BEF for Chain of Command (5)

Back to the BEF.

A  few more Crusader miniatures, ordered from Northstar a little while ago. Finished now in the hope of getting a game in with Martin.

These fine fellows, along with some of the previously painted should allow me to either field an extra eight man section, or use the slightly larger 1940 organisation.

I also added some support.

The officers and Ben come in a nice "kneeling" pack.

Four more riflemen, either to crew the Vickers, or make up the numbers elesewhere.

Hopefully we'll get in some Early War action in the near future.

Americans for Chain of Command

In an attempt to escalate the arms race with General Ballroom I popped over to see nice Mr Nick at Northstar and got a few packs of Americans.
I wanted a sniper (after my Sergeant was on the receiving end in the Crete game) and an FOO team and I needed a few more riflemen to ensure I had enough crews for the support weapons (as they were originally intended for Bolt Action).

All were done in the same way as the previous ones basic block painting followed by an all over wash. This time, I used Army Painter Strong Tone wash, rather than the dip (mainly so they dried quicker and matt).

They need some static grass adding, but I rushed them in to battle before they got that treatment.

The riflemen are Crusader.
Sniper and FOO team are Artizan.

Crusader Woodland Indians

A selection of Woodland Indians for games of Muskets and Tomahawks or Song of Drums and Tomahawks.

Excellent Crusader Miniatures I picked up from Northstar Nick a while ago. Much nicer IMO than the Conquest/Warlord Marines.
I did, however, fail my courage test for doing warpaint. I've got eight more to do, so may try some on them.

Crusader Ancient Greek Hopilites

I got these for number two son's OGAM forces. Some Unarmoured Hopilites from Crusader Miniatures
They painted up loverly - really nice, simple sculpts. I do like Crusader models, you should go to their store and buy some at once from nice Mr Nick Northstar.
A few base coats and then some Cote d'Arms wash over the top with a minimal amount of highlighting.

I then had a bit of a 'mare with the LBMS shield transfers and I'm still not 100% happy (you can see the joins if you look hard enough). Usually I really like the LBMS transfers but these I just struggled with the curved shield shape.

Anyway, the Gaming Heir has declared himself satisfied, so I suppose that's job done then, apart from adding some tufts to the bases, and maybe a little gloss varnish back over some of the metals (the purity seal has gone very matt on this occasion).

Crusader Greeks (3)

Inching toward the finish now.
Highlights of the base colours applied and then some basing.
Still a few bits to tidy up, like the spear points (would these have been iron or bronze?) and the shields need painting and adding, but they're pretty much done.

Lovely models to paint.

Now I need to finish a Minotaur, Medusa, four centaurs and a pair of gods...

Crusader Greeks (2)

Progress of a sort.
I have tackled these with my version of The Scrivs Method(tm) a single all over coat of a brown wash. The Master's weapon of choice in this matter is Vallejo, but I have no truck with pronouncing js as ys so have instead used Coat D'Arms Medium Brown Super Wash - which I picked up a while ago as replacement for my diminishing supplies of Gryphonne Sepia.
It's like dipping, but without the faff and drying times. I figured over the usual Tallarn flesh it should give me a more Mediterranean skin tone and would nicely make the plain white look more like linen.

I will go back and add some highlights - for that is the Scrivs Way and the models are too nice not to. I'm pretty pleased with how simple and quick this was.

SAGA Scottish Warriors

The warriors that I started last year have finally been finished.
Two points of 8 each for SAGA.

And a few individual shots.

I kept these very simple. I did checks on a few because even through I know tartans are many years after this period, it helps to say "Scotsman" on the tabletop.

Crusader miniatures again, characterful and easy to paint.

With the Thegns and the Warlord this gives me a 4 point warband. I may have to go back to see Mr Nick at Northstar and get myself another couple of points.

Saga Scottish Thegns

Finally finished these four off, well over eighteen months after painting the other half of the pack.

Actually the models were finished long ago, it was the shields and bases that needed finishing off.
Lovely Crusader miniatures that were a joy to paint.

Booty!

I have returned from meolidiz as we say in Hull.
Had a splendid time in Northumbria and then in East Yorkshire and managed to get a small amount of broadly toy soldier stuff squeezed in which will ideally feature here in the next week or so. I also managed to get sunburned while surfing on Tynemouth beach - in your face Bondi!
I returned to some good news about work with my contract being extended for another year, and so decided to treat myself.

Goodies

I picked this little lot up from the ever helpful Nick at Northstar while on my way to collect the offspring from holiday club.
It's a copy of the new Ronin rules which I've been after for a while (I did call on Nick just before departing on holiday in the hope of it being holiday reading but he was still awaiting delivery). Together with a few Crusader and Artizan blisters.

I've been looking for an excuse to buy some of the Perry Korean range since they first came out and Ronin features a list for Koreans. Add to that the fact that one of my regular opponents has a pile of Samurai he's been looking for an excuse to paint and it was a bit of a no-brainer. And cheap too at £11.99 - buy it at that price from Nick, don't support tax dodging onliners for the sake of a few quid.
A quick look through and it seems to be just what I'm after. I'll only need 10 or so models to get started (ideal, should be ready by Easter*) and the rules seem pretty straightforward and clear- certainly compared with Dux Britaniarum that I've really struggled to get my head around.
Nice pictures of models too (mostly of the new ones from Northstar to support the game but also some of the poor WF plastics - albeit with very good Kev Dallimore paintjobs) and some colour plates from the Ospreys as you might expect.
I even realised last night that my LotR Khand and Easterlings could make some stand in models to practice with - though I'm hoping to pick up the Koreans at Partizan next week!

The blisters were an assortment of US Infantry models to expand my Bolt Action force to three squads. Two of riflemen (one Crusader and one Artizan) and a pack of bazookas (my opponent has acquired a Stug) and a mortar (both Crusader). I really enjoyed quickly dipping some of these earlier in the year and think three squads makes for a decent enough game of BA. I've based and undercoated them already and with the kids away next week hope to make speedy progress.
I've also got a plastic Hobby Boss Sherman that I picked up at Salute awaiting assembly, but as I took it on holiday with me and never even got it out of the box I'm beginning to think it was a false economy and I should just have bought a resin model that I don't have to assemble.

*You'll notice I didn't say Easter of which year

Dipped Bolt Action Americans (3)

Blimey has it been a month since I last posted?!
A combination of crazy homelife, busy worklife and a much needed holiday is my excuse for not posting anything recently.
Anyway here's another bunch of US infantry models for my expanding Bolt Action force.
I actually bought and painted these way back before Salute and they've seen action in my (so far) one and only Bolt Action game
They're all Crusader models supplied by the excellent Mr Nick over at Northstar. They're lovely characterful models, nice and chunky and easy to paint. they fit pretty well with the Warlord plastics (though I much prefer them) and were painted the same way as the others in basecoats and dip.
They really don't look as shiny in real life as the pictures make them appear - though maybe I need to go back over everything with the varnish.

  

I also used some of the Warlord plastics to create a medic model

The remaining Warlord models have also been assembled and painted - pictures later this week if I get chance.
As for the game - well it followed my usual gaming pattern and I came a distant second. Good to see that choice of rules makes no real difference to my playing ability.