So, I've been quite busy, painting up bunches and bunches of little mens. Thanks for taking my filler post about the awesomeness that is the pending Ogre release in the spirit it was meant. and yes... I'll post some pics of my existing Ogres when the time is right.
Anyway, last night I finished off the infantry for the first of my Panzergrenadier platoons. One command stand (front center), six Rifle/MG stands (rear), one light mortar stand (front left) and an Anti-tank rifle stand (front right). I'm pretty happy with not only the way they turned out, but also with the speed I was able to paint them despite coming to grips with 15mm again.
I used the plastic Rubble bases for all the stands (except the light mortar and anti-tank rifle), which gave me a good start. I painted everything separately (models and bases) then glued the infantry to the stands. This seemed like a great plan at the start, but it did mean that I used quite a bit of putty and additional basing grit to make sure that everything blended seamlessly.
Over the years I've learned that the key to painting up an army efficiently and effectively is to get into a rhythm with it. I'm pretty sure that by the time I'm finished my next platoon, I'll be in that rhythm and ready to share "the secrets" I've learned then.
With all the prone models in the figures I have, I found the guy holding the mortar to be quite amusing, with his butt sticking up in the air, apparently just begging to be shot in it.
In the comments on my last post JMHahn commented on the differences between certain things in different periods of the war (like the SdKfz251/1C and SdKfz251/1D). Check it out here. His comment was pretty much spot on, but it got me to thinking a bit more about my "accuracy" and the reasoning behind this whole project.
The idea for this is not to be "cheap". As we go along you'll see me spend quite a bit of money. Getting the most out of the purchases will be important, just as getting "reasonably" close to accurate will be important. Building a collection that can span all three periods (Early, Mid, and Late War) will mean that sometimes I'll come up against the 1% of folks who not only know their stuff back to front, but also care enough to call me on it.
JMHahn characterized it as being a 97:2:1 split (don't know the difference: know, but don't care: know and care greatly). Possibly because of the folks I know and circles I travel in, I suspect the ratio I'll encounter will be more like 80:17:3. I'm hoping that should I encounter too many in that 3% I can calm them by pointing out things I have done to achieve accuracy, and remind them, we're all just playing a game.
Of course, I also fully expect that at some stage in the not too distant future, I'll find an army that grabs me so much I'll want to build it as accurately as possible, with all the bells and whistles.
And here's a sneak peek at another project I'm working on at the moment. This is Commissar Hark, the next fig in the long-term, ongoing commission to build a Tanith army.
Cheers
Dave
The 97:2:1 vs 80:17:3 number you mentioned about FoW were a big reason I never got into Flames of War until recently. Yeah I'm a history Buff and enjoy reading and learning about various time period in history including WW2. And while I tend to be a detail oriented person for me the details like using only certain types of vehicle when playing in 1940 France for example never really concerned me. However I seemed like the first few times I tried FoW that was all that mattered and if my stuff wasn't period accurate or my models did have the right shade of green on their field jackets I was doing it wrong and couldn't get games.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't until I found the current group of players I play with and the game store I got to, Huzzah Hobbies in Ashburn, VA... that I was able to get games, have fun, and just play the game while not having to worry about using Germans in summer uniforms in a winter scenario. The right attitude towards the game is all it takes and while sure having the right kit for the time period can make the games cooler, if it stop you from playing or makes the game less fun, why are you playing at all? It is a game, a good game, don't sweat the small stuff.
Nice.
ReplyDeletePS. Dave you just got a hot spot on WNT: http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/content/blogPost.jsp?aId=17800012a
looking good Dave,
ReplyDeletesomething to consider though is to minimize your M36 grey trousers, and make them the same color as the tunics (M40) one less color to mess with and much more multi period friendly.
Personally I like the contrast, but it does limit you to pre 1940 somewhat, M40 also will eliminate the bottle green collars and shoulder boards.
I suppose it really comes down to what era you will be playing mostly, WWII is tough for multi era as things were changing so fast.
can you imagine things changing much in a few years viking army?
John
Even on things which I might "know" something about (which are pretty limited!), even if it matters to me, I'd never let that ever get in the way of having a great game. As HuronBH said above, it's all about having the right attitude. The periods I've enjoyed most, I've found out more as I've gone along and got more interested in accurate figures/ terrain. It's just a question of taking things one step at a time! Anyways...I like the direction you're going in, your blog is a great inspiration to me (and loads of other Bloggers) and I LOVE what you have done with Commissar Hark!
ReplyDeleteThey look mighty fine to me, great painting, love the basing too!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful work as always sir! You know, you have never really shared any imagery of those Russians you have painted in the past ;)
ReplyDeleteMy quick and easy polish urban basing seems lame. You may have to tell me how you did yours so I can match...
Your figs are looking great! Love the basing in particular.
ReplyDeleteAlso, many thanks for the blogroll add :)
Hi guys
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments, they are much appreciated.
I think we've hit on a nice thread here. I was pondering it all this morning and I came to the following conclusion.
"Knowledge is Power", or at least that's what we're told from a young age, the more we know the smarter (better) we are. Some folks take this to an extreme, allowing pride in their vast knowledge get in the way of the real point (fun playing a game, an interesting discussion, etc etc.). If we can acknowledge knowledge and let it inform us rather than drive us, we can be a lot better off when it comes to toy soldiers.
@HuronBH - glad you've found a group of like minded gamers. Makes it so much easier.
@Eldorad - Thanks, I did see that ; )
@John - Thanks for that info, what were the shoulderboards like on the later issue uniforms? I might mix them up a bit.
@Sidney - I'm liking the look of that cool WW1 pillbox diorama you're building!
@Ray and Brien and Jeff - more details on that basing to come.
Cheers
Dave
Dave-
ReplyDeleteM40 and later uniforms simply eliminated the dark green and used same as tunic color collars and shoulder boards, just using colored edging on the shoulder boards to denote branch of service (white for infantry) pants were made same color as tunic also.
John
Niece work there Dave, this are Nazies worth of killing by my 101st
ReplyDeleteAs for Hark - good job as well, but if I recall correctly he had red plasma in books?
I always thought Commissar Hark wore all white. I am almost 100% certain. He's kinda like a Contrast to Gaunt himself. I think when the character is first introduced he's in all white uniform. Dave you did a flawless job regardless he's wonderfully done.
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