David Bickley's Wargames Blog

The occasional ramblings of an average gamer, journeyman painter, indifferent modeller, games designer, sometime writer for Wargames Illustrated and host of games in GHQ.



Monday 16 May 2016

Planning and Progress...

...after a fashion! My mind is on other much more important family things at the moment, so, even though Sue is again working at the University all week, I find that I've actually painted very little really. I did manage though to take advantage of the better weather last week to finally spray paint the undercoat on all of the buildings and bits I bought earlier in the year from Hovels to make up a representative 'town' for my Wars of the French Revolution project {although it could be used in Bolt Action WWII games or even in our occasional 1914 games I suppose} to which I've added some gravestones and a memorial from Ainsty which I picked up at Carronade. I've laid out what I think will be the final layout of the town on my table in GHQ to give me an idea about painting the individual pieces. The 'town' will be mounted on four seperate but interlocking pieces of 2mm MDF to allow for some 'modelling' effects to sit the buildings more effectively into the terrain. I'd be interested to hear what folk think of the layout, so please chip in without fear or prejudice ~































































The dome I bought from Coritani, also at Carronade, to give an option in the 'look' of the church in the town.It will need a base making to sit it correctly on the tower but that not withstanding, I hope that the four views have given an idea of what the town might look like in the round on the table. Anyhow, any comments, even brutally honest ones, can help at this stage of the project! Moving on from 'Planning' to 'Progress', of a sort, some more additions to the VBCW/Blandings/Operation Zeelowe games in the shape of a Militia Anti Tank Rifle team and a few more general Militia figures. I've also finished the first two of a ten man unit of Workers' Militia, but they will have to wait until the unit is completed to be on view here  ~




































Well, that brings me to my final point: these figures, formerly from Musketeer but now from Footsore Miniatures, used to be really crisp castings with zero flash, vent runs and the like. These latest ones under the new banner were all covered in flash and even solid blocks of metal from ill fitting moulds. I would not mention this sort of thing lightly, but to go from perfection to these poorer specimens merits comment.

12 comments:

  1. The layout seems fine to me, look forward to seeing them all done. Nicely painted VBCW figures you have done, shame about the fall off in casting quality, I got all my Goths while Gripping Beast were looking after things as you know, although the Romano-Brits I picked up since are OK, Bills figures are more rounded than than the ones Paul did for these ranges, perhaps the moulder/caster can't handle the more angular style?

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    1. Cheap mounds? Poor casting service? Metal used? Who knows? But, didn't impress me, you know I loathe cleaning up even a single figure.

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  2. Lovely buildings the layout looks fine....personally I keep things as flexible as possible so keep building bases to a minimum, also helps storage. Like the figures too..😀

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    1. Thanks Matt, I plan four bases to accommodate the town and aid storage.

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  3. Really like your plan for the town. As you know got me started on revamping my buildings and like you have bought a few more houses from Hovels to add to the megopolis that is my man cave.

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    1. That's settled then; if it'll do for you it'll do for me!

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  4. Second the nice paint job on the VBCW guys.

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  5. Good Town layout, I would have the church on its own base, giving you even more options

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    1. Indeed the church will have its own base. Great minds, eh?

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  6. Great looking layout and nice painting on the figures as well David. I really like Bill's figures so must say I'm very concerned over issues with quality of the casts. Let us hope that's just a glitch and not a precursor of things to come.

    Christopher

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    1. Three more packs arrived today, all covered in flash, especially between the legs! I refer you to my first reply above.

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