JTinQT - Week Ten - VBCW - Man in Black

Hi All

Only single figure this week and it is really a carry over from last week. Another VBCW figure for my Government "Chaps" Battalion - this is the Jeeves figure from Warlord Games. He got missed off last week as did not like the original head swap so had to replace it. The Warlord figures Jeeves and Wooster come in the British Tommy helmet but I wanted a more bowler hat look.

This next shot has Jeeves next to Wooster - painted from last week. Jeeves head came from another Warlord figure, whereas I just filed Wooster's hat to make it look more like a bowler. 

Hopefully more productive this coming week.

Cheers Jez

From MattT. Couple of vehicles, VBCW

This week i have managed to complete a couple of 3D printed vehicles i picked up on ebay.

I find it hard to paint large areas of flat colour, and the quality of the prints is not a smooth as metal, especially on the curves. Took a bit of work but overall i am happy with the results. 
I have never used an airbrush. One day i should give it a try as people have amazing results with them, especially on vehicles, but i painted thse with my tried and tested brushes.

The first one is an improvised armoured lorry. I used a rust powder on the large steel areas, and after some trial and area managed to get a good effect.

The second vehicle is a civilian car, it will probably get used as table dressing rather than as a transport.

Stay safe. Matt

JTinQT - Week Nine - More VBCW Government Forces - The DFF's

Hi All

Few more government forces in VBCW genre and pleased to get on to a unit I knew I definitely wanted to field, although militarily they had a terrible record. The "DFF's" or Damm Fine Fellows! This was also a play on the initials of the unit commander Dominic Farrar-Foxley, old Etonian, City of London banker and socialite with royal family links. A brilliant publicist Farrar-Foxley made sure that the unit had plenty of newspaper coverage where they were often referred to with the other nickname of "The Chaps".

Here are the first six figures, from Footsore with an additional very old Western "Doc Holiday" gunfighter figure from somewhere, anyway he had the appropriate head ware!

    The Footsore figures represent the unit at the start of the conflict in civvies dress, although with his royal influence Farrar-Foxley was able to gain access to army equipment very quickly and later they adopted a more quasi army look. However the suits were typically from Marks and Spencer and very hard wearing so remained popular as a uniform throughout. I included the Footsore fictional "Bertie Wooster" figure with a few small adjustments and painted to fit in with the overall DFF unit look.

As mentioned the DFF's did have a terrible and incompetent military record. This is typified by the units destruction, hit in a friendly fire incident from its own mortar section during the Wimbledon Common skirmish. Still great to see more modern revisionist accounts stressing the value the unit had as a symbol of conservative English fightback.

Hopefully more to come next week .........

All the best Jez

From MattT, More support weapons. VBCW

Not the most productive couple of weeks from me, but a did get round to buying a new lead for my camera. Hopefully the pictures will be a better quality from now on.

First up a static MMG from Footsore.

Next up is a Anti-tank rifle. Figures are converted from various bits including Pulp miniatures, Warlord BUF and plastic sprues.

Finally a couple more sailors to add into the mix. Figures are Pulp miniatures. The one on the right has had an arm swap.

All the best. Matt

JTinQT - Week Eight - VBCW - Police Reinforcements

Dear All

Just making a post to count for this week and a switch of genre for me. Time to beef up government reinforcements considering all the nasty red communist workers which have been appearing in recent weeks courtesy of my brother. Some timely police reinforcement figures from Ironclad Miniatures. These are technically from the Victorian range but think they fit in to my mix and match approach to the 1930's period ....

Also got a nice police sergeant rider from First Corps.

Added a sidecar option, also from another First Corps model, and have a choice of rider, created from a body swap with IronClad top half. Might do a different Command Officer figure later and can then use the sidecar combination for my command unit if I want. Not sure if the split basing will work but keeps it flexible for the moment.

Finally put a group shot of my police squad for a Bolt Action game. The police will be a militia squad so gone for a full 12 figures based on two sections each led by a pistol armed sergeant (one is in plain clothes). Also I have a 2 figure command squad also pistol armed, with an option to have them mounted or let them use the armoured police squad car. Finally sneaked in an option to field police snipers if I want.

Time to own up ... not actually played a game of Bolt Action yet. I was not especially interested in WW2 gaming but willing to go for the 1930's VBCW as an option. Just itching for the actual game now!

Hope everyone has a great week. 

Cheers Jez

From MattT, A couple of conversions. VBCW

Converted a couple of models for this weeks post.

The first one was really simple but i am very happy with the result. Its a pulp figures sailor with a simple arm swap from a warlord plastic frame. I think the final figure has a Steve McQueen vibe to him.

Also converted the Warlord BUF mortar. Its a model that i love, but it looked a bit too facist. One model had a head swap, the loader was a bit more involved where i just keep his arms. Doner parts came from the Pulp Figures Savage Seas range. This range has been a real gold mine for me and provided the spotter and ammo carrier.

Group shot

Stay Safe, Matt.

From MattT, Winning the arms race - VBCW

This next post will be a bit of a suprise for my brother, but sometimes you just see a model and know you have to have it. This was the case with this Seabrook armoured car from Empress Miniatures. I also knew i wanted to crew it with sailors. Scouting round i found some from Pulp Figures. Scale wise they are a bity larger, but luckly they also sold a naval gun that gave me an excuse to up gun the model. I mounted the crew and the gun on a piece of plasticard so it can fire out the port and starboard side. 

Vickers machinegun mounted on a moterbike and sidecar - Yes Please.
Model was a generous christmas present from my brother who might end up regretting it. From 1st Corp WW1 range. Head swap on the passenger so they fit in with my militia.

Stay safe Matt

From MattT: A couple of salty types, VBCW

As i have based my militia in Humberside i wanted to inject a bit more of the sea into my militia. Searching around i found the Pulp Figures, savage seas range. Although a lot of the range is a bit too tropical, some of the figures will fit right in representing merchant navy and local fishermen.

 I have now managed to muster enough to represent HQ section and  2 x 12 man sections.

Stay Safe, Matt

From MattT: Ticket to Ride, VBCW

"Smith! When i sent you out to aquire us some transports i didn't mean this antique piece of  junk."

"But boss, its the late night 73, she's as regular as clockwork."

Sloppy Jalopy Type B Bus. I only glued my fingers together twice during the construction which i am taking as a success. Decorated with some signs aquired off ebay and some inspirational banners home printed from web images. I dont usually add bases to my vehicles but felt it need it to protect the wheels. The coblestones are some old textured wallpaper. Dont think its going to be the comfiest ride but should get the lads into the action.

Also added a few more boys to the rosta.

There is a couple of Black Tree Designs minis in the mix this time. I definitely belong to the mix and match school of thought when it comes to mini manufacturers.

Stay safe. Matt

From MattT: Slow trickle of volunteers, VBCW

Not much progress to report this week. I did manage to muster a few more recruits to bolster my workers militia. Usual mix of manufacturers.

The group shot is starting to look more like a mob you wouldnt want to mess with. Cant wait for their first outing on the table. Hopefully it will be soon enough and that they dont disintegrate at the first sound of gunfire.

Stay safe Matt

From MattT: First Volunteers - VBCW

Small update this week with the first volunteers attending muster for the newly formed East Riding Peoples Column.

Figures are a mix of Footsore interwar types and some more of the Sloppy Jaloppy miners set. More lined up on the painting table.

Stay Safe Matt

From MattT: Workers of the World Unite - VBCW

Over the last painting challenge my brother has been showing his collection of royalist forces for VBCW, and i thought it was time you saw what he is going to be facing.

This first group is a bit of a cheat as i didnt paint them in the time the blog has been live, but they are all post Covid-19 so im counting them and showing them off.

Sailors on the HMS Aurora docked at Hull have mutinied and renamed the ship Unity. They have managed to unearth an old armoured car for moral support and are ready to fight for their freedoms.

Since the challenge began properly i have managed to add a pair of pulp sailors to the crew. Figures from Artizan Designs Thrilling Tales.

The Workers of the East Riding have raised the banner, and men are flocking to the cause as we speak. Figures from Sloppy Jalopy miners set. Banner is a cut and paste job from images off the internet.

All the best, Stay Safe. Matt