The Heavy Brigade 1: 6th (Inniskilling)Dragoons.

Part of a small commission to paint up some figures to represent the Heavy Cavalry Brigade at Balaclava. First up, the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons. Figures from the Great War Miniatures Crimean War range. Figures to be based elsewhere.

179 Brigade Command Base.

Brigade Command base, 179 Brigade, 60 Division, 1917. Brigadier General FitzJames M, Edwards CMG DSO, his Brigade Staff and the Brigade signal section. Figures from Great War Miniatures, Copplestone Castings and a newly released figure from Footsore Miniatures with a slight modification to the headgear.

Pushing the putty. Having a go.

 Over the past few days, the great Paul Hicks has posted a few WIP images to explain how he does things. Inspired by this, I took a dolly from Ebob (I had some in a drawer), a head from Woodbine designs (I know my limitations) and some greenstuff and had a crack at making a driver for one of my Model B FWD trucks made by John Hart. I am rather pleased the end result. Not a lot of detail needed on a figure sat behind the wheel of a truck! I am so pleased that I intend to make four more. The really good part is that these drivers will be made to fit the vehicles rather than hunting for something that might fit. Thanks Mr Hicks!

Footsore Miniatures WW1 Tommies (perhaps the last batch). Part 2.

Tommies marching, firing and a Vickers team.

 

Footsore Miniatures WW1 Tommies (perhaps the last batch).

 It is really sad that Footsore Miniatures seem to have permanently retired these lovely sculpts from Paul Hicks. Sometime ago they were withdrawn as the chaps from Footsore said that the moulds needed work....two years later, they still appear  on the website but are still labelled "unavailable". No doubt they are more excited and interested in pursuing  their new ranges.

These three packs (the Battalion Command pack, Command pack and the Lewis gunners) are destined for their "forever home" far away and will be based by their owner. There are three more packs to paint (Tommies advancing, Tommies firing and a Vickers team) and these will follow shortly. It is a pleasure to revisit these figures again without swapping heads! This may be the last time.......

Old Glory 28mm Japanese Cavalry in 1886 pattern uniform.

These are not the best sculpted figures on the market and indeed some of the poses are a little odd and their swords look like pieces of timber, but they are some of the only figures I know of that represent Japanese cavalry at the turn of the twentieth century suitable for the Boxer Rebellion. It is quite a colourful uniform. The same could be used for the early part of the Russo-Japanese War. Ordinarily I would not have painted up these figures (because I am a bit of a snob when it comes to figure quality) but they will form part of a tabletop force that I have painted up other units for so it was a matter of completing the job to help add to the collection.

FWD Model B 3 Ton Truck. The brilliant work of John Hart.

I have always liked the look of this vehicle as used by the British Army from 1915 to 1919. I have even attempted to scratchbuild a few models in the past but I can not come anywhere near to the skill of ace model maker John Hart who, when at a loose end, took up my suggestion that he try to make a model of said vehicle. On Saturday, a box containing FIVE of these beauties arrived with the Postie. Scale is 1/56. There are some extras to come with this truck but until they are done, I remain silent.

First up, some photos of a model before painting, and then some images of the same model with a lick of paint. 

Empress Miniatures French Indo China.

 Some more of these rather good sculpts from the talent that is Paul Hicks. French paratroops for Indo China. I am starting to enjoy painting camouflage.