Friday 4 March 2016

Latest Cold War Progress

Since the Autumn, i've pretty much been concentrating on the Cold War. The UK screening of Deutschland 83 helped maintain this into the new year, and so far I'm still "in the zone" with it. I've been working on both sides simultaneously; for the BAOR, I've been working on a Battlegroup Command base, for higher level games. The figures are from the ever dependable hand of Matt at Elhiem, with some subtle tweeking by yours truly (since my fictional Cold War is viewed by the rose-tinted goggles of the ARRSE forum...)

The Base consists of the CO, in obligatory Barbour jacket. No one tells the CO he's improperly dressed, though the RSM may gently hint at it... he's acompanied by the Ops Officer; no idea if this is the correct 1980s terminology, but he's represented here in all his Silvermans Trolley Dash glory- SAS Smock, Tropical Comabat Trousers and DILAC hat. Well ally. Also present is the Adjutant, wielding a map and compass (the most terrifying sight in NATO), an officer from the RAC element of the Battlegroup and the RSM, pointing out to the ruperts that Ivan is in fact that way, oh yes, and Pvt MacAuslan is on jankers again, for pissing in the stew.

The plan is to have them clustered around a table strewn with maps, Thermos flasks and fags...

Left to right- Ops Officer, RAC Officer, CO, Adjutant, RSM.







On the other side of the IGB, I finally managed to get the four remaining figures in the first Russian platoon finished. I never intended to do two platoons, but Elhiem released a flurry of new Soviet Riflemen poses, and I simply must posess all the pretty things...





Hope to get the BAOR base finished for the end of the month...

Cheers
Iain

Thursday 3 March 2016

Playing Catch Up! More Napoleonics...

Over the Summer, I ended up in something of a Napoleonics kick, following the BBC adaptation of Johnathan Strange and Mr Norrell. This saw me achieve the unprecedented completion of a whole two figures (which is really going some for me with Napoleonics...). I was really quite pleased with how they came out, and even ended up getting some opposition for them to face in games of Sharpe Practice (steady now, let's not get carried away...) but these haven't progressed beyond the glueing stage.

So, without further ado, the latest members of Iain's 28mm rendering of HM's 44th Foot-

First up was another private. I was keen to portray an "on campaign" look for these guys, so wanted a nice, faded hue for this soldier's jacket. I think it turned out quite well...




Follow me, lads, for I cannot die! The Sergeant-
For a bit of a change, I decided to do the Sergeant with his 9ft pike next. Bags of swank in this figure, you can just feel the confidence.... "Sign up lads, sign up! You'll get a shilling a day and a spanking red coat. The girls'll love it!"





As you've doubtless realised, this burst of 19th century productivity didn't last long, and thereafter slid into the painting of mediaevals (as yer do...) Howver, it was a fun interlude, and one I hope to revisit some time...

Cheers
Iain