Other countries - 20mm French Colonial

The Rose Colonial British are actually quite versatile - pity there were only 4 figures in the range (plus a casualty!). The officer is Jacklex.

Here I've simply painted the Rose figures up with blue tunics and red trousers. The French (and just about everyone else) seem to have had a lot of colour variations. In their case, different blues, sometimes including the trousers, Trousers could also be (possibly mostly?) white.

To a certain extent it would be easy to use lots of different schemes for an army. Here, I think a more stylised blue tunic/red trousers is better than a mix. My intention is to get the 'full' battalion of these on single bases witjin the next few days - though currently working on the 25/28mm Scottish Colonial battalion at the moment. I'll probably start doing both at the same time - Scots take a long time because of all those tartan kilts!

Having said that, the Rose ACW figures make quite good French in this scale. Next to him, the all blue figure suits as either Royal Marines or Germans. Of course, Germans could also be produced by painting the figure khaki!

There are lots of other variations possible. Add in the use of Jacklex figures and I've got quite a project/projects ahead of me in this scale.

42mm Russian Army Review

Finished the next battalion of the 1897 Russian force and think that should do for now. Touching up the British figures can wait a bit longer.

Infantry on the left are the newly completed ones. Nice thing about this army is that I didn't need to paint half of it! My total committment consisted of 2 infantry units, 1 cavalry squadron and 2 guns.

Left flank, only figure I painted myself if the gun! Gun crew, both infantry units and both cavalry squadrons are 'as bought' except for the bases!

Been to the dentists...

Got to Wisbech a bit early so wandered around for a bit. Went into a PC Games shop and...

This one reminded me of the ships from the city of Titanica from Stingray. Couldn't resist, and will provide the various sea peoples I have for the pulp games with some transport. Not very Lovecraftian but...

Haven't a clue what I'll be using this flyer for but looks like a good way for the citizens of the future to get around in.

There were loads of these in different colours and (similar) styles. Uses could include Cyberpunk/Steampunk engine core or some strange device in a Cultish temple. Could easily be the most useful of the three. I can even see it as a 'statue' in the grounds of Miskatonic U. - until someone 'activates' it.

As an aside, teeth OK apart from getting cleaned, next visit in six months.

Some Russians

 When sorting the Parade it was obvious a few 42mm figures needed some remedial work and bases completed. So I thought I would take some time out to do the necessary work.

So for some reason I finished up painting a bunch of Russians from scratch...

So this lot are Irregular Miniatures figures painted as Guards in summer dress. The flag is my version of a Napoleonic Litov Guards Regiment flag - it serves it's purpose!

They join this lot I got off ebay a few years ago. At current current prices, this lot alone were worth the cost!

Also from that ebay order, I've completed/touched up these guns - they do have 6 crew but 3 seem to have gone awol for a while! The guns were simply given a quick spray and detailing - not all of the earlier paintwork is covered but to me it just makes the overall effect look better!

Meanwhile, I've started another company/battalion/regiment of Guards - this one won't include a standard, don't think I really every group of 8 to have a standard!

25mm Napoleonic Horse Guards

When the Queen died I was actually at Centre Parcs on a week's holiday. Getting home, I decided to see what I could put together as a reasonable parade or two for the funeral. A squadron of Guard cavalry in dress uniform seemed like a good idea - except, didn't have any figures. So I settled for a squadron of Napoleonic Horse Guards.

Just didn't realise how long they would take, especially considering the other units I needed to do. So they didn't get finished in time.

A pity really. The poses really lend themselves to parades!

Didn't realise until it was too late that I was painting an extra officer figure... but it still looks OK.

I'm the first to accept some of the colours are liable to be wrong, especially on the horse furniture, but overall the figures have turned out OK. Unless I do more figures as 'They'll do' stand ins for late Colonial cavalry this will probably be the only 25mm Garrison Napoleonic cavalry unit I do!

Panzer II

 Apart from my backlog I've also had another set of photos from Steven's growing German army:

'Here are some photos of my German tank platoon – five Zvezda Panzer IIs. These are in my “1942”
camouflage pattern with a Dunkelgrau base and sand-coloured stripes. I have tried to use colour
modulation and generally increased the contrast compared to my Soviet tanks. It is less realistic but
hopefully better aesthetically. Hand-painting the number markings was a disaster, so I have at long
last started to dabble in the use of decals.'

A bit of a Boer

As seen a couple of posts ago, this is the current state of affairs with my pulp/singly based Boer War British force.

The infantry have been 'organised' in two ways. This is a 24 figure 'battalion'.

And here I've replaced some riflemen with 2 extra officers and drummers to make 3 8 figure sections or companies.

I've painted 2 2 gun batteries. Originally I only wanted 1 battery, but as the Boer War range doesn't have specific guns I've been forced to use ACW guns! So I used a Parrot as the 'breech loader' and what I assume to be the 3" rifled ML gun. Not sure if the grey carriage and black barrels are authentic but they look good.

There are currently 2 cavalry squadrons painted. This lot are the standard type...

... And the second squadron is an understrength lancer squadron. These were painted a few years ago, more as a test than anything else, and are due to be replaced by a new 6 figure squadron once that is painted.

Still to do, the replacement lancers and a Highland battalion. With that, this 'pulp' army will be complete I'm not yet sure whether I'll do an element based army in this scale or leave the element based figures to Rose 20mm.

Comic relief? Chinese hopping vampire

After my last couple of posts, thought it might be nice to just put in something just a bit silly.

Want about 20 or so 25/28mm Chinese hoping vampires. As far as I know, the only one available is a 28mm figure that is part of a set of 4. At £10 a set, that would cost £200 for 20! Further, the vampire itself is a Mandarin type figure whereas I really want mainly peasant types.

So having a play. First attempt is actually 20mm - 20mm Rose ACW artilleryman with a green stuff floppy hat, tunic bottom and belt!

Later I'll start looking to see what 25/28mm figures I've got I can convert!

Rest in Peace Your Majesty.

 I was born between the death of King George VIth and the Queen's Coronation. So my life has covered virtually her entire reign. So I thought, just as the 'live' armies can Parade in her honour, why shouldn't their metal counterparts? OK, my armies are from the time of an earlier Queen. They were both great Queens...

Not all of the 42mm Home Army made it to the Parade, but a Guards Brigade, Scots Brigade, Line Brigade, a Brigade of Guard Heavy Cavalry, Brigade of Line Cavalry and 4.7" Gun Battery make for a decent turnout.

The 25mm Colonial force was in the process of being painted when her Majesty died. As such, it's a very much reduced force - a couple of battalions, couple of squadrons and 4 guns. I would have preferred to have been able to field more.

Queen Elizabeth II, 1926-2022

 

God save the King

Boxer Army Review

One of my smaller Reviews, but the Boxer Pulp army is 'officially' finished for now so it seems the appropriate time for one!

As an 'army', 42 figures and 2 cannon seems little to me, so I wouldn't be surprised if I did bump the numbers up later!

So next job is to get on with that Boer War army.

 

Actually, technically I do have a bit more to do with this army - I've cast 3 Sung carts that can be used as supply wagons for these and (which I suspect is now on my to do list!) any future Sung army.

Yet more Boxers

Another unit of mixed pole arms and firearms. I seem to paint most of my Chinese units red.

It gives me two Boxer units on individual bases - should be enough for Pulp games.

Chinese 'Imperial Guard'

 At least, that's what they are for my purposes...

Garrison 25mm Sung officer and standard bearer, SKT Boxers for other ranks. Sung don't really match, mainly because they have 'normal' sized heads!

No real reason for calling these Imperial Guard except I felt I needed some. Or, possibly just regular Imperial troops.

It has to be admitted that the Sung are far more refined figures than the SKT!

I haven't given any of the Boxer figures their gloss finish yet - they're on single bases and generally take a better photo without the gloss - but I'm guessing that a gloss coat will enhance these two.

Generic generals

 Already had a couple of generic generals in blue coats, thought I'd finish the ones in red!

I don't usually paint eyes on these, but the facial definition was so poor I felt I had to do something!

I'll use these as generic generals for all the Garrison 20mm Napoleonics and Colonials  and later 25mm Colonials. For Rose 20mm figures I'll use Wellington!

I should probably go through the Garrison 25mm listings to see if there is a 25mm senior officer figure I can use, just not yet.

'Not' Sung artillery

The idea was to see how the Garrison Sung would fit into the Boxer force, both in terms of historical look and size.

Not having any Boxer or Imperial artillery, thought I'd see what I could put together. Sung artillery crew, 7YW artillery gun and carriage, ACW cannon wheels. Overall look is actually quite convincing!

 

The Sung figures are 25mm... Rose 20mm, Boxers 28mm... so Sung in the middle as far as size goes. Looking at them, Think the Sung could be used at a push with both... Plus, even being several hundred years too early, I don't think the Sung look too much out of place.

A bit more detailing? Don't think it was worth it!

Tried one with a bit of extra detailing and shading. Helmet and rifle look a bit better.

 

Again, pouch perhaps looks better, piping and backpack detailing doesn't really make it a lot better for wargaming purposes.

 Perhaps the end result is a bit better than the ones I'm doing as 'production' pieces, but overall not worth the extra time - think I'll stick to my current 'wargames standard'.