Officers of the Day.

 Yes some more VBCW figures. This time to socialist officers. One with a mega phone shouting orders, possibly a commissar or political officer. The Other with binoculars and pointing. I put more gold on the second figure as I appeared more senior in rank than the first one. Again painted to represent Russian uniforms as befits the Socialist in a Very British Civil War.

As with the others they were painted for Matt and his growing collection of figures and they are already in his keeping. I will post again in 2 days, as some of the morris dancers are now finished, and I am starting on a couple of civilians (a verger and a nun).

After that I may well do some figures for myself, well that's the plan. Not sure what they will be yet as it will have to be whatever takes my fancy on the day. Only time can tell.

Thanks for looking today and with luck see you in 2 days time. All the best Clint

Lewis Gun Hero!

Honest I am not slowing down and getting doddery! OK I may be.

Here is another 28mm VBCW figure for Matt. This time a Lewis Gunner.  I am told the figure should have a pipe but Matt wanted a cigarette and had adapted the figure to more closely resemble a fag. (Americans please Note that Fag and Cigarette are the same thing in England and neither are to be considered as a sexual orientation!).  He is destined to join the Socialist factions in VBCW, although he could easily fit into any faction. And that is one of the big joys of VBCW so many figures can be used in so many factions.

The Lewis gun would perhaps be too heavy to hold like that for long and the fact that he can at all shows him to be very strong! Lewis Guns were normally slung over a shoulder if being carried simply because they were heavy! So the Sculptor is more GW than real life. That said I do like the pose and for a picture might be very authentic!


 I have painted him in a soviet uniform to reinforce the feeling that he is a socialist but only people who know have a keen interest in Military history will recognise the uniform among all the others and then they probably would not either.... why do I bother?

The figure was great fun to paint and there will be 2 more along on Friday. And a batch on Sunday as I am working on a selection of Morris dancers as well at the moment.

All the best folks have a nice sunny day
Clint

VBCW Socialist MG

Well you should all know by now that I am working through the VBCW Socialist forces, and today we have a socialist MG. Another set of figures painted for Matt and his socialist and they will be getting a game in 2 weeks so there should be an AAR  (Barring accidents).

I am sorry I cannot tell you the make of the figures Matt probably told me but sometimes I make a goldfish look smart. And today is one of those days. Possibly Sloppy Jalopy! And definitely 28mm in size but that is where my brain stops.

 So this will just have to be a socialist machinegun and crew and leave it at that. Additionally I will not be able to identify the next batch. I did say I could make a goldfish look smart!

Have a good day and I hope to post again in 2 days time.

Best wishes Clint

Tomorrows post today!

Bloody hell it's like busses nothing for ages then 2 come along at once. This was to be Saturdays post, but I finished it early AND tomorrow is Salute and I know it would get missed in the rush to see all the show goodies.

So Today I continue with the Empress Miniatures in 28mm for a VBCW. This is a 37mm Bofors anti Tank Gun and crew.  Again this is for Matt and for VBCW 37mm gun should have enough punch to get through most things, OK probably not a Mk1 Matilda but pretty much everything else. The gun was used in WW2 and saw much use in the desert sometimes mounted on the back of trucks "Portee". During the Winter War the Finns did use it very successfully against all manner of Russian tanks but realistically it was not deployed against tanks it could not penetrate. (Unless of course you know better NO KV1's were encountered with this gun.) In fact so many of these guns were captured during the fall of France that it was also used by the Germans!

However this version is to be used in the Very British Civil War. Each crew member has different clothes and head gear so it can easily be used for any side. And while I do not normally paint camouflage on my VBCW stuff Matt did ask for it. It is no particular pattern or colours, just what I thought would look right. and looking at the gun shield the silhouette outlive is broken up so I guess it works.

Thanks for Looking today have a great weekend and I should post again on Monday.

If you are going to Salute have a great time.
All the best from (Raining) Kent.
Clint out.

RED FLAG!

Yes I know I have been very lazy and not put anything on the blog for more days than normal. It is a combination of things.

1. Mostly dithering about what to paint after the AHPC this year. I can Procrastinate for England!
2. Not really enjoying wargaming at present (although this is now passing)
3. Family illness in Matts Family so no VBCW stuff to paint (rectified now)
4. My Nephew James. Loading Minecraft on my computer and getting a little addicted. (It does not run on his computer! but does run very well on mine.))
5. And umming and arrhing about a potential new/old project that got put on the back burners for a few years. AND as I am not going to Salute this year that does free up some cash for the project.

In the mean time here is a single Empress Miniature, from the Spanish Civil War range who will be joining the Kent Socialists. Yes it is Painted for Matt and yes the flag is by Pete Barfield. I will be working on some more socialists this week and hope to have more to show on Saturdays blog post. Obviously men and women did fight in the SCW and one assumes they would do so in the VBCW as well. Not all units in the SCW did have women or allow them to fight in the front line. Many were cooks or nurses, yet some did fight in battles. So this figure carries the red flag for the socialist forces allied to Betteshanger colliery (Painted previously!)

 So enough chatter  and back to the brushes you monkey you!

Have a great couple of days and post again on Saturday.

All the best Clint

15mm hetzer

At the Skirmish show I could not resist this Hetzer from "Forged in battle!" although classed as a miss cast and sold for £ 2.50 I really could find nothing wrong with it except the resin was a different colour. As I was going to paint it what did I care.

So here is my latest addition to my 15mm WW2 vehicles. I am painting German late war infantry and assuming they go well they should be shown on Friday (That is the cue for them to go very wrong!)

I have included a quick You tube documentary as well for those of you who do not know your WW2 German vehicles.  But I do realise that if you do not you will most likely not want to watch the video either. Just in the same way that if you put a documentary about English Civil war helmets, I probably would not watch it either.

But the Hetzer was a good vehicle with a good gun and low profile so very good at ambush type tactics, but not very good for slugging it out with main battle tanks. But if It could fire without giving it's position away then that was a different thing.

Skirmish Show report

Traders  in the main Hall
There were over 30 Traders covering a
wide range of Toy soldier products
and wargames products.

Firstly let me say I was mostly playing a game and will do a Batt report in another post.  I dis show the loot I made off with yesterday so here is a look at the games and the traders a the show.

If you are a wargamer though do not expect the show
 to be like Salute or "Supermarket sweep!"
There is some good stuff but mostly you have to
look for it.



Traders in the Foyer



The Hall of Games. Where the clubs put on games for the public
Again if you are expecting Salute type games
 you will mostly be disappointed.













There is even a display of modelmaking.
While I spend almost no time talking to these guys
I do recognise that there is a mutural interest
Between wargames

















Theer is even a Military illustrator
at the show working away at commissions
from members of the public.







 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Games

For many of us the games are the best bits. here are a selection of games from the show. With comments where appropriate. But Mostly without as I was not asking too many questions.


A 10mm Napoleonic game
using Pendraken figures

A 54mm Somme Game.
Quite lovely and build by a BBC Production Engineer

It even had a couple of holes in the side to look
into the underground sections

Dave and Paul from the Walderslade club.
Playing Dust tactics

A Full Thrust game by Sittingbourne club

Paul and Ian (The Crush the Kiaser guys)
doing a Dark arge Skirmish.
It was the first time I have seen them do a game
pre 20th Century.

Herene Bay-Whitatable club
Doing some Lion Rampant
With 3 Retinues each.

No Idea. But still nice to see

A fantasy Big battle in which as many figures on the table
 as possible did seem to be the aim of this game.
Quantity over Quality.
But each to their own

The Gravesend guys doing a large Necron
versus Space Marines



A Mad max Inspired game.
It will be at Salute in a bigger format.
Looks fun.
And who does not want to be a WARBOY!

 

Last but not least Our Game of Hammering Iron
An ACW Naval engagement
And a bloodbath,
But more of this in another post!

 
 Overall a good day out for me and the Rainham club.  Kindly Note that Blogger put the artist and first game side by side. And rather than re type the whole thing I just went with it!

THIS SHOW will happen again in the Autumn. on

18th September 2016.

I am about to start preparing our club game for the show. The date line for the game is 2nd September 1944 as part of Operation Market Garden. But things may well change. I will keep you all posted.

Thanks for looking today and I will post again on Wednesday.

Cheers Clint

Skirmish Swag/loot.

Yes I did put my hand in my pocket a little today. Not so much as to regret it or so much that it will not get painted. So here is what I bought and from who.

So what did I get?

1. On the left, we have a 6x4' (Gridded) grass printed terrain Matt. While I only wanted a 4x4' Matt I was sold on the larger size when the trader offered it to me at the same price as the smaller mat. Bought from http://www.tinywargames.co.uk/ . So I am quite happy with the result.
2. Top Right Some 15mm Vikings. Purchased from Colonel Bill at http://shop.colonelbills-store.co.uk/epages/4f27da57-42ee-48c0-9cb8-22c9dd921a68.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/4f27da57-42ee-48c0-9cb8-22c9dd921a68/Categories/154 . Actually not purchased at all but a straight swap for some Foundry unpainted 28mm figure I was never going to get around to. And this should give me about enough Vikings for a game of "Longship!" (By Peter Pig) Not enough you 2 forces nut enough to put a BIG Dent in one! I like to think of it as recycling!
3. 2 15mm Miscast "Forged in Battle" resin tanks in 15mm size. A Hetzer and a Char 1 B. Purchased from http://www.andysmodels.co.uk/ . While these are officially "Miscast" With a lick of paint you will hardly know at all. The Hetzer will give my Germans a few extra options as a late war Tank destroyer. While the Char 1 B was used in WW2 by the French (and interwar period as well) and also in WW2 by the Germans.

Not sure yet what I will paint the Char up to represent but for £2.50 I know I will find a use. See below for historical note on the German use of this vehicle.

A number of Char B1's (161) were captured by the Germans during the Fall of France. These were later pressed into service as second line and training vehicles under the name of Panzerkampfwagen B-2 740 (f). Sixty became platforms for flamethrowers as Flammwagen auf Panzerkampfwagen B-2 (f). Sixteen were converted into 105 mm self-propelled artillery, armed with the 10.5 cm leFH 18 light howitzer.

Thanks for looking today and I will do a show report tomorrow.

And I even got Stu from Colonel Bill to take some fantasy figure to Roy. So not too many and I hope you can use them mate. (A Mix of Table top games and Asgard figures)

Cheers Clint

More Zulu's

I was going to call this post getting it wrong in every way! But that is a bit harsh and |I assure the kind and gentle reader that it is of course not in every way.

If you ever decide to paint a Zulu army make sure you have plenty of Zulus. One or two will just not do you do need a serious amount. So here are my next 33. (And that is just a drop in the bucket! Bucket not ocean let us not exaggerate!)

So what did I get wrong, well not so very much as all that but one thing that is quite important. Well probably more than just one thing, but 1 thing I am aware about.

Here is what happened! I did have a painted example on my painting table to copy and copy I did. I finished the 33 and was feeling jolly good about it. All based and varnished and ready to put away. It all happened in the putting away.  Below is a picture of the few painted so far, many more to go. And then I noticed that the ones with the headdress had different  colour shields from the ones I have just painted also in a headdress.  Opps.

As Zulu Impis (Regiments are identified by their shields I had clearly started a third regiment without realising. Therefore I do have one of 3 solutions!

1. I can start a 3rd regiment and be content and allow more space in the boxes for them. (Brown and white shields)
2. I Can re-paint the shields of these new troops to bring them into line with my other troops in headdress. (Black and white shields)
3. I can re paint the previously painted troops to make them match the newly painted. (Brown and white shields)
4. Re paint both sets to get black brown and white shields (Black and brown and white shields as a tricolour!)

At this stage I am thinking option 2 makes the most sense. While I still have many to paint it is possible to carry out option 1 but I know the nagging voice in my head will tell me of for being lazy. Option 3 is also possible and just as much work. Option 4 is more work and historically not correct but I could fudge it enough to make it look convincing. But I think In reality it needs to be option 2. But I just cannot face it today. so Maybe Monday night!

All the best Clint

Panther (!5mm)

A couple (ok 3) of years ago I was trying to build a 15mm PBI Late war German company. Well as I scratch my head and look around and try to focus I have revisited that project. The easiest things to paint for it are of course vehicles! So As I wanted the easy option here are 2 Panther tanks. I will not lie one (on the right) has been shown on the blog previously. The one on the left though (with the commander) is newly painted!


They are bother FOW vehicles and as such are both metal and resin. They look the part now that they both have the same camo. ( Three colour ambush) . I can honestly say that I will not need any more Panthers and that indeed 2 may be overkill as it is. So that should be enough late war tanks for PBI. Which of course means I will buy some more just to get variety! But no plans at present!

I will be at a show on Sunday (a little/local show) so who knows what will tempt me then. But at least this puts me on the way to a normal painting schedule. Another Post on Saturday IF I can get this batch of Zulu's finished.

Until then take care and have fun and slap some paint about!

Cheers Clint

Lewis Gun Team.

A slow painting day post "Challenge", But I have managed to get 2 more WW1 figures finished. These will do double duty serving with my 28mm WW1 troops, And also with my VBCW figures.

As the figures were a gift I am not able to tell you who made them but they do look and paint like Great war miniatures. They were a gift from Matt about a year ago and then I lost them and now I found them. Given the need to do double duty in two armies I have been keen to keep the bases simple just so they do not look too out of place in either army.


The double duty is so that my WW1 army being mostly early war can now stretch all the way up to VBCW all using the same figures. All I have to do is include the Lewis gun teams or indeed remove them for early WW1 games.

Later this week I intend to work on two OLD projects that have been on the back burners for a while.  Yes back to the 10mm Zulus (As a local show is planning a Zulu themed event next year!) And hey have sat idle for about a year and so are in need of reinforcements as I did start them but did not get so vary far. The problem being that to look good a Zulu army in 1/200th scale needs masses of them. The other old project is a German late war PBI company. Again a local wants an Arnhem game, it can (and in my case will be Operation Market Garden as opposed to Arnhem it self!) By using my US Paratroops I painted last year  I only need to get some late war Germans done. They will be useful for other games as well not just Market Garden!

But those are plans for the future so I will get side tracked but at least I have a goal to aim at now.

Cheers From Sunny Kent!

First painted since.....?

Well that is just not true! Well not entirely as I had started this BEFORE the painting challenge started and thus it was not eligible for entry into the challenge. One of the big problems with the painting challenge is the cool down period afterwards. I am slowly tackling it! I did manage to paint 6 Napoleonic Highlanders (IN Tartan with tartan socks) in 15mm the day after the challenge ended for a club friend (Peter) but other than that it has been slow.

So I thought with a game coming up next Sunday at a show I would get some more VBCW figures done and thus I tackled this vehicle which had been started BEFORE the painting challenge.

It did start life as an eBay purchase of £0.99 plus postage as no one bid on it!. At the time I could clearly see why! It was very badly painted and converted and not at all historically accurate. However a few dabs of paint and several grey hairs later it does make a passable VBCW vehicle. The crew with US helmets are all wrong and the howitzer is un feasibly large on this little carrier. But as a bit of fun I can forgive that and I know several players will find this "Troll-Cannon" amusing. (I do anyway).


Because it was already assembled it was tricky to get the brush in all the right places but despite my complaints I do like it! Clearly it would never exist in real life. The recoil would topple over the carrier most likely killing the crew at the same time. But that aside for the craziness of VBCW I think I will get away with it as long as people will forget the reality.

I cannot be sure where all the parts came from but I suspect the carrier was Warlord and probably the figures as well as they do seem a good fit. The gun though I have no idea as it is white metal while the carrier is plastic. Overall I am pleased with it yes it could be better but working from another's build and painting there is just so much you are inclined to do. And for the price what can I say it has kept me amused for several hours so that can't be all bad.

Happy Easter everyone. And I should post again on Tuesday as I "Should" get some painting done today!

Take care and have fun!