1914 Belgium - UD 18/12 - news re German infantry paint scheme

[Dr DeAth]

Superb! 

[Silent Invader]

Thanks chaps 

The poppies were made by punching out paper disks then attaching them to paint brush bristles embedded in a spot of hot glue. I did 'cup' the poppy heads but a coat of superglue to toughen them up seems to have flattened some out. Darn!

The hard edge on one side of the roads really stands out to me but it's there to enable road sections to be set up side-by-side.  A dip would look silly in the middle of a double-width road but sobwould a rise at the edge of a grass tile (the road being higher than the grass). To introduce a sense of irregularity to the straight road edge, I'm now thinking that I could have patches of mud/dirt at the hard edge, though I would need to match the join for these on all road sections so that when they are mixed up for a double-width the mud/dirt spreads across the join in the middle of the road.

I won't be making more town tiles just yet as I want to paint up the minis and play some games. As I'm mostly a solo player I've come up with 20 terrain maps and 20 force compositions/objectives that I can dice for to give me some unexpected variety.  Here's one of the terrain maps:



I expect I'll make some more town elements but at a much later date.  I like to leave room for something more to do (otherwise it'll seem redundant and will languish for a while before being sold). Anyways, I've decided against using more plastic kits as the Airfix resins were much more fun to convert: the Hornby (same company) Scaledale range has a few that will work in a European setting so when the time comes I shall probably work with them.

Next steps are to paint town tile 3 and the Minerva, do the Minerva crew, build the 6 country tiles, acquire the MG crew teams (a Salute release?) and a few more infantry, paint the minis, test the rules, play some games. Hmm, seems like quite a lot. :-)

[duhamel]

I've finished the block-painting of the 2nd town tile, so like for tile 1 the next stage will be various washes, dry brushes and highlights.

Here's where it's at:

The Duck Egg (restaurant) and The Bakery by the Church; the year 1815 is etched above the bakery door (the last time the British and Prussian Armies were in Flanders at the same time ....):



The poster dates from 1905 (a bit early I know) and advertises biscuits:



The poster dates from 1913 and advertises an aperitif (the characters in the poster are the European heads of state):





And here's the block-painted tile 2 alongside the finished tile 1, which I think makes for an interesting comparison:

I just saw the photo of the bakery. good work, but in France we do not say "boulangerie par l'église" but "boulangerie de l'église"

[Malamute]

It's a triumph Steve. Awesome sauce

[Silent Invader]

Buggery bollocks!  

That serves me right for using Google Translate rather than asking a French or Belgian LAFer

So it would literally be 'bakery of the church' rather than 'bakery beside the church'?  I'm also missing an accent so when I add that in I shall have ago at correcting the par to de. Thanks very much.  

While on the subject, would 'boucherie' be ok for 'butcher shop' and
'atelier de vélo' for a bicycle workshop? Much appreciated.

[scrivs]

The whole thing is looking splendid. Enjoying following the progress on almost a day to day basis. Bravo!

[duhamel]

yes it is!
you can also write "butcher" followed by a name. for example "vandevield butcher"
for bicycle workshop early in the century the term was more appropriate cycle, followed by a personal name, trademark or city. for example cassel cycle Hoping that the action does not happen in Flandres ... because I do not speak Flemish

[Silent Invader]

Thanks very much chaps 

Scrivs: the regular updates are really a very selfish act on my part, as it helps me keep track of the project while picking up useful bits of advice like the following 

Dulhammel: cheers for the language advice, which I shall put to good use 

[Silent Invader]

A bit of applause for 1st Corps and whoever mastered, moulded and cast the Hotchkiss 1909 machine gun that comes as part of their Minerva kit. Hadn't particularly looked at it until last night when I prepped it for painting. It really is a gem with a ton of detail. Very nice work indeed. 

[Captain Blood]

To introduce a sense of irregularity to the straight road edge, I'm now thinking that I could have patches of mud/dirt at the hard edge.

I think that might be the answer, Steve. The hard edge does stand out a little bit as it is...

Something about these shots reminds me of Croydon... 

[Eric the Shed]

after the riots I assume...

[Silent Invader]

 

Anyways, painting has progressed with the Minerva nearing completion (with apologies for out of focus and poorly lit image)



Despite numerous attempts I just can't get the font right for the 'MINERVA' . Darn.

[pocoloco]

Looks great!

Font looks good too, who on earth would be able to write any better with artillery shells falling around

[von Lucky]

Looks good (font and rest of the paint work). Which colour(s) did you choose for the body work?

[Silent Invader]

Ta chaps 

The font was quite a distinctive one - sort of Tuetonic in style - so I might gloss varnish it tomorrow then try touching in some arches and angles .... It'll wash off if it goes wrong .

The bodywork was painted with VMC French Mirage Blue, then a wash of dilute VMC Black, then a thinner than the first coat repeat of the VMC FMB, to which I added increasing amounts of VMC Off White for another 4 or 5 graduated layers and highlights.