And now for something completely different

As a bit of a change from squinting at tiny blobs of slightly uncomfortably soft plastic, here's something a bit larger and more metallic: a Copplestone Future Wars Security Guard, (now sold by EM4 miniatures).

This is the first of three models I picked up some years ago.  My original plan was to go for a pretty standard 'SWAT' type look of dark blues and blacks, but then I had a change of heart and decided to go for something a bit more garish and 'corporate security guard' like.  It was only part way through painting that I realised that I may have been inspired by a similar colour scheme I'd come across many moons before...

Oops!

This was partly an experiment in painting in a slightly different style, to try and kick start my painting mojo.  My usual painting style has pretty much evolved from a gaming background.  Mostly I paint to complete units quickly and simply, so usually a black undercoat to provide shade, washes and basic highlights.

This time I decided to build up the highlights a bit more carefully.  To brighten the colours, I started from a white undercoat, with a black wash to show up the detail and provide some base shading.  It creates quite an interesting effect in itself, and almost black and white film look!

Overall I'm pretty pleased with how he turned out, especially the shading on the grey fatigues.  Some more edge highlights on the jacket and skin might be good though.

I also have a handful of minis from Hasslefree undercoated and ready to go.  I've got to say, Kev White at HF is a sculpting god!  Here's one of his SF Troopers next to another Security Guard by Mark Copplestone.  Interesting to compare the two very different styles of sculpting, one almost ultra-realisticly proportioned, the other deliberately simplified and exaggerated.  I like them both, but Mark Copplestone's style is definitely less daunting to paint!  It's the difference between a mars bar and a swiss chocolate, both are perfect for the right occasion ;-)

Germans (and more mortars for Greg!)

Just a handful more Germans, using the Airfix Afrika Korps as late war infantry.  I tried a few basic head swaps (as suggested by Leif, thanks!), which add a nice bit of variety.

Also completed the MG34 gunner.  No loader/assistant gunner, but still a favourite figure from Airfix.

I'll finish the basing shortly.

And now, just for Greg (because he asked), here are some more shots of the Italeri US Airborne Mortar.

I'd love to see what whoever sculpted these would do with a full range of airborne.  There's lots of great detail on these, with the amount of kit they're carrying (carbines, pistols, packs, entrenching tools etc) and the gloves that seem to have been quite common.  In fact if you look carefully at the guy with the mortar round in the second to last photo, you can see that they've even sculpted on the gas testing patch worn on the upper right arm!  The needs of the mould occasionally let them down thought, particularly on the boots and the carbines, which are located where it's tricky to get much detail into them.

Back to work and catching up

Well...

Been a while since my last post.  I kind of lost my gaming and painting mojo over the summer.  Far too much going on.  M and I spent far too much of the summer getting acquainted with hospitals for one reason or another and a restructure at work meant my post and my manager's were 'deleted', leaving us both to reapply for one replacement job.  I got it, but now I seem to be doing my old job and his.  Between all this I just didn't seem to be able to muster up the enthusiasm.

But it's back now...

First a quick catch up to complete some half finished stuff. Namely some support for the US airborne in the form of a mortar and two .30cals.

The mortar is form the Italieri Anti-Tank teams set, and the .30 cals from Italeri/Esci and Revell respectively.  There is also a .30 cal in the AT set, which is a nice model, but the gunner is firing from a kneeling, rather than prone position as he should be.  Instead I've used the gunner as a second for the mortar (which only as one crewman), leaving me with a spare MG as a bonus!

As with the infantry, the Revell and Italeri MGs don't look bad together, but the Italeri is slighter (and the MG is more simplified) but with sharper detail than the Revell.  On the upside it does come with a suitable assistant gunner.  That said, there is a nice model in the Revell set kneeling with ammo boxes, so he'll make a nice pairing with the gunner.

I have to say though, the Revell gunner's feet certainly don't look comfortable...

Hopefully another post following later with some more Germans and something a bit different.

Just a few more

I'll stop posting photos of paratroopers soon, honest!  Thought it might be worth posting this batch to compare the Italeri and Revell models, and how they paint up.

The posing on these two is really natural and convincing.  The one on the right in particular is probably my favourite of the bunch, holding his grease gun up while giving orders.

BAR Gunner and rifleman (bayonet removed before painting)

Italeri rifleman on the left, Revell on the right.  You can clearly see here how the casting on the Italeri models is much sharper and takes the wash well.  However they're slimmer and 'lighter' than the Revell.  The model on the right really looks like he's leaning into the rifle, ready for the recoil, whereas the one on the left looks a little more unsteady (to be fair, maybe he's just fired).

Comparison of the two grenadiers.  Again the Revell (on the left this time), to me looks more 'steady'.  Does anyone throw things with one foot in the air?  It seems a lot of models do!

Couple of nice poses form the set, sorting out ammo and equipment.  Essential stuff for paratroopers, but not so often seen in model form.

In summary, I like both sets, for different reasons.  The poses in the Revell set are more convincing overall.  Weapons are held and used like they have some real weight and proportions looks good.  They're carrying a mix of equipment, including field dressings, and look slightly 'shabby', which matches old photos nicely.  The downside is that the detail is a bit soft, webbing sometimes vanishes into the background and faces are vague.  A few of the poses also feel a little flat as well, a result of fitting the the mould rather than natural sculpting.  There's a kneeling rifleman with carbine that I won't use as his pose looks so uncomfortable!

By contrast, the Italeri ones look a little forced.  They look a little thin and weapons aren't being held as if they have any real weight.  Equipment is also light, with no packs and only basic equipment (water bottle, entrenching tool and basic ammo pouches), whereas in most photos of paras they're absolutely loaded down with equipment.  That said the casting and detail is excellent and take washes well and the poses are 3D rather than flat.  They're also a harder plastic that doesn't flex easily and shed paint.

Side by side they look pretty good together, so the two sets should give me plenty of opportunities for variety and the odd head swap.  Weirdly, both include almost identical poses of a para stood at ease, showing off his mohawk.  In both sets I'll probably do a head swap on most of these for helmeted heads from the poses I won't be using (like the para in his chute).

Who let me go shopping?

While M was dragged to watch 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat' by The Mother In Law (I think it's fair to say she won't be going to see it again!), I had time to do a bit of hobby shopping.  As well as stocking up on some paints and glue, I added a couple more projects (I'll get around to them all sooner or later, won't I?).

First up was a box of Italeri US Paratroopers.  Nice, crisp models with plenty of detail, as you'd expect from Italeri/Esci.  However I do think there's something ever so slightly 'off' about these models, I think its the narrow shoulders, which makes the heads looks a little out of proportion.  Not enough to put me off though.  I have some Revell US paras winging their way from ebay at the moment for a bit of variety as well.

Here's some work in progress.  After much deliberation I've gone with the uniform that would have been used during the Normandy campaign (I may still do some more in the olive drab uniform for later war use), using Vallejo Green Brown for the base.  The webbing is greener than it should really be, but I was going for balance between accuracy and making it stand out, I'll try some other variations on later models.

The chap in the middle is from the Italeri Anti Tank Teams set, slightly taller and more broad shouldered than his fellows!  Bayonets have been removed from rifles and carbines where they existed, as by all accounts they weren't used often.

The inevitable group shot (with added bazooka).

Whilst in the shop I couldn't resist a couple of cheap little pre-painted Bedford Trucks (they'll need a bit of weathering, but that's it) and a couple more of the Airfix Resin buildings, the 'Italian Farmhouse' and 'Italian Townhouse'.  Like the other Airfix buildings I have they're a bit small (even for 1/76), but I'm not building a diorama here.  They're also described as being Italian buildings, but I don't think they'll look that out of place in the fields of Normandy with a suitable paintjob.

That'll keep me going for a bit!  So, what have you all been up to?

US Airborne Test

Just a quickie this morning.  Tried out two different paint schemes for US Airborne last night using the Italeri Anti Tank Teams Set.  One in the late war olive drab uniform, which was used in Normandy is more suitable for Arnhem etc, one in the early war.  Hoping I've got the early war colour near enough (a 50/50 mix of Green Ochre, US Field Drab and a touch of GW Gretchin Green)

Thoughts, comments and criticism (constructive!) always welcome.

Just a few more...

A handful more Paras completed in spare moments here and there.  Including obligatory 'officer waving pistol and trying to get shot by sniper' model (although at least this one is wearing a helmet!)