Category: workbench

Constructing the ISU-130

One of the Clash of Steel Starter Sets have been on my wants list ever since I found out about them at the beginning of the year. I ordered Operation Unthinkable boxed set containing the British and German tanks.

I decided I would add to the game by ordering the other Operation Unthinkable set, which contains American and Soviet tanks.

The ISU-130, is a tank destroyer based on the IS-2 chassis armed with an 130mm S-26 gun.

This is the GF9 finished model.

This is the track sprue.

The kit also allows you to build the ISU-122 and ISU-152 variants as well. As there are five kits I think I will mix and match the different variants.

Firstly I went with the ISU-130. The kit was relatively easy to construct.

The next step will be a white undercoat.

Painting the Werewolves

On the cover of a Miniature Wargames was a sprue of Wargames Atlantic Werewolves. I constructed the models and based them on two pence coins. I then gave the models a white undercoat. 

After using a contrast paint, I used a dark brown wash, and then started dry brushing the models.

Werewolves

As is usual with my experiences of using contrast paints there were areas of the models which I had missed. The next stage will be painting the teeth and claws.

Next steps for the Kil Bursta Tank

I have been thinking what I could do with the model to make it look better and in some way a little more like an Ork vehicle. I think I need to review some other Ork vehicles to find out what I can do.

I have had my Kill Bursta hanging around on the workbench for a while now, so it was s nice to make some significant progress on the model.

I was looking at the work I had done with the Ork Kill Bursta Tank. I liked the effect I had achieved on the engine.

There is still a fair bit of work to do on the model, but I am pleased with my progress so far.

Looking at the Forge World model, there is a lot of rust on this model, but I can see they also painted some of the cabling and there is of course the Ork iconography.

I think I might add some more weathering and paint the teeth of the dozer blade in a similar fashion to the Forge World model.

 

Reflecting on the Zone Mortalis: Floor Tile Set

I have one of the Necromunda Zone Mortalis: Floor Tile Set on my workbench.

I have given them a base coat of Mechanicus Standard Grey Spray. They then got packed away for a while.

Thinking about next stages, initially I was going to give them a wash or a shade. However due to the size of the boards, I was a little reluctant to use a Citadel Shade, I think I would need a few pots to cover the tiles effectively. I may look to see if there is something else I could use.

However, looking at the photograph of the finished tiles on the Games Workshop website, I think in the first instance I could do some heavy weathering of the tiles before giving them a shade. Adding some rust and dirt.

Zone Mortalis: Floor Tile Set

After shading them, I would then dry brush and then do some further weathering.

Now to find them….

Arvus Lighter on the workbench

I have the new Horus Heresy plastic Arvus Lighter on my workbench.

The Arvus Lighter is a small, general purpose cargo shuttle that is widely used by the Imperium of Man for many tasks, both in space and on the surface of planets. The Arvus is commonly used by both Imperial Navy warships and Imperial merchant vessels, including Rogue Traders. The Arvus is just one of many types of small, void-capable shuttles used by the Imperium. The Arvus is piloted by a single pilot, and is not equipped with any weapon systems, in fact, the Arvus possesses only the most basic navigation equipment, external sensors, and proximity alarms. The Arvus has a powerful engine that allows it to carry heavy cargo to and from a planet’s surface

There are three sprues in the box along with a flying base and clear plastic parts for the canopy.

I have been thinking about how I will construct and paint the model. One of the additions to the plastic version of the Arvus Lighter model is a rear ramp gunner. I like the idea of this, but it will add to the time to paint the model. As well as painting the gunner, the inside of the craft will also have to be painted.

With most of my models I constructed them fully and then paint them. This is okay for many of my models, but I have with a few undertaken some part-assembly, then painting before putting the whole model together. One example of this on my workbench is the Typhon Heavy Siege Tank where I painted the tracks, sponsons and main weapon separately before putting them together.

I think with the Arvus Lighter I will do some partial assemblies and then put the model together at the end.

You can model the Arvus Lighter with the undercarriage down or up. I am thinking down.

I am still thinking about the paint scheme, I am not sure if I will go with a grey scheme, or go with the camouflage scheme I used with my Aeronautica Imperialis Valkyrie transports.

Arvus Lighter

One of the reveals at the World Championships Preview back in November was a plastic Arvus Lighter for The Horus Heresy. I ordered one from my FLGS.

I really like this model, though released for The Horus Heresy, I suspect it would make a great model for, not just Warhammer 40K, but also Necromunda.

The Arvus Lighter is a small, general purpose cargo shuttle that is widely used by the Imperium of Man for many tasks, both in space and on the surface of planets. The Arvus is commonly used by both Imperial Navy warships and Imperial merchant vessels, including Rogue Traders. The Arvus is just one of many types of small, void-capable shuttles used by the Imperium. The Arvus is piloted by a single pilot, and is not equipped with any weapon systems, in fact, the Arvus possesses only the most basic navigation equipment, external sensors, and proximity alarms. The Arvus has a powerful engine that allows it to carry heavy cargo to and from a planet’s surface

Painting the Militia Pickup Trucks

After thinking about it for a while I have ordered the Battlefront Militia Group and Pickup Trucks for Team Yankee. I like the concept of armed militia and pick up trucks with HMGs on board, they had been on my wants list for a while. They could also be used for games in Wessex: The Second English Civil War for insurgent and militia forces.

After temporarily basing the figures, I gave them and the trucks a white undercoat.

The pickup truck bed gunners I used a variety of Citadel contrast paints as a base for the models.

I also have a spare militia from that blister which I am going to add to one of the pick up trucks.

I gave one of the pick up trucks a wash of a grey shade.

This needs more work.

The other I sprayed. Army Painter Desert Yellow Spray. The wheels were then painted dark grey.

I then gave the model a wash using a shade.

More work to do.

Legions Imperialis Arvus Lighters

I’ve always liked the Arvus Lighter. I did think about getting some resin versions for Aeronautica Imperialis. I was pleased to see the plastic versions for Legions Imperialis and they did go on that awfully long wants list. Visiting Jadlam Toys and Models in Glastonbury I was browsing and saw they had a box of the Legions Imperialis Arvus Lighters on sale at 33% off. Bargain, so I bought the box.

The Arvus Lighter is a solid and reliable workhorse shuttle, affectionately referred to as ‘Little Pig’ among air crews. The Solar Auxilia employ these durable craft as unarmed combat transports, to insert officers and specialists into a war zone with pinpoint accuracy.

In the box you get eight aircraft, across two sprues. 

Alongside with flying bases and a transfer sheet. With appropriate bases they can also be used in Aeronautica Imperialis.

I am planning to paint four of them using the same painting method as I did with my Valkyrie transports.

The other four will be in a different Imperial scheme.

I have put the forthcoming 28mm version on that wants list.

Basing the militia

After thinking about it for a while I have ordered the Battlefront Militia Group and Pickup Trucks for Team Yankee. Back in 2022 I  was intrigued and pleased to see the announcement of the release of Team Yankee: Red Dawn.

I like the concept of armed militia and pick up trucks with HMGs on board, they had been on my wants list for a while. They could also be used for games in Wessex: The Second English Civil War for insurgent and militia forces. You get four pickup trucks, each armed with an HMG. Having constructed and undercoated the trucks I made a start on the militia group.

In the militia group, you get twenty six miniatures. It contains:

5x Assault Rifle Teams
2x RPG-7 Anti-tank Teams
1x M224 60mm Mortar Team

These are the battlefront images.

The models come in a blister pack.

Rather than paint the models on a stick, I cleaned the models and stuck them to the included brown bases.

I then used the Woodland Scenics turf for the bases. For larger scale models I would use Citadel Sand, but the scale of these models are too small for the sand.

The next step was a white undercoat.

I have a spare model which I am going to use as a testbed for painting, and then will use it in one of the pick up trucks.