From Scott R: Space Aussies playing as Astra Militarum in 10th Edition 40K (100 points)

 Project Astra Militarum or Space Aussies

Last year i was re-introduced to 40K after being absent for well of 20 years.  With 10th Edition being released and the game mechanic looking very different to why i left, i gave it another try.  I pulled out my old eldar (now Aldari) and gave it a bash.  It was fun again.

I also took up 3D printing last year as well and after 8 months, finally have the nut cracked on producing excellent figures, vehicles etc.  I participated in Victoria miniatures Kickstarter for space Aussies, a stand in Guard for 40K.  Using the Cadian background I commenced collecting and printing like a man possessed.  This of course along with the other 50 plus activities i was working on.

So here we are, kicking off the start of the final builds, prints and commencement of painting.  

Just under 3500 points. Still a couple of vehicles to build and a few gaps in the infantry line to print.

Victoria Miniatures and the Kickstarter.

I receive notifications of up coming kickstarters, so when I saw the title Space Aussies, I knew this was going to be great, especially from Victoria Lamb.  It didn't disappoint.

The Infantry and crews:

I was fortunate to pick up the codex from the local brick and mortar and started to read the force composition.  This was the guide to what i needed to print.  The plan was to use prints for as much of my infantry and crews as possible.

WIP.  Printed Shock Troops, Kasrkin, jungle fighters, Ogryns, weapon crews, vehicle crews and command.

A summary of the points claimed for the figures:

[TBA]

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Sylvain: Scott, this looks like a tremendously fun project! Since today is the deadline for submissions, I'm going to give you 100pts for 20x 28mm figurines (@ 5 points each). I hope you could find a few minutes later on to clarify how many points you are claiming. Excellent travail!

 

From PeterB - When Science meets romance and some WW2 Aussies - Romance - 145 Points

 

The lights flickered in the laboratory as the thunderstorm crashed outside. Lightning filled the room with brilliant white as Dr Frankenstein (it's pronounced Fronk-en-steen!) slammed the giant lever down connecting the array of equipment frankensteined together (yep its that kind of post) connecting the lightning rod on the roof to the slab in the centre of the room. On the slab a figure lay, covered in a sheet. Raw electricity pulsed through the corpse and for a brief moment the skeleton was visible as creature glowed with energy. (You know, like when Jerry tricks Tom into shoving his paws into an electric socket.) There was a pause in the storm and the lab was silent. Then, very slowly the creature began to stir. 

"She's Alive!" shouted Frankenstein with giddy abandon. "I've done it again, now I shall have my bride!"

My first entry is a new modern take on a classic. From the horror range, Bad Squiddo games have this great pair of models, gender swapping the classic literary scientist.

Also in this post I can show the results of my experiments of sepia over browns. Last week I was looking for some specific shades. This is because an old wargaming friend had challenged myself and a couple others to a tale of four gamers challenge. (Yes, I am simultaneously taking part in two challenges) Each month we have to paint a set value of models in 20mm scale to then eventually partake in a day's gaming of Rapid Fire WW2 rules. My chosen nation is Australia.

I hope I have done them justice. The models are from Britannia miniatures and my first months budget has enabled me to paint up HQ, an infantry company and a machine gun company. The machine gun company needs a couple of trucks as well, but these will have come out of next months budget.

HQ

Machine gun company

Infantry company

The Points:

2 x 28mm @ 5 points = 10 points

Location bonus = 20 points

25 x 20mm figures @ 4 points = 100 points

1 x 20mm vehicle @ 15 points = 15 points

Total = 145 points

 Sylvain: A very interesting take on the classic tale of Frankeinstein (BTW, was Albert a cousin of Frank?). And these Aussies look like they are just ready to jump into action. Bravo for the truck, this under appreciated companion of all men at war! Superb production this week.

From Millsy: More 28mm WW2 Aussies in the Western Desert (150 points)

G'day All,

I'm back with the second batch of stuff for my Bolt Action 2nd Australian Imperial Force (AIF) for the Western Desert in WW2. This time it is a couple of guns and some mobile pie tins. This lot completes the entirety of the 8th Army Starter Set plus extras.

First up is the iconic QF 25-pdr howitzer. Used by British, Australians and other Commonwealth countries it was a staple of Allied artillery in the Wester Desert and Europe later in the war. Capable of delivering a thumping artillery barrage or firing over open sights in a pinch its a must have in any British army in Bolt Action, fulfilling both the indirect and direct fires roles in a single unit. The turntable and gun shield only add to the versatility and survivability. 

Next up is the QF 6-pdr anti-tank gun. These didn't arrive until well after the campaign started and I wouldn't have one at all apart from it was in the starter set. For now it will do as a proxy for the 2-pdr which is the correct calibre for my 1941 themed force.

Finally here's a couple of Universal Carriers with crews. These are amongst my favourite vehicles for the period for many reasons.

They were used in any number of roles and performed admirably, but look like they were a complete bugger to drive or ride around in under the scorching desert sun. Any Australian will know what a summertime seat belt buckle can do to the inside of your arms and these would have been much, much worse.

Not the easiest things to paint with all the nooks and crannies but an absolutely necessity for my Aussies to feel complete. FWIW I was somewhat tempted to paint these in the controversial Caunter colour scheme but I have never found any in Australian service with that applied so it wouldn't feel right to do it.

Points-wise we have two guns plus six crew at 25 points each, plus two carriers plus eight crew at 40 points each and I'll use this as my "New Acquisitions" entry for the Challenge Library at a further 20 points. All up that makes a nice round 150 points this time out.

Hope you enjoy them and thanks for looking!

Cheers,
Millsy

*****

Fantastic brushwork on these Western Desert Aussies here Millsy. Leaving aside the total nightmare that is the "Caunter" cammo, even finding the right tones for the sun-cooked-khaki-sand is always a b**ch and you have nailed it here. It is great to have you back in the Challenge and once more turning out large amounts of kit painted to a lovely standard. Well done. 150 for you!

Greg 

From Millsy: 28mm WW2 Aussies in the Western Desert (305 points)

G'day All!

I hope everyone is well and enjoying a safe and relaxing break with plenty of hobby time. It's great to be back amongst the best people on the planet and participating in my 12th Challenge! I feel even more like a grognard typing that but it's something I'm proud to have in my hobby history regardless.

My first post this year is a sizable chunk of stuff for a long overdue project from my POV - 2nd Australian Imperial Force (AIF) for the Western Desert in WW2.

Since I started wargaming I've been fascinated by the Western desert campaign and the achievements of the Australians at Bardia, Tobruk, El Alamein and beyond. I've had a matching 15mm Flames of War force for a loooooong time and am always ready to take on any and all comers. The boys never disappoint, even when on the losing side.

Stepping up in scale with the Aussies is something I've really enjoyed. The Warlord Games models are for the most part very nice indeed, with just the odd pose you can mostly work around with some creative modelling. These infantry are almost exclusively from the newer Commonwealth sprues which are good overall but do have some weird gaps like no separate weapons. This meant raiding the bits box to arm a few prone figures but you can't easily tell the weapons are incorrect.

I've also included a number of Eureka Miniatures heads in the iconic slouch hat as the ones on the sprue are too few in number and a bit samey-samey. The sniper team is also from Eureka and very nice indeed. I think it is meant to be a jungle themed set but the bare chest and slouch hat are perfect for the desert. The mortar and MG teams are metal Warlord Games kits.

I won't go into exhaustive detail on the various teams and sections here. There's a command with hangers on, at least one of every basic weapon team option and four medium sized rifle sections. I've limited myself to typical 1941ish Aussie infantry battalion armament so there's no SMGs (proper NCOs carry rifles!) and the Boys AT is the heaviest hitter here. That'll make it a harder list to play vs. vehicles but my main opponent is Italian so apart from (hilarious) light tanks and armoured cars I won't be facing anything armoured anyway.

All up this is 53 infantry and 2 crewed weapons for a total of 285 points. I'm also submitting this as my History entry for the Challenge Library bringing the total to 305 points to start off. The qualified librarian in me wants you to know these will be filed under DDC 940.542 - History and Geography > Europe > Europe1918- > Military History Of World War II > Campaigns and battles by theatre. You learned something today!

Coming up next for this project is a couple of Universal Carriers and an iconic 25pdr howitzer. Eventually there will also be a Matilda II tank and maybe one or two other fluffy items.

Cheers,
Millsy

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Fabulous opening barrage, Millsy!

I admire you painting almost as much as your grasp of Dewey Decimal Classification, young man. I also like your use of Eureka head swaps to add that little bit more Aussieness to your force - well done. Finally I think your desert groundwork spot on. It makes me want to reach for sunscreen and a cool umbrella drink.

305 points is quite the stonk, and puts you at the top of the roster (for now). Congrats! look forward to the upcoming additions to these hard-fighting Rats.

- Curt

From ScottR 15mm Australian Vehicles for NAM by Battlefront. 168 Points

 Hi all and here is teh second last of my Australians for the NAM game by Battlefront.  You saw the infantry and in this painting session i managed to get teh vehicles done.  I had them started by basing tehm with a darkish green.  I wasnt very happy with this a sa base so I went back and did them with a black undercoat.

So with the re-undercoating done.  I needed to find a suitable colour.  I did a bit of investigating through teh RAAC Museum in OZ and found that in the 60 the Centurions and M113s which where new to Australia where done in an Olive Drab base.  I wanted one that was a little less brown than a normal Olive drab so i chose the AK Paints version.

I then did the first coat followed by teh first higlight or modulation.  First modulation was the Olive Drab with a bit of sand mixed in.

The second modulation was using AKs Faded Olive Drab.

After the modulaion was complete I then airbrushed the tracks, exhaust pipes and added stowage of jerry cans and baggage etc.  From here the vehicles were taken to the work bench for a bit of touch up and to paint the crew.  Once this was complete.  I sprayed a light mahogany brown around the track areas, sides, front and rear to look like the rtedish dust found in Vietnam from the dark red soil.  I did it fairly light just to add some tone.

Once this was done the vehicles were airbrushed with AKs satin varnish.  This was left to dry so the decals could be added.  The decals were taken from a couple of references.  These included the red and yellow 'Tac' (Tactical plates for the unit and the Green for the !st Australian Task Force or 1ATF.

The next set were a mix of the squadron and troop markings.  The squadron is the yellow circle on the side of the turret.  The troops is the yellow shiled with the red kangaroo.  There is another with a kangaroo holding an umbrella but couldnt find the mpeg to make the decal.

Great work on these pieces of heavy armour, Scott. The various shades on the armour as well as the decals you have applied (those must be pretty difficult to do at this scale), really add a lot of life to the models. 

As for scoring, I count 20 vehicles as well as a few commanders sticking out of various hatches, so I have assigned points for those. 

From ScottR - 15mm Battlefront Australian Force for NAM (338 points)

 Hi all,

Well after a week away for a break with the wife I returned Sat and got stuck into my NAM.  My friend Dennis is working on his NVA and I am sure you will see some of his work posted here soon.  So I decided to drag out my Australians and get them done.  Now I had the opportunity to clean these up in the week leading up to the kickoff so i was ready to go.

Anyway On my saturday i broke out the airbrush and did a couple of layers of a green basecoat with a top down highlight.  This was followed by wash using the Army painter Strong Tone.  This was followed with a drybrush using Russian uniform with a tiny bit of Deck tan to lighten.

Once the drybrush was done I could start work on teh details.  This included boots, webbing, weapons, radios, binos etc.

Once all the additions were complete i did a base flesh using the rose flesh from Vallejo, this was then finished with a wash using Citadels Guilliman Flesh contrast.

The figures were painted on Sunday with a few small details finished off on Monday.  This gave me the chance to break out the artillery bases and get them built, undercoated and up to the same level as the infantry.

That left Today, Tuesday to get the basing sorted and done.  I started off with AKs Muddy ground.  This was done in the morning and then placed out in front of the gas fireplace to speed up the drying process.  I like the colour, its a nice dark brown with a slight red tinge.  Perfect for a jungle floor!  This was then drybrushed with cavalry brown.  This then left me to work out what sort of ground cover to put down.  While in teh UK i managed to pick up this shredded bark like material and so i figured it would be perfect for the task.

Perfect start.  Now to find some suitable brush that would be very jungle -ish.  Again, going back into my stash of terrain items picked up in the UK, i found some really nice bushes and long grasses.

Ok, I was really happy with the result.  I kept the bushes down to a minimum as in the a thick jungle cover there is very little undergrowth and I ddnt want to smother the miniatures.  Hard to find suitable vegetation for 15mm scale.

So i am pretty happy with the end result.  The next step will be to do the vehicles.  I have 12 Centurions, 8 M113 APcs, 4 M113 FSV (Fire Support Vehicles), 1 UH1H Medivac helo and I was lucky enough to find a 1/144 scale Kiowa observation Helo for the artillery.

I also picked up a 1/144 scale Caribou aircraft used by the RAAF to move supplies and troops.  I have the right decals for it as well and I will hopefully be able to get it done as well.  I aim to do a combat field airstrip terrain piece for it.  Anyway. thats a little down the road.  Vehicles first.  i still ahve to build 4 M113s!

So here they are complete and laid on the table.

Point calculation for Analogue painting

 

25 bases x 4 figures = 100 figures @ 2 points = 200 points

11 bases x 3 figures = 33 figures @ 2 points = 66 points

4 bases  x 4 figures = 16 figures @ 2 points = 32 points

4 10 bases x 1 gun = 4 guns @ 8 4 points = 32 40 points

Total points 320 338.  I couldnt work out what the guns were so i just gave them the vehicle 8 points since the bases were resin terrain pieces as well. :)  

 

Wow, that is a wonderful looking points bomb to start your army off with. The basing materials you have used add a lot to the figures and really evoke the kind of dense, wild terrain the war was fought in. Your preview of the armoured component for your force has me eager to see it completed.

In 15mm, guns are worth 4 points each, but it looks like you have 6 mortar teams in the platoon as well, and I believe that they count as guns too, so while you are scoring less per weapon, your score is a bit higher than you initially thought. 

On a stricter note, please don't forget to add your handle to the labels, it makes things easier when people visit the AHPC blog.