Rumblestripe

Thanks for the kind comments. Just by way of explanation. This a brief overview of "how I done it" As you can see here, I simply spray primed the figures white. I have tried "slapchop" (or "zenithal" if you prefer) where the figures are painted black then highlighted in grey then white to emphasize shadows. I found that overpowered the "contrast" effect of these paints. I have used the technique successfully when painting horses but felt I wanted more "pop" to the colours. In the picture above you can see the effect of a single coat of Speed Paint "Orc Skin". The trick with these paints, if there is one, is to apply liberally but carefully. This allows the paint to "settle" and you get the contrast effect. Overworking the paint or simply not applying enough will give you a thin translucent finish like a glaze. Try not to apply the paint where you don't want it, the paint is translucent so if you need to apply a different colour, particularly another contrast paint, you need to over paint your mistakes with white before carrying on. So, Chummy's teeth were retouched white. Nearly complete, Chummy has had his teeth touched in white (later some brown staining was applied) his trousers are done in Vallejo blues with a more traditional drybrushing and lightening done to bring out the shape of the figure. His shirt and all leathers are done with various contrast paints sometimes mixed as the colour choice is limited at the moment. His gun is Vallejo Gunmetal with Brass details then washed with Vallejo Black Wash. Later it would have rust and staining applied.

A bit of fun and to test the new Contrast/Speed Paint/Xpress paints Nominally 28mm figures they are more like 35mm. Multipart hard plastic. No issues sticking 'em together, all the parts fit well and can be easily used in various combinations and positions. The skin tone is Army Painter Speed Paint "Orc Skin". This was Speed Paint V1.0 and although it gave a really nice result was an absolute nightmare to work with. If you have heard of the problem with these paints "reactivating" this was probably the colour that was worst, even after several weeks drying if you applied ANY colour on top of it it would bleed through. On some areas I applied several coats of Vallejo White on top of it and it was still pale green! Two of the figures were completely stripped of paint and re-primed because I had been too liberal with this colour. Grrrr. I understand that the V2 paints are much better in this regard. These two were repainted with Vallejo Xpress "Orc Skin" which is a much more yellow colour and I added some blue Xpress Colour to better match the other guys. Most of what you see otherwise is Vallejo Xpress and Game Colour paints. Metallics are a random mix of Vallejo to give a rough and ready Orkish appearance with bits of corrosion and filth on the armour and weapons. The Vallejo Xpress Colours are my favourite of this type of paint, they work really well giving a good tone gradient across textures, mix together well and dry perfectly matt and do not reactivate.

Arrgh, sorry. I've asked for it to be moved. Sorry guys!

This is the "Starter Kit" with the single piece tracks and running gear. I corrected some of the errors with the original model. I have removed the bow machine gun and added the additional plating that seems to have been applied to most Fireflies and the "Pistol Port" on the side of the turret and drilled out the muzzle brake. At some point it has lost one of the fire extinguishers that should be on the rear deck to feed the voracious carpet gods. Built as a little "palette cleanser" as I have lost my modelling desk to my son - he does move out again shortly. Hurrah! so it was a traditional "kitchen table" build, all paint applied with hairy stick. I used the green from the starter kit but all other paints are Vallejo acrylics. I left off some of the markings that came with the kit which probably means the Txxxxxx number is wrong but the appearance better matches period photographs. Oh and I should mention that it cost me the grand sum of £4 as Lidl were doing a half price clearout in the middle aisle, I also have the Tiger set in t' stash. Good fun little kits.

I have a half built one of these on my "shelf of shame" perhaps this will encourage/shame me into completing it. I've gone for a turned metal gun barrel but aside from that straight out of the box.

Try the new fangled "Contrast" paints for a one go solution. You prime in white and then apply a generous coat of contrast paint and allow it to settle in the recesses like a wash but no need for a primary colour. For Caucasian skin tones. There are three manufacturers Citadel (Games Workshop) "Darkoath Flesh" or "Gulliman Flesh", Army Painter "Crusader Skin" or "Peachy Flesh" and Vallejo "Dwarf Skin". If you wish to tweak it a little use a very thin black or dark blue wash to emphasize eyes and mouths.

You have produced a very interesting model and it looks great. I f I could make a small suggestion, I would like to see it next to an object like a tea cup/mug to give me an idea of size, I guess it must be a rather large item?

Went together very nicely. The flags are the ones printed on the instructions that accompany them with the white edges painted to match the colours of the flags The mathematicians among you may notice that there are only 36 figures here. There are 40 in the pack but this numpty put too many on 3x1 and 3x2 bases so that I can't rank up four rows. (I'm not a wargamer 🤷‍♂️) A couple of cruel close ups

Some wargames companies produce 40mm figures which scale at slightly large for 1/48 (38mm is approx. 6ft tall in 1/48) but oddly I cannot find any company producing WW2 figures in 40mm. Perhaps there are some? Get googling! Also, you might get some positive results by talking to 3D printing companies (or buying STL files and your own printer). This company (Wargaming 3D) lists a huge variety of WW2 figures in 28mm "heroic" for example this Polish early war light mortar team They would probably scale up to 1/48 quite easily (though the hands look perhaps a little crude) or perhaps find some in 1/35 and scale down?

Oddly I was just flicking through some pictures from a Classic Car show earlier this year and stumbled across a Hillman Tilly Of course this colour could well be a fanciful invention of the owner but I thought you might like to see it, sadly it appears to be the only shot I took of it!

Just to add to the cacophony of (justified) praise. I would like to praise the use of figures in creating vignettes on the ship, they give a sense of scale to the monstrous ship and of a snap shot of the life on board. Well done indeed, I look forward to seeing what you do with the "Millennium Falcon"

Horses nearly finished I'm very happy with them. The detail on the saddlery was added with a mixture of contrast paints for the black leather and the blue of the trim everything else is picked out in Vallejo Acrylics some drybrushing on the sheepskin. Half of the horses now at this stage the rest are due to get their tack sorted shortly.

Absolutely sensational model. On a related note if you are aware of the podcast "We have ways of making you talk" with Al Murray and James Holland they have recently ran a series of podcasts called "Between The Lines" in which actors read the diaries of several figures from 1943 including Admiral Sir Herbert ("Bertie") Annesley Packer KCB, CBE who commanded Warspite in that period. An interesting insight into the period and the thoughts of Bertie about the ship and her crew.

You're right there, you've made yourself a lot of work to do! Not least the research. As I found out for myself even with my "flexible" approach to timescales there are pitfalls a plenty in this. Previously my butterfly mind took me down the path to build a Sherman tank. Oh boy I thought that was surprisingly complex! Nothing compared to Napoleonic uniforms though. At least when I painted the Pratchett figures no one could tell me that in The Year of the Dancing Lobster the Watch only wore blue jerkins with leather breeches! Good luck with your dio, hope to see it up here one day.

No. They are the first British Napoleonic figures I have had a go at. I have a (nearly complete) unit of Perry's Russian Infantry and an unopened box of Russian Uhlans. Then there are some Dad's Army figures a unit of Zulu War British Infantry. I'm not a wargamer so my figure collecting and painting is just what takes my fancy. For example these from the SF & Real Space Forum Pratchett's Figurines - Ready for Inspection - SF & RealSpace - Britmodeller.com