It has been quite some time since my last update...
So, where have I been and what am I working on? Among other projects, I have been working on the molds. So far all the body components are complete and I'm starting on the molds for the legs and arms.
Molds are like the foundation of a house, you need to get it right or the house will not come together right. All my molds are two part, requiring two pours and a lot of pre-prep clay work to get the parting lines of the two mold halves set correctly.
Until this week I only had one adjustable mold box, I now have two so things should move a little faster.. fingers crossed.
To be honest I hate this part of the process but it has to be done, so back to work I go ;)
This weekend I took a break from the Punic Wars and painted a few vehicles and guns for 22nd Armoured Brigade Group, Nov 1941. (But don't worry - I'm now back with the Punic Wars project.). I'm still waiting for my sheet 2mm MDF so they are unbased. The first units are:
2nd RG Hussars Regiment- 10 Crusader Mk1.
Anti-tank battery 102nd AT Regiment - 2 2pdr portee and 1 truck
C Battery 4th RHA - 2 25pdr, 2 Quad tractors, 2 limbers, 1 truck, 1 AOP in carrier (this piece is a standard FoW carrier which has had extra radio equipment, a telephone-cable spool [rear], a scratch built rangefinder and 'map' [for easy table ID], and an extra crew member added), and 13 25pdr crew - 6 per gun plus battery officer.
Last night I test painted a 15mm tank for the first time. It is the first tank I've painted in 20 years and the first 15mm tank I've painted, ever. I'm happy with the result.
The model is a FoW Crusader Mk 1. It has been painted as A squadron 2ndRG Hussars of 22nd Armoured Brigade, November 1941. It was painted in Humbrol enamel (mainly '63 sand' lightened with 'white 34') and Liquitex burnt umber acrylic ink (in two dilutions - 50% and neat).
The whole job took about an hour of painting time, but I think I can halve this by painting in batches (probably 10 vehicles at a time). This 'non-project' (see previous post) is gonna be a doddle!
File Size: 20.4 Mb(zip) , 25.3 Mb(uncompressed) GM Version: GM8 Screen Resolution: FULL Allow Fullscreen: No
Features: -The battle returns with stunning 3D graphics and the most popular game characters- Full 3D graphics featuring great looking environments and animated characters All the animations are specific for each character (animations created with 'MoveNow') 11 Playable Characters including: Mario, Sonic, Conker, Rayman, Link and many more New fighting system which gives more freedom to the player 3D battle environments including: 'Great Deku Tree', 'Peach's Castle', 'Green Hill Zone' and more New and dynamic camera focused on both players Joystick support (tested with xbox 360 controler) 1-on-1 Multiplayer Battles (P1 keyboard, P2 joystick) Multiplayer scoreboard More advanced AI Extras featuring 'Character Bios' Lots of Options to select, including Cel-Shading effect
Story After many years of gaming success by the three most popular gaming companies in the world, a mad scientist called Dr.Paratonic comes with plans to destroy their factories. His purpose is to sell his own gaming console called 'PIGO'. It's a console that requires to insert coins to play the games. But the three companies are not going to let this happen. For first time in the history they are going to combine their powers by sending all of their most popular and powerfull mascots to defeat Dr.Paratonic and change his plans before it's too late.
Trailer:
Screenshots::
Downloads:
Enjoy this game and please leave your comments with your opinions.
I have always had an interest in World War II. In the past I have collected stuff for the Russian front (in 6mm) and North West Europe 1944 (in 10mm). But that was many moons ago, and for at least 20 years I have not had any WWII stuff at all. The main reason I gave up on the period, was the perennial one, rules - or rather lack of a set I was happy with. This changed a couple of years ago when Mark D. (fellow Ilkley Lad) began putting on East Africa games and later Western Desert games using Classic Piquet, Field of Battle WWII or Blitzkrieg Commander.
The bug had bit deep and I began buying books on the subject. After some general reading I decided to 'do WWII' slightly differently to my previous efforts. I decided to concentrate on two months of the Western Desert Campaign - Operation Crusader November 1941 - January 1942. From this point on my book buying became much less general and eventually I found three books which furnished me with as much information as I will need (well nearly).
The first two books are military histories of the operation. The best is 'The Sidi Rezeg Battles 1941' by Agar-Hamilton and Turner. This is one of the best military histories I have ever come across for any period - but like the battle the narrative is very complex. This is where 'Crusader' by Richard Humble came into its own. This is a much less comprehensive history, and consequently the narrative is much easier to follow. After reading 'Crusader', 'The Sidi Rezeg Battles 1941' became a joy to read because I knew the twists of the tale and could immerse myself in its bounteous detail.
The last of the three books is 'Benghazi Handicap' by Frank Chadwick. This is an army list and scenario book for Command Decision. It covers the Western Desert Campaign up to the end of Crusader. The army lists are fantastic and, though I will not be using the rules, I can't recommend this book highly enough. It has taken most of the hard slog 'hardware' research out of the equation.
A year ago I met someone who gave the offer of a discount should I wish to pursue a collection in 15mm, providing the order was 'significant'. When deciding what to do with the money from my ECW sale, I remembered this conversation, phoned him and firmed up the offer. Today, the first part of the order arrived (some stuff was out of stock and will follow). It comprises 15th Panzer division, less some of its heavy artillery, about 2 thirds of 7th Armoured Division, a couple of 'I' tank regiments, and a brigade of infantry. The rest of 7th Armoured, some more German stuff and all the Italian stuff will form a later order.
But this is not a project. It is, like my naval stuff, a filler period. Something to do slowly, and only when the mood takes me.
