TFL Painting Challenge: Another Big One!

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Originally posted 6th September 2014

Another large upload today: not updating the challenge for a week is definitely not a good idea!

Today we have entries from:

  • Wulf Corbett, whom I have generously allowed to join the challenge even though we are almost at Christmas!
  • More ships, beautiful ships, from Egg
  • Some more Martians from Treadhead...makes me want to get on with mine
  • Mr Luther supplies some photos to go along with his previous submissions 
  • Mr Bax shows us how to do Fallschirmjaegers: there's no photo yet as they had to go straight from the painting table to the gaming table!
  • Benito submits some Spanish Civil War figures
  • and Mervyn paints some ancients

Two pictures today:  Egg's ships again (I love 'em!) and Treadhead's Martian tripods (to inspire me!).

SdKfz 7/2 medium-weight AA half-tracks from Battlefront

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Originally posted 1st September 2014

Next up are some early war German SdKfz 7/2 medium-weight AA half-tracks from Battlefront. Now I was dreading putting these together, as I always have a difficult time with Battlefront guns: to fiddly for my patience! I am, however, please to say that these went together very easily.

I used GW Granite paint with an Agrax Earthshade wash, and I think they turned out very well. Recommended, and I have two more to paint up for late war.

Allied Diamond T Artillery Tractor from MMModels

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Originally posted 1st September 2014

Some more painting finished. 

First up are the Allied Diamond T artillery tractors. These are great big trucks that were used to pull the M1 155mm howitzers of the US medium batteries, and are a more typical alternative to the M5 High Speed Tractors that are included in the FOW boxed set.

These models are from MMModels: a range that varies in quality to say the least. I am pleased to state that the Diamond Ts are very nice models that go together well, and paint up nicely. Recommended for anyone needing a really big truck, or who wants to field the more correct tow for a WW2 M1 artillery battery.

I've painted up four of the monsters. Here's a close-up of one:

A Visit to Bovvy

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Originally posted 30th August 2014

A recent holiday took me to Dorset and, to my great delight, less than half an hour's drive from Bovingdon Tank Museum. 

Bovingdon is a brilliant day out for anyone interested in 20th Century warfare and, of course, tanks. From the genesis of the AFV during WW1 through to an enormous collection of WW2 vehicles (my favourite bit) and on to more modern tanks up to and including the current campaign in Afghanistan. Superb!

Children will love it: both my daughters have no interest in wargaming, but nevertheless insist on going to the museum if we are ever anywhere near it. We have even been twice in the same week!

Here's a couple of pics taken last visit:

British Cromwell

British Lanchester Armoured Car

StuG (German, but in Finnish service)

Italian M11/39

Soviet KV-1

TFL Painting Challenge: Another Biggie!

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Originally posted 30th August 2014

I take a few days off from updating the challenge to go to work, and another large set of uploads arrives in my inbox! 

Today we have entries from:

  • Topi, with his fifteen buildings that take him past the 500 point mark
  • Mr Slade (who has gone painting crazy recently) with some British infantry for Chain of Command
  • The Mad Padre with a mix of entries that also takes him past the 500 point mark
  • Mr Ambler (whom I'm sure owes me some AARs) also with some 28mm WW2 infantry that take him past the 1,000 point mark. Huzzah!
  • Mr Hodge gets his Dux in a row (boom! boom!)
  • Mr Luther with yet more Japanese that take him flying past the 2,000 point mark. Woo Hoo!
  • Kev 'Fat Wally' with more SYW figures
  • Chris Stoesen paints rather than re-bases
  • Manuel with three great sci-fi figures

Today's picture is from Kev: some Cossacks from the SYW. Incidentally, for those interested, Kev does run a painting service. 

TFL Painting Challenge: Whole Year Catch Up!

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Originally posted 25th August 2014

Another large upload today as a couple of people have sent me colossal updates! 

Today we have entries from:

  • Mr Melville with a catch up entry for the whole year...and this is only some of it!
  • Mr Munsterfan8 with almost as big a catch-up entry
  • Mr Slade's Vikings take him past the 2,000 point mark
  • Mr Danziger with some WW2 Germans
  • Mr Bax with a couple of lasercut creations
  • Mr Luther: more planes!

Today's pictures are from Mr Melville and Mr Slade. First up, Mr Melville's early war German armour; second up, Mr Slade's Vikings.

TFL Painting Challenge: Monster Update

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Originally posted 23rd August 2014

A huge update today as I have come back from hols to find my inbox stuffed full of achievements.

Today we have entries from:

  • Mr Clarke, himself, who has caught up with a lot of his recent painting and passed the 500 point mark. Lots of Soviets, a few Germans, and some Space Pixies.
  • Some more ships from Mr Yuengling
  • A truly colossal entry from Mr Slade, who passes the 1,500 point mark with a mixture of figures.
  • Naturally we have some more 15mm SYW figures from Kev
  • Mr Humm adds some AK47 chaps
  • Mr Bailey adds quite a bit, and passes the 1,000 point marker
  • As does Mr Douglas, with some chariots and a church
  • Mr Stoesen re-bases
  • Alexandros adds a gorgeous platoon of 28mm Panzer IVs
  • And finally Mr Luther pops in some aeroplanes, and includes a picture for a change

Today's pictures are from Mr Luther, with some nice looking 109s; Mr Clarke, with some Soviets; Alexandros' tanks; and Mr Slade, with some US Sailors.

Luther

Clarke

Alexandros

Slade

Assault Crabs from Khurasan Miniatures

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Originally posted 9th August 2014

I've been wanting to get these Assault Crabs from Khurasan for my Hive army some time. 

Although the picture doesn't show it very well, these models have a lovely layered, shell-like back that dry brushes up really nicely. I used several ever-lightening shades of red, then orange and finally a very, very light brush of yellow. Turned out really well.

TFL Painting Challenge: More Egg Boats

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Originally posted 9th August 2014

A few people spurred on to submit achievements by discussions on the TFL Yahoo group: today we have achievements from Alexandros; Mr Bailey; Mr Stoesen; Egg; Leif and some Orks; and Treadhead (now Tripodhead?).

Incidentally, I have decided to count the 15mm but huge Martian tripods for AQOTMF as 'aircraft' in the points system i.e. 12 points each. This has nothing to do with the big box of them I have waiting in the lead mountain!

Today's picture is from Egg: more really nice 1/200th ships that take him 'cruising' past the 500 point mark.

AAR: A Canadian VC

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Originally posted 4th August 2014

A real first on today's update: an AAR in German!

Those of you who don't speak German need not worry: the report, or spielberichte, is in two parts. First up are some words which Google and I have translated for you and, secondly, there's a great cartoon strip version which is in German...but you can always look at the pictures!

 

TFL Painting Challenge: The Scooby Doo Update

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Originally posted 4th August 2014

Today we have achievements from a small number of contributors claiming a large number of figures. In no particular order, we have the Ambler Gambler (some Soviet tanks); Matt Slade (a monstrous amount of ACW material and then some bigger stuff); Topi (with loads of Italians); and finally Chris Stoesen (more railway tracks);  

Today's picture is from Matt Slade, who would have got away with it if it wasn't for those pesky kids!

TFL Painting Challenge: Kev Breaks 1,000 points

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Originally posted 31st July 2014

I'm taking a break from the Commonwealth Games to update the challenge.

Today we have achievements from Mark Luther (planes, lots of planes); Chris Stoesen with terrain and lots of re-basing (rather you than me); Manuel returns with some more gladiators; Kev (obviously: he can't let an update go by without contributing something); Mr Ralls and zombie stuff; and finally Mr Bax and his sci fi.

No, not finally: an e-mail from Mr Bailey has popped into my inbox as I'm updating: some 15mm infantry for WW2.

Congratulations to Kev, who breaks the 1,000 point mark!

Today's picture is from Mr Bax :