Se 5a 25th Areo Sqaudron 1918

Italeri have released a range of 1/72nd models in twin packs, great value for money, I selected to do the Se 5a of Lt Joseph E Boudain whilst flying for the 25th areo sqn, the first plane for my Americans, the sqn did not see a lot of action as its Se5a 'S were retrofitted with different motors that proved problematic. The unit saw action only twice before the armistice.

Successor Impetus Army

Another resurrected project completed this year my Pontic army for Impetus, mostly plastic with a few metal units. With the closure of my photobucket account I only had a few photos of the army as it was sold.

Roman Legionary

The first item off the new painting desk is a 200mm Young miniatures bust of a Roman Legionary, this guy has been partly finished for possibly 3 or 4 years, so I thought as I have restricted work space that I would complete as I go, rather than have multiple projects on the desk at any one time.

The figure is quite well sculpted and made from resin, it went together easily with no need for any fillers, as this guy was my first 200mm bust I was a little hesitant to paint his face and especially his eyes, but after looking at a few tutorial videos online I was more confident. I used Vallejo colours and mattisse drying retarder and mediums to get my layered skin tone. I was extremely happy with the final result and now he resides with my 54mm collection in the display cabinet.

New painting station

I have recently moved from a four bedroom home on the outskirts of Sydney into the inner west into a two bedroom flat with my lovely lady. I am closer to the new job, saving almost 2.5 hours of travel each day. The only downside is that I do not have a dedicated painting room, so I purchased a roll top desk (credenza) to be my painting station in the lounge room. So far very happy how it is working.

Knocking stuff around and fixing things!

Back in Janurary I made a list with things to do this year very happy to say two of the tasks are now complete.

Three weeks ago I finally picked up my cabinet that I built from Gregs in Canberra and put it in the shed for repair, having white ant damage to some time ago of the backing boards, it was only a small job but did take a little organising to get done. On the first,  I needed to remove the boards from the rear of the cabinet and checked the shelves for damage, it seems that the white ants  were caught early enough, so only a small amount of damage was done. I then went down to my local hardware and purchased enough boards to do the job, and had them cut to correct length along with the stain I thought match my sample. I then returned home and stained the timber with three coats ( waiting a day between coats) the assembled the cabinet. I let it dry out for a week before moving it into the house and placing figures into it, beside my other cabinet, so now all of my 28mm painted armies are on display.

 Job two was last Saturday, my sons and I cleaned the garden shed and the two car garage, moved the work benches around and set up the timber working, tool shelves and leather work table, added brackets to walls and the ceiling for the fishing rods, and finally curtains on the Windows along with security mesh. I was very happy with the end result nothing like a clean organised workshop to work in!

This weekend I have continued to compete my Pontics and Romans, lots pics to follow tomorrow.

Cheers

A day for crows, Pontics whip Romans

Tonight Damiano and myself had a 400 point impetus game, I ran out my still in progress Pontics and Damiano put out his Romans. The extra 50 points makes a big difference as it allowed me to have three extra units in my Moab list, I opted for 1 Thracian, 1 Galation and a unit of slingers. Damiano picked two FL and a unit of archers.

We diced and I won and elected to defend, I placed my largest command on my right, made up entirely of infantry, FL javelin, FL Thracians and FP imitation Legionarys, on my left I set up the second command of two CP both impetuous, 2 large units of Galatians FP, two CL javelin and 1 unit of slingers. Damiano had on his left two FP A grade Legionarys, two S archers, one unit of CM, and 1  unit of Gladiators, and two FL javelin, on his right he had two FP legionarys, two FL javelin and Three S Archers.

The game started with me winning the command roll for both of my command in turn, on my right I advanced  and on my left I moved my CL forward, the rest of the command was already on opportunity. In Damiano turn he advanced both of his commands, but failed his second moves so everything become disordered except his archers in the middle and his FL light infantry on the fight flank who charged my CL, causing a casualty on one of the units who promptly retreated

 In the second turn Damiano won the command roll on the left and advanced with his two archers who fired within 6 but failed to any casualties, the Pontic javelin returned fire and promptly destroyed both archer units, he then filled up with a combined assault of FP legionaries and FL lights, amazingly the Romans were all repulsed with casualties, by the Pontic FL. I then won the next roll on the right and released my CP heavy cavalry into his lights destroying both units, I then moved my CL to attack his archers but they failed to do any damage, I left my Galations on opportunity, and forgot all about my slingers who were in ambush in the rough ground on the far left. I then won the next roll on the right and managed to roll off all of the disorders except one FL Javelin, they then all fired again into the Romans who were still disordered and each of them received casualties, the dice gods were with me! Damiano then activated his left command advancing his FP heavy legionarys and archers the legionarys again failed there second move (incredible for A Grade) and the archers failed to hit the Galations.

In the third turn I won the command roll on my left and fired both my CL light cavalry into the archers destroying one unit, I then launched my CP heavy cavalry from the flank destroying the remaining archer units ( destroyed as they were caught in the flank) and followed up into the flank of the legionarys, who after three turns of combat finally were destroyed, the general was killed on a 6 also, this destroyed this command, so effectively the game was over. On the right I won the command roll again and my javelin fired at the FP legionarys and the FL lights and managed to destroy both legionary units and one FL, and capturing the general also on the general chart. This ended the game effectively and Damiano conceded the game.