Better equipped insurgents

Well it's been a super long time coming ... I'm finally finished another batch of figures. I've been more slowed by our move and the pandemic than I thought possible. Hopefully, now I'm ready to finish things even more quickly.

This group of miniatures is meant to better equipped Sunni insurgents, foreign fighters, defenders of Fallujah, etc. To represent them, I mostly used RH Model's PLO line. I made some subtle mods so that their clothing would be less militaristic - removed shoulder tabs, got rid of most pant pockets, un-tucked some shirts and lengthened some pants. I also gave some figures head swaps and covered some faces a bit more. I tried to paint them with as much variety as possible based on photos I've found - that probably took the most time. To lessen the appearance of boots on some figures I painted on socks or bare ankles. The many small dots on the head scarves took a couple of nights, but in the end I think the effect is worth it.

At some point I'll do some more insurgents - figures with different weapons, a mortar team and definitely a big batch of Sunni insurgents, lots of headbands, baseball hats and bareheads with little equipment. For now though I'm starting work on some opposing forces, US Marines.

RH Models MULTBABESQU; BALAK; PLOAK47; PLOCOM

RH Models PLOAK47; ARAK47; BALRPK; BALAK

RH Models PLOCOM; BALAK; PLORPD; BALAK

RH Models PLOSNI; PLOAK47; PLOAK47

RH Models MULTBHRPK; PLOCOM; MULTBHRPG

RH Models ARARPG; PLO12; BALRPG; PLOAK47

RH Models BALAK; PLORPG; PLOPKM

RH Models PLORPK; PLOAK47

RH Models PLOHMG; PLOHMG

RH Models ARACIV* with head swap; WEA14; MULT*GUN with head swap

RH Models PLOPROSNI; PLOPROSNI

Here are the pictures I used for inspiration.

Local tribesmen pose with their weapons in Fallujah (January 5th, 2004).

Iraqi Sunni insurgents.

Iraqi Sunni insurgent in Fallujah (April 24th, 2004).

Armed fighter stands guard over three Jordanian truck drivers (November 11th, 2004).

A Iraqi insurgent holds a rocket launcher in Abu Ghraib (April 8th, 2004).

Iraqi insurgents battle US forces in Fallujah.

IH.

Local tribesmen pose with their weapons in Fallujah (January 5th, 2004).

STS insurgents

This weekend I finally wrapped up this big group of Sunni insurgents I've been working on. Things have been a bit slower than normal as my family is moving to new house, but soon I should have more room for my miniatures, especially for a gaming table I can set up and leave up! :) Plus, it's only 3 miles away so my painted miniatures can be more or less hand carried over to the place. Until we're all set up though I have to take a break from working on miniatures - everything is packed up.

This group of figures had lots of prep work involved. I did lots of head swaps (see notes below) especially to make STS guys with RPGs and head scarves/balaclavas. I then used green stuff to sculpt more covering scarves, fix up head swaps, extend shirts to make pullovers and replaced some sandals with shoes. Since pictures of insurgents show a huge array of civilian clothes being worn I wanted to do my best to mimic that ... it just takes a lot of time. Some came out really well so I've put backside pictures up too.

Next up is an even bigger batch of Sunni insurgents with more equipment and some heavy weapons, mortars and Dshk's. I just need to get set up with a new painting table. :)

RH Models NEGREBRPG* with head swap; STSAK; STSAK

RH Models STSPKM; STSAK with head swap; STSRPG

RH Models STSUGL; STSPKM; STSRPKAR

RH Models STSRPKAR; STSAK with head swap; STSRPG with head swap

RH Models STSAK with head swap; STSRPK with head swap; STSAK with head swap

RH Models STSAKAR; STSAKAR; STSRPG with head swap

RH Models STSAK; STSAK; STSRPG with head swap

RH Models STSSNI; STSRPK; STSAK

For the motorbike below I carved away some metal that I think helps with casting so that the front end seemed more realistically lightweight. It added an exhaust pipe with brass road and green stuff. With that magic stuff I also extended the pants of the driver so it seemed like he had sneakers on and not boots. Lastly, I added a speedometer and tachometer using a small piece of plastic. It was a lot of fun to work on this one - now, I feel inspired to finish to large artillery pieces I've had for Chechnya, but have been slow to complete.

RH Models STSMBPASS

The pictures below influenced my color choices, etc.

Iraqi Sunni insurgents celebrate in front of a burning US tanker (April 8th, 2004).

More Iraqi Sunni insurgents celebrate in front of a burning US tanker (April 8th, 2004).

Iraqi Sunni insurgents pose in their house (May, 2004).

Iraqi Sunni insurgents show flag (May, 2004).

Iraqi Sunni insurgent in front of portrait of Saddam Hussein (July 8th, 2004).

Arab fighter monitor horizon from his trench in the city of Fallujah (November 7th, 2004).

Arab fighter reads from the Quran in the city of Fallujah (November 7th, 2004).

Armed fighters in Mosul, Iraq (November 10th, 2004).

Marines from the 35th Lima Company take away suspected insurgents in Fallujah (November 12th, 2004).

Members of the Marines 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Company handle two detainees in Fallujah (November 13th, 2004).

Detainees wait to be processed and set to a detention center (Fallujah, November 17th, 2004).

Iraqi Sunni insurgents.

Thobes

I wanted a break from painting guys in greatcoats so I decided to take a break from the Irish Civil War. I've still got a batch of British troops to paint. They'll have to wait.

After a lot of thought I decided to go much more modern ... The War on Terror (not my favorite term, but it does apply to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq). I think this period will serve me well, Rolf makes many figures for this period, both sides and his ranges are near complete; there are loads of books in English about these wars (painting is much more fun if I'm also reading about the same era); and lastly I find the wars very interesting.

First up is a batch of figures wearing thobes and some civilian women (my first female figures). Those with weapons are meant to be Sunni insurgents. Lots of the figures have head swaps, some have their sandals replaced with shoes, one has a sculpted vest and for one guy I added an ammo pouch. For the bases I went with something different. About half have a new desert mix (art sand/fine ballast/medium ballast) painted with US Field Drab/Iraqi Sand, washed with Brown Model Wash, dry brushed with Iraqi Sand and then very lightly dry brushed with Pale Sand (all Vallejo). The other half are standing on a highway (first use of sponge painting!). A couple have a mix of both of those terrains. I wanted to paint some highway lines on the bases, but my attempts didn't come out so well ... maybe later.

Next up is a bunch of STS (shirts/trousers/sandals & sneakers) guys, including two on a dirt bike!

RH Models INSAK; ARACIVAR; INSAK with head swawp; INSAKAR

RH Models INSAK; INSSNI with head swap; ARACIVHDB; ARACIVK with head swap

RH Models INSSUP with head swap; INSAKAR; ARACIVK; ARACIVAR

RH Models INSSUP; INSRPD; INSAK with head swap

RH Models ARAWMN; ARAWMNHIJ; ARAWMNHIJ

The pictures below inspired me.

Iraqi Sunni insurgents celebrate in front of a burning US tanker (April 8th, 2004).

Iraqi Sunni insurgents closes door of a damaged house (April 24th, 2004).

Masked Iraqi insurgents keep position at a lookout (July 22nd, 2004).

Masked Iraqi insurgents keep position at a lookout (July 22nd, 2004).

Hooded armed insurgents take position near a house that was destroyed (September 5th, 2004).

Iraqi fighterse patrol the streets with an anti-aircraft gun (November 6th, 2004).