let and let live" approach to painting, dabbing here and there as a lot of this will be covered in a layer of flock. Why bother at all then? Well, over time the flock will drop off or go bald, so if/when this happens the base still does not look too bad (see below):

Finally to the remaining residue add Anita Acrylic White (11001) to add that final 'rim' highlight on prominent raised places on the base. Less is definitely more here and subtlety is the watch word, so I pretty much reverted to more of a drier-brush than the previous stages (see below):

Here's one I may slightly of over done (see below):

With that it is the end of the painting! Moving onto the final phase of where I got to the in the original 2009 Painting Guide.

Next: For the "FLOCK" of it

October Project: Day 26 "Basing (II) Brown and Black Earth"

Once the sand has dried, or in the case of impatient and impetus people like myself, is "almost dry" (say 80% there) slosh together a very wet [think along the lines of a heavily coloured "wash" constituency] dark earth mix (Anita's Acrylic Earth Brown 11014) and apply it to the miniatures base, letting the sand soak all the paint up (see below, the platoon formation):

An individual MG Gunner (see below);

Just to be different, I then mix a dab of black (in this case the remaining Airfix Acrylic Matte Black from a starter set) into the watery mixture, leaving the figures for a few hours (again almost but not quite dry) and re-coat it over (see below):

This gives the base a bit more shadow that I can work up from when I layer the paint on. Again still going to plan aka the original 2009 Painting Guide.

Next: Painting the Base, from Shade to Highlight

October Project: Day 25 "Basing (I) - PVA and Sand"

Time to temporarily put down the paintbrush and pickup a bottle of PVA and "tub of wargaming sand". Watering down the PVA to a semi-fluid rather than treacle consistency, I dabbed it around each figure's base then dunked the feet into the "sand-box" and gave it a gentle "shake and swirl" (see below, the platoon result en masse):

An individual (see below, Rifleman "Shultz"):

Note: The sand has "chunky" bits in it, possibly on the large side as I had previously been working in 25/28mm.

Again still going to plan aka the original 2009 Painting Guide.

Next: Paint the Base

October Project: Day 24 "Boot Grey Day - Final Highlight"

The project has progressed to its final slot of painting the figures before 'basing' is addressed. This really is a final touch up job. If I were completely honest I was of half of a mind to miss it out, but by comparing the 'master 2009' figures with what I had done so far there was still just a subtle difference - so what the heck, "in for a penny in for a pound". Vallejo Game Color Stonewall Grey was added in small highlight dabs to prominent boot points (see below):

The Whole Range of Figures: 

MG Gunners: 

Riflemen:

Again still going to plan aka the original 2009 Painting Guide.

Next: Start of the Basing Process

October Project: Day 23 "Woodstock"

Next up is the little finishing touch highlights I want to apply to the wooden surfaces, which in the case of the Panzer Grenadiers is 95% rifle and MG weapon stocks and the odd hand grenade (potato masher style) in hand, belt or boot (the latter must have been unconfortable). This is done by a Vallejo Game Color Beasty Brown, with a subtle extra dab to highlight the highlights mixed with Tamiya XF-3 Matte Yellow (because that was all I had to hand at the time). Almost there now (see below, mostly grey with a bit of colour here and there):

Again still going to plan aka the original 2009 Painting Guide.

Next: Final dabs of grey on Das Boots!

October Project: Day 22 "Gas Mask and Helmet Highlight" Part (II)

Once I had painted the "new" Panzer Grenadier figures I took a look back at the 2009 completed set and saw that I had to apply a small highlight to bring both sets into alignment (see below):

Again still going to plan aka the original 2009 Painting Guide.

Next: Woodstock (aka rifle butts and the like)

October Project: Day 21 "Gas Mask and Helmet Highlight" Part (I)

The raised surfaces of the "helmet and gas mask containers" need special attention, courtesy of Tamiya (XF-61) Dark Green mixed with Tamiya Yellow (XF-3). In fact I got so obsessed with it I did a dab of yellower highlight on the first highlight (see below):

Riflemen:  

The MG Gunners and a Rifleman: 

All this obsessing meant that this little highlight layer spanned over two days. Again I think I can say it is still going to plan aka the original 2009 Painting Guide.

:)

Next: Some more Gas Masks and Helmets

October Project: Day 20 "Flesh Highlight"

The trick here is trying not to put too much paint on, using the lighter Vallejo Flat Flesh (70955).  The task once started was relatively simple, the only complication being the original masters looked a tad too white by comparison so I covered them with a Citadel Miniatures "Wash" of Ogryn Flesh to tone down the white (see below):

MG Gunner: 

MG Ammo Carrier: 

The Painting Tray with the Panzer Grenadier Platoon:  

Again still going to plan aka the original 2009 Painting Guide.

Next: Green Helmets and Gas Masks Highlighting

October Project: Day 19 "Tunic Highlight (III)"

The last bunch of Panzer Grenadiers comes mainly from the original spare 'Masters' of 2009. Again some very classy/classic poses. The 'artillery spotter' senior officer type with the weird "Martian" binoculars being the icing on the cake. Again made with just the right feel for 'Stalingrad' era (see below):

Officer Types and Classic Miscellaneous Poses: 

Again still going to plan aka the original 2009 Painting Guide.

Next: Flesh Highlights

PS I hope that does not become a Google keyword for my site as it would route some well dodgy traffic this way, or should I say 'disappointed' dodgy traffic

October Project: Day 18 "Tunic Highlight (II)"

Second day of tunic highlight dabbing. This time the riflemen and I have to say that even though this set of figures is over twenty years old, I am still impressed with these poses. I think they have that iconic mid-war 1942-43 "summer" Russian theater look about them (see below):

The Riflemen along with their 'Masters': 

Again still going to plan aka the original 2009 Painting Guide.

Next: Tunic Highlight of Officer Ranks

October Project: Day 17 "Tunic Highlight (I)"

The 'tunic highlight' is will take a few days of "dabbing" on the various different figure types, including the original 'masters' I am using as a guide from 2009. I am lightening them up a shade too with Vallejo Green Grey (see below):

The Machine Gunners: 

Again still going to plan aka the original 2009 Painting Guide.

Next: Tunic Highlight of Rifleman

October Project: Day 16 "Base Flesh"

I needed a dull pale base for the flesh. The original Games Workshop Tanned Flesh was well dried up in its poy, shame, but no real surprise there. The standard Fantasy (28mm Dark Ages) mix of Vallejo Game Colour Dark Flesh (Shade) to Dwarf Flesh (Base) with Elf Flesh (Highlight) did not seem appropriate. In addition going straight to Vallejo (70955) Pale Flesh seemed too white/pale a base colour. Rummaging around in the paint box I found a long forgotten about Games Workshop/Citadel Foundation Paint of "Tallarn Flesh" (Eh? On the up side it came with a fancy top that meant the paint was still wet inside). It seemed the 'dirty battlefield skin' tone I was after so I decided to give it a shot (see below):

This means that I am just over halfway through the timeline I set and the "Base Colour" phase of the project has been completed. The painting tasks are getting fiddlier but overall slightly less time consuming as most of the figure is painted.

Still roughly going to plan, a bit of variation from the flesh and ahead with a few highlights, against the original 2009 Painting Guide.

Next: The Highlighting Starts 

October Project: Day 15 "Base Metal"

Time to touch up the metallic surfaces with Vallejo (70863) Gun Metal.Grey (see below):

Turned out to be a very "quick" session :)

Again still going to plan aka the original 2009 Painting Guide.

Next: The Base Flesh

October Project: Day 14 "Base and Highlight Colour to Bags"

The Panzer Grenadiers get their "kit" painted. A two step process, first a 50:50 Vallejo (70825) German Camo Pale Brown with Vallejo (70821) German Camo Beige Browm, then rather than waiting around for a few days before I highlight it, and because I still had some spare time, I ploughed onto the 100% highlight Vallejo (70821) German Camo Beige Brown activity (see below):

Getting there ;)

Not looking too bad and still going to plan aka the original 2009 Painting Guide.

Next: Gun Metal Base Colour

October Project: Day 13 "Back to Black" (II)

Second day of black and grey "strapping action" (see below):

The MG Gunners and another Rifleman: 

Not looking too bad and still going to plan aka the original 2009 Painting Guide.

Next: Back to the "Bags"

October Project: Day 12 "Back to Black" (I)

By adding a touch of the Airfix undercoat acrylic grey (it was the only thing to hand) to the Airfix starter kit (33) acrylic matte black I daubed up the boots and black straps. The strap work has to be done with a steady hand. Not hard work but it spanned over two days (see below):

Riflemen first:

Group Shot 1: A bit shadowy

Group Shot 2: In slightly better light

Still going to plan aka the original 2009 Painting Guide.

Next: The MG Gunners