Some may recall my only previous attempt at doing something in 2mm scale (here). While I did give up that particular project and passed it on to JBM who took it to another level I have continued to eye up the pages of the Facebook 2mm scale wargaming group. A couple of weeks or so ago I had a idea, why not make playing pieces featuring 2mm scale Irregular Miniatures blocks for use on the Commands & Colors Napoleonics board? So I placed an order to see what might be done and the initial results are as you see below. I THINK I'm happy so far, just wondering if I should build up the bases a little more to disguise the unit bases and to blend everything in a bit more but I'm going to avoid the usual grit and static grass because I want them to match the game board. A coat of satin varnish has been added to the entire base to give a semi shiny finish that I quite like.
These are of course British units, 4 'block' line infantry, 3 block Rifles, 3 block heavy cavalry and 3 block foot artillery. Today I'm going to do some French bases and meanwhile I have loads more on order plus more of the 25mm x 40mm bases from Warbases. I have added some 10mm discs to the order to see how they function as loss markers that could sit on the rear of the unit base. While I intend to play the game straight as it is this time - including Command and Tactician cards - on the board I just might make up clump foliage wood bases and possibly BUA bases using the metal 2mm buildings from Small Scale Scenery so a couple of packs of 55mm hexes are also on order. I doubt I want to go any further than this to start with although I have made 5mm hill hexes from foamboard that the terrain hex sits on top of, mainly to give a better impression where line of sight is blocked by raised ground.
If this all goes to plan then there is the possibility of Spanish/Russian/ Prussian and Austrian armies for use with all the expansions that I have, it would potentially offer me endless scenarios both official and unofficial playing the only wargame that I truly enjoy these days.
So what do you think I should do with the basing?
EDIT: The first of the French units painted this morning in no time! Waiting on bases. All drybrushed over flat black undercoat, 3 colours blue jackets, sky grey trousers and (with a very fine brush, in this case the Psycho) sunny flesh picking out the faces. I went a step further by adding a few dots of red and yellow to the tops of the flank companies which I think has lifted them. The cavalry are Dragoons so green coats and a touch of gold to represent the brass helmets - 4 blocks for the French cavalry in C&C.
Hi Lee, The arrangement of the figures on the bases is fine but the colour scheme needs to looked at with them placed on the intended playing surface. But, never one to let ignorance prevent me from giving an opinion... I would tend to play down the 'dirt', i.e. less and not all joined up which creates a bit of a spider's web effect. Also, IMO the colours on the bases could be knocked back - as the rich greens and browns used compete with the figures. Blending in some pale grey to the colours used might create a more pastel effect as though the colour balance were turned down for the background in a picture. This may of course clash horribly with the playing surface...
ReplyDeleteThis is all useful feedback at this stage Rob so cheers. I think you are right about toning down the basing and especially the earth areas. I wanted a fairly stylised look to begin with but the plan was to texture with paint alone which has not really worked. I'll be doing some more today and have a cunning plan to add a touch more texture using tile grout which is perfect for this scale :) Then to get the board laid out to see how I need to knock them back, I think it's a brighter/lighter shade of green. I'll grab some photos.
DeleteInteresting use of tile grout - I've got several kg of left over oak coloured grout that would be ideal for basing. I must try it out on something.
DeleteThe tile grout works well for basing in this scale and I have toned down the colours more to match the board. Will have some photos up later which I hope will illustrate the changes.
DeleteNever been keen on Napoleonic stuff, but doing it in 2mm is the only way I’d attempt it, I think. The units look beautiful however, as I’d expect. Basing is really in the eye of the beholder. First I painted my units black and glued them down in formation. I then gritted mine to blend the base of the unit onto the mdf base itself then painted the grit green before dry brushing over the top with a lighter green. This gave a textured look without the equivalent of 6ft high flock. Only after I’d got the base done did I paint the unit itself.
ReplyDeleteI bloody hope this doesn’t mean your selling your Crimean stuff off!
Hi JBM, this is intended only for the C&C game board so I want the basing to match the flat/bright colour of the board. I'll see what I can do today re adding slightly more texture. Appreciate the input, all useful :)
DeleteCrimeans - well, you know me, one reaches a stage where ......... :)
Fair points made there, I always welcome constructive comments like this. I'll be playing around with the basing today :) The point re board games blocks v figures for me comes down to being able to identify with the armies on the board, prefer to move formations of troops around rather than wooden blocks. I'll get some images of the bases laid out on the game board later once I have finished tinkering with them taking into your all the useful comments above.
ReplyDeleteLee.
I have to agree that the basing is a little overwhelming, I'm looking forward to your solution!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Toned down version will be shown here soon Iain and I agree it was a bit strong!
DeleteNice post thank you Trevor
ReplyDelete