These 15mm French were one of my key goals for this challenge, and I've knuckled down over the past few weeks to get them done. They're from PSC's Commands and Colors: Great War game, and are in soft plastic. I was heavily influenced by James White's painting technique. The bases are Vallejo Dark Earth paste drybrushed with VJ US Tan Earth.
First, les Poilus: 52 riflemen.
Squad specialists: Elites, marksmen, grenadiers, and Chauchat LMGs.
An ammunition handler and engineer.
Hotchkiss MG teams. I resculpted the front tripod legs using green stuff and 1mm plastic rod as the original figure just had a flat triangle.
Crapouillot ("little toad") 58mm trench mortar teams.
Flamethrower! The first time I have tried this technique. I soaked some clump foliage in black paint and PVA, then drybrushed it white/ yellow/ orange/ red. It is affixed to the base with a small nail and has a styrene rod running through it. I'm really happy with the outcome.
Officers. The binoculars have two spots of gloss white.
Staff Officer- this is a metal figure from PSC's original Kickstarter. I based it on General Foch, and I think it came out OK for 15mm!
But that's not all! I picked up some tanks from PSC (Schneider CA1 and a Saint Chamond) and Battlefront (two Schneider CA1s). I made up the camouflage scheme, and am really happy with it. The PSC tanks had no machine guns, so I drilled out holes and added 1mm plastic rods.
I've got one PSC Schneider CA1, and two from Battlefront. The PSC one is diecast pre-assembled, and the Battlefront ones are resin hull with metal MGs and tracks. They are very similarly proportioned, but the Battlefront ones have more pronounced rivets and deeper detail on the front grill. They were harder to assemble. I added the front posts from H-column strip styrene on all the Schneiders.
They'd be perfect for WW1 What A Tanker!, but are in an unacceptable scale... 😔
Finally, the hex tile groundwork is a 3D printing project I've commenced to make a full battlefield with 'proper' trenches. I won't score it yet, but maybe later this Challenge...
On ne passe pas!
94 Infantry 188
4 vehicles 32
From guest grognard minion DaveD
Oh my... now thats a sight to behold a proper points bombe! Cracking work Barks , lovely blue on this smaller scale to make it stand out. There so much to like here and I am not sure which is my favourite - Foch , flame-throwers or tanks .. hmmm ... I think its the flamethrower.. extra 10 minion points for the tank camo , and a brilliant job on the flamethrower.
First, les Poilus: 52 riflemen.
Squad specialists: Elites, marksmen, grenadiers, and Chauchat LMGs.
An ammunition handler and engineer.
Hotchkiss MG teams. I resculpted the front tripod legs using green stuff and 1mm plastic rod as the original figure just had a flat triangle.
Crapouillot ("little toad") 58mm trench mortar teams.
Flamethrower! The first time I have tried this technique. I soaked some clump foliage in black paint and PVA, then drybrushed it white/ yellow/ orange/ red. It is affixed to the base with a small nail and has a styrene rod running through it. I'm really happy with the outcome.
Officers. The binoculars have two spots of gloss white.
Staff Officer- this is a metal figure from PSC's original Kickstarter. I based it on General Foch, and I think it came out OK for 15mm!
But that's not all! I picked up some tanks from PSC (Schneider CA1 and a Saint Chamond) and Battlefront (two Schneider CA1s). I made up the camouflage scheme, and am really happy with it. The PSC tanks had no machine guns, so I drilled out holes and added 1mm plastic rods.
 |
| Saint Chamond |
I've got one PSC Schneider CA1, and two from Battlefront. The PSC one is diecast pre-assembled, and the Battlefront ones are resin hull with metal MGs and tracks. They are very similarly proportioned, but the Battlefront ones have more pronounced rivets and deeper detail on the front grill. They were harder to assemble. I added the front posts from H-column strip styrene on all the Schneiders.
 |
| Schneider CA1s. PSC on the left, Battlefront centre and right. |
Finally, the hex tile groundwork is a 3D printing project I've commenced to make a full battlefield with 'proper' trenches. I won't score it yet, but maybe later this Challenge...
On ne passe pas!
94 Infantry 188
4 vehicles 32
From guest grognard minion DaveD
Oh my... now thats a sight to behold a proper points bombe! Cracking work Barks , lovely blue on this smaller scale to make it stand out. There so much to like here and I am not sure which is my favourite - Foch , flame-throwers or tanks .. hmmm ... I think its the flamethrower.. extra 10 minion points for the tank camo , and a brilliant job on the flamethrower.
Holy crap Barks that’s awesome stuff! That flamethrower rocks, your technique work aces and those tanks are beasts.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Peter! I like a splash of colour on my drab battlefield.
DeleteFantastic camo on the tanks,love Foch but the flamethrower is tremendous! Not to detract from all the pilous in any way and not a GW skull in sight!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Thanks, Iain! I've got two German flammewerfers to do yet.
DeleteGreat stuff.
ReplyDeleteCheers, Paul!
DeleteSacre Bleu, great looking flame!
ReplyDeleteMerci, Fran!
DeleteReally fabulous stuff Barks! I have found the shift down from 28s to 15s quite challenging but you have absolutely nailed it mate!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I think I had a step too many, but my goal is to get some real contrast between dark shadows and the highlights.
DeleteKaboom! Tremendous work.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Greg!
DeleteWonderful stuff Barks :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tamsin!
DeleteGeneral Foch is excellent. Nice poilus.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much!
DeleteThese are superb Barks. I love that you're using the Command and Colours minis - they look to be quite good castings on the whole. Great work on the HMG and flamethrower mods as well. What rules are you using for these?
ReplyDeleteAt this stage, just the Commands and Colors rules!
DeleteThat's a lot of French! Well done!
ReplyDeleteChristopher
Thank you!
DeleteThese look great, top work
ReplyDeleteThanks, Martin!
DeleteExcellent work on these! The Horizon Blue looks spot on and I really like the camp on the tanks.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Moiterei!
DeleteBrilliant work Barks! General Foch is very good indeed but the pick for me is the flamethrower.
ReplyDeleteI think he’ll be a big artillery magnet! Hopefully this will allow his comrades to advance unharmed.
DeleteStunning painting work, look like 28s at first glance
ReplyDeleteThanks very much, Benito!
DeleteLike those a lot Barks, great stuff 👍
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ken!
DeleteGreat work Barks!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Samuli!
DeleteWhoa, that is a very good rendition of Horizon bleu! Great figures Barks!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much!
DeleteGreat work, the camo on the tanks is aces.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Stuart, it was fun to paint.
Delete