Order Arrived

My Stuff from Eureka has finally arrived.

On the weekend I'll get time to go through it all properly, and take pics.
Here is the Huey though:

From 6mm AK47 Republic

The main rotor (just above the fuselage in the bag) has gotten quite bent.
The model doesn't look too bad from a quick view.
The other bits at the top of the bag include the tail rotor and a metal base and stalk for "flying".

sixtwentyeight

If you do nothing else today, get yourself along to sixtwentyeight.
If you've been wondering about whether 6mm looks any good (and if all you ever see is my work, I'd imagine you would!); all will be answered.
The blog features some great painting and a lot of examples on how to "lift" your basing to the next level.
Check out the WW2 urban Russians! And how about these Marders?
Definitely one to bookmark....

New 6mm Order

I sold some of my old (late 80s/early 90s) eldar models to Eltnot for an army he's putting together. I'm sure he'll put something up on his blog when he gets the chance to show them off. Plus he'll be doing a far better paint job than I could, so they're better off in his hands.

This left me with some cash, so I blew it all on another order to Eureka to satisfy my 6mm urges. I've gotten the email that they're in the post, so I'm hanging out for the mail each day.

I'm sampling a lot of their vietnam range. All of the VC infantry types plus Green Berets, Montagnards, Australians, etc. I figure these will all (except the VC) work well enough in African conflicts. Plus it gives me the option to look at french vs. Viet minh as well as US vs VC/NVA. Also getting a Huey and a PBR to add some variety and flexibility for scenarios.

In Moderns, I'm getting some modern US for the Humvees, and some brits to see if they're 1990+ style, or a bit more 1980 (for Falklands)

Also sampling their 6mm Brit paras and German grenadiers for 6mm FoW, etc. I'm getting about 5 selections from each side (command, basic infantry, LMG, HMG, mortar, PIAT/Panzerschreck). As a first 6mm World War 2 project, I'd like to recreate some of the D-Day battles, particularly Pegasus Bridge.

Finally, basic infantry for some fantasy races; about 5 or 6 races as a sample. The dwarf strip I got last time had amazing detail - much better standard that some of the moderns!

Plus some other stuff besides! As always, I'll be posting batches of images so you can check them out.

Matchbox DC3 / C47 stand in

I've been looking for an appropriately sized DC-3 (C-47 in military service) to use in the post war african games as an objective, and also to possibly use for air drops in other games.
At the moment, the best I can find with the current exchange rate is about AU$47 once it arrives in Australia.
However, down at the local supermarket last night I located a Matchbox aircraft resembling the DC-3.

From 6mm AK47 Republic

A quick bit of research on the actual size of the DC-3 reveals that the matchbox is pretty much a 1:200 scale model rather than 1:300, but for AU$2.99 I'm prepared to wear the scale issue until I can afford something a bit better.

It will need a re-paint and I'll also need to probably clip off the rear wheel ( and possibly replace the front wheels), but as a stand-in I don't think it's too bad.
Photos are from my phone camera as I ran out the door this morning, so it's probably best to view them at low-res.

From 6mm AK47 Republic

From 6mm AK47 Republic

Humvees!

Today I picked up some FAVs (Fast Attack Vehicles - aka dune buggies with guns)

From 6mm modern

and some HMMWV's (Humvees)

From 6mm modern

I won them in an eBay auction recently. The gentleman who was selling was getting out of 6mm, and I couldn't pass up the chance to pick up some 6mm modern locally!
Here is the whole lot:

From 6mm modern

I'm not sure how Luke the seller managed to get all 38 sitting in neatly like they were when he gave them to me!
I definitely plan to get some 6mm modern US to go with these, and I have firm plans to use them to play out some larger Mogadishu-style actions to complement the smaller Ambush Alley games.
Here's a quick pick showing one of the HMMWV's with some of the my 6mm AK-47 Militia (apologies for the lighting):

From 6mm modern

By the way, these vehicles are from the "Heroics and Ros" 6mm range, which is now produced under license by Navwar

15mm Israeli / Sci-Fi / Indonesian?

So apparently I'm an ideas man!
Still no actual progress on the many 15mm insurgents I have to paint, and no work on the 6mm Ak-47 infantry, but I found the muse to bash this out:

From 15mm Sci-Fi

It's one of the Quick Reaction Force 1980s Israelis.

The colour scheme is actually very similar to the 1980s Kopassus (Indonesian Special Forces) camouflage, and I'm hoping to do some what-if modern skirmish involving Indonesian forces some time in the future. I also think it looks suitably sci-fi, although I think the weapon needs some further work with colour.
Here's another shot that highlights the issue with the weapon in my view.

From 15mm Sci-Fi

As always, heaped praise or useful criticism is always welcome.....

Attempt at a new way to base....

Since my efforts with basing my 15mm stuff for Ambush Alley (see here), I am still not happy that I have a good method of doing this.
My approach then was to use Selleys Liquid Nails to adhere the miniature to the washer, and then use a filler to fill in around the base on the washer. The problem is that the filler doesn't really achieve the correct hardness that I'm seeking. I probably need a different product, one that does harden up properly (months later it's still soft).
At the time, Eltnot suggested that the Liquid Nails does achieve the correct consistency. With that in mind, I tried using extra Liquid Nails on the washer and attempting to spread it once the figure was in place.
The bottom line? It was sticky and messy, but the end result was exactly what I wanted.

From 15mm Modern

Once it started to harden, I could easily trim away any excess using a blade.
I tried this on the Israelis I posted earlier, and I'm going to try it again today on my SAW gunners and TV crew for Ambush Alley. I'm a bit put off by the mess (particularly my fingertips afterwards), but the end result might just be worth it

I'll leave you with this image of a fireteam patrolling to protect a significant Glue Storage Facility.....

From 15mm Modern

Back to 15mm!

I've made a fatal error in doing the vehicles for the 2nd 6mm army before the infantry.
One look at all of those fiddly infantry sitting in the box, and I lost the will to go on.
My problem is that I enjoy playing with infantry armies (tank battles have always left me rather cold), but I hate painting them. A tank is a lot easier to paint and have it end up looking like a tank.
So in order to save my sanity I'm doing some more 15mm work.
A friend is looking to do some 15mm scifi skirmish, and I remembered that I had an old Quick Reaction Force Israeli platoon bag that I'd put aside to paint up "scifi" at some stage.
So I've based up a section (more on that later - trying something new), and put together a Commando (they always look the business) and also a chinese Type 70 (also QRF) beacuse what's a scifi game without missiles going everywhere ala Robotech???
Here's some pics:

From 15mm Modern

Camouflage Patterns

I came across this site a few weeks ago : http://www.kamouflage.net/
It's an excellent resource for moderns gamers that details an incredible number of camouflage patterns from around the world.
Plus it's an Australian site!

Note that some of the pages appear to feature "scantily clad" ladies in various camouflage uniforms. Nothing I've seen is very racy, but if your workplace is concerned about that sort of thing; it's safest to check it out at home.

Towed Guns

I've also done some work on the towed guns and their Matador tows for the Colonial AK47 army.



I need to sort out some basing for the vehicles, and particularly the guns. Again; I need more light sources for the pictures!