Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf. F2, finished!

I have been busy painting my Panzer IV's from Plastic Soldier Company this week. After painting the first I wanted to finish the other two while I was on a roll -- and while I was remembering what paints and what techniques I used -- and get them all based and ready for varnishing.

You see, I have lots of Vikings vying for my attention and I'm yearning to get a test game of Saga in. At the same time I needed to get the Panzers finished for a convention game in two weeks and didn't want to get sidetracked and leaving the project half finished. I'm pleased to report that I did indeed finish them on saturday and managed to base and photograph them today!

Panzer Vorwärts!

Holy Flying Failcast, Batman!

I took advantage of Maelstrom's stock clearance sale and ordered a box of Chaos Marine Raptors for Warhammer 40k. This is part of slow long-term project of fielding lots and lots of nurgly DeathGuard. I don't really play 40k anymore but I have too much time and love invested in my different armies to let them go. Besides, soon my sons will start playing, so I will need the armies then.

The box, with the dreaded words "Finecast"

When I ordered I had no idea if this was old stock, meaning that the models were metal, or the new Finecast versions. As it turned out it was Finecast.  As I intend to convert the figures extensively Finecast should be easier to work with than metal. I have heard some very negative opinions on Finecast though, so it was with a little bit of dread I opened the box.

Paint it grey

I have been ill during easter, but at least I managed to slap some paint on my Panzer IV's. I had a cold, complete with head-ache and a fever, but not enough to knock me out. So while the rest of the family went out for easter lunch I watched some movies and base-coated all three tanks.

Blue? I thought you said grey???

Real Steel

I have finished building the PSC Panzer IV tanks and they are now ready for painting.

Three widdle tanks were going to the market...

As you might recall I wanted to build them as the F2 variant and ordered some snazzy aluminium barrels for them. I have also added some metal stowage from SHQ for that gypsy-caravan lived in look.

The Fury of the Northmen is upon us!

Got a surprise from the mailman today; it was parcel containing the Fury of the Northmen expansion for Saga from Gripping Beast. Now, it is due for release tomorrow but the nice Beasties apparently decided to ship them out as soon as they recieved them from the warehouse.

Dice! Scot Warlord! Rulebook! Battle boards! Weeeeeeeee!!!

RB Model Metal Barrels

You might remember that I recently bought a box of PSC Panzer IV tanks. As I want to use them as the F2 version I decided to try out the RB Model range of metal barrels to convert them.

A Panzer IV F2 during combat in the the Volkhov pocket in 1942.

As you can see on the photo above the F2 variant has a very distinct muzzle brake, not used on later versions. I have been tempted by the products of RB Model in poland for some time now and this was an excellent opportunity.