Old v new technology, 3D prints by Hoplite Miniatures.

I have to say that I am  staggered by the quality of these 13.5mm (Warlord Epic compatible) prints of Dutch Belgian infantry. Stephen has sent me 8 x 80 figure battalions to paint and they are really well detailed and clean and robust little prints. It got me thinking about how much this technology has changed our hobby as one who started out back in Airfix days. Of course I still paint lots of 1/72nd scale plastic sets for Old John and they retain that charm of their own. In the latest video I take a look at the 3D prints alongside some old and new boxed 1/72nd sets.

Mahdist command base, plastic palm trees & more 7th cavalry!

I must admit that I'm rather pleased with how this little command base of two camel mounted figures turned out. I'll be painting one for the British this week along with some  Mahdist cavalry. 4 bases of Beja Warriors have been added during this past week. The plastic palm trees arrived and are wonderful, I was expecting to have to paint them up a bit but they look great as they are and at just 40p per tree represent great value. 

The Pony wars commission is now close to completion with just a few mounted and dismounted Indian US scouts left. I'll be scouting around for a couple of new customers come the New Year to sit alongside my regulars, Old John (of course), Noel and Stephen. 

Footnote: I also have plans to add more bases to my AWI armies including more Hessians and French so they are not going anywhere!

Sudan progress and some dismounted 7th cavalry.

Another busy week, more Sudan stuff for myself and dismounted cavalry for Mark, all just a joy to paint! Also a couple of experimental desert abodes from 2mm MDF, textured with Vallejo texture and finished with Vallejo Plastic putty applied by finger, messy but works well, just need to add a bit more to cover the faint blue pen lines. More figures on order including Madhist cavalry and camels, British cavalry and a base of Highlanders in kilts because you just have to have them don't you. I have 4 bases of 'Fuzzy Wuzzy's' (Ok sorry, Beja Warriors) for this week. Finally I am rather more excited than I'm sure I should be about the arrival of 20 plastic palm trees due this week via ebay!

Housebuilding kit!

Guards, just need to touch up that cross belt!

Dismounted 7th cavalry, will be 12 pre troop plus 2 horse holder bases. All in shirt sleeve order and Marks brief was for varied 'faded' shades of light blues and greys.

 

E Troop, 7th cavalry - The Grey Horse Troop.

This is the final troop of six that I have painted for Mark, the famous Grey Horse (or 'Gray' U,S. spelling) troop that suffered heavy loss at Little Big Horn with 28 killed in and around Deep Ravine. 

20mm Sculpts specially commissioned from Andrew Stadden and a joy to paint. Marks painting notes from the start were for a varied mix of blue shades and the off white hats with yellow bands and scarfs. There is some variation in the horse shades whilst trying to retain a cohesive look through the troop as a whole. So far I have avoided dappling as I feel that in this scale it often looks a bit artificial and I don't want to risk ruining the painting, but that said I'm having a look at images on the web!

This week I have 5 troops of dismounted cavalry, each of 12 figures plus 2 horses and holders. 

Into the Desert - week 1.

 Here are a few shots of the first weeks painting on the new Mahdist War project. I'm enjoying myself and the desert bases make a nice change. I think that I have settled on this style after a couple of attempts, simple Vallejo Earth texture used slightly thinned with water then painted a sandy highlight colour and then any figure base edges disguised where required with fine stones along with the odd desert tuft! 

References for the Camel Crops jackets seem to show shades from Blue to Grey so I went with a light Blue/Grey shade, I think this works well. I painted the first Mahdist base yesterday after giving them a bit of thought on how best to approach it having studied lots of references. Initially they were far too white so I knocked it back with a thin wash of Sepia Ink which shaded them nicely, I then came back picking out highlights with off white before  satin varnish. I'm happy with them now so that Dervish base number one done with another undercoated for today. I have figures enough for 4 more Dervish bases plus 3 'Fuzzy Wuzzy' bases and more British infantry including a base of Naval troops. Cavalry and artillery will be on order next week.

Next project - a bit of a surprise!

This morning the first order towards my new project arrived from Peter Pig and it's from the Colonial range rather than Wars of The Roses as I had been hinting at! To be honest I had been unable to decide for a couple of weeks which I wanted to go with first and I have no doubts that I will do both but for now it's into the Sudan with British in Khaki and Grey uniforms and camel mounted cavalry fighting hordes of nasty Mahdists. I'm approaching this primarily as an enjoyable painting project, at least to begin with and I have in mind possibly the Portable Wargame rules which would require a purpose built small square gridded board, could be fun.

The figures are as usual from Peter Pig wonderful little sculpts full of character.

October painting desk update.

Latest YouTube video on the channel describes what's going on here. I also mention my issues with Army Painter brushes of late and welcome any feedback on this or recommendations for a source of reliable brushes.

A blast from the past!

Was it really that long ago since I shouldered my musket to help preserve the Union and fight the Rebel upstarts as a member of the 42nd Pennsylvania 'Bucktails' ? 

 

New sculpts by Andrew Stadden & British Light infantry 1777.

 I'm delighted to report that Mark - who had been out of action for some time due to a hobby related wound - has now been able to resume casting the new sculpts made by Andrew Stadden that will complete the 20mm scale  'Little Big Horn' project commission. As usual the box contains a nice card of the example figures as you see below. I have to say that the sculpts are excellent and full of character. 

So, the final box contains:

• E Troop 7th cavalry (Grey Horse Troop) x 20 mounted.
• Dismounted US cavalry x 60 
• Dismounted US horse holders x 12  plus horses.
• Mounted Indian Scouts x 5
• Dismounted Indian Scouts x 5
• Final additional Indians! x 8.

These will probably be painted in two monthly batches, hopefully October/November as I have a fair bit of work ongoing at the moment. Speaking of which I have just painted and delivered 4 more French Napoleonic Epic infantry battalions over the last two weeks for Stephen, each of 80 figures and am currently back on Union ACW's for Noel having finished his ECW commission.

DBN 1776 or 1777?

For my own project I'm adding more light infantry to both armies. Just painted this base of British Light's as they would have appeared probably around 1777 and the Philadelphia Campaign. By this time the British light infantry would more commonly be wearing short jackets (as opposed to cut down coats) and 'Trowsers' that fitted over the shoe in gaiter fashion. The hats are un-cocked or turned up on the left (firelock) side. I follow an excellent YouTube site called 'Chris The Redcoat' and his video dedicated to this subject is highly recommended. (below),

I also added a second base of 17th Light Dragoons but forgot to paint the bugler in a white coat, blast! Made a casualty marker base to go with them, lots of cutting and filing involved.

On the terrain front I decided to add some fencing around my areas of broken ground (poor going in DBN) and found some excellent plastic fence on eBay for the purpose, just £4.50  for 10 x 200mm lengths! I did trim off the top section to reduce the height slightly as I'm using underscale 10mm buildings, I think it all looks about right now? For game purposes these farms can accommodate two bases. These Continental light infantry are armed with the Long Hunting Rifle thus classed as 'Jagers' and based 6 per base as opposed to 8 for lights and 10 for line. These dastardly chaps had a habit of picking off British Officers at long range, they were very good shots.

The British Light Infantry jacket 1777.

Peter Pig AWI range 5 in action!

Lovely range of figures, I think possibly their best. Had a test run through this morning of my '1776' DBN variant so grabbed a few close ups. 

Continental line infantry with Militia in front.

Grenadiers fire a volley into Militia, 2 hits.

Loyalists - Butlers Rangers & Royal New Yorkers!

Militia with insulting flag!

Redcoat column with Grenadiers leading.

Rifle armed marksmen move into the woods.

British Regulars with Loyalists in support.

Hessian Jager and British 'Light Bobs'.

Small space wargaming.

Hessian Grenadiers facing Militia.

Overview.

The Royal Yorkers being urged on by Loyalist officer.