Another JS2 (AK47 )Tank

If you are having de-ju-view all over again I might be to blame.  This week I went to Rochester gams and models and one of the impulse buys was ANOTHER Zvezda Js2 Tank. I now have 2 and this one is painted in the same colours as the last to help to fill out my AK 47 force.  I promise it is not the same tank Photographed again!

Other than a BTR I am done with this project..... that is until something else catches my eye.  It could (and is most likely) to happen. But as I type this and in my head I am done! I know they are famous last words but I kind of mean it!

So that's it for today. A quick post and finished in plenty of time to watch the football! So  get any painting done this morning and if you hate football get the shopping in in empty stores this afternoon.

Take care have fun and enjoy what ever you decide to do. All the best Clint

Lanchester 6x4 armoured car

I have been slow off of the mark.  I blame the football! However I have managed to finish (just) a 20mm Lanchester armoured car (6x4). I accept that many will not have heard of the Lanchester armoured car (LINK) as I had hardly heard OF IT Either. So if you know nothing about it you are completely forgiven and if you know too much about it seriously "get a grip". For those who don't know(Raises own hand) it was built in 1927-28 and served the British empire as a "Colonial" armoured car until the outbreak of WW2. So totally suitable for my Back of Beyond (BOB) games.


As you can see from the photo of a Real one, it is not made up even if I have not seen one in real life. While not that effective in a BOB setting it should I hope do very well. I believe this one is at the Bovington Tank Museum. You can use it in WW2 as well as 2 were given to the Belgium army while the majority served in Malay ad I think Singapore! Elsewhere they were part of the home guard and used to protect cabinet officials on journeys. So unless you are going to make scenarios up they will never get a huge amount of use.


This one is 20mm (1/72nd Scale) by Front Line Wargames (LINK) and I purchased it from Tim as a "Mist cast" for the princely sum of £1 (Bargain) while at the Broadside show.  .In all honesty I do not think it will get a massive amount of use despite in my head (and so far only in my head) a game where British armoured cars have to stop a train! All in my head may come to fruition and may not, so do not hold your breath! The Mis  cast now painted does not show, in fact if I had not mentioned it I doubt anyone would point it out!

This one based and painted for Back of Beyond I have painted sand. but in all fairness I have no idea if any actually were they may all be green. Photos are mostly black and white and of training so I may have taken some liberties with the colours but as it will only be seen by club member (at this stage) who am I to worry!

If Tim Miscasts some more I shall snaffle them up all to bring the Train chase that stage closer. But until then this will just be an armoured car perhaps even captured and used by a different side.

That's It for today. Have fun, Paint if you can or at least plot and devise some fun games.

All te best Clint

6mm Logistics (part 1)

Yes there will be more than 1 part. However here are my first transport vehicles. I did want it so that some would be civilian ad others would have been pressed into service. So there really is a variety of colours . Here they are all together. 12 so far all 6mm transport vehicles by Brigade Models  (LINK) They all look like a bunch od sweeties due to my selection of bright colours.
I see the yellow sand ones as being civilian vehicles that have been pressed into service  while the others are through and through civilian vehicles.

 As you can see there are 5 variations. ^ if you include the AA truck shown recently. From left to right.  Pick up, Box van, Tanker lorry, command lorry and Flat bed lorry.


In Commercial service I wanted to keep them as bright as possible., That way they can only be so much of a distraction. I may well change the colours on the next lot to be more muted only time shall tell. For now though it is always good to have a few civilian vehicles on the board even as just acting as some form as cover for troops to hide behind.

 I do have a load more vehicles to do but I feel as if I need a short break from these for a few days or a week, maybe longer we will have to wait and see.

But at least I am plugging away through the heat even if I had to do this at 5am to keep myself cool.

 

Quick Board update: Having laid the boards out full size they are a little small. Not giving up of course but perhaps trying to be a touch more real with the size I have. Stay tuned for the next update.

An easy paint

More talking than anything else today. I admit it I got side-tracked into real life. Maybe for a good thing maybe for a bad one! Who knows at this stage!

Here  are probably the easiest things I have ever painted. 2 Elephant tusks, or Mammoth tusks or if you choose really large alien teeth!

They are by Wargames Terrain Workshop WTW (Link) Thanks Dave. I really do like them simple and effective and can be used for almost all 28mm wargames. Maybe they were just loot or maybe they are objective markers of in my Back of Beyond just really large Mammoth tusks. Who knows at this stage.

I am continuing to paint 6mm sci fi vehicles but the seem to be going very slow at the moment, perhaps due to lack of sleep in the heat. But at least they are coming along and I shall have some to show next week. Until then a sneak peek into my mind...... AHHHHHH! Yeah I thought that would be both scary and unpleasant.

Subject changed:

Next year, I know it sneaks up fast! Anyway next year at some local shows I plan to run some "PULP ALLEY" games. At this stage I have 2 plans and here they are!

Option 1;
A Victorian Science fiction game set in a Victorian steam-punk dockyard.  Above is a Picture of Chatham Dockyard so you get an idea of what kind of feel I would be looking for,

here are my initial thumbnail sketches.

 At this stage all is likely to change IF I go down this route. So only take the layout as a rough guide and do not try to find the exact option.

All buildings would and should be enterable and as such all should have fully functioning interiors Which means in warehouses piles of crates,sacks and the like for loads of cover.

You will no doubt note,  as one of my players did the airship and the submarine. These ideas were seized upon and to those members of tHe club became for a very short while the most important parts. Where as I looked upon them as being added extras, there to be finished last so if they were not finished they would not matter.

I already have the figures and am happy to get a few more. So figure choice would not be an big issue.

Option 2:


The idea of a secret valley. Harder I found to sketch! I am deliberately not saying if \I would choose to make an Ice age  Crevice, an African rift or a South American canyon. If this is selected I hope to make that decision with the aid of club members. I do like the idea of an airship somehow being involved for 19th and 20th Century Pulp adventures, as well as a possible Tarzan type character.

As such I have all the figures OR am willing to buy a few more.  Again no reason why in a pulp setting German or Royal Navy could not be involved. Just think of "Doug Mc Clure" films and I am sure you will get the idea. Although at this stage I shall not be going full "Valley of Gwangi!" Unless players really want me to.  I am sure we all remember the T-Rex in Tomb rader though! Still brings a smile to my face

ANYWAY:
if  you have a strong preference let me know. I shall of course pay a lot more attention to my club members as they will have to play it.  Maybe try a few other clubs as well before a show. All depends on how soon I pull my finger out and get on with it!

If neither of those ideas appeal I am happy to listen (BUT it shall be "PULP ALLEY" ) to alternatives. I have learnt in the past though that the more options given the less decisions are made and the more debate is had usually by the people willing to do the least work and try to claim the most credit! So please stick to the above ideas unless you  have a really smashing, bursting to get out never been seen at a show before idea!

Scout Platoon (6mm sci fi)

Well as te club have not been back in touch. Well let's be honest 2 members have! And for that they have my gratitude. I am at present unable to share any plans about a show game planned for next year. So instead here is a Scout vehicle Platoon that I finished last night. I do not know who makes them having purchased them at a bring and buy a few years ago. Do not bother telling me what they are or if I have the turrets the wrong way around. While I always appreciate such comments at this stage I an not very concerned. Opps just noticed I need to paint the tyres..... that will be finished before crack of lunch! (Edit: done it now before 8:30 am)

These will go with my CSDU forces. They are not Brigade games models as the rest are but they shall do well enough. Overall nice additions to the force.

Also (and this time by Brigade Models (LINK) an Anti Aircraft Vehicle.  To be honest this came in a pack and I was not totally aware it was even in there until I opened the pack.  This is not a complaint just informing you that I purchased an assortment of Transports (some will be painted as Civilian) a while ago and have just repainted this one. I have one morethast will be painted to fiit in with my other force. (just to provide some balance).

As you can see I have not done a massive amount of painting and am just about to visis a DIY store to get some vital model making supplies. More of that another time.

So enjoy the day and I will try to get more painted as soon as I am able. but for now real life calls.

A Bunch of 15mm Sci Fi.

Yep I am back on the 15mm Science Fiction. First up 2 "Snapdragon" studios storage lockers.  Very quick basic paint jobs, Primer base colour, gun metal door then a black wash and finally rust applied.  Quick simple and all done in an evening. No hassles at all. I would like some more "snap dragon studios" stuff and despite the fact these were originally 28mm they shall work very well as 15mm terrain. Overall very happy wit them and the fact I got them cheap 2nd hand at the Flea Market at Broadside so much the better.


Now I was one of the backers for "Ghosts of Hefei" Kick starter and I have heard nothing of it since I received my pledge parcel. Now I only got the rules and some 15mm figures so not a massive outlay. I only mention it as I have now painted the figures and am showing them all (that I got) today. The rules are OK and I do not object to having bought them but U am not sure I will ever play them.

 Firstly 6 security robots. The idea of the game is that you steal these. For me and using the Gruntz rules they make a para-military security robot force. Yes they ave mostly got different weapons and different sizes, but that is OK with me as they all look vaguely police and vaguely  official and not as powerful as ful blown military should be. So more figures to be happy with.

Lastly here is a 15mm "Gang" for the game, although I shall use them all as generis civilians in those few games where civilians are needed.
As mentioned they are all 15mm so the storage u its are included for scale.

That's it for today more 6mm stuff next or Maybe if the club get back to me today my plans for a show game next year.

Until then take care have fun and keep smiling (and in my case get some sleep).

A quick (ok slow) re-paint

I did not see the point of starting something fresh just when I had decided to use the "Moon Boards" for 6mm as well as 28mm as well as 15mm wargaming! Therefore I am re-painting the 6mm Sci fi figures.  These are Brigade Models (LINK) Chinese Democratic Soviet Union (CDSU) Mechanised company in 6mm (1/300th scale). The first 2 pics just show the Xie Fang MICV's . 8 normal and 1 Command vehicle. Which should make a full company. Colour wise I stuck closely to the colours on the boards but this time using acrylics' and not emulations that the boards are covered in. This has led to some slight colour variation but I am OKAY with that.

The vehicles are all single piece castings and attached to a 20mmx30mm MDF base (2 mm thick). They have had now 2 paint schemes so I hope this is the last for fear of re-painting and loosing some detail on the castings. But for the moment happy with them.


 The infantry at 1 stand a vehicle or perhaps 2 half stands in the command vehicle are on Plasticard base sas pitting them on MDF would mean they would become almost as tall in the base as to their shoulder. Yes the 6mm infantry were a right pain. They needed 2 coats of tan to get rid of the snowy blue colour as well as 2 coats on the bases to get rid of the snow effect. But that is now in the past and they can now be put away and I can continue with the 15mm sci fi!

The infantry did start to loose some casting definition but with the size and the now 4 coats of paint that was to be expected and to be honest is not an issue with me. If you want to moan about the soft casting now feel free as to be honest they look pretty good to me.

You may note that the visors on the infantry and the clear glass on the vehicles has be painted as pink/purple. This was done to give a more out of this world feel, after all who says the skys on Planet Elysium (or any other name that suits you) would have blue skies. not me that is for sure!

I shall of course be doing some more (many more) over the coming months but for now at least a break. Expect 15mm sci fi next time and maybe even the time after.

Until then, take care have fun and get some hobby work done if you can

All the Best Clint

15mm crew

In most games you do not need to show crew. So I usually do not bother unless the vehicle is open topped. However Jon Tuffney at GZG has at some shows a box of spare samples castings. Sometimes I take one and work out what to do with it when I get home. So these are 2 of the samples that I have taken from my "I'll get round to it one day!" box and painted up. GZG are here (LINK)and these are 15mm "Stargrunt figures"
I cannot say from that packs as they were free samples.

I went for the brightest orange I could to reflect the fact that they are not really combatants and may indeed be civilians. They may not but as free figures they do not actually fit into any organised units so from my point of view there is no reason not to use them as crew.

The vehicle is very old by the way, so old I forgot who made in and it is possibly no longer in production, UNLESS you Know better!

I Know not a major new painting venture and nothing to get excited about. I shall try to get more done for Monday but with England playing tomorrow I am not sure how much I shall achieve. Currently repainting my 1/300th scale Sci fi to colour match the moon boards so kindly bear with me a little longer! As I desperately try NOT to get side tracked onto WW2.

All the best Clint

3 different things

I have no excuse I get side tracked by the world cup! Certain of you I can hear "Tutting" as I type this. But here at least is what I have done!

Firstly some barrels. These are 28mm Ainsty Castings ( http://www.ainsty-castings.co.uk/) Find them in the Cargo Hold section if ordering online or just ask Andy is a nice guy and worth a chat if you see him at a show.)

I went for a VERY simple paint job. Simply gun metal followed by a Black wash. This should make them useable from about 1910 on to sci fi! Stuck them on MDF Bases, as you can see 4 on one base and 2 on another. It was either this or have them run around loose and risk loosing them.

So a quick and easy thing to get going with. No problems and easy to do an quickly managed and all done and dusted and very versatile.






Now at times I can be dense. (I know who you are and I can see you nodding!) At the Broadside show on the flea market there was 2 guys selling off some old "Snapdragon Studios" Castings. I can honestly say I wish I had purchased more from them, These 2 cost me £2 unpainted and they wee the only 2 of these they had. As far as I know Snapdragon only produced in 2 scales, 6mm and 28mm. That does not at all bother me as I do intend to use these as power generators on my 15mm sci fi boards! (See later). But with nothing to Scale them against and being science fiction how would you ever know!

In Retrospect I should have put something on to scale these. Oh well live and learn, (In my case sleep and forget it all). But I am very happy  with these and as hinted at they are without scale so could be used in any sci fi scale. Shame you just cannot get snapdragon any moae I used to really like them but could never afford to buy much.


Lastly for today! I hyad a little think and it has occurred to me that I might be better using my "Moon" Boards as and "Any-scale" sci fi terrain. Yes I know I am slow if off the mark and most of you would have thought of this before!


The conclusion of this epiphany is that I shall now need to repaint my 1/300th scale sci fi stuff from Ice Planet to desert planet! There fore here are 3 Civilian vehicles (Painted red so as not to be at all camouflaged). I started painting them red as they were going on an Ice planet and I did want them to stand out! But as it turns out bright red works almost as well for a desert planet! Lots more (2 armies) to do for these but at least I now have a start and can continue at my leisure..

That's it for today. I hope to have more on Saturday until then, take care paint if you can. All the best Clint