ESCI / Revell British 8th Army

Okay, unlike most WW2 fanatics, I've never been a fan of the North African desert battles, preferring the British/German duels around Caen. (Must be a lingering affect of my WW1 Western Front fascination.) 

But after seeing a documentary on El Alamein and another on Italy's attempt to take North Africa and Germany's intervention, I decided to dust off my 8th Army figures. Now I'm eyeing Armourfast's new Crusader tank and upcoming Valentine. It never ends! 

I originally bought these to paint as the Indian 14th Army in Impahl-Kohima. Oh well, I still have Matchbox and Airfix Australians to go. You may notice Revell's 'Scottish figures' from this set are missing. They will be painted as D-Day British Commandos.

Revell Thirty Years War infantry

This took me about thirty months to paint.
As a diversion from Naps, I thought I'd snack on another era. This practically choked me instead. After some research on uniforms it quickly turned into a mess—mercenaries, laces, breeches, knee socks, feathers, sleeves, all depending on princes, lords, municipalities, religious affiliation. Throw in that most soldiers wore their civilian clothes and well, good grief! After painting a handful I stopped and spent more time deliberating, researching, untangling and getting discouraged. To TYW enthusiasts, I'm sure these are horrifically inaccurate.

In the end, I chucked at all and painted them according to Revell's box art. I like the end result but I doubt I'll ever dabble in the TYW again.
Unless I find the Imperial Artillery. For a decent price.

Happy new year!

I'm posting again which means one thing—I found employment! I'll be working for an advertising agency in St. Louis which means I'll be relocating from Atlanta back to my hometown!!

That said, here are some pix of units I've been painting for my Leipzig diorama.
These in these posts you'll you see— HäT French Young Guard and Prussian Reserves, Zvezda Russian Grenadiers, Cuirassiers, French Imperial Guard, Revell Prussians and Waterloo 1815 Polish Infantry.

This is a great group of figures—the sculpting on all is crisp and sharp, easy to paint (though I painfully plod along at a snail's pace) I was thinking of giving a 'shout out' to some manufacturers but these are all great. I love everything Zvezda does—the Russian Grenadiers and Cuirassiers particularly. Props to Revell for releasing their Prussian Line Infantry. These guys look awesome. Even the simply sculpted French Young Guard have a nice presence.
More pix to follow. Cheers!

Photoshop Alert—the haze, smoke and rifle fire on one of the Prussian shots were added.

Revell Colonial Militia

I nice set, would have preferred more uniformed Continentals. Of the three advancing Continentals, the man with the gun across his chest is a paint conversion of Revell's British Redcoats. This small diorama was to be augmented with Italeri's Continetals but the figures towered a scale foot taller. Hoping to pick up some Airfix Washington's Army someday to round this out.

The 'Pine Tree' flag, the British Red Ensign with a tree in place of the Union Jack was believed to have been flown at Bunker Hill.

IMEX/Revell Civil War Skirmish

I'm glad this one's done. For some reason I got bored with this and painting became a chore.

A lot of this is because I'm not a fan of the Civil War--probably the idea of fratricide. Also, I have a penchant for European armies. These IMEX figures are not my favorite. The detail is dull, the body shape diminutive. The Union faces are often squat, the Confederates better shaped, but blobs. The Union are is a Revell/IMEX mix, the Confederates just IMEX.

The Union standard is the 1st Minnesota regiment who played a critical role in holding the line during Gettysburg. (I'm no Civil War buff.) I hope to add some more figures, mainly a Confederate with the flag of the 1st Missouri who played a role in the stout defense of Vicksburg. There are two Confederates reloading to one Union, the reflects the better armament and repeater rifles found in the Federal army.

Side note: Missouri/Minnesota? My great-great grandfather fought with a Minnesota Regiment, not sure which one. And I was born in Missouri.