Time Crystals for Frostgrave

I bought The Perilous Dark supplement at the last wargames show I attended (if you remember what they were) in November 2019.

The Perilous Dark was the last supplement for Frostgrave First edition, but is generally compatible with Frostgrave Second Edition.

One of the scenarios involves weirdly glowing crystals. I bought a pack of Crystals (cast in resin) from Bad Squid Games. Originally they were for Malifaux (Rasputina)

They were cleaned up and glued to Renedra 25mm diameter bases. Milliput was used to blend them in, and Woodland Scenics fine ballast glued on top.

Oathmark Goblin for scale.

They were undercoated with Citadel Corax White and the ground painted with Citadel Abaddon Black. The crystals were then painted with Citadel Hexwraith Flame.

Oathmark Human Infantry for scale.

Fighting in a field of crystals.

BA-3 Heavy Armoured Car by Rubicon

At Warfare in 2019 I bought a number of Rubicon kits, including the recently released BA-3 heavy armoured Car. It is referred to as a "Heavy" armoured car due to its weight rather than due to it being heavily armoured. It does however pack the same turret and gun as the contemporary Soviet T26 light tank.

The kit comes in the traditional Rubicon box.

The kit contains a slide mould body (which eliminates the need for a lot of  assemble of the vehicle body). There is a set of decals including those in use by Finnish and Axis forces.

There is also one sprue that contains the rest of the kit.

I assembled the kit according to the instructions, going for the BA-3 rather than the later BA-6 version.

Most of the assembly used Tamiya extra thin liquid poly (which can just about melt the ABS used by Rubicon) though I did tack pieces together in a few places using Humbrol liquid poly and then add the Tamiya extra thin to make the joint permanent (there is enough polystyrene in the liquid poly to make the surfaces "sticky").

The kit went together well, I did have some problems getting the hull machine gun in place (I drilled out the mounting hole to make it easier).

I undercoated the model with Citadel Chaos Black spray. Unfortunately I had run out of the Humbrol 30 Dark Green spray I normally use for my Soviet vehicles, so ended up brush painting it with Humbrol 30 Acrylic Dark Green.

The Sarissa Russian hut provides some background, while a Bad Squiddo female Soviet soldier provides some scale.

Top views.

Women's Land Army - Bad Squiddo Games

Bad Squiddo Games specialises in realistic female figure. Amongst their ranges they have a WW2 British range including Women's Land Army with shotguns.

This is the first fire I have painted of the range.

This figure is not only usable for World War 2, but also for later conflicts, including ones based on a book by a notable British fantasy and science fiction author.

Bad Squid Female Soviet troops - PPSH-41 SMG revisited

When I posted photographs of this figure on the Rubicon site, it was pointed out that the bags and pouches should not be leather coloured as they were canvas. I repainted it with Citadel Steel Legion Drab.

It is still a bit dark.

Bad Squid Female Soviet troops - PPSH-41 SMG

This is the first of the Bad Squiddo Soviet soldiers I have painted. They clean up reasonably well, but this one has an unfortunate mould line running across the helmet and then across the face. The discontinuity is obvious on the helmet at this magnification.

 I still have to add some foliage to the base.

Here she is being supported by a T34/76.

With overhead daylight fluorescent lamp above, without below.

Comparison with a Bolt Action Soviet Infantry man.

 The bodies are only slightly smaller in stature, the helmet and gun are both smaller.

 Though there is a difference, for the SMG gunners it is not that noticeable. However, it will be noticeable for the rifle armed troops, but I need to paint them first.

A final shot of the Bolt Action figure and the Rubicon T34/76.

Rubicon Models Studebaker U3 (without the Katyusha BM-13 MRL) base coated

So the Studebaker has now been base coated. Body with Humbrol Dark Green (to match the T34/76).

Tyres are a mix of Vallejo Black and Black Grey. The underside were coated in Citadel Stirland Mud textured paint. The seat is Vallejo Burnt Cadmium and the steering wheel Citadel Mournfang Brown. The bench seats were lightly painted with Vallejo Old Wood.

The body was washed with Citadel Athonian Camoshade.

The figure is a Bad Squiddo Female Soviet soldier.

The vehicle still needs decals and final weathering.

Bad Squid Female Soviet troops

One squad of female Soviet troops from Bad Squiddo, awaiting final basing.

Colours 2017

So it is that time of year again, so it was off to Newbury Racecourse for Colours. The convenience of the station opposite was slightly spoiled by the train set owner closing the line after 1400 (they are converting from clockwork to electric or something).

What was noticeable was the absences this year. This slightly spoilt my buy list, but never mind.

Crooked Dice had a nice selection of items (unfortunately I did not get the secret base set, too heavy). There were some new MDF and resin scenery items including a set of bunk beds. Photographs when I start building and painting them.

On my buy list was the new Rubicon Models Jeep. Even though I was there early I could not find any at the usual suspects. Having given up, I found one (of two) on the Great Escape stand. More on Jeeps later.

I had a rather badly written list of figures I wanted from Empress. This included their new "universal" figures in generic uniform with Soviet/Russian weapons. They can be ordered with a range of heads. Perfect for ImagiNation armies. I had forgotten to add the Mutton Chop British infantry suitable for Operation Sealion.

On the subject of Sealion, I bought one of their Spanish Civil War Panzer IB with 20mm cannon.

I also bought one of their new Jeeps, not for WW2 but for later conflicts.

 Scale shops with William Killian (the wheels are just blutacked on)

 The jeep is scaled at 1/50 rather than 1/56, so it is bigger than the Warlord one.

The Rubicon one is also scaled at 1/56 (you might be able to see it inside its bag).

Simple Miniature Games had an offer on Halifax box sets, so I took advantage of the offer to buy some more Resurectionists and other figures. Admittedly the "Stitched Together" was bought for looks rather than utility.

Spectre Miniatures had their new Technical upgrades on sale so I bought a number of them and a Technical Bravo that they had sold out of at Salute.

Technical Bravo is a more modern version with a four door body and shortened cargo space.

 This is a comparison with the SUV, also from Spectre.

This is the Spectre Technical Bravo compared to the Empress Technical.