15mm Normandy British infantry battalion

 Hi folks,

While continuing with the current painting plan and approaching completion on my Polish M10C's, I took the opportunity of a lazy day in the house to lay out my British infantry for Flames of War. 

I had planned two layouts - 3rd Edition and 4th Edition setups - but it took so long to do the initial setup that I cut my plans short a little. I then had to spend an inordinate amount of time trying to fit the models all back into the storage boxes I'd taken them out of. 

I've come to the conclusion I need some sort of storage plan!

Anyway, the light was poor, with it being a dull November day and late in the afternoon. 

First up, I laid out the 4 rifle companies and the support company. This had the benefit of letting me see where I am short some bits:

- each company command section should have a carrier for transport. I'll need 3 more of these painted to fill that gap. 

- one company is missing the sniper teams. These are not used in v4 FoW, but the 7th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders had a scout/sniper platoon as part of the support company, so I'm tempted to fill the gap to represent this element of the ToE. 

- Pipers are missing from 2 of the company command teams. I've one currently in the lead pile, I'll need to pick up another and sort command bases. 

- I need to make a decision on whether to stick to the v3 organisation, or use the v4 one. While the v3 organisation is marginally more historically accurate (while still missing the ammo carriers, etc), I've tended to use the v4 organisation when playing. Switching entirely to v4 org would free up the carriers needed for the company commanders.

- I need to paint the de-frocked priests in order to do a large Totalize game, which was the point of the collection and something I've yet to do. As the battalion was down to 3 rifle companies at that time, I need to paint 12 of those vehicles. The existing 6 need re-work due to fogging of the varnish. 

- I still need to decide on what I want to do to represent the battalion HQ. 

Anyway, I took a few more pictures including some of my house rule 'extras' and the infantry support options. 

Medics and Engineers also included, along with the rifle coys.

RAF Forward Air Controller along with Vickers MMG's and 4.2" Mortars from 1/7 Middlesex Regiment

This included the regimental aid post and de-frocked priests, as well as the limbered 6-pdr guns. 

I do feel that I've cheated slightly, as I bought 5 platoons of infantry from a friend. However, I'm giving myself a break as they were nicely painted and resulted in me reaching my goal far sooner than I had planned!

Now I just need to plan another game big enough to get the whole lot on the table!

State of the collection 2017 - Part 3 - British Infantry and Support

Hi folks,

Trudging forward, my next table full of mini's is my infantry. Now up to 2 rifle companies and 1 support company, I'm one rifle company short of having the whole battalion as at Operation Totalize start on 7/8/44!

For the record (and because I bothered to count!) I currently have 34 painted Universal Carriers and 10 Loyd carriers. There are still more to do, with 2 more Universal Carrier currently on my painting desk (to be part of my planned aid post). And there's good few more in the lead mountain!

A and B Companies, 7th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 51st Highland Division

Support units: starting back left: medical support from 176 Field Ambulance, RAF Typhoon, Provosts/MP's,  Armoured Cars from 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry, Royal Engineer Field Platoon, 4.2" Mortars, Wasps and Vickers MMG's from 1st/7th Middlesex Regiment. 

S Company, 7th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders: Carrier Platoon, 6 Pdr A/T Platoon, 3" Mortar Platoon, Pioneer Platoon.

A and B Companies, with A Company's De-frocked Priests at the rear. 

10mm ACW: Confederate Cavalry and Command WiP + Other projects

Hi Folks,

Just a quick update from me. While I'm still working on my 15mm WW2 terrain - specifically working through my pile of cut up door mat/wheat fields, I have also started working on my 10mm ACW again, along with sorting out some 15mm WW2 bits.

I'd gotten all my infantry done previously, but hadn't based them due to a cunning plan involving using casualty figures to pad out the basing a little. I've still the casualties to paint, but moved on to one of the things that had been daunting me a bit - the cavalry.

I've never painted a horse in any scale. But I figured if I could paint a Lion, how hard could some horses be...

Anyway, I've been making some progress over the last few days, with some base coated and washed figures to show for it:

Washed and highlighted standing horses - for my horse holder/dismounted cavalry makers

Figures on the left are awaiting highlight/varnish - I'm still working on the ones on the right. 

Close up of the WiP minis

WW2 wise, I am going to be working with two aims. Firstly, to get some more infantry painted. Secondly, to revisit the painting on my original infantry models, and update the basing. After much soul searching I have also decided to switch from 5 man teams to 4 man teams, to better reflect the squad sizes during Totalize and also make my available infantry go a little further.

I have also prepared some of my 'other' 15mm FoW infantry teams - including mine sweeping Royal Engineers and medic teams to be based and finished. Some of this only requires a quick highlight and ultra matt varnishing, along with basing. Unfortunately later batches will involve a lot more painting from scratch!