Corona Virus Project 2c - WIP: USN Midway Destroyers (DD)

Onto the painting tray, flash metal trimmed away, based on hard cardboard and sea textured with the spreading of a DIY flexible sealant and the US Destroyer is well under way (see below, a flotilla of thirty "boats" should see all my early war needs fulfilled, and courtesy of the "Navwar Leyte Gulf party pack" I bought way back when - I have another fifty mid-late war Fletcher class DDs to add at some point in the future):

It is also nice when a 'sensible storage solution' comes along as the same time as a collection takes shape. The BAs, BBs, CVs, CVLs, CVEs, CAs, CLs and CL-AAs of the USN pacific Fleet have a variety of small plastic boxes to fit into, but I was struggling for something for the DDs, things were just not the "right size". Then a magazine shipping package" (akin to  a very thin pizza box) I had kept for no better reason than I thought "one day it might be useful", on closer inspection was "just what I needed" for the destroyer flotillas' home (see below, TF8, TF16, TF17 destroyer contingents - along with four WWI era four-stackers I needed for the Battle of the Java Sea I did a while back):

Following the basing and texturing, the metal was covered in Airfix Gray Acrylic Primer (01) and the sea base around the ships received the same ad-hoc mixture of Anita's Acrylics as the previoys projects (see below - Navy Blue, Jungle Green and Midnight Blue in approximate thirds - forming the dark sea-base):

The last stage of the "shade coat priming" is to give the destroyers a Vallejo "Black" Wash all over (see below, the darkness of the resulting shadows makes the painting of the grey base and subsequent highlighting stage much easier):

Next stage: Grey hulls-superstructure and blue decks.

Corona Virus Project #2: Making out with "Lady Lex" - CV2

Mea culpa, after reading through the links from a previous post I found out that my hunch (of brown flight decks) was completely wrong (maybe I was thinking 18th and 19th century navies, rather than 20th century navies) and for the USN the Blue and Green Gray are beautiful. Out of the fifty shades of grey out the one I was looking for was :

Deck Blue Grey Vallejo Model Colour 867

Extremely useful was this Vallejo Colour Chart link:
https://www.megahobby.com/products/17ml-acrylic-paint-bottles-model-colors-vallejo.html

Well guess what, despite what I thought was an extensive selection of Vallejo paints - this was one I was missing, but I had the next door cousin 868 Dark Sea Grey- so in these Corona Virus times of make do I used that instead. I was going to mix in a lighter shade anyhow so what the heck! (see below, my revised carrier flight decks, no more "wooden walls"):

I decided to take one example through to the end. I opted for CV2, the USS Lexington "The Lady Lex" and tried my hand at a little bit of shading to the deck and give her some "flight landing lines" (see below, my hand drawn lines will do for now, although there are some excellent decals from: https://www.flightdeckdecals2400.com/product-page/usn2a-cv-2-lexington-grey - another casualty of the lock-down, just now as no air-mail)

A hypothetical shot of "Lady Lex" being escorted to the ball (see below, two previous 1/3000 scale warships are used to eyeball my sea base painting for wargaming compatibility between them all - in fact I think that is it is unlikely an historical reconstruction as I think "Lady Lex" was "down and out" [sunk 8/5/42 at the Battle of the Coral Sea] before these two [USS Washington - although 15/5/41 commissioned she started her Pacific duties much later from 23/8/42, and the USS South Dakota - entered the war much later, it was 26/7/42 before she was ready for active service] got into the fight in 1942):

Close up of "Lady Lex" (aka "The Grey Lady). She was a big ship an would have been a heck of a battle-cruiser if finished to her original design (see below, she still carried 8x8" guns so potentially packed a hell of a surface punch too):

The painted "Lady Lex" alongside the other early war USN CVs (see below, the sea base was an additional wet-brush layer of Anita's Acrylics Navy Blue mixed 50:50 with Ocean Blue, followed by a highlight of Ocean Blue, Green Vallejo "wash" was added, then with wave-tops and churn being achieved by mixing in Antique White and White for a feather-lite highlight - in an artistic fashion):

A final Humbrol "satin varnish" was applied (see below, not "an in your face" gloss but a subtle reflective shimmer is achieved [as per the battleships]): 

OK, end-to-end test was a success, production mode is on ;)

Second Corona Project: WWII Pacific Pre-War Carrier Fleet

Next up on the "Painting Tray" are some old naval friends from WWII (see below, Navwar 1/3000 USN commissioned pre-war CVs): 

The hulls as painted in Airfix Grey Primer and the bases covered by a thin layer of cheap DIY flexible filler(see below, the painted "hull" one to the left is CV1 USS Langley in her converted [again] to a seaplane carrier):

Next came the painting of the sea bases, something I had done before so a search of my blog manually revealed nothing - but a Google search of my blog found this link:
http://exiledfog.blogspot.com/2010/10/note-to-self-painting-sea-bases-fro.html

Something about automated AI indexed being far better over large complex data sets than manual tagging methinks! Thankfully I even had the original Anita Acrylic paints in the loft. The magic formula being: (50:50) - Midnight Blue/Navy Blue with Jungle Green, which I erroneously  interpreted as a 'blue mix' or a 'green mix' - we'll see how it goes (see below, "end state one", everything dark blue or dark green blue; I also touched up the grey primer again as some waves had inadvertently splashed over the sides):

Fast Forward - This is the desired end point, but again I have forgotten exactly "how" I achieved it and my note to self does not really seem to cover to get to this effect (see below, the USS Washington and the USS South Dakota - the sea is also varnished Satin if my memory serves me correctly);

Moving on .. next .. experimenting with a "wash".

Update: It seemed to be a Gloss followed my Matte varnish!
http://exiledfog.blogspot.com/search/label/USS%20South%20Dakota

The First Corona Project Completed: An Italian Western Desert Task Force

Next comes the armour (see below, there may be fifty shades of grey but I am using three grades of sand on top of one layer of primer that gets washed in "Vallejo Brown Wash"):

I took one vehicle (M11/39) through to completion to get a feel of what to do (see below, kinda got it, taking Green Ochre (914), mixing it with Buff (976) and finally highlighting in pure Buff):

The tracks were initially painted in Flat Brown (984) and the highlighted in Gun Metal, flowed by a Black Wash and further Gun Metal highlight (see below, primed and ready for action):

From another angle coming at you (see below, the 47mm gun is the hull is anachronistic, the Italians only ever bothered equipping two battalions in the Western Desert with them, but a tank is still a tank when the other side does not have one):

The finished one alongside the other painted in the base coat Green Ochre (914) on the 40mm bases (see below, the Italian armoured column is taking shape):

The 10mm Western Desert Italian Project (see below, Infantry done, supports painted and half based, armour just started painting):

Pause for thought .. mu eldest wanted some help painting a D&D figure (Iron Golem) so while he was learning the secrets of "bronze armour" - I also experimented with Citadel Texture pain and under-painted bases (see red-orange-yellow). The idea being you paint over the bright colours in thick back texture paint goo. The goo dries, cracks and the colours of hell seep through the cracks. It can be extremely dramatic and very effective. Part way through this process I thought - they would be quite good as Chain of Command "shock markers (see below, the acolyte in training and are those "shock markers" I see?): 

An aerial shot of the painting table (see below, 28mm WWII British Infantry sprues on the top left, 28mm GW Fantasy bottom left, 10mm Pendrakon WWII Italians in the middle):

A close-up of the WIP 10mm Italians (see below, I am having second thoughts on how "light" the sand is on the finished infantry bases):

The Italians from another angle (see below, in the background you can see the bottom half of a Steve Young San Fran QB "Action Figure" - although it has to be said I am more of a Joe Montana fan):

An artistic shot of the Painting Table and a hint at my bookshelf (see below, a lot of Vallejo Paints [and unopened can of Carlsberg Export] - including duplicates - see previous post for details):

Another look at those bases (see below, they definitely look like "shock markers" to me): 

The Italian armoured column gets a Green Ochre and Buff 50:50 mix (see below, I can see the effect coming on nicely):

Buff highlight and I think we are there. Other bits, exhausts Flat Brown with Red Leather Highlight. Spades and MGs, black with Gun Metal highlight, tyres black with a mixed a dark grey highlight (see below, based on PVA dunked in sand and grit, soaked with an Anita's Acrylic Coffee Brown diluted wash):

Now came a a depressing moment when I took yet another look at the infantry basing and finally accepted that they were too light (see below, I preferred the look of the infantry supports and armour): 

The horrible answer was to Brown Wash the bases and start from the mid-tone up again (see below, once I had done one base I knew it was the right thing to do, that way they were all based the same too - which as a collection works better IMHO):

Finally painted awaiting a matte varnish (see below, after all the effort I put into these I decided I was not going to skimp on a varnish to make the wargaming figures more "wearable" or protect from hand-to-hand contact or is that clumsy handling combat?):

The Italian Infantry package (see below, note the alternative use of a chocolate box - which needs a bit of strengthening and interior divisions, so they don't all end up in a heap in transport):

The "Final Showcase I" (see below, head-on a furious sight of Italian armour and infantry in rapid advance):

The "Final Showcase II" (see below, side-on - a nice target for artillery):

The Italian Army is now in search of the British Western Desert Force (WDF) under General Richard O'Connor.

More importantly in the context of current world events - this is my first (perhaps of many) Corona Virus Lock-Down [UK] Projects.

Western Desert Italians 10mm Basing

From the coffee stirrers to the 40mm wooden bases (see below, as previously mentioned I had picked the circular bits of wood up from the The Works and annoyingly since that time I have not seen them in the shop again):

The bases get a matte undercoat of Anita's Acrylic Coffee Brown (see below, at this point the magic of basing seems to be almost detracting from the paint job):

The (literal) sand-box (or rather box of sand) and watered-down PVA craft glue stage. The PVA is watered down to improve its spread-ability and the sand-box is there for an unsophisticated "dunking and shake around" (see below, a nice passable effect - note, sometimes several PVA applications and dunks were needed, it was left to dry overnight): 

Then a watered down solution of Anita's Acrylic Coffee Brown (almost a wash) was applied to the base and soaked up by the sand (see below, again left to dry overnight or at least for a few hours, letting the base solidify for the wet/dry brushing stage):

A bit of experimentation was required. I didn't want to waste the more expensive Vallejo paints n the basing (call me a snob but I reserve then for plastic and metal work) so a little bit of mixing was required as I brought out a range of Anita Acrylics 'yellows' (see below, the basic sand colour was achieved by mixing Golden Yellow with Lemon Yellow in a 40:60 percentage):

Lightening the base layer up with highlights ... experimenting with increasing dosages of Anita Acrylics Lemon Yellow and Antique White (see below, a mixture of "wet brushing", "dabbing" to a pretty much dry brush"):

Examining the result ... from the reverse angle (see below, passing inspection to my eyes):

Does it work though ... (see below, I think so, and after all it is 10mm to be viewed from at least four foot away):

The three settled production stages ... undercoat (shade) brown .. yellow/white (base) mix and highlight bleached yellow (see below, the progression to the end): 

A final dry brush of white ... that is using Anita Acrylics Antique White (see below, applied sparingly where "less is more"):

The final product (see below, a very bright bleached white for the Western Desert, a nice parched feel to it for those going "Up The Blue" - battalion or company [depending on the rules you use] Italian Western Desert Infantry Force):

With the basic Infantry done, it is time to move onto the support weapons (MG, Mtr, ATG) and vehicles (tanks, AC and lorry).

"Take That Hill" - 10mm Falklands Painting (Part 2): British Infantry Basing and Argentine Infantry Painting/Basing

Using 40mm [Fighting Team of four] and 30mm [Command Team of two] diameter bases from "The Works" miscellaneous 'wooden disc pack' I super-glued the newly painted figures to their new homes (see below, care had to be taken stripping the painted figures off from the coffee stirrers as I had been generous with my dosage of glue - lesson learned for the future I hope): 

A close of a British Infantry Fighting Team as the last picture was a little "dark" for my liking (see below - I am using the 'multiple of four infantrymen' building block for a manoeuvre element - it works for "Take That Hill"): 

As soon as the paint had dried I covered the bases with Anita's Acrylic Bark Brown (of which I bought in bulk across the whole paint range for multiple 'hobby use' years ago and is still going strong for me and the kids):

At this point I went back to do the Argentine Infantry (a single section of four is required for the game). I kept to the same paints (see previous post), not needing the "Browns" [other than a little three tome camo for the helmet covers] as such but adding a dab of Khaki to the US Dark Green to lighten it in a highlight (see below, looking at some period Falklands photos the Argentine equipment seemed to wear and bleach, the tunics could be much greyer than the trousers in what I saw):

Another attempt at a close up photograph (see below, they look composed and ready for a fight):

They too get mounted n a 40mm diameter disc and the Anita's Acrylics Bark Brown terrain base undercoat (see below, could almost use as is, but I do like a good "flock" to bring out the best in the figures - after all somebody has gone to all that hard work to sculpt them!):

Next, watered down PVA glue covered the bases and the base got gently dunked in a "rough and ready sand pot" [beach sand and small bits of gravel] and left to dry. If the PVA soaked through the base got another dunk. That way an irregular look was achieved (see below, note the 'odd' Falklands bolder protruding here and there):

The Argentine Infantry got the same treatment (see below, the difference in British DPM and the patent US Nam decor of the Argentine's is striking when viewed up close):

A 50/50 mix of watered down Anita Acrylic Bark Brown and Chocolate Brown gave the bases a wash of brown (see below, it also helped define the crevices and undulations):

A lighter wet-brush of Chocolate Brown was then applied (see below, note - it dries quite light):

The final painting job is to pick out the rocks with a mid grey and lighten it up with successive highlights (see below, they soldiers now look "out in the rough" rather than somebody's back garden):

The modeller's hand is then drawn to a final watered down scree of PVA and "flock dunking" the base into a green/brown autumn mix that has again served me well and is my default mossy grass covering. I rejected the static grass addition touch as being not in keeping with the Falklands of the pictures I had seen (I could always add some later if needed).

The "Finished Product" view one: British Infantry shooting the Argentine Infantry (see below, wish I could have got my hands on some decent terrain for the photo) 

The "Finished Product" view two: Argentine Infantry shooting at the British Infantry (see below, job well done with a bit of "ruthless finishing" and just getting it done - starting was actually the hard part):

Finished - Time to play a few games now! Watch this space!