Tiny Tigers #2 !

 A quick paint job on the first two. Black base coat, drybrush of 'Middlestone' (Dunkelgelb) followed by patches of Flat Earth then Olive Green, Oily Steel to edges of tracks and cabling etc. The final touch is to bring all the shades together with a wash of Vallejo Sepia wash. Don't own an airbrush so same method used for years on German late war armour. I'll grab some weathering powder on my next order from S&M Stuff (!) and maybe some blackening around the business end of the 88mm.

The build took just a few minutes per tank, the paint job maybe an hour for the two as it's my tried and trusted method. Four more to do and I'm going to order a pack of the 75mm Shermans next. 

I know, I know but I can't help myself.

Oh, I forgot to mention!

As I still retain some interest in WW2 tank warfare from my Flames of War days I just had to see for myself just what the Victrix 1:144th/12mm models were like so a few days ago I ordered a set of the Tiger I kits and they arrived yesterday.  I wasted no time in cutting one from the sprues - a simple job as very few parts - and the result is a finely detailed little model, I am really rather taken by it. 

Difficult to describe the size so a shot against a standard Vallejo paint bottle should help. I have to say smaller than I had imagined but a perfect size for armoured battles on a small table. The kit building and painting is the bit I enjoy and I have no plans going forward other than to collect a few packs, at least at this stage, I mean how can I resist the tiny Shermans?

All change for Twydall!

 I just noticed that it's been two weeks since my last post here which is somewhat unusual. Whilst I am still painting away on the commission front and enjoying it I have lost all enthusiasm for the gaming side of the hobby once again. We have been busy settling into our new home, including decorating - something I am not a fan of but had to be done - and having hit the big 66 last Friday I have also been doing a lot of thinking about what I want to do next. I have decided that my wargaming days are now over and it's time to move onto something fresh.  I had long promised myself that one I hit the retirement milestone I would make a return to another hobby that I have been interested in for about 30 years, railway modelling. 

It may be of little interest to many of those who follow this blog but I will just describe what I have in mind here and how the  two hobbies have many overlaps. 

TWYDALL - a fictitious pre Beeching branch line terminus set in rural Kent in the mid 1950's.To be built upon a single narrow baseboard (to avoid electrical and scenic joins) just 5' long by 8" deep it will be basically an N Gauge shunting layout featuring both limited passenger service and busy goods depot. Being based in Kent the main goods will be fruit and veg and hops for the local breweries and there will also be the usual morning milk collection  etc. The plan is for totally hands free operation using point switching motors wired under the board along with magnetic auto uncoupling. The line will be operated by just two steam locomotives, all small 'Jinty' tank engine working the goods yard and a small tender loco for the passenger line service and main goods service. 

The above actually represents a considerable challenge in terms of modelling  skills, electrical wiring, kit bashing etc and I am especially looking forward to creating realistic scenic work. I would expect the build to take several months to complete and will be as detailed as I can make it. Of course even in N Gauge some painting of tiny figures will be required, something I'm not too bad at! Step 1 (baseboard build followed by track laying) will commence right away and through February.

The 3mm ancient armies are going to a new home. I'm really pleased to say that all of the armies will be passed onto David Crook next month when he is over this way for Cavalier at Tunbridge Wells and funds will go towards the steam locos ( they are bloody expensive). As usual I just want to see them being used for wargames rather than sit of boxes. I have absolutely no regrets about this decision.

YouTube channel.  I will continue to make painting videos for my YouTube channel as they are proving  surprisingly popular and subscribers have passed 400 now. Most viewed is the Napoleonic Epic/DBA video with 6250+ views and the Potential of 2mm wargaming video with 5750+ views. Tutorials are planned soon as I sort out improved lighting. Again it's something I do enjoy doing. Latest offering is now up on the channel (link above), featuring work bench update, a mention for my supplier of paints for years now S&M Stuff and a quick look at some make up brushes given to me by my Grandaughter that are surprisingly good for fine detail work.

Looking back at some of Old Johns ACW's!

 As I cast around trying to find something that grabs my interest - no success as yet - I was looking back at some of my older commission work for 'Old John'. Surprisingly these 20mm ACW's (various manufacturers) were painted back in 2013! Many are what I suppose I would term personality figures representing some non combatant figures and well known Civil War commanders. My favourite was the set of three figures recreating that famous Mathew Brady photograph taken on 15th July 1863 'Confederate Prisoners from the Battle of Gettysburg'. Thought I would share some of these ACW shots again as it's been over 10 years now. 

Guest appearance - Prince Rupert's Charge!

Hard to believe it's now 6 years since RobG took ownership of my old Hinchliffe figure ECW collection and he has continued to work on them since then. He has just sent me these magnificent photos of the latest unit to be added, Prince Ruperts Horse comprising figures from the Peter Gilder designed 'Foremost' range listed as 'Prince Ruperts Charge'. There is fair bit of conversion work in there and of course all finished in a heavy gloss varnish. I absolutely love them!

The Foremost range was an extension to the existing Hinchliffe ranges, they figures were slightly chunkier and the horses a touch larger but Rob has replaced some of the horses with standard Hinchliffe in order help the unit to blend in with the wider collection. The Standard is hand painted (as are all standards) and represents the period etching that features Boy, Ruperts large white hunting Poodle with  the caption 'To him Pudel'.

Robs complete collection can be seen on the link in my 'photos page above' I'll just add it here for convenience. 

I'm enjoying my first day having Broadband back, it's been a tough couple of weeks without it I have to say!  I think that and the rough wet weather encouraged me to pick up the brushes earlier than planned and I have now completed another batch of 60 mounted Indians for Mark. The January batch will be 2 troops of US 7th Cavalry 40 figures.