Playing with Resin

Its been a while thanks to changes at home, new job and lack of computer (phone won't upload photos). However I've been doing bits here and there, and having recently been introduced to Luke's APS videos on youtube, I've had inspiration to try a few new things.

Having done a few outcrops using polystyrene and filler, I thought I'd give water effects a go. I couldn't find the two tube stuff in my local pound shops so ended up going to B&Q and getting some 2 part resin by Diall. It was a bit more expensive and I wouldn't recommend it but it was ok for a one off.

You get 2 tubes (one the resin and the other the hardener) as well as a small tray and stirring stick.

I wouldn't use the tray again mind, its too shallow to be able to stir it well and I could not get rid of the air bubbles.

The test piece I made was a small pond using polystyrene as an outcrop, sticks and prodigious amounts of hot glue for the shape and then fillered. I completed the texturing completely before applying the resin.

As I mixed the resin it did produce a silvery quality which others have mentioned so I was fairly happy it had activated but the bubbles as stated would not go.

This picture makes it look worse than it is and I will add another pour to fill it a little more.

I wanted to try the resin neat to see how it would work but I will add a little nail polish remover next time to allow it to run a bit better - it took a while to find its level by which point it had dried. 

Its currently at home drying so I'll update you all tonight or tomorrow morning to let you know how it goes.

WIP Flamethrower

So just a short one but wanted to share my recent Fallschirmjager advances. I'm still moving towards completing this (as a primarily if not solely infantry force) and hope to play a game shortly. I need to buy a couple more squads of infantry to flesh it out especially as I'm looking at incorporating an engineer squad in support as initially at least I'm going to avoid Panzerfausts as most reports I've read suggest they didn't have them in Italy in 1943.

As such here is the first member of that squad - he's not quite finished (still needs a dry dust).

Sorry about the awful picture quality - I'll try and get some better pictures soon as well as hopefully a battle report.

Update (19/06/2017)

Its been a while. Life has taken over, and to be honest I'm getting a bit ground down by this project. So last night I had a review to see how much more I have to do. And its good news! (Blank Tiles show where units are missing).

Prussian Army at Lobositz:

Frederick's Army

Army Assets

Prinz von Preussens's Infantry Corps

von Gessler's Cavalry Corps

So I have 3 Kuirassier Regiments and a Dragoon Regiment as well as the command bases.

Austrian Army at Lobositz:

von Browne's Army

Army Assets (Grenzers)

von Hadik's Advance Guard

Lacy's Infantry Corps

Kollowrat's Main Infantry Corps

Luchesse's Cavalry Corps

So 5 combat stands here; 1 Hussar Regiment (nearly finished), 1 Kuirassier Regiment and 3 Dragoon Regiments.

So all in all, 9 combat stands and then all of the command stands. Feel a lot better now and already started planning the terrain out. Will also try and post more.

WIP - A Certain Drow Rogue

So I've posted a couple of times about Sch'yyrk Revan'tyl - well I've finally started with a fig for him (which I will also use as an Assassin in Frostgrave). The model came in the Nickstarter for the Barbarian expansion for Frostgrave and I've converted to be a bloke and also to be holding a shortsword rather than a wand. Still needs washes and highlighting as well as basing but here it is so far,

The mottled cloak with wolf pelt above - may have overdone the dry brushing on the pelt - or it might be the picture

I might repaint the under layers a darker colour - maybe even black. The sword will also be darkened when I apply some gunmetal.

I'm going to go through my Frostgrave/DnD minis and see if I have enough for a couple of 4 point warbands for SAGA - me and JT are really enjoying The Last Kingdom; Episode 3 really was epic - and it might be an excuse to get her into something different.

I've also completed a couple of Grenzer skirmish stands - more are following as well as Hungarians and Grenadiers.

Banal Grenzers

Austrians so far

This Sunday is the first league game for Morecambe Bay Storm, hopefully (signal permitting) you should be able to follow the score here.

Sniper!

Been a while since posted; away at the weekend and still trying to recover stuff from flooded shed. Ordered a new carry case for my Fallschirmjager from Feldherr which should be with me Monday (should give me motivation to at least get 750 points worth painted).

Speaking of Fallschirmjager I've got a couple of squads half done and I finished off my Sniper team. Pictures are crap - couldn't get camera on phone to focus properly sorry.

Jeez, they look even worse on here - in reality the bases have come out really well with variations of colour - have to get my actual camera out at some point.

3 More Regiments

Last night I also did a bit more work on my Austrians once the kids had gone to sleep; my plan is to split each session I get now in half - some on my Lobositz forces and the other on either my Fallschirmjagers, Frostgrave or Vietnam stuff just to keep me going.

I've also ordered a couple more bags of bits from Baccus before their price rise towards end of April, get your orders in fast!

From the Tallest to the Smallest

Last night I got on with a few bits, and I'm quite pleased with the results albeit I need to start production lining and getting stuff done for both armies.

Scale Variations

So as previously shown, I was working on my Fallschirmjager 8cm Mortar and I got this done. Meant to represent Southern Italy hence the dusty ground.

The stages of the basing went: 

1. Polyfilla to give weight and texture
2. Grassy patches attached (sticky bases)
3. Sand mix glued on
4. Models and base washed
5. Dry brushed base and boots

Whilst the stages of this were drying I got in with more Lobositz bits. I already have 2 Grenadier units for the Prussians but the first one I did weren't there. As I have 4 units worth of models I figured I may as well dot he right ones and so here they are.

5/20 Grenadiers

I also completed one of the 2 bases of Austrian Artillery required.

Playing DnD on Saturday so doubt I'll get much painted although I may try and get a few bits done tonight if I've got everything sorted.

WIP Fallschirmjager 8cm Mortar

Not much more to show you but I did do a quick half hour session starting on my Austrian Artillery as well as continuing with my Fallschirmjager.

Still needs wash and drybrush applying as well as the base doing (should get done tonight if dry) but looks good. Also a really hefty weight with the metal figures and polyfilla base.

Looks like this weekends DnD is off unless someone else can join in (be warned that is a beginner level game).

Storage Needed

Another update; damaged my shoulder at weekend (no idea how but stabbing pains aren't good for Football or painting), so a week missing training ahead (not happy).

Need some bigger storage

Having said all that, the missus was down at Watford all weekend to visit Harry Potter World so after fun filled days with the kids I managed to get a bit more painting done. Finished off the last of the Prussian Infantry I need and got an Austrian unit done. Still got Prussian Dragoons and I need to order some more Kuirassiers.

Austrian 1st Infantry Regiment

Couple of things realised; Austrians will have Imperial Yellow colours for odd numbered regiments and white for even (for variety; there is more odd numbered at Lobositz so still majority Yellow).

Also how little infantry (or how much cavalry?) did the Prussians have had Lobositz; including the Grenadiers that is 13 stands of infantry as opposed to about the same Cavalry!

I also am running out of bases - fortunately I ordered a load more last week and hopefully will have enough then.

The remaining bases

Trying to arrange a D&D night but no go as yet. Got a group we're doing Lost Mines of Phandelver with - otherwise I want to start a campaign doing either Hoard of Dragon Queen or Storm King's Thunder if anyone is interested on a Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday or at a push Sunday night in Lancaster (comment below).

2 More Down

I'm sure you're sick of these now - units are coming out looking very similar (slight variations unit to unit in lapels/turnbacks/cuffs and colours) but I am moving along. I've now got just one Infantry Regiment to do for Lobositz and one Grenadier Regiment.

30th Infantry Regiment

Last night I got 2 more done and they were the 30th Infantry and the 7th Infantry - who I've been putting off due to them having pink lapels etc and me not having pink paint (finally just mixed some up).

3rd Infantry Regiment

So after those 2 being completed I have 10 Infantry Regiments.

BR: 17,20,21,27,30
FR: 3,5,7,9,13

So I'm getting there; just a few bits left - not sure if I'm going to get some Dragoons done or maybe start on the Austrians which I managed to spraycoat a batch of last night. Alternatively I may well go back to my Bolt Action Fallschirmjagers to mix it up.

Infantry, Grenadiers and Artillery, Cavalry

Final thing to mention, I'm undecided both on when and how I'm going to base these - I might get the texture on the Prussians once I'm finished with them just to give some extra protection (especially to the artillery which have the wheels hanging in the air on some of the models.

Post Weekend

Another Regiment done (27th I think this time) and I've got a couple more most of the way there.

Prussians WIP

Saturday me and the missus played a couple of games of Ticket to Ride, both of which were really close. Looking forward to giving this the 4 player treatment it deserves.

Then Sunday it was back to Morecambe Bay Storm after not being able to go for various reasons. Still a bit short of babysitter help (missus is off to Harry Potter World next weekend the lucky duck) so can't make next Sunday but I'm there again tonight and hope to arrange to get the odd Wednesday in if I can persuade my mum to have the kids. I promise I'm not palming them off by the way :P

Prussian Army Update

This is taking a while - with an hour here and an hour there though I'm getting there. I've done the other 2 artillery batteries and have added colours to another 3 Infantry Regiments. So I'm getting there and I've prepped the Austrians ready for undercoating. Also realised that I'm short 3 Infantry Regiments for the Austrians even I used all of the Hungarians (only 2 present at Lobositz) which is a bit of a pain.

13th IR, 17th IR, 20th IR

I managed to get a decent "furl" on my colours by using Loctite and shaping whilst dried. With Lobositz being the first battle of the war I'm going to keep the colours intact rather than shredding them as I would further in or with larger models. I picked whether to chose the "Leib" or "Regimental" colour purely on which one stood out most.

6 Regiments of Infantry backed by 2 Grenadier Regiments

I've also got the artillery done and I think it looks good - I've removed a member off one of the battalions (its not as if it looks short) to use as part of a command stand. When I do the bases on these I'll add some extra fences and things as well as wheel ruts.

Gunners!

I thought I'd get a picture showing where I'm up to - to be honest it doesn't do justice, I've done work on most of the rest of the Prussians.

The Army so far (Kuirassiers to right, solitary unit of Hussars to rear)

To recap I still need the following to finish up for Lobositz (besides painting what I have already):

• 1 Pack Austrian Infantry
• 1 Pack Prussian Kuirassiers
• 1 Pack Generals
• At least 2 packs of 3"x 1.5" bases (not sure how many I have left)
• 1 pack 1.5"x 1.5" bases for Grenzers
• Bases for command Stands

See how much this will cost (don't think a huge amount) after I've paid for massed family birthdays as well as mother's day (fortunately already got one of these decided upon with order sat ready to confirm on pay day!

This weekend I'm hoping to play DnD with a group I mentioned and we recorded our session (although I'm not sure who has it). We may be a member down so Schy'yrk may get a run out after I was unable to join in that game :( as a guide? to the party.

Lobositz Update

Not much exciting to show but I am moving forward with the Lobositz project as well as slowly moving with Fallschirmjager force.

The fallschirmjager now have a Kettenkrad, 28mm AT gun and an MG42 on a tripod constructed and undercoated. So for now the force is all together - just need to finish painting it all up.

For Lobositz I have a map, Volley and Bayonet orbats which I have in full detailed format, simplified format and have now made labels to put on bases. I need to colourise these and print on a colour printer but I'm happy with the formatting on them.

Prussian Infantry

Painting wise I have now done the following:

• 6 Infantry Regiments
• 2 Combined Grenadier Regiments (1 half needs brass fronts painting on helmets)
• 6 Kuirassier Regiments
• 1 Hussar Regiment

Still to paint for Prussians:

• 6 Infantry Regiments
• 2 Combined Grenadier Regiments
• 3 Dragoon Regiments
• 2 Hussar Regiments
• 6 Artillery Batteries (Undecided on basing)
• Command Stands

Still need but not got for Prussians:

• 3 Kuirassier Regiments

On top of that I've got my Austrians (and Hungarians) to paint.

I may well need more standard bases - I will need some skirmish bases for Austrian Grenzers as well as whatever I'm going to base commanders on.

Other things to do:

• 10 village bases (9 wood, 1 stone) - probably just bigger than 3"x3"
• 1 chapel sector (big enough to fit skirmish base)
• Roads (including sunken road section)
• 6 Single and 4 Double Vineyard Sections (probably just bigger than 3"x3")
• Major River (Elbe)
• Stream (and ponds)
• Colourised and Laminated Order of Battles
• Colourised and Laminated Maps (For deployment)
• Colourised and Laminated Quick Play Rules