Friday 9 March 2012

GHQ 1/285 Panzer IV H Company - First Look

This little baby is a the size of a large postage stamp sitting in the palm of your hand (based on a 30mm x 30mm stand): 


The "group" photo of five together (see below):


Checking out the different lighting options on the camera, this one "flashed" (must have been from an incoming AT round at dusk):


Another "flash" this time side on (see below):


A close-up group photo, back without the "flash" setting. I think they look quite businesslike (see below):



So end'eth a batch of GHQ madness, trouble is they have SO much detail in something quite crazily small. I am exhausted doing these five! Do I need to put crosses and numbers on them while I have any eyesight left?

Footnote: 
I aqcuired the GHQ models as a gift from someone who had dabbled at WWII micro-armour at my local  club and then moved off into 15mm WWII instead. The GHQ models thus came painted and partly painted hence the lack of a brown strip at the back to write the unit designation on. Also as you can see by the pictures the 1/285 scale is just slightly bigger and thus fills the 30mm x 30mm (Spearhead) base more, making it difficult to fit one on. Hence each Pz IV H carries a little mystery as to "who" it really is. (Did someone at the back say re-base? ... Shoot that man, woman or child!)     

13 comments:

Whisperin Al said...

Nicely done. I've always been amazed by the detail GHQ have but I doubt I could ever do them justice...

Tim Gow said...

I find that the level of detail on GHQ toys rewards a wash and dry brush approach.

Geordie an Exiled FoG said...

Cheers Al, GHQ models are intimidating to even start, and what do you really see from four foot away? Madness, you at the same time appealing.

I take your point Tim, I'll have to practice my dry brushing as I tend to be on the heavy (or still wet brush) side

I keep looking at the Panzer IV H's and get this urge to try and put a cross on the (maybe the command tank) but I shudder and run away to the drink cabinet

"My eyes, my eyes" I cry

PS Al, great work on you Maddist collection!

Battlescale said...

Great looking Panzers Geordie. Great paint job.

Monty said...

Great work again, Geordie!

Mojo said...

Great stuff, Geordie!
One Question: Hows the details on GHQ and H&R? Are they comparable?

Cheers, Mojo

Geordie an Exiled FoG said...

Thanks again for the complements

Mojo GHQ will be slightly bigger model to model comparison as the scales are H&R 1/300 and GHQ is 1/285 and it is noticeable but they can happily live on the table-top together (I wouldn't mix the kit in the same formations if possible, certainly not the same type of tank)

I will do a comparison shot of the Pz IV's for you.

Detail wise GHQ is in a league of its own, but carries a burden of doing the darn little things justice. I spent 2-3 times as much time on GHQ because I though in L'Oreal fashion "They are worth it"

If you are doing "bulk" as in several divisions (or Russian XXX) I would say (alas) H&R but if it is a prized battalion of "something" treat yourself to a GHQ treat

Geordie an Exiled FoG said...

PS To my last post

Sadly "at some point" the GHQ models of tanks and guns will start to be bent (they are too accurate to scale and therefore flimsy) and start a process which will lead to them breaking.

They are too fiddly to replace. You will either replace the model or try and forget about the barrel-less tanks in your armoured division(s) (from four foot way you won't notice until you pick a tank up!)

Paul said...

L'Oreal fashion...Thats pure gold Geordie!

The other camera does these guys the justice they deserve.

Super detailing and painting skills in force.

Well done mate.

Geordie an Exiled FoG said...

Cheers Paul,

Most of the detail comes from the "wash" and doing just 'as little as possible with the paints

The basing also sets the tanks off nicely

I need to get a WWII game on the table, too much theory not enough dice ;)

Whisperin Al said...

Thanks mate.

With the ham fisted people I sometimes play with I think the delicateness of the GHQ stuff could become a sensitive area. I would still like to move into micro to use with Great Battles of WW2 but was even looking at 1/600.

Geordie an Exiled FoG said...

Al with our common past I can completely agree with your statements.

In fact I remember that a certain big game umpire stated that after a re-fight of the Napoleonic battle of Wagram the French forces suffered worse 'metal' casualties from player handling than Austrian fire and hand-to-hand combat (and that was pretty bad).

1/600 figures look pretty indestructible. In fact a couple of couple of local wargamers I know were developing a set of 2mm "Moderns". My take on these would to retain a 30mm x 30mm base but with "lots" (circa 3-5) vehicles on them (they were thing still one figure per base but allowing much bigger battles to be fought on a smaller sized table - trouble is the battle becomes too complex for the players to play in a sane time frame).

Geordie an Exiled FoG said...

Al with our common past I can completely agree with your statements.

In fact I remember that a certain big game umpire stated that after a re-fight of the Napoleonic battle of Wagram the French forces suffered worse 'metal' casualties from player handling than Austrian fire and hand-to-hand combat (and that was pretty bad).

1/600 figures look pretty indestructible. In fact a couple of couple of local wargamers I know were developing a set of 2mm "Moderns". My take on these would to retain a 30mm x 30mm base but with "lots" (circa 3-5) vehicles on them (they were thing still one figure per base but allowing much bigger battles to be fought on a smaller sized table - trouble is the battle becomes too complex for the players to play in a sane time frame).