6mm Empires at War buildings

Over the last few years one of my 'neglected' projects has been 6mm SciFi. Garrison had a nice range of hover tanks, etc, and I did did get round to painting some. Last year I bought some infantry (still haven't done anything with them) and during my current spending spree I got some of the 6mm and 20mm buildings by Empires at War.

They do a couple of packs that contain 4 buildings for £10 and today I thought... why not try one...

So I did. Took, ooohh... several minutes...

They don't cost much, are easy to put together, look OK - think I'll be adding a few more.

The kits themselves are a simple 7 part 'frame.

Over this frame you then glue odd bits of detail including 'ready painted' frontages. A bit rough on close up, but fine on the table. This one is just under 7cm wide.

 

Scale-wise, I think they're a bit underscale - 5mm rather than 6mm - but they'll more than do the job.

 

Meanwhile, as I was writing this up I built another one.

1897 French artillery and army update

Very much toy soldier rather than true historical... not certain certain about either the uniform or gun colours! Finally went for wood and black for the gun (I liked it) and plain blue with lots of red piping for the gunners (same reason).

Starting to get there in terms of size. Starting to look quite good.

Two other units getting close to being ready.

 And finally, got a couple more guns and 2 extra infantry units on order (including a Guards Regiment) together with a load of Zouaves and cavalry from Irregular that I'm buying ready painted.

That's really about the army finished... after which the Russian invaders need to be started...

1897 A second Regiment of Highlanders

Soon have a Brigade...

Or not. Well, probably not of Highlanders but certainly  a Scottish Brigade. Perhaps a Lowland Regiment, a Light Infantry Regiment and a unit of cavalry?

These are the two current Regiments - neither are of a specific Regiment, the idea is to just have some variety.

 

1897 More French

I think it's fair to say that the invaders are not quite keeping up with the defenders at the moment but are slowly building up their forces.

These are Irregular marching French and again painted in Vallejo dark blue rather that the (probably more 'realistic' ) Prussian blue.

Nearly got a enough French to fight a small skirmish...

1897 The Fusiliers

Completed the Fusiliers which gives me a complete Brigade.

The Fusiliers:

The Brigade:

 I've noticed that I've painted buttons on both the Grenadiers and Fusiliers but didn't on the 2 Line Regiments. I think I'd better bring the Line up to my current 'standard.'

A second Regiment of Highlanders is nearly finished so the 'Scots' Division is nearly half complete - I'll do 2 Regiments of Lowlanders to produce a Scot's Division rather than go for separate Highland and Lowland Divisions.

For Ross

Re a discussion here.

In the Great War in England in 1897 there is a little action by some some bicycle troops who used a bicycle mounted machine gun.  Actually it's really a quadricycle mounted machine gun.

This is the picture:

1897 Redone Artillery

40lber/4.7" gun redone and crew added. Looks much better!

Original idea was for a two man crew but this looked silly so I've added an officer - later I'll probably make the crew up to five men. This size gun needs it.

The gun needs a bit of retouching but I don't think I'll bother at the moment - no doubt later on I'll start feeling guilty and sort the wheel, just now I'm reverting to my 'These are toys' stance.

I sometimes feel a bit guilty about the 'blobby' faces - again, I just say 'toy' and move on.

The officer is a bit weird. Noticed it when painting the red stripe down his trousers - the leg is in a weird position. Doesn't seem to have a kneecap and it bends forward in an... odd... fashion.

I was only going to have one gun with my 'army' but suspect that a full 3 or 4 gun battery is on the cards at some stage.