Showing posts with label WW2. Show all posts
Showing posts with label WW2. Show all posts

Saturday, January 31, 2026

Battlegroup Kursk - 15 mm

This afternoon I was introduced to Battlegroup Kursk, a ruleset by The Plastic Soldier Company. We were six players playing on a 6 x 8 foot tabletop at the Abyss. I elected to play Soviet and was given command of six T-34s. After my force had been reduced to one tank, I took command of three T-70s. 

Having been recently introduced to Battlegroup NORTHAG, I was interested to see how similiar the game flowed. One new action I appreciated was the ability to double tap.  The option of two shots was unavailable with the modern period rule set. There are a few changes I would like to see. For example,  you had multiple chances to acquire a target. IMO if you fail the first attempt then you should not be able to try again in the same turn.

At the end of the Game - A Bloodly Affair

We kicked off play at about 2PM and were finished just after 5 o'clock. My command was the 5 burning T34s on the right side of the playing field. A sixth is below the hill's crest but within 5 inches of the red objective marker, allowing the Soviets to claim the point. After the majority of my tanks were brewed up, I was handed three T-70s to have fun with. They had started near the white farm building (another objective) at the far end of the table and rushed across the open ground, closing with the enemy. I reached shelter in the central woods, which is covered with smoke, but under the gaze of two of the Tigers. In the final move of the game, two of the light tanks outflanked the big cat and opened fire on its exposed side. Unfortunately it was to no avail. 

A fun afternoon, rolling dice, with a friendly group of like minded gamers. At the end of the day, everything but the Tigers seemed to be burning. I was content to be the target while my comrades destroyed the enemies of the Soviet peoples. I was only able to claim one destroyed PZ III, despite my losses. 



Friday, September 12, 2025

28mm Bolt Action - UK Paras

 A year ago I made a purchase from Facebook Marketplace of a 2nd edition Bolt Action WW2 Airborne Force. The figures were from Artizan Designs and were painted to what I thought was an excellent standard, based and varnished. Certainly better than what I could have obtained through my own efforts. 










The photos were the original photos that were on the marketplace. The total force was 45 figures and consisted of 

3 Airborne command squad armed with pistol, Stengun, Rifle + 1 Medic

Troops 

Section 1  - 10 man Airborne Section armed as follows 4 Rifles, 5 Stenguns and 1 Bren gun.

Section 2 - 10 man Airborne Section armed as follows 6 Rifles, 2 Stenguns, 1 Thompson, 1 Bren gun

Ad Hoc Section - 10 man Airborne section armed as follows 7 Rifles, and Stengun and 2 Bren Guns

Weapon teams 

1 metal Airborne flamer 

1 metal Airborne light mortar 

1 metal Airborne Sniper 

1 metal Airborne spotter 

1 metal Airborne medium mortar team (3) 

1 metal Airborne MMG team Artizan (3) with wounded/dead trooper 

4 metal Airborne PIAT team armed with 2 PIATS and 2 loaders

Artillery 

1 - 6 pounder anti tank Airborne (3)

The purchase of these figures allowed me to gift the Warlord Games British Airborne Starter Army that I knew I would not get around to painting anytime soon. 

Saturday, July 28, 2018

The Anatomy of a Small War Part 8

Once again I return to Northern China, with reinforcements for the cause of The Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. This heading has become the catch phrase for my 20mm (1/72nd) scale WW2 Imperial Japanese forces.

First addition are three Type 97 medium tank Chi-Ha by Dragon Models. The models themselves come pre-painted, with a plastic base and display case. I only had to open them up and rebase the tanks to my liking.

Type 97 medium tank Chi-Ha




I found the following listing for HO WW2 JAPANESE SOLDIERS and HO 14 PAINTED TRACKS on eBay. It sounded like a fantastic deal. I really wanted 14 trucks. The soldiers were Airfix LMG teams. The vehicles were repainted die cast models, to which decals of Japanese flags had been applied to the cab doors. I was unable to read the company details on the bottom of the vehicles. Another reason to have my eyes checked. Note: I have since replaced my glasses.

The batch included six cargo trucks, to which I added loads to the back of five. The other eight I have designated as transport, since they have visible benches on the sides for seating.

Cargo Trucks



Transport Trucks



Vehicle Park Storage


Thursday, November 21, 2013

WW2 Soviet 57mm AT-Gun ZiS-2 Model 1943

This post about the ZiS-2 57mm AT Gun is an update from August 2009. I was not happy with the previous presentation  of this excellent piece of Soviet equipment and remounted it on a 60mm x 80mm base, so the gun and the crew were both on the same element.



Friday, September 20, 2013

Heroes of the Soviet Union: Heavy Metal

The T-34 was the most widely produced Soviet tank of the Great Patriotic War. This week I built two ARII 1/50th Scale T-34 model kits. They were included in a box of gaming supplies I picked up at Cangames in 2006. They have been in the cupboard ever since.

ARII T-34s with 28mm Infantry for Scale
These kits are for remote control motorized models and I am sure the diehard model builders out there will slight me for not going the extra mile and completing the kits as originally designed. All I intend to do is run a mid-war Soviet tank platoon alongside my 28mm Soviet Infantry. I have a third tank that has been shown in a previous posting. It too, was purchased in the same box of models and game bits and is clearly a different scale. That’s OK, it can be the Platoon Leader’s vehicle.


Today was a fabulous, warm day in Montreal. It was a perfect day to sit on the balcony, catch up on some reading, take some photos and spray some minis. The tanks were treated to a coat of Flames of War, Soviet Armour War Paint. Decals and detailing need to follow.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Heroes of the Soviet Union Part 1

I present my latest platoon of Soviet Infantry based for the WRG War Games Rules Armour & Infantry 1925-1950 © 1973.  I already have 3 Soviet platoons (28mm figures) mounted on individual stands and felt like doing something retro with this group of figures. It consists of
  1.   A three man command stand
  2. Two three man LMG stands
  3. First Rifle Squad with 3 four man Rifle Teams
  4. Second Rifle Squad with 2 four man Rifle Teams and 1 four man SMG team

Command and LMG Teams
This rule set has always been a favorite of mine. I've been playing with them practically since they were first published. Over the decades I have played  with many other WW2 rule sets, and I even own a number of them. I keep coming back to this set for a quick and simple game.  

As they are based, I’d have no problem using these figures for Blitzkrieg Commander, the most recent ruleset I've purchased for this scale of game.


In my opinion the front line soldiers of the Red Army deserve the title “Heroes of the Soviet Union”. Regardless, if they were conscripted or volunteered:  they overcame frightful losses, often due to the incompetent leadership during the early war period, and later war attitudes  which allowed Soviet generals to squander thousands of lives knowing  they had the manpower and a belief at the top, that the ends justified the means.

First Squad
Without a doubt to paraphrase the Right Honourable Winston Churchill, “the Russian Armies tore the guts out of the German Army.” 

His words may be read here, in their entirety, in his report on the War Situation given to the House on August 2nd 1944.

2nd Squad lead by SMG Team

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Work in Progress, WW2 Soviets

My collection of World War II Soviet skirmish figures continues to grow. This time I am experimenting with the Army Painter system. The figures were primed and then sprayed with Leather Brown. When I have finished painting the details I plan to wash half the figures with Minwax Wood Stain (English Oak)  and the other half with Liquitex Transparent Burnt Umber. I washed my 15mn Hussite Army by the 2nd method and I like the effect.



These figures are a mix of West Wind and Black Tree.

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Rebasing Micro-Armour Infantry and Heavy Weapon Groups



For years I lead a very active wargaming life playing microarmour. I remember purchasing my first vehicles from Heroics and Ros in the late 1970s for what worked out to about $0.25 CDN per vehicle.

Over time, I played many rule sets but I kept returning to the set that offered the perfect combination of complexity and playability, both for  World War 2 and the Modern Period. I refer to the WRG  Armour and Infantry 1925-1950 (June 1973) and Wargame Rules for Armoured Warfare 1950-1985 (June 1979). This 2nd rule set replaced the earlier version of the rules which covered to 1975.

My introduction to the revised Modern rules was at a gaming convention held at St Mary's University in Halifax against a team from the Armoured Warfare School based at CFB Gagetown. They taught us civilians a lot that day.

WARGAMES RESEARCH GROUP - Rules Ancient and Modern and other periods in between, a website by Sue Laflin-Barker, provide pdf downloads to these and other out of print WRG rule sets.

My only complaint about these rules was the level they presented the infantry and heavy weapons units. I imagine they are what would be labeled as fire teams. My own interests tend towards a squad level unit, using markers for multiple hits.  In recent years I have tended towards Blitzkrieg Commander for WW2 and Cold War Commander for the modern period. For these rules I looked at rebasing the majority of my 600 infantry as squads on a 40mm x 20mm base and I am very happy with the results. 

WW2 Soviet Hvy MGs

WW2 Soviet AA Gunss

WW2 Soviet Mortars

WW2 Soviet Combat Engineers

WW2 Soviet Anti-Tank Rifle Teams

Sunday, July 29, 2012

The Anatomy of a Small War Part 7

Once again I return to the Soviet-Japanese struggle for Changkufeng-Khasan, 1938 on the Mongolian frontier thanks to Five Arrows Figures and Fine Art, who were in attendance at Cangames this year. This year at Cangames I parted with a few games that I had not touched in years and as a result, covered all my convention costs including 4 Japanese WW2 resin trucks that I purchased.

Among the items that Five Arrows sells are vehicles from Frontline Wargaming.  I purchased two of each of the following vehicles to beef up the mobility of my Japanese Imperial Army.

J1   Isuzu TX40 GS Truck (4-Wheeled 2 Tons Cargo capacity)
In August 1938 The first and second models of TX40 were completed at Kawasaki Plant.

Isuzu TX40 GS Truck
J2   Isuzu Type 94A/B Personnel Truck (6-wheeled)



Isuzu Type 94A/B Personnel Truck
As one of the oldest companies in the Japanese automotive industry, Isuzu traces its beginnings to 1916, the year Tokyo Ishikawajima Shipbuilding and Engineering Co. and Tokyo Gas and Electric Industrial Co. initiated plans for automobile production. In 1922, Japan's first domestically produced truck, a Wolseley model A-9, was completed. In 1934, after meeting Ministry of Trade and Industry standards, vehicles were renamed 'Isuzu' after the Isuzu River in the Ise Shrine area. This is the origin of the company name, which was changed to today's 'Isuzu Motors Limited' in 1949.

I found it really hard to find any information about either of these vehicles. IMO the history of the company seems to be very revisionist, commencing in 1949, with almost no motion of the war years.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Soviet Medium Tank Battalions 1944

I had another two GHQ WW2 tank battalions to paint. This was a very quick job in the late fall before the temperature starting reaching below 10C during the day. I sprayed painted them using a can of War Paint (Flames of War) Soviet Armour SP02. I found the product provided a nice easy coat if the instruction were followed. After they dried I applied a wash of transparent burnt umber by Liquitex (Series 2 No 130). I found this to be a very quick way method to get the units ready for battle.



Friday, April 8, 2011

Go West, Young Man! Part III

There is no doubt that the sacrifice of the poor bloody infantry of the Red Army led to final victory in May of 1945.

Platoon CO with Runners

In the words of Churchill ~ It is the Russian Armies who have done the main work in tearing the guts out of the German army. In the air and on the oceans we could maintain our place, but there was no force in the world which could have been called into being, except after several more years, that would have been able to maul and break the German army unless it had been subjected to the terrible slaughter and manhandling that has fallen to it through the strength of the Russian Soviet Armies. (Aug. 2, 1944).

I spent my evenings this past week, when I was not playing Twilight Struggle, painting a WW2 Soviet Infantry platoon.  I bought most of the figures about the same time on eBay and they were mixed when they were primed.  The packages included figures by West Wind Line: Berlin or Bust (by Old Glory) and Harlequin Miniatures (now know as Black Tree Design). Together the two different companies provide a great mix of poses and figures.

1st Squad: 7 Riflemen and 1 SMG and a Sgt

On paper each Soviet Rifle squad would consist of a Sgt, with an Assistant Squad leader, 1 LMG (Gunner and Ammo Carrier) team, 2 SMGs and 6 or 7 Riflemen. Squads were rarely full strength or fully equipped. I have painted three 9 men squads, none equipped with the LMG teams.

2nd and 3rd Squads

The 2nd squad has 7 riflemen and 1 SMG, while the 3rd squad had 2 SMGs but only 6 riflemen.

Note: When I was putting the figures away, in my Soviet War Chest, I discovered I had already painted three LMG teams. I only had to add my yellow dot code so each team was matched to a squad. Now each squad can exercise various manpower  and equipment options.

LMG Teams Added to the Platoon

I still have another 50 primed Infantry figures to paint. These figures will allow me to bring a platoon in winter camo pattern, and a 2nd summer dress platoon up to strength. In addition, to a squad of Combat Engineers that need to take to the field with their flamethrowers and mine detectors, there is a newly arrived mortar section (4x mortars with crews) from BTD Miniatures to paint.

To complete this project I have one pack of BTD (WW2010) Soviet Character Set and four packs of Battle Honors WW2 Soviet Infantry unopened. The first, Russ-7 is a package of 10 tank riders. The second package,  Russ-18 consists of four 2 man Anti-Tank Rifle Teams.

Finally there are two packs of Russ-22 (each with 2 x Maxim MGs and NKVD Crews). If you watched Enemy at the Gates, you know you can't go to Stalingrad without them. It is amazing that despite such criminal encouragement, the heroic soldiers of the Workers and Peasants Red Army advanced into the heart of Nazi Germany.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

The Anatomy of a Small War Part 5

During the festive season I returned to the Soviet-Japanese frontier in Mongolia.  I picked up on eBay a HO-Ni Tank Destroyer and four 75mm Regimental / Pack Guns, all by SHQ Miniatures.


SHQ Type 1 Ho-Ni I Tank Destroyer

According to Wikipedia, the Type 1 Ho-Ni I was developed by utilizing the existing Type 97 chassis and engine, and replacing the gun turret with a 75 mm Type 90 Field Gun mounted in an open casemate with frontal and side armour only. The mounting for the 75mm Type 90 field gun allowed for ten degrees of traverse and elevation from -5 to +25 degrees.

The Type 1 Ho-Ni I carried 54 rounds of ammunition. This vehicle was produced in small quantities between 1941 and November 1943, until superseded by the Type 2 Ho-Ni II with its Type 91 105mm howitzer. The total number produced was only 124 units and they first saw combat in Luzon in the Philippine Islands in Dec 1944. As such, I really cannot use it in a 1939 campaign but I wanted to upgun my Japanese, with this great looking piece.

Improved Type 38 75mm Field Gun
(Guns by SHQ Crews by Waterloo 1815)

I also bought from the same seller four 75mm Infantry guns. Searching on-line I identified the miniatures as the Improved Type 38 75mm Field Gun.  SHQ markets them as 75mm Regimental / Pack Guns.

The original design was purchased from Krupt and produced under licence in Japan prior to World War One. After the war design changes were made as Japanese industrial capabilities advanced. Finally before the start of the Sino-Japanese War the final design of  what is called the "Improved Type 38" Field Gun went into production. About 400 pieces of this model were produced. The Japanese were never able to replace all of them or their earlier designs with the Type 90 75mm Field Gun. Thus the Type 38 Field Guns, though outdated, served until the end of WW2.

My complaint with SHQ Miniatures is they do not sell the guns with their crews. You have to make separate purchases. I found that Waterloo 1815, the Italian plastic soldiers manufacturer offered a box set of  WWII Japanese 70 mm Gun and Anti Tank Crews  (Number AP003) that would suit my purposes.  The figures are made of medium hard plastic, and are very easy to paint.

WWII Japanese 70 mm Gun & Anti Tank Crew  (Number AP003)

I utilised the gun crews for my SHQ artillery pieces and I also assembled the Type 92 70mm IGs and will mount them later. The guns assembled without a hitch. There is enough flex in the plastic that they do not snap when being put together. This may have been a problem if they were made of hard plastic.

Each box contains two guns and 16 figures (in 8 poses). The other figures are AT infantry or LMG teams. I have some Platoon 20 and Frontier Japanese WW2 Infantry that I need to paint. I'll add these plastics into the mix.
Type 92 70mm Battalion IG

From the above photo you can get an idea of the size of the guns when compared to the SHQ artillery in the background. All models are 20mm or 1/76th scale. I assembled two of the IG guns with the gun shield and two without. I found pictures of both on the internet and I like the varity, The Type 92 Battalion Gun could fire high-explosive shells , armor-piercing, and smoke rounds.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

The Anatomy of a Small War Part 4

As I wrote last March (the Anatomy of a Small War Part 3), I needed to pick up some 20mm tanks to provide support for my Japanese infantry. This year at Cangames I purchased three Frontline Wargaming Resin Kits from Five Arrows Figures and Fine Art (www.fivearrowsfigures.ca), one of the dealers who was in the Cangames marketplace.

I purchased two J3 TYPE 97 STANDARD MEDIUM TANK (CHI-HA) and one J4 TYPE 97 SPECIAL SHINHOTO (CHI-HA) tanks. These were the first resin kits I dealt with. Reading on the web I found the wise advise that I should soak the pieces in warm water with dish detergent, and scub them clean with a toothbrush before rinsing them clean. Afterwards it was very easy to apply both glue and paint without worrying of the effects of the chemicals used to seperate the kit from their molds.


Two Type 97 (CHI-HA) Medium Tanks
with 20mm Infantry shown for scale.

According to Wikipedia "The Type 97 medium tank Chi-Ha was a medium tank used by the Imperial Japanese Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Second World War. It was the most widely produced Japanese medium tank of the period.

The Type 97 was initially equipped with a Type 97 57mm main gun. The cannon was a short barreled weapon with a relatively low muzzle velocity but sufficient as the tank was intended primarily for infantry support.

It also carried two 7.7 mm Type 97 machine guns, one on the front left of the hull and the other in a ball mount on the rear of the turret. The latter could be remounted on top of the top of turret for anti-aircraft use. The turret was capable of full 360-degree traverse but the main gun had a second pair of trunnions internally allowing a maximum 10-degree traverse independently of the turret. The turret featured a small periscope for use when the tank was "buttoned up." On the front of the tank was a searchlight.

The Type 97 medium tank was manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (1,224 units), Hitachi Industries (355 units), as well as some limited production in Army’s Sagami Arsenal. A total of 2,123 vehicles were constructed from 1938 to 1943, of which 1162 units with the standard Type 97 and 930 units were the improved Type 97-kai (Shinhoto) version. The remainder was various specialized variants produced in small numbers, such as recovery, flail mine clearers, engineer, bridge layers, 20 mm and 75 mm anti-aircraft and self-propelled guns.

The shortcomings of the Type 97 with its low velocity 57 mm gun became clear during the Nomonhan Incident against the Soviet Union, where the 45 mm gun of the Soviet tanks outranged the Japanese tank gun, resulting in heavy Japanese losses. This convinced the Army of the need for a more powerful gun, and development of a new 47 mm weapon began in 1939 and was completed in 1941. This gun was based on Soviet 45 mm anti-tank guns[citation needed] captured during the Nomonhan conflict and was also influenced by the German PaK 36 37 mm anti-tank gun[citation needed]. Although it was a smaller-caliber weapon, the 47 mm gun's longer barrel generated much higher muzzle velocity, resulting in armor penetration superior to that of the 57 mm gun.


1 TYPE 97 Shinhoto Chi-Ha ("new turret")
with 20mm Infantry shown for scale.

From 1942 onwards, production of the Model 97 was changed to use the new 47 mm gun, which also required a larger turret. The turret was taken from the Type 1 Chi-He medium tank to resolve this issue, and the new version was designated "Type 97 Improved Medium Tank" or Shinhoto Chi-Ha ("new turret"). About 300 of the older Type 97s were also upgraded to use the new gun. The 47 mm gun was easily capable of dealing with the armour of the American M3 Stuart, though had difficulty with the heavier M4 Sherman. However as the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff believed that any tanks fielded by the Allied nations would only be of the lighter types, the lack of capability against heavier armour was considered acceptable."

Sunday, March 7, 2010

The Anatomy of a Small War Part 3

This is my final post on this subject until such time I obtain some 20mm Japanese vehicles (Trucks and Tanks). I am hoping that I'll be able to locate some at Cangames 2010.

These photos are the last of the Platoon 20 Japanese Infantry and Support Weapons that I had to paint and mount. As I posted previously, I have based the figures for a Blitzkrieg Commander game.

Photo 1: 6 Stands of LMG Teams, 1 Command Stand



Photo 2: 4 Stands of Light Mortors, and 4 Snipers.


The Anatomy of a Small War Part 2

As I wrote in January I won an Ebay auction that consisted of The item of 6 x packs of 20mm scale Japanese Artillery pieces from B.P. Cast include one x 20mm AA Type 98 w/ Crew, one x 47mm AT Type 1 w/ crew, two x 75mm Howitzer Type 90 w/ crew, one x 75mm FG Type 38 w/ crew, one x 150mm Gun Type 89 w/ crew.

I personally found the castings to be on the rough side, and the directions that were provided to assemble the guns were not as clear as they should be. However, I think I managed and I have the photos to prove it. The 20mm AA gun was too delicate for my thumbs and did not survive. Each gun came with three crew members. It would appear that there are a total of four crew poses available. These figures are much smaller than 20mm figures from Platoon 20.

I allocated the the three extra crew men to two of the larger caliber guns.

Photo 1: 2 x 75mm Type 90 Howitzer , 1 x 75mm Type 38 Field Gun with all 4 crew poses ( Type 38 is the gun on the extreme right)




Photo 2: One x 47mm Anti-Tank Gun and One x 150mm Gun Type 89




Sunday, January 10, 2010

The Anatomy of a Small War Part 1

The Anatomy of a Small War: The Soviet-Japanese Struggle for Changkufeng/Khasan, 1938 by Alvin D Coox © 1977

“…in the midsummer of 1938 a desperate two-week’s battle, fought over and around Changkufeng between the Japanese 19th Division, stationed in north Korea, and somewhat larger Soviet ground forces with air support. The battle remained limited because both sides had good reason to avoid a full-scale war-The Japanese because of their unfolding conflict with China, the Russians because of the threatening situation in Europe.” Edwin O. Reischauer

I picked up this book years ago, either at a yard sale or a used book store. It was a discard from the London Public Libraries and over the Christmas holidays I started to read it. In the beginning of the border struggle (July 31, 1938) Mr. Coax has provided some very fine descriptions of small unit actions centred on the Changkufeng hills west of the Khasan Lake district.

Over the next two weeks the dispute developed so at the end on August 11th 1938 when the cease fire went into effect the Japanese had committed 12 Infantry Battalions and 33 Artillery Pieces, while the USSR had superiority in numbers. They had committed an 27 infantry battalions, a 100 pieces of artillery and only had about 20 tanks remaining on the front. During the previous two weeks, it was reported by the Japanese, that Soviet assults contained anywhere from 10-100 tanks at a time with air support.



Map: Mounting the Assault Changkufeng, the evening of 30 July 1938

I realized early on in my reading that I must have had about 100 Platoon 20 Japanese Infantry figures that I had picked up years ago to use as “minions” for my pulp fiction, Daredevils’ Campaign. So last weekend I dug them out and sat down to get them painted.



Photo 1: Ranks 1-3 Blitzkrieg Commander 4 Japanese Infantry Companies
              Rank 4 ( Left) Two Combat Engineers ( Right) Two Inf Recce Units

I have based them for the Blitzkrieg Commander rules but feel they are still acceptable to my old standby favorite, the WRG Rules for Armour and Infantry 1925-1950. I noticed last week on Ebay there was an auction of 6 packs of WW2 Japanese artillery  in 20mm scale and I was the successful bidder. I’m looking forwarding to adding that fire power to the infantry.



Photo 2: Front Rank 4 Stands of FAO (Foreward Artillery Observers)
              Rear Rank 3 Stands HQ Units

Work In Progress:

The item of 6 x packs of 20mm scale Japanese Artillery pieces from B.P. Cast include one x 20mm AA Type 98 w/ Crew, one x 47mm AT Type 1 w/ crew, two x 75mm Howitzer Type90 w/ crew, one x 75mm FG Type 38 w/ crew, one x 150mm Gun Type 89 w/ crew. I now have to find a couple of tanks to round out the force,

 
 
I still have 4 stands of 50mm mortors and 6 stands of two man light machine guns to finish. As with the infantry stands I am using a mix of paints. For the Japanese Uniforms I am utilizing the Vallejo Model Colour 923, Japanese Uniform Paint and 709234 Russian Uniform for the helmets.
 
All other paints for the figures are from The Games Workshop line. Gun metal, Snakeskin Leather (Flesh), Bestial Brown (wood for the rifles), Sand (Boots and Leggings) with a Brown Ink Wash.
 
The bases are a mix of Gale Force 9 for the FAO and HQ stands, while the infantry stands are 40mmx 30mm purchased from Robert Knestrick. He advertises his wares on EBay under the name of missiletoe. The bases are a laminated black plastic with heavy magnetic bottom. The thickness is 0.07” (heavy 1/16”). The cut is clean and accurate to .010”. If you are interested I can forward his contact information and the last price list I received from him.
 
The base terrain was be built up using Liquitex Natural Sand, and then will be painted with DeSerres Raw Sienna (Series 1 No 185) and flocked using Citadel Sand and Scorched Grass.