Production Line Painting:Pt2

The next stage that I carry out is the flesh painting. First up I ensure that the painting area has enough light. I prefer natural light over artificial, and with summer on the way this is when most of my figure painting is carried out.
I use standard Humbrol Enamel Flesh with a little earth brown added to it.I use this because I am old school and a cheap bugger. I place a little on a brush and simply dab the excess off on a piece of plastic and with whats left on the brush hairs gently wipe it across any exposed skin features.

At this stage I am not concerned about if I put paint on any of the uniforms or equipment. This is because the next layers of paint shall cover it. I do try not to paint Helmet chin straps however as I believe this gives the face a little more definition and adds some scale. The webbing straps for the Battle Bowler are usually OD, but at this scale I feel black is probably a better option for visual appearance.

Production Line Painting:Pt1

I am carrying out a batch of production line painting for 1980's - 1990's British Army. I really should be painting Australians, but as these will be individually based they are a little easier to paint. First up, after cutting from the sprue and removing the flash is the wash. This is important to remove any oils from the plastic, even the oil from your skin can fault your paint job so a warm wash in mild dish washing liquid followed by a air dry really is essential.
Next I secure the dried figures with a double sided sticky tape to a painting tray, or piece of wood. I leave a little space to allow for spray painting at different angles. I generally paint in the wood shed as it has good ventilation and is free from gusts of winds.

I give the figures a quick coat of cheap Matt Black Auto primer, then allow to dry, this takes around 10 minutes. I then give a more generous coat to ensure total coverage. Spraying takes place from about 300mm, this stops a heavy coat accidentally being applied.

After leaving in a warm place for 24 hours the time has come to base the figures. You don't have to base them at this stage but I find that its makes the figures easier to handle when painting. I have seen people attach them to plastic bottle caps to paint, but this as always seemed like and extra step to me as you will have to remove them from the cap afterwards and rebase them.

Seen above I have used 5 cent coins, I like coins as they give the figure weight and balance (as well as increasing their value!), but washers or counters do the job just as good. I simply apply the figure with some PVA white glue and leave for a night. PVA is really a wonderful product and is a must for any wargamer! Well that's the easy part next comes the painting.

Airfix Matilda II: 'Treadheads Unite'

Completed my duo of Airfix Matilda II Tanks last night that will be part of my Tarakan Australian Invasion Force 1945.
Looking at reference photo's, Aussie Matilda's were simply marked with Unit Badge on the front, Tank Vehicle Serial on hull side and Vehicle Call Sign on the turret. These markings are not the actual tank or unit marking used on Tarakan, but are close enough for wargaming. I could not resist the Australian Flag decal, that had been haunting my spares box for years.

I weathered some mud on the hull and tracks, as the terrain was not exactly all sandy beaches.

The second Tank is 'Bert', which I think is a great Aussie handle. Interestingly the Matilda II was the only British Tank to remain in service throughout the war.

So I have now some Armour for my Invasion Force, next up I had better start adding to my Infantry tally. Actually I spent a few hours last night on figures...but they were for a different project, sometimes it's hard to stay focused on the object right in front of you.

Airfix Matilda II: Aussie Update

Carrying on with the Australian Matilda armour for Tarakan. Primary coat of OD Green applied yesterday since it was a nice sunny day, but I spent most of the remainder of the sunshine in the garden catching up with the chores. I will start the detailing painting later today...having trouble staying on track with this project has being sick has sucked the energy out of me, but it's time to pull finger!

Italeri WW2 Anti Tank Teams: PSR Update

Having just read the reviews from the Plastic Soldier Review website, and seen the pictures I have come to the following conclusion...yum! Sure it's true that the set does not seem to really focus on the 'Anti Tank Team' role at all, but that does not distract from it's role in helping bulk up any of the 'Big Four' armies of the period.

I think Italeri have really been mistaken in their description of the kit, instead of 'Anti Tank Teams' a better offering would be 'Infantry Support WW2'.

I think that all figures offer something to the wargamer except for perhaps the Germans of which are over indulged in most figure scales. The Soviet and the British Para's are of particular interest as these bulk out the existing Italeri sets of these forces on the market.

One or two packets will certainly be on my list for the Christmas buy up.

Airfix Matilda II: Australian Armour

I managed to make it to work today after three days off being quite ill, but was sent home after they discovered I still had 18 days of sick leave still owing. (I did look like death as well). So I gathered out of the hoard two Airfix Matilda Mk II's that I will transform into Australian Armour for the upcoming Tarakan 1945 game. They were not in bad shape and so only a wash in warm soapy water was used to remove any grease from the kit.
After drying in the sun I spray painted both kits matt black from a primer can and left them in the veges patch on anti snail patrol duties. Note the pair creeping up from the lettuce bed into the potato crop for a quick recce;amazing stuff!

Revell Late War British Army:Pt3

Final postings on this set from Revell, above we have the Bren gun being held 'by the book' i the prone position. Really nice figure that reminds me a lot of the Matchbox Bren gunner from the 8th Army Set.
With every set there seems to be a mandatory figure of 'Grenade thrower' and this set is no exception. This pose contains a bit of animation however and again is a vast improvement on the ESCI set.

Another Bren gunner pose and possibly the weakest in the set, the carry handle on the Bren was more for changing the barrel rather than for movement of the weapon. Carrying the weapon in the field like this, would leave the gunner with no real control over the weapon, and little time to get it into action. Again another Rifleman pose, with a sense of purpose. The rifle has a spike bayonet attached to it, in which I have removed on a few figures to mix it up a little.

Final figure of the set is a sten gunner, which is beautifully detailed including the bolt on the weapon. All the figures in the set are in full fighting order including packs and entrenching tools and are not half as naked as say ESCI British Commando's. Overall if you are going to build a North West Europe British force for 1944/45 than these are the basis for your unit.

Revell Late War British Army:Pt2

Continuing on with the Revell Late War British Army, we have the No 2 for the Brengun team. Easily identified by the quad set of Bren ammo pouches on the front of the chest.
Here I have cut off the top set of pouches for some variation, in fact pictures of troops actually using this rig are quite rare.

Officer/NCO figure. This has plenty of animation and direction about it.

It's probably my favourite pose, and like the rest of the figures it does drybrush well.

PIAT, attached to Platoon HQ a team formed the basis of the Anti Tank power at Platoon level. Revell have not followed ESCI mistake and have moulded the front stand correctly. It will be interesting to see Italeri's new set of Anti Tank Teams due out before Christmas.

Revell Late War British Army:Pt 1

One of my favourite sets of WW2 figures are Revell's Late War British Infantry. This is a very well planned out set, with no bad poses in my opinion. I had planned for a wargame army for these figures and I had only a couple of nights to paint them, so I used a dry brush Technique to achieve my target. having such great detail they lend themselves to this very well. First up is the two inch mortar, you get three per set, that's enough for three Platoons worth.
Another great thing about the set is the simple ways to slightly change some of the figures, simply removing the shovel blade or changing its colour can make a difference.

Riflemen, at the shoulder. Nice detail in the No4 Lee Enfield and the figure actually comes with a leather jerkin. However I have paint converted most of these. Late war Helmet is also worn.

I used different colours for the webbing as weathering dictates the colour in the field, not the RSM.

Infantryman with munitions carrier for the Mortar or PIAT. again leather jerkin worn and another nice touch is the .303 ammunition bandoleers. Really if you look at the PSR site I feel that they hurried the review of these figures, not much effort compared to the latest reviews seemed to have been carried out. It would be nice if they returned to some of their reviews and put a little more detail and info into them.

Plans up until Xmas

This weekend my future plans until Christmas have been under review. With wargaming season coming up I have nailed down an optimistic plan of attack.

Tarakan 1942: I will help Al from 20th Century Wargames to furnish the landscape and perhaps some vehicles for this Dutch vs Japanese Battle.

Tarakan 1945: Following the 1942 Battle, we will battle its recapture in 1945 by Australian Forces. I have spent quite a few hours in research this weekend, going over the war diaries contained on the Australian War Memorial Website; http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/war_diaries/second_world_war/class.asp?levelID=20

These are simply brilliant as you can actually get down to platoon level patrols reports, PW interrogations, and maps.

I have also looked at my basing for CD3, off which Al has been helping me with. Troops have been gathered for this already, and I am looking for some vehicles to equip this force.

Falklands 1989: This will be a repeat of the Invasion of 1982, instead set in 1989, I will need to work out some serious painting schedules to get this up and running.

NZ Military Models: Myself and a few others have been 'ordered' to construct some NZ Forces vehicles,Ships and Aircraft for a display cabinet at the local establishment. This will be a off and on affair, as my workload dictates.

It will be interesting to see how well I can stick to this plan.

Operation 'Frisbee' Disaster!

Playing in the grounds of the Manor last evening proved to be a uncomfortable experience. With Master Sean launching some fairly excellent Frisbee throws, I misjudged a particularly fast chuck that impacted directly on my exposed top jaw (ie; mouth was open at time).

While the pain was not on the bad side, later that night whilst tucking into a very fine Garlic Steak that cook had prepared, my eye tooth dispatched half of itself amongst the salad.

Drat! As it was reasonably late and not really a emergency I have resisted the urge to visit the hospital A & E and instead will go to the GP later this evening to procure some antibiotic's to reduce the swelling on my affected side of my face. Alas the tooth itself is a total loss and the nerve ending is quite annoying hanging down.

I am the Elephant Man!

Airfix 1/24 Hurricane Mk 1

Insert box art here* (Because you forgot to take a photo of the entire kit, you twit)

These are the last of the pictures from the Model Display last weekend. I thought this 1/24th Scale Hurricane was a real standout.

Detailing and weathering were really top notch. I love the Hurricane, none of the grace or flair of the Spitfire, but a 'Workhorse' and practical look about it.

Maybe in a few yeas when my eye's begin to fail this scale will be the one for me.

More Aircraft

Douglas A-1H Skyraider

Continuing on from last nights post on Model Display Aircraft, we have the classic post war Douglas A-1H Skyraider. This huge prop driven attack aircraft was a true workhorse of the Korean and Vietnam conflicts, able to carry a payload of over 3.5 tons and able to remain aloft for 10 hours without refueling the 'Spad' remained in US Service for over 25 years.
Spitfire
This example had a well weathered look about it, that did not go over the top, also the base made it stand out from the rest of the aircraft.

F-86A Sabre

Silver is a fine colour for a fighter, and this Sabre looked like it had just come off the assembly line. I really like US Fighter aircraft from the 1950's and 60's, maybe its the uncluttered look.

Arado 234 'Blitz'

Worlds first operational Jet Bomber, it could not be intercepted under normal circumstances and it was planned to produce 500 a month in 1945. The engines were it's real handicap with an engine change every 10 hours being the norm.

North American P-51D Mustang

A mild weathered look and great decaling made this kit catch my eye.

Model Display Aircraft

Vought F4U-I RNZAF

The RNZAF operated 13 Squadrons of these Aircraft during WW2 in the Pacific
Curtiss P-40M Kittyhawk
Adorned with white combat markings to distinguish P-40 aircraft from the 'Tony' Type 3 F. RNZAF Kittyhawks shot down 99 Japanese Aircraft over the Solomons in 1943.

Messerschmitt Bf 109

Les Holmes 1/48 Me 109. Les was an Art Teacher at the High School I attended in the 80's, he as done a superb job on this kit and particularly the painting. The spinner was hand painted over a 9 hour period...madness!

Another shot of the Bf 109

A-4K Skyhawk RNZAF

Again a really excellent example of painting, this time the airbrushing on this 'Squawk' was outstanding. It was great to see the amount of RNZAF Aircraft modelled at the Display, more tomorrow.

Latest Arrivals

Al kindly dropped off a 'care' package while we were setting up the WW1 wargame last Friday, as we were so busy that weekend I did not have time to review the contents until Sunday night. First up was a packet of 'Super Clay' of which Al had constructed his excellent sandbags with. Al reckons that it beats products like 'Das' hands down, so I will be keen to give it a try.
Next up was four generous sized bags of a flocking material Al uses for his hedging. All different colours which will be a welcome addition to my depleted stock, so hedges are on the way.

My only purchase of late were to complete and bound sets of 'Military Modeling', years 1974 and 1975. Great magazines for their day, these are packed with painting guides, reference articles and kit conversions. I have already singled out a couple of items of interest for Summer Nights modeling.

Back to Al's care package, I was delighted to find a selection of the Awesome Matchbox 'NATO Paratroopers, delighted being an understatement...I was rapt. I have long been after some of these figures, of which I think are perhaps the best produced 'Post war' examples of their kind.

I have a definite plan for them and will reveal all as it progresses. Many thanks Al, you are both a Scholar and a Gentleman.