Undercoating some vehicles: [28mm. 1/56] M3 Lee, Tiger I and King Tiger

Making full use of the spray can to its last spluttering gasp I managed to cover three of my 28mm AFVs (see below, the US M3 Lee Warlord Games sprue sale bargain at £12, well worth waiting for): 

The mighty King Tiger (see below, I know it is totally overkill for Chain of Command but for £12 in the Warlord sprue sale I could not say no to my inner teenage school boys' "yearnings". It still is a beast!): 

Side by side you can see the "huge" difference in size, but remember their combat introduction/debut was but two years apart (see below, 1942 for the Lee, and 1944 for the Tiger II):  

Finally the spray-can's splutter finished in a timely fashion over the Tiger I (see below, again another steal from the Warlord games sprue salem guess what £12):  

I am please to say that the vivid green dries to a dull, dark, camouflaged dark green. 

Note To Self: Late War German WWII Infantry - Victrix (Painting Guide)

Victrix Late War Miniatures Painting Guides: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xvqv96qQ1E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ooQ15k9Ihg

Looking forward to painting these!

More 28mm WWII Undercoating - US Infantry, US Paras, 1940 BEF Brits and French, Japanese

Just to complete the full story (or is it?) of the "Spray Can Day" event!

Wargames Atlantic British 1940 BEF and a few (6) Imperial Japanese Infantry from Warlord Games: 

Wargames Atlantic French 1940 Infantry:

German Late War Infantry - Warlord Games: 

US Paras - Warlord Games: 

US Infantry - Perry Miniatures and Warlord Games: 

Left with empty spray cans! Job well done!

Next Projects - Wargame Atlantic/Victrix 28mm Figures: Three Boxes

I blame them (Wargames Atlantic), yes them, for making such nice figures you "have to" buy them and then, er, find a use for them? So I have three (new)projects: 

Project One: Wargames Atlantic German Sentries - Coming in useful from being used as nasty Colditz sentries, to combatting partisan operations, commando raids, deadly SAS missions, Para airborne drops on radar installations and even denizens of "Weird WWII"  dark laboratories (see below, all sorts of uses beckon - all being behind enemy lines): 

There is even a healthy proportion of Alsatian dogs to German sentries (10 dogs to 30 soldiers). The poses come straight from the movies and are definitely "behind the front lines" Security Police support troops. The officer literally looks straight from the lead in "The Man in the High Castle" (see below, this is a highly recommended set - no other excuse needed to buy it):    

Second Project Victrix Napoleonic Old Guard Infantry - Next we move on to a "man (or rather a wargamer) of a certain age" issue. One who to his embarrassment wakes up one day and realises that he does not have a unit of French Napoleonic Old Guard in 28mm to show off to his friends (see below,  thank you Vixtrix for coming to my rescue, in fact they do the Middle Guard as well in plastic [but as time of writing I have only seen the Young Guard in very expensive metal]):  

Third Project Wargames Atlantic Pulp Adventure Operators -  Then there was the "buy it" because you saw it and you knew you already had a use for it. Specifically skirmish level gaming with 28mm Modern Special Forces - Terrorists - Hostage Release SWAT - Jungle LRRP/Mercenaries. Twenty Figures in total but four sprues, so a sprue for each of these categories will do (see below, the options on each sprue is fantastic):  

I know one game these are destined to play is Hostage Cluedo, even borrowing a dog from the German Sentries box for a K-9 handler, now that is synergy (see below, a "niche" but also a nice buy):  

I certainly seem to be in a "28mm assembly and paint mode of operations", also fuelled by the range of nice painting tutorials readily accessible on the Internet. Im short I am just having fun!

A "Reiving" We Shall Go! - 28mm Fun and Frolics on the Scottish Border (Cow Snatching) - One Hour Skirmish Rules

Time for a fun game of cattle reiving in the Scottish borders! (see below, some nice 28mm figures come out to play alongside John Lambshead's,One Hour Skirmish Wargame Rules [a very nice set of rules]):  

The stage is set for a raid on the Scott Clan to relieve them of some of their prize cattle. In particular a fine new acquisition, a bullock, covetously spied at the local market.No good will come of this envy from the Natt Clan. Stealing through the night the Natts surprise the sleepy Scott sentries (se below, "Alarm, alarm, Reivers are amongst us!" (see below, a hand to hand tussle but the second Scott shouts an alarm):    

The Natts are fast at work as the Scott bothy empties, each Scot clansman grans the nearest weapon and charges out into the night (see below, one poor quality cow is being pushed away, but the Natts did not do well in their reconnaissance before the alarm went up, so they are simply grabbing what they can): 

Around a firefight, where the advantage of ranged weaponry becomes apparent, the Natts try to make off with a second more highly prized cow, but no sign of the bullock! Fallen bodies of Reivers and law abiding citizens (Reivers themselves but on the receiving end of tonight's fray) litter the farmyard (see below, the Natts decide it is time to make a sharp getaway as too many heavily armed Scotts are now about for their liking - cows are rather slow moving beast when they want to be): 

To quote the outraged Scott, "No' so fast you canny Reiver that ma' prize cow ya' after! Stitch that Jimmy [thwack, biff, pow]!" (see below, the prize cow is returned to its "rightful" owner): 

Proceedings for the night close as the Natt Clan departs. A fun night out, the Scott Clan is now minus a few clan members and are one poor quality cow down, but they have as their prisoner a rival Natt Clan Leader (low level presumably, not the mighty Natt himself) to be ransomed! The Natt Clan are also down a few clan members. All told was quite a bloody night on the borderlands! Break out the whiskey, mead and ale!

Wargames Atlantic Italians 28mm - Temperate Uniform (Painting Guide)

I have a project, a game and it requires these figures. Alternatively I saw these figures, they looked great so I decided I needed a project as an excuse to get this (see below, Wargames Atlantic - WW2 Italian Infantry): 

They were really nice to assemble and the Temperate Mediterranean (or summer Russia) option I chose meant that teh Alpini and Bersaglieri option remained on the sprue. It is a rich source of spares. As I was doing this as industrial process and the weather was good they got the light (Ghoul) grey spray can undercoat courtesy of Colour Forge (see below, whitened - ready for the painting tray or Christmas decorations. This undercoating was actually done "en masse" with various other pieces of kit that had been "assembled" for ages, their time had come): 

The Italian Order of Battle (OoB) was decided by a Chain of Command supplement/online (and is a peculiar clumsy Italian thing, technically with good LMG support but in the wrong place if you ask me - as they separate the LMGs out from the infantry squad and place it under its own command [a sergeant whereas the large ten man rifle section has a mere corporal shouting orders at it]). Note: The raw plastic which comes with a small base has been mounted on a bigger circular 25mm diameter base. PVA mixed with sand and light grit is spread over the bases for texture and left to dry. Vallejo Brown Wash (I have a large tub of this, creatively called Dipping Wash - you get the message) is applied over the figure and base. I find this gives a good "shade" start to painting the model and highlights its features nicely as the wash settles into the cracks and crevices (see below, ready for the painting tray): 

Next Steps: Follow the YouTube Painting Tutorial(s) from Sonic Sledgehammer. I used thi sfor my inspiration, but deviated to match the actual paints I had at hand (rather than slavishly going out and purchasing more - which is the way of madness [I have tread before]):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XD1kMTbnc3I

Note: I recommend to follow the second video, see link below (but same Youtuber), as I believe he is using a pose closer Wargames Atlantic figure (despite it being a Warlord Games figure [?]) .. both sets are good figures but as I have the former Wargames Atlantic figure the second video makes more sense: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4oqT5dDruU

Time to start assembling the paint list and applying it! This will be incremented over time as I paint the figure also serving as a "Note to Self". 

Note: I am doing them in squad batches, starting with a rifle squad of 10 Rifles and a Corporal (also with a Rifle).

STAGE ONE: Basic Paints

• [Step 1]: Vallejo Model Colour - Dark Fleshtone (72.044) is applied to the exposed flesh areas (Face and two hands gripping weapons) as the "shade" over the "shade" Brown Wash.
• [Step 2]: Vallejo Model Colour - Dark Flesh (70.927) .. (although it looks pretty light to me [compared to the "brown" Dark Fleshtone of Step 1], even after shaking the bottle) as the base flesh tone. Note this deviate from teh video as I had not yet found it! My one comment is that the flesh looks a tad light and I may wash it [interestingly Sonic Sledgehammer users Red Beige (70.804) one that I don't have yet!]
• [Step 3]: Vallejo Model Colour - Olive Grey (70.888) - using this as the "shade uniform" colour over the brown wash "shade" [note, in conversation with a another good hobby painter I expect to lighten this with (70.884) Stone Grey for base and highlight later but I am following the second video at the moment].
• [Step 4]: Vallejo Model Colour US Field Drab (70.873) for blanket at bottom of backpack - which to be perfectly honest looks like the brown wash over the grey undercoat, but tidies it up and makes the colour look more solid.  
• [Step 5]: Vallejo Model Colour - German Camouflage Beige (70.821) for central part of backpack and straps.
• [Step 6]: Vallejo Model Colour - German Field Grey (70.830) for the backpack blanket and water bottle. 
• [Step 7]: Vallejo Model Colour - Beige Brown (70.875) for the rifle stock (and also for facial hair, aka the stylish Italian moustaches. Note: Black and Grey Black also an option!).
• [Step 8]: Vallejo Model Colour - Black Grey (70.862) for the boots, ammo pouches and chin strap [I also used this for the bayonet scabbard I attached to some but not all infantry models].
• [Step 9]: Vallejo Model Colour - Black (70.950) for the rifle barrel and working parts 

Extra bits added see reasons in STAGE 4 below: 

• [Step 9a]: The Red Devil Hand Grenades are painted Vallejo Game Dark Fleshtone (70.044) and then highlighted Vallejo Model Colour Flat Red (70.957) and rehighled with the same after the Step 10: Wash. The metal (trigger) part was painted Vallejo Model Colour Black Grey (70862) and then highlighted Vallejo Model Colour Gunmetal (70.863). 
• [Step 9b] Leather Straps on rifles, base coated with Vallejo Game Dark Fleshtone (70.044) then highlighted with Vallejo Model Colour Cavalry Brown (70.972) it makes a bold statement. The metals clasps were painted Vallejo Model Colour Black Grey (70862) and then highlighted Vallejo Model Colour Gunmetal (70.863). 

So far so good, we have delivered a basic "base coloured" 28mm figure that resembles a WW2 Italian Infantrymen that would ret and hide on a wargames table because it does not impress the eye. My painted model differs from the one in video as I (foolishly?) also dipped the figure in Vallejo Brown Wash before painting (see below, facing front - rather basic and if truth be told a little "too green" in the uniform department - it needs to be faded):

And from the back (see picture below): 

This is where we differ from the traditional painting I grew up with through the first thirty years of my hobby. That was the "undercoat-shade-hase-highlight" mantra, where you effectively painted each figure three times (and wish your hobby time away). In the modern twentieth first century chemistry now performs "black magic on the figure.

STAGE TWO: Black Magic

Gather eye of newt and wing of bat and drop it into the boiling cauldron. Alternatively ..

• [Step 10]: Mix three drops of Army Painter Strong Tone Wash with two drops of Army Painter Mixing Medium which tones and dilutes the effect. Then smear it liberally all over the poor Italian Infantryman!
• [Step 11]: Let it dry for 30 mins! So go cut the grass of something and do not come back early!

What he looks like after the "Black Magic" chemistry has taken effect (see below, he is now certainly shaded but perhaps maybe overly so, he definitely needs highlighting with the "base colours" and perhaps additional highlighting, lightening the "base colours" to be done):

• [Step 12]: Do not panic, we are not finished yet .. so you have not ruined the miniature, as it still only looks half right! We now go back to Stage One and selectively repeat Steps One through to Nine again but this time selectively highlighting not completely covering!
• [Step 13]: Exception we have to do something different with the uniform, as it is still too green. Solution either mix [5:1] ratio of (70.888) Vallejo Model Colour Olive Green with (70.846) Vallejo Model Colour Dark Sand or (70.884) Vallejo Model Colour Stone Grey. This should "fade" the uniform"!
• [Step 14]: Highlight the rifle shiny parts with Vallejo Model Color Gunmetal (70.863).

End of Stage 2 from the Front (see below, starting to look the business):

End of Stage 2 from the Front (see below, nice detailing on the peculiar backpack - you get to like it n the end) 

STAGE THREE: Protect and Survive

• [Step 15]: Vallejo Fleshtone Wash (73.204) is applied to face and hands. Highlight with Vallejo Model Colour Dark Flesh (70.927) - believe me it is not dark, it is light!
• [Step 16]: Ultra-Matt Lucky Varnish (Ammo Mig) the figure, this is to dull down any glossy bits for consistency and give an invisible layer of protection [against greasy wargamer figures].
• [Step 17]: The eyes have it, crazy white sockets and black pupil [optional madness]. White horizontal slash  make and eye orbit area - then Black dot for a pupil. It will be messy. Dark Flesh around to tidy corners of eyes on face. 
• [Step 18]: Terrain basing, paint outer rim brown, two tone the brown on the base, flock and add a touch of static grass. 

STAGE FOUR: Experience told me this after painting some more figures!

The first figure I painted did not have a Red Devil hand grenade or a strap on its rifle. 

• [Step 9a]: The Red Devil Hand Grenades are painted Vallejo Game Dark Fleshtone (70.044) and then highlighted Vallejo Model Colour Flat Red (70.957) and rehighled with the same after the Step 10: Wash. The metal (trigger) part was painted Vallejo Model Colour Black Grey (70862) and then highlighted Vallejo Model Colour Gunmetal (70.863). 
• [Step 9b] Leather Straps on rifles, base coated with Vallejo Game Dark Fleshtone (70.044) then highlighted with Vallejo model Colour Leather Brown (70.871) . The metals clasps were painted Vallejo Model Colour Black Grey (70862) and then highlighted Vallejo Model Colour Gunmetal (70.863). 

PROTOTYPE TESTER FIGURE: End Point

Note: Current status - I am still WIP through the Wargames Atlantic packet of  figures:

PAINTING ACTIVITY CHART:

Sections Done:

• None

Doing:

• Rifle Squad One (1 done of 11 Figures)

Still To Do:

• Platoon Command HQ (1 Figure)
• Rifle Squad Two (11 Figures)
• MG Section One (9 Figures)
• MG Section Two (9 Figures)

More videos from YouTube about Wargames Atlantic WWII Italian Infantry: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv23vp4LEGY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHWH50nRAY0

Painting Italian WW2 Infantry Article:

https://nodicenoglory.com/painting-world-war-two-italians/

Making the MMG: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q10w9RWSW5c

The Big (28mm) Napoleonic Build - Attacking The (British) Plastic Kit Pile - The Great Assemble

Recently I spotted a large pile of British Napoleonic 28mm plastic figure boxes in the loft, a "hidden sin" of mine. I must have been collecting these over the last ten years. I decided that the "Great Assemble Project" was about to begin (see below, Victrix Highlanders started the adventure - Centre Company boys): 

One box lead to another, then another (see below, Victrix Highlanders, Flank Company boys):  

In the end there were "legion" (see below, Perry's British Nap Infantry done as British Peninsular Infantry, 40 in total [36 normal and 4 riflemen])

In review, Victrix Highlanders Flank Company (see below, 60 in a box): 

Continuing the review, Victrix Highlanders Centre Company (see below, 60 in a box):

Not forgetting the Wargames Atlantic British Rifles (see below, 32 in a box but I made 24 and donated 8 to a good cause - still you only need a few): 

Assembling is one thing, but painting them is another - hmm, I need to keep the forward momentum going. Undercoating (weather permitting) by mass spray painting (White) was deemed the only sensible way forward (see below, luckily the weather was kind to me, let it snow!): 

Missing from the camera rollcall were yet more Victrix Peninsular British Flank and Centre Companies (104 figures in total, 52 each pack). All told, including a few "gifted" figures I already had assembled, there are just over 300 Napoleonic British Peninsular foot. These form a "future painting project". I plan to do the painting in batches - for Sharp Practice (TFL) and/or One Hour Skirmish Wargame Rules (John Lambshead). Building up and getting games in at the same time. 

Footnote (Confession): Launching into the build (as in Perry's Nap British) I had the funny feeling something was not quite right (see below, in my defense - there were two types of head to choose from and I chose my starting point at random):

So, I had inadvertently started to put the Waterloo heads on. The Shakos are different, no feather. Did I really care? It was one of those wargaming itches. I argued the toss with myself, then as there were only nine made so far, decapitations were made and heads were swapped, we were "all" off the to Peninsular. If they have to appear at a later date at Waterloo, I can also live with that!

Note to Self: 28mm Warlord Games US M3 Lee Assembly Instructions

I am still wading through the Warlord Games AFV "sprue sale" bargains I picked up. I have to confess, despite my initial forebodings (post purchase click, "Did I need this?"), I am glad really I purchased this M3 Lee. It slotted together perfectly. which is a plus, as a very easy model build and the end product looks quite imposing. In fact it was far easier to build it in 28mm than the multiple Airfix and Hasegawa kits I have put together in 20mm (1/76 and 1/72  in old money). The M3 Lee is an intimidating beast despite its archaic sponson mounted 75mm howitzer (see below, in assembly you could be forgiven in thinking you were putting together a medieval castle): 

It suddenly comes together as a tank when the top is placed on (see below, the M3 Lee 90% there, or there until an 88mm gets the Lee in its sights): 

Complete with radio aerial (and like the Tiger I model I wonder how long the radio aerial is going to last) and a few more fiddly bits - front and rear lights, handrails (see below, the finished "monster", possibly for its crew survival potential rather than fighting ferocity, although a 75mm high explosive shell is highly respected by infantry and anti-tank crews on the Tunisian battlefield): 

Primed in The Colour Forges (Renegade Green) as a primer (see below, using this colour also as a shade colour, with a Vallejo dipping wash to follow in teh recesses, then a new set of greens [Olive Drab and highlights] should lighten its appearance up): 

 

Although "cheap" by buying a loose sprue these online assembly instructions from Warlord Games saved me from stupid errors. Despite the cleaness of the build I had to make study of these, particularly in reference to the turret build and the M3 Lee commanders hatch (see below, Warlord Games M3 Lee Assembly Instructions link): 

https://assembly.warlordgames.com/files/4070200017_M3_Lee_Grant_assembly_booklet.pdf

Another interesting Blog post comparing the plastic kit version (much better IMHO) versus the old resin version!

https://www.goonhammer.com/goonhammer-historicals-warlord-games-plastic-m3-lee-grant-review

Italian WW2 Infantry Platoon for Chain of Command (Wargames Atlantic Figures)

Two packets (32 figures each) of Wargames Atlantic WWII Italian Infantry allow a Chain of Command basic platoon plus some extra infantry supports (another squad, plus SMG upgrades and extra pioneers/engineers [people with spades] specialists). Altogether a nice entertaining project (see below, housed in the carefully "husbanded" [much to the annoyance of the long suffering wife] butter and margarine tubs - we seem to eat a lot of dairy products that might not be good for my cholesterol):    

The mass assembly complete and the weather outside favourable meant it was spray painting time (see below, attacked from four quarters the Italians take on the subtle sheen of Ghoul Grey courtesy of "The Colour Forge" [www.thecolourforge.com] 500ml spray can): 

Next stage is to grit the base (PVA, sand and grit) before putting over a Vallejo Brown "Dipping Wash". Please note the cute CV33 AFV tucked in amongst the infantry (see below, provided as a generous Xmas gift from Renko, to the chagrin of the Greeks): 

The intention is to paint the platoon up in "homeland european green" to fight the Greeks in 1940/41.

Big Man Spotted in Small Tiger II Turret

Hats off to Trebian for spotting this anomaly - from the same manufacturer (I think Tamiya, via Warlord Games) totally different scales of Panzer Commander - both of which are supposed to be representing a 28mm scaled figure (see below, the Tiger I Commander [on the right] seems to be the correct scale, whereas the Tiger II Commander [on the left] is a bit to much of a "big boy" and would really struggle to slip in and out the turret without being "greased-up"):  

I removed the "big chap" from the Tiger II and just "closed up" the tank for action! Problem solved!

Postscript: Excuse the blurry picture below - but he even looks big to other (Allied) tank commander figures from other Warlord kits (see below - and and superman?): 

It shows more clearly when you click and expand the photograph.

Note to Self: Tamiya/Warlord Games 28mm King Tiger Assembly Instructions Link

The "big cat" beast - the German King Tiger tank (see below, another "why on earth not" Warlord Games "sprue sale" purchase):

Although  a relatively simple build - instructions help (see link below): 

https://www.chaosbunker.de/en/2018/07/23/review-bolt-action-king-tiger-with-zimmerit-plastic-kit/

Note To Self: Tamiya/Warlord Games 28mm Tiger I Assembly Instructions Link

 

Warlord Games 28mm Tiger I purchased in their annual/seasonal "sprue sale" (see above and below - please note cute but fragile aerial on engine deck that won't last long!):

Useful link to Assembly Instructions (see link below): 

https://www.americanwargamersassociation.com/2017/04/tiger-i-tank-by-warlord-games-review.html#google_vignette

It is a relatively simple kit but these instructions helped me from making "sad" simple errors that all modellers live to regret, I think the kit is originally the Tamiya 1/56 one. Nice clean lines and an easy assembly. Recommended, certainly in the "sprue only" sale at half the retail price of the boxed version! Better for the planet too - less packaging *he said grasping at straws").