Finally getting around to Photographs.....

People often think if I'm not updating the site, I'm not painting, but this is often as far from the truth as you can be, since I'm simply too busy with the brushes to get around to photography and updates. This has certainly been the case in recent months. I'm happy to say however, from the websites point of view at least that I've had a couple of quieter days and have finally taken some new pictures suitable for upload to the main site's galleries!

First up, and old piece that has been dodging the lens for far too long. I Painted this as part of a job application to Mantic games a few years back. Obviously, it didn't come to anything, but I enjoyed the process painted some cool stuff. The Warpath Enforcer Captain is the first of these to make it onto the site (9 Pictures)

Something more recent, to prove my first statement - An early World War II Polish army in 28mm I painted for use in Bolt action. Miniatures from Warlord games, Meant to be selling this force, but I'm quickly falling for it myself.... Anybody want to buy it quick before I decide I've found an excuse to keep it! (20 Pictures)

And Finally, After years of not finding either the space or the time, I've taken a few photos of the massed ranks of my own Kraytonian Army, which can be seen in the 6mm Seeds of War section (Sci-Fi). More detail pics from these ranks will be coming soon too, but time has cut me short for this update. (3 pictures)

Totals:
New Galleries: 3
New Pictures: 32

Project Anyaral - works in progress

Very proud to say I maxed out my Twilight points from the challenge on the WoT forums last month and also bagged the Gold spot for the first month. Work is under way on challenge pieces for February, despite painting having been interrupted for various reasons! 

So, Delgon are the focus of the early month, and specifically, command and specialists to add to the core of the army already painted. Ipad photos for the moment - proper ones to add to the galleries will be taken for the end of the month! 

A second trio of striders, including a strider captain have also been added: 

A up I've done a few fun details on some of the command elements - they were just crying out for them! 

Next up appears to be some Enugan forces. Wasn't planned that way, but they've jumped the que! 

Also been painting various warlord games bits, which have already been seen on the Facebook page, but not here, so to correct that...

So, that's what's been seen on the workbench lately - plenty more rolling through as always - thanks for looking! 

New Pics, For sale, and new random paint.

well, what do you know - I actually got a few models in front of decent lighting and a proper camera, we have an actual HobbyBrush update!

Not many, granted, but its a token start ;op

First up, a few more pics added to the 28mm Soviet WWII gallery. This whole section is going to need a complete reorganise soon when I add all the new bits to it, but these first ones are all for sale so got priority for good pics. IS2, SU76, T70, and a T34/85 in summer green. (9 pictures)

 The Classic Metal Cadian Squad I painted a few weeks back are going up on ebay, so they qualified for a photoshoot too - new pics in the 40K misc section (2 pictures)

A few upgraded pics added to the Warmaster Misc section - High Elf and Wood Elf Lords and Brettonian king - all painted years ago! (7 Pictures) 

The Witch Hunters Mordheim Mob uploaded to the blog earlier this week get their own gallery (11 Pictures)

New Figure alert! Completely random quick paint job on a classic old citadel foot knight. Added to the Warhammer Misc Gallery and on bay soon (2 pictures) 

And finally, there's this guy. Another random and very quick paintjob on one of the hundreds of figures I received in the Reaper Bones Kickstarter deal. Really cant decide how he should be based, and dot think I'll get back to him anytime soon, so here he is now on the Blog - welcome the ever honorable (?) Bar Tender!

New Galleries: 1
New Pictures: 31

Its a long time since I've typed that..... Happy New Year and Happy Viewing!

Project Kursk: the big game been and gone!

Well, the big day happened. 

Over 120 28mm vehicles involved in one massive game. 

7 players. 

Great fun was had! 

My early war flank got it's arse handed to it on a plate by Mad Bob Emmerson's Hungarians, which he'd bought with him all the way from Poole just for the game. 

As the collections went through mid war and well into late at the far end of our 24x4ft setup, our komrades fared a lot better, taking on the might of the nazi war machine and besting it despite massive losses! 

A soviet victory! 

 

 

 

 

 

Project Kursk : the scenic view

It's not all tanks and weaponry. A game of this scale (150 1:56 vehicles in case you'd missed that bit....)  needs a fair bit of table covering too. 

I've had one of the hamlets from warlord games  awaiting some attention for a while now, and it wouldn't be right to have this mega game without putting it to use, so the buildings have seen a swift brush. 

They will receive basing after the game, as I don't want to get them mixed up with the guildford games club ones, which I painted exactly the same and are already based! 

The plan for this weekend had been to work on some of my Vehicles from the Winter War kickstarter, which I had meant to pick up at warfare a few weeks back. However, that didn't happen and I'm finding myself in the same boat as a lot of other WW backers, awaiting miniatures which I was led to believe would already be with me. I have upmost confidence in Gav of Baker Company that I'll get my product, but it is rather frustrating. It now looks like I might be somewhat short of my previously posted armour list, as 20 vehicles haven't even arrived yet! 

14 days to go..... Just one weekend..... Fingers crossed! 

Project Kursk: finally, soviet armour!

But it is on the small side..... 

5 lend lease universal carriers. Bolt action / warlord games plastic kits, with Baker Company heads from the winter war kickstarter. 

These little transports have been rigged with a variety of weapons for their on board troops to utilise - 1 Bren gun, 2DPM LMGs, and 2 anti tank rifles. They may also be used to carry some of my scouts / anti tank squads from time to time, but I mostly got them purely as I wanted to paint them :) 

18 days to go.....

Project Kursk: the Hollywood flank

Anyone else confused yet? 

It's a tank project. Until now within these updates I've painted infantry and artillery support units. 

It's titled Kursk. And the first armoured brigade I'm working on since I started blogging my progress is Americans. 

Conclusion : it's a hobby. I like painting. I also like history. But I do it all for fun and don't take any of it too seriously, so I simply hope you enjoy the pics :)

10 28mm shermans from warlord games, and 3 half tracks. Should the soviets need help, the "Hollywood flank" will be unleashed! 

 These are all sill a wip - weathering and chipping all need to be added, but the insignia and markings were added using pre production stencils / masks from Anarchy models new kickstarter and this is the best moment to photograph for seeing those. 

ANARCHY MODELS H.S. STENCILS: 

All the allied stars, USA markings, and soviet stars on another 6 vehicles were added in just 40 minutes. It's was my first try with the new stencils so there was a little learning time in that too, but they certainly live up to the HS ( High Speed) name. You can see through them when they are against the model so positioning is easy, and the paint wipes straight off cleanly meaning you never have any build up issues and they should last forever! 

There are limitations, mainly caused by the size of the protective surroundings on the stencils which prevent you from getting markings into some tighter spots between details. You do also get a very slight fuzzy edge around the markings wherever the stencil is held away from the surface of the piece by moulded detail. 

If it was a display piece, these things may be slight problems, but I guess that's where the original range of "HD" stencils come into play. I've been using those since Brians (Anarchy models) previous kickstarter to great effect on my many soviets and you realy can get those into place on and over any amount of fine details. 

These are a fast process, and ideal for mass or fast painting, with very good end results. They bend and form over curved surfaces and offer good procptection to the rest of the model in the process. For more awkward ares or smaller models, the "HD" line will continue to be my go-to, but certainly in conjunction with this new range. 

Check out the kickstarter for some good offers on the new range, but Harry, it's in it's last few days! 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/805848592/anarchy-models-hs-stencils-flexible-and-fully-re-u

Project Kursk: the guns get bigger

So it's really a tank project, and I started with infantry... I know... I know.... 

But ignoring your cries for some heavy armour, here's a slight step in the right direction - some larger pieces of ordinance have made their way off the bench. 

120mm mortar: the big space on the base is for the trailer rig which comes with the tube( all from BTD) , but which I've completely mislaid so will have to be added later! 

And not one, but two 57mm anti tank guns, which will be being towed until deployment by my forces captured hanomags. 

Actually, because it's meant to be an armour log, here's a couple of things which I painted a while back, but have never posted photos of before - my IS2. Pride and joy of the panther hunting forces already painted and ready for the 14th!

And the ever reliable SU122 

New tanks next time! 

Project Kursk - the preview

A couple of weeks ago, we ran a "little" test game at our local club to try out some ideas of how to handle a game with so many vehicles involved. It went really well, and master of ceremonies, mr Eddie "the Fez" Turner set out some of the WIP forces for a couple of promo shots. I knocked a couple myself for use on the blog, but forgot to post them at the time! 

That's 20 panthers eddie's putting together to form the core of the axis forces. It's a pretty scary sight! Thankfully what's seen here is just a fraction of the soviet / allied forces, but even so! 

Here's the hobbybrush workbench as of a week or so ago. 

Listings change, as I may have to sell a few before the event, but there's more in the post as well to compensate! 

SOVIETS:

20  x t34/85 (inc 3 OT variants)

3  x T34/76

1 x IS2

1 x captured panther

2 x KV 1

2 x KV2

1 x KV8

1 x SU76

1 x SU85

1 x SU100

1 x SU122

2 x SU122/152

2 x captured hanomags, which will be towing 57mm AT guns

5 x universal carriers

3 x T26a

6 x T26b

3 x Kht26

1 x T70

3 x BA10m

1 x BA64

And a few jeeps, trucks and associated unarmed vehicles 

US allies:

10 x Sherman

3 x M3 half tracks, filled with as many bazooka teams as I can compile (anyone got spare zooks to trade?!?)

Germans: 

They're unlikely to get painted in time.... Ad frankly who cares? ;op 

So there's a bit to do...... Then there's infantry to match it.... But not specifically for this game thank god! 

Project Kursk - the countdown

Well, I have the workshop back running at speed again, and there's a big game approaching on December 14th (see here : http://fez-man.blogspot.co.uk/p/bolt-action-fez-kursk-1945-th-november.html ) so it's time to drag mysf away from twilight and random painting to once again focus on the big picture - 28mm soviets 

Mainly armour, but a few infantry and artillery thrown into the mix too. 

My own, personal, aim is to be taking 70 vehicles of various classes to the game. Yes 70. Yes 28mm. Any further questions? 

Let the countdown begin! 21 days til Armageddon. 

I'm easing myself in with some infantry (specifically scouts, hence the amoeba camo suits)  and medium mortars. Figures are black tree. Bases are mdf from warbases.co.uk. 

Bolt Action Soviets, something new from myself!

Back in early 2013, talk started at Guildford Games Club about playing some 28mm WWII games. Bolt Action was decided upon and I had my excuse. 

So, it finally happened - 7 Years after painting a commission on the same figures, I started my own 28mm Soviet army. Guess What? I've got carried away.... 

The gallery has been added to the 28mm WWII section and can be found HERE
Infantry are mostly from Black Tree Designs at the moment, with Armour from Warlord Games and guns from Plastic Soldier company. And there's more to come! (57 pictures)

Totals: 
New Galleries: 1
New Pictures : 57

Kraytonians are here at last...

My Kraytonians are definitely my largest collection.
I worked for Dark Realm Miniatures for years.
I designed the game, Seeds of War, from which they originate.
When I desiged this site, it was one of the first galleries set up as a placeholder to see how it would all work.
But,somehow, even given all this, its taken me years to get any photos in there!

They're simply too big a force for me to photograph easily. As such even ow, they only pics I have for the site are of the latest batch of additions. There's a fair few models here, but they contribute only about an eighth of the total force to date!

None the less, I've included detail shots of all the units added with this batch, so its a fair start!

 My Seeds of war Kraytonians - 2013 additions. (20 pictures) 

Also, I'm slowly snapping units as I finish them ready for future galleries. Here's a little teaser - a 45mm AT gun I painted for use in Bolt Action, and also because I wanted to play with my airbrush and do some weathering before I think about doing 28mm tanks!

New Galleries: 0
New Pictures: 20

In the pipeline....

Its been a long time since I updated much at all here, and I've talked about the many projects I'm working on without much proof.

As we all kow "It didn't happen if there's not pictures", so here's a little "proof" that I have indeed been busy lately...

First up my Firestorm Invasion army. I only just Blogged the gallery for these guys earlier today, but as you can see its grown considerably since those photos were taken, and even the bases on the old models have been added to so it is in fact completely out of date already!

Then there's the last of the Kraytonian army which were painted a couple of months ago, and are actually almost ready for a proper gallery at last! The pic below is just the latest reinforcemets to the far larger complete force... 

Beyond that, I have finally had the excuse to work on a 28mm Soviet army of my own. I've wanted to since I did a commission force and had a few models kept in storage from those days. Of course, when I say a few... 

And then there's my flames of war forces. But whilst I've done a fair bit of work on them, there's few which I'd call complete just yet. They're ext up for final touches after just a few more soviets!  Then of course there's the "Tank Park" which is my current "To Do" board....

A fair selection of vehicles from different nationalities and eras on there. Mostly Forged in battle bought cheap from various sources - very nice models and I'll be painting as many as I can for ebay, so plenty of varied updates to come!

Well, that at least proves that I'm not idle even if it does fall short of a proper gallery update. More soon!