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

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

STARLIGHT! BAOR Medical Elements

Finally got the medical elements for my BAOR force finished, ready for the deadline of The Guild's "Ambulance" Group build.

Both are old JB Models pieces, with the Saracen being converted from the APC version. I'm quite pleased with how these have come out, though I am now more convinced than ever that decals are the work of the Devil...

I should be getting on with S&S Models lovely re-mastered CET, but after last weeks Lion Rampant game (snaps of which can be seen here), I can feel myself getting drawn back towards mediaevals again...

Cheers
Iain

Behind Enemy Lines....

Further Cold Wear fun has been had in painting up some Elhiem downed pilots, as something meaningful to base a scenario round for Force on Force....

I painted these up to give the impression of 1980s RAF Germany types, rather than the more intended modern USAF flyers (not strictly accurate, but good enough for 3-foot distant).

I can forsee some sort of scenario, whereby the pilots start the game in the middle of the table (possibly moving about randomly with the aid of a scatter dice, until they enter optimum range of either side), with a NATO rescue party closing in from one side and a Soviet sweeper team from the other, with the objective of carting the luckless aviators back to their respective table edges (with the neccessary dependents penalties being enforced on whatever unit currently has custody of the fliers).

It does, however, still remain for me to get a sufficient handle on the rules to allow basic gameplay, before  get too wound up in creating fancy scenarios...

Soon to follow are some captured SAS troopers (again from the hands of the talented Mr Hingley), who will fulfil a similar role, and be covered in a future post...

Cheers
Iain

The Bloodhound Gang

Some of you remember this from back in March-

“All I need now is to find a recent version of the venerable Airfix Bloodhound…”

from this post...

But now look what I gots me!

Unfortunately, it arrived a wee bit too late for me to make a start on it for the current Guild terrain build, but at least now RAF Ost- Tötenbraut is one step closer…

Cheers
Iain

2014 to Date in Painting.

With one thing and another this year, I haven’t had a great deal of time for painting so far, most of my efforts have been focussed towards the continuation of the 20mm Cold War Project, and a long overdue addition to the 28mm Muskets & Tomahawks force.

After the completion of the Fox armoured car shown in the last update, Cold War doings have otherwise been somewhat Soviet, as I worked my way through Elhiems’s Soviet Support Weapons pack.

Following the completion of the figures for these back in February, I’ve now finished a spotter for the sniper and a No. 2 for the SA-7 operator, who’ll be based in pairs, and a further Motor Rifleman.

Things were going fine until I realised half-way through painting that I’d forgotten to sculpt a hood onto the spotter’s smock…

However, with the addition of this, I was back on track…

…and finally managed to get everyone based up.

Sniper Team

SA-7 Team

Motor Riflemen

In addition to this, back in the world of 28mm, I finally got on with the 3pdr Butterfly Gun from Perry Miniatures. While not the best set of castings I’ve ever received from Perry Miniatures, which are normally pretty damn good, a night spent with a scalpel and needle file soon had things sorted out, and work got under way.

 With the crew finished (now complete with correct coloured plumes)…

 …I could concentrate on the gun itself

And the beast was done*…!

However, with that all done, and with the help of a number of decent mediaeval themed documentaries having recently appeared on iPlayer, my fickle nature has risen to the fore, and I’ve taken a wild swerve back to painting 15mm Mediaevals. Me? Easily Distracted? Nev- ooh a birdie….

On with the Feudal Scots!

Cheers

Iain

*Spot the musical reference.