This is Minuteman: Two-Three

 Since my wargaming hobby has taken a back(far back) seat to my simming hobby, I've gone from reading books about the Napoleonic wars etc. To listening to audio books on aerial warfare. I've digested many many books the last two and a half years, lots of WW2 fighter books, some WW1, some modern, some Vietnam, some extremely impressive flying, and bravery. But by far in just pure skill and technique no books have impressed me more than the audio books I've listened to about Vietnam Huey pilots, the insane control and dramatic stuff they've done. It's just pure extreme skill flying. 

So in the end I couldn't resist anymore and needed the Rubicon Huey. really far above my skill level to make. Took a long time, had to take a break to wait for more black to prime them. And I broke part of the rotor as I took it off the spur, I also lost one of the windows. And with the clear glass, painting the inside. Yeah far far more complex, than the tanks I'm also not very good at doing. 

I'm not that happy with the build, but I am quite happy with the paint job, had to buy a new high end airbrush as my cheap one broke after just 2 tank paintings. 

So here it is. 

Going in for landing

Since my infantry is 101st, so my Huey had to be too.

Laying on my belly, in the garden, blending wargaming terrain with the weeds.

And a video of the Huey, still no Vietnam in DCS, we have several more or less correct aircraft for it, and more will come the F4 is around the corner, with A1 Skyraider coming, so is the A7 and F8, and F100

So I made a cold war gone hot scenario, with a large Huey formation putting infantry in the ground for a large assault. 

Not Completely dead

So, I've been mostly gone, I haven't done any real painting for 11 months now, havn't done anything sine I did those 30YW figures.

My flight sim hobby and stress makes it hard to have the energy to sit down and do some proper work.

But I did get tempted by the Rubicon Vietnam range. I got a box of US Army and a Huey. 

Slowly working on the Huey and I've done a whole 4 US army figures, I used to be able to churn out 20-40 figures a week...


Anyway here are the figures. Hiding in terrain from warpaintfigures, my Army platoon with be 101st Airborne.

I tried to do a little squibble on their shoulder that kinda looks like the screaming eagle patch. but it's on the wrong side of the figures from the photo. 

Anyway I hope to have something more from the project soonish.

Well its been a long time.

 But I've finally finished something, 1 full 12-man US rifle Squad.

I'll probably field squads of 9, to simulate casualties, the 1ID had been in Normandy almost 2 months by the time of Cobra, which is the thing I'm aiming at. 


Oh and I also finished a Sherman, my first 1:56 scale tank done with Airbrush.

I'm just gonna photo dump the pictures. next up will be my attempt at Panzer lehr using the Wargames Atlantic panzer lehr, it's questionable if they all used their fancy unique uniforms. But since all other german 28mm miniatures are grotesque bear-men unless I do fallschermjegers or SS. I went with these as they match Perry in style. If I ever do find regular Heer infantry that looks somewhat human I'll add them. 

Send in the guards

Guilford court house here we go again. 
Attempt nr. 20 or so at doing this battle, this was in fact my second ever project. Never got far, I've tried to do this battle in 6mm, 10mm, 28mm(several times) and 40mm.
I'm giving it a go!
The last time I did AWI was back in 2014 so 7 years now! I have evolved a lot as a painter since then. Though I still find the tight sitting legwear hard to do well. 
I'm sticking mostly with the OOB from British Grenadier scenario book. With the only planned modifications being halving the 71st from 24 to 12, as the scenario book apparently used the strength for both battalions and not just the one present at the battle. I'm also giving the British 2 6pdrs and 1 3pdr, instead of 2 3pdrs. This is based on the OOB in Long, Obstinate and Bloody book, which is a fantastic piece of history writing. 
I'm sticking to the 1:20 scale in the scenario book and default for the rules. It means the British will only be about 130 figures strong. So slightly bigger than a Napoleonic brigade. Or even smaller in some cases. But hopefully, that will means I actually get things done. I ordered most of what I need for the Brtish, only missing the artillery, legion infantry and cavalry, the 71st and generals. But I have miniatures for both guard battalions, 23rd, 33rd, von Bose, hessian jaegers and British light infantry, as well as the flags for all those plus the 71st. I also ordered enough continental plastic to do the two Maryland regiments, again with some flags. So I really have no obstacles to do a lot on this project except myself. and me seeing "squirrel"

I had bought a box of perry British infantry randomly when I ordered something completely different. Which was nice as I could start on the project while waiting for the main order to arrive. First up was the 1st battalion of guards.

Tiny 12 figure battalion.

I'm glueing together figures for the 33rd now. 

TV killed the radioman.

More work done on the Vietnam project. I'm a little under half done with the Marine platoon.
I'm missing 1 grunt to complete the first section, But I have now Section leader, quite a few grunts, 2 M60s, 2 M60 helpers, a blooper and Platoon commander with radioman.

The platoon commander is calling to HQ asking for better rations. The men are threatening mutiny.

First of 3 bloopers done.

 Ammo support gunner for M60.

I now mostly have regular grunts left for the platoon, in fact, except for the bloopers and a corpsman all the remaining guys in the platoon are just grunts.

Slightly less than half the platoon. 

Just some better photoes.

Just some better photos of the marines.

Back "in-country"

So I painted 4 more Vietnam figures. making the total 11, or roughly 1/4 done. I'll probably go for an understrength platoon with field setup instead of the official. I'll probably go for 2 sections of 12 men, with M60. And one with 10 without an M60, as well as Platoon headquarters etc. 

 Pictures are a little boring as the printer is out of toner. I tried to use a blue background to remove it in photoshop. But my skills are not up to par. And it didn't look good.

Besides the basic platoon. My support options will be an extra M60 team. 60mm mortar team and an M113. I think I have ordered enough from Empress to complete that goal.

Just a quick trip to NAM

As has happened before, sometimes you just see some figures you have to have.
This time it was Vietnam US Marines from Empress.
I ordered 12 just as a test taste, and they tasted good.

I ordered a Vietnam paint set from AK, that I really like too.
The first two got 6 or 7 shades for green, I think it looks very good, I tried to simplify the two others with just 4 layers but feel the contrasts became too big. The uniforms could be even lighter, But I feel they get very light OD if you continue to lighten it.  I'll definitely order more to complete the platoon Since they are on single bases, I can use both Chain of command Vietnam rules or bolt action Vietnam rules.

 The figures are very nice, 

Light up the tree line!

More AOR2 SEALs and gun

So another two figures this time back in PC but with out the fancy NVGs and silencers.

Not much to say, still not 100% happy with the AOR1 and 2 cammo.

But I am happy with the cammo paint on the guns.

And this is my airsoft gun as it looks now, she got a paint job, a SMR rail, EoTECH, PEQ15, grip. Still needs to add a few more things to it. 

Greenside SEALs

 WOW, 3 posts in 2 days, I'm back baby!
Last post was fast attack SEALs, in plate carriers and helmets, for urban fast missions, these are more long range Greenside, the figures are Force recon marines from Eureka, but I painted them as SEALs in the same AOR2 uniform as the first figs.
The rigs and backpacks are in Olive Drab.

 I used diffrent colors on the guns, some have lighters shades more green, others are more tan.

 This guy stands out, he has AOR2 trousers but AOR1 jacket. I got the idea from watching Lone survivor were some of the SEALs had a mix of dersert and woodland cammo.

 The pack also comes with another fig, but he is in marine cap, and so does not fit in.

Really out of practiced

 Not having painted much for month and a half is not good.
Here are some SEALs in the AOR2(my attempt at AOR2) the AOR2 is alot like MARPATm but with out the brown spots ect. These are the SEAL TEAM 6 figs, with fancy panorama NVGs. Based on the SEALs that killed Bin Ladin. I'm not satesfied with the uniform,

 The figures apear to be useing Crye uniforms, which are the ones SEALs use, the uniform comes in two styles AOR2 as seen here, the "woodland" version, and the AOR1, the desert version, and the one the real SEALs used on that mission.