Black Seas and the USN

Here's my story. Many, many moons ago I purchased Black Seas and expected to dive into the "age of sail" in 1/700 scale and be a Horacio Hornblower reborn. Except, the wargaming butterfly that is I moved onto another project (anybody not see that coming?) way before paint met model and rigging sail lead to s a sense of frustration, so the box sadly languished in a dark place the loft. I did construct the free (well you had to but the magazine) giveaway frigate from the cover of a Wargames Illustrated magazine, but no further progress was made with a fleet. Then (several years later) a wandering eye in the local model store, sees a bargain but - end of stock - USS Constitution, the rest is predictable history (see below, "a love story starts" with an American super frigate):  

Size can matter (see below, a case of we only budgeted for six but as the Carling beer advert says it all, probably the best in the world - normal frigate [RN/French/Spanish] in the background): 

The master plan being that with the Master and Commander starter set and WI giveaway I have six brigs and four frigates, plus the USS Constitution ("old ironsides" herself - good timbers apparently). That means a basic USN fleet of two brigs and USS Constitution, a RN fleet of two brigs and a normal frigate and two brigs and a frigate for the French! Leaving two frigates in excess, whether to reinforce the French or British fleets, or make a Spaniard is the question (perhaps a wandering Russian frigate?). The only "possibly needed" expansion would be to include the bizarre fleets of the Barbary Pirates of the Mediterranean (where the teething battles of the USN were fought on the shores of Tripoli, as per the US Marines song) or the addition of a lazy fat merchantman or two. A small self-contained project, what could go possibly wrong, provided it gets off the painting tray. 

Evolution of British Army Infantry Sections 1914 - 2022 (You Tube Video)

Wow, I found this very instructive and informative with respect the WW2 (aka Chain of Command) and post WWII British Infantry formations (See link below): 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5nDcoXJMrg

Painting US Vietnam Infantry - My Platoon 20 Collection (PART 1) Notes to Self

Background: Sometimes I acquire a "collection of figures" over time rather than for a project, knowing that at a point in the distant future when a critical mass/event is attained they will be painted (when the stars align and the "painting interest bug bites"). That ably described the relationship I have with my Platoon 20 Vietnam figures. I collected them [along with plastic vehicles models and plastic helicopter models] when I could - knowing "their" time has would come (see below, first in line for action - a US Infantry Officer): 

Their time has come. The annoying thing about painting US Infantry in Vietnam is that it seems to be a futile exercise in painting various shades of green and then murkier green - everything seemed to fade and be stained differently. I am left with the feeling that "everything looks right and wrong at the same time", a bit like the war I guess.

The challenge for me is to make a distinct transition between the uniform and the webbing/flak jacket. It does seem to be a question of  "Which of the fifty shades of green is it today? I am currently bouncing around with variations on the following painting recipe: 

Uniform Tunic: Vallejo Model (924) Russian Uniform WWII [Base] with Vallejo Model (881) Yellow/Green [Highlight]

Webbing: Vallejo Model (887) Brown/Violet - although this seems to be a controversial choice in some quarters, as it may look too brown, with Vallejo Model (988) Khaki [Highlight]

Tunic and Webbing Wash: Vallejo Wash - Green mixed with Citadel Shade Nuln Oil, applied over all tunic/webbing area then repeat [Base] and then add [Highlight] -- Note: This step seems to make a real difference (++)

Flesh: Vallejo Model (927) Dark Flesh [Base] with Vallejo Model (955) Flesh [Highlight] - alternatively Vallejo Model (872) Chocolate Brown [Base] with Vallejo Model (983) Flat Earth [Highlight] 

Gun: Vallejo Model (950) Black [Base] and Vallejo Model (995) German Grey [Highlight] - plus additional Vallejo Game Gun Metal [Edge Highlight]

Boots: Vallejo Model (950) Black [Base] with Vallejo Model (995) German Grey [Highlight] although others would say that is far too neat and should be "dusty brown" reflecting all the trudging through the mud

Helmet: Vallejo Model (924) Russian Uniform WWII [Base] with Vallejo Model Yellow/Green [Highlight] although I have yet to experiment with the four colour camo helmet look ... using Vallejo Model colours [(983) Flat Earth, 50:50 (882) Middlestone and (833) German Camo Bright Green, (924) Russian Uniform WWII, (890) Reflective Green]

Useful "Painting Guide" video links discovered to date, both of which produce works of art, disturbingly opting for Brown rather than Green Flak Jackets (variety is the spice of life): 

• Rubicon - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaeZFtxHL-c
• Wargames Soldiers and Strategy (WSS) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Hi6kc5gi9s

Painting Templates (think they are Flames of War): 

• https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/831336412451931402/

Book Recommendation: Imaginable (Jane McGonigal)

It is a nice moment when you discover a favourite author has delivered another book (see below, Jane McGonigal of "Super Better" and "Reality is Broken" fame):

She hooked me on this one because she made reference to the USN Naval War College, Bought my copy on wife's Audible subscription so that I can listen to it when I am in the kitchen. Up to chapter two and its interesting, very much so, written in the spirit of Super Better with lots of thought exercises along the way. 

https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/144/1446896/imaginable/9781787635623.html

1/72 Scale Airfix Sheridan - Vietnam Era

I have been quiet on the blog posting front but I have been pottering along quietly in the background, with of all things the "Vietnam era", courtesy of an Airfix 1/72 scale Sheridan (see below, now this thing had been assembled for ages [a decade?] and primed black but I had not been given a reason for it's final coat of paint): 

So instead of Cold War era Europe paint job it swings across to the jungles of South East Asia instead. I know from photos an ACav style gun shield and turret topped ring of sandbags, plus a few on the front are scheduled modelling additions. Heavily armoured it was not, so the crews improvised additional measures. 

Vietnam 20mm ACav M113 [JB Models]

I seem (understatement) to have been somewhat distracted last month(or months) with the Ukrainian-Russian War being constantly on the news and Easter holiday travel find time to actually get round to regular blogging. Plus the added pain of too much screen-time associated with home working making extra time at a computer be a bit of a bore. This is a pity, as I think (my) blogging is more a question of relaxation habit - off loading ideas and accomplishments, definitions of "done for now and move on" than a finalised artistic product (such as paid/free electronic-digital content). Preamble over (more for my benefit than anyone else) I have "out of the blue" painted up a Vietnam M113 that I have had lying around for ages (see below, for "ages" read over a decade): 

Quite please with tis knock up paint job, decals as ever to come later. It is a 1/72 JB Models (a mould that at one time was taken up by Airfix I believe) that will constitute part of my "armoured response troop" for Vietnam skirmish rules (which I am not sure yet: Jim Webster's "Hell by Daylight", Buckle for Your Dust and home-brew are all options at this moment.

Easter Project: Jigsaw - Charge of the Scots Greys - Scotland Forever

This is a fine piece of historic artwork with a slight personal touch as the father-in-laws grandfather served in the Scots Greys in the inter-war years in India (see below: 1000 pieces of blended colour fun, note the rest of the experienced jigsaw makers ran for the hills when I opened this one up): 

I literally could only keep my sanity by working a region at a time (see below, the outer frame was done first, then the red uniforms with (annoying black hats), onto the horses whilst muttering under my breath):  

Horse's heads complete I moved onto the bodies and legs (see below, the study in white and cream was a different form of madness, at least the legs helped me segment the very challenging brown earth section):  

The finished masterpiece, I do think it looks impressive (see below, shown with three missing chinks - due to its missing parts and an element f wear and tear I think its active days as a jigsaw are over. Rather than chucking it I plan to slide it onto a board, PVA it into place - then fill in the remaining two spaces): 

Footnote 1: I was mighty glad (aka understatement) to have finished it but slightly saddened about the three missing pieces, which later reduced to "two" when I discovered one in an unusual place. Either I picked it up already "short" from the Charity Shop or managed to lose two with all the holiday travels (I used one of those clever jigsaw zipped portfolio folders to transport it). I also do have a small number of 28mm Napoleonic Scots Greys I was thinking of painting up (a couple of sprues rather than the whole Warlord Box).

Footnote 2: Another lost piece turned up so I am only one down .. who knows it may yet turn up!