Fallschirmjäger test figure #2 in Sumpfmuster 44(Marsh Pattern)

This is my second Fallschirmjäger figure,but this time in Sumpfmuster 44(Marsh/Water pattern) which tends to look more brownish then the Splinter pattern.Also,the camouflage pattern is more rounded and softer in apperance.Like I mentioned before I also wanted to try out the tropical pants to show a veteran of the Italian campaigns who hasn't had time,availibilty or the desire to get some fatigues in field grey just yet.I added more scratches to the painted metal and I hope it looks right.
I plan to mix up my entire platoon in various stages of fallschirmjäger dress from the period of the Italian campaigns up to Market garden.This is for several reasons in that I think it was quite likely they did appear mixed as from personal experience as an ex-soldier I know supply can be late in getting replacement uniforms and couple that with the soldiers desire to keep his best uniform in his duffel bag for inspections and his older stuff for field operations leads me to suspect I'm not far off the mark.....hopefully.
My second reason is versality in that I can use the platoon for campaigns in both Normandy and Italy.
Lastly and probably my biggest reason is I enjoy painting several types and mixing and matching them which in turn will of course have me searching for any excuse I can find to paint them how I want!:-)
My next test Fallschirmjäger I'll do in another marsh pattern,but an earlier version that has a lighter camo pattern then the one above.Once that is finished I think I'll have worked out my camoflage patterns for the platoon and therefore able to do more then one at a time.
Miniature Company-Artizan Designs

Fallschirmjäger test figure in Splittermuster(Splinter pattern)

This is my first WWII miniature in 28mm and these Artizan figures are a real joy to paint.The complicated camo scheme is a real challenge,but rewards the painter in the end if carefully done.To this end I hope I succeeded.
I've painted 15mm WWII Germans and I've discovered that different techniques are required then 28mm when painting this period.The 15mm Germans using the 2 to 3 tone layered technique works quite well,but at 28mm the difference is too strong and so a blending of tones is required.Because of this it does take a while to work your way through the colors to get the right mix.The trick is to keep the tones subdued,but at the same time noticeable,but not overly so as the troops are trying to blend in to their environment.
This Fallschirmjäger trooper is wearing a Luftwaffe splintermuster camo smock,Luftwaffe blue cap,breadbag,and standard German field grey trousers and painted helmet.I tried to add a little wear and tear to the helmet.
The next test figure I might add some tropical issue pants from a veteran of Italy yet to receive some replacement clothing and sumpfmuster(marsh/water) patterned smock.I'll see how it comes along.Fingers crossed.
Still working on my photography skills which is a weak point for myself.Individual pictures I'll keep with the white background,but when I do group shots I'll add some terrain to the background.
In addition to painting troops,I think I'll also give some period terrain a go with some ruins in mind and then of course some tanks in the future and,and,and................
The last two pics are duplicates that are a bit larger for those who may want a closer view.
Miniature Company-Artizan Designs

Storming Eagles

Soon I will be posting some German Fallschirmjäger(paratroopers) from Artizan designs in 28mm to battle a friends British paratroopers.I'm working on my first test model now.They will be used for the Disposable Heroes rule system initially.It's not a large project with just 30-50 models in total,but a difficult one with the camo scheme involved.As many WWII painters have pointed out that the splinter camo scheme is quite hard to do,but looks great if pulled off.
The background will be from the 6th Fallschirmjägerregiment of the 2nd Fallschirmjägerdivision during their actions in Normandy and Holland commanded by Oberstleutnant Freiherr von der Heydte.The regiment at it's core was formed of veterans from Crete,North Africa and Italy with the addition of Luftwaffe ground personnel in 1944 at Köln-Wahn.At this point they acted more in the role as elite light infantry then actual paratroopers,because of the heavy losses the Fallschirmjäger units and battalions sustained on a para drop campaign in Crete.However, they did keep the honorific title Fallschirmjäger to instill a sense of being part of an elite formation.
They saw action at Sainte Maris du Mont,Saint-Mere-Eglise,Carentan where they fought so hard their enemy nick named them "The lions of Carentan",battle of the bocage,The raid on St. Germain-sur-Seves,Operation Lüttich,and finally Market Garden in Holland.
The Fallschirmjäger in this time frame is very nice for painters as it offers a chance to change up the uniform.Many of the veterans were still wearing the plain olive green jump smocks in addition to the splinter and marsh camo smocks with luftwaffe blue trossers becoming more common in addition to the field gray.The bluse could found in field gray and luftwaffe blue with the the new recruits wearing more of the luftwaffe blue respectively.As a result, the appearance of the troopers will be quite mixed for reasons given above.
I've never painted Fallschirmjäger before,so my fingers are crossed they will turn out and I won't have pulled any hair out in frustration.

A quick pic of the Trojan Army

This is the completed army I used at the TTU gaming weekend.It was led by King Diometores and his son Hectores(not very orginal I know) where they fought for the Assyrian allience.They defeated some Hittes and lost to Egyptians and in a large multi player game participated in a hard fought draw.I will post some pics of the battles they were in.
This army weighs in at 1600pts.(WAB) that I will eventually make a bit larger with a spearmen and chariot unit modeled after the princes more colorful and modern equipment,but that will be sometime in the future.For now the army is finished and I'll move on to some of my other projects to be decided soon(AWI,Assyrians,ECW,Pulp,Fallschirmäger to name a few).I hope some of you enjoyed the Trojans.Like I said,I'll post some of the games.Cheers!
Miniature Company-Wargames Foundry

Trojan Spearmen

This is my second unit of Trojan spearmen with the shields hand painted and the rest done with army painter and quick highlights added like the other Trojans.I just barely finished these in time for TTU and so I had no time to post them until now.I'll post the entire army shortly and pics of the army in action a bit later.
Miniature Company-Wargames Foundry

More Trojan Chariots!

This is the prince and his retinue.They are armed in the latest military equipment of the Trojan era of light armor,shields and javelins.They also have added a bit more color.All shields and and chariot boxes were hand painted and the rest was army painter with a quick highlight.Only one more unit to go and then I'll be ready for TTU........but I only have a few days!(Gulp!)
Miniature Company-Wargames Foundry

Frustration

I really admire wargaming modelers & painters that can keep focus on one theme at a time until complete or spend the majority of their time on one theme and only occasionally doing other things.The only time I can remain focused is if I have a deadline and/or commitment to meet,but other then that I bounce around a great deal.I know it helps to do one thing at a time,but of course I want to do it all right now!Just to give you an idea of my plans:

25/28mm (currently owned and already started or nearly complete)
-WAB Trojans-My current commitment nearly complete in terms of required size,but wish to add more in the future..
-AWI(BG)-A personal project(Guilford Courthouse) in a period I simply love to paint (Perry after all)with plans to seriously game.This is a period I plan to read more and remain a long term focused(close as I get to that) project.
-WAB Vikings-Add more Bondir,finish a longship for background,touch up all weapons,bases and armour.Also,the Norse are my favorite army in history and is a project I painted with a steady focus,but still needs more.
-WAB Praetorian Romans-Touch up re-painting
-WAB Early HYW English-Continue on with the Black Prices forces at Crecy and Poitier's.It's very challenging painting this army,but also very rewarding.
-LOTOW-It was fun building the town and making the posses and I do wish to add some figures and buildings.

25/28mm (Owned,but not started)
-WAB Assyrians-An army I like and also a way of bringing a friend into WAB2 gaming system
-F&IW-Just have to love those Indians from Conquest and it blends well with North American historical period events(AWI etc.)
-WAB Carthaginians-What's not to like about Hannibal!
-WAB Classical Greeks-Love the helmets and shield designs.
-WAB Ancient Germans-Romans need somebody to fight!Also,the models are great!!
-WAB Aztecs-Fantastic miniatures and an opportunity to explore colors!
-Blood Bowl Ogres-Mini's full of character
-WAB Samurai-A period I've always wanted to do,but can't decide the concept I want and leaves me on the fence all the time.
-DH Fallschirmjäger-Great mini's from Artizan and the camo scheme is wonderful if you get it right.I also like the background of these tough fighters.
-WHECW-Got to love all the array of muskets and pikes!It's an interesting period that seems to be growing at a pretty good pace in the gaming community.My army is will be modeled after Rupert's forces at Marston Moor,although with a few interchangeable flags the units could also pass for Parliamentarians.
-Chaos in Cairo-A pulp game set in the hollywood early and more modern mummy serials with myself using a band of Archaeologists.Collecting and painting the figure requirement is easy(10 or so figures),but creating the terrain for the game is time consuming,but very cool if pulled off.
-WAB Spartacus rebellion-Thank you Mr. Douglas for the inspiration!

25/28mm (wish list)

-Spanish Civil War-Both sides using Iron Ivan rule set.Love the figures from Empress and the period is less explored.
-Boxer Rebellion-Love to see Coppelstone or Artizan do some for this.A period of real variety.
-WAB Romano British for Age of Arthur(inspiration from Cornwell of course)
-Pulp Victorian-If a Russian company(forgot the name)makes the models easily accessible in Europe.
-Zulu War-The shields!!Rule set undecided.
-WAB Normans-Need to mount my Vikings after all!
-WAB El Cid Christian army.I really like the idea of mixing the Moorish/ European looks together.
-SOTR Germans-A chance to get creative.
-DH US Airborne-Looks,attitude and history are all very cool!
-WAB Spartans from Gorgon miniatures.
-Several others I've forgotten!(LoL!)
-WHECW Montrose Scots/Irish. as the background is great and painting highlanders would be fun!
-WAB Yorkist for WOTR with the kingmaker included.

15mm(owned and started or nearly complete)
-FOG/DBA Vikings-Not surprising I collect them.;-)
-FOG/DBA Normans-They are mounted Vikings after all!
-FOW German Panzerkompanie-Great looking tanks!
-F & F ACW-Probably my best studied period and longest owned historical miniatures.

15mm(owned,but not started)
-FOG/DBA Samurai -Same situation as Samurai in 25/28mm.
-FOW Fallschirmjäer-same as 25/28mm.
-FOW Luftwaffe Felddivision-They really got their tails kicked in the war,but I really like the colors!(LoL!)

15mm(wish list)
-FOW US Airborne(same as 25/28mm)
-FOW Finns-Fighting against the odds and a chance for a winter themed army
-Others I've forgotten

Of note,my desire to paint fantasy is and has been on the wane for quite some time with most posts of this being stuff I did quite awhile back and so this at least cuts down on my small project load!(LoL!)

Cheers
Christopher