"Germany’s Air Force And Navy Could Do Little To Resist Invasion."

"The defence of ‘Fortress Europe’ would therefore fall squarely onto the shoulders of the army."

These four plastic 15mm miniatures are sold by “Battlefront Miniatures” and can be found inside the company’s “Hit The Beach” starter set for “Flames Of War”. The figures consist of a non-commissioned officer (NCO), and three riflemen. Together they form the sixth and final base of MG34 and K98 Rifle teams I require for my second (maximum-strength) German Panzergrenadier Platoon.

As with all my other “FoW” German soldiers, the figures were initially super-glued onto wooden strips, before being primed in “Vallejo” German Fieldgrey WWII, shaded using “Citadel” Nuln Oil, and dry-brushed with (more) “Vallejo” German Fieldgrey WWII. Their details were then ‘picked out’ predominantly using “Vallejo” Heavy Sienna, Gunmetal, Buff, German Camouflage Dark Green, Heavy Brown and a series of “Citadel” Shades.

"Big Mr Tong" WIPs - Three Cybermen and a Sardaukar trooper primed with "Citadel" Abaddon Black

In addition, the Panzergrenadiers' rifle tops, the NCO's submachine gun, and water flask stoppers were given a combination of “Vallejo” Gunmetal and “Citadel” Nuln Oil. Whilst the camouflaged helmet covering was treated to some “Vallejo” Heavy Brown, Luftwaffe Camouflage Green and Heavy Sienna. The headwear was then washed with “Citadel” Agrax Earthshade, before being highlighted back up with (more) “Vallejo” Heavy Brown, of Luftwaffe Camouflage Green and Heavy Sienna.

Alongside my "Flames Of War" project I have also been busy 3D printing, basing and priming a large number of 28mm scale figures for the imminent Thirteenth Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge. This year I plan to achieve my annual goal of 500-points by simply pigmenting approximately one hundred models, and not become distracted/obsessed by the any of the event's side challenges, so resultantly I've chosen my miniatures with a bit more thought than in the past.

Some of the Warhammer display models for "Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game" and "Warhammer 40K

First and foremost this means that the majority of the sculpts will be pretty straightforward to get finished, predominantly just requiring a shade and subsequent dry-brush over their undercoat. I've also broken the next three months down into weekly targets, with a number of science fiction figures crafted by "Big Mr Tong" being front and centre first in order to see whether my goals are achievable.

In addition, I hope to clear a few half-started projects I still have left lying around my painting table, and recently sought some inspiration as to potential colour schemes by visiting the Warhammer store in Portsmouth. This trip was particularly valuable as it gave me some ideas as to possible palettes for a number of partially-painted Warg Riders I own. I want to field a party of these giant wolves as part of my Isengard Army for the Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game. Sticking with all things "Games Workshop" I was also impressed with some (dirty) white and red Warhammer 40k scenery I spotted - which got me thinking about the large number of such plastic kits I own that are still on their sprues...