Winston's Wrath

This beast is the plastic Churchill tank from Warlord Games.  You can build seven different variants with this kit, but in this case the most "generic" build was the request.  

I believe this is the welded turret, with the 75mm Sherman gun.

Here's a link, which should also show you some of the variants that are possible: 

https://us-store.warlordgames.com/products/churchill-tank-plastic/?utm_campaign=jamiet&utm_medium=click&utm_source=fbba

I painted this with the Mig AMMO oil washes and filters, and also the OilBrushers.  I really enjoy that combination of products, since it offers so much flexibility in approach!

For those who have seen my live facebook painting sessions, you know that I like to take the same sort of watercolor approach, by splashing the filters and washes across the entire surface at once, quickly blocking in the darker tones, and tinting along the way:

https://www.facebook.com/james.wappel/videos_by

This is even more important on potentially "bland" vehicles like this, where you have a massive amount of one color.  The rapid application of those washes, and the subsequent layers of OilBrusher paints allow me to create a number of variations in the tones... some warmer and some cooler.

There are plenty of raised areas that allow for streaking and other discoloration, thus breaking up those larger surfaces.  Where I was going to add effects such as dirt and mud, I tried to make those greens a bit more blue, so that the warmer mud tones would show up just a tiny bit more.

The view from above shows the addition of the leaves, punched from actual pressed leaves using the Green Stuff World leaf punches.  They were attached with sand and gravel paste from Mig AMMO, which I really love.  To tone them down and create even more texture, I fleck a little bit of weathering powders onto the "pile" as well.

These are lighter and darker dirt colors, which help to give the appearance that the crew have been climbing onto the tank.

The markings were also pretty generic, since this was a commission piece, and I was not given any kind of specific unit ID to follow.  This British force is a bit of a hodgepodge, blending many different units together.  Still, I enjoyed painting this a lot, and the tank commander was a nice addition too!

Stripey!

I did a number of "color test" skinks for the Lizardman army as that massive project moved along.  Each unit was suposed to have a different look, as I had placed a special character in each one of the Skink and Kroxigor units... such as a skink priest or a chieftan.

There were some restrictions on what color patterns would work, based on the various types of skinks and Kroxigor sculpts.  These skinks were more conducive to stripe patterns, but the newer skinks had more texture, so it limited the stripes a bit.

As far as the Kroxigors go, they had much more texture, so stripes were even more problematic there!  I had to stick with color transitions instead of actual patterns.

Norway's Day

On Norway's National Day, it is only fitting to have another member of the Narvik force join the fray.  This is from Gorgon Studios, which has an entire range of early war Nordic Campaign figures.

Painting these figures has been quite different from most of the other armies that I have done so far.  In some ways, these early war uniforms more closely resemble policemen, with the exception of the color.  Some of the illustrations at the time have more of a First World War appearance as well.

This army continues, to grow, along with the French Foreign Legion in the sheepskin and anorac.  More to come, so stay tuned!

And to all my Norwegian friends, best wishes!!!

Hoof and Horns

Next up is another Beastman from Mierce Miniatures.  This is yet another member of the massive winter theme army that crosses several miniature lines.

He is certainly one of the more unique Beastman figures that I have painted, mostly by virtue of the large horns/tusks on his back.  It was an interesting and unusual way to make him more distinct from the "grunts".

Just a few more regular figures from this unit to go before the group shots, so stay tuned...

It ain't easy being Green

This old classic was one of the first figures we tried 'hiding' the broccoli bases back in the day, around 2003.  Until then, we didn't know that you could do that, or saw it off that base and pin it to a new one.  It was quite the revelation so long ago.

I used this figure are part of the "Painting Orc and Goblin skin colors" video.  It was a great opportunity to show how to get a lot of variety in those greens, but also incorporating contrasting colors, like purples, etc.

I had a lot of fun making interesting bases for these... at some point I will have to see if I can scare up any pictures of those old trolls that we painted 12-13 years ago!

He's also here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/222509172492?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649

Taking Shape

It's time to show off the first painted Shapeways tank!  This is the Panzer II, which was 3D printed by Mike Pennock, AKA Arctic Squirrel on Shapeways.  I had a lot of fun painting it, and it accepted primer, weathering powders, and oils very well...

Here's a link to the live painting broadcast:

https://www.facebook.com/james.wappel/videos/vb.1056181987/10210083481257662/?type=2&theater

As I mentioned in the original "unboxing" post, these are no hassle figures, with no assembly required at all!  I washed it with soap and water, and that's it.  The primer (Badger Stynlrez) worked like a charm.

It was very interesting to work on these road wheel/track assemblies, since they are much more "open".  That is the advantage of the 3D printing.  Instead of a 'flat' set of wheels, these are more independent.

The scale of the tanks are all 1/56, which is Bolt Action scale.  Here is a post that show how well they match up scale wise with Warlord miniatures and vehicles:

http://wappellious.blogspot.com/2017/04/reshaping-future.html

The views from above show some of the Green Stuff World leaf punches at work, adding some additional textures to the upper hull surfaces.

On this vehicle, I used the weathering powders mixed with  rubbing alcohol along with the Mig AMMO OilBrusher paints.

Now for some size comparison shots.  The Panzer II matches up very well with the Resin/metal Panzer 38t from Warlord Games.

A few infantry miniatures as well to show you how easily they can all be integrated together.

This early war German force is really starting to come together, as I have since painted the tiny Panzer I!  The expanding range of early war vehicles and artillery pieces means that soon the Wehrmacht will be ready to storm across Europe...

Stay tuned for more links to live painting episodes on Facbook!

Not so fast, But quite furious

Another of the old style Lizardman Cold One Saurus riders for you today.  These were a crazy collection of plastic and metal parts, mostly making them very topheavy!

I tried to get some extra counterbalancing weight by making the sculpey/cork basing, and by the usual magnetization.

This was part of a unit that won my very first Golden Demon, way back in 2007.