More 28mm Empress miniatures SCW figures (VBCW)

Yes I have finished another batch ready for matt on Sunday. The figures are Empress miniatures Spanish Civil War figures. However they will be used as Very British Civil war figures.  At the end is a group shot of the whole batch.

Again Mat wanted a socialist look so plenty of Red on handkerchiefs ad balaclavas, neck ties and caps.
The figure holding a pole will later be a flag bearer but that is a job for Matt and not me.

Some (a few ) of the figures are women and a few have head swaps or at least hat swaps. Which means there are more British helmets.
Not a problem to me or as it happens Matt.

The final photograph the figures did not all fit in the back drop. So 1 has been photographed (on the right) without the back drop. DoH!

matt is aware that there is a figure missing. It has gone absent without leave and will have to have another blog post linked back to this one.


 That's it for today. I shall try to get an ECW figure done for the week -end. But no promises just if I get time. It is now started and should (fingers crossed) be finished soon.

Thanks for looking. More again soon. All the best Clint

SCW 28mm Empress Miniatures

Slow off the blocks today. Took me a long time to get going. Sometimes we all have days like that. Anyway here are 13 28mm Empress Miniatures Spanish Civil War figures. They have been painted to be Very British Civil War (VBCW) figures for matt. The last pic does show them all together as I know by now that people do like a group shot.

broken down into one lot of 5 figures top and 2 lots of 4 figures each. Theer are more on the painting table and I plan to have them finished on Saturday (sunday at the latest)

Weapons are a mixture bur mostly rifles as well as 2 SMGs and a pistol and one I just do not know what! (Middle figure top pic)/ I bet some of you have taken a look just to tell me. Great if you have and even better if you have not.

All the clothes are civilian clothes and in a variety of colours. Well the helmets are old military but what did you expect. We could go into detail about what a Spanish Civil War figure should be wearing but the truth is that for a Very British Civil War all the rules are out of the window as it is a fictional war so seriously anything could have happened. It is all down to you.

The last Picture shows them all together and what a mixed lot they look too. As I know matt wants to use these as socialists I have put red ties on them where appropriate but I have tried not to over do the colour as then it looks artificial. Which honestly it is but as Walter Gropius once said "Less is More!" (which did start a verbal debate among architects to which my favourite reply was "Less is less", but you really have to read all the replies to get the full meaning of that comment some 80 years later.)

Guess who had to write an essay on it! yeah you guessed.

Not sure there will be another blog post in 2 days time. Nothing even nearly finished. But Japanese Tanks started (and abandoned until I get the correct colour paint.... I can't mix enough) as well as another lot of these and even another ECW figure. So no ideas what will come next. It really could be anything.

All the best Clint.

Paint if you an and the mood and the weather takes you.

Miner Gun Team

Well here is the "other" gun team I was talking about. They are 28mm "Ironclad Miniatures" (LINK) miner Gun crew. This now allows matt to use the same guns but with different crews as a wide choice of forces may be fielded. Being Ironclad miniatures they are 28mm and as such will tit in with the rest of his VBCW collection. Which by now is quite large.

I have painted them all in dull colours to best reflect the miners of the period and the clothes they would wear. I am not saying they never wore yellow and orange suits just that I have never seen it. The miners helmets are a common theme but in reality I am sure a miner unit would also have people who did not work underground in it as well. So maybe it is as much uniform as practical clothing for working underground.

The final Pic shows both new gun teams together. Miners on the left and Fascists on the right.

Thanks for looking today more again soon. maybe an AAR on Monday. Until then take care have fun and paint if the mood takes you.

Al the best Clint

VBCW Fascist Gun Crew

yep some Empress miniatures gun crew. Officially these are for the Spanish Civil War but the double up very nicely to be Very British Civil War figures.

I know boring background as it was taken on the dining room table and not one of my usual backdrops. I shall rectify that for when they are seen next. (Probably Saturday).

If they were SCW you might expect grey helmets and not very very dark green. That is one of the joys of VBCW you can change the colours to suit as you want and perhaps make new uniforms.

Again 28mm and painted for Matt. I have another gun crew on the painting table and they should be ready in a day or two.

Post script: My ECW figures have turned up and I shall start one as a trial today. No spoilers though but I have been working out the best way to paint the Family Tartan.

Even more Burpas

Yes only 4 more Burpa cavalry. But at the end a group shot of this BATCH, which is all the Burpas I have painted since xmas.

As with the rest they are all either Foundry or Empress Miniatures and all 28mm and with luck they should all work together.

The one on the far right is some kind of leader and the background makes him appear darker than he really is. The 2 in the middle shall carry flags or banner. However Matt knows I do not enjoy doing these so he will kindly do them for me. The one on the left is not special in any way  in that he is rank and file and not leader or standard bearer.
 Lastly a group pic of all the ones done SINCE Christmas.

 Thanks for looking and more again soon. Just give me a few days. Perhaps Tuesday.

All the best on a 5am Sunday morning.

Yet another 5 more Burpas

Well the title says it all. I believe they are a mixture of makes including Foundry and Empress miniatures. (But just don't ask me who is who!)

3 Have been left without flags on the poles as I have asked Matt to do them from now on. I was getting in a frightful mess with them.

Clearly there are 2 Officers/tribal leaders and 3 flag wavers. As they would all be men of note at least as far as the tribe is concerened I have tended to go for some bright colours, Including a dark blue as I so rarely paint the Burpas in dark blue. He should stand out nicely.

needless to say they are 28mm tall and should fit in with the rest of Matts troops. We have been lucky enough to have a game in early December, but being a numbskull I forgot my camera. Despite this I will do a game report soon as 2 other club members have sent me some Pics.

That is it for today. 5 Cavalry to do for Matt and they are now undercoated so should get started tonight. Only base horse colours but It is a start!

Until next time take care, have fun and paint if you get the opportunity!

Kind regards Clint

Yes more Burpas

A total of 20 more figures painted for Matt. All part of his growing "North West Frontier" Project.

A mixture of makes and ranges. Foundry, Copplestone and Empress. And On Burpas I have pretty much run out of things to say.

But a colourful bunch of 28mm colonials. If you have not seen the film then check it out. Jolly good stuff!

So I shall keep it very short at least for now!

A Few More Burpas.

Yes I know even more Burpas. Again these are for Matt. Mostly a gun and crew and a few extras. As usual they do come from a variety of sources mostly Foundry and Empress I am told. But I did not buy them so I cannot verify this at all without a lot of internet searching.

This little lot was actually finished before the Selwg show but have taken a while to surface on the blog due to other commitments.


 If you Know Matt you will Know he likes his artillery. This just gives the Burpas a single gun, but one can imagine they will like it as it does give them some "Heavy" support.  As long as I am not expected to carry the gun across the mountains I am happy to paint it for him. But Carrying it across mountains does just seem like hard work to me so I will pass.

So one gun and 6 crew, which should be enough for a serious rate of fire, assuming they know what they are doing. But you can easily take the commander and spotter away and use them for something else.

OPPS

Just a quick apology I seem to have made a mistake on the Klintanistan Game and there should be some more money in the countries accounts. Not all countries. The Problem vcame as my hand written notes were absent during the turn process and I was having to look for them and write turns at the same time. Thay have now turned up and I Promise to adjust your treasuries (where accounts were wrong) this turn. It is important to say that no one is getting less money.

Teething problems and I will rectify as fast as I am able.

Indians (Sikhs)

You may have thought I had gone quiet. No not at all. I have been painting away and here are the first results.
They are all Foundry or Empress miniatures for the North West frontier. All 28mm and all for matt.

I think these 3 and Empress and are most likely officer, although the 2 on the right might be anything from acheologists to explorers but most likely officers.

They weerre a joy to paint and really are nice sculpts.  I would be happy to paint them again. Perhaps Matt has too many officers now and not enough rank and file. Only time will tell.

 Then there is a gun and three crew. (maybe an officer will e with them). These I believe are foundry and have been colour matched with a few samples matt has lent me.

I do not know the calibre of the gun but It is quite small and can be easily carried over rocks and mountains. Easy that is as long as I do not have to carry it.
















And here are some Rank and file. A real mixture of Foundry and Empress. Again too many officers for my liking but I am sure Matt knows what he is ding. Along with uniforms several have sheep skin coats to keep out the cold of the mountains.

The coats were the most fun to paint and I was in two minds whether to have black or white sheepskins but I went for white in the end as I thought they may be the most common.

Thanks for looking today and I have a few Burpas to finish (7 of them)and them maybe something for myself.

have a good few days and see you soon.

BUF Heavy weapons

Yes a few more BUF for Matt's growing collection. While most of these figures are Empress Miniatures 28mm from the Spanish Civil War range, The one on the far right I know is a Musketeer Miniature and the 2nd from the right is a conversion.

While only 3 pieces the mortar (not the crew) is tricky to put together just because all the pieces are so thin and fidly. The base is easy enough and quite solid BUT attaching the stand and the tube do require some level of dexterity... it is not that they are bad fits, they are actually good fits with up to 3 different angles possible. And that is what creates the issue you have to be able to glue two of the three pieces and attache the third before fully dry. Many people will find this easier than "Butter Fingers"(Me) and I do appreciate the sculptor making some variety in positioning and it has come out well in the end so no real complaints. The Mortar comes with three crew as well (two on the base) and one on a separate base is how I decided to place them, but you could have them all separate if you choose.


 I was unsure what colour to paint the flame thrower mask, but settled on Red as it feels hot and is one of the British Union of Fascists colours. So to contrast the red I put both blue and yellow tanks on the back.  I would have been equally justified in putting a Black mask and even Black tanks on the back, but I did want some colour and variety. Despite the fact that I feel in real life they would have settled on Black for every thin!


The last picture shows the figures in the previous BUF post included as they are all being given back to Matt soon.


The last Pic allows me to colour match at a later date and also just because someone usually asks for one and this may save you the effort of doing so.

Thanks for looking I hope you are having a great weekend. All the Best Clint

Batch 4 (Finished)

Yep later than expected the latest batch of Burpas are now all based varnished and put away. I was expecting to finish them last night but a day later here they are. & figures finished since the last update, they are a mix of makes, Perry, Foundry and Empress miniatures.

Obviously another leader in the purple with a silver horse on his shield, the others are somewhat duller in colours with cream and brown dominating. There are other colours as well, mostly as turbans or belt sashes or shields just to break up the earthy tones. One rather flamboyant chap is in baby blue and pink (or as I like to call it faded red!)

They all fit in with the horde as the bottom picture shows as the whole batch stands together.

Quite a fearsome bunch!

Thanks for looking and maybe something on Sunday and maybe nothing til Tuesday I just cannot tell yet as nothing is even started.


So with luck see you soon, all the best Clint.

yet more Burpas!

yes one is on a horse. last night I finished 7 more Burpas, all 28mm from a mix of makes including Emperess, Foundry and Perry Miniatures. It gived them a nice mix and helps them look more like a rabble. Which I think is the look that Matt is going for. And to promote that look they are also from different ranges, some are North African and others Indian Hill tribesmen.

I have 7 more to paint in this batch so expect another 7 figures painted soon. Well soonish, I have the para Olympics which needs some serious watching as I do admire the atheletes who overcome adversity to achieve!

  AS you can see these do look quite diverse and yet still look realistic and to my uneducated eye just about right for a colonial period game.

Below are some close ups and it surprises me how well they seem to fit with the terrain. Considering the backdrop is actually America printed out on the computer.

 That's it for now, thanks for looking and I hope you day goes well.

All the best Clint

Back on schedule..... maybe only for 1 day

 being back on schedule is not all that! It just means that you are struggling to finish things for the next deadline.

Anyway 3 MORE Burpas for Matt all 28 mm figures and all (I think) different makes. (Empress Foundry, Perry). All Indian Hill tribes and all set for the colonial period.

Yes a group shot will be taken at a later date. the figure on the left has a breech loader with the other two have muzzle loading black powder weapons. And while the guy on the right is brandishing a knife I think we can be sure that the other two have knifes as well tucked into robes. (The guy on the left carries a sword and shield as well so we know he is ready for close combat!)

That's it for today, keeping it short and sweet.

Cheers guys thanks for looking