Thursday 26 February 2015

From PeterB - Empress Miniatures Moderns (50 Points)

Hello All. It has been a fair while since my last entry as the return to work after Christmas saw a whole-scale change/re-structuring get underway at work, and thus all hopes of keeping up with the Challenge had to be abandoned. This last week though I have managed to get some painting done - a squad of  Empress Miniatures Modern US Infantry and 2 Humvees, also from Empress Minis.

Previously I had painted some of these figures in the older 3-colour desert BDU with Woodland pattern bodyarmour, but didn't have the patience this time around, so instead have gone with a 'representative' (i.e. quick) effort at UCP. This much reviled pattern is now being replaced by a Multicam variant similar to what British troops are wearing now (having already been abandoned by US troops in Afghanistan since about 2009/10, after concerns about its efficacy had surfaced among troops and politicians). So these figures will feature in Skirmish Sangin or Force on Force games set in 2004-2009, as well as the eagerly awaited Chain of Command adaptation for modern COIN ops, Fighting Season.



Fire Team Alpha plus Squad Leader



Fire Team Bravo

I have another squad of these, plus a Platoon HQ element, a couple of MG teams and a sniper team on the go; some might even get finished for today!


From Curt:

Excellent work Peter! I really like these castings from Empress and you've done a very nice job on them. I was unaware that this earlier US camo pattern had caused such a fracas both with the troops and politicians - very interesting. I like that you've included the oddly coloured buff boots that seem like such a signature piece of kit from this period.

Where are the Humvees you mentioned?

I'm not huge into modern gaming but I still sucumbed to a few castings from this range, just because they look so good. With Too Fat Lardies coming out with a modern version of Chain of Command maybe I'll get some much-needed impetus to get them done.

Good job!

15 comments:

  1. Thanks Curt. The UCP pattern has been quite controversial in its short lifetime, not least because of the price tag involved in developing, issuing and then withdrawing it, followed by developing a new kit and issuing that!
    Sorry about the missing Humvees - the next post I have submitted explains all.

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  2. I really like the cammo effect you have on these guys well worth clicking for the bigger image

    Ian

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    1. Thanks Ian. I thought it would be a nightmare, but compared to doing MTP, it was pretty straightforward. Vallejo Green Grey, Vallejo Pale Sand and then Green Grey applied with a bit of sponge packaging from a blister pack and a final wash with GW Nuln Oil.

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  3. This just goes to show Empress miniatures will look good in any camo! And you have painted that horrid camo very well.

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    1. Thanks Clint - the Empress minis do tend to shine they are such good castings!

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  4. Top work Peter! They look suitably low key but you've brought out a lot of the detail which is present and *meant* to be obscured.

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    1. Thanks Mike - high praise indeed from such a top painter - I'm dead chuffed!

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