Todays Painting

I've got gloss onto almost all of my British armour and a Mig Abteilung oil wash over that. They're starting to look ok but I had to stop proceedings to give the guys a run out, I'd arranged to play at one of my local clubs against a guy who runs Germans. They're all green and recognisable so I was happy to field them as was and he was too, I ended up defending on a No Retreat mission and was really crappy on my re-enforcement rolls 5 dice and I finally got one platoon. Long story short, I lost.

I've unpacked the British again and I'm a good way into the process again, I've also constructed and primed 5 more T-34/85s to go with my existing 5 and my Tiger P which Starmonkee (James on here) gave me from the Mid War Monsters boxed set. The Tiger P is going to be the command tank for my 653 Schwere Panzerjager list which has been constructed from THIS Article and PDF. Flavourful force, probably insanely hard to play (for and against) but it's something else to have around and I love the option you can put into this.

I've got a few ideas in mind for my T-34s, and I'll show you my 653 Schwere Panzerjager force listing below any thoughts welcome:

Guards Tank Company

HQ Section, cupola - 80
Guards Tank Company, cupolas - 635
Guards Tank Company, cupolas - 635
Tank Killer Company, SU-85 - 190
Decoy Tank Company, PIV, StuG + Panther - 210
1750

Elefants

HQ Tiger P, Bergepanther and Bergepanzer Elefant and Bergepanther 2cm - 460

Elefant platoon (2) - 600

Panzer Platoon, 4 x Pz IV - 380

Panzerpioneer platoon, hq faust - 205

Grenadier Platoon, hq faust - 165

Rocket Launcher Battery, 3 launchers - 120

1750

T-34/85 Updates.

Got a few pics of my 99% finished T-34/85s, tiny bit of detailing to finish but they're almost there:

T-34/85 update.

As title suggests a few pics of my first completed T-34/85. I wanted to get these done with a reasonable speed but to a good tabletop standard and done en masse.

Firstly Base coat of GW Chaos Black, airbrushed with a base of Russian Green then a dusting of 50/50 Reflective Green and German Camo Bright Green which I then brush highlighted this with a mix of Russian Green and Buff.
 After this I glossed the whole tank and gave it a pin wash using thinned Mig Abteilung Oil Black, I sealed this again with another gloss then added decals, thin gloss again then added weathering like streaks down the sides of the armour for this I used Mig Abt Oil again but this time Shadow Brown and sealed again with a light gloss.
 Finally I applied MIG weathering powders I used Old Rust on the tracks and a 50/50 mix of Old Rust and Dry Mud on the lower sections of the hull and turret. Finally Testors Dullcote, I don't normally use this as I've had issues with it in the past but wanted to give another try and it's worked to a reasonable degree. Not as matte as the Army Painter but that keeps leaving small white flecks on my models which you have to scrape off with scalpel when hard (not ideal I think you'll agree).

Still a few tiny details to pick out like the bocket on the engine deck and the exhausts but it's pretty much there and regardless of all the spiel above this it was VERY quick to do compared to my German work.

Impulse buys.

So I'm in Hobbycraft as its the only place anywhere near me that sells any form of Flames of War kit. I can't find the section, seems to have moved, ask an assistant, its downstairs now near the front. I go downstairs, it appears they're selling off all Battlefront related items. Flames of War merch, GF9 stuff and Wargames Illustrated back issues all with 20% off.

I come home with a Jagdpanther and a box of T-34/85s...

I've wanted a Jagd for a while now and the price for one vehicle was putting me off, especially when for most of my forces I needed 2 of the damn things. So I've picked up one with the thought of keeping the ruined resin building it comes with (actually quite nice, one piece resin cast) and I'll paint it up and maybe put it on ebay.

The T-34/85s were total impulse, I have a love hate relationship with them. I love T-34s for what was one of the best tank designs of the second world war but I resent the 85 variants over use in FoWs Mid War book they simply weren't that prevalent until 44 onwards. Regardless of personal agenda I am relishing the thought of something new, I have a mind to sell these but they may become the basis of a Late War Russian Tankovy Company.

I've managed to get the T-34s all constructed and added a little extra stowage and some wear and tear to some of the fenders last night and I'm currently priming them now. Camera isn't charged but pics tonight/tomorrow as and when its back up and running.