Projects for next year

I've sat down this week (I have a 2 hour one-way commute to work, so plenty of time to think) and storted setting my project priorities for next year, and what I'd need to get those finished... This could also be seen as a wishlist for Secret and other Santas :)

1. Desert 28mm (mostly Perry miniatures) - most of the stuff is done for this, but I may need a British 6-pdr, as we saw in our last games, when the German armour comes on, that the Boys rifles and 2 pdrs can't cut it. I also want to extend my German FJ för the Ramcke Brigade (that can also extend to Sicily, Italy and at a pinch even Normandy) with some extra troops, e.g. more riflemen, support, even MG42s, and the cool LG40 75mm RCL, or the sPzB AT gun

2, Our Dux Gondorum project, Dux Brittaniorun in a Middle Earth setting. I managed to get a lot of 2nd hand figures for this which all but fills my needs, but some extra Rohan Riders would be useful unless I manage to convert the Conquest Games Normans I bought just to do that.

3. Extending my AB miniatures British paras. I have about a platoon now, but need an additional section, or some extra supports, like the howitzer crew, or jeep crews. Even if I managed to source some stuff from SHQ and Shell Hole Scenics at Crisis.

4. Frostgrave - I have most I need for the warband(s), but need a healer or an apothecary, and an extra wizard and apprentice, like the Chronomancer, or the Illusionist. And some monsters, one always needs more monsters (like the constructs or animals om this page)

5. Perhaps start Norwegians, Dutch or Belgians for CoC for WWII in 20mm, Early War miniatures have nice sets. And for these my 20mm Fallschirmjäger may need some reinforcements, an extra section or some support weapons.

6. For our French in Indochina project, we can always use more French or Viet Minh infantry or support weapons, from FNG Miniatures.

Quick update

AB miniatures 20mm British paras. I've 1 section done, 2nd almost.

Imperial Assault storm troopers I'm painting for a friend of a friend. I now remember why I hated painting white uniforms ;-)

Quick update - more desert stuff finished

Just a couple of things that had been in progress for quite a while and got finished now.

Half section of DAK (1 NCO, LMG team of 5) and a converted NCO in Luftwaffe tropical uniform (Perry figure with a Valiant "20mm" head)

British 2pdr (Perry) and 20mm Breda gun (Offensive Miniatures). The sitting crew members are the ones that came with the guns, the other 2 are Company B and part of a 2pdr Morris Portee. The rest of the crew from the 2pdr and the Breda were completed a couple of weeks ago.

On my painting table now:

AB figures (20mm) British Para section. Nearing completion.

Apart from these (and another section of them), I have some "20mm" Valiant Fallschirmjäger and some 20mm Warmodelling Winter war Finnish that I found in a box and that are almost done. Soon on here!

Some finished stuff

Some (bad) pictures of some finished desert stuff... All Perry unless stated otherwise.

  

PAK36, 5 crew and an NCO. The base needs some boxes and cases, maybe even some sandbags.

MG34 on tripod, 4 crew. Again, the base needs some clutter

Desert rats sniper team and 2" mortar team

German company commander

DAK engineer section. All are converted Perry plastics

British gun crews. 2 on the left are OffensiveMiniatures (for their Breda gun), 2 on the right part of the Perry 2pdr, the rest are Perry plastics.

FJ (Ramcke Brigade). Platoon command, Sani (medic), LMG team

FJ (Ramcke Brigade). Section of 12, 2 LMG teams

A total of 53 figures, 1 PAK36 and the MG34 on tripod

Quick update

Not that much happened since that last update, at least not on the wargames front. I had my birthday last week, and we had a surprise visit from some Dutch friends the weekend. But I managed to complete that entire figure wip, and am now completing the basings for all of them. Pictures to follow ;)

Here's a quick shot from a German AT gun, that is soon to be based.

Togteher with my mate Mischa, I visited the "Arsenalen" museum in Strängnäs last weekend. It's an interesting museum, showing the evolution of tanks, AFVs and APCs in Sweden since 1920, as well as some interesting pieces from other countries (like a nice Hetzer). On the first floor they have a interesting exhibit on the history of the Sörmland Infantry Regiment. I recommend it heartily. Here's a quick pic of the main hall to give you an idea.

Finally... as I'm slowly coming to an end of the stuff I wanted to paint for 28mm North Africa (just some vehicles and a few dozen figures to paint), I'll be starting on 2 new projects. One is our club pet project Dux Gondorum. I managed to pick up loads of 2nd hand stuff that I will pick up in Holland and Belgium when I'm there in November for Crisis (I'll dedicate a post to that soon), and for which I need to start organising what I want. The second is the Arnhem campaign that I want to do. We have lots of Germans in 20mm, but are lacking British paras. So I'll be doing those, using AB figures (from Fighting 15s). I'll start painting on these in the near future (could be as soon as next week!).

I'll be leaving you with a picture of a Warlord PzIV in progress for my DAK

Progress report

I've now painted most of that massive figure wip box (59 figures or so), although some figures still need a wash and some highlights, and all need basing. I also completed that Warlord Sdkfz222, and I'm pretty happy how that turned out - although the pictures don't do it much justice.

I have some AT guns and the 20mm Breda to paint, then there's a row of vehicles to do (they've only been primed dark yellow): 2 Pz IV, a Mathilda II, and Pz II and the Morris 2 pdr portee.

Some pictures (note I can't seem to get the lighting right, so most pictures are pretty bad...)

Fallschimrjäger för N Africa or Italy in progress (splittertarn!)

Some Desert Rats (sniper team, extra 2" mortar team, extra gun crew

Sdkfz 222, extra stowage and weathered

Sdkfz 222, extra stowage and weathered

Sdkfz 222, extra stowage and weathered

Converted DAK engineers

Fallschimrjäger för N Africa or Italy in progress (splittertarn!)

Fallschimrjäger för N Africa or Italy in progress (splittertarn!)

German AT/MMG gun crews

German AT/MMG gun crews

Santa Clause is coming to town. Twice.

I've been hearing a lot these last few years on 2 Secret Santa projects: the Secret Santa and the Santa Clause, both originally initiated by Ian over at The Blog With No Name. Although the Santa Clause is now run by Christ Stoessen at Wargamer's Odds and Ends

These are two separate projects:
Secret Santa where you buy someone a wargaming-related gift worth about £15 and someone else does the same for you: http://walladvantage2.blogspot.se/2015/09/its-secret-santa-time-again-secret.html
The Santa Clause where you buy a mini worth about £5, paint it and then send it to someone: http://cstoesen.blogspot.se/2015/09/the-santa-clause-2015.html

I'll be participating for the first time this year and I really think it will be fun. I just hope it's not Thomas or Laffe that get to send me stuff, 'cause then they'll force me into a new project (again). And Jocke is not much better, either ;-)

My WIP box

Al the things I'm working on. 6 vehicles, 5 guns and 42 figures, about a third of them the original crew to the guns, a couple "normative plastics" and the rest converted plastics (engineers and extra crew)

2 pdr Portee

More desert ;-)

Here's the answer to yesterday's question: it's a 2 pdr portee on a Morris. It's Company B's model, ordered through The Wargames Command Post, which gave me a nice personal service (Bob is a fellow Lardie, it turned out).

I've assembled it, and glued the 2 pdr on, although that is maybe a mistake and I might have to pry it off again. We'll see. The crew is loose, and Company B as well (the gun crew isn't included in the set, although the truck driver is).

My WIP has been growing the last 2 weeks, 6 vehicles (including this one), 5 guns (including this one) and 42 figures. Time to get painting, I guess...

???

Anyone recognise what this will become once assembled?

More tonight, perhaps some pictures of my latest converted infantry and the rest of my WIP line-up...

More WIP

Got my Mathilda II from Warlordgames this week, and put it together. Seems to be a nice enough model, but I really like the new plastics that are appearing more and more over resin - the plastics fit together nice usually. Warlord and especially Rubicon are doing good work.

Oh, and I added a second plastic (Warlord) Pz IV to the WIP box as well :-)

And soon my Morris Portee and crew will be here and be added to the queue as well. High time I started painting again (this week has been most about making pictures, cleaning up and assembling stuff).

The state of my desert campaign

Tonight I gathered my gear together to make some (still not very good) pictures, so I could send them off for the TooFatLardies painting contest, hosted by the aimiable Robert Avery. This gives me a good idea where I am with my troops for the desert - and that is pretty close to completion. I'll finish the WIP items, add maybe an additional section of DAK, convert some DAK engineers and a medic, and perhaps snipers for both sides.

Below are the pictures and some info.

DAK Platoon (43 figures)

• 2 officers and 1 NCO 
• 3 sections @ 12 men each 
• AT rifle team (2 crew) 
• Extra LMG team (2 crew) 

DAK supports (1 tank, 1 motorcycle, 1 AT gun, 12 figures)

• Panzer III 
• MC combo w 2 crew 
• FOO team (2 crew) 
• PAK 38 and 3 crew 
• AT rifle team (2 crew) 
• 50mm mortar team (2 crew) 

British reinforced platoon (46 figures)

• Platoon HQ: 1 officer, 1 NCO, AT rifle team (2 crew), 2" mortar team (2 crew) 
• 4 sections @ 10 men each 

British supports A (1 weapon and 11 figures, 1 converted)

• MMG w 5 crew 
• Company officer w radio operator 
• FOO team (2 crew) 
• Extra officer 
• Medic (converted: headswap and some other minor stuff) 

British engineer section (10 figures, 4 converted)

• NCO 
• 3 teams of 3 men (4 have medium conversions done, e.g. scratch built mine sweeper or wire cutters etc...) 

British supports B (4 vehicles, 4 crew)

• Crusader tank 
• Universal carrier w 3 crew 
• Dingo scout car 
• Morris CS9 w 1 added crew (minor conversion from a standard infantry figure) 

4 Jump off Points

I also have a piece of terrain, an oasis, which I wrote about earliler on http://dalemunk.blogspot.se/2015/04/oasis.html

I have a total of 126 figures (not counting vehicle crews where they are only halves), 5 or 6 have medium conversions done. 2 tanks, 3 armoured cars/carriers, 1 motorcycle w sidecar, 1 weapon, 1 AT gun.

All vehicles have added stowage (the Pz III is getting it right now, it arrived yesterday). All are 28mm, most figures are Perry miniatures (mainly plastics with some metal sets thrown in). One of the British officers is TFL's own Hugh Jarce. Most of the vehicles and the AT gun are Warlord Games, apart from the carrier which is Perry again, and the MC combo which is Offensive Miniatures. The Jump off Points are TFL.

Pz IV

A small addition to the WIP box...

Warlordgames plastic Panzer IV, done as the F1 (there are options for G and H in the box as well). Assembled, waiting for the paint brush... Considering buying a spray can of dark yellow or dark sand to see how that works. 

The Pz III and the MC combo are now ready (apart from the decals and stowage that should arrive this week). Pictures of these later this week, when they are done.

Work in progress - still Desert focused

Just a quick update, pictures to follow...

On the painting table right now (all 28mm):

• Warlord Games Pz III (only needs some dirtying up and some highlights, plus stowage and decals which are underway) (note, I cut down the barrel to represent an earlier version than the J)
• Offensive miniatures DAK MC combo w 2 riders and MG34 (only needs some drybrush on the base, as well as decals and some stowage)
• Warlord Games Pz II (undercoated black)
• Warlord Games Sdkfz 222 (undercoated and got his first layers of Vallejo Dark Sand)
• Offensive miniatures British Breda AA gun w 3 crew (assembled)
• Perry Miniatures DAK MG34 in MMG role w 4 crew (assembled, crew undercoated black)
• Perry Miniatures DAK PAK36 w 3 crew (need to convert 2 more crew and a JL) (assembled, crew undercoated black)
• Perry Miniatures British 2 pdr AT gun w 3 crew (need to convert some additional crew) (assembled, crew undercoated black)

Next:

• Warlord Games Mathilda 2
• 60 pcs of stowage from Debris of War
• Warlord Pz IV Zug (3 tanks), I'll do them as F1s for the DAK
• Some 28mm buildings from Gripping Beast for our Dux Gondorum project and some 20mm tanks and AT guns (see my previous post on this)
• There is also a Morris 2pdr Portee on the way from Company B/The Wargames Command Post, with some additional crew. Company B seems to be the only ones that do the 2pdr portee, unless I wanted to convert, but that would probably involve a lot of carving in the truck... 

New painting projects

Now that my desert stuff is running towards completion (for now), with only some DAK engineers and loose bits to convert, and some German vehicles to paint (a Pz II, a Pz III and and Sdkfz 222), as well as a Zug of Pz IV to assemble and paint, I'm looking at other stuff again.

One club project is Dux Gondorium, a Middle Earth variant of Dux Brittaniarum. I'm going to assemble some Conquest Norman Knights as Rohirrim cavalry , probably later to be followed by some other suitable Dark Ages infantry (looking at Saxon Miniatures, probably their Arthurians or some Saxons...), and/or some Gripping Beast plastics. I've also recovered some Gripping Beast Dark Age houses and a church that I bought ages ago (probabaly last century...), and that I'll paint as scenery for our project.

I've also a while ago assembled some PSC 20mm Universal Carriers, and years ago an SHQ Stug as well as a Pz III and even 2 Armourfast Stug IIIs. These have now been sprayprimed, together with some 20mm SHQ AT guns, and I plan to start painting these, as well as som PSC Late War British. And a lot of 20mm Late War Germans I have (SHQ, Platoon20, Shellhole scenics). And I'll probably paint some more of those Valiant fallschirmjäger that I started on before Christmas. I've still not decided whether I'm going to use those for 20mm or 25/28mm games. Perhaps both ;-)

Anyway, here's a quick picture of the sprayprimed stuff...

Oasis

I forget to take further pictures while working on my oasis, so can only show the final result here now. But construction went like this:

• I cut out a rough shape from cork matting (IKEA used to sell this as placemats, but have stopped carrying them, although I'm sure other shops still do)
• I smeared out beige caulking all over the cork, also built up the rim where the water would be, I let it sit for a couple of minutes, then spread sand all over it and pushed it in (a messy job)
• I then let that dry for several days before painting it dark brown
  
• I wetbrushed with sandcoloured acrylics, then drybrushed with the same with added white. A final drybrush with almost pure white (just a touch of sand in it).
• I let that dry a couple of days again, then washed with Army Painter Soft or Strong Tone (I can't remember...).
• I then poured in Vallejo Still Water, and added more after 24 hours. It then sat a couple of days in our spare room and all looked well.
• As we were having guests (my dad) over for a week, I took it out to the garage (heated and dry), where it then sat for a week, When I was going to take it in again, most of the Still Water had become cloudy/white. Luckily after a couple of days in the house, and pricking a few tiny holes in the top layer, it all became clear again. My guess is that the bottom layer wasn't fully dry when I added the second layer and that that condensed when I put it in the garage. It then dried out completely when taken into the house again and the couple of small holes helped with that process

This is what it looked like at GothCon, with palm trees and some bushes added

I feel it turned out well in the end, but I would do some things differently now...

GothCon status

My Desert Rats for GothCon are nearing completion... All are assembled, converted and painted, just about half need their bases done. And if there's time they need to get a coat of matt varnish, as some are a bit glossy (due to the Pledge ;-)).

1 full platoon with:
Platoon HQ: 1 officer, 1 NCO, 1 AT team (2), 1 2" mortar team (2)
3 Sections, each @ 1 NCO, 1 Bren team (3), 6 riflemen

In support:
1 FOO team (2) - conversions from the standard plastics Perry box
1 Vickers MMG (5)
1 Universal carrier (3)
1 medical orderly
3 engineer teams: demolition team (3), mine clearing team (3) and wire clearing team (3) - all conversions from the standard plastics Perry box
1 company commander w radio operator
2 jump-off points for CoC

I have a Crusader Mk I, a Morris CS9 armoured car and a Dingo scout car on the way... Hopefully they get here soon, so I can complete them in time.
!Update: they arrived today (16 March) :)

My oasis is also getting along. I built it at our terrain day, but started painting it today. Dark brown basecoat. Once dry, it'll get drybrushed in several layers of ever lightening sand colour. Then it needs green flock, and some bushes, maybe even some reeds. Then the water pool in the middle will get a green-grey wash, and after that I'll fill it with 2 or 3 layers of Vallejo still water.

And finally, I have my first Germans ready painted, as we discovered we were a bit short on German infantry. About half a section of DAK and a platoon commander.

Where there's rats...

Look what's all of a sudden, as if by miracle, appeared on my painting table...

MG firing from the shoulder, inspired by Laffe ;-)

Desert Update

Basecoated the remaining desert rats tonight, and I've started the basing process on the others. They should be all done by the end of the week. Then for some Germans ;-)

Some quick (bad) pictures:

Hugh Jarce, the 2" and AT gun teams, as well as the MMG main base (2 loose figures are in the pic below), the FOO team and the Company commander's base.

Senior and junior leaders (on hex bases), the medic (the one with the red cross armband ;-)) and some troopers (on round bases - actually 5 eurocents)

The TFL jump off points.

Bases are a mixture of various decorative sand and stones that IKEA used to sell. Stuck to the bases with diluted wood glue (white glue). When dry, they will be wetbrushed with cheap sand coloured artist acrylics, then drybrushed after adding white to the same. Depending on how they look after the first wetbrushing, I might add a wash (soft or strong tone) and a drybrush with sand in between.

Oh, and I watched Arsenal beat Utd in the FA Cup 1/4 final while painting :-)