Finished!: 6mm British Moderns (part 1...)

Hi folks,

I had intended to post this last weekend, but didn't get around to it and have had a hectic week this week which has seen little painting being done.

I've been trying to clear some of the models that have been cluttering up my painting shelf for the last 12 months, some of which has been my Brits for Team Yankee. These are a mix of GHQ, Heroics and Ros and Butlers Printed Models miniatures, and I'm about half way though currently.

So currently, a full squadron of Chieftains, with the front two on the right being BPM models, while the one on the front right is a GHQ model.

The Harriers and Lynx's are H+R models, which came out quite well. Blowpipe models are H+R while the Spartans on the bases are BPM. The Swingfires are GHQ, while the Abbots are BPM and the M109's are (I think) H+R.

Still all the infantry to do, and a load of AFV's. The models are quick to paint, as I've kept them very simple. However, the basing is time consuming!

In other news, despite my better judgement I've volunteered to take part in the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge again this year... So need to start organising what I plan to paint as part of that!

Butlers Printed Models 1/285th Scale comparison vs GHQ

Hi folks,

Last week I was lucky enough to win a £20 voucher for Butlers Printed Models. This was a random prize for completing an online survey for one of the wargaming magazines.

I've used BPM before - these were the guys that designed and printed the Ram tank turrets I wanted to go on my Battlefront Ram Kangeroo's. I've not purchased any of their 1/285th scale (6mm) stuff yet, but since I had the voucher I'd fill in the gaps in my Team Yankee British force.

I got some Scorpions, FV432's, Chieftans, Abbots and Spartans. The Abbots were of particular interest as GHQ does not make these and I felt the Heroics and Ros ones were a little small compared to the GHQ models.

Everything arrived well packed, with one example in each bag cleared of 'flash'. The biggest downside of these models for me is this flash. It took a while to clean them up and it's quite a messy process:

Butlers Printed Models Abbots

Once I had everything cleaned up and assembled, I gave them a primer coat and got some comparison pics:

Chieftan:

GHQ at the back, BPM at the front. Similar in size, but with some differences (length of gun, width and length of hull)

BPM on the left, GHQ on the right

You can see that the BPM models have decent detail on them, but there is the telltale 'rings' of 3D printing visible on the hull. For a 6mm model though, detail is good.

Abbots:

GHQ Fv432 is closest to the camera here - the Abbot was based on the same hull and GHQ don't make this model. In the centre we have the BPM models, which have a decent level of detail and fit well scale wise with the GHQ. At the back are the Heroics and Ros Abbots. Less detail and smaller than the BPM models. 

H&R Abbots closest this time, then BPM then GHQ Fv432

Another view, H&R on the left, BPM in the centre and GHQ on the right. 

Swingfire Fv432's:

GHQ Swingfire at the bottom, BPM at the top. 

GHQ on the left, BPM on the right

So scale wise the BPM models are pretty close to GHQ. Detail wise, I would say they are worse than H&R's best, but better than H&R's worst... if that makes sense. The clean up on them is a bit of a bugger, and the Chieftans are more expensive than H&R models - although I don't have any of their tanks to hand to compare the detail or size.

Certainly for the Abbots I would recommend the BPM models over the H&R's ones, as they are a better scale fit.

These models are all (hopefully!) going to get painted during the upcoming AHPC challenge...

AHPC + Gunuary Roundup!

Hi Folks,

Apologies for the lack of blog post in the last week or so, with the challenge coming to an end I threw myself into painting as much as I could before time ran out!

I've really enjoyed my first bash at this competition, and I think I've set a decent bar to try and beat should I enter next time (I'm currently planning on it, but it's 9 months away!). I aimed for a challenging 500 points, achieved 682. As mentioned elsewhere the scoring is done on the size of the model, with 15mm infantry counting as 2 points, guns/crew served weapons as 4 points and vehicles as 6 points. The bigger the model, the more the points!

Out of 100 entrants (94 of which made it to the end), I placed 45th - with the aim to finish in the top 50! So yeah, I'm really pleased. But to put it into perspective, the people at the top of the table painted 4,125 and 4,051 points worth of stuff - total machines!

I'm also happy that I aimed to maintain my normal levels of quality and I feel I achieved that. In fact, in a couple of areas I think I improved. Having to paint a 28mm Lion was a new experience for me and I learnt quite a bit - oddly, it was probably the thing that most challenged me but that I learnt the most from. I also like the look of my 10mm ACW - again, something new for me!

Anyway, starting with the stuff that's not been posted here. First up is Cecil the Lion, painted as my contribution towards a group entry fee. Basing is not done as he will be shipped off to another zoo down south for this to be applied.

Without waxing too lyrical about this model, it was really interesting to paint from reference pictures of animals, and to challenge my concept of 'what does a Lion look like?'. I found that my first thought was something from the Lion King, and that I had to make a decision early on whether to go for something 'realistic' or something people would more easily recognise! New techniques for me included actually picking the colours myself rather than using a guide, blending the mane and painting facial details.

Of course, half way through I started seeing him as a big dopey Lionador rather than a fierce Lion, but I think he still came out OK. All he wants is to lick your face. With his teeth!

Next up is a unit of 10mm Pendraken ACW. I tried to go more rag tag with these guys, but came back in the end to something a little more uniform. I've still got a few more of these guys to do, as this was all I could base up in time for the challenge ending. I learnt a lesson there about batch painting by pose, and how it's not a great idea to tight time scales. If I hadn't had a sudden bout of common sense, I would have based all the painted stuff I had and been left with the rest of the units made up of only 2 or 3 poses. Thankfully I realised in time!

Most recently, at the very end of the Challenge, I rattled out the remainder of my current US Team Yankee 3mm models. Some batteries of M109 SP Arty, some M106 SP Mortars and some M113 Vulcan Air Defence tracks. Along side there were 3 'rifle platoon' bases and 3 'Dragon Team' section bases - to make up 3 platoons of US Mech Infantry. These were added to the helicopters I had painted earlier in the challenge. The Heli's were 3mm Tumbling Dice models, while the vehicles and infantry are Oddzial Osmy models.

Everything else I think you'll have seen!

Not bad for 3 months work! I wish I could say that the lead mountain has been significantly altered - but currently I'm like a man with trowel standing at the foot of the Alps! Still, one trowel full at a time... At least the amount of outstanding artillery has been reduced, thanks to the Gunuary focus!

For the next little while I am planning on finishing off the ACW figures and working on some other projects. In the planning stage are smoke and destroyed vehicle markers, minefields, some 4Ground buildings and Decals. All of which I have put off doing for various reasons. As ever, all input in appreciated!

Oh, and I also won an army deal from Battlefront! So some Grants and Crusaders will be joining the lead mountain at some point soon (hopefully!).

Team Yankee: 6mm Heroics and Ross vs Scotia comparison

Hi folks,

Alongside my 3mm Cold War project, I'm trying to decide which way to go for a 6mm Team Yankee force.

Currently, I would love to go for GHQ - who's models are stunning but pricey. Still cheaper than buying 15mm models, but expensive for the size! Other options are Heroics and Ross or Scotia.

I've seen a lot of mixed reviews about both of these manufacturers, so decided to invest a small amount in samples from both. So I picked up most of the 'core' vehicles from each manufacturer. I figured others might find these pictures useful. First up we have the M1.

I actually have a single M1A1(?) Abrams from GHQ to show with the two 'slick' M1's from H&R and Scotia. In these pictures the order is: GHQ, H&R, Scotia - unless otherwise stated. 

GHQ, H&R, Scotia

GHQ, H&R, Scotia

GHQ, H&R, Scotia

GHQ, H&R, Scotia

Scotia at the bottom and H&R at the top

Scotia closest to the camera

Scotia on left, H&R on right.

Scotia on left, H&R on right

Scotia on left, H&R on right

GHQ, H&R, Scotia

GHQ, H&R, Scotia

My own thoughts were than I prefer the Scotia sculpt. Slightly more detail on the hull, better looking tracks and while the turret is smaller it looks better proportioned. the MG's are also included on the turret.

Next up, T72. No GHQ comparison for this one:

H&R on left, Scotia on right

H&R on left, Scotia on right

H&R on left, Scotia on right

H&R closest to the camera

H&R on bottom, Scotia on top

The Scotia T-72 is much better both is size and quality. You can see a real different when comparing them to the M1. I know the T-72 is supposed to be smaller, but the H&R one is much much smaller. 

Then BMP1's and M113's and M901's. The major difference is that the 'Hammerhead' turret is separate on the H&R model.:

H&R on left, Scotia on right

Scotia closest to camera

H&R on left, Scotia on right

H&R on left, Scotia on right

H&R on left, Scotia on right

H&R on left, Scotia on right

H&R on left, Scotia on right

H&R on left, Scotia on right

H&R on left, Scotia on right - loose turret on the Scotia model

The Scotia BMP1 is much nicer, and has a pose-able turret. The turret also seems to sit in the correct position on the vehicle, with the H&R sculpt turret being too far forward.

The Scotia M113 is not as tall and a little wider - it reminds me much more of a Space Marine Rhino.... which probably means it's closer to an actual M113.

My own preference is for the Scotia one here, the detail on the turret is better, even although it is cast onto the model.

I also got a Mi-24 Hind, although I think in this case the H&R helicopter is better. The H&R A-10 is also nice, but Scotia does not seem to do any. The decision on whether to go for GHQ is a big one. The difference in price is £8.40 for 5 tanks compared to £2.50 for 5... The argument is really over the quality versus the cost! At the same time, H&R Helicopters and Aircraft may be the way to go. 

I also picked up some H&R 6mm Infantry, which were lovely models. I'll be going with their infantry packs when I do got for 6mm. I've already got some half size MDF bases which should translate into 6mm without any problems.

All that's left is for me to make a decision on what to do!