Stupid Boy!

 When I joined the Wargames club I did liken my command acumen to that of the incredible (in his own mind) Captain Mainwaring. Ten years later I still meet those high standards, but only just! This figure was an absolute joy to Paint. Matt had added a Thompson Machinegun tucked under his right arm and to my eye it fits very well indeed. The colour choice of a dark brown suit was to give him a sombre appearance. The light blue armbands of the Anglican league contrast very nicely with the brown. Of course it had to be a black bowler hat as befits a bank manager and my one extravagance was the dull red tie against the white shirt. Many other colour choices were of course available but this seemed to fit the character nicely. I know he wears a charcoal suit in the TV series so I will just claim that a man in his position potentially may have more than one suit!

From the back you can see there is no shoulder stock on the gun. It would have been nice, but Matt did not waste time or effort by adding one. It would have given me a lighter brown to work with but overall unless you are being picky it was not a nessercary addition. The umbrella will no doubt be used for pointing at things and was part of the original figure and a very  fitting accessory.

This should be the last Dad's Army figure for a while. (at least a year). Which is not to say no more homeguard but just no more TV series characters. I am painting some more figures for Matt as you read this and they should all be finished by Thursday. (Some BUF) for handing over on Sunday next week.

So until Tuesday when I get back to my "normal" blog posting schedule. "Stupid Boy!" Sorry I could not resist!

Alas Pike and Jones!

 Firstly let me say I have has internet problems. But now I have had a visit from Virgin Media Engineer and a new Modem and as far as I am concerned am back to normal. The Engineer thinks it is probably faster now, but in truth I see no change of speed.

So Today I thought I should give you 2 figures to make up for my few days of no blog posts. I will Do one more tomorrow as well trying to catch up with where I think I should be!

Firstly we have Corporal Jack Jones who does have a number of catch phrases so feel free to put them in the comments and get them out of your system. As a veteran of the Sudan wars Jonesy carries both a rifle and a spear ( queue the famous quote!) Yes we all know what they don't like!

The addition of the rifle is another Matt special but I do think it helps the character and will be definitely useful in table games. And you can hardly see the join. Looking at the figure again I should have painted the apron dark blue THEN added the "white" stripes. As It would have given a better effect, still you live and learn. So Next time. I am not saying it is a disaster at all but would have looked better the other way around! Other than the apron I am quite happy with the figure so no real gripes.

 And then we have the young Private Pike armed with a cricket bat. I am sure he would have been a menace with that weapon. The bat shows many red and white cricket ball marks as it I always better to add a few extra colours on the model. Likewise the West Ham Scarf has also allowed me to introduce another colour.

The face was touched up AFTER seeing this Photo and the darker skin tone is less prominent now. It is always worth seeing the figure with fresh eyes or in this case lens  as I quite often see things with a second look that I might otherwise miss.

While in Bank Clerk suit he also carries a civilian gas mask in a card board box. These cardboard boxes soon got decorated by family members, either kids with paint or more often a wife with some material so by 1942 few looked like the brown cardboard that was issued. My Grandfathers (I am told) was covered in an old rug! While my mother and sister would no doubt have used ribbons! But I have kept it plain as it is easier to identify.

Overall another splendid Warlord Games figure from the Dad's army box set.

Walker.

yes today we have Private Walker in muffy. (I admit I painted his eyes wrong). But here he is none the less. he does have the distinctive sky blue arm bands of the Anglican league as Matt wanted them painted but us main weapon is a kitchen knife tied to a broom handle. (Ok there is also a rifle on his back but you cannot see it from this angle).

While in the Tv series he is mostly in a grey suit (when not in uniform) I went for a brown suit instead simply as Wilson is in a grey suit and I did not want tem looking similar.

Overall apart from the eyes I am happy with the figure as he does fit in very well with the rest. As with all the others Bolt action warlord games 28mm Home Guard. But you know all that.

I had a mini pre Christmas splurge. It is a combination of 3 things.
 1} Knowing that I have the painting Challenge coming up! And wanting something easy to paint because I am a wimp!
And 2} Ground Zero Games having a pre Christmas sale.... yes I am weak.
Ok and 3} Being told I need to buy things for Christmas so my Mother and sister know what to get me.

The results is that I am giving up on 15mm sci fi. (Sob sob or Cheers if you don't like science fiction). So My plan is to re-paint my 6mm desert terrain. (That will be coming soon on this blog)>
And instead of 15mm Sci fi swap to 6 mm science fiction (Hooray! or Bo If you choose) .

As a Result I went to my local wargames/model/railway shop which stock Brigade games and bought some sci fi trucks in 6mm. These will not interfere with GZG and should compliment them. And as the "Dirtside" rules are free to down load I will be playing them as I know some of the club are interested as long as they do not need to buy anything, paint anything or read any rules, but they do like the "Stargrunt" rules so with luck in the new year we shall be playing "Dirtside!" (No Ray that is not a sexual thing!!!)

Frasier and the grave digger

 Two more today. The town undertaker Frasier together with another figure who I think is the grave digger but not sure. Frasier wearing a sailors jersey and in dark blue because of his Naval backstory. The Grave digger because he was a spare figure that matt once again converted and armed with a rifle yet still carries his trusty spade. he wears dark clothing so not to show the dirt but he could equally be a road mender or the stoker on a train. So I will let Matt create any background he wants.

Not sure who I will paint next so it could be anyone tomorrow!


Until then, take care, have fun and get some painting done.
All the best from Clint

Gofrey

Another of Matts conversions is Godfrey with a Lewis gun. All part of his growing Anglican League force. I have no idea what he would be doing with a Lewis gun or indeed what he would tell his sisters. But I do feel sure that he would never actually fire it with any hostile effect!

So Far this figure has been my favourite to paint and the sky blue armbands do make the figure stand out on the table top.

Thanks for Looking and most likely another one tomorrow. Probably Walker or Fraiser.

Hodges

 Yes as requested here is Mr Hodges. Before anyone says anything about the colour of the helmet. In the TV series it is shown as both black and white as a base colour so I went for the White version as that at a glance seems to be the most common version in still pictures of Mr Hodges. So If it is wrong feel free to blame the BBC!

Little more to add Matt converted this figure to carry a tommy gun. And that is about it!

I will have a break from posting tomorrow as I am at the club and playing board games but I will post again on Monday.

All the best Clint

Sgt Wilson

 Only 1 finished today. But most very nearly finished, skin and bases and shoes and finishing off. So Confident more will be done very soon. Until then here is Sargent Wilson in mufti! Another one of Matts Conversions, this time to be a flag bearer. The flag is of course by Pete Barnfield at (LINK) and sold by Solway. It is obviously an Invicta flag of Kent as Wilmington on Sea is somewhere in this county if only going by the cap badges in the TV series or the view of the White Cliffs at Dover. But you are free to set it in your own area, I am sure I would.

Anyway for those interested in VBCW the sky blue arm bands are for the Anglican league which dominates East Kent. I painted Wilson in a grey suit as it seemed slightly more flamboyant than a brown suit. (Captain Mainwaring will be in a Brown suit.) . One of the joys of painting figures for Matt is that he always gives me free rein with the colour choices. All he has said for these was "Sky Blue Arm bands for Anglican league!" and with that level of instruction I am happy to oblige.


I Hope to post again tomorrow when another rolls of the production line. I think it will be Hodges next, but after that I am happy to take requests on a first come first served basis. (Although I am not Happy with civilian Jones or Civilian Fraiser just yet. But I am happy to work on anyone of the crew (that I have in my position)

Thanks for looking.

All the best Clint

Oh no not Mre Dad's Army!

yeah fraid so. Not really the "Enemy" but definitely a thorn in the side of Captain Mainwaring and his fellow troops of the Home Guard. Today we Have the Vicar and the Verger! Matt has converted them both to be armed. Not that they ever were in the TV series, but as this is for wargaming, it probably is a very good idea.

I will not even try to be clever and tell you what the guns are as well I am just not that clever. (Stop sniggering, I know who you are!)

I will try to get a couple more done for tomorrow. No Garantees of course as I am painting a few xmas gifts. And I Guarantee they are not for you..... They are both for women in their fifties. No Ray that does not describe any Irishmen, I know what you are like, cheeky git!

Hopefully more tomorrow IF I can ever get the painting mojo up and running this day.

All the best Clint

Don't open the Box!

My last daily post for a few days at least.

So as requested here is a group shot of them all together. You know who they all are. So just a group shot to finish the series off until I get the next batch painted.







I have painted something for myself. (Shock horror!) You may recall that I had some loot or swag or freebies from the club last time. One Person (Relfie) generously gave me 3 resin chests to act as frost grave treasure tokens. They were purchased from The Dice Bag Lady £6 for 12 chests. As there are 4 Frostgrave Players at the club Relfie VERY generously gave 3 to each of us. And here are my three painted.

The central chest has my attempt at Verdgis (copper corrosion) applied and while I was doing it was my least favourite, now seeing it with fresh eyes I think I have to say my most favourite.

All in all while not a taxing paint they will add something to the board. I went for grass as opposed to snow bases just to make them more versatile and be able to use them in many more games than just Frost grave. Pirate games, Fantasy games, 3 musketeer games, horror games and so on.

Following the Dad's army figures last week it may take me a few days to get back in the swing so I cannot give a set day for the next post just to say it will be soon. And I am beginning to prep figures and models for Curts Analogue Painting Challenge now, and will be sending out both my secret Santa gifts as well probably this week.

All the best to you all. Have a good few days Clint

"Mum won't like it, Uncle Arthur. "

Yes it was only a matter of time before I got around to these two. So without a fanfare, here they are.

Another two great figures to paint, packed full of character. Of the whole set Sargent Wilson was my favourite to paint the two fingers up to his cheek just epitomise the character played by John Le Mesurier . The other one "Pike" is just as good and the scarf brings a nice touch of colour to the figure set. The Scarf is of course West Ham colours, but painted with a little to much white. Not that it bothered me at all as it does now stand out more.

There are no prizes for repeating the quotes most famous with the characters but neither can I stop you from doing so. So go ahead with my blessing!

Other news:

1 Newline Designs (LINK) have announced a 25% pre Christmas sale. They mostly do 20mm figures (and now 10mm figures as well) but there is also some 28 mm stuff and Sean is a good bloke to chat to at shows so worth using this as an advert for him

2. the 6th Annual Analogue Painting Challenge has been announced.  I for some reason am unable to post any comment on his blog, but I can post replies to other people. So a big thanks to Tamsin for contacting Curt on y behalf so I can get involved. I was going to set a target of 500 Points, but as I am going to do all the bonus rounds this year I am aiming for 755 points. Which will be a push for me this year, but is totally in the spirit of the challenge. So I will be taking part thanks to Tamsin. If you read this Cheers Mate.

3 Yes I am still playing World of tanks, I have bought 2 new tanks both tier 6. One being the pre-production prototype of the panther. The other being a very obscure tank (the VK 28.01) that never actually got past the blue print stage. Now before anyone says what is it. It is a WW2 German light tank. In World of Tanks (WoT) very many people play the light German tanks at tiers 1-4 but at higher levels they are hardly played at all as they can barely defend themselves and Many other tanks can one shot kill them. While your gun just cannot penetrate their armour at all. There are exceptions of course but generally speaking if you get hit in this tank you are dead in the game. Which means it is NOT a popular tank at all.

So on my first game with the tank I managed to set a new record! Like I said it is not a popular tank and the threshold was pretty low. But a new record non the less. Of which I am very proud and no doubt setting myself up for a fall BIG TIME!

 I have now played 5 games with the tank, Including one this morning. This morning I set a higher record. Rather than a Bronze award I was granted a silver award. And in doing so set a new record. I have not recovered yet that is how flabbergasted I am. I will of course carry on with this tank and try to set the record even higher. Not that it means anything to anyone but myself. And In most games I do get swatted like a fly very quickly, very quickly indeed.


Thanks for looking today and that does bring my Dad's Army figures to an end, so I will be posting some of my own figures tomorrow and trying to get back in the swing of things, by posting every-other day after that!

All the best Clint

Don't Panic!

While they may be the words of a certain intergalactic guide to hitchhiking they are also one of the catch phrases of Corporal Jones. AKA the butcher! Known as the Butcher as that is his peace time job. A veteran of the Colonial wars in Egypt and the Sudan he is keen to undertake any task his officer suggests which is at odds with one of his catch phrases "Don't Panic! Don't Panic" (He never seems to say it once only!) One can only assume something Traumatic has happened in the past. Yet more great comedy writing from Jimmy Perry and David Croft.

With him today is Private Walker who is in the parlance of the day a "Wide Boy". He does get called a spiv in one of the episodes and is always trying to make some money (usually Illegally) by offering goods that are on strict rationing, like Petrol, whiskey, nylons and that sort of thing. And while it is almost surely illegal he is never turned in to the police. In fact as he is a member of the home guard one has to assume that he while not being anti German he does see his lifestyle coming to an end if they get in power. So is willing to fight to make sure they do not invade.

The last 2 figures tomorrow. I bet you have already worked out who they will be. No not Hodges or the Verger! But the Sargent and (possibly) his son!

Take care, have fun and get some painting done!
All the best from me.

We're Doomed, Doomed I tell ya!

The title tells you how this is! I nearly entitled it "My sister dolly wants to knit you some armour!" Which is of course a quote from Godfrey. Again painted for Matt and from Bolt action in 28mm size. All the figures came without cast on metal bases or "slotta base" tabs so I have drilled and pined them to MDF bases. Needless to say this is not ideal but the only other option was to glue them to the base, but without the pinning. I found the Fraiser sculpt to be least like the character, still a load better than I could do so I cannot complain too much. While Godfrey was one of my absolute favourites and a real joy to paint. Overall I am enjoying painting the figures and 2 more will get finished today and shown tomorrow.

Other News.

As I continue to play !World of tanks " I was astounded to set another new high score in the game. I hasten to add that I am not a brilliant player, there are many that are much better. It was just a case of getting lucky and not making any silly mistakes (for a change).  But clearly the more I play the better I get.

This time the tank in question was the Tier 5 German Heavy tank the VK 30.0. H I believe the Wehrmacht only made 12 of them and they were the tank that was the prototype for the prototype of the Panther!  But I may have gotten that wrong so do not take that as gospel in any way.

The last screen shot shows the full story. It should be noted that I am NOT a player on a Premium account. But it was my first game of the day so I did get the xp bonus so divide the total xp by 3 to get the true number. But clearly still a good score and it makes me happy. Which you will understand if you play the free downloadable game.

Right that's my boasting over.... bet I do not do as well in the future!

All the best Clint