Paint fest comes to an abrupt end

I recieved the dreaded phone-call recalling me to work for tomorrow, meaning that today became a catchup for unfinished domestic chores. I did at least finish off my NVA HMG stand and my US insignia decals arrived too so I should be able to progress some of those projects waiting for them.

I'll have to take some pics on the weekend to capture what I achieved, which was actually quite a bit it seems!

Paint-fest: Day 10 progress

..or lack of...

To be honest, after 3 coats of paint on the bathroom I just couldnt face any more brush-work, so today is offcially a rest day!

Paint-fest: Day 9 progress

• Deeply considered the problem of putting my USMC M60 teams on big bases or small bases, with only 3 figs per base. My big USMC bases have 4 figs each, while the Platoon HQ (with 3 figs) is on a small base. Oh the dilemma...
• Undercoated said M60 teams (6 bases plus HQ)
• Progressed the NVA HMG stand and crew - just basing left to go
• Completed the test jungle section - it came out OK, but a little dark I think.

Paint-fest: Day 8 progress

The usual weekend domestic caveats (gardening, taking kids to football & scouts, family time etc) account for the reduced productivity:

• NVA HMG and crew painted and detailed.
• Started sorting out my USMC weapons platoon...only to find that I either don't have enough figs in the pack, or that the TO&E in the FP rulebook isnt correct...
• Washed the Duster and PBR

And because I'm really pleased with the way these have come out, here is some pre-emptive eye-candy (just for you evil voice in my ear). Click for larger pics - Peter Pig Vietnam range US Snipers, pictured on a jungle terrain section by Miniature World Maker.

Paint-fest: Day 7 progress

Most importantly, my last Uni essay has been finished and lodged, so thats out of the way now - huzzah! Sadly, that didnt leave much of the day...

• Second US sniper stand (in Tiger Cammies) finished! Unike the first stand, which was a sniper and spotter, both kneeling - this one is a lone sniper in the lying position. The problem will be not losing them in the terrain when the camo actually works...
• Undercoated and basecoated the NVA HMG, crew and stand
• Basecoated the M42 Duster and one PBR
• Progressed one of the jungle terrain sections as a test case

Paint-fest: Day 6 progress

• NVA Rifle Platoon finished!
• First sniper team finished!
• Undercoated, basecoated and detailed the second sniper stand
• Undercoated (in black) the M42 Duster and PBRs
• Started a NVA HMG emplacement
• Started some jungle terrain sections using my plastic palm tree collection
• Started painting up my latex roads
• Caught up with my mate Owen again!

In the excitement of completing my first NVA platoon I completely blew off my Uni essay, which is due tomorrow. Getting that finished will sadly cut into my day and my model productivity...

Paint-fest: Day 5 progress

• NVA - now that the reshaped fig bases fit, they have been glued onto the bases. I should be able to complete the basing tomorrow.
• Mounted my first Sniper team and started another. Initially I was a little disappointed with the Tiger Cams but they dried a different colour and I like them more each time I see them now. Again, I should be able to finish off the basing tomorrow.
• Cleaned up the Duster, PBRs and the Zippo M113 for undercoating
• Planned some individually mounted peasants (to inhabit the hootches I've just done)
• More time grudgingly expended on frivolous 1:1 painting and Uni requirements...

Also, I've just realised its been a year since I started this Blog and only twenty hits shy of achieving 7,000!

Paint-fest: Day 4 progress

• reshaped all remaining NVA figure bases - I can now base the whole platoon tomorrow
• Major filling, grinding, shaping and sanding for the domestically imposed 1:1 scale project work (grumble...)
• progressed the insanity of 15mm Tiger Stripes: what was I thinking?
• received my QRF order (M42 Duster, OH-6 'Loach' Recon Helo, M113 Zippo, and a 2.5ton Truck) so I played with the new toys for a bit.
• caught up with my good mate Owen (up from Melbourne) - generally inspected all items, discussed modelling, developed cunning scenarios and planned further purchases. Over a few coffees and cold refreshments of course!

And more work on the Uni essay - I shall be free from that burden (one way or another) by Friday.

Paint-fest: Day 3 progress

• 5 hootches now finished, 1 to go
• NVA Rifle Platoon - now have the obligatory red stars on helmets! Also started to reshape the fig bases for group basing (a rather painful process)
• progressed LVTP detailing
• started base coating the supply dump objectives
• started my insane idea to paint Tiger Stripe cammies on the sniper
• 1 bathroom wall (enforced 1:1 scale project)

plus some serious work on that darned Uni essay...

Paint-fest: Day 2 progress

• 3 Hootches finished, the other 3 are half painted


• NVA rifle platoon - flesh, boots, weapons and webbing painted. Awaiting basing


• LVTPs - basecoated, washed and highlighted.


• US Sniper team (rifleman and observer) cleaned-up and basecoated

Also ordered some decals for vehicle markings and watched Apocalypse Now...well, the good bits anyway :-D

Paint-fest: Day 1

I've got 2 weeks off work starting today with an ambitious modeling agenda in mind.
I also have a Uni essay to knock over (the last one!) and the usual domestic considerations but lets see how we go.

To maximise productivity, I'm going to add a few comments each day (mostly for myself) on what I've gotten done and leave eye-candy photos until the end.

The 'to-do' agenda:

Figures
2 NVA Rifle Platoons (1 squad done)(Flashpoint figs)
4 Downed aircrew/objectives markers (Peter Pig figs)
US Special Forces and snipers (Peter Pig figs)
2-3 Peasant stands (Peter Pig figs)
start some local force VC units (Peter Pig figs)

Vehicles
2 LCVP (Peter Pig)
2 PBRs (Peter Pig)

Terrain
6 resin Hooches (Flashpoint)
complete my modular Brown Water river sections and bridge
Make more jungle sections with all the new plastic treees I just got delivered
Cam up my other VC Bunkers
make some weapons cache/supply dump objectives
Paint up my rubber road/track sections

Misc
Sort out flying stands for my Helos and aircraft
Make some arty/airstrike impact markers

If time permits
USMC Weapons Platoon (Flashpoint figs)
2nd USMC rifle plt (Flashpoint Figs)
Assemble revell 1/100 AH-1 Cobra Gunship (Revell plastic kit)
PACV (Gomi)


Day 1 Progress

• Cleaned up and undercoated (in white) the resin hooches
• Undercoated the LVTPs (in black)
• base coated 3 NVA rifle squads