Finished: 15mm Valentine bridge-laying tank

Hi folks,

Another quick catch up post on a model I painted for this years AHPC. 

As a big fan of engineering vehicles in my 15mm collection, I jumped at the chance of picking up this 3D printed beauty. It came from Battlefield3d and is resin printed, so nice detail and no obvious print lines. 

Best of all, the bridge game with a hinge in place:

The hinge allows the bridge to be mounted on the vehicle, or deployed for tabletop use. 

I marked this model up as belonging to the brigade HQ of 33 Armoured Brigade. As such, it will support my 144RAC Shermans. Severely tempted to pick up another, just for the symmetry of having a pair, and the flexibility for big games. 

The bridge is mounted on a Valentine tank chassis, and represents the only model of this type in my collection. The bridge carried was rated up to 30 tons, and as such could be used by Shermans and Cromwells. 

I applied my usual basing style, but actually used a similar style of painting to that on my Cold War Dutch. It didn't take me long to get this single model sorted, even with the bridge. 

Finished: 28mm Necromunda figures

Hi folks,

So, again, trying to catch up on recently complete bits for the AHPC which haven't featured here yet. 

Part of my plans for this years challenge was to make use of the Army Painter speedpaints I got for my birthday this year, and get figures painted for Necromunda. This is very much a learning process for me, as I'm not used to painting:

- 28mm figures

- with speedpaints

- non-uniform models

And as such, I figured the best way to get my 'eye in' was with a batch of Chaos Cultists. Specifically, models I plan to use for a Helot Cult gang. 

These models are mainly plastic cultist figures from GW, with a 3d printed Psyker designed by Imitation of Life Miniatures and purchased from CrisisActorMinis on Etsy. I've also included a more modern cultist with grenade launcher and sniper rifle from various GW sets, bought individually on Ebay. 

As these guys will likely form a Tzeentch inspired gang, I went with blue as the primary colour. Not all the figures will be in the gang at the same time, but it was good practice to do them all and I think there are scenarios where having a horde of bad guys could be useful. 

I also painted up some more scatter terrain, in the form of barrels, as well as the two platforms. 

To support these guys, a Chaos Spawn proxy has also been painted:

This is another plastic GW figure from one of their recent chaos sets. I'd not quite finished the base when taking these pictures - it's been tidied up since. 

one of the small issues with having a mix of GW and 3d printed models is some of the differing sizes:

The model in the middle is large, and is mounted on a 40mm base. However, the two female figures are supposed to be around 28mm, but one is much smaller and slighter than the other. Still, this could be more a factor of a slightly built individual compared to a larger built one, so I'm not worrying too much. 

The 'Ammo Jack' and 'Chymst' models are also 3d prints, from the same source as the witch model above. 

All of these models have been painted primarily with Army Painter speed paints. Some highlighting has been done with Vallejo paints - mainly around skin tones. While the cultists received a black wash to try and tie them together a bit, the other models have not. 

I have struggled a little to get decent pictures - my desk light seems to be interfering or flickering at a rate which messes with my phone camera. This means my lighting options are a little limited, and the figures look darker in the pictures than they do in the hand. 

Overall, my view of the speed paints is positive. They are a decent tool to have when painting these types of mini. I've ordered some of the new Vallejo range to test out as well, just to provide extra tones - and really to try out their flesh option. 

I'm currently working my way through the other models I bought to act as hangers on, some more scatter terrain and figuring out what paint scheme to go with for my Goliath, Beastmen and Escher gangs.... I've also got a game of Necromunda booked in for the 28th with Dave and Martin - doubtful I'll have those gangs painted by then though!

Finished: 15mm Dutch M109s, M106 Vehicle Crews, YPR HMG turrets and YPR-765 OP vehicle

Hi folks,

With this years Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge in full swing, I've been focusing on getting entries painted and have fallen behind a bit on my own blog updates. These models did feature in my 2022 roundup post, as I completed them in December, but for the sake of keeping my 'finished' blog tag up to date, they deserve their own blog entry. 

These models are plastic Battlefront offerings - from the generic NATO M109 box I think. As such, they came with a variety of  build options and unit cards. However, mine being for the Dutch army, they were a nice simple paint job, though I did struggle a bit to find what option fitted a mid 1980's Dutch force. 

One thing I can't get over is the size of these vehicles, especially when compared to my normal WW2 collection. The M109 is easily bigger than a Tiger tank, and the barrel length has meant I've had to get a special box lid for my storage solution. 

The turrets for these guys are magnetised, and I've got a commander in one of the turret hatches. No radio aerials as I struggled to see where these would fit on the model compared to images online. Decals have been applied from the Dutch decal set that came with the box - thankfully I've a collection of these now, as you only get a limited number for the M109 on each sheet. I guess BF figured people would have lots of sheets through collecting an army. 

Alongside these three monsters, a Butlers Printed Models YPR-765 PRCO-C-4 model. This will serve as the OP vehicle for my army. It's missing (as far as I can tell) the correct cupola and fifty-cal, but I wasn't too worried about that. 

This is a nice model that looks ok detail wise once painted. Track detail is lacking, but that seems to be common for 3d printed offerings. Once on a base and weathered, it's not an issue. 

Clearing the decks a bit, I also completed the mortars and crew for my previously finished M106 SP mortars. 

These look cool with the crews in them, pretty happy with these now they are done. The M113 is one of those vehicles that's just nice to paint. 

And in keeping with my intention to clear my work in progress queue a bit, I also completed the alternative HMG turrets for my YPR-765s. These will allow me to field at least one platoon and a command vehicle as some of the '2nd line' versions without the 25mm turret. 

These were assembled from spare bits on the M113 sprues, and some spare M113 hatches acquired from Dave. 

That's all the Dutch stuff for now - I do have a platoon of YPD-408s on the paint shelf, along with 2 more PRAT YPR-765s and a platoon of M113s for a recce unit. As well as an M577 command vehicle base. So those will probably be my next Cold War painting targets. I also have a load of MUTT jeeps with TOW and RR options (again, 2nd line support, for use in Battlegroup or 7DTTR). However, for now, I'm painting Necromunda figures (up next). 

2022 Roundup

Hi folks,

As per tradition, I wanted to do a bit of a roundup post to cover off what I've completed hobby wise over the last year. I find this helps me maintain momentum and prove to myself I've actually achieved something with the lead mountain. 

Back in January, I was participating in the AHPC challenge, had Alexanders first birthday and was working through my SS Panzergrenadier transport project - however I'd diverted into painting a few British WW2 vehicles I'd had on the paint shelf for a while. This also included painting a battalion commander and 2ic for my British infantry, as well as a Battalion HQ. 

I also painted some retro Battlefleet Gothic models during this month:

In February I was back with the German vehicles, mainly flamethrower halftracks, Pak40 tractors and self propelled infantry guns. 

February also saw me start to accumulate 15mm Team Yankee models for another project:

I also managed to get a couple of interesting Flames of War games in with Dave in this month, playing through two attacks on the Azerville Battery (Normandy, June 1944). 

In March work on halftracks and related bits continued, with Stummels, mortar halftracks and towed Pak40 models being completed:

In April, the Panzergrenadier transport project was wrapped up with the completion of supporting artillery. Just infantry and crew figures remain on the to-do list. 

April also saw me making a start on building some of my 15mm Dutch Team Yankee models, and getting a grip on paint scheme and technique for these. 

May was a busy month for a variety of reasons, and after many repaints I completed my first Dutch unit - some YPR-765 IFVs. I also ended up accidentally officiating a funeral where I'd been asked to do a reading but a breakdown in communications led to the crematorium believing I was also doing the service... An interesting experience. Thankfully it all went well. 

Showing how far back my interest in all things military goes... a picture of myself and my sadly departed Uncle Colin (who's funeral I officiated). This would be early 1990's I think. Spot the camo trousers and the missile launcher toy on the floor:

June was another busy month, with visitors staying in our garden and unusually hot weathers. A slow one in terms of figures completed, but I finished my first Dutch infantry:

I think I had started working on my Dutch Leopard 1's at this time. 

July saw me continuing work on my Leopard 1's, but I think I had lost motivation, it was stupidly warm and I spend more time building models than painting. 

I did manage to play my first game of Altar of Freedom, a 10mm ACW game. We used the tables at Pendraken and had a good day of it. 

July also saw me attending the Pendraken open day and playing some Dragons Rampant and 7 Year War games:

As well as having a significant birthday with a suitable cake:

August included family holidays, the completion of my Leopard 1 unit and some experiments on a couple of 10mm 'For Joshua' knight units with army painter speed paints. More info on the 'For Joshua' project at the end. 

On our holidays, we had a ride on a steam train, and Alexander was suitably impressed. Briefly, at least. 

I also managed to play a game of 'Rommel' at the newly renamed 'North Riding Wargames Club'. 

September saw me work on another large batch of Dutch Team Yankee vehicles. Rather than working on a platoon of 4 or 5, I was doing 10 or so models at a time, which was taking me twice as long and resulted in less frequently finished models. I did, however, help Martin and Dave out with some 28mm Vietnam rule writing, including playtesting a game at Daves. 

In October, my large batch painting experiment came to fruition, with more YPR-765 IFVs, M106 Mortar carriers and YPR-765 AT vehicles. 

This month also saw a demand from Amy that I remove a box of my stuff from Alexander's room. I decided that after many years I should try and paint some of this, and started work on Necromunda terrain. Lots of it. 

I also attended the wargames club, and played some Pony Wars, which was fun. 

November had me still working on Necromunda terrain, and doing some Flames of War gaming with Dave.

The Flames of War game was based on the US Para's advance on Carentan and seizure of important bridges into the town. Part of Dave's ongoing narrative campaign covering fighting in the American sector of Normandy. 

I managed a further experimental setup of my Necromunda terrain:

And then attended the Stockton show, where Dave put on a 28mm Vietnam game. 

December saw the first actual gaming attempt with my Necromunda terrain and unpainted models, assembly of gangers, a massive resupply of Necromunda models at Xmas and the completion of some paint table lurkers for the AHPC:

For Team Yankee I completed a battery of M109s, an OP YPR-765 and the mortars and crew for my M106s. I also completed some alternative .50 cal turrets to mount on my YPR-765s, to represent 2nd line troops. 

Going into the new year, I'm planning to paint some Necromunda gangs and get my Team Yankee Dutch project completed. 

Goals for the rest of the year include making a concentrated start on getting painted the British/Canadian forces needed to play some Operation Totalize games. This will mainly involve painting De-Frocked Priests and other transport vehicles. And then actually play some scenarios for this. 

I also want to make progress with the 'For Joshua' project. For a variety of reasons, this project stalled. The response in the form of painted figures was greater than I was expecting through the generosity of a large number of people. Covid and pregnancy/Alexander impacted and my own mental health hasn't been great. The size of the response actually made it more difficult to do what I had planned and I've fallen into a cycle of anxious procrastination about it all. 

The donated figures are still in my possession and I have every intent to use them to raise money for charity as originally intended. I don't consider the figures to be mine or have any intention of holding onto what has been donated. I do want to start auctioning these armies off via Ebay later this year, and will be leaning on some of my friends to support me with this (and keep the pressure on for me to overcome my procrastination and get it done). I'm aware that progress needs to be made, so stick with me.