Jumping In Part 2 - Not so Easy

Part 1 Here

I have painted up my first 10 men for my 101st Airborne D-Day Paratroopers.  As previously mentioned I have no intention of an Easy Company theme because every 101st Airborne Army is Easy Company (well not all... but most)... however that is not to say that they may recreate some of their famous actions.  They will be generic 101st Airborne Paratroopers.  Offensive miniatures model some of the infantry with the BAR which was not equipped when parachuting in due to the size of the weapon however Glider Companies carried them and it is well known that Paratroopers looted many a weapon.

I keep playing around with some post editing using the program Gimp.  Gimp is free and easy to use and there are a large amount of video tutorials etc online.  A simple google search will direct you to Gimp.

28mm US Airborne Paratroopers - Offensive Miniatures

Decals by Warlord Games

What's that rustling over there?  Meh... probably just the wind

Fresh off the painting queue.  Offensive miniatures 28mm Metal US Airborne

There you go... an Easy Company Reference for you

Early War German Panzers

My latest offerings are some units that I wish to use in my Blitzkrieg German Forces for both Battlegroup and Bolt Action.

These Panzers will be used for the Battlegroup Scenario "Orlik's Cockroach" (page 47 Battlegroup Blitzkrieg - Iron Fist Publishing 2015).  I also intend on writing a solo scenario for Bolt Action in the way I interpret how the action went down.  This is a work in progress.

On September 18, 1939, in the Kampinoska Forest a Panzer IV Ausf B accompanied by 2 x Panzer 35Ts were ambushed by Edmund Roman Orlik in his 20mm TKS Tankette with two MMG armed TKS Tankettes.  The Panzer IV was commanded by Lieutenant Victor IV, the Duke of Ratibor.  All three Panzers were destroyed however  I will give more background to this engagement when I write the Solo Scenario regarding this in the near future.  It is a fascinating engagement.  

The Panzers were from Panzer Regiment 11, 1st Leichte Division.

The models depicted are from Warlord Games.  The Panzer IV is actually a Panzer IV Ausf D, however I can be forgiven for this.   The crew are from Warlord Games and are the early variant.

The Panzers were painted with an Airbrush using AK Interactive paints and weathering products.  The crew, stowage and details were done with Vallejo Paints.

A Platoon from Panzer Regiment 11, 1st Leichte-Division, Poland 1939

Warlord Games Panzer 35ts

Warlord Games Panzer IV Ausf D

28mm Panzer Crew from Warlord Games

The second Panzer 35T I painted up recently. I painted the IV and 35T together.

Wartime Miniatures 20mm Panzer Lehr

This article is not a review, just a little write up about my latest painting exploits.  I had been sitting on these guys a while and after finishing them I really wish I hadn't.  Wartime Miniatures an Australian based company has produced some lovely 20mm Panzer Lehr.  For $16.50 Aussie you get 11 figures which is great value.  As an Aussie, this is awesome and something I am happy to support.  I have only painted 10 up so far and am yet to do the Halftrack Gunner.  If you know me and have been following the blog, you know I have a very strong admiration of the Panzer Lehr.  They were one of Germany's best and their story is both triumphant and tragic.

This is the second lot of figures I have painted in 20mm and the first Wartime Miniatures I have painted.  I was most impressed.  I currently have the Adler range on my bench and have some of the new Elhiem figures enroute.  I will post some comparison pics at a later date.

These miniatures are for my 20mm Normandy themed battles.  I will predominantly play Ironfist Publishing's Battlegroup ruleset with them however Bolt Action may get a looking into as I will have opposing forces for my mates.

Wartime Miniatures 20mm Panzer Lehr

Three of my favorites. Throwing a grenade, MG42 and Panzerfaust

A nice variety of poses

I dabbed the helmets with a sponge

A great sculpt this on

Probably my favorite.  But is it a left handed Panzerfaust?

The following Panzer Lehr images are sourced from the internet and WW2 Colourised Photos on Facebook.

Ebay Trees for Wargaming - A tutorial to make them look great

In this tutorial I demonstrate how a cheap eBay Purchase can end up looking great on the Wargaming Table with only a little bit of effort.  These trees can be used for a variety of scales.  These trees are sold from China and at first look a little flimsy and rubbish however with the following steps you can make them look great!  Credit to my mate Luke who got me onto these eBay trees!

I source my trees from ebay from a seller called 9amfree.  You don't need to buy from this seller however I have found I can get a bag of trees for extremely cheap.  Generally its well under $1 Australian Dollar per tree with free post!  If you are paying any more you aren't searching hard enough. I generally search for the size of the tree I am after eg - Wargame Tree 10cm

The bases I mount them on are from back2basix.  Again I get these off eBay with free post and current cost as of writing this article is 50 bases for $13.95! Bargain!  This is for 60mm bases.

The trees have a tendency to shed initially and will occasionally shed once I have finished with them but I have done my best to make them nice and robust and should last years with correct care.

You can trim the trees to preferred height but in this tutorial I use some tall 15cm trees.

Step 1 - Use a cheap strong Hairspray to seal the tree - Spray lots! This provides durability to the foliage on the tree and will reduce shedding.  I use this brand, cheap and strong.  Once dry remove mold lines with a knife.

Step 2  - I drill a hole in base - I use liquid nails to glue it in.  The liquid nails provides stability and strength.  It soaks just a little bit into the MDF however does not warp.

Step 3  - I use a cheap "Artists Acrylic" to paint the base brown

Step 4  - I use Tamiya texture paint for some dirt. Completely optional and you can substitute this for sand or any of your preferred earthy textures.  Or just skip this stage!

Step 5 - I use a light and dark flock to texture the base

Step 6 - I spray the tree with adhesive spray.  I then sprinkle on a mixture of the shedded material the trees come in, some course and fine flock.  Once dry I drench it in hairspray to seal. 

Step 7 - I add some ground scatter, clump foliage and some rocks.   I finally go over it with some Matte Varnish.  I use AK Ultimate Matte Varnish through the airbrush.

Some examples of other trees I have made.  Pretty.

Hobby Challenge! Clear the bench!

Finishing one challenge, its time to knock over another challenge to get things done.

Clear the bench!

The rules:

• Can't paint anything else until this lot on my bench is painted/completed
• No time limit - just do it!
• Working on terrain is an exemption as I am halfway through a tutorial for trees
• Twitter updates will have hashtag #clearthebench

What's on the bench?

In various 

• 5 x Zombicide Figures
• 1 x 1/56 Panzer IV D
• 1 x 1/56 Panzer 35T
• 3 x 1/56 Polish TKS
• 8 x 28mm Blitzkrieg Germans
• 5 x 28mm US Airborne
• 5 x 28mm Polish Infantry
• 1 x 28mm Winter German
• 10 x 20mm Wartime Panzer Lehr
• 6 x 10mm Adler Panzer Lehr

The bench with so many unfinished projects!

Adler 20mm Panzer Lehr. Brilliant sclupts

The incredible Bulk

Lets do this!!!

100 Days of Hobby Debrief and Thoughts on Hobby Challenges

So its over! I did it... I didn't think I would but I did.  The best thing is I did not miss a single Day!  I did not complete all my goals but am stoked with what I achieved and I have definitely put a dent in my "to do".

See twitter for all my daily progress 

This is what was painted and completed

Stats

Miniatures Painted 74 (Not including Vehicle crews)
7 x 20mm WW2 Brits
12 x 15mm Fantasy Skeletons
1 x 15mm Fantasy Hero
15 x 28mm DAK Infantry
5 x 28mm Blitzkrieg Germans
5 x 28mm US Airborne Paratroopers
2 x Zombicide Survivors
4 x Zombicide Fatties
8 x Zombicide Runners
15 x Zombicide Zombies

Vehicles Painted 9
3 x 1/72 Sherman Fireflys
2 x 1/56 DAK Trucks
3 x 1/56 DAK Panzer IIs
1 x 1/56 Polish 7TP

Terrain
Walking Dead Campsite
20mm WW2 Garage
28mm WW2 Polish Village Dwelling
15mm Fantasy Dungeon Tiles

Started Projects But Not Complete - Assembled and have paint on them at least!

Miniatures
4 x Zombicide Survivors - 1 completed after the challenge
1 x Zombicide Abomination - completed after the challenge
5 x 28mm Polish Infantry
8 x 28mm German Blitzkrieg Infantry
5 x 28mm US Airborne Paratroopers
10 x 20mm Panzer Lehr Infantry
1 x 28mm Winter German

Vehicles
2 x 1/56 German Halftrack
1 x 1/56 Panzer 35T
1 x 1/56 Panzer IVD
3 x 1/56 Polish TKS

Terrain
Alot!!!!
Countless 15mm 3d Printed Dungeon Tiles and accessories
4 x 20mm 3D printed Normandy Buildings
7 x 1/56 3D printed trench sections
12 x Trees
3 x 1/56 3D printed wall sections
4 x Bocage Pieces for 20mm and 28mm
1 x Faded Skyline backdrop

Games Played

4 x Bolt Action
5 x Bolt Action Solo
3 x Walking Dead All out War Solo
1 x Sword and Sorcery Solo
1 x Kings of War
1 x Age of Sigmar

Other

Development of my Bolt Action Solo Play and my first scenario

Countless reorganisation of hobby room

Not too many things ordered

A little excess sold off

20 Blog Posts!

100 + Twitter Posts

And lots of other stuff!

Put a good dent in the DAK

28mm WW2 Goodness

First foray into 20mm

...and first foray into 15mm!

A horde of Zombicide and two survivors

Reflection

Looking at the above, I am rather impressed at what I achieved.  To be honest I did not think I could of achieved this much and to not miss a day.

I work a 48 hour week, have a family, I pay a mortgage and have countless things to do in my day.  The key is just do a bit at a time.  Some days I only did about 10 minutes, some days I did a good 3 hour session.  It all adds up.  

The hardest part of the hobby in my opinion is getting started and settled into a hobby session.  What do I mean by this?  Lets put it into context and without full disclosure I used to be part of a small niche group in the military that had a very specialist role. It was physically enduring and mentally challenging but you would be surprised at what I found to be the hardest part of my day... putting my shoes on.  This went back to the days where I trained.  The hardest part of doing PT was putting my shoes on, it was the last barrier between laziness and a workout.  The hardest part of course was putting my shoes on as the next part would mean up to 20 hours of training in a day!  The hardest part overseas was putting my shoes on as I knew another patrol awaited me... My point.  Put paint on your brush and get painting! Once you get over that barrier of putting paint on brush or opening the bottle of glue, or filing a mold line the rest will come and after 10 minutes or 3 hours you will have achieved something!  How many times have we thought... "oh just one more youtube video".  Just get started, push through that barrier of procrastination or putting it off and make it happen!

Hobby Challenges Are a Good Thing

No matter how big or small a challenge nothing is more rewarding than completing it.  Some people do a 30 day challenge, a weekly challenge or a daily challenge.  Find something that you can set out to achieve and challenge yourself.  My advice would be set a small achievable goal, that way you can't fail! If you fall short, don't see it as a bad thing, learn from it and move on, have another go.

The strange thing is I have not missed a day of hobby since completing this challenge.  I am at the prime of my hobby I believe and I have already painted a few more figures since completing this a few days ago!  I am motivated for more!

I already have my next Hobby Challenge in mind! Its not quite as intense as 100 Days of Hobby but its something that again will put a good dent in the stash and get some results! Its something I have just been putting off and procrastinating over.  I will reveal all in the next few days!  Oh and there is no time limit on this one, its all about getting it done!

Final Thoughts

So thanks for following this and showing support.  Its been a great 100 Days.  I would love to do this again sometime soon!  Now get some paint on your brush!