Hi everyone, yes I have been a bit quiet lately, life getting in the way of wargames, hate it when that happens. Here are three test models from the Warlord Games plastic Winter Germans boxed set. 

Model "A" is completed clear coated and based in a deep, fresh snow base style. Although I'm pretty happy with it I feel that there isn't enough contrast in the Great Coat especially at 4 feet in the usual poor light.

The two "B" models have not been clear coated yet and with the above in mind I have overemphasized the highlighting so as to hopefully still be good after the clear-coat try's to kill off all my good efforts. Just an officers hat to go (I hate it when you have to spend an hour working out what colour a hat is) then these three are done and its time for the other 27ish.

Having completed an entire podcast on clear-coat (here), I thought I would take Dan's advice an purchase a can of Tamiya TS-80 flat clear-coat. I gave it a try and it went well, having taken that medication (or placebo) I felt all better and have been enjoying the TS-80 flat and "not-so-much-colour-knockback" effect. Recently though I painted up 3 of the exact same mini and I thought it would be worth while doing a more objective test. Below are three soviet squad leaders looking out across the broken cityscape for danger in the form of enemy in grey. Click on the image for the supersized version. The minis are clear-coated as follows:

• One is sprayed with Testers Dullcoat
• One is sprayed with Tamiya TS-80
• One has not had any clear top coat at all

Needing To build upon the Waffen SS army that ive been working on so they can provide suitable enemy forces to my allies, I have been forging ahead, using the outside chance that I might get to Sydney for MOAB this year ( should it be run in the current COVID 19 circumstances!-Kids of the future ask your parents ;) as a deadline/ impetus to get the job done while in lockdown.

  Latest additions are some SS tank riders from the always-fantastic Offensive miniatures, and a pair of Rubicon models. I added the sdkfz 250/9 upgrade kit (also from Rubicon) as id always admired the build, and then having played against one in my chain of command game at Lard Island vs Richard Clark it looked so fantastic on the table i had to get one myself! 

Once armed it was full steam ahead to get the models put together. This was honestly the ONLY time ive ever had an issue using my plastic glue on the Rubicon models. I DID get the plastic magic glue as a back up purely due to the fact i couldnt get any trusty citadel glue. But my issue was the application of said plastic magic..Honestly; the bushes provided coupled with the fact the level of the glue is so low they barely make contact, then the glue dries barren so fast i just gave up! and later i did regret it; various parts didnt glue as well as previously.

I really cant complain as they quite clearly state this may be the case. Its just that IVE never had this issue before with citadel glue. never mind, got there in the end.

BTW- the pick in the pioneer tools on the opposite side to the photo shown below?..dont bother. it sits awkward on the stowage box on that side &  the hole guides they tell you to drill out are too big. MEH...leave it off and consider it stowed elsewhere from sight.

Incidentally; if you are wondering or had missed it ; YES! the 250/251 autocannon upgrade kits let you make  2 turrets each with cannon; 1x 250 alte , PLUS either a 250 Neu OR 251/23. good value. so ive kept the remainder so i can make a 250 NEU, as i believe the 251/23 wasnt actually produced except prototype. 

The schwimmwagon was lovely to put together also. Another fine model from Rubicon. One  suggestion i would have is leave the double-pioneer tools (on the side facing us in this pic) off until you apply paint and then the load /weight decal and then superglue the tools on. I didnt do this- my vehicle like many doesnt have the painted details intact. no issues. but if you want to apply the decal then try my suggestion perhaps.

I grabbed another vehicle i needed to spray up and got out my long-suffering airbrush and whipped up some;

Dunkelgelb ( VMA Dark yellow), zenithal  highlights adding a tiny bit of ivory to the 'gelb.

Green camo; Tamiya NATO green

Brown Camo; VMC Flat Brown / Chocolate brown in a 66/33- ish!  ratio .

i used some blisterpack sponge and chipped with;  

firstly; the dunkelgelb mixed with a little VMC Ivory...just enough to stand out slightly against both the dunkelgelb base and the areas of the zenithal highlight also.

then when dry; VMC Black grey was  sponged on.

 A Burnt umber oil wash was used in a 'standard' way that scale modellers use to define detail and plates of armour etc. 

When everything was done, then all the details painted in to satisfaction, i used Tamiya TS80 flat clear spray ( as i always do!) to seal and knock back the sheen from the  thinner from the wash and the paints themselves. I love this varnish. it doesnt kill the vibrancy of the colours but makes the model lovely and Matt- try it! 

( The Borgward Wanze only got the green cam for a last levy cam pattern)

Its a shame that this schimmwagon kit didnt come with any plastic sheet to create a windscreen. I dont know if Rubicon provide that with other light vehicles. I did have some spare from warlord opel blitz kits but of course- id just used it elsewhere! never mind; at the moment mines kicked out following damage, and ill add one later if i wish.

Heres some staged pics;

The subtle mud effect on the vehicles like all the ones i have done on this army are the "Vallejo Environment" product 73.826 "Mud and Grass", and a dusting from tamiya weathering makeup kit of dark sand and sand just to pick out tyre treads etc. 

Ive left the pair of optional pintle MGs of the swimmwagon at the moment, i can add them if i choose they just slip in and out of the pintle.

The tank riders work is underway and i aim to finish them off in the next few days.

Nothing more needs to be said after the last post. Have a great day enjoy your (relative) freedom. Rex 

Soviet cavalry conversion - first half finished, some quick "its nearly midnight" photos, I'm pretty happy with them. Just need to purchase three more the same and then to find some sabres from somewhere to stick on.

Click on the magnifiing glass for a larger image.

The paint guide is here (work in progress horse colours to be added shortly)

Dan reveals his finished Waffen SS force and his Beccas command models. We're really pleased to see Pauls progress after the op; good on ya mate! We are trying to get more content published to keep you motivated during these times, if you are enjoying it then please share it with others and subscribe for more! Stay safe, Rex & Dan. 

Come on a gaming (and driving) adventure with Dan and Rex as we talk about and prepare for Dan's week long gaming visit to Australia.

Listen in on a behind the scenes casual chat as we make the trip from the airport to home, our plans and aspirations for the perfect week of gaming, podcasting and YouTube…ing.
Learn why if you're not playing campaigns you're doing it wrong and our challenge for you. Hear all our hobby news and discussions about Stalingrad.

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Check in with Dans progress on Operation; Upgrade on the 2nd hand Waffen SS force, and as he introduces his Command models to support P Beccas. Get well soon! Hope you are ALL safe and well out there team.

In this time of limited physical product shipping Warlord Games is having a PDF & Ebook sale, most products 50% off not just bolt action either other games systems like black powder as well. I don't know if this was advertised and I missed it or if this is breaking news, either way its time to stock up on eBooks.

Bolt action:
https://store.warlordgames.com/collections/bolt-action/digital

Black Powder:
https://store.warlordgames.com/collections/rules-books/black-powder+digital

Warlords of Erehwon
https://store.warlordgames.com/collections/warlords-of-erehwon/digital

Pike & Shotte
https://store.warlordgames.com/collections/rules-books/pike-shotte+digital

Soviet winter army nearly finished.... here are all the extra spotters for my inexperience mortars and other indirect fire units (??). 

Most of these came into being with only 3 days to go until MOAB 2019. Finally getting round to finishing them off, just a few canteen lids and a clear coat once the weather improves. Then I have to go through the rest of the army and see what didn't manage to get a second highlight and finally 4 vehicles, OK perhaps not nearly finished but perhaps the beginning of the end.

Dan introduces a new painting challenge; how to upgrade a second hand Waffen SS force hes purchased and incorporate it into his current armies.

Join Dan as he talks you through his work on creating a fairly era-and-front flexible, generic Heer army force for the tabletop For future games of Chain Of Command and Bolt action. We hope you enjoy this. Stay safe everyone and pick up the phone and call a mate or a family member who might be alone at the moment and say hi. 

Regards, Rex and Dan.

 I got these magnificent trees as a Christmas present in 2018 now I'm rushing to get them ready for the game in about 6 hours. Don't call me a procrastinator I started 6 hours before I needed them!

 "Master Crafted" YouTube channel is reporting that easyarmy for Kings of war is now ready for 3rd edition.

He is saying that its moved to "the mantic website" (inferring that its official?) its actually just another a subdomain of easyarmy.com and not Mantic. 

It's now a freemium model as well.

If you are a fan of easyarmy have a look at this video. I note that its also saying "This is currently a closed Beta testing site and is not yet available to the public. " so make your own investigations.

 Miniature XPS foam building first time build! Rex has lots of fun and ends up with a great result. Check out the finished product in this reveal video. A classic Mediterranean building for Bolt Action, Chain Of Command or any other 28mm wargame set in the Med. Hope the customer is happy! :-)

Infamy, Infamy forthcoming ancient wargaming ruleset.

I have to say I'm intrigued, not to sure about another whole wargaming period but it sounds interesting and who doesn't like a Roman or two? Look how pretty they are!. Two Fat Lardies I'm going to need more than a shiny new cover to satisfy cravings for a new rules-set, videos, diagrams and odd-cast banter should do it?

​Well, the holiday period is a memory of a long time ago in a galaxy far far away for all of us now! Remember holidays?!..me neither.

However, as followers will note, I decided to make a crazy commitment to paint 12 seperate sets of models in my "Twelve days of Xmas " blogpost i did immediately before Christmas. How did I do?!!?....

Well; I failed. 

BUT; Did I ? in the post-new years resolution semi apocalyptic wasteland of Mid February, where guess many people are regrettably feeling down- I actually dont! Why? because i set a massive bold target that was always going to be a big ask. With the ethos that anything worth doing is worth overdoing, i threw myself into the task and achieved WAAAAAY more than i possibly would have if i hadnt made a public announcement of crazy intent!!

Between travelling to a seperate piece of the country, enjoying family time over the holidays  and then getting deployed to an exercise mid/late Jan i was hamstrung for carting large pieces of terrain and tanks on my paint list away. But, excuses aside, i feel like i 'shot for the moon and landed among the stars' anyway with the quantity i did get done. so without further ado heres what i got done;

Hope you agree and maybe you can relate or you might find it helpful to take another look at some of your projects you feel you 'Failed' at yourself and see them in a more positive light...remember its fun not life or death, and if you had a great holiday but ALSO suprised yourself with better productivity due to the challenge, then its got to be good for you! so i AM planning to do the "12 days of xmas " challenge again next xmas- whos with me??!!?

Regards, Dan.

Join Dan as he reviews santas gift to him; boxed plastic Red Army kit from Wargames Factory. Unsatisfied with the info Dan could find prior to ordering these, he's reviewed the kit , assembled , and compared it for size with others on the market in 1/56 and 28mm so you can get a real idea of whether this kit is right for YOU!

 Mantic Vs GW twitter