M8 Scott "Bushmaster"

I didn't think I might get anything painted yet in 2023 but I guess that only means miniature painters must fight to the very end on hobby front. This little cutie is actually accidental paintwork. Last months our small Bolt Action community got 2 more recruits so I am trying to get my ass back into gaming. After preparing new section of forest I was asked about playing game from Normandy selector. Personally Normandy war theatre for me is as good as any other as long as I have proper models and here I can provide my G.I.s with M8 Scott Howitzer Motor Carriage - which is just really cool looking model.

I've painted such thing before at the beginning of COVID isolation 3 years ago but don't think it was ever tested in proper gaming. Besides shortly after it was turned into Easter gift for my son (when I was still hoping to infect him with miniatures hobby). 

Anyway he got it almost 3 years ago and I got it back maybe 1,5 year ago? That was pretty sad experience for me: not only he turned it back but also model was kinda ruined. They were having some renovation at home and whole model was covered with thick layer of plaser powder or something. Model was fucked - definitely wasn't display piece anymore. 

The piece has been starring at me all that time until I decided to get my shit together and make it useful once again. The paint has been washed off so the howitzer could support Americans fighting against zee Germanz in Normandy. M8 Scott is nice and simple model. US models were painted just olive so getting it done didn't take much time. Despite that some shading, decals and weathering can make any model look interesing and believable. 

Did my best trying NOT to get into weathering frenzy again. Hope my trusty G.I.s can make proper use of this thing kicking German army out of Normandy sector: 

Big forest

After dealing with some Warhammer Fantasy puppies and repainting Bolt Action winter G.I. squad decision was made to improve game table a bit. Some time ago I've managed to assemble small piece of forest, but after using it for over 2 years I've realised I want something bigger. For 2 reasons:

1. It provides more tactical options during the game.

2. Decently made terrain feartures look great on battlefield and on photos, which is double important if you are planning posting battle report. Especially when it comes to Bolt Action.

This piece was made more less same way as the previous one. I wanted it to be useful for gaming purposes so you can remove trees to move even large units or models inside (tanks,  warbeasts or whatever). It's pretty large terrain feature (~24" x ~18") so decision was made to cut it with a path, so units can cross it this way without penalty. Otherwise this thing would be just a line blocker most of the time probably.

I wasnt's sure about final result when I started working on these Heki trees (they still are pretty fragile despie all the varnish I sprayed over it) but I really like the final result. This is the first wood / forest piece I've ever had which shows the scale of models staggering around ^^ 

There's an empty space in the middle so I'm going to add another tree to make it look pretty thick from above of from a distance. I should have enough materials for another 6 ot 7 "trees strong" piece of wood so sooner or later my game table shoud get even more dense.

So here're the piccies:

Below - column of US vehicles crossing cutting the forest:

Most of trees are removable so any model can easily get inside:

Even such big as Mercurian Maculator!!! 

Cat is banned from entering the forest but it's ok for showing the scale.:

And some pics from the gaming bunker. Looking at this now I am sure I want another one! ^^

If anyone's interested those sweet buildings come from Black Grom Studio. And since we're here - big thanks to Andrzej from Terrains4Gamers for ideas and actually encouraging me to give this project a shot. You can surely call youself godfather of this piece! 😁

Cannot wait to test this piece in combat!

Boccage

When it comes to Bolt Action in my opinion what makes the games pop, are dense battlefields: with all those buildings, roads, fields, trees etc. So when I was starting my Bolt Action adventure I tried to build some trees and hedges to protect my trusty GIs from enemy's deadly gaze. This was actually my first attempt to create such terrain, and after several years of using is looks like crap: foliage is falling off and bushes flattened so they lost lots of combat value. Not mentioning it looks just bad.

So some time ago I decided to build something much more battle damage resistant. The hedges below are assumed to represent boccage which is almost impenetrable obstacles from Normandy battlefields. These are based on thick sponge covered with several layers of modelling flock and grinded sponge. Not sure it looks realistic but thank to more-less same size it's just great for gaming purposes. Might build several more to have enough green walls to place homestead or ploughfield within them. Models presented for scale purposes. 

The buildings used are from Black Grom Studio - I can definitely recommend that manufacturer! You can see some close ups of building I've assembled here. Take care!

Below you can see old terrain pieces. I was thinking about getting rid of those trees, but I might just replace foliage with something decent and these still might find some use 🤔

US infantry (winter war) #3

Another squad trusty G.I.s has just arrived to winter bitten Ardennes, ready to eat their own guts, ask for second and then kick zee Germans back where they came from! 😋 
I am pretty surprised I've managed to paint these guys so fast but apparently taking a break from Bolt Action was just kinda breath of fresh air for the hobby. Looks like there are about 15 or so models to paint / re-paint to fit winter style and I should be able to field 1000 pts fully painted wysiwyg Battle of the Bulge force. Really cannot wait - that artificial snow looks just great contrasting with rather dull olive uniforms.

This squad is kinda different then previously painted models and the test squad. Although I like the sculpts I really don't like metal heads so this time I decided replace original reads with plastic from US set (big thanks to Marcin for the idea and Mirosław for the body parts!). These simple conversions surely aren't my best surgery works, but I really like the final result: new heads look just SO MUCH BETTER then originals! There are still several spare heads in the bits box, so they will surely be used sooner or later. 

I got this squad second hand and sadly didn't notice some barrels were broken off before placing a bid. Oh well - no one should notice that from distance, when models are placed in the crowd. Besides from afar they kinda look like carrying shotguns 😁 

So here's the current state of Snowball Company: 2 squads, some extra weapons + a taxi:

And below: fresh, regular 58 points worth G.I.s (including BAR and SMG):

Next stop: dragon ogre - most probably... 

Chaos hounds

Painting this unit took me much more time then I expected (there are only 6 models ffs!!! 😡) but I'm just so happy I can finally see them in the glass case. In my opinion these are the best sculpts of chaos hounds and I kinda regret I never got opportunity to slap some paint on them back, back days when we used to play Warhammer 5th edition. Looking from perspective must say it was just crappy game, but it had tons of brilliant figures.

Anyway models were painted as part of display Chaos Warriors army project. Because it's Slaanesh army, I am trying to keep colors bright and warm (no matter I like it or not). Such color combo should look really striking on classic grassy green battlefield. Here they are:

While working on the unit I checked the rules for Warhammer 6th edition and realised I cannot have mounted demonettes in core units section. Apparently there was some bug in Battle Scribe or something. Therefore I did some changes and below is what I want to see painted for 2000 pts army (crossed out unit are painted and it's clickable 😊):

Heroes:

- Exalted Daemon [365pts, 4 Casting Dice, 3 Dispel Dice]: General, Level 2

. Hero of Slaanesh: Master of Mortals, Sporofic Musk

- Exalted Champion of Chaos [212pts]: Gaze of the Gods, Hero of Slaanesh, Shield, Steed of Slaanesh, Sword of Might

- Sorcerer of Chaos [310pts, 3 Casting Dice, 2 Dispel Dice]: Chaos Chariot, Hero of Slaanesh, Level 2, Power Familiar

Core:

- Knights of Chaos [318pts]: Champion, 6x Knights of Chaos, Musician, Regiment of Slaanesh

. Standard Bearer: Rapturous Standard

- Warriors of Chaos [260pts]: Champion, Musician, Regiment of Slaanesh, Shield, Standard Bearer, 14x Warriors of Chaos

- Chariot of Chaos [130pts]: Chariot of Slaanesh

Special:

- Warhounds of Chaos [36pts]: 6x Warhound

Rare:

- Dragon Ogres [219pts]: 3x Dragon Ogre, Light Armour

- Spawn of Chaos [75pts]: Fiend of Slaanesh

- Spawn of Chaos [75pts]: Fiend of Slaanesh

Total: 2,000pts, 7 Casting Dice, 5 Dispel Dice

I know such army is just more then lazy painting option but I'd really like to place all painted units on a single army base. Placing more models would make whole thing just too crowdy. Now I should ask someone who actually plays Warhammer 6th edition if this force is worthy anything on battlefield 😁 I am pretty sure there will be some minor changes during painting process - dependable what models I can find in the pile of shame (or if I can find them at all).

Back to western front

Last Saturday is turned out I've finally came back to Bolt Action gaming. Operational gap was over 1,5 year wide but I must say rolling out trusty G.I.s against zee nazis was pure fun.

Not only game was fun but I got opportunity to test "Battle of the Bulge" army project in action. Recently painted infantry set was painted for this actually. All in all Americans did good job and that selector is far from overboosted. At this moment I am also waiting for some plastic heads for field surgery and it turns out I need like dozen or so infantrymen repainted winter fashion and I can move to working of vehicles. Looking forward for more field tests - gotta check if M7 Priest is the best support for the boys.

Post without pics doesn't count so here are some random and uncut pics straight from the battlefield:

US infantry (winter war) #2

After dealing with recent Warhammer Slaanesh Vampire I came back to western Europe WW2 front. Back days I was just so tired of painting everything green but now, after taking a break for fantasy stuff, working on Bolt Action stuff is just refreshing.

My trusty U.S. army hasn't found new owner yet, so decision was made to refresh the boys and repaint them in winter fashion. A while back test squad has been done like that and must admit I really like the result. I'm guessing it's the matter of contrast between uniforms and snow. Would really like to see tanks painted long time ago re-done for winter fighting, but that's not gonna happen until I get enough G.I. to field full winter selector army.

While waiting for the undercoat on infantry is dry and ready for painting I decided to adjust one of old Dodge 3/4 transporters to winter conditions. I don't really like the muddy effect on the car, so some field winter camo supported by artificial snow should improve the look.

I think after the second half of the squad is finished I might come back to terrain building. I was hoping to rebuild piece of forest we use during the summer, but somehow it was pretty busy period. Maybe long autumn evenings can provide better atmosphere for such stuff.

Candy Lobster Duke

This summer was a hobby nightmare. During two ghastly and hot months I've managed to paint only 5 models and play a single miniatures game. Back days I would naver say that, but thank Satan the summer is over. Maybe now the hobby can be put on the right tracks.

This one took me much more time then is should which makes me double happy my unit of Chaos Knighs got proper champion. Exalted champion to be more specific. The unit itself is pretty strking (for my sandards) so I wanted the champion to be even more eyecatching. At first the plan was to use original mounted chaos model, but all in all decision was made to practice some microscale surgery on innocent victim dragged out from the pile of shame 👨🏻‍⚕️

The rider is Red Duke vampire upgraded with demonette claw, Archaon's shield and mounted on oldie steed of Slaanesh. Personally I think Red Duke is one of the best vampire models GW ever released, but sadly - I was never able to give it paintwork it deserves. Same is this time but I deeply hope the claw, shield, bald head and candy pony efficiently distract viewers' attention from, mostly dull as hell, armour.

The model was placed on monster-size base, because of it's oversized claw, and unit champion's mutated arm: it was impossible to put these two in the middle of the  unit. But otoh it's exalted champion so it can ride as big as he wishes. Besides I can always field is as daemonic mount, which is much bigger then steed of Slaansh. After all these purples and candy crap I should more then happy bringing some Bolt Action infantry on painting station...

Magic number of Slaanesh is 6 but because of the large base the champion kinda breaks the composition (unit is actually 7 "normal" bases wide). So I think he will be riding between other units  alone and the sixth proper model will be standard bearer. I always wanted to paint pinkish banner anyway...