The Hills are alive!

Firstly a repaint. If I knew  what I was doing a re-paint would not be nessercary as I would have bought the right thing to begin with!

Back in February I purchased these 2 hills from "the Scene" in a desert colour! Why desert well I was going to do western desert PBI (by Peter Pig). All that has gone out of the window so these have now been re-painted. They will still remain for PBI but now I am concentrating on the Pacific! (Both 14th (forgotten) army as well as Japanese and American.) As the Pacific islands tend to have "shallow" hills and not steep ones (yes I know there are exceptions) re-painting seemed to be an obvious step.

So now 2 re-purposed hills ready for action. Which is all good as far as I am concerned.




Ok now for the pre-salute orders.  Firstly the Crooked Dice kickstarter has finished. So with luck I shall have those before the end of the year. This is very likely and I can start the new year with some "!Pulp" shenanigans! At this stage I am most keen on the monkey idol scenery piece! I am already looking to use that 2 years hence so the chances are we will all have forgotten about it by then.

Elsewhere my Alternative armies Order has arrived so I can sort out my Peter Pig cavalry army for "Wild west!" As mentioned  previously I am doing 9th or 10th Cavalry AKA Buffalo Soldiers. I really think this would be a grand Ammerican TV series as they fought bravely and are often (at least in the UK) overlooked.

If 5 are good surely 10 is better?

Year it's a long way of saying I have made 5 more smoke clods. Bringing the total to 10. This I think is enough for now.

4 may be used in PBI if an off board strike is called for either in a 2x2 block or in a row of 4 (NO DIAGONALS) wither as a row or as a column. Then a roll for deviation of each piece. They tend not to move much. But expect 1 in 4 to move. (Roughly).

If being used by on board guns (or tanks) a single square is affected. That being the case you can only have 1 off board asset a turn and on board gun (or tanks) tend to use HE in our games as they would tend to cause the most casualties!
Yeah we tend to be bloodthirsty!

Therefore 10 I think is the right number as they do tend to disappear over time. So that for now is job done on the cloud markers.

All the best Clint

Smoke gets in your eyes. (and WIP)

Ok these were made for Peter Pigs PBI rules. That said  there is no reason not to think they could and will not be used for other rules. However I wanted something a little "better" than cotton wool. I know most of you will use cotton wool without issue But I wanted something different.

Therefore I created 5 smoke clouds. (5 more are started and 10 should be enough for me!). They were simple to do just "clump foliage" then sprayed white (3 coats) and then the bases painted and they are good to go. I must  say I am very happy with them. You only need 1 in a PBI square to represent the whole square being filled with smoke so they are indicators only and not realistically modelled terrain. I am  sure you shall do better on your own with a little thought.

 Aztec farm (2) WIP

 As you can see I have started the second part of my sci fi farm. So I HOPE  to get that finished in the week. More details when I do. Please don't try to hold your breathe it is still several days away at the very earliest.

Donner vehicle ! WIP

Yes more WIP, and this is a while off so really don't try to hold your breath (that would be a very bad idea! Continuing my dieselpunk obsession I wave started a donner vehicle. All I have done so far is break things up. Ok saw things but you get the idea! On this model (thanks eBay) I need to rebuild the radiator and the headlights. remove (that's done) the side wheels and rebuild the running boards. And then either rebuild the rain cover or rebuild the back seat not sure yet and add some MGs and some other bits and bobs, like maybe a new hood ornament.

So expect this to take weeks and not days to do. The chances are I  shall get bored and throw it away before I finish so PLEASE don't suggest anything to do with this car. But at the very least you know it is a live project.

That's all for now folks have a good Sunday and try not to get too much done or I shall be disappointed in myself.

All the best Clint.

2 steps forward and some steps back

Well the title says it really. Had a re-think. Yes I know that's dangerous!

Firstly PBI western desert is no longer on the cards. Given I am now reading the rules it is not TOO late. My opponent has late war Germans and late war British and I have late war Americans and mid-late war Japanese it makes more sense to carry on in Europe. (Yes I a aware Japan does not fight in Europe!) So with the infantry in this box which I had already bought but done NOTHING with I should have nearly enough to get a force together.

That being the case I am re-painting some old vehicles.  So this has had another paint job. I shall start the other one today. I will be short of all the options but I am already closer than I was for western desert. Also more is available with regard to purchases.  In fact I shall be able to re-start a stalled project. Well here's hoping. I should say I am confident I will get the first platoon done by Monday.



Elsewhere. I am still working on my 15mm DRK AGE collection. This is a Peter pig "Gift from God!" and counts as LOOT in the Longships  game. It is the only piece of loot I have so far and as 15mm figures go was a joy to paint. All the colours are authentic so as a prize will work out just fine. When I say Prize I mean in game terms you still have to get it.

Additionally I have started to order my next force for "Gruntz". This time an Alien Race and that should arrive over the weekend. So you have been warned it shall be 15mm figure heavy on this blog for a while...... You are warned!

All the best Clint

DAK started!

DAK of course means Duteches Africa Korps. (may be spelt wrong.. just live with it, I  am.)
But of course you new that. All the figures are 15mm ww2. A mixture of "Flames of War" for the Horch Personnel carrier and "Forged in Battle" for the armoured cars. The VERY start of a "New Project!"

The personnel carrier first. While it did see use throughout the war this one is circa 1941-43 and in use in the western desert. It was used to transport people as well as light guns and thus saw a lot of use in every place the Germans were involved. On a personal level I DO need to but a lot more of these, but one for NOW is OK.







Also for the scouting section of the Afrika Korp I have finished 2 armoured cars. Again 15mm and as mentioned above "Forged In Battle". For those with a technical incline they are SDKFZ 234/1 armed with a 20mm arutcannon. In the western desert this should be enough fire power as all the vehicles are thinly armoured. This part of ww2 is not about having the most armour and the biggest gun. So as such it hardly maters.

I shall leave the arms races to  the kids! (Been there done that)>

Swimming Japanese tanks (15mm)

Firstly the tanks swam in real life, not the models. I feel If I don't say that then there will be a comment from someone trying (and failing) to be clever.

The Ka-Mi Tanks were real ww2 Japanese tanks. And rather than being developed by the army were developed by the navy. Here is a link (LINK). Being developed by the navy they were mostly used on pacific islands. As such I am not sure they were ever encountered by the British army.


Yes that is a real life pic of one swimming. I knew if I did not include one I would be doing the tank a dis-service.

You will note the model tank has a taller turret. Clearly it is a bolted on section to stop high water from waves getting in. As is the funnel over the engine. When they had landed several part and flotation areas could be detached and a more normal tank would bee seen.  If you look at the model the front two and rear 2 sections (where the diagonal groves are) dismount as they are flotation devices and offer minimal protection but do make the vehicle harder to steer around tree/building.

 The models did not offer the choice of swimming and land based vehicles. The turrets all came in the larger format and the hulls all came with flotation devices. The funnels did come separate but seriously what would be the point of leaving these off.


 As you can see, the picture on the box shows 3 tanks on the front and back however when opening it turns out there were indeed 5 tanks included. When you buy things online you can't always tell until they turn up, and to be honest for the price I paid I would have been happy with 3 tanks. Let us be honest with each other the models are great but in real life the tanks were not. Do not expect them to win battles on their own. They simply will not. But to round out my Japanese ww2 forces I am more than happy.

Thanks for looking and more (but no idea what) in a few days. All the best Clint

Remember to paint if you can and play when you get the opportunity.

Telegraph poles.

 let me take you back to November when I bought these. (23rd November 2017) . As you can see they are now painted and based.  A figure 20mm is included to show scale and the fact that if put about 1 foot-2 foot apart these will look most suitable for BoB wargaming.

They can also be used for anything up to modern in wargaming in the set scale. So Along with BoB they can be WW2 or WW1 20mm as well as modern. While I have not seen any pictures of them in Afghanistan that will not stop me using them as they instantly give height to the battlefield. (which most wargames are lacking if you were to ask me... thank goodness you did not!

As mentioned at the time they are 3D printed and they are a little rough. None of which bothers me in the slightest. Personally I think they are great and just what the BoB battle field needs.

Obvious scenarios include, stopping a message getting through, perhaps calling up reserves perhaps furthinging the campaign story. Maybe calling for a plane to rescue an important person or artefact. Maybe to chop down and use to stop a train, maybe to show a no fly zone (due to the wires) anyway you get the idea and I am sure there will be supplementary scenario ideas.

all 10 (more than I need) are now finished and will enhance the battlefield in due time.

Lastly some more strange Japanese WW2 tanks for my PBI forces.  I expect them to provide more of a laugh than a threat in games as let's be honest not the most potent of ww2 tanks. But they did exist and they were amphibious and were cheap on eBay. And they is good enough for me. I hope to get them painted this week. More about them then.

Have a good weekend and paint if the mood takes you.

2 more jungle huts

Yes two more. This should be enough now. As the jungle is not the heaviest populated area on the planet tis should be MORE than enough buildings.

The models are 1 piece resin castings by Frontline Wargaming (http://www.frontlinewargaming.co.uk/) and as Tim is part of the wargaming club I do get a very small discount... big enough to stop me looking elsewhere.


I have painted these up to represent an old hut and a newly built hut. I will let you decide which is which although it should be very obvious.

Painting was very quick, about 30min if we include drying time. just a simple 1 colour and a heavy brown wash and then when dry a black to paint in the door. Ok I did leave them overnight and varnish them in the morning but still very swiftly painted with no fuss no muss and I think, to a good result.

Elsewhere on the painting table I have started a VSF Tank. It is currently on the third paint job as I was ever happy with the result. This time it is SO much simpler and just needs 1 bore base coat to get rig of any blotches or patchiness. So you may expect that pretty soon as well.



 Thanks for looking today and now to start the next Zombtober figure....

All the best Clint

A place in Country. (15mm)

here are 2 of Frontlines (http://www.frontlinewargaming.co.uk/) 15mm jungle huts.


Suitable for many jungle locations across the world. While these are both the same 2 varieties do exist. I will be using them for both Pacific War PBI and "AK47 Republic" . Just because the difference between African Jungle and Asian or Pacific jungle in wargames terms is minimal. Not minimal in reality, but only n the wargames setting


Very easy painting, (grey undercoat, dark brown wash then sand yellow highlights.) probably too about 10 mins not including drying time. I painted them in this way as I wanted the grey to be in evidence. (Wood turns grey with age... just look at garden fences).

2 quick and easy additions. I have already asked Tim for 2 more which I shall get in a couple of weeks.

I have a little more Jungle terrain to make (Hope to this week) then pretty much finished (Famous last words)

That's it for today, very quick and simple and another post in 2 days as I am about to start the Arabs for the carry on follow that camel game.

Stay safe and happy. best wishes Clint

AND THEN THERE WERE 3

Yes let me take you back a few weeks when I finished these  (( http://clint-anythingbutaone.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/ltv4s.html ))

I said at the time that one was in worse condition and I may or may not get around to painting it. Well the Joy is that I have finished it! One of the reasons was that I got them all cheap and they were badly cast. So badly cast that there was a whole on the back (tail) entrance ramp about as large as the nail on my little finger. As well as chips air bubbles and dust particles and bobbling. (I am sure there is a technical term but you know what I mean.)

 Since then I have repaired the hole, being honest it did not take long and I probably could have done a better job. but as I considered the vehicle a "Throw-away" I was not in the mood to spend too much time on it. BUT as you can see I am glad I did repair it. As I now have 3. OKAY they are not perfect, but they are good enough.

If you look at the bottom of the ramp inside you can see the repair. Not brilliant, but good enough for me and any games I put on. As it was painted at a different time it is a different shade of green, it also has a different style of base. Oh well my mistake  and at least I have another vehicle ready for the table top.

So job's a good 'Un! as far as I am concerned. I have shown all 3 together just to kind of prove this is a new vehicle and not one of the others re-photographed. And at the very end is a Youtube video of one being put through its paces by some vehicle restorers.

I do have 3 more Amtracks (Amphibious-tractors) to do, but they are more fighting vehicles than troop transports. Therefore I have left those for another post while I think about what kind of turrets (yes turrets) I put on them/

Until next time take care, have fun and paint something.

All the best Clint

Te-Ke (15mm Japanese Armoured car With tracks)

yes the title is misleading. It is not a Tank. It was not designed as a tank or used as a tank and it is not intended to be a tank. I grant you it does look like a tank, but a very small one. It was actually designed and used as an armoured car. Yes it has tracks but with only 12mm of armour (which is enough to stop bullets and shrapnel of the period,) It was never intended to be a tank.

 While it is NOT a tank it was armed with either a medium/heavy machinegun or a 37mm anti tank gun. All these have the second option. I was going to paint the other turrets up and use them, but as these turrets kept falling off (and at least 1 broke) I have decided to keep the glued in place.

The models are "battlefront" Flames of War 15mm vehicles. based on plastic-card 30mm frontage and 40 mm long. So feel free to measure the photos and see how big they are. (They are small) . During WW2 about 620 were built and they were used in China, Burma and the pacific Islands. In PBI they have an armour value of 4 and a gun value of 5, which is pretty low. BUT as they are intended to be used as tracked armoured cars we cannot really hope for them to stand up to late war heavy armour. They just could not. They only have a crew of 2 the driver and the commander. The commander takes the role of gunner, loader and vehicle officer, while the driver drives.

There are not so many of these that survived the war and many/most would have been destroyed but a couple of examples still do exist I tank museums around the world.

These 5 help to give some variety and a very little armour to my Pacific forces. Yes looking at the photo on the right they were this small. And small obviously means both low profile and harder to hit. So perhaps they may be alright on the table (who am I kidding players will kill these as quickly as they can).  Which takes nothing away from how much fun they were to paint. Just do not expect them to last long against many opponents.

LVT4's

NO not the bath-tub of doom! These re 2 Landing vehicle Tracked (Mk4) Know as LVT 4's, if you are American and the "Buffalo" if you are British. Either name is fine by me.

They are 15mm vehicles for my US forces, while they were also used a little by the British (and Commonwealth) they were not heavily used in Europe . But they did see action in the Pacific.

 These have been VERY badly cast with bits missing and air bubbles and mold slips and just about everything wrong you can imagine. But they were cheap on eBay I think someone tried to start casting from another make and just did not know what they were doing.  Ok Moan over, as I said they were cheap and for that I can forgive a lot. I will not use the seller again though. Americans being well American did give them between 2 and 4 machine guns which are not included. Also the MGs could be either .50 cal or .30 cal depending I think on the stock and how many were to be used. That does not matter.

In real life they could transport up to 28 men or a jeep or artillery piece or supplies or well just about anything from ship to shore. In PBI "Carriers" no matter how large can carry 4 infantry stands, so a squad, not a platoon. So an agreement needs to be made (which I have made) with normal players on using them. For me they will mostly be acting as troop deployment markers and not actual fighting vehicles. As PBI works in squares thy will (Temporarily) make the beach square Partial cover and allow troops to deploy in their square and the 1 on either side (Which will NOT get the cover bonus.)

Being just green with tracks and weathering they were an easy paint and both done and based and put away in an evening with no issues, complaints or squabbles. While not super useful they do round out the US amphibious capability in some WW2 games.

below is a Youtube clip of the LVT4 in action (from a film/TV series) just for those NOT familiar with the vehicle. And if anyone wants to know what to get me as a gift a real one would be most welcome. Colours and MG configuration could and were changed to suit the need

 Or here is a real life on in a separate clip