Done

The infantry I have are now done; including (for the first time ever!) basing.

Now off to the Eureka site to order the SAWs and extra grenadier that I need.

Boots

Damn.
The "Font of All Knowledge" (wikipedia) has an article on the First Battle of Mogadishu that shows that I have the boots wrong.
Here is an image of Chalk Four showing the sandy coloured boots.
And also, the crew of Super Six Four.
Looks like I'll have to redo the boots in the sandy colour and make the base colour of the basing darker to provide contrast. I think I'll run a test on swapping the current two colours (boots and ground) and adding some fine sand to the base to see how it all comes together.
One final note, the Kommando Khaki looks a lot more green against the Goblin Green in the new figures I've just finished painting. I think I'll need to go back and add additional paint to attempt to provide the required contrast.
Photo below looks better than I thought it did last night though.

More 15mm US

Well, I've completed all of the 15mm US that I have.
The photo below isn't the best, but I needed to get it up to prove that it's done.

I changed to a sandy colour on the base, and I'm planning to add some sand, etc. to the base to bring it up to scratch.
I've never based anything before!
When I originally painted the first figure, I gave him sand coloured boots on the brown soil. My intent had always been to use Bestial Brown for the boots and sandy soil, and that's what I've done with these. Not sure about this now - I think the sand boot looked better. Need further research on the issue boot at the time.

I still need to get two M249 SAW gunners and another M203 grenadier to complete my Ranger chalk, and then it will be time to try to get the militia painted..........

3-pattern Attempt

Had a crack at the 3-pattern Desert BDUs tonight.
Pretty chuffed with how it came out; compared with my normal painting standard.

The colour scheme listed out below. All of my paints are Games Workshop because that's what I have kicking around at home after my early days of playing 40k.

Dry-brush of Kommando Khaki across most of the model.
Very light dry brush in selected areas of Goblin Green (for the green areas).
Thin lines of Scorched Brown using a fine brush in selected areas.
Webbing in Catachan Green.
Hands and face in Dwarf Flesh.
Rifle in Chaos Black with a Boltgun Metal drybrush.
Boots in Bestial Brown.

Uniforms

US troops in Somalia were dressed in the newer 3-pattern and older 6-pattern (chocolate chip) Desert Battle Dress Uniforms.
I'm going to be trying to paint the 3-pattern uniform on my rangers. Mainly because it's simpler, but also because on a 15mm I like the reduced number of colors.
If you're one of those crazies who want to paint a chocolate chip scheme, the amazing Matakishi's Tea House has an instruction on 28mm that makes it seem easy.

Update

Well, despite my best intentions, the blog has been quiet for a little while.
I have been doing some things in the background. The 6mm stuff hasn't progressed at all, but I have gotten copies of the Ambush Alley Rules and expansion books. I'm taken with the scenarios, so that game has been receiving all of the focus.
Re-basing my 15mm AK-47 figures has been the main focus.
I'm still trying to get a fix on it, but I've gotten a few done now. Just need to get on with the painting!

What I've done is glue the miniature to a washer, then backfill with acrylic filler. Having done this for a few figures now, I think the best way to go is simply to use the filler (or a thick glue) to attach the miniature to the washer initially, rather than backfilling.

The use of masking tape on the bottom of the washer was a relevation I picked up from the web - I used cling wrap when I was glueing the figures to the washers, and it wasn't very successful. I had to make sure that I separated it before the bond got too strong. The tape however seems very good.

I'll need to look at other options for the filler material; the filler is still tacky 48h later!

6mm Militia on the "Green Felt Veldt"

I took this photo of the painted 6mm militia a little while back; I just haven't had the time yet to make a post.

Here it is anyway.  

The painting isn't great, but it was nice and quick.  I haven't had any time to paint any more, but it was really encouraging how quick these were.

Day of the Ranger Teaser

The guys at Ambush Alley have release a teaser scenario for the up-coming "Day of the Ranger" expansion.
Looks interesting, and as they state on the page, the scenario teases with mentions of things like "Khat Chewers". DotR is the expansion to assist in gaming scenarios based on the conflict in Somalia in 1993, in particular Operation Gothic Serpent (the operation that "Black Hawk Down") was based on. They're promising info on the impact of stimulants (hence the Khat reference)helicopters, technicals and a lot more. Plus 10 new scenarios!
Hooah!

Cheap Chopper

Found this matchbox helicopter at my local Coles grocery store, for AU$3. It's part of a series of aircraft that look to be about 1:400? I believe it's the Sky Buster's MBX Metal range, but the specific model isn't listed on the Matchbox website.


Here it is with some 15mm figures from Peter Pig and CannonFodder.



Needs a new paint job, but should come up just fine I think.

First Painted figures

Painted the first figures tonight.  Everyone has an opinion on the best way to do it.

I've gone for a black undercoat initially.  I know that this makes the colours less bright, but I find it easier to paint onto - if I miss a bit, the black takes care of it.  We'll see how we go.

For the insurgent infantry, I'm going with multi-coloured shirts.  The Regulars with the Ztumre National Workers Intervention will have a more conventional uniform colour.

More to come....

Oh! and this would have to have been the first time I have ever painted 9 figures in half an hour!