Wednesday 2 March 2016

A slow boat to china (ok the Mekong Delta)

 The last bonus round on the Analogue painting challenge was "Nautical". As I had set myself the challenge of not buying figures for the challenge but instead trying (but not succeeding) to reduce the lead mountain. I submitted my latest item for my Vietnam figures. The picture gives it away of course but Britannia/Grubby Tanks do a "Sampan!" So here it is in all its glory. I do have very little use for a Sampan as Most of the scenarios I want to play are in country and I am not planning any "Brown Water navy" antics. However I had it sitting here doing nothing so get it painted and submitted for the bonus round.


Britannia do a few other US Vietnam vessels but this (as far as I know) is the only Civil Vietnam boat they do. When I say Civil Vietnam vessel I do of course mean "Target of Opportunity" as I know how many US players will take great delight in destroying something new. Just so they can say that they killed it!

I was going to paint the water brown, but as all my river sections are BLUE it just made more sense to go with the blue water.

The model was a 2 piece casting a white metal crewman and engine and a resin cast hull. A very simple paint job all colours taken from the picture at the bottom which is either fishing or trading. But during the conflict they might just as readily been ferrying supplies or people to the Viet Minh bases to fight the US troops. So they were treated with some degree of caution.

As with all things they did come in a variety of sizes and colours and even shapes. But I just wanted a typical Sampan with nothing outrageous. they were used all over the SE Asia area and have been used (without engines) for centuries.

That is it for today. Thanks for looking and





25 comments:

  1. Very nice Clint, and great work with the water too. Lovely little mini just sat hunched at the back of the boat.

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    1. Thanks Blax it really was an easy paint. It just hung around on my painting table for a while waiting to get done.

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  2. That's brilliant. I love how you've done the water.

    I can just see it used in games to ferry a secret objective, or a squad of reinforcements for 'Charlie'.

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    1. Or even a Western news crew, kept hidden from players, so if they shoot it up they lose victory points or such like.
      Devious!!

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    2. Thanks Roy. All good ideas. So good I may have to steal some. In this theatre and period western film crews would always have a military escort though. But I do like the way you think!

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  3. Even if you don't actually use it in a game it'll still make a nice piece of background scenery. Good job, Clint!

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    1. Thanks Bryan. Yes it will be good as set dressing. But I suspect it will get a use or two.... maybe 3 or even more as time goes by.

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    1. Thank you Gordon. I am glad you like it!

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  5. I would still count it as reducing the lead pile and it could be used "in country" too on a river other than in the Mekong.
    You've done a very good kob on such a simple model, Your basing of course giving it the extra "umph".

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    1. Thank you Joe. yes it can be used on any lake or river and probably will be. I can already see some terrain layouts with a settlement by a river. The get a squad to check it out!

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  6. I thought this was a great piece Clint, nicely done Sir.

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    1. Thank you Michael. Praise from the praise worthy is above all rewards.

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  7. Very nice mate. Love the water effect, you've done a splendind job on this.

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    1. Thank you Lee. The Sampan was such an easy paint though I feel guilty taking credit!

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    1. Thank you Phil. It is nice to sometimes add these little touches to a game.

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  9. That does look great. As a potential threat in a game but even a as a scenic backdrop to the table it brings a lot of atmosphere

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    1. Thank you Simon. That is exactly what I was hoping for. But Knowing my club players even if it id harmless they will still want to shoot it.

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  10. I like it! But shouldn't these things come in large numbers, or is that only near a big city?

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    1. Cheers C6. I cannot say about numbers in country either now or back in the late 60's or early 70's. What I can is that they will not feature too strongly in any scenario I run.

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  11. Its lovely! And as the things go, the best miniatures are always the least useful in games!

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    1. Thank you Mathyoo. I think your philosophy is probably correct.

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  12. Great work Clint, its very realistic!!

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    1. Thanks Ray I suspect it will be treated as a "Bullet Magnet" in any games we play with it. You know what players are like! I can literally picture a few "Rejects" going out of their way to attack it! And I KNOW the Rainham club WILL.

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