For the Sarge...

Good evening,

A while back JackSarge asked me how I base my elements. Well, this is how I do it. Please keep in mind I did not paint these! These were given me by the Sarge hisself...

First up, I glue down the figures with PVA and paint the element (and figures) base(s) with an earthy brown.



This is actually a mix of two browns - one that was too dark, one that was too red.

Then I PVA some coarse sand in a semi-randomish way...so long as the sand goes up to the edge of the figures' bases.




Next, paint the sand in a lighter brown (Beasty Brown, to be precise. Not the most economical use of model paint...cheap poster paint would be more cost effective...)



Highlight with an off white...



...then apply more PVA, this time mostly between the mounts of sand (spread thusly with an old brush)...





...before dunking the base in a container of flock...




...and PVAing on the artillery piece.













Cool.

Thanks again Sarge for the minis, they are fantastic.

More tomorrow - the whole army, no less.

Nick

For Paul...

...and you other trackheds out there!

Italian bound Kiwi Armourfast Shermans, painted and gifted to me by Andy Gorman.









And a shot with the boys! A platoon of the second Crossfire Company with HMG support and an F/O.



Arghhh! A giant mutant rat!


Benny looks a touch guilty as he investigates his surrounds!

Crossfire Kiwis Complete

Good evening,

Here they all are. Two full infantry companies with mortar (including FOs) and HMG support (and a squad of SMG infantry for each), as well as six Shermans (two 75's, a 76, a 105 and two Fireflies - painted as Kiwi tanks for the Italian campaign by Andy Gorman), two Company Commanders, six Platoon Commanders and eight suppression markers. That'll do for the time being.




Just gotta get me back that Jug (Thunderbolt) from Andy.

In the meantime I have begun re-basing Jack's Naps - this time on 60mm by 30mm bases, not the 60 by 20s that I thought they should be on.

2nd Crossfire Kiwi Company...

...almost complete. Just need to add the mortars and FOs.

Here, in their underbright near completeness, is the culmination of 6 weeks work. In between work 'n stuff...








Sorry for the lack of illumination, I took these outside while the PVA was drying this afternoon and it got a bit overcast. Pity, 'twas lovely earlier!

Happy Father's day and one year anniversary since the first 7.1 earthquake here in Canterbury (which didn't cause any fatalities), and it's subsequent aftershocks (which, unfortunately, did). What a year, eh?

Nick

The Sarge's Generosity - 3

Good morning,

Just a quick post before I get down to the drudgery of [school] planning for next week (the children I love. The time sink that is all the other stuff...not so much).

Anyway, after a bit of humming and harring, counting and re-counting, I decided to rebase the Sarge's figs for DBA-HX (Humberside Extension, that brings DBA out so's you can play with armies up to 1900 A.D.). If Stan remembers correctly, 60mm by 20mm bases can also work for Shako. I can also put them on a sabot base (two elements per base) for Volley and Bayonet, so...cool!

DBA-HX suggests four figures for Musket elements, but Sarge's three figures to a 30mm by 20mm base looked too cool, so I decided to base them at five figures. For me, this gives more of an impression of shoulder to shoulder mass musketry.





Obviously I haven't finished the bases yet, and in fact have only really started pulling Sarge's bases apart to rebase them, but I'm pleased with the results so far.

Thanks again Sarge,

Nick