Female hoplite, warning: adult-ish content

Hoi,

Well, Paul's post recently reminded me of the fact that I too had one of these nice ladies lying around. Just like Paul I do not fancy the angel wings and besides no clear way of attaching them was provided so I decided to leave them off. Yet without them I needed some more parts to paint and create a decent focal point, yeah I know loads of corny jokes about there being rather too much focal points on this mini anyway, but I'm not gonna make them.

So I added a Zvezda Hoplon and a HäT gladius to create my version of the Greek Goddess of Athena, or any other suitable Greek fighting lady. I'm sorry the pictures are a bit fuzzy but perhaps that's just for the best right?

Cheers Sander

Listening to: "Euthanasia" by Megadeth

Far far from Ypres...

Since last year we're visiting the Ypres region with our school. Together with a co-worker I have been preparing this excursion and it has been a blast to do. Last Wednesday we went over there with the kids again and they were very well- behaved indeed. This as opposed to the Belgian school class who were very rowdy on Tyne Cot. Last year this was the case as well. For instance they went and sat on the steps of the central Tyne Cot memorial made of out of the bunker as instigated by the King way back then.

Our program was as follows:
- started at Hill 60 and the Caterpillar mine (after having seen "Beneath Hill 60" in class).
- Sanctuary Wood Museum
- The Menenpoort (Menin Gate, In Flanders Fields museum is closed for renovation)
- Passchendaele 1917 Memorial Museum
- Tyne Cot Cemetery 

While I would not show any pupils recognisably on the blog or anywhere else on-line I have chosen the pictures below.

Entrance to Hill 60

A bunker at Hill 60:

The Caterpillar crater:

Tyne Cot:

Lest we forget...

Dystopian Wars update 2

Hoi,

The nice guys at Spartan have produced a streamlined version of their rulebook, which naturally I obtained a while ago.This is not a new book like GW is wont to do but version 1.1 which has better diagrams, easier explanations and more eye-candy.  In the special offer I used I was also given the first mercenary model for free. Besides that I bought a squadron of Britannian escorts.

Its a great read, and far clearer then number one to start with!

Great stuff!

Cheers Sander

Listening to: "Deep Purple in Rock" by Deep Purple

Green- and Blue Jackets

Hoi,

The next instalment in my HäT testshot- extravaganza: here are some of the Colonial British Command and infantry sets mixed up. I painted some to resemble the Royal Marines (or Blue Jackets) and some as Rifle Brigade (Green Jackets).

Rifle Brigade Command:

Marines and Rifles:

Cheers Sander

Listening to: "Black Ice" by AC-DC

More Austrians

Hoi,

Since I am working away like mad on the Austrians I found it was time to show you what I have been doing.

Here's my version of the Loudon Freikorps:

Now I know one is not supposed to blow one's own trumpet but I really do think my Marshall has worked out great:

Cheers Sander

Listening to: Best of AC-DC

Kilties Waheee!

Hoi,

Since I have about a company's worth of HäT WW1 Scottish Highlanders I found it time to make me some sort of a command squad. This meant scratch building an officer and a piper. The piper's body is from the HäT colonial Highlander set, his head is a HäT British heavy weapon headswop. The officer uses an Esci Colonial British ensigns body with a HäT British soft cap head.

Cheers Sander

Listening to: "Secret of the Runes" by Therion

Here come the lobsters!

Hoi,

A short while ago I indulged in the testshot sprues of 3 HäT sets, to whit the Peninsular British Command set, The British Colonial Command set and the British Colonial infantry set. The former is now finished and here are some pictures to wet your appetite. The heads are separate and what is new is the fact that the heads do not come with a peg, but the peg is fastened to the body while the heads have a corresponding gap. This gives you the option of making a pre- and post 1812 uniform or a mix. Also included is a head with, what I initially thought to be an undress cap. As it turns out upon closer examination it is actually a Scottish Kilmarnock with chequered band and all. Well I painted as an undress cap anyway.

The mounted officer:

Officers on foot:

Other ranks:

BTW: have you discovered the two glaring mistakes in this picture? Yep the serg has no rank chevrons and the drummers has no shako plate, I will rectify this asap.

Here an alternative head swap for the serg:

Cheers Sander

Listening to "Rock in Rio" by Iron Maiden