SMS Scharnhorst

I have started to paint the second of my Spartan Games Prussian Empire Dreadnoughts.

I finished the first, SMS Blücher and will be painting this model in a similar fashion. I decided early on to use the same turret layout as my first Dreadnought and not use generators. I did wash the model first to remove any mould lubricant.

I then gave the model a white undercoat using Citadel Skull White spray.

SMS Scharnhorst

I also affixed the model to an old plastic blister using a hot glue gun to make it easier to paint.

I’ve named this ship, SMS Scharnhorst, after Gerhard von Scharnhorst, he was Chief of the Prussian General Staff, noted for his writings, his reform of the Prussian army and his leadership during the Napoleonic Wars. Blücher who was an army Field Marshall, is whom the Blücher class Dreadnoughts are named after, I have decided that the first of my dreadnoughts will be the SMS Blücher. Generally ships in the same class are named in a similar vein, so the first of the class is the SMS Blücher, this dreadnought will also be named after an army general, in this case Scharnhorst.

Prussian Empire Blucher Class Dreadnought

I mentioned in a previous post that I had got some Prussian reinforcements. One of the three blisters I got was a second Blucher Class Dreadnought to complement the first one I have finished.

I did think about changing the turrets to generators, but in the end maintained the four turret model that I had done with the first one.

One of the reasons I write up how I paint my models, is partly to inform others, but also to inform myself. So I will be using the workbench feature I wrote up on the first model to paint this second model. It will remind me of the paints and processes I used.

Prussian Empire – Dystopian Wars

Here are the first models I have painted (and completed) for Dystopian Wars. Here is the Prussian Empire Blucher Class Dreadnought, probably passing too close to a bunker complex.

Here are some Arminius Class Frigates passing the same bunker!

The bunker model is a 1/300th scale model from Snapdragon Studio.

Here is a close up of one of my Arminius Class Frigates.

More frigates.

Here are the Arminius Class Frigates alongside the Blucher Class Dreadnought.

More photographs of the Blucher Class Dreadnought.

See my Dystopian Wars Workbench, to see how I painted these models and what else I am painting.

Prussian Empire Blucher Class Dreadnought

Here are some shots of my finished Prussian Empire Blucher Class Dreadnought in “water”.

I used some full colour print outs of water textures, printed on glossy photo paper using a standard home inkjet printer.

The scenery is from Snapdragon Studios and is an 1/300th SF Bunker, but seems to fit in quite well.

See the full workbench feature on the Prussian Empire Blucher Class Dreadnought for Dystopian Wars.

Dystopian Wars: Prussian Empire Blucher Class Dreadnought

Having washed the decks of the Prussian Empire Blucher Class Dreadnought the next stage was to give he rest of the model and hull a wash of Citadel Shade: Nuln Oil.

After that I gave the model a light drybrush.

This is the Prussian Empire Blucher Class Dreadnought alongside two Arminius Class Frigates.

Pleased with how the model turned out. It still could do with some more detailing and markings, but at this time I can certainly use this in a game.

Painting the decks

Painting the decks of my Prussian Blucher Class Dreadnought for the Dystopian Wars reminded me why I never liked making Airfix ship models as a kid and why I don’t usually play naval wargames in the first place! Painting ships is really fiddly, especially the decks!

I painted the decks with Vallejo Tan Yellow (912).

The next stage was to give the decks a wash of Citadel Shade: Agrax Earthshade.

I did wonder if I ought to add any metallic, as in copper or bronze parts to the model. The stats for the model include the Tesla Coils and there is the prow of the ship too. Or do I keep it more traditional naval, in both colour and appearance? If you look at the marketing picture for the model, it is quite “normal” in appearance with minimal shiny bits!

Putting the basecoat on the Dreadnought

The Dystopian Wars is a miniatures games from Spartan Games, one of the models I have is the PPrussian Blucher Class Dreadnought.

Having washed the resin model and glued on the metal pieces, I gave the model a white undercoat, the next stage was a grey basecoat.

I use a Tamiya acrylic and had my usual problem, exaggerated by bad light, in the paint not covering the whole model. I find the paint rather thick and it doesn’t thin well compared to GW paints. So it will probably need some touching up, before I start adding detailing to the model through a drybrush and then adding the decking. I will then give the model a thin wash.

Undercoating the Dreadnought

The Dystopian Wars is a miniatures games from Spartan Games, I now have a few models in the range.

Gebhard Leberecht von Blucher was a famous Prussian Generalfeldmarschall (Field Marshall) who was known for his rather direct military tactics. ‘On it like Blucher‘ is a term synonymous in the Prussian military for taking the fight to the enemy. The designers behind this Dreadnought certainly took this to heart. FOUR powerful Primary turrets rain death on enemy targets and row after row of Tesla Coils rip into enemy vessels.

Having washed the resin model and glued on the metal pieces, I gave the model a white undercoat.

At some point the rear guns got bent, so I had to bend them back.

The next stage will be a grey basecoat.

Dystopian Wars – Prussian Empire Blucher Class Dreadnought

The Dystopian Wars is a miniatures games from Spartan Games.

The Prussian Empire Blucher Class Dreadnought is a powerful vessel in the Prussian Empire navy.
This is how it looks from the marketing material.

This is a very clean casting and the computer aided design certainly shows in the detail of the model.

I gave the model a wash in soapy water in order to remove any release agent remaining on the model.

I then glued the metal turrets to the model.

Dystopian Wars – Prussian Empire Blucher Class Dreadnought

The Dystopian Wars is a miniatures games from Spartan Games.

Gebhard Leberecht von Blucher was a famous Prussian Generalfeldmarschall (Field Marshall) who was known for his rather direct military tactics. ‘On it like Blucher‘ is a term synonymous in the Prussian military for taking the fight to the enemy. The designers behind this Dreadnought certainly took this to heart. FOUR powerful Primary turrets rain death on enemy targets and row after row of Tesla Coils rip into enemy vessels.

This is how it looks from the marketing material.

The model itself comes in a quite a large blister pack.

I really do like the concept of and background to the Dystopian Wars and I really must get around to painting the models I have bought.