The Duchess and I are enjoying two golden days during which the twins are at day care and the Mini Duchess is still at school, while I'm on holidays and the Duchess has finished her studies for the year (she got another High Distinction in her Latin exam - brains AND beauty). We vaguely kicked around the idea of going somewhere today before deciding that all we wanted to do was slob around the house for a few hours.
The upshot for me was some good hobby progress. I have finished my box of Plastic Soldier Company Hanomags, and finished two squads of Panzergrenadiers to travel in them.
I'm pretty pleased with the Hanomags. Following Thomas' suggestion I tried to make these dustier looking than my Panzer IVs, adding a drybrush of Vallejo US Field Drab mixed with Buff. What do you reckon? Sugguestions gratefully received. Oh, and as mentioned in the Kursk Project Part 4, I know the Stummel is wrong, which is a shame as it looks quite mean, I think.
The PSC German infantry were quite nice to paint, but some of the detail is so fine that I only really figured out what I was painting as I went along. In particular, I realised that the bloke walking along holding on to his shoulder straps is actually a medic, as he is carrying a large medical kit with red cross on his back. However, by the time I realised this I had already given him a slung rifle. Some of the soldiers' kit looks a bit dodgy, with water bottles and entrenching tools generally on the non-regulation side and gas mask cylinders in all sorts of odd positions. The proportions and anatomy however are terrific.
A few more infantry and I'll have enough of a basic force to switch to the Soviets.
Great looking vehicles!
ReplyDeletePhil.
Hurrah for Duxette!
ReplyDeleteThey look great. Imagine what you could have done in 20mm... :-)
ReplyDeleteVery nice Hanomags!
ReplyDeleteThe tracks look great and who couldn't love the Stummel? I have one in my limited garage of late war 28mm vehicles.
ReplyDeleteI like the infantry - the bases work well and there is enough contrast there. This is where is comes down to individual preference I think. I have done ultra realistic camo and lost figs on the table before! Or you can have them stand out with brighter colours. They seem to be bright enough in that light though.
Love the basing too - Hobbyco still don't have new stock of those nice flowers and bushes!
Really love the hanomags, the weathering looks fine to me. Your variable bases are also a great idea. I have seen the armypainter dips (strong tone) thinnned down with turps and then brushed on work really well for 15mm. You must use a matt varnish over the top to dull it all back down but on fine details minis it can look a treat. I have also tried using a matt laquer with a spot of matt black (acrylic) done as a shade too. Did this in some US troops and though it scares you when you first put it on the final effect is good. Hope this helps. Good luck with the project. I am trying to do one in 28mm for Bolt Action for my club but now starting to think that your 15mm might work too.
ReplyDeleteThese look great, you have done well, but I don't like the pose on the PSC grenade thrower, the bases look great, I wouldn't worry about the Stummel being wrong, I also try and get as much right as I can, especially for display models, however, for wargaming models I think its close enough, and who's to say that this exact version was not knocked together in a field workshop somewhere, as to the colours on the inf, I think they are OK, its all good I say.
ReplyDeleteReally good. My eyes couldn't cope with 15mm. Vehicles magic, figures great and you can get away with a lot less detail in that scale if you wanted to.
ReplyDeleteThanks very much everyone for the feedback and suggestions. Reckon I'll keep doing what I'm doing.
ReplyDelete