From SimonM: "FoW" Germans, Battlefleet Gothic & "Catalyst Games Lab" Battletech (32 Points)

For my seventh post I thought I’d step away from visiting any new worlds, and instead simply submit an eclectic mixture of miniatures I’ve been painting as test pieces for a variety of projects I currently have ‘on the go’. I find a variety of subjects really helps keep my hobby motivation high, and I always like to get a single base/stand sorted before ploughing full steam ahead.

My opening figures are the first of four (planned) sMG34 Machine-Gun Teams for my “Flames Of War” German Beach Defence Company. Unlike my other “FoW” German soldiers, the NCO was the only model initially super-glued onto wooden strips, as I wanted both the gunner and reloaded in position on their actual medium-sized base before I primed them all in “Vallejo” German Fieldgrey WWII.

The “Battlefront Miniatures” were then shaded using “Citadel” Nuln Oil, and dry-brushed with (more) “Vallejo” German Fieldgrey WWII. Their details were later ‘picked out’ predominantly using “Vallejo” Heavy Sienna, Gunmetal, Buff, German Camouflage Dark Green, Heavy Brown and a series of “Citadel” Shades. Lastly, I pigmented the sMG34 Machine-Gun using a combination of “Vallejo” Gunmetal and “Citadel” Nuln Oil.

Next up is a single space vessel I bought as part of a £30 job lot from my local wargaming store. They were sold as being “Battlefleet Gothic” models by “Games Workshop”. However, upon close examination they are clearly 3D printed imitations – with there being not a single Aquila in sight on any of them. All of the ships were roughly airbrushed to a tabletop standard (unless you looked underneath them), and several (such as this one) had snapped off their all-too brittle resin stands.

Due to their being enough miniatures to field two rather sizeable Imperial fleets, I have decided to paint half as Dark Angels and the other as Space Wolves. These two Adeptus Astartes chapters have a history of in-fighting and miscommunication, so I figured I could have them battling one another to begin with and then uniting against a common foe later on – should I decide to purchase some more vessels in the future.

This (not) Space Marine Nova-Class Frigate is 40mm in length and took quite a while to prepare for its “Vallejo” Dark Green re-prime due to my needing to drill out its broken stem first. Luckily, after the application of a small ball of green-stuff and some super-glue, I was able to permanently attach one of the widgets sold for the new “Dropzone Commander” flight-stands to its underbelly. The craft was then washed with “Citadel” Nuln Oil, dry-brushed with (more) “Vallejo” Dark Green and highlighted with Heavy Green.

To add some additional colour, and interest to the vessel I applied a mixture of “Vallejo” Gunmetal and “Citadel” Nuln Oil to its weaponry/engines, and some “Vallejo” Gold and “Citadel” Agrax Earthshade to its side emblem. I also gave the Frigate’s widget a couple of coats of “Citadel” Abaddon Black too, so as to better hide it on my Deep Space “Hotz” mat.

Lastly, I’ve finished three more 1:285 plastic “Battletech” Mechs by “Catalyst Game Labs”, and a couple of accompanying infantry stands too. All of these models will be used for a Weird War Two campaign I’m about to embark upon, which will start with an alternative invasion of Poland in 1939 by a combined forced of German Luftwaffe and Soviet war walkers. The Polish will field some pretty low-level technology – much of which will be infantry.

The Pather and the Wolfhound are both 40mm in height, and were primed using two layers of “Vallejo” Luftwaffe Uniform WWII before being shaded in “Citadel” Nuln Oil. Later on they were dry-brushed using (more) “Vallejo” Luftwaffe Uniform WWII with a softly-bristled make-up blusher brush. In order to add a bit of interest I decided to apply a coat of “Vallejo” Gunmetal to the duo’s gun-arms, chest-housed missile/laser system, vents and jets. These areas were subsequently washed with “Citadel” Nuln Oil. I also pulled out a German cross or two and some insignia from my collection of decals and managed to squeeze them onto some of the flatter areas of armour plating.

The Jenner is 31mm tall, and was undercoated in “Vallejo” Heavy Brown. It then shaded using “Citadel” Agrax Earthshade, dry-brushed with (more) “Vallejo” Heavy Brown and had its weaponry/air vents ‘picked out’ using a combination of “Vallejo” Gunmetal and “Citadel” Nuln Oil. In addition, I applied a mixture of “Vallejo” Heavy Bluegrey and “Citadel” Nuln Oil to its cockpit hatchway, and added a couple of Polish emblems to its torso.

The Elemental battle-armoured infantry are all 6mm in height, and were painted using the self-same colours as the Jenner. I did however, apply some “Vallejo” Sombre Grey to the super-soldiers’ smoke trails, before washing them with “Citadel” Nuln Oil. The jet-streams were then dry-brushed with (more) “Vallejo” Sombre Grey and some White too. 

Hopefully this latest AHPC entry will provide:

3 x 15mm FoW Infantry – 6 Points

1 x escorts sized ship (15mm gun equivalent) as per previous Battlefleet Gothic posts = 4 points?

2 x 40mm Mechs as per previous Battletech posts = 14 points?

1 x 28mm Mech as per previous Battletech posts = 5 Points?

6 x 6mm Infantry = 3 Points

Total – 32 Points

I think we all understand having a variety of disparate projects on the go. The gunners look great. I wouldn't have known that wasn't an 'official' BFG ship- good work on saving the flight stand. I really like all your mechs, but my favourites are the flying power armour troops! Your alternative WW2 campaign sounds fun.

Barks