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olicana
United Kingdom
Joined 01/02/17
Last Visit 03/03/21
25 Posts
Posted on 27 February 2017 at 16:46:45 GMT
Hi guys,

I've just posted a blog entry to mark the completion (less a bit of basing) of my 15th Panzer Division in 15mm.

It's the basis for the other DAK formations - out of this I can cobble together all of 21st Panzer and (except for a couple of bits and pieces that are still to paint) big chunks of Afrika Division ZBV.

Anyway the link to lots of pics and some blurb:http://olicanalad.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/r...

And a couple of pics that I hope you approve of:







toxicpixie
United Kingdom
Joined 09/03/11
Last Visit 17/07/21
2178 Posts
Posted on 28 February 2017 at 11:02:48 GMT
They look *very* spiffy!

I like those terrain boards, too.
olicana
United Kingdom
Joined 01/02/17
Last Visit 03/03/21
25 Posts
Posted on 28 February 2017 at 14:06:29 GMT
Terrain boards are the back of green TSS boards undercoated and painted with various shades of Wholemeal Honey Dulux household matt emulsion paint, all coats after undercoating being stippled on. From memory it was undercoat WMH 1, followed by stipples in WMH3, WMH3 & some left over magnolia, WMH3 and more magnolia. The effect is quite pleasing for something so simple to do.

I had the boards anyway, so I basically got the lot for the price of the paint, a cheap 4" brush and a flannel (completely knackered afterwards, the latter put at the bottom of the paint tray to help 'scrape off' the excess paint when stippling), and three or four hours work.
Ghengis Collis
United Kingdom
Joined 08/02/13
Last Visit 24/06/20
15 Posts
Posted on 01 March 2017 at 10:50:57 GMT
Your figures look amazing, are you going to be using Blitzkrieg Commander for the battles? I haven't seen the rules used at this scale.
toxicpixie
United Kingdom
Joined 09/03/11
Last Visit 17/07/21
2178 Posts
Posted on 01 March 2017 at 15:27:13 GMT
Very nice work! Wish I'd thought of that when i still made much use of my terrain tiles Grin
olicana
United Kingdom
Joined 01/02/17
Last Visit 03/03/21
25 Posts
Posted on 02 March 2017 at 10:07:31 GMT
Yes, I'm using BKC2. Battles are typically three to five battalions a side. Table is 12 x 6.
Ghengis Collis
United Kingdom
Joined 08/02/13
Last Visit 24/06/20
15 Posts
Posted on 02 March 2017 at 10:53:42 GMT
How did you decide on the basing sizes?
olicana
United Kingdom
Joined 01/02/17
Last Visit 03/03/21
25 Posts
Posted on 02 March 2017 at 14:08:36 GMT
Because it's the desert, base size isn't an issue in most circumstances (no hedged roads, etc.). Consequently, I decided base sizes in the following, completely arbitrary, manner.

I lined tanks up as close as possible without making them look like a 'wall', 'walls' of tanks being something I wanted to avoid. It turned out to be about 60mm a vehicle - which, base to base, gives a gap of about 35mm between vehicles. It was adopted as the standard base frontage for everything. Base depth varies - 75mm, 90mm, 60mm and 40mm depending on what it is.



Depth was decided by the longest tank, which in this case was a Crusader 1, so I adopted a general vehicle base depth of 75mm. Only the Sdkfz 9 needs a 90mm depth base, even motocycle combinations are on 75mm (2 to 3 models a base).



Guns are on 75mm, 90mm or 60mm depth depending on the model. (BTW, the 6mm red guns are off table battery markers. They sit in a little wooden box at the table edge as aide de memoire - it's quicker than writing a roster and more easy to mark as fired, etc.)




I did the infantry on 40mm depth because it looks about right. Also pictured a Btn HQ (75mm diameter) and a 2pdr on a 60 x 60mm base.



So that HQs stand out I did them on round bases. Battalion (Brit Regt) usually one vehicle are 75mm diameter; Brigade (German Regt) usually two vehicles are on a 90mm diameter, and each side has a Divisional / Group HQ on a 115mm diameter. FAO are on 60mm.

A German Panzer Regiment showing 2 Btn HQs and a 'Brigade' HQ:

A British Divisional HQ

FAO on a 60mm


So, no logic really. I just didn't want to ever see tanks lined up track to track, and a wide base stops it happening.
toxicpixie
United Kingdom
Joined 09/03/11
Last Visit 17/07/21
2178 Posts
Posted on 06 March 2017 at 10:40:03 GMT
Very handy, I like the 6mm guns for ammo markers idea!
Dr Dave
Wales
Joined 08/10/07
Last Visit 04/11/19
936 Posts
Posted on 06 March 2017 at 20:56:17 GMT
Great stuff, really impressive.

Your base size rationale is what I did with my 10mm desert stuff.

Any Italians? Gimme
olicana
United Kingdom
Joined 01/02/17
Last Visit 03/03/21
25 Posts
Posted on 07 March 2017 at 15:50:48 GMT
Not yet. The Germans and British had a recommended retail in excess of £2,300, though I did get a 40% discount (the pic below is what came in the first box - there was another that came later because I cleared Battlefront out of a lot of stock). The Italians will have to wait, but they will be my next purchase!



WW2 is a bit of a sideline for me. I just do a few bits here and there when I get bored of 28mm stuff for other periods. I've been painting this lot for six years and I doubt I'll finish them this year.
Dr Dave
Wales
Joined 08/10/07
Last Visit 04/11/19
936 Posts
Posted on 07 March 2017 at 19:07:52 GMT
A sideline? You have 15th Pz and call it a sideline!

You now have to post images asap of one of your main projects. Gimme
olicana
United Kingdom
Joined 01/02/17
Last Visit 03/03/21
25 Posts
Posted on 08 March 2017 at 10:48:57 GMT
Punic Wars (2100 figs)

Seven Years War (2600 figs)





These are currently my two largest collections.

My first Crusade collection is the smallest proper project currently standing at about 1000 figures (some of which is pictured here)........

....My Italian Wars project is probably my best known. It currently weighs in at about 1700 figures (some pictured here), but I have to put on a big game for The League of Gentlemen Wargamers later this year so I have another 400+ figures in the to do box before then......

............which has put back my next major project - The Peninsular War -

though I did recently purchase one or two packs (this box weighed in at 28Kg).


I have a few other bits and pieces, but they are really small 'side lines'. Like Ancient galleys.
toxicpixie
United Kingdom
Joined 09/03/11
Last Visit 17/07/21
2178 Posts
Posted on 08 March 2017 at 12:46:31 GMT
Ghu on a stick, what the heck do you do for a living?! Also, how'd you find time to paint that lot Grin Also, how has the entire house not subsided and sunk under the weight Grin

In no way am I jealous, just ignore the shades of green coming from this direction Wink
olicana
United Kingdom
Joined 01/02/17
Last Visit 03/03/21
25 Posts
Posted on 08 March 2017 at 17:53:53 GMT
Believe it or not - I paint war game figures, full time.

As for how I paint them. I sit down and do.
Dr Dave
Wales
Joined 08/10/07
Last Visit 04/11/19
936 Posts
Posted on 08 March 2017 at 19:21:09 GMT
stunning, really stunning Shock
toxicpixie
United Kingdom
Joined 09/03/11
Last Visit 17/07/21
2178 Posts
Posted on 09 March 2017 at 11:15:15 GMT
They're very nice Smile

Whilst I paint figures for money, it's no way enough to cover full time, just an adjuct to while away the hours for a bit of cash to cover the hobby really!

Sadly with the demands of actual work and family my own projects never quite get very far...
Dr Dave
Wales
Joined 08/10/07
Last Visit 04/11/19
936 Posts
Posted on 09 March 2017 at 18:49:13 GMT
Same here... bloody family Wink
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