Pictures!

I decided to post a few pictures that I took this weekend before I take a break and head on vacation.  Today I built the British Armored Platoon, Typhoons (one with an Armorcast Effect), another Sherman, Horsa glider and a British Airlanding Heavy Anti-Tank Platoon.  I want to have them ready to paint when I get back.

I am trying out a new camera, which made me discover that my lighting stinks.  So you solve one problem, but identify another.  I borrowed a few lights from work, but I need a few more to really pull it off.  I also saw that some of the more subtle painting effects just don't make it onto the camera.

Anyway, here they are:

Artillery command team and staff team.  I tried the "create a map" and this was my first attempt.  Later teams have a better map.

This is a command team from my First Special Services Force (aka Devil's Brigade).  I still need to hit it with one last dullcote layer, but I also need to make sure that left over flock is not on the teams!

One of the FSSF platoons.  I have painted a full company with 3 platoons and an HQ.

Ok.  This is a Sherman Objective marker.  I drilled a hole to make it look like the tank was shot after bogging down in mud.  I need to create some smoke to come out of the hatch.  I used MIG Wet Effects to make the road look muddy.  I also used Matte Medium and chalks to build up the mud.

Top view of my Fire Direction Center.  Maps look a little better.  Sorry for the over exposure.

One of the first tanks I painted.  I used colored pencil to highlight the turret.  From 3', it doesn't look bad, but I have stopped using that technique.

This is one of the Priests that I did and I thought I went way too far with the dried mud / dirt.



My last M10 that I painted.  I still need to finish the crew.  Unfortunately, the panle shading really doesn't show up on the pictures.

So there you go!

As promised - Explosion Markers

Here are a few pictures that show the finished work.

Remembering that this is my first attempt at them, I can see a few "areas for improvement":

1) Don't spread the hot glue everywhere.  You can see in a few pictures that they glue is visible as globs and strands.  Painting won't hide it, so cleanup is necessary prior to painting - like putting more foliage over the exposed area.

2) Use another coat of grey.  I went black twice, then grey twice.  I am thinking another grey and maybe even a lighter grey on that third coat.

But I really do like the effect and look of the marker.  In one of my games, there was a conversation about concealment through a destroyed tank.  I had to remind my opponent about the 2" rule (sorry, don't know the cm measurement).  The marker helped illustrate that.

So without further ado, here are the pictures:

You can see the glob of glue and a strand.  The strands should be easy enough to cut out.  From an artistic view, I think a heavier airbrush at the top and lighter on the bottom would be a better look to the explosion.  In other words, show more color of the foliage at the bottom and not the top.

While the focus is a little off, I like this marker very much.  The trick is to make the marker look a little asymetical.  Of course, the marker completely overtakes my little Stewie.  But again, it does help to illustrate the 2" rule on the detroyed tank.

Final thoughts:

Ok, so they don't look like Shawn's (The Terrain Guy), but then what mere mortal's work does?!?  I have to admit I really like the look and effect.  I did see another player that had an LED flashing under his marker.  That made me think...  nahhh.  Or did it?!?!  :-)

Simple to make, but remember the hot glue!  White glue, terrain glue and even super glue will work, but I found the hot glue to be much, much easier to handle.

Good luck!