I've finished the painting on both my “Victrix” Napoleonic French Lieutenant and Standard Bearer, but have put the remaining two models required for the Command stand’s completion temporarily to one side in order to allow me time for a mini-push on some 15mm models by “Copplestone Castings” and some 6mm Modern British by “GHQ Micro-Armour”.
I've also finished the first of the officer bases for my 20mm British Airborne Paratroopers by “Friend And Foe”. I plan to use the ‘Officer with map pointing’ as Major John Howard DSO, the officer who led the glider-borne assault on the German-held bridges across the Caen Canal and River Orne.COMING SOON - As a complete aside I've started repainting a number of 28mm “Warhammer Fantasy” models from “Games Workshop”. The Empire miniatures were originally completed a couple of years ago, but now require rebasing and their white/flesh areas repainted in order to fit in better with the current block and wash painting style I employ. This will hopefully mean the little guys will finally see some tabletop action, after a couple of years tucked away in a box in the loft. 
I've finally based a third stand of Napoleonic French Line Infantry by “Victrix", having had them standing around for a few days. I hope their completition will now let me more tightly focus my painting on two of the four 28mm models I plan to use for the French Command base (i.e. officer and standard bearer). 
The pair of miniatures have previously been fighting for my attention alongside a couple of 20mm metal World War Two models by “Friend And Foe”, as well as some other plastic “Victrix” French Infantry models that required their white areas to be boxed in. However, both of the “Friend And Foe” British Paratroopers (‘Officer with map pointing’ and ‘Radio operator’ from their Command bag) have now been fully painted and glossed, whilst three of the four “Victrix” Fusiliers have had their initial white areas finished (in preparation for each soldier to be fully painted next month).
COMING SOON - I've undercoated a further four “Friend And Foe” 20mm British Airborne Division models (predominatly from their Rifle Firing bag) with Calthan Brown in order to continue the slow-time progress of my Memoir 44 Project, but probably more importantly have started to prepare a number of “GHQ Micro-Armour” Modern British infantry, vehicles and armour so I can give my “Battlefield Evolution" project a big push (hopefully) later this month. 
Finally finished and based a unit of six Para’s advancing with Lee-Enfield Rifles by "Friend and Foe"; part of my planned British Sixth Airborne Division. I managed to crack on with these whilst listening to the November 2008 Memoir44 Podcast that actually covers the Pegasus Bridge scenario. It’s a pity the show stopped with Scenario Seven in August 2009. Here’s the link http://memoir44podcast.blogspot.com.
COMING SOON – I’ve based the second of my FM1 ‘Barbarian Heroes’ by “Copplestone Castings”. This time a female warrior who seems an ideal representation of Robert E. Howard’s Red Sonja. I’ll need to get cracking on these in the New Year as the range is expanding quite quickly and I’m way behind already. In addition I’m working on a Radio Operator for my British Sixth Airborne Division, as well as Major John Howard himself. As you can see the head I’ve chosen for him has a fault over one eye, which I’m hoping to turn into a monocle in order to give the DSO awarded war hero a touch of ‘stiff upper lip, wot’.
Managed to finish the white areas on the Subaltern and two of the Fusiliers. To give some simple shading to the white uniforms and straps etc I’ve used a simple wash of watered down Astronomican Grey. I’ve also painted the tops of Junior Officer’s boots with Calthan brown and Devlan Mud.
To break up the monotony of white I’ve painted another Fusilier with Khemri Brown and Devlan Mud in order represent them wearing a pair of ‘marching/town’ trousers.
COMING SOON - Painting is slowly progressing on my unit of six Para’s advancing with Lee-Enfield Rifles. Hopefully this part of my planned British Sixth Airborne Division will be finished by the weekend.
These 20mm metal ‘British Para’s with Stens’ come from the “Friend & Foe” bag BP5. They come with the option of either wearing berets or camouflaged helmets. The models are somewhat crudely sculpted (e.g. large paw-like hands with tiny heads) but have a definite charm to them, and certainly look good on the table once fully painted and based.
The models base uniform colour is Calthan Brown washed with Devlan Mud. However to ‘fudge’ the impression of a camouflaged jacket (in order to get the miniatures on the table fast), these areas were also then washed with Thrakka Green. The ankle armour was painted with Dheneb Stone and Devlan Mud, whilst the soldiers’ webbing and pouches were painted using Knarloc Green, Thrakka Green and Devlan Mud.
The sten guns were simply painted Boltgun Metal, and then washed with Badass Black, whilst the flesh areas with Tallarn Flesh and Ogryn Flesh. The berets were treated to a thick coat of Mechrite Red before being given a heavy wash of Baal Red. The helmets were painted with Orkhide Shade, with the camouflage fronds being picked out with Dark Flesh. These areas were then washed with Thrakka Green and Devlan Mud.
Next in the queue are a unit of six Para’s advancing with Lee-Enfield Rifles; part of planned British Sixth Airborne Division I’ve bought in order to capture Pegasus Bridge. The eagle-eyed amongst you will spot that the models are sat upon some Hexon Terrain by Kallistra, and that can only mean one thing… I’m starting a project in order to recreate the opening scenario for Memoir ’44 by Days Of Wonder in 20mm. Utter madness.
COMING SOON – I’ve always wanted a 28mm Napoleonic Army, and finally at Warfare in Reading in November 2011 I bit the bullet, and bought some plastic Austrians and French by Victrix. Further inspired by David Brown’s battle report in this month’s Wargames Illustrated I also purchased enough Hexon scenery to recreate the Fontanone stream and viola… The Battle of Marengo will be coming soon (even if it does mean breaking my sacred law that thou shalt not game with unpainted miniatures).
