15mm WW2 German tanks camouflaged

Here are some 15mm German tanks which I have airbrushed. This time I used vallejo's airbrush paint, together with airbrush medium to dilute it. I also had the compressor produce the right pressure (I'd always had it too high before).

First I airbrush the tanks, then I ink them, then I dry brush with pale sand, to bring out the edges. I paid on the tracks lastly, and ink over them.

I am going for a battle worn look. The Panthers are all in three colour camouflage. Some of the stugs are in three colour, others in brown over a base coat of desert yellow. I painted "kill rings" on some tanks. You can click on a picture to get a larger image.

28mm Napoleonic British 18th Hussars and 3rd Hussars KGL

I have been working on these two regiments of British Hussars for six months. They are the 3rd KGL Hussars and 18th Hussars. The figures are from Elite Miniatures (28mm).

The swords have been replaced by steel pins, which I soldered on. I ground off the original reigns and replaced them with thin copper wire. I converted some horses, having them tumble, or rear up, with my handy dremel. I moved some of the Hussars body parts around; heads looking side ways, arms at different angles. I would have liked to have had one of the figures doubled over, or falling to the side. I figured I could do this by using the dremel to cut out a wedge, deep at the ourside, narrow inside the figure, which would allow the figure to be folded from the belly forwards. But the braid on the Hussars jackets got in the way. I will try this another time.

I had to drill/cut through hands, and then build up the hands again, to get the copper wire reigns to appear to be held the Hussars. This was a warm up exercise for two regiments, each of 32 men, of Saxon Napoleonic Cuirassier. The Saxon figures are from Connoisseur and are one of their classics.

Grinding off the reigns took days of laborious work. It wasn't worth it. When I took a look at some beautiful Guard du Corps figures, which I was imitating, I noted that the original reigns were still there. The modeller, the superb Peter Guilder, had just added another set of reigns with copper fuse wire. I think the wire I used is a little bit to thick. I may use a thinner wire next time. I hammered this wire flat before adding it to the model. There are still some jobs to be done. The wire reigns has to be smoothed in places. I am going to import some Silfor tufts to put onto the bases.

3rd Hussars King's German Legion

3rd Hussars King's German Legion

3rd Hussars King's German Legion

18th Hussars

18th Hussars

18th Hussars

3rd Hussars King's German Legion

3rd Hussars King's German Legion

3rd Hussars King's German Legion

18th Hussars

18th Hussars

18th Hussars

18th Hussars

18th Hussars

10mm Warmaster Teutonic Knights

These are 10mm Teutonic Knights based for Warmaster. The castings are from TB miniatures, in Italy. There are three sets of Knights, with different livery. I chose historical designs, from an Osprey. I may have to change the mounted sergeants livery, as it is identical for all three sets, and makes it look at if there is only one design.

War of the Austrian Succession Austrian Kálnoky Hussar

This is my second Spencer Smith miniature, the first being a Prussian Hussar. Not to keep that fellow lonely, here is a war mate for him. This time I've done a better job on the flounders, which don't show in the photo, due to the glossy shine, and added a barreled waist sash, which you can see on his right side.

Pendraken's 10mm Paddle Steamer for the Sudan

These are a couple of Pendraken's paddle steamers, from their Sudan range. I actually have a third model, not assembled, around here somewhere. The models don't come with those railings. I had to drill into the deck, plant short wire there with aradlite, and then thread between these posts. I don't know if this was intended. It was a huge pain in the bottom to undertake. I managed to lose one of the chinese hat awnings, so I had to scratch build one from wood.

I would like to have taken better photos, but I haven't appropriate river scenery. I tried cutting the boats out of that background, and revealing some blue, or brown water, background, but it looked terrible.

My first Spencer Smith figure: Szekely Hussar

I have painted my first Spencer Smith miniature. The figures have very little detail. You have to paint it on, which is the point of buying these simple figures. It is rather like taking an unattractive girlfriend out for an expensive meal. All she really rates is a nosebag and a measure of oats, but giving her the five star treatment makes the evening special. On the other hand, you could save your cash, spend it on the Spencer Smiths, and stay in for the evening.

This lad is from the Prussian Szekely Hussars. The uniform is good for the War of the Austrian Succession, the Silesian Wars and the Seven Years War. I've forgotten a few successions, but you get the drift. Here is is, presented in all his unfashionable shininess.

None of the lace, the flounders, the "teeth" on the Shabraque or the design on the Sabretache is molded on the figure. So it takes a deal of painting. I should touch up those flounders, but I was hasty to get this first man on the parade ground.

I've 58 kilos of these Spencer Smith figures to paint. So I'd better get a move on.

28mm Old West US Cavalry (on foot)

These are Old Glory castings. They work really well for skirmish because they are so animated. I have a few hundred to paint up for a spot of plains wars gaming.

I'm not sure about these check shirts, with white squares, as I haven't seen examples of contemporary shirts. I will rely on the TMP collective to "clue me in". I can always paint light blue into the white squares, on the blue check shirt, and light red into the squares of the red shirts. I think that would shirt. But if these are already OK, I won't change them.

Old Glory 28mm Old West US Cavalry

Old Glory 28mm Old West US Cavalry

Old Glory 28mm Old West US Cavalry

Old Glory 28mm Old West US Cavalry

One man and a hot glue gun - 376 figures based in a session

I'm going back through stalled projects and moving them along. Sometimes a project goes on hold because of uniform, or ORBAT, questions which have been thrown up. At other times I put a project on hold because of some laborious task which has to be undertaken.

Basing figures can be a real pain. For 28mm In The Grand Manner (rule set) it can be a problem to fit all the necessary figures onto the base, or to put them in the right spot. That means I can't use my painters to base these figures for me. I wouldn't do that anyway as I'm too particular about basing for ITGM. I have found that a hot glue gun is a life saver for basing. Many of the figures I use don't stand up on their own, so they have to he held in place while glue dries. This is no fun for a 48 man battalion!

The last time I based up figures I overdid it and put myself off for the past year. Most of these figures have been lying around on trays since then.

In this batch there are three forty man, and three thirty two man, British Napoleonic battalions. There are also two Austrian 48 man battalions and two really lovely Spanish 32 man battalions which are conversions made by either Doug Mason or Bill Gaskin. I can't remember who is responsible for these darlings. I bought several bags of them from a friend about ten years ago. There are still a few bags, some Spanish and some Porguguese, waiting for me to buy officers to go with them.

Waiting on my table, to base, are two 32 man Austrian Landwehr battalions, a battalion of 36 Austrian grenzer, two Austrian 48 man battalions, a 36 man Irish Legion battalion. I'm sure I have more trays of unbased figures in a pile somewhere. I'll try not to find them before these are all based, so as not to put myself off with another bout of figure blindness.

At this stage of the basing process I step away and let my cast of thousands take over. They will use crushed sea shells to make the ground work, then dye it with oil paint and dry brush it. I'm still trying to import some Silfor tufts, and flowers, to offset my bases.