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Just like everyone else I have a backlog of unpainted minis that just seem to collect dust while I buy ever more in the belief that they will all get done. This delusion increasingly gets me an arse kicking off of the Mrs and so in an attempt to correct the error of my ways I have begun the monumental task of painting 25 years of hoarded lead and plastic.

To begin I thought that I would start with a scale that is new to me – 15mm, specifically Battlefronts Flames of War range.

Over the last 4 years I have been picking up a Flames of War box here and there as I like the models and keep coming across them for 25%+ off. The end result is that I have built up 4 small armies worth of FOW and never got around to doing anymore than cleaning them up and sticking a few units to bases. I find this wastefulness a bit embarrassing so this is my logical first step to redemption.

First on to the production line are the brave chaps of the 6th Airborne Division. Being new to the scale I limited myself to a test on a stand that I had previously put together and based some years ago.







Surprisingly I have found working in 15mm rather enjoyable and as hoped there is very little detailing required beyond decent control of a drybrush or wash.

Wooohooohoo-oooe Camouflage!




Many are put off by the Denison smocks pattern and I certainly found it daunting at first, but went well I think. Trying to individually dab on the different colours randomly was a bit annoying at first but I soon worked out that an oldish brush that was splaying a bit provided me with the desired stippled effect in a fraction of the time. I faded it with a drybrush of Green Ochre but may have over done it.

Are they weathered vets or just over painted, I’m not sure?

Please ignore the base; what you can see is an experiment with Golden Coarse Pumice and a test on some grass flock, so not the final result.

Lessons learnt so far

• Painting on the base makes the task more difficult than it needs to be
• 5 infantry to a standard base looks too crowded to me, 4 is better
• Camouflage @15mm isn’t as hard as I had imagined
• Even though I was trying to be fairly accurate with my painting once you involve the 3’ rule it doesn’t matter if you splash on the paint in 15mm
• Battlfront have trouble doing faces - It really isn't my painting

Obviously the main reason for this post is for feedback before cracking on with the whole company, so what do you think Dakka?

They look fantastic. Camo at that scale must be more forgiving than at any other scale The snow is also a nice touch. Look forward to seeing more.

Moved back to Flames Of War forum at user request.

I think they look great. It's surprising how good 15mm can look. Fantastic for larger battles.

Good looking infantry! I've always enjoyed the appearance of scattered maroon berets through British Airborne armies.

My helpful painting tip since you've realized that painting on the base is a pain in the A$%...

Put each model on the head of a nail, secured by blue teacher's tack. Put all of them into a cardboard box and you have the world's cheapest priming stand along with individual holders for each model

Keep it up, I'd love to see the whole company come together.

Very nice painting, I'm about to order the first bits and pieces of an Australian army myself, painting 15mm minis is going to be a whole new challenge. To see that someone else who is completely new to the scale can produce such excellent looking models with simple techniquies is a big confidence booster for me.

I look forward to seeing more painted models.

@econtutor thanks for that tip, I was planning on doing something like that but it's nice to get confirmation that my suspicions where correct. Now I just need to raid the garden shed when it comes to getting ready to paint. Oh and actually order my Aussies of course.

Thanks KK for the help and comments.

@ everyone else, I'm really glad you like them. After 2 hours to do this stand I didn't really feel that objective so positive feedback is great.

@ econtutor - thats a good idea, I actually have allot of lolly sticks/coffee stirers to glue the infantry to but when I got these minis a year+ ago I think I got over excited and started posing them and basing them. So now I have a platoon already stuck to the bases to get through!

@ Nick Ellingworth - You shouldn't have any problems doing Aussies, assuming that they are in standard British type battledress? A base coat of English Uniform and a light dry brush of Green Ochre (as the trousers on this airborne stand) should see them spick and span and ready for the parade ground. I have allot of regular infantry to do after my Airborne Platoons, so you can tune in for that see what pitfalls there are. If there is a mistake to make I usually make it.

Also check Maelstrom the last time I looked they still had Aussie platoons for 25% off , may have sold out now but worth a look.

notprop wrote:@ Nick Ellingworth - You shouldn't have any problems doing Aussies, assuming that they are in standard British type battledress? A base coat of English Uniform and a light dry brush of Green Ochre (as the trousers on this airborne stand) should see them spick and span and ready for the parade ground. I have allot of regular infantry to do after my Airborne Platoons, so you can tune in for that see what pitfalls there are. If there is a mistake to make I usually make it.

Also check Maelstrom the last time I looked they still had Aussie platoons for 25% off , may have sold out now but worth a look.

Sadly Maelstrom are sold out now but Wayland are selling the Aussies for slightly less than RRP (£12.60 rather than £14) so I've grabbed the two platoons I need along with a couple of "Honey" Stuarts. Oh and my army will be a North Africa campaign one so the colour scheme is slightly different (ie more of a desert tone). Still the basic principles will be the same

Well after much effort and not a few delays I have finally got to the point where I now have enough bodies for a Company HQ and Airborne Combat Platoon plus some of the special weapons. Still along way to go but an important step for my goal of painting my collection backlog.

Heres a few excitedly rushed photos, hopefully I can sort something a bit prettier later.

The whole lot on the march.


Advance by section!


Tally Ho, toot, toot!


Snipers on overwatch.


PIATs ready to bag a Tiger or two!


Watch out Gerry, the Tommies are on the march.


So thats a third of a way through my airborne infantry in about 3 slowish weeks, Not bad prgress by my standards; hopefully the lot will be done fairly soon. A couple of plucky fellers with PIATs probably wont get these fellers too far so I probably look at geting a platoon of 17 pounders and/or Tetrachs done next.

Any comments, tips or critques are of course always wellcome.

They look great, I love seeing the maroon berets scattered throughout the platoon!

Can you paint my 6th Airborne? HAHAHAHAH!

I am dreading painting them....