OK! Lots going on at Conscript Towers! Some random progress on random projects but I wanted to get a post up now that I'm back from a short vacation. First up is a couple of knights for my long-simmering Second Barons' War project. I wanted to show a bit of a comparo between a very inexpensive plastic knight and a quite-a-bit-more-expensive metal model.
At left is a knight from Conquest Games' very reasonable multi-part plastic knights box. List price for the box of 16 (!) knights is twenty quid, but my preferred US retailer (Little Big Wars in Fargo ND) had one box on the shelf for a remarkable $21.95. I like models a lot and the scale is good and the box comes with a lot of different heads and weapon arms, but none of the horses are caparisoned so they kind of give off a "mounted serjeant" vibe. But they are an awesome value and quite nice. The model is painted in the heraldry of Robert de Vere, Earl of Oxford, a Montfortian rebel.
The First Corps/Curteys metal models (example at right) are amazing, super nice models, among the best 28mm knights for the period, full stop. This one is painted as Gilbert de Clare, another rebel Earl.
Next up is another small rescue/rehab project. At left is a Bolt Action 8th Army Vickers .303 and crew, at right the rehab... the gunner and loader are old Battle Honors models, they were painted already and in the bits drawer.
I decided to build a third crewman and fortunately had an extra kneeling body from the Perry 8th Army box. So I did him up and put him on the base with the old BH guys.
Turned out pretty well I think, I did need to do some surgery on his left arm though. But it's a good extra MMG for the 8th Army.
Next up, some more newly painted Brit Paras. I'd painted these as the Company command section for the recent Arnhem game but my British players foiled my plans to get 'em on the table... they literally left the jeep out and deployed the dismounted models. Hmmm.
Anyway I'm not sure who made 'em but they're really nice. I do like the steering wheel molded into the hands of the driver, suits my diecast jeeps.
Lastly here's some old Bolt Action German Fallschirmjager with looted weapons. These have been in a Plano case for YEARS and it's well past time they were painted. The only obstacle was figuring out the colours I'd used for all the other Fallis on the shelf.
Anyway for the splinter smocks I basecoated with Vallejo Khaki, painted in brown splotches with a very dark brown (GW Rhinox Hide), then added green splotches and the characteristic stripes with GW Caliban Green.
There's a nice mix of weapons on these guys - Thompson, Sten...
SVT-40, PPsH 41, M1 carbine (who would want to loot one of those?!?)
I did the pants field-grey and the Luftwaffe uniform bits with The Fang or Thunder-something, I'm too lazy to go downstairs and look. But it'll be obvious when I look in my paint box.
Anyway that's the update. Be back soon with more!
Those old BA figures have such great poses.
ReplyDeleteGreat work on all of these guys Dallas - and awesome to see some old, old figs that have been sitting in a Plano get some paint at last.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great batch. There are some great models around at the moment for the Barons Wars era at the mo. I got some of the wargames Atlantic foot knights recently, lovely! If I had the time, the Battle of Chesterfield would be interesting - a night time urban battle, and I walk through the site every time I go into the office
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