Saturday, August 23, 2014

So, what did you do this week..?

Who're we fighting this week? Italians? Germans? English? les Americaines?
 I painted a small pile of Raventhorpe early war French, this week as I waited on my next batch of Hinchcliffe ECW cavalry to arrive in the post. I'm looking to put together a few units for the old Rapid Fire! "Safi" scenario eventually.

This is not a big job, as the scenario pits a couple of battalions of French with a company of light tanks, a battery and a little air support against an American landing force with a few light tanks, a large battalion of infantry, a couple of jeeps and lots of heavy naval bombardment. Say 120-140 figures in all.

RF! is 20 years old this year and what better way to celebrate?
Painting: It's a wash of the basic colours, a thinner wash of very greatly thinned Army-Painter dark-shade and a bit of dark green lining, applied quite selectively. All on a white undercoat.
 As you can see, the Raventhorpes are an older style of figure, but certainly none the worse for it.
That's a HaT Renault FT-17. Excellent kits, great value for money. Thinking of their 75s for the artillery and hang the inaccuracy of spoked over pneumatic wheels.
 I've painted them using a wash-and-line technique, doubtless familiar to the Gilder fans out there. Personally speaking, I've always liked those figures Richard Marsh painted for the original RF! book and they've always been an inspiration.
Probably a white cover on the kepi would be more accurate, but where's the fun in that?
 The Laffly-White armoured car was knocked together in about two hours' worth of painting session time. this is a great product from the Ready-to-Roll range of vehicles. I regularly comb through this particular catalogue. You never know. I'm eyeing off their French hal-track trucks, although Frontline Wargamings are cheaper and also look the business. As do their Renault R-35s...
MG is pale grey with a black wash on top of that. I'll rub a bit of graphite on for a bit of a sheen.
One of the best things about the Raventhorpe range are the multiple head options. Expect to see these figures again some time with fezzes on as Moroccan Tirailleurs.

3 comments:

Conrad Kinch said...

Splendid fellows. I look forward to seeing the battle report.

Ross Mac rmacfa@gmail.com said...

20 yrs? Really? I painted up some 54mm FFL (with snappy white caps) and Sengalese in even snappier red fezes (having mislaid their khaki covers). Never did get to play the scenario.

Nice painting on these despite the sculpting being altogether not to my liking. Hardly old style but I guess not new style anymore either. Vintage late 20thC?

Bloggerator said...

KC, don't hold your breath. Maybe at the end of the year. this is one of those occasional projects i use to keep my motivation up whilst I'm in between other things.

Ross, they're probably mid-late 1980s, I'd guess. They're very quick and easy to paint which is why I like them. Very much in the "not overburdened with detail" school which I am sure you know is where I am at these days.

Cheero all

Greg