More Flat Paper Anglo-Saxons

 

Here are some more of Peter Dennis' Paperboys paper flats, this time some mounted Saxons. I haven't done any horsemen before in this style. 

Like the infantry, they look best from directly in front or behind, but unlike the infantry, these horsemen have a much smaller angle of acceptability — the horses are depicted in a three-quarter view, but when turned to the side it soon becomes apparent that they have no actual length. Most of the time, on the wargames table, they'd be viewed pretty much square on though, and they are after all just gaming markers, so it's not a huge deal.

These figures will be of fairly limited usefulness on the tabletop, as the Saxons were really mounted infantry rather than cavalry, and almost always dismounted to fight.

Now I just have some missile troops to do, and then I'll have the basis of a 28mm 9th - 11th century Saxon army to build on.

 Next Day...

Here are the first few bases of archers completed, freshly mounted and still with their PVA boots wet.

I initially place the figures with superglue for rapid adhesion, but alone that glue isn't strong enough to stand up to repeated handling. So, for strength and durability, I encapsulate the feet of the figures with PVA. When that dries clear, it's pretty well invisible. 

 Next Next Day...

I've finished 12 bases of archers and one of slingers, which should be enough archers for just about any Anglo-Saxon army based for Hail Caesar. As for the slingers, I don't know... I probably should actually check the army lists.

I've also redesigned my movement trays to make them more compact and easier to pick up. 

Making Tracks

 

PzIII J-N running gear

This project has been on my back-burner for quite some time now.

I decided to make a set of decently detailed running gear for a 15mm (1:100 scale) Panzer III.

The hull is from an old PzIII model by Zac Kuvalich.

I haven't yet done a test print, because it's currently winter in New Zealand, and my workroom, where the printers are, is bloody freezing. 

PzIII E-F running gear

PzIII G-H running gear

The style of both the sprocket wheel and idler changed as the Panzer III was developed. I've done a couple of running gear modules that reflect those changes.

To a certain extent, it's possible to use an earlier style of running gear on later models, as existing vehicles were upgraded to later specifications. 

Somua S-35

 

 

 

The French Somua S-35 is widely regarded as one of the best tanks in the world in 1940, when the Germans invaded.

It was well armed, well armoured, and with decent mobility. Its only major flaw was common to almost all French tanks of the time in that it had only a one-man turret, meaning that the tank commander also had to act as loader, and was thus overworked. While he was attending to the gun, he wasn't looking at the battlefield for dangers or targets.

 

 

The model is 1:100 scale (15mm), FDM printed  on my elderly Ender 3, from a design by M. Bergman. I've done some structural tinkering to get it to print more reliably, but I haven't added any extra detail this time around.

[EDIT] 

I forgot that I'd printed a Beutepanzer version of this machine way back in 2019.

The Germans gave it a new commander's cupola, but otherwise didn't alter it at all. 

Inheritance

 

I inherited some minis from my friend Belle.

They're mostly GW medievalish types: peasants, artisans, criminals, and a bishop (who might well be classed with the criminals).

There are two sets of three Grenadier figures: one of prisoners, and one of royal court types. They're smaller than the GW figures, being from the 25mm days. They're dated 1987-88.

There are a few 15mm figures from Tabletop Games (who I think are now defunct, though their ranges may still be available from other manufacturers). One is a mounted Mongol/Hun standard bearer, there are four medieval 100-Years-War types, and a bunch of others in long robes that I cannot make out without high magnification.

And last (and also least) there are a bunch of toy soldiers, cast in Zamak or similar, that I vaguely recall came in Kinder Surprise eggs. I think. They're very stiffly sculpted and not much use for anything except as game markers.