Tuesday, 31 March 2015
Far far too long...
It’s been far far too long since I did any work on my IJA and consequently on this blog but progress albeit slow has been made. I have recently completed my Type 4 Ho Ro, I experimented with some new airbrush techniques, added some crew and some decals and it’s easily the best looking tank I have painted so far.
I also added some decals to my Chi Ha and it really helps breaking up the swathes of green paint. Pics to follow tonight.
I also did a quick head count of everything I have and everything that I need to paint and the end is in sight, albeit on the horizon. I just need to finish my US Para Squads first…
The current painting list of this lead addicted wargamer is thus:
2x US Para Sqds of 8 men each
2x US Para LMG teams
1x Sherman
1x Baron Nishi
27x Japanese Peasants with Bamboo Spears (a mixture of Perry and Black Hat)
1x Type 92 Light Howitzer
1x Japanese MMG
1x Kempetai
30+ Plastic Japanese infantry
10 Japanese Jungle Fighter infantry
1x Heavy Howitzer
I want to add in some 3x Ha-Go, probably another two Chi Ha for tank wars, and other bits and bobs as they get released but by and large the army is complete.
In the meantime, courtesy of Mike at Trouble at T'Mill some better shots of my Type 92s.
I also added some decals to my Chi Ha and it really helps breaking up the swathes of green paint. Pics to follow tonight.
I also did a quick head count of everything I have and everything that I need to paint and the end is in sight, albeit on the horizon. I just need to finish my US Para Squads first…
The current painting list of this lead addicted wargamer is thus:
2x US Para Sqds of 8 men each
2x US Para LMG teams
1x Sherman
1x Baron Nishi
27x Japanese Peasants with Bamboo Spears (a mixture of Perry and Black Hat)
1x Type 92 Light Howitzer
1x Japanese MMG
1x Kempetai
30+ Plastic Japanese infantry
10 Japanese Jungle Fighter infantry
1x Heavy Howitzer
I want to add in some 3x Ha-Go, probably another two Chi Ha for tank wars, and other bits and bobs as they get released but by and large the army is complete.
In the meantime, courtesy of Mike at Trouble at T'Mill some better shots of my Type 92s.
Tuesday, 6 May 2014
I have been playing around with my airbrush and have now finished my Chi Ha and both my Type 92 tankettes. I tried the old 'mask' with blu tack on one of the tankettes but it didn't really come out how I would have liked. I then went back to simple green basecoat for the Chi Ha and weathered it accordingly with my new oil washes and pigments. For a very quick job I am really pleased how it came out. It looks nicely rusty and dirty like it has been through the jungle for ages. I liked it so much I redid my other Type 97 Shinoto Chi Ha in the same scheme as well as a Type 92 Tankette. You can see all of them in the photos below. In the background are my Type 94 Tankette, my Ho Ni II and the other Type 92. The Ho Ni is next on the respray list so everything ties together. I will probably leave the Type 92 as it is as it has had enough layers of paint on it already.
Just waiting for my Japanese decals from Warlord now!!! May have to add some crews at some point as well to break things up a little.
Just waiting for my Japanese decals from Warlord now!!! May have to add some crews at some point as well to break things up a little.
Friday, 2 May 2014
Ok, so its been a while, I have been really insanely busy revising for my on going Chartered Accountancy exams but once they are out of the way in May hope to get some more IJA finished off. A few hobby things have happened since we were last here and I thought I would break them down a bit....
Warlord have finally released the long awaited Ho-Ro Type 4 Assault Gun, still haven't got round to buying one yet but will next month when I am caught up a bit.
They have also released Baron Nishi on horseback which is a nice little mini that I will probably use as an objective marker as well as a Forward Observer team which will prove useful. They have released some new heads and other bits to allow you to field SNLF troops which is a nice touch, just need some SNLF Paratroopers now and we are laughing!
Company B have done a Ki-Mi Amphibious tank which is AWESOME, really want one but again going to have to wait till the small pile of lead I have currently diminishes.
My Type 92 Tankettes arrived from www.trenchworx.com - check them out the quality is outstanding for 3d printed stuff. One is currently getting a lick of paint along with my Chi Ha and I am finally trying to learn how to paint vehicles correctly, mainly as I now have an airbrush which should speed all my painting up considerably.
Finally, I have dipped my toes into writing my own list for the Spanish Civil War for Bolt Action which can be found here:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ru84frdlm0biats/Bolt%20Action%20Armies%20of%20the%20Spanish%20Civil%20War%20v2.1.odt
Still work in progress. There will be miniatures coming to match it but as I have so many IJA and a US Para Army to finish it may be some time before we see any Milicanos (well till Partizan anyway!)
Warlord have finally released the long awaited Ho-Ro Type 4 Assault Gun, still haven't got round to buying one yet but will next month when I am caught up a bit.
They have also released Baron Nishi on horseback which is a nice little mini that I will probably use as an objective marker as well as a Forward Observer team which will prove useful. They have released some new heads and other bits to allow you to field SNLF troops which is a nice touch, just need some SNLF Paratroopers now and we are laughing!
Company B have done a Ki-Mi Amphibious tank which is AWESOME, really want one but again going to have to wait till the small pile of lead I have currently diminishes.
My Type 92 Tankettes arrived from www.trenchworx.com - check them out the quality is outstanding for 3d printed stuff. One is currently getting a lick of paint along with my Chi Ha and I am finally trying to learn how to paint vehicles correctly, mainly as I now have an airbrush which should speed all my painting up considerably.
Finally, I have dipped my toes into writing my own list for the Spanish Civil War for Bolt Action which can be found here:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ru84frdlm0biats/Bolt%20Action%20Armies%20of%20the%20Spanish%20Civil%20War%20v2.1.odt
Still work in progress. There will be miniatures coming to match it but as I have so many IJA and a US Para Army to finish it may be some time before we see any Milicanos (well till Partizan anyway!)
Friday, 4 October 2013
Miniatures Review - Black Hat Bamboo Spear Infantry
Ok, as per my previous post I have ordered the Black Hat Miniatures Bamboo Spear Infantry from their Samurai range. To date these are the only Bamboo Spear Peasants that I have been able to find and given that they are dead cheap in the Japanese list their utility cannot be understated when combined with the Japanese national rules.
These arrived today and I am very pleased with them. Very nicely defined sculpts and they look like they will fit nicely with the Warlord range. Despite being labelled as 25mm I would say they are nearer to 27mm. They had absolutely no flash on them and only a few minor mould lines which are easily removed. The Spears are quite thick and sturdy and don't look like they will bend readily. The only minor downside with them is that there are only 3 different figures so it will take some variation in terms of painting to make them work. I will also be using these for Ronin when I get round to painting the Warband I bought at Derby World Wargames.
Link below for the Black Hat website. Overall 8.5/10 with 1.5 removed for the lack of variety.
http://www.blackhat.co.uk/online_shop/product_info.php?cPath=23_137&products_id=1311&osCsid=52aaa980642600ffe20a1290bbcd7aa7
These arrived today and I am very pleased with them. Very nicely defined sculpts and they look like they will fit nicely with the Warlord range. Despite being labelled as 25mm I would say they are nearer to 27mm. They had absolutely no flash on them and only a few minor mould lines which are easily removed. The Spears are quite thick and sturdy and don't look like they will bend readily. The only minor downside with them is that there are only 3 different figures so it will take some variation in terms of painting to make them work. I will also be using these for Ronin when I get round to painting the Warband I bought at Derby World Wargames.
Link below for the Black Hat website. Overall 8.5/10 with 1.5 removed for the lack of variety.
http://www.blackhat.co.uk/online_shop/product_info.php?cPath=23_137&products_id=1311&osCsid=52aaa980642600ffe20a1290bbcd7aa7
Wednesday, 2 October 2013
Ok, a semi useful post of where to get stuff for any aspiring Japanese players as it can be a wee bit difficult to track down.
Infantry:
Warlord - the best IMHO
The Assault Group - they do nice Flamethrowers/Suicide Teams/SMGs as well, although Warlord have just released theirs.
Brigade Games - they do an Anti Tank Rifle but again Warlord have just released theirs. More like 25mm or even 20mm than 28mm though.
Company B - they do IJA on bicycles.
Black Hat Miniatures: Bamboo Spears - the one 25/28mm Bamboo spears I have been able to find - not sure on quality yet as they haven't arrived.
Vehicles:
Company B - do a really comprehensive range including some more esoteric ones like the Ho- Ni Mk1, Te-Ke tankette and Ke-Nu tanks, as well as a Kurogane and Isuzu trucks and some landing craft and AA searchlight vehicles.
Warlord - obviously.
Hobby Armor Depot - do the only Ho-Ro in 1/56 I have seen but the quality doesn't look great and their reputation isn't fantastic. If anyone has bought from them please let me know.
Artillery:
A bit sparse this one - I am using Warlord's Polish 75mm but apparently there is some Japanese artillery on the way from them.
Company B - they do both the 37mm and 47mm anti tank guns, the crews are a little small though - I have used the crew from the Warlord 70mm Mountain Gun, or you could make some up easily enough from the Warlord plastic kit. They also do the 20mm AA gun.
Hope that helps!
Infantry:
Warlord - the best IMHO
The Assault Group - they do nice Flamethrowers/Suicide Teams/SMGs as well, although Warlord have just released theirs.
Brigade Games - they do an Anti Tank Rifle but again Warlord have just released theirs. More like 25mm or even 20mm than 28mm though.
Company B - they do IJA on bicycles.
Black Hat Miniatures: Bamboo Spears - the one 25/28mm Bamboo spears I have been able to find - not sure on quality yet as they haven't arrived.
Vehicles:
Company B - do a really comprehensive range including some more esoteric ones like the Ho- Ni Mk1, Te-Ke tankette and Ke-Nu tanks, as well as a Kurogane and Isuzu trucks and some landing craft and AA searchlight vehicles.
Warlord - obviously.
Hobby Armor Depot - do the only Ho-Ro in 1/56 I have seen but the quality doesn't look great and their reputation isn't fantastic. If anyone has bought from them please let me know.
Artillery:
A bit sparse this one - I am using Warlord's Polish 75mm but apparently there is some Japanese artillery on the way from them.
Company B - they do both the 37mm and 47mm anti tank guns, the crews are a little small though - I have used the crew from the Warlord 70mm Mountain Gun, or you could make some up easily enough from the Warlord plastic kit. They also do the 20mm AA gun.
Hope that helps!
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