Painting my Desert Terrain.

I started to paint my new Kerr & King desert terrain yesterday. I decided to try out colour schemes on the smallest of the 10mm range adobes so I wouldn't make a mess of any of the larger buildings where bad colour choices would be more apparent. I had two schemes in mind. The first was a spray of white primer with a coat of Army Painter Strong dip and then white dry brushing to bring out the details. The second was to spray the model with Army Painter Desert Yellow spray primer and then just dry brush white. (The colours in the photos are darker than real life.)



White & Desert Yellow primers

After I'd primed the models I painted the doors and windows and also the exposed brick work. I was going to try red brick but I thought that wasn't too appropriate for the desert so I went with a beige colour for a sun-dried effect.


Doors & windows done.

 

Exposed brickwork

Next came the dip on the white model which went on quick and easy. However the dry brushing on the sand coloured model took much longer than I expected. I was having to keep a lot more paint on the brush than I normally would. I also realised I should have waited to paint the doors and windows as the dry brushing meant they would need a second coat.

Dip done & dry brushing completed

The dipped model is actually lighter in real life but does have a dirtier look. The yellow isn't as strong on the other model either but it looks a bit 2-tone rather than having the graduated effect of the dipped model.

Doors & windows repainted

I felt the brickwork was too pale on the dry brushed model so I gave it a sepia wash which had the bonus of picking out some detail..

Sepia wash to the brickwork

Once the dip had dried I did a light dry brush white to pick out some details.

The exposed brickwork picked out by the dip.

The white dry brushing completed

Here are a couple of shots of the finished models. The dipped model is still dark and dirty but looks ok in normal light. The sand based model is ok but takes much longer to dry brush.

The 10mm scale adobes with a 105mm cannon

So have I made up my mind which scheme to choose? Well no, they both look good on the table but the dipping approach is much quicker which may be the deciding factor. I'll probably try the dipping approach on one of the larger 15mm models and see how it looks. I'll post more pics when i have them all done.

FoW: Breakthough

Monday night saw me taking on Adam's Paras again. This time however I was using my LW Panzerkampfgruppe from the Panzer Divisions Ost PDF. We had decided on 1750 pts and my force comprised:

HQ - 2 Panther D's

Panther Platoon - 3 Panther D's

Panther Platoon - 3 Panther D's

Anti-tank Gun Platoon - 2 PaK 40s

Rocket Launcher Battery - 3 Nebelwerfers

I don't have Adam's OoB but he had 17pdrs, 6pdrs, howitzers, a Pioneer Platoon and a few platoons of Paras with jeeps.

We set up the terrain and then rolled for the mission and got Breakthrough. Coincidentally Adam had set out the terrain with a river skirting one quarter of the table which made things interesting. I decided to set up the objectives in the quarter bounded by the river and deploy in the opposite corner. Adam deployed first and proceeded to line the edges of his zones with 17pdrs, 6pdrs & howitzers, filling in the gaps with his infantry. He obviously expected me to deploy my forces and make a run for the bridges over the river. But I had a cunning plan and decided to hold my Panthers in reserve as they could come on in the quarter with the objectives. The only problem was that they were delayed reserves and if I didn't get something on table in turn 3 I would probably have to face some of Adam's redeployed troops. I deployed my nebelwerfers and ATG's as safely as I could in the corner knowing that they were probably dead meat. As we didn't know if I could keep my CiC or 2iC with the reserves I also deployed those on table.



My initial positions.

I went first remaining stationary and my fire was ineffective. Adam's howitzers opened up on my nebelwerfers but only pinned them. He also started to hurriedly redeploy his troops across the river.

The start of Adam's redeployment.

Turn 2 saw me move my 2iC forward to MG some paras moving to threaten my guns causing one casualty. The rest of my fire was ineffective.  As I wanted to threaten some of Adam's forces to make him slow down his redeployment I assaulted with my 2iC causing his paras to fall back. Adam then killed the nebelwerfer's command team and pinned them again. He then assaulted my 2iC and after a few rounds of combat I'd inflicted some casualties but Adam had rolled well for morale, helped by British Bulldog rerolls, and killed my 2iC. The redeployment continued as well.

The Paras now control the objectives and look to soon
dig in on the hill to await my reinforcements.

Turn 3 arrived and of course no reinforcements turned up. My guns fire was ineffective but my CiC did MG another base off the advancing Paras. I then assaulted with the CiC and caused casualties but again after a few rounds of combat my CiC was knocked out. Great morale rolling again from Adam.
The redeployment continued with some forces starting to dig in. Fire from Adam's howitzers killed one of my Nebelwerfers. Adam then assaulted my ATG and killed it and as I failed the morale roll they were lost.


The Paras continue their advance on my guns



Paras dug in on the hill and in the woods with ATG's
lining the river banks awaiting my reinforcements.

Turn 4 and still no reinforcements. My nebelwerfers score their first hit which is saved. Adam digs in and then kills another nebelwerfer but the morale roll is good.

Turn 5 and my first platoon of Panthers arrive. MG fire kills a base of the Paras on the hill. The Panthers then assault the Paras and push them off the hill. Adam moves his unit out of the woods and bails one of the Panthers with a Piat, he also assaults knocking out one Panther but gets pushed back. He also kills my last Nebelwerfer. So now I am down two of my four platoons and both my CiC & 2iC are dead. But I know I'll get my last Panthers on table next turn.


My Panthers successfully push the Paras from their position on the hill.

Turn 6 and and the Panthers arrive, MG the Paras near the wood and then assault them. The assault is a great success and the Paras fail their morale check and break, clearing the objective. However Adam then kills one of the Panthers in the other platoon, I fail the morale check and it's game over.

At the end of the day Elite Paras with a British Bulldog reroll are always going to be a tough opponent. And Adam playing well didn't help :-)

Another good game with my Panthers, they're proving to be more fun than I expected. Next week though it's a return to Warmachine.

Kerr & King Buildings

Although I'm a fan of papercraft terrain I have just splashed out on a bunch of terrain from Kerr & King. The Exiles Gaming Group were putting together a club order so I bit the bullet and decided to invest in some 15mm & 10 mm terrain.

Their 'city in a box' deals are good value and I had a look at their range and decided on the desert set as I thought they looked the best (plus they're easier to paint). Also all the roofs are removable to allow you to place figures inside which is handy for FoW.

The package is £45 and for that you get the following:


The whole city

FoW objective marker

Medium adobe 'B' & courtyard

Large adobe & courtyard, it also has a 2nd floor which is removable



Medium adobe 'A' & courtyard

 

Small adobe

Walls & alternate roofs

I was only going to buy the 15mm terrain but when I saw the 10mm desert 'city in a box' I felt it was such good value at £27, and looked great, I just had to have it as well. Although my 10mm forces will all be European or ACW I justified buying the terrain by saying I could use it in an Imagi-Nations campaign. I didn't need much convincing!

Mosque & tower

Various buildings

Even more buildings

The full pack includes:
2 x Large 2 storey Adobe
2 x Single Level Adobe Large
2 x Single Level Adobe Small
2 x Split Level Adobe Large
2 x Split Level Adobe Small
2 x Additional Small Adobe
1 x Adobe Tower
1 x Mosque of Sidi Ben Ferdha

Now all I need to do is to decide how I'm going to paint them. I may spray them a sand colour and drybrush white or I may spray them white and give them a dark wash with white highlighting. I'll have to think about that for a bit. I'll try and get some WIP pictures up this week if I can.

New Troop Transport for Dystopian Wars

Spartan Games have announced the release of the first transport ship for Dystopian Wars. The Olympic Class Troop Transport will be hitting stores May 16th 2012. You will be able to place advance orders in the Spartan Games Online Store from next week. Below is the fluff relating to the model and a picture.

The Olympic Liner is one of the largest passenger ships ever created. Built at the massive Proctor & Mercer Shipyards in Middlesbrough, in the North East of Britannia, these impressive vessels have carried people over the seas in style since 1861. Proctor & Mercer built and sold over 30 of these majestic vessels around the world; every nation clambering to own and operate their own fleet of luxury cruise liners. One of the main selling points is the advanced technological design, and claimed robustness of the ship's hull.

However, the outbreak of world war saw many of the Olympic Liners refitted to fulfil a new role, that of a troop carrier. With its sleek lines and pioneering keel design, the Olympic Class Troop Transport cuts through the water at high speed, allowing it to efficiently deliver thousands of troops to war zones around the globe. It is not uncommon to see these giants of the sea being escorted by both a naval vanguard and fleet of aerial support craft en route to war.

I particularly like the line about the 'claimed robustness of the ship's hull'. You may notice some similarity to another ship which has been in the news recently. If you didn't make the connection here's a picture hint for you.


Leo & Kate's favourite ship.