Sd.Kfz 234s

Small little beauties I painted about a month ago, which I had totally taken close up pictures of.

These are one of my most favorite units in the war, and if anything, I believe we still see the influence of armored recon cars like these in modern armies, certainly in European armies. The modern German Fuchs armored car is basically a modernized 234/1.

Even the 234/4 with a 75mm has a modern impact - case in point the French armored cars in the modern army. The ERC-90 "Sagaie" with its 90mm gun, and the AMX-10RC with its 105mm main gun stand to prove that armored "cars" with large guns still play an important role. And if anything, combat performance of both the ERC-90 and the AMX-10RC in Africa has been stellar.

For the actual color scheme, I went with a different green and brown than what I have used normally in previous paint jobs for Flames of War. This time around, I went with more muted down colors. The "dunkelgelb" is basically Citadel Kommando Khaki washed down, and Doombull Brown as the brown/red and Deathworld Forest green. The green doesnt really show up much, but with the wash they clearly stand out, and it really fits a more "Late-1945" theme as opposed to my previous paint work.

The images above show one patrol, of which I have two. I love them to bits, and the 234/4 in Flames of War is certainly not something to underestimate.

French army juuuuust about finished

Good news everyone! I have fixed the poison slime pipes almost finished my French army for Lasalle.

My core division is now done with 6 battalions (3 Ligne and 3 Legere), and a light cavalry brigade (2 chasseurs-a-cheval and 2 hussards). This has allowed me to begin working on my next army - the Austrians, an Avant-Garde division to be precise.

Current state of the army

Light Cavalry Brigade on the left, Core Infantry Division on the right

The two Chasseurs-a-Cheval regiments I'm really happy how they turned out. I was debating on which colors to use for the facing, and after much debating on between red, orange and yellow, I settled for orange and red. I think the regiment with orange facings really look totally cool. I think the red made it a bit generic, but still, I think they'd totally fit right in my army too.

I also finished off the 3rd battalion of the line infantry (though I may have the battalion flag colors... wrong? Was the third battalion flag red, or blue? Such things I probably should've researched more). Also finished up the second battalion of my light infantry regiment, as I prefered how the colors look, compared to the first iteration of the color scheme which I felt was a bit too dark. Ended up giving the second battalion a little more "old school" pre-1805 style etendard.

Chassuers-a-Chevals

Legere battalion 1 and 2

All in all, I'm mighty proud I started a 10mm napoleonics project. I was really uncertain earlier on how it would size up and look, and in the end, I think it adequately give a 'massed' feel. I also concluded that I wont be doing anymore Legere like I did using mixed figures in a "engaging formed line". The white piping on the boots and all those extra details felt absolutely tedious as hell, and was not fun at all. Besides, I think my current 1 Line to 1 Legere ratio is a bit too much, and I'll be trying to go for a 3:1 ration from now onwards. Legere regiments were less common after all.

Core Infantry Division

Light Cavalry Brigade. Dragoons aren't pard of this brigade, but I wanted to paint them up anyways

I still haven't painted any generals, as I'm waiting the arrival of the ADC (Adjudant-Chefs Aide-de-Camps) pack from Magister Militum as well as excellent bases from Renedra (http://renedra.co.uk/ - seriously check those guys out for cheap and excellent plastic bases in all formats). That way with some ADCs, I can have a nice diorama style General de Division, and brigade generals from appropriate branches (cavalry general, infantry general). As I'm also working on some of my own rulesets that is more about leadership and command & control, having additional aides and generic ADCs would be excellent as well to have around. My generals will be based on circular bases, 20mm and 30mm if I remember correctly what I ordered.

I also have some more French infantry (Pendraken) and voltigeurs (Magister Militum) that will be arriving - those will be painted up and put into an Elite Infantry Brigade. I plan on using mixed miniatures of the line and line in greatcoats to make a proper rag tag group of veteran soldiers, probably of the 57e Regiment d'Infanterie de Ligne, and use the voltigeurs pack as the 9e Legere in irregular/skirmishing formation. After purchasing Austrian Jaegers from Magister Militum, I think I prefer the more varied poses in their skirmishers.

I also have a regiment of the Eclaireurs-de-la-Garde-Imperiale arriving from Magister Militum, but thats more of a non-army list related project. I've always been interested about that regiment, and of course, I love variation and unique snowflake units.

For my Austrians... I derped and did not take them with me to take pictures, but I'll post some pictures when I'm done with them. Suffice to say, they're looking pretty good. I'll see about getting some pictures tomorrow.

Also have some pictures of my finished Flames of War German armored cars, but that'll be in a different blog entry for the sake of organization.

Quick update on this week's progress

A little update on my work so far from my week-long holiday (until this Thursday 20/11) -
Finished one line infantry battalion. Finished one line Chasseurs-a-Cheval regiment. Second regiment is being undercoated as we speak - and I should be finished with it tomorrow evening I think.

So thats like what, 3 regiment/battalions (ie 12 bases) in a week? Quite productive I'd say! During my work schedule, I was fitting in maybe one infantry battalion (4 bases) per week! Though I do have to admit, I can't bring myself to do French infantry back to back. It's just too tedious and mind numbing in a way - so I'll be working on my last and final french infantry (legere) battalion this coming weekend, before switching to work on Austrians.

That said. . . . my magister militum order for French generals arrived! Woo! Though... I expected a little more variety in the French generals pack. It's a 12-model pack, but come in two poses of six each. They are I suppose meant to be division and corps-level generals so I'm okay with that. I ordered an Aide-de-Camps pack to spice things up and to give me brigade level generals for my armies and my upcoming ruleset (which I really need to work on, instead of painting....).

I think I'll be using spare cavalry and officer models as well as ADCs in various colorful uniforms. But I'll keep those for a rainy day when I don't feel like painting the same camo, oops, uniform color (too much Flames of War!) over and over. I noticed that having one-off general/hero models brings back the desire to paint when suffering from a mild burnout. Painting an entire battalion or platoon of tanks when suffering from a mild burn out just makes it worse - but painting a unit of two recon cars, or a single hero figure makes painting fun again.

Anyhow, pics of my progress! They haven't been based because that can wait. I just want to get painting done.

I really enjoy hand painting flags now. And painting the trumpeteer was just fun.

I was a bit apprehensive of going orange at first, but I'm really happy with how it turned out. You can really feel that effect of massed infantry too. I love it.

Unique Snowflake Syndrome when painting armies?

So I'm currently on a week-long holiday (much deserved).

I have so far been rather productive, although this blog entry will have no pictures - as I'm not fully finished with my current work. Pics will be taken when I return back on friday!

So far, over the course of the past... 4 days, I've managed to paint up another line infantry battalion (3rd of my line infantry regiment), and currently I'm half way through a Chasseurs-a-Cheval regiment (these are awesome btw).

My stuff has indeed arrived from Pendraken (awesome service as always), though I have to say I'm greatly disappointed with Magister Militum. I'm going to have to write them an email regarding my order. I've ordered stuff about 3 weeks ago now, and I've sent a package to a friend living in Holland, and that apparently reached him... and not me. So whats up with that?

Anyhow, the stuff from Pendraken that arrived consisted of.... a couple additions of figures to complete my 3rd battalion of light infantry, 2 regiments of chasseurs-a-cheval, and then enough figures to make two large Austrian "hungarian" battalions and a regiment of Austrian hussars. Plan is to polish off my French army with these chasseurs regiments, a last light infantry battalion, and maybe a horse artillery unit and commanders... and that should be it for now. Going to be focusing on Austrians next as a change of pace. Going to be trying out a different technique using white undercoat spray and black ink. Might turn out good, or terrible... one way to find out.


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The Unique Snowflake Syndrome... when it comes to painting, does anyone else get it? By this I mean having super unique and cool units that aren't "regular" "of the line". Special units, special forces, elite super troopers and stuff. For example, I love painting light infantry for napoleonics... but they're meant to be a little more 'rare' than the common line infantry. But by having unique units everywhere, they're no longer unique. I don't quite mind painting line infantry, but it's just so... boring? If that's the word I'm looking for? They feel generic, and common. I suppose its why that should I paint another line infantry regiment (with 3-4 battalions), I'm going to have to mix them up with great coats for a more tattered look. Just like when I paint my current line infantry, I add some brown pants, shako covers and such to make them "different". Painting the hussars are definitely fun, but again, they weren't the most common units. I'm not sure I could bring myself to paint 4 regiments of dragoons... but maybe I could be wrong? Two regiments of Carabiniers and Cuirassiers to form a brigade.. could be possible if I'm careful not to overdose on repetition.

I think this search for unique units can be best seen in my 6mm Imperial Guard Division - just about every battalion is different and colorful. Was a blast to paint, I have to admit. But they do look and feel the part because the rest of the army is "generic"... well, as "generic" as it can be seeing as off the top of my head, it has about 5 battalions of line infantry, and 4 of light infantry.

Eventually I think regarding my line to light infantry ratio, I'm trying to make it about 2 line infantry regiments to a light infantry regiment.

Or am I completely over-thinking this?

Additions to Napoleon: Total War tabletop?

More units!

What? More units? More units!

This time around, finished up some Dragoons (not sure what regiment. . . shame on me), and finished up the 2nd Hussar regiment. I also finished up a second battalion for my line infantry, putting my little army at three cavalry regiments, and four infantry battalions. It's really looking the part.

Units left to do until army "completion":
- x2 Chasseurs-a-Cheval regiments
- x1 Line Infantry battalion (to bring the regiment to three battalions)
- x1 Light Infantry battalion (to bring the regiment to two battalions).

Oh I should mention, the flags on the new units are hand-painted.

2eme Regiment de Hussards

2eme Regiment de Hussards

Line Drgoons

The current Light Cavalry brigade, of the 1er and 2eme Regiment de Hussars

The army so far

Gaming and Battles all round - Flames of War

I have begun to play Flames of War fairly regularly now. Usually it's once every other week, and occasionally it's once a week on Fridays.

My gaming partner is in the same boat as I - that is to say, more painting, and gaming as a side entertainment. Lately, however, we've started to really begin 'playing' the game. Learning the rules, experimenting different army list compositions, different tactics. It's been fascinating, and it has shown me a way to appreciate the game that is Flames of War better.

I really enjoy the game, especially having battles on Friday evenings after a tiring week at work but I can't say I find the actual rules super engrossing, as I feel that its very... "generic" in a way.

I don't like how the game basically forces you to play and finish the game in under six turns. I understand that it has "2 hour tournament" play in mind, but I suppose I was expecting something a little more realistic. Its crazy how 3 turns to get reinforcements almost feels forever.

Not that I'm saying I don't enjoy it, because I do, but I understand more why I had begun painting more than gaming in the first place when I started to really get obsessed with the miniatures hobby. I used to game WH40K a lot back then (almost 8+ years ago), and I had found that the game was too abstract, and there were a log of rules munchers that would find some obscure loophole to screw you over. That's certainly not the case with the person I play with, but it'll take some time for me to warm up again and to really appreciate the gaming side of the hobby.

Meanwhile though! I have my own 10mm napoleonic rules I'm still trying to work on. It's taking its sweet time as I continue to decide how I want to do it, but there is some progress.

Still, I enjoy being able to bring out various armies due to my huge collection, and test out different tactics and just enjoy the game for what it is.



In the meantime... here are some pictures of my last FoW game:

SS panzergrenadiers defend the objective (truck), and fortifies the house, while being covered by a Tiger

Russian motor rifles advance through the field through machine gun fire

What is this? A T-34 advance? Excellent, come closer!

21cm Nebelwerfer battery and Tigers

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