Blast from the Past

Its been a bit slow on the painting front over the last couple of months, but have got some figures painted and not what I expected to paint either!

World War 2 US Paratroopers in 28mm. (Can you believe it!). First up two more riflemen. I haven't touched these models for at least eighteen months, which is a shame since when I started this project it was the first time for a long time that I felt quite passionate (steady on!) about painting. But that's not all....

A 60mm mortar and crew to add much needed fire support to the platoon (the bottom photo is an action shot).
All figures are from Artizan designs. I still have quite a few more.

Like so many other projects, these figures had been based and undercoated and lying forlorn in a box. I had planned on painting a few of the Zulu War cavalry, but had a change of heart, mainly because I have the colour scheme for the Para's planned out. When starting on a new range/period I like to do a test figure first, so I'm happy with the colours to be used. Knowing time was going to be a premium for a while I decided to turn to a tried and tested collection. I'm glad I did. 

Admittedly painting these Airborne has renewed my interest in 28mm WW2 again. Plus also the club is trialing 'Troops, Weapons & Tactics', which I think may have potential of providing a good game. Hopefully I will get a game in soon. For now this link Eveshamwargames, gives a brief mention to the game and a quick plug for the club. 

2011 will be a frugal year on the wargame buying front, (thank you coalition government!) but on the bright side I intend to concentrate on ongoing projects ie reducing the proverbial 'lead mountain' . 28mm WW2 being one of them. After all it was because of this project that I decided to join a club again.      

Return of the Apache

I've managed to add two more Apache Warriors to my small but growing war party, for use in Legends of the Old West.

 Both of these warriors are armed with Winchester repeating rifles, and will add much needed fire power to the Apache posse.

These look a bit garish since I had to use the flash. I need to invest in a halogen lamp which I've read should be used to assist in lighting figures if the natural light is poor.

These models like all others are from the wargames foundry range. 

On the Workbench

Another quick update. This is what has kept me occupied for the last couple of days.

Auxiliary cavalry for the 1879 Zulu War. Cleaned up and based fourteen mounted figures and fourteen dismounted figures over the weekend, and then gave then a coat of Chaos Black spray. In this little lot are;  Natal Mounted Police x4, Natal Carbineers x4, Buffalo Border Guard x2, Newcastle Mounted Rifles x2, Auxiliary Officer x1 and LtCol Durnford x1.  These are once again empressminiatures figures. The oval bases which the cavalry are mounted on are from warbases. Picked them up at the Reading show last year.

I suspect the next couple of months are going to be busy so I'm not sure how much painting I'm going to have time to do. But with these based and primed, at least I get on paint them when I do find the time.

A belated Happy New Year to you all. I'm not one for making New Year Resolutions. When I have done so previously I tend to either forget them or never full fill them as the year goes by. At the moment though if I had to make one resolution, okay maybe two...DO MORE PAINTING and STOP BUYING MORE FIGURES. Lets see what happens as the year goes by. 

Just a quickie....

Its been a while. But here are a few more Zulu's. November and December are always busy months, four family birthdays (including mine (yippee!), the run upto Christmas, blah blah blah! So consequently it took a little longer than anticipated to finish these models.  These are empressminiatures married Zulu's and with these dozen completed it now means that the twenty Zulu figures I originally purchased are complete. 

Once the snow has abated I will be able to use the workshop and take some better photos.

Zulu's Sir, 'ate of um!

In between making terrain, I've not been idle. These Zulu are coming along very nicely. Few more to do yet, quite a few more actually.

These are all empressminiatures figures. Have about another dozen or so of these to finish, then start on the Foundry Zulu's recently purchased at Derby. I'm interested to see how the two will mix together or not! The Empress Zulu's look quite slight next to the Foundry sculpts, but best to judge once I have painted versions of both.

Scrub

A few more terrain pieces. I got the idea whilst watching 'Zulu' ( again!) a few weeks ago, and noticed in some scenes that there were odd trees scattered about surrounded by tall grass and bush. I then remembered having some 'Woodland Scenic' tree armatures lying about and voila!

They took a little longer than I had planned. The colder weather recently, meant the glue was taking longer to dry and I didn't really take that in to account and half the first layer of sand fell off, when I came to paint them. Patience is the key at the moment. Again I've used CD's for the bases.

This little project was a learning curve 'Hob-e-tac' (Woodland Scenics own glue), is good stuff but it does just what it says-its tacky. Worse than super glue if you get it on fingers. I used a mix of Woodland Scenic, Javis and GW materials for the foliage and scatters.

Here's a shot with a red coat lurking in the bush.

I have a few other ideas forming for future terrain projects. Time to crack on.

Zulu- Just One!

By the magic of technology, this looks like it could be one of the Zulu's from the last post? Well I'd lying if I said it was. I finished this little fella about a week ago and have done a few more since.

My main concern with painting the Zulu was getting the black/African skin colour right. Or at least do it justice. So this was the test figure. I must admit most of my previous painting has been of white Europeans. Mainly because thats have been my area of interest, not because of anything more sinister.

I had an idea of what colours to use, and after some research on the 'net' to see how other people do it, I stayed with my initial scheme. Which to be honest wasn't to far off what other painters have used. Some of the best skin tones I found, involved eight or nine layers/glazes/highlights etc. of paint which I decided was just too much, even for me! Though the result was very good.

I am once again finding I'm using a limited palette, for clothing (what there is of it!) etc.. I seemed to have turned other a new leaf, I no longer have to agonise over what variation of brown or white or whatever colour to paint a loin cloth, they will all be the same colour-Oh the joy!

I seem to have caught the colonial bug at the moment. (Sounds nasty, what!).

P.S. Colonial bug is not a reference to Starship Troopers-you know who you are.

P.P.S. Yes this is an Empress Miniatures, Zulu. Follow the link on the right hand side if you would like to know more!