The random thoughts of an ancient wargamer. Featuring rules, battle reports, and all sorts of miscellaneous wargaming (and other) topics.
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Wednesday, 6 September 2023
A flocking progress report: The Russian troops and equipment
I have now had the opportunity to photograph the Russian figures and vehicles that I have renovated, rebased, and flocked with cork granules, and here they are:
You have been a busy chap for sure Bob and they do look great all with the same basing mixture. Time to give the a run out on the table top, if you have the space and of course the energy?
I like the uniform basing material that I’ve used. It doesn’t look out of place on most types of terrain and experience indicates that it doesn’t discolour with age.
Hopefully I will be able to fight a battle or two with them sooner rather than later.
Cheers! The armoured cars were Russian diecasts that were originally sold with a part-work magazine. I bought them without the magazine from a branch of THE WORKS some years ago. I think that they were £5.00 each … but they might have been cheaper.
The support vehicles are almost all scratch-built. The trucks were built on the chassis of a model railway parcel delivery van that looked rather than Jones the Butcher’s van from DAD’S ARMY, and the remaining scratch-builds were made from ROCO and AIRFIX bits.
There’s still loads more stuff to come … but for the moment I’m going to rest on my laurels for a bit.
Bob, Nice work there on the Russian Bases- looking great progress- won't be long and you'll have a Battle or two with them all. Glad your Radiotherapy is going well Bob- hopefully it won't be long and you'll be in the clear and all better. I've yet to receive my Doctor WHO figures from England - getting very anxious- though hopefully they'll arrive soon. Cheers Mate. KEV.
I have drafted some rules and would like to try them out once I get used to having my day disrupted by my daily radiotherapy sessions.
We are currently experiencing a heatwave, and it is causing all sorts of problems for everyone’s prostate- related radiotherapy treatment. We have to have at least 250ml of fluid in our bladder before we can be zapped … but because everyone is sweating so much, most of us have to ‘fill up’ by drinking loads of water. My daily intake has been increased from two to three litres … which is not easy as plain water can be rather boring.
I hope that your DR WHO figures arrive soon. In the meantime, I hope that you’re getting lots of ideas for scenarios by watching DVDs of old programs.
Bob- 2 to 3 Liters in a day is a real lot- a bit of a struggle for sure. Yes, I've a number of DVDs to watch- two of them are about the 7th Doctor - I'll be painting up the 7th Doctor and his Companion 'ACE' when the figures arrive from England. Cheers. KEV.
I feel very full most of the time … and have to visit the loo quite frequently.
I quite liked Sylvester McCoy’s portrayal of The Doctor, and Sophie Aldred had a feistiness lacking in a lot of the other companions. The stories often had a dark side which also made them a bit more appealing.
Bob- Yes, Sylvester McCoy made a great 7th Doctor- my favorite episodes are from 'The Rememberence of The Daleks' as the story involved UNIT troops as well as 'ACE'. I'll enjoy painting these figures which I've been informed may arrive on the 11th of September. Cheers. KEV.
My favourite episodes featuring the seventh doctor were THE CURSE OF FENRIC and DELTA AND THE BANNEREMEN, and I thought that it was a great pity when the programme was cancelled in 1989.
Bob, I bought the DVD 'Silver Nemesis' for $25 AUS- unfortunatly it is faulty and I could only view Parts 1 and 2...however, worth it to see 'ACE' blow up a Cybermen Landing Ship with a back pack of Nitro-9...now I know what ACE is capable of doing in a scenario. Regards. KEV.
Is it possible to get a refund on your faulty DVD? It would be a shame not to be able to see the whole story.
I know a fellow Mason who knows Sophie Aldred (the actress who portrays Ace) as he is a Dr Who fan and an officer of the Fantasy and Sci~Fi Lodge. (Yes! Such a special interest lodge really does exist! The Deacons carry light sabres, the door guard is armed with a Klingon double-bladed sword, and the Minutes are published in English, Elvish, and Klingon!)
They all look very smart Bob. I very much prefer textured bases to plain ones, even when the vehicles are 'driving down a road'. They provide a uniformity which helps the figures and vehicles look like unit, even if the individual sculpting styles, colours etc vary somewhat.
Besides all the advantages you include in your comments, I find that having uniform bases goes a long way to disguising the different sizes of figures from various manufacturers and takes one’s eyes away from the variable painting styles.
Hi Bob Not my period, but an impressive collection of vehicles and artillery. I would prefer a shade of green, but I must admit that your flocking does look good. I look forward to a battle report in due course. regards Paul
The bases were originally painted green, but a greenish vehicle on a grass green base looked very dull. I have used static grass on bases in the past, but it sheds and static electricity causes it stick to the figures … and they can end up looking like rather hairy ‘things’!
Hopefully a battle report will appear in the near future … once our current heatwave comes to an end and I can stand being in my toy/wargame room for more than five minutes!
It's all looking great, Bob! I like your flocking - it makes a fine contrast with the green vehicles and even the brown Soviet uniforms. I might be forced closely to examine your heavy Komsomolets tractors with a view to making some for myself. My medium artillery could sure lord use some traction!
Hope the UK weather moderates soon - I daresay you could do without the complications arising from extreme conditions. Cheers, and all the best, Ion
Cheers! Now that it has been done, I definitely prefer the brown flocked bases to the green painted ones ... and I also think that the vehicles and figures look better as a result of the contrast of colours.
My heavy tractors were built on the chassis of broken or damaged ROCO PzKpfw IVs, and the cabs came from old Airfix truck kits. The bodies were made from bits and pieces from my spares box (I think that the sides were from some model railway wagons), the bonnet from bits of Plasticard and fuel tanks from the Airfix US half-track, and the radiators are from Airfix Matador lorry kits.
We have another couple of days of hot weather to come, and then - no doubt - it will rain for days. Whilst it is hot, I have to keep very hydrated so that by the time I have my next treatment, my bladder is pretty full.
Cheers! I agree that the contrasting colours look better.
Whilst it is quite so hot, I’m spending very little time in my toy/wargame room, but once things cool down I hope to add to the stuff I’ve already renovated, rebased, and flocked.
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Bob,
ReplyDeleteThat's a lot of flocking! ☺
Neil
Neil Patterson (Neil),
DeleteIt was … and there’s more to come!
All the best,
Bob
You have been a busy chap for sure Bob and they do look great all with the same basing mixture. Time to give the a run out on the table top, if you have the space and of course the energy?
ReplyDeleteSteve J.,
DeleteI like the uniform basing material that I’ve used. It doesn’t look out of place on most types of terrain and experience indicates that it doesn’t discolour with age.
Hopefully I will be able to fight a battle or two with them sooner rather than later.
All the best,
Bob
A fine looking force. I've said it before but I really do like the Armoured Cars and support vehicles!
ReplyDeleteMaudlin Jack Tar,
DeleteCheers! The armoured cars were Russian diecasts that were originally sold with a part-work magazine. I bought them without the magazine from a branch of THE WORKS some years ago. I think that they were £5.00 each … but they might have been cheaper.
The support vehicles are almost all scratch-built. The trucks were built on the chassis of a model railway parcel delivery van that looked rather than Jones the Butcher’s van from DAD’S ARMY, and the remaining scratch-builds were made from ROCO and AIRFIX bits.
There’s still loads more stuff to come … but for the moment I’m going to rest on my laurels for a bit.
All the best,
Bob
Bob,
ReplyDeleteNice work there on the Russian Bases- looking great progress- won't be long and you'll have a Battle or two with them all. Glad your Radiotherapy is going well Bob- hopefully it won't be long and you'll be in the clear and all better. I've yet to receive my Doctor WHO figures from England - getting very anxious- though hopefully they'll arrive soon. Cheers Mate. KEV.
Kev Robertson (Kev),
DeleteI have drafted some rules and would like to try them out once I get used to having my day disrupted by my daily radiotherapy sessions.
We are currently experiencing a heatwave, and it is causing all sorts of problems for everyone’s prostate- related radiotherapy treatment. We have to have at least 250ml of fluid in our bladder before we can be zapped … but because everyone is sweating so much, most of us have to ‘fill up’ by drinking loads of water. My daily intake has been increased from two to three litres … which is not easy as plain water can be rather boring.
I hope that your DR WHO figures arrive soon. In the meantime, I hope that you’re getting lots of ideas for scenarios by watching DVDs of old programs.
All the best,
Bob
Bob- 2 to 3 Liters in a day is a real lot- a bit of a struggle for sure. Yes, I've a number of DVDs to watch- two of them are about the 7th Doctor - I'll be painting up the 7th Doctor and his Companion 'ACE' when the figures arrive from England. Cheers. KEV.
DeleteKev Robertson (Kev),
DeleteI feel very full most of the time … and have to visit the loo quite frequently.
I quite liked Sylvester McCoy’s portrayal of The Doctor, and Sophie Aldred had a feistiness lacking in a lot of the other companions. The stories often had a dark side which also made them a bit more appealing.
All the best,
Bob
Bob-
DeleteYes, Sylvester McCoy made a great 7th Doctor- my favorite episodes are from 'The Rememberence of The Daleks' as the story involved UNIT troops as well as 'ACE'. I'll enjoy painting these figures which I've been informed may arrive on the 11th of September. Cheers. KEV.
Kev Robertson (Kev),
DeleteMy favourite episodes featuring the seventh doctor were THE CURSE OF FENRIC and DELTA AND THE BANNEREMEN, and I thought that it was a great pity when the programme was cancelled in 1989.
All the best,
Bob
Bob,
DeleteI bought the DVD 'Silver Nemesis' for $25 AUS- unfortunatly it is faulty and I could only view Parts 1 and 2...however, worth it to see 'ACE' blow up a Cybermen Landing Ship with a back pack of Nitro-9...now I know what ACE is capable of doing in a scenario. Regards. KEV.
Kev Robertson (Kev),
DeleteIs it possible to get a refund on your faulty DVD? It would be a shame not to be able to see the whole story.
I know a fellow Mason who knows Sophie Aldred (the actress who portrays Ace) as he is a Dr Who fan and an officer of the Fantasy and Sci~Fi Lodge. (Yes! Such a special interest lodge really does exist! The Deacons carry light sabres, the door guard is armed with a Klingon double-bladed sword, and the Minutes are published in English, Elvish, and Klingon!)
All the best,
Bob
They all look very smart Bob. I very much prefer textured bases to plain ones, even when the vehicles are 'driving down a road'. They provide a uniformity which helps the figures and vehicles look like unit, even if the individual sculpting styles, colours etc vary somewhat.
ReplyDeleteMartin Rapier,
DeleteBesides all the advantages you include in your comments, I find that having uniform bases goes a long way to disguising the different sizes of figures from various manufacturers and takes one’s eyes away from the variable painting styles.
All the best,
Bob
Hi Bob
ReplyDeleteNot my period, but an impressive collection of vehicles and artillery. I would prefer a shade of green, but I must admit that your flocking does look good. I look forward to a battle report in due course.
regards
Paul
Thistlebarrow (Paul),
DeleteThe bases were originally painted green, but a greenish vehicle on a grass green base looked very dull. I have used static grass on bases in the past, but it sheds and static electricity causes it stick to the figures … and they can end up looking like rather hairy ‘things’!
Hopefully a battle report will appear in the near future … once our current heatwave comes to an end and I can stand being in my toy/wargame room for more than five minutes!
All the best,
Bob
A fine looking collection! Looks like you have enough to represent an entire Front.
ReplyDeleteMark Cordone,
DeleteThere’s at least as much stuff still to be renovated, rebased, and flocked … and I have even more unpainted vehicles in my storage boxes.
This is a project that could keep me occupied for years … and I hope that it does.
All the best,
Bob
It's all looking great, Bob! I like your flocking - it makes a fine contrast with the green vehicles and even the brown Soviet uniforms. I might be forced closely to examine your heavy Komsomolets tractors with a view to making some for myself. My medium artillery could sure lord use some traction!
ReplyDeleteHope the UK weather moderates soon - I daresay you could do without the complications arising from extreme conditions.
Cheers, and all the best,
Ion
Archduke Piccolo (Ion),
DeleteCheers! Now that it has been done, I definitely prefer the brown flocked bases to the green painted ones ... and I also think that the vehicles and figures look better as a result of the contrast of colours.
My heavy tractors were built on the chassis of broken or damaged ROCO PzKpfw IVs, and the cabs came from old Airfix truck kits. The bodies were made from bits and pieces from my spares box (I think that the sides were from some model railway wagons), the bonnet from bits of Plasticard and fuel tanks from the Airfix US half-track, and the radiators are from Airfix Matador lorry kits.
We have another couple of days of hot weather to come, and then - no doubt - it will rain for days. Whilst it is hot, I have to keep very hydrated so that by the time I have my next treatment, my bladder is pretty full.
All the best,
Bob
Great progress Bob! I agree the contrast of the base/flock with the green vehicles is very effective. Keep on flocking...!
ReplyDeleteDavid in Suffolk,
DeleteCheers! I agree that the contrasting colours look better.
Whilst it is quite so hot, I’m spending very little time in my toy/wargame room, but once things cool down I hope to add to the stuff I’ve already renovated, rebased, and flocked.
All the best,
Bob