Wednesday 25 February 2015

US Paras, 15mm PBI

For the painting challenge and because Peter Pig have bought out version 3 of PBI. I have done some 15mm WW2 Us Paras. I have never mentioned which regiment these are from but I have called them dog company. All the names are made up and I will probably repaint the names if the stand of figures dies in a game.

So starting with Captain Brown the leader of Dog company. You will note the white rank marking on the back of the helmet and along with every other figure the US flag on the Right arm. Not an actual US Flag I may be quite a good painter but there is no way I will paint all the 13 stripes and all the 50 stars on a figure this small. Sorry that is just not going to happen but what I have managed on 15mm figures is close enough for me!


The Ist Platoon is commanded (in my world) by Lt Cole. Consisting of 10 stands in all. A command stand a Bazooka stand (Directly behind the command stand|) 1 smg stand, 3 Lmg (BAR) stands and 4 Garand Rifle stands. Originally they did not issure Browning Automatic Rifles (BAR) to paratroopers thinking at 48 inches it was too long a weapon for them. Each of the Bar stands has a yellow tuft on the base to clearly identify them on the table top. After all I might need all the fire power I can get, you never know it might make a difference.

 2nd Platoon Currently Under Lt Powell, but likely to change to Lt Spiers (Thanks Dave Docherty you scoundrel), is not equipped with BARs but with .30 Cal Light Machine guns. These have a higher rate of fire and need more ammunition! They are designated with red  tufts. Again so when on the table top I am able to see where they are and then attempt to use them appropriately. Despite the Battlefront miniatures showing a tripod with these figures again originally a bi pod was used for Paratroopers. As wargamers we can easily quibble over such things but as in the rules they are all treated as LMGs is there much point arguing
about it? So moving on.

3rd Platoon is of a similar make up to the first 2 platoons but this time with BARs instead of  .30's. So back to the yellow tufts. As with the other two Bazooka antitank is included in the platoon and a stand of SMGs. By keeping Bazookas in every platoon I hope to give them enough integrated anti-tank weapons that they can keep the Germans at bay. Or at least make any German tanks weary of getting too close. Well that's the idea anyway. It may now work at all.

In the next few weeks I will add extra stands to swap out the SMGs for Garand's if need be. I am not sure if it will be better in the game but it should provide all the options I need.

I will be splitting this post over several days as I am still beavering away at the Engineer platoon so I will expect to show that by this time next week.

In the Challenge I have received much high praise for my basing so if you can let me know if you would like to see a basing walk-through and I will try to do one in a couple of weeks.

Well that's part 1 done, parts 2 and 3 to follow later on. But this is the bulk of the fighting troops. Which is not to say the others don't fight just that these are in most cases the front line troops.

Thanks for looking I will post again soon all the best Clint.


20 comments:

  1. Nice one! Those look the business.

    I'd be interested to see how you go about basing. I bought some figures from a bring and buy once that were based similar, but I never figured out how it was done. Cheers.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Cheers Roy I will get on with it as soon as I finish painting these flame throwers!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Onwards, ever onwards, PM strikes again ! These look great Clint, I really like your basing technique, but how you manage to match all the various units' bases that you've done is quite astounding.
    *IIRC the US flag only had 48 stars in 1948 - so surely that should make it a bit easier)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Only 48 stars wow that does make it easier! Thanks Joe.

      Delete
  4. It always amazes me how good your smaller scale figures look. I have painted 15mm scale figures in the past and I did not enjoy the experience. So for me, it has to be 28mm scale. But I do admire and respect anyone who can paint so well at such a small size.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Bryan really appreciated. 15mm takes a bit of getting used to but if the sculpts are good any fool can do well if you know a couple of tricks and don't forget the 2 foot rule.

      Delete
  5. Ah, fantastic!

    US Paras were my first FOW army and I am very fond of them (albeit I never won anything as I played them without any vehicles and my opponent just gunned me from outside my range!). If I am not mistaken, your paras are of the old design? I remember having .30 cals with bipods and I was really disappointed that I didn't have the cool ones you have!

    I never attempted painting flags on them, so hats off!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Mathyoo. Yes these are quite old figures...... I still have an Italian company unpainted from that period. In PBI tanks are not as dominating as they are in FOW. And I have some artillery and Anti tank guns I will show next time. Yo be honest painting the flags is the best part for me!.
      CHeers Mate.

      Delete
  6. nicely done. the star and stripes are particularly effective and your basing always finishes the job off well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cheers mate. The arm flags are my favourite parts. I like tem as most people don't bother with then at 15mm so I feel it makes them special.

      Delete
  7. Very nice Joe's Clint the color coded tufts for ease of play is inspired. Beyond functionality the bases look fantastic visually as well even more than your camo 28mm bases so yes a run throught would be great.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Robert I have started taking Photos as I work on the bases and I expect to have another 17 bases and 8 dead figures finished by Saturday. Well that is the plan.

      Delete
  8. Great brushwork Clint, can't believe you didn't paint the starts and stripes on these figures!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know I feel like I have let you down because of it. But my eyesight is just not up to such fine detail and additionally my hand is a little to shaky for getting all the stars in the right place!
      Sorry Ray.

      Delete
  9. Loving your blog Clint! I am a bit of a Peter Pig fan boy so it's great to hear about other people playing some of their rules. Pleas do a basing tutorial. I hate basing and I am always after tips.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Sean. I do like most Peter Pig rules there are exceptions of course we just can't like everything.

      Basing Tutorial on the way I will demonstrate it on two flame throwers as the New PBI rules allow 2 in an airborne Platoon.

      Delete
  10. Great job Clint! You continue to amaze me by painting such detail at such a small scale. Your flags look really good. Once again, top job sir.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Bob. There are more to come and I shall post them tomorrow.

      Delete
  11. They look great Clint. You've been busy with these!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I always think I should do more many, many more!. Thanks Brummie

      Delete

Please feel free to leave a comment.