Keren 1941 game at Salute 2014

Some time ago James Morris and Scrivs asked me to join the team putting on the ambitious display game depicting the Battle of Keren 1941.. This game will be appearing at a few more shows, but yesterday it had it's debut at Salute in London.

The preperation for this has been huge. James had put together a fascinating and visually stunning game which is also an engineering work to be admired. I was delighted to play a small part in the proceedings.

As well as showing up and helping to play/present the game, I was happy to have contributed something towards the physical element too. I had painted up a box of Perrys 8th Army which represented the West Yorkshiremen on the day. I also had the modelling challenge of representing the 'Broadcasting House'.

For a brief explanation of this interesting little piece of real estate.. see the Pathe News story here (around 5.15) 

Tom, Scrivs and Steve are all regular bloggers who are on the team and took lots of pictures.. so please visit their sites for more .

A couple of pictures of the hut..

and the specially adapted infantrymen running out another speaker..

And a few of the game on the day..

James Morris overseeing his mountain

Broadcasting House in situ

Tom's impressive Booms!

The Wellesley bomber, drew a lot of attention

My Yorkshiremen, ready to start climbing

The impressive slope seen from below

Near the top

James Woodward considers the Italian options

The display table was well received

An overview.. for much of the day you couldn't this clear view for the crowds gathered around it

Perry Desert Rats Ready!

Well, these didn't take as long as I thought they would. I didn't entirely stick to the plan.. had a bit of a crisis with the flesh colours half way through but pushed through the 'wall' with the belief that they would turn out alright in the end.

Something I learned from railway modelling actually, when building a layout or diorama, there's often a moment where it all looks to have gone wrong and it's so tempting to bin it all and start again. Leaving it for a day or two and then cracking on, trusting in your methods, will often get you through. (Not always!)

Anyway.. one diversion from the plan was to try using the Strong Tone ink rather than the dip. Much more subtle, but clearly without the varnish properties. I also brushed on the Army Painter Matt varnish. I was worried I might get some clouding, but they seemed to have turned out alright.

Right, cruel close up photos.. I prefer to view my figures at arms length on the table!

Perry Desert Rats

Better late than never.. I actually picked up a box of the Perry 8th Army figures at Partizan back in June when I was helping Scrivs with his spiffing Bolt Action demo game..

I got them assembled and sprayed with Army Painter 'Desert Yellow' ages ago and then got sidetracked painting Soviets and Germans.

Initially I thought I'd get these painted and based before the Perry Afrika Corps came out. doh!

Yesterday morning I thought I ought to make a proper start.

I have James Morris' article from WS&S magazine on painting these figures and I've been lucky enough to play with both his and Scrivs painted figures. I don't think it's wise for me to try to copy their styles at all, but I have made an effort to organise myself to paint these so that they will at least be 'compatible' should they ever share a table

My plan is..

Desert Yellow basecoat.
Mix of Vallejo Iraq Sand, Khaki and Coat d'arms Roan for uniforms
Black for boots, rifles and bayonets
Coat d'arms  Wood brown for the skin areas
I'm following James suggestion and leaving the webbing etc in the base coat.

Once I have these basic colours blocked in, the next step will be to use the Army Painter Strong tone.
I'm going to experiment here and try using the ink rather than the dip. (Might try a couple and see how it goes first)

After that it will be a case of highlights, picking out the wood on the rifles, the flesh colours and a few details like rifle straps.

Bases will be essentially a Yellow Ochre, with sand and some tufts etc 

Finally a light drybrush with Iraqi Sand.

As I say, that's the plan! We'll see how it turns out.