Comrade! (Part 17)

This is a Warlord Games Soviet ZIS-3 Divisional Gun. Crap pictures though - apologies, it seems it's too dark in the mornings (My typical opportunity for doing so) for photo-time.

In-game it can fire as both an Anti-tank gun AND a light howitzer. (Most guns of this size typically are classed as either-or.) This all metal kit was crisply sculpted and only had one glaring issue - game rules have it as being crewed by four men, yet the gun is sold with only three!? (Not very good planning on Warlord's part.) Lucky I had a spare infantry-man from my plastic Winter troops set to fill in!

The painting was easy - both gun and crew were a breeze to get done and fit in well enough (The metal crew are all Summer uniform, not Winter like the rest of my army but o well.) with the rest of my army. I based the whole thing on a CD, used my usual basing medium, made sure to leave indents for the crew bases so I can remove them as casualties are taken and added snow effects and some foliage. The logs are some very nice finds by my son whilst out with his Mum walking the dog. These too were painted and look okay as a makeshift log-barrier thing.

Fellow with the shell at the back is the plastic addition to thew crew. Some hand manipulation and a crappy looking artillery shell made from a toothpick and he'll do. 

Tried to add red & white stripes the to the ranging poles. Pretty shoddy effort though. 

Unlike most of the rest of my force, this base is not entirely covered in snow, to account for the crew running back and forth with ammo, etc.

Was very tempted to add some sort of white-wash camo to the gun too, but felt it would just melt in with the base-colours so stuck with basic Soviet green.

I promise better pictures will be forthcoming once I have an opportunity to get out when the lighting is better. But rain and storms are on their way to Northern California so that might be a while yet.

Finishing up this gun means I only have my tank to go and then be able to call this army the mythical "Fully Painted". Which rocks muchly. The tank is currently about 75% completed and I hope to have it done and posted here by next week, in time for my Mum's visit from Blighty when painting time will be near non-existent.

Hope everyone's staying warm out there!

Comrade! (Part 16)

Shamefully I missed all last week's opportunity to post up. Rotten of me for sure. I blame a combo of soggy weather making picture-taking conditions non-existent and Thanksgiving escapades. But enough on that. 

Some painting has commenced since my last post - firstly my Medium Machine Gun team for my WW2 Soviet Bolt Action army. The wheeled Maxim machine gun (I think from WW1) was still utilised by the infantry as a reliable piece of kit and so I present it here for you. As my previous post mentioned, the sculpts for the crew were rather crap, therefore most facial details had to be painted on so please excuse the crudity of my freehand. (These are Warlord Games sculpts)

Friday 25th also happened to be my very good friend Gregg's 42nd birthday and as my gift to him, I decided to paint up this dragon. He seemed happy enough with it, so job done. (Though I did mention that he is not at all allowed to plonk it on the table as a monster for us players to face in any future rpg session!) I have no idea who produced this mini.

Horrid focus on this one, apologies. Rain was starting up again and so was taken hastily!

Also about this time last year another gaming friend, Steve had asked that I paint up this cute Fox. A simple effort, I am most chuffed over how his eyes came out - shifty, like a sly fox should have!

And with extra time to myself and whilst watching the Oakland Raiders do their best to once again lose a game I went on to start work on the final two pieces for my WW2 Soviet army. Since these pics were taken the crew to the AT gun were completed and it's base started on. I might well have it finished by this weekend!

And.... I'm spent. Christmas is coming up and a gaming opportunity or two could be on the cards if I can wrangle spare moments between incoming family and friends' visits next month. Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate - Ciao!

Last But One

This is the penultimate Hirdman from my Viking faction and my favourite sculpt by Gripping Beast. He just looks tough and certainly not a bloke to mess with.

Pics were taken before I hit him with DullCote and sorted that bend in his spear.

Close up of his face and his eyes that look rather good if I do say so myself!

I wanted him to stand out from his brothers, some and tried to give him some interesting trousers and a traditional (At least the internet[s] says so.) viking shield design in yellow and black.

Also took time to put together my Bolt Action T34/85 and ZIS-3 Divisional Gun. The plastic tank went together like a dream, the anti-tank-gun not so. I had to walk away from my work table two nights in a row due to frustration at the shitty online instructions and crappy fitted pieces. In the end I just jury-rigged the thing and to hell with it. It'll look fine once painted up and sat behind a wall shooting Krauts.

Some gunnery officers included for scale. Was going to purchase all my tanks at 1/48th scale because they look better next to 28mm troops, but I couldn't pass up the deal I got on the Warlord 1/56th tank. Plans for some tank rider figs and stowage pieces are in the mix.

This gun really did put me through my paces. Looks nice all set up though and should be a breeze to paint. Green + green + more green.

Just one more Hirdman to go and I'll be claiming a Joker earned between these 12 Hirdmen and the 12 Saxon Thegns I've painted already. Then it's on to some regular foot soldiers for my Saxons (Ceorls) and Vikings (Bondi), which I will not be putting half as much energy into in an effort to get them done quicker.