challenges and the holiday season begins!

Ever have one of those days that just doesn't go right? one of those weeks?...years?
I promise I haven't fallen into the pit of despair or even a fugue of apathy. In all I'm doing remarkably well for a 45 year old whose mid-life crisis involved putting back on a uniform and returning to the military. I couldn't do the cliché of chasing a twenty-something blonde and jetting around in a convertible. I had to put on camouflage to validate my manliness.
It was for several reasons I put the uniform back on. Yes, twenty years gives me a bit extra for retirement, medical gets better, and the ability to buy more for less at military commissaries. There is also the Patriotic portion. My family has served before The US decided not to be a colony of England. I grew up with accounts of ancestors present and those long gone( my son is named after a great-great grandfather who served in the ACW). 9-11 did provide a motivation as well, my children also( who doesn't want their kids to be safe and not have to serve- perhaps the not serve is a pipedream as /I am perpetuating a cycle long unbroken) The unit I joined to finish my 20 is the very same one my great-great grandfather was part of in the ACW. My own grandfather served from the same armory when they were tankers in the Korean War, My wife's father served with the same unit in Vietnam. I trained as a recon scout and deployed to Afghanistan. Being the old guy in the unit has it's own set of challenges being that I am not as fast or strong as the kids, I also do not have the rank as the few soldiers who are in my generation. I was kept in reserves till some of my buddies were hurt in an ambush, then I got brought over. I am the only soldier from my unit not to receive a CIB( combat infantry badge) not because I wasn't shot at, but it wasn't a firefight of the tempo that crippled some of the kids that brought me over to begin with. We all came home alive which if not the perfect ending it is a good one.
The economic downturn and budget cuts have impacted further as well. A soldier never quits, but the organization can quit on the soldier. I don't blame them as it must be hard to quantify a subordinate older than yourself, yet I am frustrated that I spent a considerable amount to repair torn hamstrings just to be benched at the start of deployment. I am a touch resentful that troops younger than I who gave guidance to have been promoted over myself, I am equally resentful that I am getting shoved out the door. I am resentful that each time I don the uniform, I take a pay cut from my civilian job, yet I still carry out every task put before me. Anger...
Anger, there is a lot of it seething beneath the surface. Not just the perceived anger in the above paragraphs, but also in the news and nation. When the British Soldier was stabbed to death in England not so long ago, I went tunnel vision, blurred angry. Seeing the time life images of the troops in Somalia being dragged through the streets naked put me in a red tinted rage. If you have never experienced it, It is a cold, numbing thing. your sight narrows around what you have an overpowering urge to destroy.   This urge is reached by the idiot in a Che t-shirt who told my daughter that I was going to kill Muslim women and children. The button has also been pressed by the loudmouth patron holding up a gas station queue as she complained about her too hot coffee or the motorist who cut me off on an icy highway sans turn signals.
A physical clue is my face turns white, my eyes darken to black, and my left hand shakes. I know this because my wonderful wife has noted it. I have yet to determine if age has prevented myself from snapping. It is a cold seething rage, and my thought process if somewhat narrow for solutions still exists. PTSD, dunno, I have joined the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Both have several vets who share the same fury. A Psychologist has called it irrational anger which seems very ironic as it feels very rational to me to be angry. I honestly have no intentions of climbing a water tower and venting with a rifle. That suggestion brings a tremor of the "irrational anger".
Family is a huge help, It's hard to hold on to hatred and vitrol when your kids are full of wonder and cheer at all they see and do. A beer with a few vets also vents a bit of steam. A wife rubbing your shoulders and saying "honey..." is a good verbal cue to let go.
Running helps, I'm not as fast as I was in my youth( my own 11yr old daughter runs a 18 min 3 mile, and she is faster than my 2 mile run for this year)still it does wonders for quieting your mind. Wargaming is another tool. You can't build and paint models when you are pissed off. If a dark spell is on me, often a few minuets with some plastic and lead will get me back to an even keel.
I did not make it through my list of Git-er-done. The Cygnar forces are completed except for basing, the Spacewolves and Crimson Fists are still where I left them as are the dwarven host. I still have to finish my chaos warships as well. Now I have the Napoleonic forces added to the queue!
I have a suspiscion that my wife is cognizant of this calming effect. Although I failed in completing the forces she tasked me to complete....gamer OCD or shinyitus had some limited involvement.
She has been looking at my scifi 15mm list for the Alien Legion project which was to be my reward for completing the armies( that I didn't). I really got to focus and get something completed before St Nick comes by!
So rant completed, here are some Crossover minis from a kickstarter this year. Modern, zombie, superhero, pulp, even scifi can use these minions. If you venture to the website for them, you will note they have minions for order( I'm not the only one who likes that word)
Once again the photos are rather bad! I will get some better ones as thses will be photographed again once I complete them.

so here are my boys in blue. regular patrol officers and a swat team

The police leader of the minions. he'll be my police sgt, Tyrell from Reaper minis is my police chief and is shown for a size comparison. I just need some reaper bases or similar so that they all look like they belong.

The Crossover minis come with separate heads. Here is the same police officer body but with different heads. My swat leader has a thug leader head( I liked the bald head with sunglasses), the swat officer next to him uses the helmet head. I painted on the balaclava. the last officer got the standard patrol cap.

here are the armed thugs. I used a variety of camouflage on them. They can be armed robbers, terrorists, paramilitary, current to near future.

I gave them a variety of footwear as well from boots to basket ball shoes

a clown mask, balaclava,and bald head 

with the masks, I had to make a joker crew! the middle three have green hair green pants and purple jackets to show whose goons they are.

I am really fond of the armed thugs. They are not elite like hydraesque troops, but are great for a quasi military flair and could easily blend into scifi blade runner type adventures.

the last two are Crash and Burn. I've only painted the brass and red on them and they still have a way to go!

I have entirely completed the red portions of the uniforms, I just have to finish with the other bits.

All these models were primed in a semi gloss black as my kids used up all of my flat black on some cardboard for art projects. A prelude I am certain for the status of the gas tanks once they are old enough to drive! 

They are going to be a husband and wife team of dubious morality. They will be neutral between the rivalry of my super villain and my kid's heroes.
There are several super and minion sets available from Crossover Miniatures. I will be shopping for more as with the separate heads, I can get some not-Shield and not-Hydra minions as well as ninjas!
What kinda villain would Dr Dread be without a team of Ninjas!?
The price isn't too bad as a group of 15 minions go for about$50 and the single heroes go for around$6. I just need some bases to even them up with reaper. Since their bases are molded on, it may be a bit problematic to use the third party scenic bases. But for generic heroes and villains they have some really nice generic sculpts.
Yes, I'm a little late in my posting as today is Saturday and not my imposed deadline of Friday.
I am sufficiently stuffed on turkey and other holiday culinary delights...we also have a plethora of leftovers which is another benefit of the holidays! Leftovers! meals will be easy the next few days, if you like turkey of course!

Defiance Games UAMC- supposed to be Pinzgauer

It's been a pretty good week thus far! I'm still adjusting to working days. It seems that my biological clock says SLEEP TIME at 830ish in the evening. I'm really not used to that! My daughters also are adjusting to having me around in the evening hours. I have been plagued with pop music earworms like "thriftshop" "royals", "applause" etc. I find myself humming them at work which is really odd as I am more of a hard rock head banger type. Metallica, AC/DC, Ramones, etc. that is more my speed with a little bit of Supertramp and Linkin Park. I found out that my darling girls play bubblegum music while I sleep and they are involved in schoolwork. My wife did not approve my proposal for blasting Judas Priest or Queensryche at window rattling decibles during my 3am workouts as a reprisal. She was more diplomatic and headphone usage is now mandatory.... A shame as I had Manowar's Hail and Kill ready to go for my morning workout!
 So now on my day off, I am awaiting my wife to return from shopping with friends as she gathers culinary ingredients for Thanksgiving. My sole obligation for the day is hanging pictures and shelves, but I have to wait for her presence so that I will not have to do it twice. In the meantime, I decided I'd use my downtime to further present some work from the summer months. It seems that Fridays will be the new day for posting unless overtime prevents it in which case I'll get something up on Thursdays. Todays subject will be the mighty Pinzgauer cardstock space shuttle that I finally completed months after the time it was needed for a game that was canceled due to conflicting summer schedules of all parties.
Unfortunately, I was not able to salvage a good photo of the shuttle with it's entirety. The photos taken were too washed out in the flash. I was able to rescue a few shots of the Defiance Games UAMC conversions that I did as well as locate a photo of earlier conversions with the kit and a shot of the mini paint I mentioned last post.

Perched upon the top of the Pinz you can see my Free French Colonial Marines. Behind them lurk a multicam marine and a specops marine. The Pinz was printed as the subdued SpecOps perfect for delivering my SpecOps marine platoon.

The Free French were just a head swap with Perry Napoleonic French Infantry. I actually chose the blue fatigues in inspiration from the French Marine units used in the French and Indian War.

just a barely salvageable photo of the marine fireteams deploying from the Pinz belly.

The French Marine fireteam was just a quick test on what to do with all the plastic bits I have.

The SpecOps were one of two ideas I had for the plastic kit and each box provides enough for a platoon. I have given my kids a fireteam each of NCO, rifleman, Squad Support Weapon Specialist and assistant gunner. I had ordered two boxes, received two more as gifts then got another pair of boxes as a gift while I was deployed and sorely missing the hobby.

In the box above is the multicam platoon and the SpecOps platoon they both were used in the sands of the COP I lived at while in Afghanistan. They were painted when I returned to the States last October.

I couldn't find any photos of the Pinz other than the small portions showed here and in the shipyard posts. I did find this photo of my first conversions of this particular plastic kit. I was inspired by the work I was doing by going on missions with the ANA. I used some spare heads and arms from the Perry Zouaves plastic kit to make these fellows.

They also were the first minis to get hit with the new paints by Derivan, which are pictured behind them. The Reaper Nova marines pictured behind them were the other test batch, but they were coated in my traditional black undercoat while my "native" troops got the old fashioned whitewash to see which undercoat works best this particular paint. I was really interested in how well they dilute.

All my paints get water added to them to where in the end the paint pot is just a thinned out mostly played out wash! considering that my P3 and citadel paints are 12ml and these are 36ml, I think it will be some time before they become just another wash. Since they are of the dropper sort of bottle, I played with the palette in mixing and thinning them. the results of which you can see on the Scifi troops pictured above.

That will be all for this week, I got chores to do! I also need to get cranking on my Naps and Zomicide figures. If I do not get moving on them, I'll ruin the luxury of the reserve photos I have taken! I was at least more fortunate in photographing my very own artwork.

A self portrait of myself(younger) crouching over a French soldier

This is how St Peter would be if he was Algonquin and not Catho! ;)

detail of St Peter. I drew this overseas for a battlebuddy who was shopping for a tattoo.

44th East Essex Regiment part-1

My first day a day walker. I finished my last night shift Saturday then remained awake most of Sunday to force my body to reset. I got nothing accomplished yesterday. We had a massive storm disrupt the power here yesterday which once dark fell made me inclined to pass out. My wife and brood proceeded to play Uno by candlelight. I could hear the kids being excited by the prospect of no school when the power came on. Of course I postponed bed till The Walking Dead aired, I also prepared several alarm clocks and made sure my disappointed children went to bed with backpacks prepared.
I woke up at 2AM from a clock my wife set then ran the gamut of locating additional alarms at 0230! I did 40 plus min of Insanity( a workout regime derived from Spanish Inquisition codices) and did a 2.25 mile run in gusting wind. I scrubbed myself up and got breakfast of bagels and oatmeal and plenty of coffee too. All accomplished before 4AM and the designated time to leave my house by so that I am not late for work. If a time crush is found, I'll have to eliminate Insanity( a hardship, but noble sacrifice)
So here are my Napoleonic British thus far, they haven't progressed much since these photos were taken. I hope to have them finished by Christmas. I cannot get more Napoleonic or my desirous 15mm Alien Legion till they are finished. I also want them completed before I tackle my primed and ready British Artillery and the French dragoons and line infantry. Throughout the summer my TV tray was buffeted by everybody and each tap resulted in scores of the 44th being knocked about. I do not think they will be suitable for skirmish as is, so I am pondering basing them up in company formation. The Victrix seem to be more stable and as I have a lot of minis from the flank company set, I think I will set aside a few from my current box and future purchases just for skirmishing. The rest will be company based as well. It seems that six is fashionable for that style of basing, so that is where my planning is for the moment. I am going to keep the Rifles separate as I only have 4 and won't need much to move them about on a battlefield. Unfortunately these photos are not too great, but do show where I am with then for the moment!

My wife found this Airfix multipose at an antique shop near our house and picked up the mint still on sprue and in plastic baggie for $2. I am painting him as King's German Legion. My cousin does not game much at all but does collect the unpainted boutique  models and paint them. I have occasionally partici[ated in painting sessions with him on his figures. I also have to add that even as a young boy I wanted to own all of the Airfix line of multipose figures with the Polish Lancer still being the top tier of my want list. Still I am quite happy with this fellow and he will be photographed later once he is completed.

Sharpe and a rifleman scouting the flank of the 44th Essex. the grenadier company is now completed except for basing.

The command group flanked by the grenadiers and light infantry.

three companies of line advancing behind them all.

The light infantry company and the other two Riflemen. I do not have rules for the period yet, but I have noted that HotT  uses unit bases. Not that I will use that ruleset exclusively, but it does appeal to me as my toy soldiers fought foes from every era...as I suspect I can do again with HotT!

I'll figure out something though skirmish is still high on my priority. 

I haven't researched the 44th Essex at this point. In truth the only reason I selected them was because I am doing the Penninsular War...The Perrys also only included flags for the 44th Essex in the box. they also included the 33rd Regiment, but the guides included have them as 1815 Waterloo.

there will be more as time progresses, so I will be including other regiments. I just want to have the regimental colors on hand before I begin to paint the lads!

As you can see, I used a white Primer as I wanted the red coats to really pop. Although it worked out as well as expected, I think I have been using a black undercoat for far too long now. I suspect that I may go back to black on the future regiments.

I used some P3 and gamesworkshop paints on these fellows, but most is of a now defunct line of Derivan paints Minis line in 36ml bottles. they are the squeeze dropper variety and thin really well.

I hope to acquire more, but I bought them on sale as discontinued product...wish I knew of them sooner!

I have scores of Airfix, Esci, Revel and other HO scale troops for Napoleonic battles. I freely admit to using them in battles across Shag carpet forests, Oak floor plains, and Dining room table mountains in my youth. They battled for the domino houses and wooden block fortresses, no AWOLs have been reported and none were subjected to paint brushes. I can still pick out the troops according to national allegiance despite them all being cream or grey plastic.

My son now leads them in battle and is in charge of their billeting. Yes he even has control of the artillery and the minuscule cannonball stacks and artillery buckets and lanterns that are still 100% accounted for!

It does seem odd watching him play with them. I can report that the British troops are still thrashing the French as they did in my youth! Daddy is keeping the matchbox WW2 forces and the ancient Romans, Greeks, Celts, and Egyptians. Hey I did let go! he now has more than 80% of the HO scale forces and all of my Marx, Timpco, and Timee troops! He even now holds the lease on the Britians castle and it's knights and Moors!

That is all for this week, I got to get the kid's up for school. Expect future posts on Thurs or Fridays as my new work week will run Sunday to every other Wed, I just got today off due to fatigue rules!

German Scifi troops(picture heavy)

So, Halloween has passed. I did get the obligatory zombie post out of the way, albeit with scarier photography! This month has been zooming along thus far. I'm still working lots of OT at work, plus household tasks, and still have military obligations. On the upside, Zombicide has arrived!
I am still working on my British foot, but I couldn't resist slapping some paint on zombie convicts and guards. I even added to the ranks by selecting a few "normal" zombies to share in prisoner orange and guard black. I'll get them up here later, and hopefully with better pictures as these sculpts are top notch for a boardgame and really match the games artwork. My kids are excited as well and looking forward to our first outing- hopefully next weekend!
I finally got the old tower computer desk removed and replaced with one of my drafting tables. This is a fantastic development as now I can paint and model at a proper table ;as well as, work on my laptop for surfing internet, art, or online courses. My wife appreciates the ease of cleaning her living room and the sudden disappearance of the tv tray I was confined to. I would remove all my stuff to the garage-aka mancave-, but it is not climate controlled vs Michigan weather. The garage is also now a repository for other projects and tasks I've yet to accomplish!
In continuing with gifts received LAST year. I have my oft promised Defiance Games German Panzer Grenadiers. Although I am a tough old goat and can still run, ruck, and fight with the best; superglue gives me a rash like you wouldn't believe. I'll sort, prep, and stow several projects just to spend a day with my nemesis and keep the rash time to a minimum. Usually in the Spring or Fall so cold does not effect the joins and heat doesn't add to my skin's discomfort! The Germans are made of the restic stuff( you know not plastic/ not resin but an unholy union of both). But, I digress, here are the pics!

The back of the box, I got two enough for two gruppes!

My good buddy Jeremy Bernhardt painted the very capable looking female troop on the back, alas I'm not at that level.

You get a plethora of these baggies in the kit.

yes, another bad photo of a prospective closeup...I promise more bad photos!

a prone gunner and a few casualties. The later is excellent for scenic bases, terrain, or objective markers. Although I do not actively look for them, I consider them a bonus as I enjoy terrain building and objective markers as much as building my armies of minions.

you also get these sprues of arms with all the weapons you'll need for the troops and the detail is fantastic!

some loose weapons too which will also add to my supplemental builds.

another shot of the weapon arms

you can make them all helmeted or go with patrol caps.

the heads of the fellas...

...and the women.

 

You can make them faceless as well

some more arms(support side) and the squad support weapon arms.

I really like the detail of these scifi german troops

Minimal clean up required, you will need to wash them as they feel slick to the touch and resist washes unless you clean them first. I don't like to use superglue more than once, so I washed them well to ad in the bonding

a lot of legs to vary your troops! My only complaint is the kneeling pose as a soldier will sit on their leg to achieve a more stable firing position. this one is more of a transition or rest pose.

great armor and pads though

the straps are not obnoxious,yet raised enough for contrast in the painting.

torsos and back packs

a  better shot both front and back

Diamond deck plate bases, they are quite solid too and add to the heft

I do not really like the whole space-Nazi vibe often used for Sci-fi Germans. These troops do have a helmet reminiscent of the old German style, but honestly it is a good design and one most modern helmets have taken. It is one of those designs that could last a long time

I went with a green fatigue and coyote armor to totally side step the space-Nazi flavor. Unless you are really looking, these sculpts could be anything else besides German

The Gruppes squad support weapons, two different styles of carry to further add variety.

Two troops without helmets, male and female.

I like how the heads do not look out of place on them. Honestly at the distance and in all that armor you would be hard pressed to find the girl...yet, I did not include a rear pic of the female troop as I know you would all be trying to check out her @$$!

;)

 

I haven't decided how to paint the rest of the Germans. I am thinking of an urban scheme or perhaps just run with the colors of WW2 German airborne. I have converted some of the bits with the UAMC Marines. These guys are really close to the "true"(whatever that is) 28mm like Perry. Games workshop and some Reaper will tower over them. I like them a lot, they are my favorite kit that I've worked on this year. If you want some cheap Scifi troops, this set is just under $20 for 16 troops PLUS three casualties AND a prone gunner. Not a bad price and great for some "hard" Scifi troops not festooned with chainsaws and skulls.

I've since finished this section of troops. I'd show you the finished group, or the Zombicide Beserker Zombies; but I still have scores of preloaded photos of summer work to get through. This is my last week of night crew anyway, I'll be back this coming Monday with pics of my unfinished Napoleonics!...at least since my waking hours will be different, I will have more time on my off days to chase the elusive daylight!