The clearout continues

 Between Christmas, New Year and life in general the clearout which was proceeding at full speed ground to a halt! Well I'm back to trying to clear some space which is something that's in short supply. 

This time I'm clearing some Bolt Action Americans, I have a full 4 squads of 10 men in each. They are a varying mix of New and Old Warlord Games plastic figures.

                                                                          SQUAD 1 

 

SQUAD 2 

SQUAD 3

SQUAD  4 

I will hopefully be getting to clear out more stuff soon, please checkout The Miniatures Page for details. 

So thanks for looking cheers Russ 

Special forces part 3

                       Some special conversions 

When I placed my order from Empress Miniatures (Late Christmas present to myself) the intention was to bulk out my special forces with some of the Australian figures from their Vietnam range! I did get carried away and jumped straight into the new special forces figures, they are now all done so I got out the greenstuff and did the business with the first batch of Australians. Minimal work was required, thankfully sometimes I can fluke it with greenstuff so the less sculpting the better. 

      Bare metal and Greenstuff 

 the ammo pouches were cut down, and then the pockets were sculpted on the right leg. A small amount of repair work was required on the left leg but it was mainly cosmetic. Then a strap was added to the M16, luckily the water bottles and equipment are pretty much a straight paint job.

 

The greenstuff was left overnight to cure and then it was down to getting them coloured in. 

 The three guys in all their glory! A mix of ERDL camou, Tiger stripe and good old green fatigues. I left the rope attached, my thinking is that even US troops carried rope. 

 

 All in all I reckon it works! I'm no expert but i think they look pretty good. I still have the last guy out of the pack carrying a SLR so I'm still considering what to do with him. Australians may just be the agenda! 

So thanks for looking, feel free to comment! 

All the very best cheers Russ 

Special Forces part2

                                    Military assistance command Vietnam SOG! 

Part 2, finally got the next batch finished! These guys once again are absolutely stunning little figures, Empress Miniatures really are raising the bar higher and higher! I had never really looked into these guys until I ordered these. The SEALs I have researched before and knew bits and pieces about them but these guys completely stayed under my radar until now. 

I've always had an interest in Vietnam, movies are as always part of that but hey whats wrong with being inspired by a film! Sometimes thats all thats needed to spark an interest or even an obsession. Also watching the series "Tour of duty" certainly brought it to the forefront of my mind. So on to the guys, lovely clean little sculpts, bursting with character! Paul Hicks and Empress Miniatures have hit the spot with these guys. The range goes from strength to strength and the monster grows. 

                           The team 

 The point guy. Dressed in captured uniform and equipment, and armed with the enemies weapon of choice. Much better chance of survival, blend in and stay alive. 

 Second guy in, suppressed weapon and a look of steel on his face. The sten gun gives him the ability to fire from a prone position without presenting a bigger target then needed.

 Third guy in carrying what I can only say is my favourite weapon of the set of figures. Of course he sports a moustache that wouldn't look out of place in the movies.

 Fourth guy in, one of the locals recruited and doing his best to blend in. Quite a few of these guys proved to be invaluable. 

 Fifth guy in the patrol, team leader once again made up of the local population, sporting Tigerstripe and carrying US kit. 

 Sixth guy, the rear guard. Another local in US service despite his mixed dress and US equipment. 

 The full team, pushing deep into enemy territory. These guys capture the look perfectly in my book, they definalty took the fight to the enemy and unfortunately paid the highest price for their bravery and commitment. 

You can probably guess with me its all about the figures! History as always been a passion of mine but figures are even a bigger passion. 

So thanks for looking, keep looking and I will keep posting. Feel free to comment and I will post again real soon.

Cheers for now Russ 

     

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