The model warrior

What I have been reading and browsing over ,as of late.

Posted: January 22, 2015 in 15mm, American, Books, Flames Of War, German, Painting, Reviews, WW2
Tags: 15mm, Books, German, Normandy, Painting, Wargaming, WW2

Been reading a lot recently and I thought I would

share my views on some of the content.

1st The Americans at Normandy by John C.Mcmanus

One of the best books around and a very detailed account

of what the Americans did after they got off the beaches at

the Normandy landings. This book goes into great detail about

the lives of everyday soldiers and the problems they had to

overcome at great cost. Its still unbelievable after all the

planning that went into D-Day that not a thought was given

to the bocage countryside awaiting them, which would

prove a far greater obstacle than any beach defence and cost

a huge amount of lives. Compelling reading beginning to end.

2nd WWII Diorama Art by Roy Wells

This is the first book I have bought off Blurb and I was

extremely pleased with it. Its basically 1/35 scale models

set up in beautiful dioramas but we are talking serious,

serious high quality work. The book covers 20 detailed projects

with high quality glossy images of the superb work. You also get

an inside look towards the end on how the dioramas are built.

For me its something I just pick up now and again when I need

a bit of inspiration or want something to drool over.

3rd Painting Wargame tanks by Ruben Torregrosa & Mig Jimenez

For those of you that recognise the name, “Jimenez” you

probably know what your going to get and your right. Lots

of painting guides using Mig paints(Vallejo) and pigments.

Lots of glossy step by step guides on painting tanks ,including

an early Sherman, Stuart M5 and a Panther Ausf G, Panzer IV,

Panzer III, SDKFZ 251, T34 and Tiger. The book is also split

up into a beginners section and advanced painter.

All in all a good buy with lots of mouth watering pictures.

4th Painting war WWII German Army by Heresybrush

I found this book on http://www.breakingwar.com and also on

http://www.heresybrush.com and its a lovely painting guide on

WWII German soldiers. What makes it really specially is that

includes step by step guides on different size models so

even 15mm is catered for. Once again the guide is Vallejo

paint only but this seems to be the norm in most military

painting these days. This is a very detailed guide and on

looking at the contents covers just about every German uniform

going and more. A must for any miniature German soldier painter.

……………………………………………………….

I hope you liked my reading material and the very quick reviews. All

four were good value for money and are very well presented books.

More soon….

Dipping my toe into a world of Infinity

Posted: January 14, 2015 in 28mm, Infinity, Painting
Tags: 28mm, Corvus Belli, Infinity, Painting

“Click above picture to enlarge”

I think it was the artwork, no it was the

attractive sci fi scenery, no it was the cool

metal figures or was it the low start up price ?

I think in all honestly it was all of them plus

all these mouth watering blogs showing me what

I`m missing out on.

So without further a do I borrowed a spare figure

from a friend and decided to see what I could do

with it and hopefully not scare him with the outcome.

So for me this was a test piece and a giant leap for

40ktermiantus kind into the world of Infinity.

The figure I was kindly loaned(the threat of fairy

green stuff being used if the paintjob was bad focused

my mind) is a Druze Shock Trooper belonging to the

Mercs(Please correct me if wrong ?) and is holding

a spitfire weapon( Please correct me if wrong ?).

Being a test run I went with the standard colour

scheme of a Druze as per the web site glossy

shop front. Please note I found the Infinity web

site beautiful to look at,full of helpful

information and friendly people on the forum.

First thing a noticed about these

figures was the high amount of miniature detail

which is truly stunning. It also makes painting

what looks like a simple 28mm a lot harder.

Anyway after playing around with the colours and

checking out the glossy web shots(Not

many ready made paint schemes out on the net yet as

the product is quiet new) I came up with the colour

scheme below. I had to change a few colours as I went along

because I was not happy with them but overall it came out

not too bad in my eyes.

“Click above picture to enlarge”

The final judging was down to my friend and you will be glad

to hear the fairy spray was not brought into use.

If your an Infinity fan or painter of these figures I would

love to hear your view on my efforts and any improvements

you would make. I think I might go for a camouflage Druze

test figure next ?

If you want to know more about Infinity the game, visit

http://www.infinitythegame.com/ or check out this

dudes site http://www.studiogiraldez.blogspot.co.uk/ ,

because he really knows what he`s doing 🙂

One more question for you Infinity painters is how do

you get the paint colour to look so glossy/shiny or is it

that only the web photos look like that ?

Looking back and looking forwards.

Posted: January 4, 2015 in 15mm, 40k, Flames Of War, Reviews, Uncategorized, WW2
Tags: 15mm, 40k, Flames Of War, Wargaming, WW2

Below is a final tally of what I got finished in 2014

to the best of my knowledge. There are quiet a few things

I have left off because they are too small to mention and

I`m sure somebody will remember something else that I have

just plain forgotten about. Lots of things just don’t make it

onto my blog, especially refurbs and smaller projects.

At 1st glance it looks a lot but just remember all the 28mm

stuff and 15mm will each fit onto a single 2×2 board apart

from the larger bits of terrain.

28mm

4 x Blood Angels Command team
1 x Space Hulk Cat
1 x Black Legion rhino
3 x Blood Angel vehicle crew
5 x Blood Angel scouts
5 x Death Wing Terminators
1 x Large Ork Fort
5 x Blood Angel Terminators
24 x Black Legion Choas space marines
5 x Orks
1 Kromlech Ork cannon
3 x Salamander rhinos
1 x Salamnder Landraider
1 Gothic Church battle board(2 x 2 feet)
10 x Orks
5 x Ork Glyphs
1 X Khorne Berserker
1 x Blood Angel Space Marine
1 x Death Wing Terminator old style
1 x Ork Nob
1 x Ork Copter
9 x Gretchin
5 Ork Nobs
12 x Iron Warriors Chaos Space Marines
1 Iron Warriors Rhino
1 Iron Warriors Warsmith
12 x Imperial Guard & 1 Mortar team
12 x Orks
1 x 40k Statue
2 x Imperial Guard Heavy Weapon teams
2 x Iron Warrios Chaos space marines.
1 x Iron Warriors Terminator
1 x Chaos stone bit of terrain

15mm

5 x Panther tanks
3 x Firefly tanks
10 x T26 tanks
1 Horse drawn ambulance
5 x explosion markers
2 x BT5 tanks
1 x Battle board(2 x 2 feet)
1 x Jagdpanther
1 x SU76
1 x Fuel dump
1 x Command bunker
1 x ISU 2 tank
1 X ISU 152 TD
5 x wooden bunkers
1 X Opel Blitz truck
5 x Sherman tanks
4 x Battle Boards(2 x 2 feet)
5 x Cromwell tanks
Loads of bocage sections for battle board
37 x British infantry
2 x Sexton guns
3 x Bren Carriers
6 x Universal Carriers
3 x 6pdr guns and crews
1 x Matador truck
8 x British MG teams
13 x British Infantry
1 X Normandy Farm complex
4 x M10 tank Destroyers
1 M18 TD
1 Orchard terrain piece
Normandy signs and telegraph poles
2 x Sexton guns
1 x Normandy bridge terrain
3 x Daimler Dingo scout cars
1 x Staghound Scout car
2 X Daimler armoured cars

My plan for 2015 is as follows but I`m bound

to deviate.

1. Lots more tutorials(step by step guides).
2. Lots more terrain.
3. Space Hulk stuff.
4. Infinity.
5. More book reviews.
6. Battle reports.
7. Reports from Wargames shows and museums.
8. Getting to grips with an airbrush.
9. Don’t paint as much stuff as 2014 and concentrate
on the detail and technique.

Finally I have left the piccies until last and

wish to thank everybody who has viewed or commented

on my blog.

Small bits and bobs on the workbench

Posted: December 24, 2014 in 15mm, Flames Of War, Scratch Built, Terrain
Tags: 15mm, Battle Board, Battlefront, Flames Of War, Normandy, Scratch Building, Terrain, Wargaming

I seem to have slowed down as Christmas is crept up

and concentrated on the small bits of detail needed to

bring the battlefield to life.

More walls(you can never have enough walls), a water trough

and pump by Hovels, a well from Hovels, a barn from a cannot

honestly remember(I buy things and they sit in boxes for ages

and then I remember them but for the love of.. I cant think

where I bought them from !) and some crafty animal water troughs/

feeders which have come from a new spring of battlefield goodies

I discovered recently. The spring of goodies is the world of miniature

dolls houses and farm equipment and its huge and full of 15mm/20mm size

objects 🙂

Anyway I bought a couple of cow looking troughs and stuck them to

side of the building and a wall and filled them with Scenic realistic

water(I tried E-Z water 1st but was not happy with the result). Add on

some foliage and Bobs your uncle. I also scratch built a tap on the side

of the barn to feed the trough.

None of its actually finished yet but nearly there.

Finally just got to say to everybody, “Have a wonderful

Christams and I hope Santa brings everything you want“. Failing

that do what I do every year,put your own presents under the

tree lol

Forces Of War. The Flames Of War Company Builder

Posted: December 11, 2014 in 15mm, Battlefront, Flames Of War, Reviews, WW2
Tags: 15mm, Battlefront, Flames Of War, Wargaming, WW2

Its just been released today specifically for people playing Flames Of War.
Basically its an online army generator saving you the time and effort to
work out what you can and cannot field on the table.

Here is the official line :

Forces Of War gives you the ability to prepare and refine army lists effortlessly.
This website is an automated tool which lets you trial endless combinations of platoons
and options from Flames Of War Intelligence Briefings until you find the ideal design
for any points level or model collection. Not only does it allow you to build the perfect army list,
but also print it out in an attractive, easy-to-read format, including the appropriate
Arsenal data and Special Rules for your force.

Beware there is a cost involved but its a lot cheaper than buying all the books.
Rough costs work out at $16 an online briefing compared to a $50 book.
You can also have smaller briefings at a $1 a go. Its also only in ipad format so far, I think ?

Follow the link below : http://forces.flamesofwar.com/index.aspx

A big plus for this as I see it is that its much easier to have a tablet on your
gaming board with all the rules, lists and info than half a dozen large books.
The storage factor is also a large plus as I have shelves of books going dusty.

I will be giving it a go later and will report back.

My 15mm British Arsenal so far….

Posted: December 9, 2014 in 15mm, Battlefront, British, Flames Of War, WW2
Tags: 15mm, Battlefront, British, Flames Of War, Normandy, Wargaming, WW2

As the end of the Year is just round the corner I

decided to go for a group shot of my growing British

forces which are being assembled to take on my Panzer

Lehr sledgehammer.

Just click on a picture to enlarge. Be aware these

pictures are quite big 🙂

Plenty more room on the table so best get painting.

I think some aerial power is required ?

15mm British M10 SP Achilles Anti Tank Platoon

Posted: December 9, 2014 in 15mm, Battlefront, British, Flames Of War, WW2
Tags: 15mm, Battlefront, British, Flames Of War, Normandy, Wargaming, WW2

Everybody needs something to stop the Panzers in

their tracks and these babies could do just that.

17pdr guns that had better performance than the

German 75-mm (long) or 88-mm counterparts.

All four are made by Battlefront and I have chopped

and changed the crews to make them as British looking

as possible. Out with helmets and in with the berets and

pipes. The vehicles have 75th Anti-Tank Regiment markings

which once gain fits nicely into the 11th Armoured Division

tree.

Click on an image to enlarge 🙂

15mm British Reconnaissance

Posted: December 9, 2014 in 15mm, Battlefront, Flames Of War, WW2
Tags: 15mm, Battlefront, British, Flames Of War, Normandy, Wargaming, WW2

Continuing with my British forces I decided to add

some much needed recon starting with an Armoured

Car Platoon. I have started with 3 Daimler Dingos

by Battlefront,2 Daimler Mk1 Armoured Cars by

Battlefront and a beefy Staghound by Skytrex. I

already have a Carrier Platoon so I can mix and

match as required in the reconnaissance role.

All the vehicles and markings still fit into the

11th Armoured umbrella with the “44” being the

“Inns Of Court Regiment”

I have added some extra stowage and changed a

few of the crew. I also added aerials which are

essential for a recon vehicle to report back what

it can see.

Click on any image to enlarge 🙂

Project : Normandy terrain boards stage 8.

Posted: November 26, 2014 in 15mm, Flames Of War, Project, Scratch Built, Terrain, WW2
Tags: 15mm, Battle Board, Bocage, Flames Of War, Normandy, Terrain, Wargaming, WW2

Sorry if you thought I was done but I needed

another two boards. Specifically I wanted a

river/stream, a bridge, trenches and just a bit

more bocage.

To save time I borrowed two old flat terrain

boards from the shed and started converting

them. I have made and painted the bridge and

found a pillbox going spare which will look

right at home hidden in undergrowth.

Click on a picture to enlarge :

The two boards look a bit rough but bare with

me because as mentioned they have been re-used.

The first board sits on the left and contains the

trench system I am currently building out of balsa

wood. Its raised ground so will be able to cover

and arty spot all six boards eventually. It will

also be buried under bocage and have a stream

running above it as marked by the stick.

The trench will go under ground at the right hand

side of the board and reappear on the next board.

This way the join marks are nicely concealed 🙂

The board on the right has two artillery emplacements

either side of a road with the stream running in front

of it with a bridge.

The trench system comes in from the left side.

Sorry if the pictures are hard to understand,

but all will become clearer shortly.

Nominations for Wargaming Blog Excellence Award

Posted: November 24, 2014 in 40k, Awards, Uncategorized
Tags: 40k, Wargaming, Warhammer

I was recently nominated for a Wargaming Blog

Excellence Award by http://daggerandbrush.wordpress.com/

and a while back somebody nominated me for a Liebster

Award. After saying thank you and feeling slightly

embarrassed and honoured at the same time I have finally

got myself into a position to respond in kind.

Wargaming for me is not just WW2,its Ancients,its Sci Fi,

its Warhammer and all its baggage, its board games, its computer

games, its remote control tanks, its re-enactments

and its full of scratch built goodies.

So without further ado these are the things I look for in a blog

that keep me coming back. Bright,glossy pictures that the person

has taken time to compose and get just right. Some background

information and in depth facts about what the pictures cannot

tell. Tutorials and guides on how things were painted or

created. Answer all the comments on your blog and leave loads

of comments on other peoples blog, it gets noticed.

Most important to me personally and the reason I love blogs

is the tiny gems you find every now and again. What gets me

painting and building is inspiration which just oozes out

blogs more than any company website. One tiny blog on

somebody converting a bog standard 1/72 Airfix tank with a

cocktail stick and a plunger(unusual example I grant you) is

worth a thousand times more than the company “How to construct”

list and suggested paints !

Listed below are some of my favourite blogs who I find hard

to separate in order and thus rank them all on a par of

excellence.

DAGGERANDBRUSH

http://daggerandbrush.wordpress.com/

What I love about this blog is the trees. If you have ever modelled

a humble tree for your model railway or Wargaming board I bet you

they never looked this good. If Michelangelo had space he would

have included them on the Sistine Chapel. Apart from the heavenly trees

the blog is full of detailed background information and lovely photography.

Plus loads of posts on Ancients, Fantasy, Napoleonic and more.

ARKIEGAMER

https://arkiegamer.wordpress.com/

Where to start ? For me the outstanding thing about this blog is the

warm feedback you get from its excellent wargaming blogger and its

what a blog should all be about. Added to that are detailed battle

reports to die for and plenty of beautiful pictures to go with it.

Wargaming information from WW2 in 20mm and loads of American Civil

War stuff, Napoleonic and the occasional visit to a Wargaming

convention where he gets dragged(pleasantly) into playing .

SHO3BOX

http://sho3box.wordpress.com/

Colour, more colour, strange plants and weird things and

that’s why I love this blog. A well presented blog,with

superb painting, pictures and articles. Forget run of the mill

and think out of the box. You just have read the battle report

Lost in Translation http://sho3box.wordpress.com/2014/10/23/inquisitorpulp-alley-lost-in-translation/

to get an idea of what this site is about. Oh a word of warning,

your going to get a strange urge to buy a Dr Zoidberg figure for

your gaming table after reading this blog 🙂 I now have one lol

As mentioned all 3 are excellent blogs but I came across a blog

only last week that for me just nails it.

WARHAMMER 39,9999

http://warhammer39999.wordpress.com/

I`m a sucker for history and beautiful architecture and wandering

round the inside of a Cathederal is right up there on a par with

Bovington Tank museum to me(strange comparison but that’s how I tick).

Its especially fun for me as I see lots of 40k Gothic building possibilities

in the architecture and whats always been my plan was to copy those

beautiful stained glass windows.

My prays were answered with the following post : http://warhammer39999.wordpress.com/2014/10/15/stained-glass-windows/

Whats more the post includes free PNG files of the windows to

download at your pleasure.

I love the posts in this blog and I love the building work,but

most of all I love the spirit of giving your hard work away

just to help fellow gamers.

It was that tiny gem that inspired me and thus the reason

to give warhammer 39,9999 my vote.

Good luck everybody and

keep blogging your excellent blogs because it saves me

buying books to read 🙂

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