Picking up those brushes again.

Hi and welcome to the occasional mutterings of Dave Doc, a military modeller and some time gamer. Gaming and model making has given me a real education, History & Geography(obvious really), Artistry, Politics, Economics, Logistics, Project Management -you try building miniature armies without the last 3.

I will use the blog to record my creations & the odd occasion I actually do some gaming.

I have always been inspired by the aesthetic side of gaming. Playing on well constructed terrain using excellently painted units is always a joy.

Tuesday 26 January 2021

Normandy 44 - Yes more buildings

 Post Xmas I picked a bundle of 15mm pre-painted Battlefront buildings in a sale . They turned up last week and I have been doing a bit of work on those. It gave me a chance to use the AK weathering pencils I got fur Xmas - I like em!

They scale well against the Tiger Terrain pieces ., and help to bulk out the town well. 


Large hotel/ restaurant building 


Brick factory 




Ruined buildings 



Large house .
   

Weathering pencil set 





I think that is enough terrain work for this winter. Time to revisit another project I think.


Monday 18 January 2021

Normandy 44 - more buildings

 I have completed the last of the Tiger Terrain buildings I have in the ”to do” list , so another 12 added the collection. 



 

I hope to pick up another tranche of these if Stephan puts them back into production for the summer. I have also just dropped a decent sized order for some Battiefront stuff to further fill out the townscape.

 

In other news I have picked up a couple of “winter” style mats . 1 is 8x4 as shown above to drop on my permanent table as required , plus another 12x6 for the larger club games . They are Tundra version from Deepcut Studios. The first effects of Brexit were seen in this order with separate VAT demand and import handling fee - that of course means less pennies to be spent where international orders are concerned . Hopefully I may get to a few of the European shows when they reopen and buy direct. 






Tuesday 12 January 2021

Normandy 44 - Town houses

 As part of the summer order from Tiger Terrain I also picked up more town houses , shops, and damaged buildings . I have completed the first 6 .






 

And added to the rest of the Tiger Terrain items 



 


I have a bunch of 4Grouhd painted stuff ,that will also supplement these until I can get some more - hopefully later this year . I also need to get a railway station and some sort of factory , garage etc, and do a cemetery for the town. Always more to do .






Saturday 9 January 2021

Normandy 44 - Walled farm

 I have finished a walled farm this week to add to the Normandy terrain items . I picked up some more Tiger Terrain items last year and am starting to work my way through them . I used the farm house and a couple of outbuildings and scratch built the high walls from balsa. They were sealed and coated with tile grout. It’s based on an 2mm A4 MDF sheet which was sealed on both sides first.

I already had the bombed out version of the buildings so I did not affix these the base so they could be swapped out with the intact items for some variety as well.





 

And here is bombed out version 



 

As ever they are really well cast pieces and are a joy to paint. Next up more town houses. 




Sunday 3 January 2021

Cruel Seas - Fairmile D’s and Xmas Stash

 It’s about time to get beck to the brushes after a much needed, if somewhat different  festive break. I have had a few things lurking on the paint desk so I have been clearing these off . 


I picked up these two Fairmile D’s early last year and had them built and part painted , but I just wasn’t happy with deck colour I had gone with so they were parked. I resprayed them and started again . I am happy with the look now . They are certainly a step up from the Vospers which are pretty much kindling with a fast engine in game terms.



I added some crew figures , and some aerials , mast rigging stays etc to bring them to life some more



Overall pleased with these

I have also finished up Jason’s Napoleonic Brits in good old Shineyness

Xmas Stash brought a few interesting bits 

 
A full set of weathering pencils 

                                                          A helping hands set of holders 
 

                                                           A serious amount of static grass ! 
 

Anyway it’s back to it ! 

Friday 1 January 2021

Happy New Year!

 Well that’s the end of 2020... I wish you all a far better 2021! 



I am ready to wield the brushes after the festive break . I have a few projects to get moving on this year , and as we are back in lockdown with zero social interaction for the foreseeable weeks/months it might as well be productive.

So coming up in no particular order :-

 Blue  Moon 15mm Napoleonics - Bavarians and Duchy of Warsaw .

A couple of Fairmile MGBs 

Some Egyptian cavalry for the Sudan collection , plus some more Beja .

Late war US Winter items - the winter mats are on order from Deepcut.

More 15mm terrain items to add to the collection this year - I took a delivery of more Tiger Terrain Normandy style building.

Old friend Scotty has the making bug at the moment and he’s just made me this water mill to add to my collection - thanks .