Relic Mycenaeans And A Rubicon Montgomery

Here are the 6 sample Relic Miniatures Mycenaeans sent to me by Mike Evans. They are temp based as I plan to give them to a buddy so he can base them to his liking. I misplaced the spears that were sent to me so these are just various ones I had on hand. The Rubicon Montgomery will be used as the senior officer for Western Desert Bolt Action games.

The Relic figures are nicely sculpted but smaller than the Redoubt and Foundry figures I already have.

The helmets are based upon what can be seen in period artwork - frescoes, ivory carvings, etc. The cuirasses are similar to the bell-cuirass style of the Archaic period. Some appear to have throat armor like that seen on the Dendra cuirass. The kilts are also accurate from period artwork. I painted the greaves as bronze ones. Small bronze greaves have been found but they may have been worn over cloth/linen greaves.

As mentioned in the previous post, the shields look good, and the figure-8 one is particularly nice.

Below is a comparison with a Redoubt figures. The Relic figure is noticeably smaller overall. Relic figures are on the smaller/slender size of most 28mm figures.

And a comparison between the Rubicon Montgomery and a Warlord Games Rommel. The are close enough after raising the base with some Green Stuff for the Rubicon figure. The Rubicon figures is sculpted like the Relic ones. Some would argue more realistically proportioned. I mean look at the size of Rommel's head! :)

I've gotten to the point of being quite the lazy painter. That is, my preferred method is block painting followed by a wash - usually with Minwax. After this, details and highlights can be added - or not. In any case, thanks for stopping by and seeing my latest projects.

No Big Whoop, Just A Few Painting Projects

These are the first painting projects that I've done in about 7 months or so. The Ottomans and Mamelukes from TAG and Gringo 40's were the last figures I painted - last July or August. Nothing serious here, just a few Bronze Age Greek sample figures that Mike Evans from Relic Miniatures sent me last year. Also, a Montgomery figure from Rubicon and also a WIP repaint of a Corgi Panther another buddy gave me - also last year. I just found the motivation to paint these up today. I actually spray painted the Panther last night with a can of Tamiya Dark Yellow.

As usual for me nowadays, these figures were given a basic block painting followed by Minwax Tudor Satin stain. In fact, stain is from a can my buddy gave me a long time ago. I had to open it as the remnants of my old can had gone solid. Not surprising as there was only a little left in the can.

The Relic figures bare metal. They are on the more slender side - sort of reminds me of the older Newline Sea Peoples range. They are smaller, all-around, than Redoubt and Foundry Trojan War figures. One thing I like is the size and shape the figure-8 shield. It has a nice bulbous shape about it, much like how it is portrayed in period art.

The Rubicon kit for Monty als includes a figure of General Hobart. I like how he was fired and re-hired several times before and during the war.

Prior to re-painting the Corgi Panther, I had to fix a broken road wheel. I cut out a piece from an inner road wheel and used some Green Stuff to attach it to the outer wheel. For the record, my buddy gave it to me not because of the broken wheel, but because it's too big for the 1:56th scale vehicles he uses.

The road wheel repair isn't the prettiest, and should look okay after weathering. The earlier paint job my buddy added was stripped off using DOT 3 brake fluid. Not the environmentally friendliest nor healthiest to use but got the job done. I had tried 99% rubbing alcohol and it didn't work; I'd also given up on Simple Green ever since they changed the formula and it's also pretty much useless to remove paint. Plan to add camo to the tank using an inexpensive airbrush kit I just ordered from Amazon. My only previous experience with airbrushing was almost 20 years ago using one of those old $10 Testors airbrushes that had to be used with a can of compressed air. The airbrush kept clogging up before I could even finish the tank it was used on - coincidentally another Corgi Panther.

Anyway, guess I'm getting back into the hobby again - ever so slowly. Thanks for dropping by and checking out the blog.

Bolt Action Battle of Alam El Halfa Playtest

Playtest for a Bolt Action Western Desert game. Thanks to a few of my buddies, got in a nice refresher Bolt Action game using the Battle of Alam El Halfa scenario. We ended the game due to time, but got a lot of action in. Not sure if this ever really happened, but my Matilda took out a Panzer III. Anyway, just wanted to post this to show that I'm still in the hobby. In fact, I plan to get back into gaming more once I retire, hopefully at the end of this year. 

The sole vehicle casualty in the game - the Panzer III hit by the Matlida's 2 pounder. A subsequent Damage roll of 6 took the Panzer out of commission. How historical this may be is still in debate.

A squad of Scots in cover. The spotter for the mortar team in the distance.

Italian Bersaglieri on top of the sandstone outcrop - giving them hard cover. The Panzer III supporting them below. 

Senegalese troops with Tough Fighter attributes moving in support of the Matilda. Looks like one of them snuck out and joined the FFL unit ahead of them. 

The Grant creeping along sandstone outcroppings.

Rommel was the overall leader for the DAK and Italians. He's chilling out behind the oasis. He was given an Officer Bonus value of 3. DAK mortar team spotter in front of him.

The halftrack was used to tow the Pak 38. 

 Having been pinned at the start of the game by preparatory bombardment, the 6 pounder was never able to pass their Orders test and never moved or fired. 

The Panzer II and armored car traded shots with the Grant and Crusader with little effect to either side.

Allied units pinned after receiving DAK preparatory bombardment at the start of the game. Skull markers indicate the unit is hidden.