Finished! Properly this time...

Hi Folks,

My replacement tufts arrived. While the yellow on the flowers seems to have changed tone and the tufts on the flowers themselves are pretty poor, I've cracked on.

Finished (?): 15mm British Infantry Platoon, Medics and Engineers

Hi Folks,

Tonight I had the aim of finishing off these bits and bobs that have been on my desk for this last week or so. Unfortunately, I discovered that due to a 'logistical' issue, I hadn't ordered any new Mininatur tufts and my old ones are more or less done. So I've had to put the platoon and the engineers back on the shelf till these arrive.

So first up, the (almost) complete platoon of 7th Bat. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. This should, technically, be the first platoon of my 2nd Company. But given that I have stripped the paint off one of my older painted platoon... I think I have taken one step forward and one back!

The models are Battlefront (with the exception of the PIAT gunner, I'm not too sure where he is from), but from the older range of Battlefront models. I love these models, and they are pretty easy to paint.

I went with 4 men per base to cut down on the number of figures I need to do for the whole planned expansion. But also because I think it more closely represents the actual strength of the platoons available for Totalise. I have, for example, read accounts of C company being temporarily disbanded in order to provide enough men to bring the other 3 companies up to a strength of 7 men per squad.

I also attempted with these figures to give them a dark blue patch on their arms to show these chaps are 'Highway Decorators' (Highland Division) troops.

I also revisited some of the casualties and medics I had painted previously but had never based. These are Peter Pig and Skytrex models.

And while I was sorting these out, I also updated and based a wire laying team, single medic base and some bailed out tank crewmen.

Lastly, I have four bases of Engineers. These are for no particular FoW unit, as the options to take Engineer platoons seems to have been dropped from the overlord book (it is in the Scots Division PDF). I figures they would be great for a scenario game, and just like the models.

These chaps would be from one of the Field Coys, RE that supported the 51st HD. Probably 274 Coy.

These are a mix of the Battlefront Italian Engineers and some of the older Pioneer models. Enough to put a minesweeper on each base.

So once the new tufts arrive, I'll get these all properly finished off. I also need to do the unit identifying markings on the back of the bases.

I've another infantry platoon and some Pioneers/Engineers in the queue, and finished off cleaning up some of the stuff I had in Dettol (it cleaned up really easily, just took a while to scrub!). Currently there are some Confederate dismounted cavalry on my desk, which I am hoping to get finished before Friday.

State of the Collection - June 2016 (Pic Heavy)

Hi folks,

In August last year, before my big move and my discovery of the Paint and Chats, I had done a video and some pics and a video of my British 15mm Flames of War collection.

With all the painting I've done in the last 8 months, I've had a lot of comments made about the size of the collection now, and requests to see the whole lot again. It's taken a while (the joys of living in someone elses house) but I've had a few days to myself and managed to lay the whole lot out.

I've made a video of this layout, with me droning on a little bit.

But I also took a load of pics, as I know not everyone likes YouTube videos and the quality can be a bit poor (especially with me holding the camera!).

So, here is what I had done up till August last year - this is A Coy, 7th Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 51st Highland Division and 144th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps, 33rd Independent Armoured Brigade in early August (7th and 8th) 1944 - plus associated support units.

And here is a similar layout for everything done up till June 2016:

And panoramic:

I think I may have a problem... much more of this and I will need a bigger table!

Everything here I have detailed individually as I have completed it, but I have taken a load of close up shots as well (apologies for the lighting):

In addition to this little lot, I also did a similar layout and film for my painted German collection. These guys are for 89. Infanterie Division on 7th and 8th of August, 1944.

And pics (again, sorry for quality - some are blurry or dark):

In addition, over the last year, I have painted several Full Thrust ships and a load of 3mm armoured vehicles.

So where do I go from here? I've a lot of plans for my 15mm Flames of War project. Specifically expanding my forces to be able to represent other units and nations that took part in the Totalize battle. This includes units I already have models for or are actively purchasing models for:

Polish Armoured
Polish Armoured Recce
Canadian Recce
Polish Mechanised Infantry
SS Armoured
SS Heavy Armoured
a second HD Infantry Company
British Recce

And units planned/considered but with no purchases being currently made:

Canadian Armoured
Luftwaffe AA
Polish Infantry
Canadian Infantry
SS Infantry
SS Recce?

This is going to be a mammoth long term project, and involves army list and scenario writing as well as modelling and painting all these forces. Any and all help is appreciated! I'll be posting some blog articles in the future, as well as army lists based on this particular battle. At the same time... I'm going to need a lot more models! Donations or good deals are welcome!