Special forces part1

I've wrote before that I tried to build a Vietnam collection many many years, Platoon 20 figures were my choice back then. They captured my image of Vietnam so vividly! So imagine my horror just to find out I couldn't paint 20mm figures to save my life! Vietnam was shelved in my mind and fell off my radar for what I believed was eternity! 

Fast forward almost 4 decades, when I came across the start of a range of USMC in 28mm from Empress mimiatures. Now it took a while for me to finally bite the bullet, but after visiting Partizan at Newark acouple of years back I saw the figures in the flesh so to speak. That was it I was hooked, now move forwards and despite other projects grabbing some of my hobby time I can honestly say I'm blown away by the progress the range is making. So when the Special forces figures were released I couldn't help my self! I ordered myself a few choice bits from Empress Miniatures on Monday of last week and they arrived Friday dinnertime! I will be honest I've been super excited about the new additions, and luckily for me the wait was only four days, still too long but hey the wait is half the fun! So I keep getting told. 

     Seal team 1

      

Special forces have always appealed to me, the fact that these guys wore LEVI blue jeans, carried in some cases unorthodox weapons and took the fight to places the enemy didn't expect to find it. The chance of diverting off the uniform path is always welcome as far as I'm concerned. Tigerstripe camo, ERDL it all just adds to the attraction. 

 I really can't say how perfect the image of NAM is captured with these guys! Between Paul Hicks sculpting and Empress miniatures this is perfection in miniature in my humble opinion. I'm no expert and wouldn't class my self as an expert in any period or era but I'm well smiten with the entire range. 

Left to right 

First guy up radio operator ERDL and Blue jeans (popping smoke)

Next up stoner dude! Plus law and shotgun, tigerstripe beret

Lastly Hush puppy guy! Ak47 in tigerstripe trousers

Left to right

M60 with heli ammo box, almost a mini gun 

Classic tigerstripe camo, pistol ready tape wrapped around the M16 for cam effect

Leader of men, Blue jeans and what I think is a cut down bloopgun or shotgun in his belt 

Now I've probably got something wrong but its all good enough for me and my humble little collection. 

I reckon I set a new record with these guys from delivery Friday to on the tabletop on Sunday! I will be honest once I started painting I found it very difficult to stop! May I add I have a very understanding wife! Thankfully she understands a big kid and his toys and the excitement a parcel brings to him. 

Well thats about it for now, there are more to come as time permits and a second squad of new additions from Empress Miniatures. 

So thanks for looking feel free to comment or just enjoy the eye candy 

Cheers for now Russ 

 

The enemy breaks cover somewhere in Vietnam from

 Well another post already, so I'm on a roll 2021 may be a good year after all

More Empress goodness in the form of the enemy! These guys are again fantastic little figures what I can only describe as the vietnam range I have always dreamed of. 

So on to the figures 

I've never been one for painting every figure exactly the same! I figure even in real life with wear and tear and the effects the elements would have on kit, and in some forces completely uniformed uniforms. 

 I have finished up a few bits and pieces of scenery from a big bag of plastic aquatic plants that I picked up a while back. 

 I reckon they turned out ok and sit well with the figures! Its a bit of a slow burner of a project but I'm getting there. 

Well thats about it for now, its good to get a few bits and pieces finished, especially when a lot of them have sat around half done or almost finished for longer then I would like to remember.

So thats about it for another post, take care and stay safe 

    All the very best cheers Russ 

Happy NewYear Vietnam

Its been a well weird year, I think we have all had enough of 2020 and the stresses that have come with it. So I decided to end the year the same way I started it, by adding some more of the gorgeous Vietnam figures from Empress Miniatures. I don't think I really need to say anymore then Paul Hicks as captured Vietnam perfectly with these figures. 

Its nice to add few more figures to my collection and hopefully Empress Miniatures will add a few new additions very shortly. So on to the figures 

 the full squad ready to go out and find the enemy. 

 

My scenery is very lacking for Vietnam so, the house is from Sarissa. A quick and cheerfull paint job brought it up to speed. The roof i hope to revisit at some point and improve the look of it. 

The Pig! 

The pig sets up and gets ready to deal some death! 

 the figures have some nice little details, the toothbrush on the helmet, the bug repellant, and gun grease bottle. Of course the helmets need a little bit of graffiti to finish them off. 

Well thats about it, heres hoping we have a 2021 worth remembering for the right reasons.

All the very best cheers for now Russ 

SAGA New Additions

 SAGA Additions 

    The paint table as been invaded by more goodies from Gripping beast! I've tried to keep the spearmen pretty generic, I figured most of them looked pretty much the same as each other when in massed ranks of bristling spear tips and shields. 

                            The latest Additions in all their glory.

 

 

The slingers

 the slingers, I robbed the spare slinger arms from the Wargames Atlantic Dark Age Irish box. It gives more variety to the slingers which is something I love about plastic figures. 

The command and 4 Warriors

The bald heads are stolen from the Victrix Viking set! Got to love plastics for the ease of mixing parts, I've even swapped out the lower part of one of the shield arms. 

The command leads the guys to victory or death! 

The shields are all hand painted, and although time consuming very much worth it! They certainly finish up the figures nicely. 

Well that about finishes things up for this time, more figures are in the pipe line and even a couple of bits of 40k for a friends collection. So stay tuned, keep looking and I will posting.

Stay safe, take care 

                    And catch you all soon 

                                   Cheers for now Russ 

Saxons and Vikings

 I dug these guys out of storage and decided it's time to share them. The clearout and sort out as stalled slightly due to work commitments but I'm trying to get back on track with clearing some space. 

         The Vikings 

Gripping beast certainly has it sorted for building Warbands so heres my Vikings 

 the full force, A warlord, 4 Beserkers, 4 hirdmen, 8 spears and 8 slings 

 my favourite figures the Beserkers! Converted warlord games figures

 A little bit of missile support, 8 slingers

The Saxons

 the full warband, A Warlord, 8 hirdmen, 8 archers and 8 spears.

spears shining and shields readied.

The Shields are hand painted, I do enjoy painting them. It finishes them off nicely and certainly brings the force together. The figures certainly look the part and a joy to build and paint. 

So thanks for looking 

    Cheers for now Russ 

Bolt Action US infantry

I've finished up the last squad from my box of Warlord Games US infantry, 2 squads for my own collection and a third for a friends collection. I've continued to mix up the uniform colours, I do like a variety in my troops. I'm pretty sure the likes of films such as "Kelly's Heroes" "The Dirty Dozen " "Battle of the Bulge" influenced my progress with these figures. Then again who wouldn't be influenced by the films they watched growing up.

 Plastic figures still in some circles seem to be looked down upon! I dont see it myself but I enjoy building the plastic figures and the choice of parts helps create individual troops. Dont get me wrong, I pretty much buy, paint and collect anything that takes my fancy. Sat building figures in front of the TV is pretty enjoyable! Something I wont do with metal figures due to the mess scraping and filing metal makes.

   The latest squad, who cant look at these guys and see the likes of Kelly's Heroes, and other such classic films.

The full 3 squads 

A few more close ups of the squads

The figures paint up well, and in my opinion they look the part. I'm no expert but I reckon they pass muster. Now i have quite a few Bolt Action figures, but as always space is a issue but it wont stop me painting even more. I think a painter and collector is a worse curse then being a gamer! At least been a gamer is a purpose for having loads of figures. I haven't even got got that excuse! 

Well that brings another post to an end, so thanks for looking. Feel free to comment 

All the best cheers Russ