First Acrylic Painted Unit

It may be surprising, but I have never painted a complete infantry unit in acrylics.  I have always used Humbrol or Testors enamels, but this time I thought I'd give Vellejo acrylics a go for a 28mm unit of French in the French and Indian War.

The 28mm miniatures are AW Miniatures.

I purchased the Painting War book on the French and Indian War and attempted to use the recommended paints and technique.  I failed completely trying the technique (base and two highlights) and using the recommended paints.  I stuck with the acrylics, but instead chose some of the recommended paints.  I seem to like the look of a base coat with a wash.

My process:

• Black primer.  I may switch to a grey primer.  I typically use a grey primer.
• Base coats.
• Selective wash in areas.  I use Strong Tone by The Army Painter.
• Highlight in selective areas, which can be a base color or other.
• Basing.

First try at this, so I guess I can only get better.

My Hobby Loss

Today I learned that someone who was instrumental in my start into the miniature wargaming hobby passed away.  His name was Andrew Powter.

My Dad worked with Andrew before he retired.  At the time Andrew was a miniature painter himself.  He was not a wargamer, but enjoyed painting.  As a kid, I was using the old testors paint on plastic model plane kits and Andrew recommended to my Dad to switch to Humbrol paints.  When I was 13 I was invited to play a miniatures game with Andrews son who is a little younger than I am.  The game was a Sword and the Flame rules Zulu game.  We played the game twice each playing both sides.  We played with 1:72 plastic figures.  I was hooked.  I can still remember the games.  Soon after I had my own set of the rules and bought and painted up all sorts of Zulu war plastic figures.  That day was my entry into the hobby.

I have Andrew to thank for helping with my painting and getting me started into the wargaming hobby.  I am sad to hear of his loss to parkinson's disease at the age of 75.  In life and our hobby, we lose people close to us.  Andrew was someone who was instrumental in my miniature wargaming hobby aspect of my life.  Thank you.

link to obituary:

http://ip51.icomos.org/~fleblanc/in-memoriam/powter-andrew/im_powter-andrew.html

6mm Samurai: New to 3D Resin Miniatures

When it comes to acquiring 3D printed miniatures, in the past I have purchased just from Shapeways.  There are now a lot more options available in the market.  You can now print a file yourself or have someone else print it.  I have no interest in purchasing a 3D resin printer and do not have a friend who has one.  I wanted to research how someone like me did it.  I tracked down a post on the subject.

For someone who knows very little about 3D printers I impressed myself.  Certain key steps for someone who does not own a 3D resin printer (i.e. myself):

1. Find 3D miniature files (STL) for free or purchase.  I purchased the 6mm Samurai files from Project Wargaming.
2. Choose a manufacturer.  A web site like treatstock.com can help you find a manufacturer.
3. Expect misprinted figures or breakage.
4. Once figures are received, you may have to remove the supports yourself.

Here is a 34 minute video on my take on going through the process of acquiring 3D resin miniatures with some recommendations: