Stuff on the table - January 2017 UPDATE

Here's the updated list for January:

• Cromwell Models 1/76th Pz IV (2014) - COMPLETED (AT LAST)
• Newline Designs 10mm Greek Hoplites (2015) - main painting completed
• Oathsworn Miniatures 28mm Burrows and Badgers Rabbit Heroine (2016) - cleaned and primed
• Oathsworn Miniatures 28mm Burrows and Badgers Toad Animist (2016) - cleaned and primed
• Artizan Designs 28mm WW2 Partisans (2013) - cleaned and primed

I don't need to say anymore about the Pz IV, there's five separate posts devoted to it. The Greek Hoplites were the first 10mm that I'd painted. They've been sitting on the table for months, but I finally got stuck in and have enjoyed doing them which is just as well as I have about 300 10mm Ancients to do! They just need the final details such as shield designs and basing and they'll be complete.

Additional items I worked on:

• Oathsworn Miniatures 28mm Burrows and Badgers Marmot Mercenary (2016)
• Oathsworn Miniatures 28mm Burrows and Badgers Fox Huntress (2016)
• Oathsworn Miniatures 28mm Burrows and Badgers Otter Mercenary (2016)

These were all cleaned up and primed with the usual thinned down Humbrol Enamel Matt Black brush painted on which I keep coming back to. The first 6 Oathsworn I did were primed with Army Painter Matt White primer but I think I work better over the black undercoat.

This month I feel that I spent too much time working on the blog rather than painting. That sort of defeats the object as doing the blog was supposed to focus me. But perhaps it was just the cathartic nature of getting the Pz IV done finally. 

1/76th Panzerkampfwagen IV - The Sequel

If you had more endurance than sense or were seeking a cure for insomnia and have stuck with this so far you may have wondered what happened to the Cromwell Models Pz IVH turret? 

I have an ongoing project to build some Berlin '45 terrain and on looking at the Battlefront Flames of War website I noticed that they produced a Pz IV turret bunker. That solved that , I hated the thought of that nice looking turret being consigned to the spares box for eternity.

I pulled the page up on the BF site on my iPad as inspiration and then measured and cut the pieces.  The top part was plastic card and the bottom part was cut from the the back of an old picture frame. I cut the bottom off the Pz IV turret to make it flush and then drilled a central hole with the pin vice. I was a little overzealous here and ended up drilling all the way through. This actually turned out to be helpful though as I placed this in the correct place on the bases and just drillled through the lot with the old pin vice. 

To add some texture I glued some wet and dry paper to each rectangle and then stuck them together with PVA.  When it was dry  I painted with various shades of grey. I think I used Privateer Press Bane Base and then Coat D'armes dark grey. I then drydrushed lighter shades of grey. The turret was attached with a piece of brass rod. I carefully filled the drill hole with green stuff and built up the missing piece of rim with green stuff.

The turret was basecoated with a mix of VMC Middlestone and VMC White and then washed with VMC Umber Wash. I used Citadel Devlan Mud to add further depth where required. I then added highlights with Middlestone mixed with more white. 

 

1/76th Panzerkampfwagen IV - Pt 4 (of 4) The End or is it?

So after painting both models I though it'd be a simple thing to add the schurtzen. Think again. When I lined them up I realised that one side fitted snugly and the other didn't. So I ended up hacking off all the inner supports and in the process cutting off one of the support rails. AARRRGGGGH. Luckily I'd had the sense to give the models a good couple of coats of varnish so I didn't do too much damage to the camo finish. They fitted quite nicely after that with liberal use of Super Glue.

You'd have thought that by now I'd call it a day. No I wanted more pain so I cut some 1mm wide plastic card strips to make the schurtzen rail supports.I slightly shaped each end and fitted with not so liberal use of Super Glue.

With plastic card side supports added

And that my friends was that, apart from when I was showing boring my wife with what I'd done I saw that the turret was missing a schurtzen support. So I had to make a plastic card one. And paint it. And while I had the paint out I added a number of highlights to all the edges. And that really is that.

Cromwell hull, Fujimi turret

Cromwell hull, Fujimi turret

Cromwell hull, Fujimi turret top view

Turret and both hulls

Fujimi hull and turret

Fujimi hull and turret

1/76th Panzerkampfwagen IV - Pt 3 (of 4) - it's a saga now

Right with all the fiddly, fussy, fixing done (or so I thought) I could get down to painting. 

First off I painted the tyres and rollers. These got the usual coat of Vallejo Model Colour German Grey (VMC 995). By using a brush with a decent point and keeping a small moistened brush to hand I managed to do these without getting paint all over the inner parts of the wheels.

For the main assemblies both of them had originally been painted in my usual Dunkelgelb finish which was Humbrol 83 Matt Ochre and Humbrol 34 Matt White mixed to about 65/35 ratio. On digging through my box of enamels I found that both tins of the fore mentioned colours had dried out! So I reached for the Vallejo and mixed VMC Middlestone  (VMC 882) with VGC White to get an ok if quite light base colour.

Base coated and looking very light

Using the Osprey Modelling the Late Panzerkampfwagen IV I chose the model that had the most complete set of photos showing the camo pattern from the most angles. This was a PZIV H from 5th Panzer in 1944 which fitted my gaming period. 

I started with the Cromwell kit and drew the pattern on in pencil then painted the colours in. I used Citadel Calthan Brown and Knarloc Green paints that I got cheap years ago when the last local toy shop closed down and they looked ok. I wasn't really too bothered about the correct RAL numbers as I was going to do a lot of weathering. Once I'd got the camo on I then applied a watery wash of the base Dunkelgelb to tone it all down. This worked better than I thought. The final stages were to apply various washes of VMC Umber Wash and then Citadel Devlan Mud to the areas I wanted to add more depth to. 

Fujimi (L) base coat, Cromwell painted

Fujimi with basic camouflage

Fujimi with Dunkelgelb wash

Using the Cromwell kit as the master I then repeated the process for the Fujimi body. 

I then painted all the tools, exhausts etc. Here's how the Cromwell kit was looking prior to adding the schurtzen where you can see the tools more clearly.

1/76th Panzerkampfwagen IV - Pt 2 (of 4) - fixing

Part 1. The Fujimi turret. Looking at the invaluable Osprey Modelling Guide no 38, Modelling the Late Panzerkampfwagen IV there wasn't too much difference between a H and a J turret. I simply removed the machine gun from the Fujimi model as both the H and J models detailed in the book didn't have one The H model should have zimmerit on the turret schurtzen but I can live without this, especially when you see how many wargamers have used non-zimmerit models for years.

Part 2. The Cromwell Pz IVH hull. This was a lovely detailed piece, with nice zimmerit and stowage moulded on. The only problem was the lack of side schurtzen. My initial thought was to use the ones off the Fujimi kit. However. these were supposed to represent the wire mesh ones that Pz IVJs had and were wrong for an H. Going through the spares box I found a set of metal schurtzen that came from an SHQ Sturmpanzer IV. Although slightly too small they had the correct number of plates (5) and would do the job. I bent some florist wire round the top of each schurtzen to shape it and then stuck it on the inside to represent the fixing rail. Fixing them was another matter but this would wait until the finishing stage.

Schurtzen  - before

Schurtzen - with rails added

The only other work needed on the Cromwell body was to drill a small hole and add an MG34 barrel from the spares box.

While I was doing all this I started to think about what I could do with the Cromwell turret and Fujimi body. I then decided that I'd repair the Fujimi body and paint it in the same scheme as the Cromwell body/Fujimi turret hybrid. That way I'd have a PZ IVJ to use if I ever wanted to. So I now increased my work load.

Part 3. The Fujimi Pz IVJ hull. When I removed the schurtzen I  pulled a couple of the track return rollers off one side and they pinged across the room never to be seen again. As I was going to model this without the side-skirts I needed to do some repair work. The surviving rollers were each made of two identical pieces glued back to back. By separating these it gave me the correct number of parts for a bodge/repair. For three of the rollers I removed the roller sections completely. I then attached a suitable size metal pin. Over this I slipped a small piece of plastic rod. Finally I added the correct roller. If you look closely and at a particular angle you'll see the rear roller is a little small but in normal use you'd never see it. I then straightened out and re-glued the tracks. 

Fujimi body with track rollers removed

Fujimi body with new rollers added

To finish the body I removed the flimsy exhausts, drilled holes and then slightly countersunk them to make them sturdier. Finally I added a new hull machine gun as above.

1/76th Panzerkampfwagen IV - Pt 1 (of 4)

Anyone that has read my start and end of month progress posts may have noticed the ever present Cromwell Models Pz IVH. I bought this back in 2014 and it's been sitting either on my table or at difficult times banished to a drawer ever since. I even referred to it as my bête noire at one stage.

Like all Cromwell Models offerings it's a lovely kit, so what was the problem with it? The problem was it needed a lot of work. As I wrote in September "It's a resin kit with incredibly fragile turret schurtzen. All of the supports were either broken when I got it or have broken just by looking at them. Additionally the model didn't come with the side schurtzen or with the supports on the model which is pretty poor as all Pz IVHs had them."

When I got my WW2 mojo back on in October/November time I had a burst of inspiration. I have a poor old Fujimi Pz-IVJ that has seen better days built many years ago. Why not use the best of each kit to make a half decent model? 

The kits as they have appeared since 2014 - Fujimi PZIVJ on the left, Cromwell PZIVH on the right.

So that's what happened and if you want to read on you can see what I did in excruciating detail - I want you to share my pain.

Stuff on the table - January 2017

Happy New Year - here we go again. After quite a productive December there's not too much stuff in progress on the table:

• Cromwell Models 1/76th Pz IV (2014)
• Newline Designs 10mm Greek Hoplites (2015)
• Oathsworn Miniatures 28mm Burrows and Badgers Rabbit Heroine (2016)
• Oathsworn Miniatures 28mm Burrows and Badgers Toad Animist (2016)
• Artizan Designs 28mm WW2 Partisans (2013)

The Pz IV is all but done just last details being added as I write this. I'm going to do a separate post on this model. It became a real problem at one stage but has turned out rather well.

 The Artizan Partisans are the last 28mm historical figures that I've got left and will be done as and when purely for the pleasure of painting. I have some Hordes and Burrow and Badgers left but nothing historical. For historical figures I think 2017 will be the year of 10mm to 20mm and nothing bigger. Well until someone releases something drool worthy in a larger scale that is....

What's on the table - December 2016 UPDATE

Not too bad a month, I completed 3 of my 5 key items and one of the additional ones:

• Newline Designs 10mm Greek Hoplites (2015) - no further progress
• Artizan Designs 28mm LRDG (2013) - COMPLETED
• Oathsworn Miniatures 28mm Burrows and Badgers Fox Rogue (2016) - COMPLETED
• Oathsworn Miniatures 28mm Burrows and Badgers Shrew Warrior (2016) - COMPLETED
• Cromwell Models 1/76th Pz IV (2014) - significant progress
• Artizan Designs 28mm WW2 Partisans (2013) - no further progress
• Battlefront 15mm British LRDG Ford V8 trucks (2016) - COMPLETED

Additional items I worked on:

• Oathsworn Miniatures 28mm Burrows and Badgers Rabbit Heroine (2016) - cleaned up
• Oathsworn Miniatures 28mm Burrows and Badgers Toad Animist (2016) - cleaned up

So that's it for this year. 2016 has been a strange old year in which the world has become a more uncertain place. Hobby wise it's been my most productive year since 2012. I've become more focused and I'm sure doing the blog has helped with this so it's served it's purpose and I'll be continuing it for 2017. 

I wish everyone a very happy New Year, all the best for 2017. 

What's on the table - October 2016

So we're into the last quarter of the year and here's the list of what's on the table as we start October:

• Cromwell 1/76th Pz IV H (2014)
• Newline Designs 10mm Greek Hoplites (2015)
• Oathsworn Miniatures Burrows and Badgers Adder Mage (2016)
• Oathsworn Miniatures Burrows and Badgers Otter Rogue (2016)
• Oathsworn Miniatures Burrows and Badgers Weasel (2016)
• Revell 1/76th Comet (2014)

Oathsworn Adder, Otter and Weasel primed and ready for painting

Ah, the Cromwell Pz IVH bless it. Stlll there and still not much happening. I periodically inspect the ultra-flimsy badly fitting turret shurtzen, scratch my head and then put it back on the table again. It's a pity that overall it's such a nice model as I'd be tempted to use it as a wreck otherwise. I'm also tempted to hybridise it with an with a poor old Fujimi Pz-IVJ that has seen better days. If I put the two together I may get a half decent model.

The Matchbox/Revell Comet has been a nice kit to do and that should be finished this month. I think I bought it with an idea of a 1946 Red Army v Brits "what if" scenario. This will be the third British tank I've built this year and will do a write up on the 3 kits at some stage.

I'm still thinking about the 'Nam project, just finished reading Matterhorn and waiting for what Peter Pig release before taking this any further. I believe that PP are revamping their 'Nam range November time. I have a couple of packs of PP WW2 figures that I purposely bought at Salute just to see if I can still paint this scale so I'll try and fit them in during October which will help my decision making. 

I've also been mulling over finally redecorating and revamping the room where I do my painting and modelling.  I bought a filing cabinet off eBay a while back for the purpose of organising my 15mm and 20mm collection and it's sat there empty. With the weather and light changing I think it'll be good to start sorting that out. I'm also playing with the idea of seeing if I can find a nice old desk to replace my current uncomfortable painting table and chair. It's all towards the greater good.

What's on the table - August 2016

Here's the list of what's on the table as we start August:

• Privateer Press Hordes Satyr Shadowhorn (bought 2015) 
• Oathsworn Miniatures Burrows and Badgers - Ferret Rogue, Fox Brigand and Mouse Knight, (bought 2016)
• Airfix 1/76th Cromwell Mk IV (bought 2014)
• Revell (Matchbox)1/76th Sherman Firefly (bought 2016)
• Cromwell 1/76th Pz IV H (bought 2014)
• Airfix 1/76th Opel Blitz (bought 2015)
• Revell 1/144th Bf-109E (bought 2015) 
• Revell 1/144th Hawker Hurricane  (bought 2015) 
• Newline Designs 10mm Greek Armoured Hoplites (bought 2015)

I only managed to complete the 2 figures in July.  For August my aim is to complete the Cromwell Mk IV, Sherman Firefly and Opel Blitz as a minimum and also make some real progress with the Oathsworn Miniatures figures. 

What's on the table - July 2016 UPDATE

Updates to the original list:

• Privateer Press Hordes Titan Gladiator and Cannoneer – COMPLETED - HURRAY!!!
• Privateer Press Hordes Satyr Shadowhorn – no further progress
• Oathsworn Miniatures Burrows and Badgers - Mouse Knight, Ferret Rogue - no progress Fox Brigand – good progress, all base colours complete
• Cromwell 1/76th Pz IV H – no progress
• Airfix 1/76th Cromwell Mk IV – minimal progress, 2^nd base coat applied
• Airfix 1/76th Opel Blitz – no progress
• Revell 1/144th Hawker Hurricane – minimal progress, primed
• Revell 1/144th Bf-109E – minimal progress, primed
• Revell 1/76th Sherman Firefly – minimal progress, 2^nd base coat applied

 Additional items I worked on:

• Newline Designs 10mm Greek Hoplites - good progress, cleaned and primed

Titan Cannoneer

What's on the table - July 2016

Here's the list of what's on the table as we start July.

• Privateer Press Hordes Titan Cannoneer (bought 2014)
• Privateer Press Hordes Satyr Shadowhorn (bought 2015) 
• Privateer Press Hordes Titan Gladiator (bought 2014)

• Oathsworn Miniatures Burrows and Badgers - Ferret Rogue, Fox Brigand and Mouse Knight, (bought 2016)

• Airfix 1/76th Cromwell Mk IV (bought 2014)
• Revell (Matchbox)1/76th Sherman Firefly (bought 2016)
• Cromwell 1/76th Pz IV H (bought 2014)
• Airfix 1/76th Opel Blitz (bought 2015)

• Revell 1/144th Bf-109E (bought 2015)
• Revell 1/144th Hawker Hurricane  (bought 2015) 

The eagle eyed will spot that it's virtually the same list as for June minus the Pak 40 and picket fencing which was all I managed to complete. Whereas June was all about assembly, July should be a lot more pleasurable as I hope to get down to some proper painting. The aim is to complete any items that I bought in 2014. 

I have to admit that I'm itching to start a new project and have been looking into the possibilities but I'm trying to be good and not buy anything until I clear the table of what's in progress.

What's on the table - June 2016 UPDATE

Updates to the original list:

• Privateer Press Hordes Titan Gladiator and Cannoneer - minimal progress, working on skin tones
• Privateer Press Hordes Satyr Shadowhorn - minimal progress, base coat of skin
• Oathsworn Miniatures Burrows and Badgers - Mouse Knight, Ferret Rogue - no progress Fox Brigand - minimal progress, base coat of fur and jerkin
• Renedra picket fencing - completed
• Cromwell 1/76th Pz IV H - no progress
• Airfix 1/76th Cromwell Mk IV - significant progress, assembled and base coat applied
• Airfix 1/76th Pak 40 - completed, pic with SHQ SS PAK crewmen below
• Airfix 1/76th Opel Blitz - good progress, assembled and primed

Additional items I worked on:

• Revell 1/144th Hawker Hurricane - good progress, assembled
• Revell 1/144th Bf-109E - good progress, assembled
• Revell 1/76th Sherman Firefly - significant progress, assembled and base coat applied

All in all June was a mixed bag of a month on the hobby front. On the personal front it was a month I'm pleased to see the back of. Early in the month we lost a much loved family member. And in the most extreme case of "cutting off your nose to spite your face" in history, the UK voted to leave the EU with a period of uncertainty now guaranteed. It certainly put my hobby angst into perspective. 

What's on the table - June 2016

• Privateer Press Hordes Titan Gladiator and Cannoneer (bought 2014)
• Privateer Press Hordes Satyr Shadowhorn (bought 2015)
• Oathsworn Miniatures Burrows and Badgers - Mouse Knight, Ferret Rogue and Fox Brigand (bought 2016)
• Renedra picket fencing (bought 2014)
• Cromwell 1/76th Pz IV H (bought 2014)
• Airfix 1/76th Cromwell Mk IV (bought 2014)
• Airfix 1/76th Pak 40 and Opel Blitz (bought 2015

This is what's currently sitting there in various degrees of completion at the moment. How much gets done depends on all those usual factors like work and normal life. Springwatch has started and then the Euros football starts next week so that;s already cut my hobby time down

I find it good to have some targets to help focus and I've being using a spreadsheet to track my collection for a number of years. Any new item gets logged and I track it through from purchase to completion. I'm currently working on completing all my 2014 buys while balancing it out with some newer bits. Once I get the 2014 bits done, the plan is to finish something within 18 months of buying it. I have got some bits pre 2014, but with those it's more a case of not wanting to part with them than really being motivated enough to get on with them!