Painting 12mm/1:144 Victrix German Infantry

Remember Pearl Harbor!

1. Prime with Tamiya XF-65 Field Grey thinned 40-50% Mr. Thinner self-levelling lacquer thinner.
2. Base coat VMC 886 Green Grey.  Highlight as necessary mixed with flesh tone.
3. Weapon wood: VPA 311 New Wood, highlight VPA 303 Yellowish Rust.
4. Weapon metal: VMC 866 Green Grey, highlight VMC 991 Dark Sea Grey.
5. Sling: VMC 981 Orange Brown.
6. Water bottle:  VPA 303 Yellowish Rust.
7. Bread bag: VMC 819 Iraqui Sand.
8. Black leather: Pro Acryl Dark Warm Grey, highlight mixed with flesh tone.
9. Low boots: VPA 312 Leather Belt, highlight mixed with flesh tone.
10. Zeltbahn: Base VMC German Camo Beige; brown VPA 312 Leather Belt, green VMC 833 German Camo Bright Green.
11. Helmet/messkit/gasmask cannister: Leave XF-65 or Pro Acryl Dark Camo Green (colors are identical), highlight mixed with flesh tone.
12. MP40 mag pouch: VMC 914 Green Ochre, highlight VMC 819 Iraqui Sand.
13. E-tool: blade as weapon metal, handle VMC 845 Sunny Skintone.
14. Wash with full strength Agrax Earthshade.  As always with washes, I was hesitant as I've had too many paint jobs ruined by washes.  Really pleasant surprise.  Ina addition to shading, the Agrax imparted a shade to the feldgrau that matches very well to the ugly brownish late-war feldgrau.

15mm ETO Sherman Notes

1. Modulate w Mr. Color Olive drab set
2. Highlight with Mig Ammo Olive Drab Shine
3. Modulate with Abt.502 Buff
4. Paint metal parts of track with Mig/VMC Track Primer 
5. Rubber pads/road wheels VPA Dark Rubber
6. MGs VMC Dark Seagreen, highlight VMC Basalt Grey 
7. Drybrush:
• Track rubber Pro Acryl Light Warm Grey
• Track metal VMC Oily Steel
8. Stowage
• Tarps: VPA Canvas, Agrax, Highlight VPA Canvas:VPA Light Mud OR VMC Green Grey 886
• Straps: VPA Leather Belt, highlight Foundry Deep Brown Leather Light
• Crates: VPA Old Wood, highlight VPA Iraqi Sand
• Metal: VMC Brown Violet
• Tools: VPA Old Wood/highlight VPA Light Mud, VMC Basalt Grey
• Camo Netting: VMC Green Grey 886
9. Gloss varnish
10. Decals
11. Flat varnish
12. Filter with Abt.502 Bitume.
13. Gloss varnish
14. Pin wash with AK Dark Brown for Green.

US Marine 1944

Uniform: Base SW-56:SW-26; Shadow: Glaze SW-20; Highlight SW-56:SW-26:SW-29.

782 Gear: SW-29:SW-28, touch of SW-26.

Helmet cover: Base SW-29, needs more contrast to the dots. v2: VMC Stone Grey, Chocolate Brown, USA Tan Earth

Seraphim Sepia thinned 1:1 or Army Painter Soft Tone (less yellow)

Airbrushing VMC

First ever success airbrushing Vallejo Model Color. VMC 830 mixed 1:1 with Vallejo Airbrush Thinner 71.061. Sprayed through Paasche H with H3 tip at 30psi. 

• VMC 988 Khaki, thinned 50:40:10 paint:Vallejo AirBrush Thinner: Vallejo Airbrush Flow Improver. 17psi, 0.5 Badger Patriot.

15mm German Notes

Engineer munitions: VMC Extra Dark Green lightened with VMC Golden Olive. Highlight Golden Olive.

MG34/42 Stocks: VMC 846 Mahogany Sand

Weapon metal: VMC Basalt Grey, highlight VMC London Grey. 

German Camo Patterns

 

15mm US Army Infantry, ETO, 1942-44

•  Helmet, E-tool Handle: VMC Brown Violet, highlight VPA Canvas. Helmet stripe for officers/NCOs VMC 986 Deck Tan.
• M1941 Field Jacket/Leggings: Spray Vallejo US Khaki; wash full strength Agrax, first highlight Scale75 SW50+SW31 1:1; second highlight SW31.  Quicker: one highlight of VMC 988 Khaki.
• Trousers: Scale75 SW51; wash full strength Agrax; first highlight SW51; second highlight SW51+SW31 1:1. Quicker: no highlight after wash.
• Web gear (Khaki): SW29 after wash; first highlight Scale75 SW29+SW36 1:1; second highlight SW36. Quicker: one highlight of VMC 884 Stone Grey.
• Helmet strap, rifle sling: VMC Red Leather.
• Boots: VPA Leather Belt.
• Rifle metal: VMC Green Grey; highlight VMC Dark Seagreen;
• Rifle wood: VMC Orange Brown.
• Web Gear OD: UMC US Dark Green 893, highlight lightened with 988 Khaki.

I don't think the leggings should be the color of the jacket; instead they should match the web gear.

Airbrushing AK Real Color

 Thinned 50:50 with Mr Color Leveling Thinner (laquer) @ 12psi through the 105. Perfect. 

Craft Paint Match for Lifecolour Deposited Dust

 Craft Smart Golden Brown:Craft Smart Suede:Americana Mississippi Mud approx 4:2:1 with a touch of Americana Heritage Brick.

Hobby Goals for 2023

 This will probably wind up derailed, but as of early January mid-February:

1. Finish the Victrix French for Sharp Practice.
2. Finish the First Afghan War British infantry.
3. O Group US Paratrooper battalion and British Market-Garden armor.
4. O Group late war British battalion.
5. O Group late war German battalion.
6. O Group German battalion for Stalingrad. 
7. Finish O Group Soviet battalion for Stalingrad.
8. O Group Romanian battalion. 
9. O Group Hungarian battalion. 
10. Stalingrad terrain.
11. Build a game table.

Sharp Practice French

 Core (infantry) force:

1. Line Infantry, three groups of 8 (24 Figures);
2. Line Grenadiers, one group of 8;
3. Line Voltigeurs Skirmishers, two groups of 6 (12 Figures).

Total: 44 figures + Big Men

Support:

1. Dragoons, one group of 8 mounted;
2. Dragoons, one group of 8 dismounted;
3. 6pdr Artillery w/crew;
4. Hussars, one group of 8.

Colors:

• Voltigeur Collars: VMC976 Buff
• Cold white uniform (dirty):
1. Aly's over white primer;
2. Drybrush VMC-919 Cold White;
3. 1st Highlight: VMC-919 with a tiny bit of ProAcryl Dark Blue, mixed 1:1 with ProAcryl Glaze Medium;
4. 2nd Highlight: VMC-919.
• Cold white uniform (clean): Apothecary White or Payne's Grey wash or VMW Blue Grey (thinned) over white primer.  VMC Silvergrey, Flat Aluminum, Offwhite.
• Shakos, uncovered; ProAcryl Dark Neutral Gray
• Shako covers; gaiters; greatcoat: ProAcryl Warm Gray 
• Crossbelts (warm white): VMA Aged White or VGC Bone White or VMC Beige, PA Ivory, PA Bright Ivory
• Red Uniform Piping: PA Burnt Red, PA Bold Pyrrole Red
• Warm White: PA Bright Warm Grey, AP Soft Tone, glaze PA Bright Warm Grey, highlight up with PA Ivory glazes
• Black Leather: PA Dark Warm Grey, shade, VMW Dark Grey, highlight up with PA Ivory

44th Foot First Afghan War Painting Notes

 Greatcoats: 

1. VMC London Grey
2. Vallejo Model Wash Dark Grey
3. Overbrush VMC London Grey
4. Drybrush VMC Blue Grey Pale
5. Glaze 1:7 FW Paynes Grey:VMC Glazing Medium
6. Highlight VMC London Grey

Haversack: VMC Buff wash Agrax

Black Leather: VMC Black Grey
Black Fabric: Andrea Black Base

Crossbelts: VMC Deck Tan

Poshteens: Foundry Rawhide Triad

Musket Stocks : Foundry Musket Stock Triad

Warlord Epic Scale Napoleonics Painting Notes

 Common:

• Shakos, boots, Rifles belts: Contrast Black Templar
• Locks, barrels: Metal Color Gunmetal; highlight Metal Color Steel.  Highlight lock with Metal Color Silver
• Bayonet: Metal Color Steel, highlight Metal Color Silver
• Stock: Contrast Gore-Grunta. highlight VGC Parasite Brown
• Straps/piping: VMC Ivory or VMC Offwhite
• Brass hardware: Retributor Armor, highlight Metal Color Gold
• Flesh: Contrast Guilliman Flesh or Fyreslayer Flesh, highlight VMC Tan Yellow

British Line/Light:

• Blouse: Contrast Blood Angels Red (Flesh Tearers Red for officer), highlight VMC Vermillion
• Trousers, greatcoat: Contrast Basilicanum Grey or VMC London Grey and highlight
• Sash: Foundry Winestain Red Triad
• Pack, cartridge box: Contrast Black Templar
• Haversack: VMC Buff or VMC Deck Tan
• Water bottle: VMC Blue Grey Pale

British Rifles:

• Uniform: Foundry British Bottle Green triad

French:

• 4eme Co Pom-pom (Violet): VGC Warlord Purple, highlight Foundry Winestain Red Light
• Greatcoat (worn): Speedpaint Palllid Bone, highlight VMC Dark Sand
• Trousers: Highlight VMC Offwhite over zenital

British Facing Colors:

• Blue: VMC Medium Blue, highlight VMC Andrea Blue

To be continued:

Civitas Imperialis Test

 Scheme #1:

Base VMC Khaki

Heavy drybrush VMC Buff

Agrax Earthshade

Light drybrush VMC Ivory

Roof VMC Basalt Grey

 Scheme #2:

Prime Stynlrez Red-Brown

Base VMA Concrete

Heavy drybrush VMC Stone Grey

Agrax Earthshade

Light drybrush VMC Deck Tan

Roof VMC Basalt Grey

Epic Elysian Drop Troops

 No list as of yet. Still trying to sort out the rule sets.  Vanguard Airborne, absolutely beautiful miniatures.  I am painting them to look like WWII US Airborne, which I think are very much the inspiration for Elysian Drop Troops anyway.

Prime Stynlrez White

Uniform: Aggaros Dunes

Armor: Creed Camo

Flesh: Guilliman Flesh

Weapons: Basilicanum Grey

Boots: 1:1 Snakebite Leather:Gore-Grunta Fur

I think I'll tackle my 15mm Airborne very similarly.

Minature Wargaming in Greyhawk Campaign

 In the mid-80s, the Golden Age of TSR, I was fascinated by the World of Greyhawk. I participated in any sort of RPG since the late 90s, but I've never lost that fascination.

My current project is putting together tabletop forces for mass battles in the Flanesses. My problems tends to be that I tend to require verisimilitude to be interested.  I'm not a fan of "superhero" fantasy.  Furthermore, unless the battle tactics at least align somewhat with medieval or dark age warfare I would lose interest.

I've been mulling over questions of verisimilitude, which I will endeavor to answer in subsequent posts:

• How does linear warfare exist in a setting with battlefield magic that is at least as effective as 20th-century artillery? 
• How would the continued existence of "evil" races be tolerated in a setting militarily dominated by humans/demihumans? If the evil races present such a danger to humanity how have they not been extirpated or at least reduced to numbers small enough to not present a threat?  There has been at least one attempt, the "Hateful Wars."
• How can Late Medieval/Early Renaissance cultures simultaneously exist and interact with Dark Age cultures? The Frost Barbarians (Vikings) exist in the same continent as Elizabethan Nyrond.  One may assume that while the Frost Barbarians are not as advanced as the leading kingdoms of the Flanesses, they have normal human intelligence and would attempt to obtain new technologies.  I'll have to research this. I have the sense it this situation isn't uncommon in history.
• Gunpowder.  I don't know if I want to include it or not.  The French used gunpowder artillery to great advantage at Castilon, but I haven't found a great many further examples of gunpowder being decisive in the time period I want to emulate but my research isn't extensive.

More to follow.  The answers to some of my questions will be dictated by the miniatures I have available to me.  I have most of my areas of interest covered in 15mm.  

Vallejo Surface Primer Revisited

 Attempt to match Greyseer: 13:1:1 White:Black:Vallejo Airbrush Flow Improver.  Short bursts. No tip dry on one 15mm cavalry. 26psi through Badger 200G with needle backed out ~1/8".

SUCCESS! After freaking years.  Short bursts are key.

Accidental Red Roan

 1. Undercoat Foundry Chestnut Base

2. Midtone VMA Tan Earth airbrush.

3. Heavy wash Coat d'Arms Chestnut ink on mane and tail. Very light overall wash to bring back red color.

4. Drybrush VMC Ivory.  Might try a stipple effect but that's iffy in 15mm. 

15mm Orc Project

Starting 15mm Orc project. It wasn't really in the queue. I was goint to continue with the 15mm Barons' Wars, but after i compete the last 3 or 4 mounted figures i am going to need someth in ng for them to fight. Going to tary some speed painting techniques. 

My Center

 Nobody reads this, so I will write my thoughts down here.  On Mother's Day 2021, my grandmother Estelle Elizabeth Roberts (nee Kincaid), passed from this earth aged 98.  May she rejoin my grandfather, and her (8 or 9) brothers and sisters, and all her loved ones in Heaven.  

I was given a wondrous gift yesterday.  My wife had left for town so I came in from my office to keep watch over Grandma and Willene.  I made Willene breakfast and then went to sit with Grandma.  I knew that morning that it would be her last day.  Her breathing had become shallow and rapid.  I sat down and read her the 23rd and 27th Psalms, and sang "When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder" to her.  In recent years she hold told me frequently that her mother sang that hymn beautifully.  After I had finished, I got up to get some water (actually coffee; she loved it so I wanted to give her a last taste of it) to moisten her lips and tongue.  I got back to her side not 30 seconds later and she was gone, 11:55am 09 May 2021.

I want to record some memories before they fade.

"The bedbugs and the roaches were having a game of ball..."

"Adam and Eve and Pinchme went down to the river to swim.  Adam and Eve drowned, who was left?"

"A great monstrous bird..."

"Wretch!"

More as it comes to me.