Tag: 1/72

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miniatures painting wargaming

A tale of two painting events

Winter 2023/2024 proved to be quite productive painting wise. I don’t keep stats on numbers painted although I do record my painting colours and techniques in case I wish to replicate a figure/unit.

“Paint What You Got” by Dave Stone and “Analogue Hobbies Painting Competition” (AHPC) by Curtis Campbell and Co. both provided a big push to my painting in a very positive way.

In both cases I had planned a limited involvment to secure yet more mid 19th century completed units for my Danish and Germanic forces of the 1st Schleswig Holstein War.

Initially all went well and the fruits of my work can be seen on the AHPC14 site and in previous posts on this blog.

Paint What You Got

Paint What You Got II – better late than never

Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge 2023/24

Then I fully succumbed to the “Library Challenge” on offer with the AHPC event.

So out went the 19th century and in came whatever thematic library section I found myself in next.

The result?

  • One 1/72 Reconnaisance Spitfire – now gifted to a lover of all things aerial.
  • One 28mm Noggin the Nog super hero from the 1960’s childrens black and white TV. Bought from the Little Toy Soldier online shop.
  • One 28mm General Siskorski hero of the free Polish during World War 2: A Partizan Newark freebie.
  • One 25mm veteran (1980’s) games workshop fantasy Cyclops: found at Doncaster Toy Fair.
  • One 28mm Empress Matilda (12th century): A Partizan Newark freebie
  • One home built “button monster” (DeathZap Pastor created these inspiring SciFi/Fantasy creatures)
  • One home built “Nissen Hut” left behind in some village in the East of England after world war 2 “upcycled” – before the term was invented – to a village library.

Quite a haul and it was a very satisfying period of painting and making. The AHPC served up some great contact with the other painters as well.

After what was in effect for me a serious 12 week painting/creating blast – I literally hung up my paint brushes. March has rapidly become April and I have been drifting: I cannot blame outdoor activities like gardening as spring has been one soggy wet mess and still is.

So much for getting on with the 1st Schleswig Holstein War forces. That project has been a case of two or three steps forward yet now stopped.

Maybe that stop was coming anyway. My Wargame projects have that way of shuddering to a halt for no good reason.

1940 France – mk1 spitfire in camomint camouflage
1980’s games workshop fantasy cyclops rescued from Doncaster toy fair!
12th century Empress Matilda – a freebie from Newark partizan show
Just squeezing onto the painting pedestal is a scratch built ww2 Nissen hut library from the post war
Polish General Siskorski again a Newark Partizan freebie and the link is double in that Newark was home to polish air squadrons during ww2 and after General Siskorski and his family died in an unexpected plane crash over Gibraltar in 1943 the general was buried in Newark until repatriated in the 1990’s
Noggin the nog
A German ww2 magazine freebie with mods to make a sci fi character of sorts
A button monster made from a 54mm ww2 soldier.
AHPC 14 proved to be very productive!
Categories
miniatures painting wargaming

Blog Influences 4 Pauls Bods

Pauls Bods is a blog that celebrates 1/72 plastic wargames figures. Yet it is so much more because Paul as an ace modeller who can turn even unpromising sculpts into fantastic pieces of the wargamers art.

His head, body and everything else swops are inspiring.

He also has a great sense of humour which appears often in his creations.

The headline image is of my own work prompted by Paul’s bods. Taking a leaf from his book I painted some mini art medieval cavalry that were given a searingly negative plastic soldier review.

Here are some posts highlighting the range of his work.

http://paulsbods.blogspot.com/2010/10/run-rabbit-run.html

http://paulsbods.blogspot.com/2010/10/houstonbeepwe-have-problembeep.html

http://paulsbods.blogspot.com/2010/12/airfix-acw-infantry.html

http://paulsbods.blogspot.com/2010/12/world-war-ii-deserters.html

http://paulsbods.blogspot.com/2011/03/dalek-command-post.html

http://paulsbods.blogspot.com/2011/01/after-sandstorm.html

http://paulsbods.blogspot.com/2011/04/new-set-from-e-bay.html

http://paulsbods.blogspot.com/2011/04/bear-fight.html

http://paulsbods.blogspot.com/2011/04/airfix-guards-band.html

http://paulsbods.blogspot.com/2011/08/fantasy-island.html

Sadly I think his work is disappearing as some of it was in paid storage products that no longer operate.

Categories
wargames blog wargaming

Blog Influences 3

Ancients were my primary interest at the time I encountered blogging and began to follow various sites.

So a couple more blogs that caught my eye and propelled my interests in 20-25mm or 1/72.

First up is Philotep whose 1/72 minis kingdom showed what potential there was in these minis when well painted. Very inspiring.

Second is Parade Ground Again 1/72 going on 20mm this blog also introduced me to Newline figures which I had seen at a few shows in bare metal but never registered until I saw the painted product online.

Ironically blog interest itself resulted in my interests in wargaming changing. My Ancient armies remain largely a work in progress.

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miniatures painting wargaming

Paint What You Got II – better late than never

Unfortunately I bit off my than I could chew entering two painting challenges over Christmas. Dave Stone had kindly let me in to “Paint What You Got” after it started. That would have been fine except I had not bargained for the effect of the library theme at AHPC14.

The upshot is that I have only managed two of my many units on the paint production line before the challenge ended. But I reckon this last unit needs to see the light of day.

The first units completed were the 15th and 7th Prussian Landwehr circa 1848.

And then I did nothing – well I managed to slowly progress one unit and that was my Danish Volunteer Cavalry circa 1848.

These had been started back in January 2023!

They are based on an illustration in Ralph Weavers excellent Partizan Historical Guide on the First Schlieswig Holstein War.

This short war yielded a lot of volunteer units which adds to the variety of uniforms recorded as in being around this time.

The figures are Strelets 1877 Russian Hussars which were the nearest match I could make without modifications – especially as I was looking for raised kepis. Headgear is a bit of an issue in 1/72 plastics. However cut and pin techniques are easily done. Here instead I felt I could ignore the hussar details. further license is the pistols – I reckon the officers have privately got themselves the brand new colts from the USA! Apparently this was quite common in the mid 1900’s. Anyway as a volunteer unit I am assuming the regular quartermaster stores were short for them…..

Increasingly I am using contrast colours in a way I have used washes in the past. As GW citadel seraphim sepia has been very popular I first tried their CC browns. And I have used them here on the horses.

Coat d’Arms horse basic colours were overpainted with Citadel Contrast Gulliman which was a bit of a sudden test on my part. It worked for me although I was already happy with the CD’A colours.

The other use was to cover a very flat and washed out VJ intermediate green with Citadel CC warp lightening green. This darkened and enriched the green uniform more to my liking.

Other than that I just used regular acrylics from Vallejo.

Basing used my standard 3 colour over bird grit tried and tested GW suggestion from many moons ago. And this time I used some tall 12mm gamers grass with a dead wintry/summer look. I have found the gamers grass tufts very effective.

Well that wraps up my Paint What You Got challenge. Better late than never I say. It has been a success because 3 units have moved off the production line – all having started their long journey back in January 2023.

Thanks to Dave Stone for organising and maybe next time I might be a bit more focused.

Where are those pesky Prussians?
Categories
miniatures painting wargaming

Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge 2023/24

For some reason this year I decided to enter a painting event in the darkest month and promptly joined two, both before Christmas.

Daft I know.

I have already posted about “Paint what you’ve got“.

In this post you can see my first entries into the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge 14 or AHPCXIV.

Why enter? good question for me – as these events have not really been my thing in the past. I suppose I entered because some other bloggers I follow do it and it seemed they had fun?

I did tip my toe in the water with Dave Stones one where I completed a tower. That was only back in August last year scenery season challenge

Then again I decided it might help me with my painting plans. Quite simply the answer to that has been proven to be a resounding YES. It definitely focused the mind and I have painted more since entering both events.

However I have also deviated from my plans in an enjoyable way.

In keeping with my purpose to increase painting activity my Danish Forces of 1848 have been first to benefit.

I decided to bring forward units earmarked for the back end of the project. First up I chose to paint some Danish Guards and then some Danish Light Infantry.

In my next few posts I will pick up what AHPCXIV has been landing on the Painting Pedestal.

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wargame shows wargaming

Vapnartak 2024

Well suddenly VAP was here and then gone for another year.

I turned up early and got in quick and did a rapid recce including the bring and buy.

I managed one participation game in the end, collected some preordered figures, bought some stuff I had not planned to, but did want, and chatted quite a bit.

The show seemed as busy as last year but maybe emptied out a bit quicker? These thoughts are subjective as it depends what your doing and when – you don’t notice stuff going on if your immersed in a game or a conversation.

Overall I had a good VAP24 and the queue seemed to move promptly at ten with plenty of attendants present: Last year there was a slow ticket purchase process which delayed entry obviously causing a deal of grief for the punters.

The reenactment vikings entertained the front of the queue – not sure it was appreciated as people often use the queue time to chat. It was a neat idea though.

Onto my purchases

Ubiquitous pendraken bases and some neat spears
I kept meaning to buy some extra road and of the flexible kind – these are from early war miniatures
Plus a curve
At Irregular miniatures I picked up my preorder of two packs of colonial British in bell shakos which will give two battalions each of Danish infantry 1848 and a Tuscan regiment along with some 1848 danish artillery in bell shakos

I participated in the Lance and Longbow Society game – this time it was 1177 and the crusades. Modified Lion Rampant and 1/72 plastics in abundance. It was fun.

Lance and longbow society game – Saladin attempts to halt Baldwin, but it was not his day. Loads of 1/72 plastic miniatures on display and no heavy lifting!

I went with three gamers. We puzzled about whether the show was busy or different compared to other years. It felt like another transitional VAP reflecting hobby developments.

This Venice game shows how scenery quality has really been transformed by the industry offerings in the hands of talented wargamers

2022 felt the benefit of post covid and lockdown ending while 2023 felt that some changes were afoot. In 2023 we said goodbye to the likes of SHQ Miniatures and Magister Militum (in the past MM had been a significant stand at VAP).

Harrogate Wargames’s club offered the battle of ferrybridge – a wars of the roses action in 28mm

It felt though that there were less games this time. The normally crowded ground floor had some big spaces, mainly around the York Club game tables.

Then again it felt like more use had been made of the upper floors to give people more space for circulation. Frankly in previous virtual scrums were a big deterrent in reaching some traders.

Overall this extra room was a really good thing. And accessibility was improved as a result.

1866 kepis in Europe – once again Garibaldi is up against papal forces and losing?

I reckon there were 65 tables all up this year (all types of activity) compared to 57 in 2022 but it seemed many were smaller offerings: For example Helion Books were absent. But their space was used by a smaller vendor.

And the bring and buy seemed to have less turnover – I went at the beginning and some sellers were still there much later on.

Which ever way you cut it VAP is still a great show to meet the hobby, throw dice and make some sound buys.

Roll on VAP2024.

Categories
miniatures painting wargaming

The Painting Pedestal 24b the confederacy marches….

So I will kick off the painting pedestal slot in 2024 with some more pickelhaubes.

In this case it is some Oldenburgers. These chaps are again a straightforward repaint of Hat ww1 german infantry. The pickelhaube sculpting works to my advantage having a higher crown. This gives a nod to the the Pickelhaube design prior to 1870.

And 1848 was still a time for Shakoes. Another contribution to the German Confederates is this unit of Saxons. They are SHQ Napoleonic Hanoverian’s. I have not been able to track down a suitable officer/musician/flagbearer set as it appears the SHQ ranges are incomplete.

I really like the facial sculpting on these SHQ metal figures. This is notable because with 1/72 plastics the mould line/flash and sculpting often all come up short at the face.

Of course at 3 feet – my normal viewing – this is all academic.

Categories
miniatures painting wargaming

Paint What You Got

Once again I have belatedly found a painting challenge. This one by Dave Stone started at Christmas and is about getting stuck into your figures backlog – assuming you have one?

This is my first contribution.

15th regiment

These figures were prepped and on painting sticks on the 10th January 2023 according to my painting journal. A year in production is not uncommon in the Erratics world. I had made more progress by November with the main colours done when I stopped all existing production to do some new acquisitions!!!!!

Finally I have finished them complete with gaming bases.

For many years I did not record my painting activity or maybe kept random notes until with lockdown I decided to consolidate my notes and eventually opted for a handwritten journal. It has stood the test of time and has repaid the effort as I have added duplicate figures and simply dug out the recorded paint guide.

These figures are Hat 1/72 World War One German Infantry who have simply been given a paint job. I decided the boot detail was fine at even close distance. This then magically turned them into the 7th and 15th Landwehr Regiments of 1848 who marched into the First Schlieswig Holstein War.

7th regiment

The bases use my standard technique taken from Warhammer Ancient Battles – birdcage grit on PVA followed by Burnt Sienna, an Ochre dry brush and a yellow white highlighter. I then use a Javis mid green turf to finish. Bases are from pendraken.

Cockades were popular

The figures are based on 4 No. 40mm square bases which allow me to use a variety of wargame rules.

In line for a variety of rules

The flag is from Warflag (They are certainly worth a donation or a few) and I have opted for plain flower arranging wire flagpoles with the paper flags glued to recycled covid testing sticks – the hollow sticks fit the wire just right. I am still deciding on how to arrange them – whether to give them caps to set them at the height I want. Right now they just drop onto the figure.

Ok so pistols were only just arriving in 1848 but I like the figure as is…

The only difference between regiments is in the shoulder strap colours. The 7th are yellow while the 15th are light blue.

My reference book is Ralph weavers armies of the first Schleswig Holstein war 1848-1851 published by partizan.

Brilliant guide by Ralph weaver

You can also see a glaring mistake – one base incomplete with only two figures. Quite simply back in 2023 I managed to miscount the figures being put on sticks and never checked again until basing them! This was a puzzle as I used all 48 figures from one box to paint 4No. 12 man units……

Oops one of my men went missing

So that journal will repay itself again as I paint that missing figure – when I find it!

Categories
Military History miniatures painting wargaming

The Painting Pedestal 23h: Vive L’Empereur*

It’s not often you get a major historical movie these days and even less by a mainstream producer. So Ridley Scotts “Napoleon” is a good excuse to get some figures on the pedestal.

First up is the man himself – Napoleon – as imagined back in the early 1970’s by Miniature Figurines (the Warlord of their day).

Next up is one of a kind for me…..

*the painting of the same name by edouard detaille hangs in the New South Wales art gallery showing the charge of the 4th hussars at Friedland 1807.

Categories
wargames blog wargaming

Blog Influences 2

If Battlegames and Henry Hyde introduced me to wargames blogs then I guess my next Blog Influence was that blog that most reflected my interests at the time.

And at the time I had decided for budget reasons to switch to 1/72 plastics for new projects. We were still struggling out of the recession.

Into the bargain I was using an idea from Lance and Longbow Society Hobilar magazine to reduce DBA standard figure numbers on each element/base – the article was about cutting the cost of your hobby yet keeping the pleasure.

At the same time I had encountered Peter Pigs Bloody Barons (15mm focused) which joined up to Society of Ancients article by Mike Tittensor “Do Ancients stop at Quadesh?”.

Peter Pig makes figures and writes rules – many use grid based gaming

The upshot was I found plenty of 1/72 ancient chariot sets for sale and plunged in.

The Chariots never got painted although the infantry did. However I have since then indulged myself across multiple periods painting 1/72 figures.

Behind all this was a particular blog, Wargaming for Grown Ups. Trebian provided lots of inspiration not least that 1/72 was a good table top scale to game with. His large table games had masses of space yet that meant something smaller would still look good and play well.

So Blog influences No2 is Wargaming for Grown Ups. Trebian offered me a window into table top wargaming in 1/72 plastics and even 15mm metals. His blog offered a range of posts – games, figures and of course a bit of real life. And there were the “opinion” pieces in amongst a nice mix of text and images.

I can pretty much say that Wargaming for Grown Ups has been my longest running go to Blog and given me plenty of ideas and enjoyment. Thanks Trebian.

Minus their chariots my 1/72 ancient lybians square up to some Sea People invaders – Hat and Ceasar figures on show on 80mm x 60mm bases “flocked” using a games workshop idea involving bird grit
Ironically I have used War and Conquest to play my 1/72 bronze age games.