28mm Aventine Miniatures.

28mm Aventine Miniatures.
Just a quick blog post to show off a couple of Aventine miniatures 28mm Early Imperial Romans I have on eBay at the moment. It depicts a small vignette of a couple of Roman officers during the German wars mid to late 1st century AD.

These two figures were a joy to paint, nice big figures with loads of detail. The shields are hand painted as I try to avoid shield transfers whenever possible. Based on a 50mm round base with a rock, shrub, 2mm and 4mm grass and varnished matt with testors dullcote.

 The vignette was painted in enamels and artists quality oils and acrylics with the best available pigments, achieving rich colours and tones these figures deserve.

This vignette is available on eBay at the moment, funds raised will go to buying more figures :)
Just search for Ebay sellers ID: peterw3169

Cheerio for now.

WW2 in 28mm (1/56th scale) German Armoured Platoon 1944-1945 TANKS

The Panzer IV ausfH circa.1944-1945,

The Panzer III ausfM circa.1944-45.

Continuing with my World War Two 28mm collection I decided to create a German armoured platoon of 1944 -1945 European Theatre of War, the proposed infantry platoon needed some armour for the 1944 Normandy to the battle of the Bulge and Defence of Germany scenarios. So I picked up a Panzer IVausfH complete with 75mm gun for some extra fire power, also a Panzer IIIausfM.

Both these tank types were part of kampfgruppe 'Knaust' at Arnhem Holland 1944 fighting against British Airborne forces especially 2 PARA namely 2x panzerIV-H and 6x panzerIII-M. I used contemporary photographs of the battle for reference, both panzerIV were knocked out, it seems the panzer III were kept on the opposite side of the river to the British forces.

Die Waffenkammer make a really nice Panzer IV - H bought through Great Escape Games at http://www.greatescapegames.co.uk/miniatures/miniatures-rules-of-engagement/tanks-1.html

Panzer IV ausf H

Panzer III ausf M

 The tracks are separate but come fitted to the hull by the manufacturer so that a perfect effect is ensured.
A superb clean model, I followed the manufacturer's instructions and did wash it with detergent to remove any release agent that might be left on the model from the manufacturing process. The kit includes schurzen, extra sheets of armour around the turret and hull and extra stowage, tarpaulins, jerry cans etc. I'll show these at a later stage.

panzer IIIM and IVH workshop

Then I primed with a tan leather matt enamel paint., followed by tan mixed with burnt umber oil paint.

first sheet of schurzen reinforced with 1mm thick plasticard straps.

Green was mixed with yellow and tan carefully to keep the same contrast in colours, a burnt sienna brown was used for the browns camouflage , but it was a surprisingly quick job. Then adding a water-slide transfer decals bought from Warlord Games, then a weathering effect was brushed over the whole vehicle.

airbrushing would make a better job of the camouflage but isn't really necessary.

The 75mm gun has a blackened muzzle, the 'schurzen' armour on the turret has its doors left open on the starboard side to effect an escape route for the crew when bailing out. 

German Tank Number Markings (basic guide).

Most German tanks had a three digit number sequence on the sides and rear of the turret, to use the example pictured below, the first number '5' decal shows the company number of the Tank Regiment, in this case the 5th company, the second number indicates the Platoon number '1' and the third decal indicates the tank number of that platoon '4'. 

Organization

Panzer tank regiments had 2 battalions each of 4 companies numbered 1 to 8 so the example below shows a tank of the second battalion (5th company). Each company consisted of a platoon HQ and 3 to 4 platoons, each platoon had 4 or 5 tanks.

Command tanks would use R for regimental HQ e.g. R01,R02, the first battalion I01,I02 and the second battalion II01,II02, individual company HQ tanks prefixed with the company number followed by 00,01.

The most common colours used to denote the various numbers were: red numbers with white outline, black numbers with white outline or just white outline(as example below)

National markings - the 'Balkankreuz', 1943-45 a black cross with white outline could be used. 

  

5th Company 1st Platoon 4th Tank

The rusty exhaust was painted in black, burnt umber and burnt sienna, the sooty mark on the hull is where the exhaust outlet is.

Panzer IIIausfM Warlord Games German Tank commander complete with cigar and binoculars.

Die waffenkamer provides a lot of extras with their model, stowage, separate tracks and a tank commander, on both tanks I have a Warlord games tank commander. I'm saving the Die waffenkamer tank commander for a Panther (Panzer VausfG) to be purchased at a later date.

An aerial was added using some 5 Amp fuse wire and painted in black enamel paint.

The bailed-out panzer crew are Warlord Games 28mm miniatures.

Next will be the panzer-grenadier infantry platoon and a British Airborne platoon.

Cheerio.

2mm Grass Tufts (made to order).

2mm high WILDERNESS Mix regular shape Grass tufts - self adhesive.

One of the most interesting features of collecting and painting miniatures is trying to find a way to create realistic scenery or terrain for bases. I used to buy grass tufts, and found it was better to make them myself as I can get through a huge amount sometimes.

The tufts add an extra dimension to the miniatures and can be used in a variety of colours, a good mix I have found is 2mm Wilderness mix which can be used to depict grass & scrub from the dry summer highlands of Scotland to the dryer climate of the Mediterranean.

2mm Wilderness mix a good versatile choice for 15mm figures to 28mm figures.  

2mm wilderness mix closeup.

I've started to market these 2mm grass tufts through pjwalke@live.com also on ebay just search for Ebay seller ID: Lord_Jaggard

Each box contains at least 120 regular sized tufts which maybe torn in two as required. They are Self-Adhesive, just peel them off the backing and firmly push onto your miniatures base.

£5.50 each box, U.K. postage free, worldwide £3.69 (for 1 to 4 boxes)
PayPal payment to accepted through pjwalke@live.com

2mm wilderness grass tufts on a 28mm WW2 Fuel Dump.

Foundry Peltast with my 2mm Wilderness Grass tufts representing wild grass.

28mm Foundry Archer with 2mm Wilderness Grass tufts.

Specs:

Colour: WILDERNESS, grass/scrub, greens & brown mix as pictured. A Darker colour mix which can be used to depict summer dry grassland/scrubland/moorland/heathland from the Highlands of Scotland to the Mediterranean scenery. Perfect for Ancient to Modern periods.

Quantity: 1 box 160mm x 130mm x21mm containing approximately 120 grass clumps of regular size. Good for anything from 15mm to 28mm figures etc.

Description: Grass tufts/clumps using 2mm static fibres in a green WILDERNESS mix on self adhesive backing. just peel off and apply to your scenery to create interesting basing effects.

Also available:

2mm high DRY ARID Mix regular shape Grass tufts - self adhesive.

I've started to market these 2mm grass tufts through pjwalke@live.com also on ebay just search for Ebay seller ID: Lord_Jaggard

Each box contains at least 120 regular sized tufts which maybe torn in two as required. They are Self-Adhesive, just peel them off the backing and firmly push onto your miniatures base.

£5.50 each box, U.K. postage free, worldwide £3.69 (for 1 to 4 boxes)
PayPal payment to accepted through pjwalke@live.com

2mm DRY ARID Grass tufts great for 15mm to 28mm figures.

2mm DRY ARID Grass tufts closeup.

Specs:

Colour: DRY ARID, grass/scrub, greens & brown mix as pictured. A Darker colour mix which can be used to depict grassland/scrubland/moorland/heathland from the Dry Summer Highlands of Scotland to the Mediterranean scenery. Perfect for Ancient to Modern periods.

Quantity: 1 box 160mm x 130mm x21mm containing approximately 120 grass clumps of regular size. Good for anything from 1mm to 28mm figures etc.

Description: Grass tufts/clumps using 2mm static fibres in a green DRY ARID mix on self adhesive backing. just peel off and apply to your scenery to create interesting basing effects.

Armies and Enemies of Louis the XIV - The Generals.

TheFrench-Dutch War 1672-1678.

TheGenerals...

This week I have been mostly eating carrots....(Jesse's diets c/o The Fast Show)

AND I managed to finish The Command bases for my French-Dutch War campaign. After purchasing eight mounted Officers and staff from the fantastic 'Front Rank miniatures' I put together one Dutch command vignette comprising a surprisingly portly William of Orange (the bloke who in my opinion saved England from yet another bloody civil war due his participation in the Glorious Revolution and in ousting king James II from power).

I think Front Rank's version of Prince William possibly suffers from a dose of gout

Prince William of Orange 1674 and ADC

AND I finished a command base of the French Marshal Turenne, his command vignette depicts him just prior to losing an argument with a cannon ball at the battle of Salzbach 1675.

Turenne 1675 (the moustaches were added by sculpting 'green stuff'.)

Turenne and ADC

I found a picture of Turenne at the battle of Turckheim 1675 riding a piebald horse, I thought it would make a change from the usual white charger most generals seem to be depicted riding.

Turenne seems to be grey haired by this time, so I thought his wig would be the same colour?!?

AND finished a command base of the French Grand Conde the general who saved Paris from the Allied advance at the battle of Seneffe in 1674...now this bloke actually died of gout...cool.

The Prince Conde 1674 (again green stuff was used for the moustache.)

both Conde and Turenne were present at the invasion of the United Provinces in 1672.

Conde and Aide de Camp

The ADC is a converted standard bearer, I just chopped the right arm off and re-sculpted it with 'green stuff' in a relaxed position.

The Generals vignettes were based on 75mm diameter round bases in accordance to 'Beneath the Lily Banners second edtion' rulset which I haven't play tested yet....or even read yet....I just looked the the pretty pictures...no really there are a lot of very nice pictures in it.

AND finished a Dutch Brigadier.

The small bush and grass tufts were made by me.

I need another two Dutch brigadiers

Again using the League of Augsburgs 'Beneath the Lily Banners 2nd ed.' it has a 50mm diameter base

AND finished a French Brigadier.

I need another two French brigadiers.

The rock is made from cork bark.

The bush was made by me, a box of 120 of these is available through this Blog.

I'm looking forward to using the Lily Banners ruleset kindly sold to me by a good customer of mine....I think that's what happened anyway....cheers Gareth (a.k.a. Raglan).

With the Generals done the French Dutch War campaign is now very close to starting.

Anyhow Cheerio for now,

Peter.

Armies and Enemies of Louis the XIV and the Grand Alliance.

It's slack time at the Pickle Factory today :) so I thought I'd finish a Late 17th Century General Officer I started a week ago. Painted in Enamels, Oils and Acyrlics and varnished in Testors Dullcote varnish, it represents any General officer from the late 17th Century...so from the French Dutch Wars 1672-78 all the way to the Grand Alliance. So this could be French, German States etc.

I have this 28mm  miniature for sale on ebay at the moment. All funds raised will go to buying more figures, The Chasseur a cheval on the previous post was sold on ebay last week and the funds raised went to buying some 'Black Tree Designs' goblins, Coolio.

based on plasticard 25mm x 50mm with terrain effects, grass etc.

matt varnished with testors dullcote.

Manufactured by the world famous 'Front Rank miniatures' and painted by me at  theminiaturepaintingstudio@live.co.uk

ebay id: peterw3169 
item id: 121400367623

Anyhow, all the Best, Peter

p.s. I am available for commission work.