looking back :: 2006 troops now moved on

 These troops have since left my service, by becoming mercenaries and raising the cash I needed at the time.

these Prince August castings French Chasseurs
served in many battles, likely also the Eylau one,
and have since been sold off to raise needed funds

there was a period of time where I had a set of troops
on consignment at ABC Bookstore in Courtenay
at one point a grandfather bought a bunch of the British ones
then in 2011, Norman left a note
for me and I helped finish off the boy's collection that
Christmas, doing my Santa duty.

backwards view :: 2003 STORMTROOPERS!

 I had a lot of stormtroopers from Star Wars in 25mm ... once upon a time

it was a sizeable force

 

I then needed cash more than these miniatures, so off to eBay they went.

there were more than stormtroopers

and other Imperial forces

indeed there were complete game sets that I sold off

I still have the rules, and a few minis - not anything like the volume of the past.

Another Confederate Division for Gettysburg in 15mm

 12 days again!

Only 12 days from start to finish for this Confederate Division of Rodes, in 15mm.

The process, now having been committed to memory, is going faster than in the past.  This month I will have managed to crank out two divisions, one Union and one Confederate.  Not likely in the coming month, as more time will be set aside for other actions already planned.  Not to mention the time needed to form the new location game table ...

bare metal

brushed on base coat 
(still shiny and wet)

'damp brush' the pale tan

base colors

ink!

detail layer

matte coated (still damp & shiny)

onto base stands

flocking done

in a battlefield formation
with three of the new 'earthworks'
on the top of a new hill
(cloth is old, the foam hill underneath is new)

isolation photos of 4 of the 5 brigades

neat shot showing off the guns and troops
with the earthworks

So that looks like all the coming game action for July 2026.

August is shaping up to be more about the games table, even though it may not be done until later in the year - depending on more factors that I care to focus on.

This may mean I'll need to do a game on the old "back-of-the-chalkbord" tabletop system; though barring any major mishaps I may be able to game this Autumn on the new tabletop.

Gettysburg Division in 15mm

 Back at the painting table at least, while the game table remains a plan, the troops to put on it have been continuing to assemble.

given two white horses to denote the
"Elite" status, this Corps command stand
is table ready now

bare metal

base coated
I decided the brush that I had used
for the past 300 or so minis had served
its life and have discarded it

white 'damp-brush' layer

color layer

inks

base colors done

mid tones

metallic and details

freshly matte coat sprayed

mounted to base stands

in a formation

flagging completed
I had done the other photo when I realized
the flags were not yet done

I have enough now, I think, to start a day one Gettysburg, though I may not have all the right sized Confederate formations.

The project will continue, this Division was done in one week from July 4 to July 14, 2026.

Hope your summer has some time to pursue your hobby.

Slow and steady

 Completion of a couple of commissions from my middle son.

First the 'car' - one that he has 3D printed for an employer to  help visualize something he has been chasing for some time.

the finished product

It came as wheels separate, with no axles, so I had to build some from green stuff and grind out a bit from the 'angled' rear (non) suspension, which also needed green stuff to set up.

Green stuff was then also needed to secure the wheels to the axles that I rigged up from old model sprues, that I normally hold back for making my casting molds.

after a base coat, came masking and the main red
body coat

following some unmasking, then painting,
came more masking for the chrome parts

During the preparation phase, the bumpers also became separated from the model.

They were painted separately, then using some of the new metal discs I have, I was able to re-enforce the areas where the bumpers would be attached.

Final bits of real reflectors in the lights and some chrome painting, giving the final look.

 

My second son has also been at work printing other things, like this SD card box, based on a video game object.

in the end a quick painting job
got to test out the new 'neon' paints

With all the green stuff being used on the car in various parts, I was again able to finish off another gabion.

I have been slowly assembling them from various bits of green stuff when and as I have it available, this one has been at least 6 years in the making.

Finally, for this posting, I have a little sneak peek at the monster mecha that the 3D printing boy has been up to:

Continued maintenance here at the new home and frequent trips to the old one for yard works and security checks.  Still working on the table process, lighting and camera plans for the games space.  More to come this autumn.

Another Star Wars commission

 My middle son's collection of vehicles expanded again, with these models taking on a coat of paint from my hand:

there was also the imperial ship in the set, it was relatively simple to paint, coming out like a tie fighter

this was the last painted models at this location
the rack has now been moved away, ready for the next step ...