Monday 7 March 2016

From Anne O'L-Warlord British Paratroopers (20 points)

One might expect that my continued interest in painting figures for Operation Market Garden is due to the work of Cornelius Ryan in A Bridge Too Far.  Admittedly, it is his work that introduced me to the historical events that took place in an operation that cost so many lives.  However, it is the work of Geoffrey Powell in his book Men At Arnhem, that has moved me the most and has convinced me that I must see this project through.

Because I have no experience in painting cammo, I chose to first complete three test figures  Although I am not entirely pleased with the results, it is a start and I know I can improve with practice.

Figures are 28mm and are from Warlord Games.



I shall paint a few more advancing figures to work out the bugs in my technique before tackling my PIAT and light mortar teams, the only defense these troops had against the might of German tanks.  

Just prior to the onset of the Challenge, I purchased It Never Snows In September by Robert J. Kershaw.  The demands of the brush and real life interrupted me after reading only the first chapter.  Come March 21st I shall pick the book back up and will likely go on a shopping spree for German figures.  Please pity my husband as I have also developed an interest in Frostgrave and have the first figure on the painting table now.

These three figures net me 15 points.  Plus a few for the overall impact.
Wow you have done it again Anne, vibrant paint work on dulled down camo.  These are just fantastic, as usual.  I am particularly impresses with the shading in the creases of the trousers, and of course the iconic red beret.  Great overall impact combined with great fin e detail work, what more can I say?  Please ma'am, I want some more?


24 comments:

  1. Great work again Anne, your figures have a quality to them I don't see in others work, they seem "warmer" for lack of a better work. Lovely work.

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  2. Beautiful work Anne. I like the vibrancy of your style with the subject matter. I've worked a lot with this camo scheme as the French wore a version of it in Indochina. As a suggestion for the Denison, try a thin wash of 'Earthshade' or acrylic Armypainter 'Darktone' after you laid down the camo triad of colour, I find it helps tie them together.

    I read 'A Bridge Too Far' when I was 14 and remember being so impressed with how Ryan wove it all together. Kershaw's work is a bit of a grind, but it has some excellent first-hand accounts of the battle from the German perspective.

    I look forward to seeing more from you on this theme!

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    1. Thank you for the suggestion Curt. As it is, the cammo looks like it's just sitting on top the fabric and not part of it.

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    2. Anne - given that the brown and green patches were painted onto the fabric it doesn't matter so much if it does look as though it sits on top :)

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  3. Very fine work on them, Anne! The camo looks very good, but like Curt wrote a comparable hue wash will tie the camouflage together nicely. For green and brown earthshade is really good!
    I hope you do a model of the British officer that strode all over the bridge with his umbrella. I laughed reading the book, and even moreso watching the film with the German machine crews' " Vas iz Das?!" ;)

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  4. Very nice work (and excellent choice in books!)

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  5. Incredible as usual Anne. My fascination with Operation "Market Garden" and desire to game that setting is topped only by my dread of the bonkers British cammo...these look lovely. Can't wait to see the rest of the force!

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  6. Nice work on these test figures Anne :)

    Denison camo isn't easy, but you've made a very good job of it :)

    Just one niggle - that beret looks a bit too bright red, possibly highlighted too far? Maybe start with a very black/purple red and highlight from there - you should be aiming for a deep red wine colour.

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    1. You're right, it is way too bright. I went to far on the highlights and really should have done a final wash with Secret Weapons Blood Red to fix it.

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  7. Very nice work with the Anne! The camo really looks spot on!

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  8. they are fabulous!

    I had some of them on my painting schedule, now they will be painted later ( perhaps in a next life ;-) )

    in reality the color of the french red beret is of the same red you used and we can see in the middle of the beret and the shade, the british red beret is more "brown red".
    but I love your paintwork anyway;-)

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  9. Totally brilliant troopers Anne! You've delivered yet again.

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  10. Very nice painting. And very effective the cammo fits your style well.

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  11. Anyone who can manage a Dennison smock gets a big pat on the back from me! Wonderful work, Anne, but we've come to expect nothing less! : )

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  12. Whatever the inspiration is Anne it certainly works. These are simply wonderful.

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  13. Thank you all for your comments. The cammo really had me worried, especially since I bought so many British troops. I have no choice but to keep at it!

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    1. And once you get them done, you can have the fun of chucking dice with them against waffen ss ! ;)

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  14. Really nice painting. Another good read is Pegasus Bridge. Incredible bravery those Para's had.

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  15. Good Lord you keep on doing this. Excellent, as for It Never Snows, I really enjoyed it so hope you do too

    Ian

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  16. Cracking work on the Devils Anne!

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  17. Stunning entry Anne! To my eye the camo looks spot on and I second the call for more of this!

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  18. Such wonderful rich tones again!

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