Something a little bit older

For a change of pace I decided to work on a small number of figures for the Irish War of Independence (and possibly the Irish Civil War as well). So far I've enjoyed doing something 70-80 years older than my normal period, no AKs and no camouflage! I really don't know much about this history, but I'm slowly learning about it as I work on a small stack of books I have.

I did no conversions on these figures. They took a bit of work to prepare as they are older figures in RH Models' range, but nothing too bad. For reference colors I used photos of reenactors and reenactor gear. I definitely miss having thousands of color photographs to look through for inspiration; I'm just not accustomed to using black and white photos. In the future I hope to do another batch with some slightly different colored equipment and some sculpted on helmet covers for a little variation. If I'm feeling really ambitious I might work on a Lewis gun conversion.

Next up is some Black & Tans in greatcoats.

RH Models ICW3; ICW3; ICW3; ICW3

RH Models ICW3; ICW3; ICW3; ICW3

RH Models ICW3; ICW3

I found these pictures of British troops serving in Ireland and wearing great coats.

British army vehicle checkpoint in Dublin city during the Irish War of Independence.

British troops move in on Irish civilians at an anti-British demostration in Dublin city during the Irish War of Independence.

British troops during the Irish War of Independence, 1919-1921.

Summer Azeris

Yesterday I finally got around to photographing these big batch of figures I've been working on. They took quite a while for me to do. I've been too busy. They are meant to represent Azeri soldiers of the Nagorno-Karabakh War in summer dress. I know have about 40-60 such troops.

I didn't customize these figures too much - was great to use the newer RMR figures Rolf has recently released. I swapped a few heads and cut a few pockets here and there. As usual such soldiers require a lot of different camouflage schemes and khaki variations. It's fun, but takes a long time.

Next up - just about finished, probably post in a day or two - is the first in a few quick batch of figures suitable for the Anglo-Irish Wars. A 100 year shift!

RH Models EERKESTAK; MULTBHCOM; HDBRPK; RMRAK* with head swap

RH Models RMRRPK; RMRRPG; RMRAKH; RMRAK* with head swap

RH Models RH EERKESTAK; RMRAK* with head swap; RMRAK* with head swap; RMRRADPHO

RH Models RMRAKH; RMRRPG with head swap; MULTBABESQU; EERKESTAK

RH Models RMRRPK with head swap; MULTBHRPG; MULT*AK with head swap; MULT*AK with head swap

RH Models EERKESTAK; MULTBHSNI; MULTBHCOM; MULT20COM

RH Models RMRAK* with head swap; MULTBHAK; MULTBHAK; MULT*AK with head swap

Pictures that inspired me:

Azeri smoking near Agdam. (May, 1992)

Azeri miltiamen in the Agdam district. (June, 1992)

Azeri troops during inspection by an officer at the frontline. (July, 1992)

Azerbaijani forces after occupation of Lachin. (1992)

Azeri soldiers. (1992)

Azeris in the Fizuli region. (1993)

Azerbaijani troops in the Fizuli-Beylagan zone. (1993)

Azeri Lachin Battalion. (1993)

Azeri Scouts

Because I was running low on my favorite filling material I was only able to prep a small batch of figures a few weeks back. It helped to paint a small bunch when it came time to do the camouflage, but otherwise I think I'd rather paint more figures in one go. The figures I worked on are meant to represent an Azeri reconnaissance unit during the Nagorno-Karabakh War. I'm working a bunch more to go with these guys, but first I stuck with those wearing camouflage.

Most of these figures got head swaps. For one figure I added a small flag to his hat using green stuff and for another I sculpted a bit of ammo. The figure I worked most on was originally a mujaheddin fighter, but I converted him by swapping his head, carving off his shirt tail and sculpting him a new butt (a first!).

RH Models MUJPKMP with head swap; RUSPKM* with head swap; RUSAKBH

RH Models RUSAK* with head swap; RUSBG* with head swap; RUSRPG* with head swap

RH Models RUSAK* with head swap; RUSSVD* with head swap; RUSPKMA; SPETZ1

Pictures that inspired me:

Azeri soldier adjusting gun's ammo at frontline. (July, 1992)

Azerbaijani soldier.

Azeri soldier guards the Nagorno-Karabakh border. (July 27th, 1992)

An Azeri reconnaissance unit departs for the enemy rear. (June, 1992)

Azerbaijani scout shoulders RPG. (June/July, 1992)

More tank riders

I finished this group a little over a week ago, but work has been keep me busy lately, so I've been a little late to make this post. Things have been slowed down here by my attempt to find a replacement for my favorite gap filler: green Squadron Putty. I am not a fan of their newer formula and have searched high and low for remaining stock of the old stuff, but haven't come across any. I've tried many replacements and haven't identified what exactly will work for me, but it has got to be out there ... somewhere. At this point I could write up a pretty good review of all the options available.

This batch of figures are meant to be Azeri tank riders in winter dress for the war in Nagorno-Karabakh with some miscellaneous figures for that conflict. It involved a lot of head swaps, some weapon swaps even and a ton of green stuff sculpting.

The rightmost figure below originally had a life preserver on him, but I carved that off so I could make a big collar and simple afghanka coat with front and sleeve pockets. The figure second from the right is an Azeri medic.

RH Models EER11*; EER11* with head swap; MULT*HMG with head swap; RNIAKSU

RH Models RUSAT4 with head swap; WEA22; NEGSPOT with head and hand swap

The next two pictures are all Azerbaijani tank riders in winter garb. Except for the leftmost figures, kneeling with an RPG-2 ... those figures had their base removed, they were originally Mujaheddin. All except one of these figures got a head swap and many got big collars added with green stuff.

RH Models HDBRPG; MUJ25 with head swaps

RH Models HDBRPG with head swap; MUJ25 with head swaps

These final four figures all started out as sitting Russian figures with helmets. I swapped all of their heads. The leftmost figure got a new hand to hold his head up, the figure third from the left got two new hands to hold a swapped in SVD and the last figure got a new arm, hand and other hand to hold a swapped in RPK. With these figures I had a lot of fun challenging myself to see what varieties I was capable of creating.

RH Models RUSAGSH with head swap; RUSHMGH with head swap; RUSHMGH with head swap; RUSAGSH with head swap

More winter Azeris

It took a while to finish this big batch (30) figures, but it was worth it. These miniatures are meant to represent Azerbaijani forces of the Nagorno-Karabakh War in winter garb. Modifications include head swaps, a few carved off pants pockets, big fur collars, jacket extensions, some furry cuffs and an ammo belt (on the prone figure). The blue hooded figure has a head Rolf (of RH Models) graciously sculpted for me ... thanks! The colors I used are similar to those I used on my first winter Azeri batch.

RH Models MULTBHAK; MULTBHAK; MULTBABEASQU; MULTBHAK

RH Models MULTBABEASQU; MULTBHBG; MULTBHAK; MULTBHAK

RH Models MULT*AK with head swap; EERKESTAK; MULTBHRPG; EERKESTAK

RH Models MULT*AK with head swap; EER2F; COSSSQU; EER2F

RH Models MULT*AK with head swap; MULT*PKM with head swap; RUSG9* with head swap; RUSG9

RH Models RUSG9; RUSG9; RUSG9* with head swap; RUSG10* with head swap

RH Models RMRAKF; RMRAKF; RMRAKF; RMRAKF

RH Models RMRRPK with head swap; RMRPKM with head swap

Pictures that guided my work:

Azerbaijani soldiers with a destroyed BMP-2. (October 7th, 1992)

Azeri defense force in the village of Ashagy Geyali. (December, 1992)

Azeri soldiers near Stepankert? (December 27th, 1992)

Azeri soldiers getting hot tea. (January 29th, 1994)

Azerbaijani forces on the Gubadli front. (1993)

Group shot of Azerbaijani forces on the Gubadli front. (1993)

A local tank museum!

It sure took a while, but I finally finished a big bunch of Armenian fighters a few days ago. I've been into painting larger groups of figures lately, so that definitely slowed me down some, but mainly I was slowed down by glazing. Usually I glaze my figures by hand with Vallejo gloss varnish, wait a few days for them to dry thoroughly and then cover them by hand with Army Painter Anti-Shine. I've been disappointed with the process though, the figures I finished have been still too glossy for me, especially darker colors like black. For these figures I waited eight days for the gloss varnish to dry (it was really humid here for days on end). I also found a better alternative to Anti-Shine ... Vallejo's matte varnish. It mixes easier and works better. (So good in fact, I'm taking a few days to work on some past figures).

The pictures I took today came out a bit dark, but I'm very pleased with the set, oddly the varnish discovery is a big part of it. It's been fun to go over an enjoy figures I've worked on this year ... very motivating.

For this group I did quite a few head swaps as usual. I also used green stuff to sculpt big collars, jacket extensions and for two guys I went all out and gave them some civilian pullovers. I painted them with more camouflage then my first group of Fall/Winter Armenians, mostly VSR.

RH Models MULTBHAK; MULT*AK with head swap; HDBRPG; EER2W

RH Models RUSAK* with head swap; HDBAK; MULTBHRPK; MULTBABESQU

RH Models MULT40AK; RMRAK* with head swap; MULT*AK with head swap; MULT*AK with head swap

RH Models MULT40AK; RMRAK* with head swap; MULT*COM with head swap; MULTBHAK

RH Models MULT*AK with head swap; MULTBHPKM; RUSAK* with head swap; EER2W

RH Models MULTBHAK; RMRAK* with head swap; MULTBAK; MULTBHRPD

Below are some pictures that inspired me:

Armenians defending the village of Askeran on the border of Nagorno-Karabakh. (March, 1992)

Armenian fighters in the city of Askeran. (March 19th, 1992)

Martuninsky Region, Nagorno-Karabakh - Armenian fighter (December 10th, 1992)

Armenian fighters, Eagle and Garegin detachment

Armenian liberators of Agdam

Armenian fighters

In April, 2019 a large tank museum, The American Heritage Museum, run by the awesome Collings Foundation is opening near my home - just a few towns over! A couple of years ago they bought the Jacques M. Littlefield Collection (which includes a running Panther!). I've been waiting ever since for them to move everything from California to Massachusetts and put it on display. This weekend was the preview opening of the museum. There is still work to be done (no information posted), but 95% of the vehicles are already in place. I was of course very interested in their Soviet stuff; although all of it is great. As you can see in the pictures below the vehicles are in great shape, well lit and displayed with all hatches open. I'll definitely be going to this place often.

Here's some pictures. Not shown in the pictures, but interest to me were a ZSU-23-4 SHILKA and a 2S1 GVOZDIKA.

Looking down at the World War II section

Looking down at the Post-World War II section

Leichter Panzerspähwagen SdKfz 222

T-34/85

Panther A

Churchill Crocodile?

T72G

T-55

M1A1 Abrams

ZPU-4 and PT-76