Here Comes the Leicestershires, Up the Tigers!

Having painted all manner of militias and irregulars over the past few years I thought it was time that I actually buy and paint for regulars of the Leicestershire Regiment. So to this end I got me a section of BEF Infantry and a Command pack for Warolrd to see what they were like and to fill in the missing gap in my forces. Firstly having looked on Warlords website I ave to say I was not totally impressed with their BEF Infantry for some reason, it was something to do with the way they looked, but at Partizan I got to see them in the flesh and I have to say They looked rather nice. Now they come with separate heads and in the pack you get a full 10 section. I now that at the start of the war the British section was not ten men, in fact it was either eight men or eleven men, but still it is a good number to be going with. Once the heads where added to the figures the models really came to life and I have to say they are sculpted with the best SMLE MkIII I have seen on any model. They are rather nicely sculpted with a good variety of poses that look rather natural and the uniform and webbing looks rather spot on. Here are a couple of photos of my chaps painted up.

People's Assault Column General Finished

I realised that I have finished this little chap off and I have not showed him off. I dont know why but I feel that I have rushed him, or my eyes are failing, but he is not one of my happiest of paintjobs. Dont get me wrong, I love the pose, the little bit of converting I have done but there is just something. Again here is the chap in his Imperial Service College scarf, pipe and click board, I think its behind him.

People's Assault Column General and Other Musings

My project of converting and painting a People's Assault Column, PAC, General is nearing completion as I now have a the majority of the painting done. I went for a brown leather jacket for him instead of a battledress jacket, and olive green trousers. I have also added a college scarf and painted it in the colours of Haileybury and Imperial Service College, as a nod to who he is.

Weirdly at the same time I have also starting at some flags and banners for the British Union of Fascists. I have done three so far and I hope for have another three completed by the end of the evening.

The King and the King of the Welfare State

I have started the Peoples Assault Column's General and I bet you cant see but I have now added a collage scarf to add a bit of colour and character to the figure. Yes I do know that at the moment it is black and in fact its all black, bar the face, but you know what I mean, lol.

Now next to him and not really, okay not at all, is a start of another King or rather the King of Rock 'n' Roll. This figure is from Hasslefree Minis and it is a lovely sculpt from the master Kev White. See I do buy other sculptors stuff, lol. Now I can not decide between Vega Elvis, Bubba Hotep or Black Leather Elvis? I really dont know. I still have not received my Super Dungeon Explore from Warlords and they are not returning my emails, I am sad, lol.

My Next Project

While at Partizan I was talking with Paul Cummingham, the author of The People's Armies, about finding a miniature of the Peoples Assault Column, PAC, general, loosely based on a well known Left Wing Leader, Major and had a company in the International Brigade named after him after he visited them in Spain. Here is a image of who I mean.

As we could not find anyone suitable it mean a wee bit of converting might be the order of the day and I know and had a British Officer, from Warlord Games, holding a map who might fit the bill. So I green stuffed some trouser bottoms and files away a pocket and given him the trademark pipe and here he is at the start of the journey to PAC General.

Tomorrow I will tidy him up and if the weather is good basecoat him.

Sid, Charles and Katie

Here are a couple of works in progress that I am doing for Partizan. Firstly is the Austin K2 by Warlord Games. Yes the same K2 that I had a problem with the mould and they replaced it and gave me some extras too. I cannot fault their service as they came up trumps. This is for a special VIP to travel in. It is very close to being finished just got a few things to do and them bingo its done.

Austin K2 by Warlord Games

Next in the WIP are a few things from Mutton Chop that being Sidney "Dirty Laugh" Cohen and Sidekick Charles Hartree and also The Weasley Wretches Command. I have to say that these are a dream to paint as all of Paul Hicks'figures are, as they are so full of character. Sid and Charles just look like a couple of "Carry on" fellows and I love the Weasley Wretches. I hope to have these finished shortly.

Sidney "Dirty Laugh" Cohen and Sidekick George Hartree

Sid, Charles and some of the Wretches.

A Reply

Well I am glad to report that Warlord have replied back to me and I have to admit I feel that I have been a little hard on them, but also not. Here is the reply that I received from them and it answers all my questions and more, and there customer service I have to say is very good, but, well you read it as it might just be me.

Hi Pete,

Thanks for the email.

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you, it took a bit longer to investigate than I thought.

I have checked all the castings for the miscast on the left hand side and they all have the same issue. This is due to the moulding process where the two halves of the mould meet. We try to cut the mould so the line does not come over the side, but it is not always possible. The castings were shown to the boss before we sent them out, and he passed them as ok to send. This can be fixed by smoothing out the line with some modelling putty, and a bit of filing.

The issue with the warping can can be fixed by putting the resin in hot water for a few minutes to soften it slightly, so that it can be put in the right place.

The lamps were missed off the new mould that was made for the K2, so I did not realise that they were needed. Thank you for bringing this to my attention so that I can prevent it happening again. The lights are the same as what some of the other trucks use, so I can get a set sent to you.

We are having another mould made of the K2, with some safeguards to prevent the same issue with the miscast. I can send one on to you as soon as it is ready. Please let me know if this is okay. I will also add in something extra to compensate for the delay with your order and then the problems you have had with it.

Many Thanks.

Dave.

So all is going to be fitted and I am going to get a new one too ;). How can I say that is bad service. Just hope it turns up before Partizan in May.

Time to Throw Toys Out of the Pram

I am a little in shock and totally p**sed off with Warlord Games over the Austin Katie that I brought from them over two weeks ago. I emailed them on Sunday evening stating the problem and showing the photos, not expecting them to reply until sometime on Monday and still no reply even today. I checked that I have sent it to the right people which I have and have sent a second email today. The silly thing is I was annoyed but not that bothered about it but now I am totally pished, especially all I have ever heard is, Warlord's Customer Services is cool, well at the moment it sucks. If I dont heard anything by tomorrow evening I am going to ask for a refund on there faulty product and not buy from them again.

Rant over and I guess I better tidy all the toys before the wife comes back.

Austin K2

Firstly I have to say I love this vehicle as it is in one of my favourite films of all time and some say the star of that film, Ice Cold in Alex. So when I saw that Warlords Games were doing one I jumped at it and rushed to buy one. That was two weeks ago and yesterday I received it yesterday and I was not pleased with it.

As you can see the one I have been sent is suffering from a bad miscast on the left hand side and the cabin roof is wrapped. It is true that I have not glued it together but you are taking a 2mm different from the right hand side to the left. Also the front lamps are also missing. This is the first time I have got a vehicle and I have to say I my very disappointed with the standard of the mould and the detail,   having seen better details from people who do not have the equipment Warlords have. Surely they had to have a look at them before packing and thought that is sub standard. I have emailed them my disappointments and now wait for them reply.

I have been told be everyone that this is rare from Warlord but I wait to see. I need this model from Partizan game too.

More Tea Vicker

Yes here is the finished Vickers HMG for my regulars of the Tiger Regt. I am rather pleased with it and adds some well needed support. This is from Warlord Games and is rather nice. It is a little later in period from the 1938 regs but I dont care, that much.

I'm So Happy

Yes I am so happy as I have finished and sent off my application after doing a horrid online test, but that's over with. I have more importantly, lol, almost finished both the trench mortar and the Vickers HMG. I am rather pleased with the result so far and really only have the base to colour and then flock and that's them finished. The scarf of the mortar crew member is from the local team, Leicester Tigers,and was some what fitting.

Today's Effects

I have been busy with other things today and have managed to find a little time to do a spot of painting. Its come to webbing time for the HMG team, the part I sort of hate as is can make or break a figure. For the mortar team its a similar story after finishing the sheep skins. The catapult is starting to take shape too. So here there are. Once I have finished these I am going to take a photo of the whole bloody force just to see what it looks like.

Slowly Coming Along

I am now on my last competence on this job applicant and then I will be nearly finished. I hate competence based applications even though I deal with competences every day being a civil servant, no that's incompetences, lol. Mind you I have also just seen another job/role that I thinking about to and its also my dream job, working within the army as a regimental researcher and archivist. Any way as a break I have finished the uniform colour and highlighted it for both the Trench Catapult and the Vickers.

Time to Add Some Support

Between focusing on feeding my Father in Laws cats and writing a job application, I have also decided to add some much needed support to my forces for VBCW. So for my regulars of the Tigers I have added a Vickers HMG from Warlord Games. Its a very nice little group of figures and fits together rather well. I have only painted the flesh completely and just started the uniforms, just based and washed at this moment. Hopefully I should get to do a little more today.

I have also decided to add, more for my militias a Trench Catapult from Great War Miniatures. I think the very idea of a catapult being used is so VBCW and I had to have it and they are lovely sculpts if a little larger than my usual Musketeer, Warlords and Gripping Beast. Again this is at the same stage as the above.