but wait there’s more

More 1:72 Almoravid early medieval infantry. Spear and sword armed infantry, and skirmishers with javelins.

I have carried on the same limited pallet, which helps create a coherent look on the table.

Not sure why they are holding their spears pointing backwards, but I like the skin tone I have acheived.

These skirmishes are possibly my favourite unit. I quite like the effect of the simple shield design, which to me suggests the relative status of the unit.

I wondered if these javelin throwers needed more colour.

And then I thought, yeah nah, just finish them.

Coming soon: the beauty parade. I’ve finished the first box of this this little excursion.

So, come at me christians. I’m ready to defend Iberia.

Almoravid spearmen

Another batch of Almoravid done. This time a group of spear wielding infantry.

I’m not a super tidy painter, but I think they are coming along OK.

There is something about whole units that has a wow factor all of its own.

Next up, more spearmen and maybe some armed with sword. Onwards!

Almoravids Return

In the interest of painting the minis you already own, I have returned to a project I haven’t touched since before anyone had heard of coronaviruses: 20mm Almoravids.

I don’t have a particular rules set in mind. Maybe Lion Rampart. I’ll work that bit out later.

The minis are that chewy plastic and some of the detail is a bit soft. But they are cheap, and look fine at arm’s length.

After washing the spru I gave them all a coat with thinned PVA which is taking the paint nicely. They are quite fun to paint. I’m even giving a bit of free hand a go on the shields. All rather wobbly, but you have to start somewhere.

A few more yet, plus some cavalry. And, I’m pretty sure there are some more boxes in the shed, which will make two complete armies. For what ever rule set I land on.

M4 what for?

The US military loves calling things M4: tanks, guns and even a big old artillery tractor.

Another Anyscale miniature, this model is a simple as the original vehicle. Large, with heaps of towing power, it pretty much does what it says on the tin.

Probably not much more than scenery in most Bolt Action games. But in Konflikt 47, many scenarios have the opportunity to gain victory points for recovering tanks and walkers.

A fun little dimension that my US force will now be able to participate in. And that feels good.

digging a hole

Sometimes you just need a hole to hide in. Ever since machine guns were a thing (and before, probably) infantry have dug trenches, foxholes and other earthwork defenses.

Adding the option for a few of these on the table will be very handy for many attacker-defender scenarios in Bolt Action, and likely other games.

Some armies even come with the option of always being able to deploy with trenches or other defenses. Both the Italians (which I don’t have, yet) and the German/Hungarian Budapest Pocket Defenders have this option.

I kept painting simple with a few layers of dry-brushing with a limited palette. Detail is minimal, which made painting fast and means they will work on any battlefield from the US Civil War and into the Grim Dark Future. Which is fine with me.

These models are all resin from Anyscale Models. They are worth checking out, especially for vehicles you might find hard to find elsewhere.

dakked!

Engagement with the hobby goes back and forwards just like the war waged across the Libyan plain. What better way to get back into painting than a few 15mm tanks as the start of an Afrika Korps force?

They are mostly Plastic Soldier Company. Assembled and, with the help of a rattle-can, base coated many years ago.

A Panzer III troop

Panzer IV, including one up-gunned to the longer barrel thingy and a Zvezda model with a different base coat lurking the background

Resin field cars from Battlefront Miniatures

Like many hobbyists, I like to have opposing forces. I still might do an Italian force, but for now I’m a step closer to having the start of a DAK force that matches my desert themed Australians.

Everything to date

I have no idea when this DAK force will get finished or what I will ultimately add, but that doesn’t matter. These are done and that makes me happy for now.

hobby, sure

Two weeks leave and high hopes for getting a bunch of hobby done. Yeah, sure. Nah.

I did turn these crafty ball things into hedges, so I guess that is hobby.

It was nice to be off work for a while though.

Here’s to getting some hobby done sometime soon.

One matador, no bull

I’m not sure about you, but I love to buy random kits and 15mm scratches this itch nicely, since you can often pick up a model for less than $20. Usually with only a few parts and quick to paint I find they can be a pleasurable thing to do between larger projects.

And that is why I now have a Matador truck from Zvezda. I’ve done it in desert colours because all of my other British in 15mm are themed around North Africa and there is a remote chance it will be used one day.

In the meantime, it means one more mini in this world is painted. And for today, that is enough.

stomping tanks

The creators of Konflikt 47, Clockwork Goblin, have released a selection of their weird war designs in 15mm resin. I posted my tesla turrets late last year. And now it is time for the German walkers.

I picked up a Thor heavy panzermech. They are a beast. A king tiger on legs.

And a zug of light walker, panzer spinne.

I have one of these in my 28mm Turkish army. While I’m unlikely to get more in the larger scale, I can see these four in a supporting role for the Thor similar to the Panzer III accompanied early production Tigers.

I used a paint scheme inspired by Normandy in 1944, which will match a much older 15mm German force that I have.

The models are great. Crisp, clean molding and good fun to paint. I suspect that Clockwork Goblin will add to their range over coming months. And that could prove to be very tempting.

read the book!

Thinking about a different project – a topic for another day – I was looking in one of the older Bolt Action campaign books, Ostfront: Barbarossa to Berlin. In the pages I found another take on the Belski Brothers.

The Warlord Games version is for a partisan squad. The key twist is gaining the fanatic rule when opposed by SS units. Officially for the Soviet lists, I see no reason why these squads could not be included in a partisan force. Combined with my special character rules for the Belski brothers it could make a fun eastern front themed Partisan force.

So, there you go. Read those books, you never know what you might find.