Hit the KV with the foam chipper and dusted the chassis and fenders. Probably spending too much time on this on but it is a huge mini compared to the others I have painted - weighs like a pound or so!
Troy
A showcase for my minis and a place to ramble about miniatures and gaming in general.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Chipped and Dipped (in the mud).
Hit the KV with the foam chipper and dusted the chassis and fenders. Probably spending too much time on this on but it is a huge mini compared to the others I have painted - weighs like a pound or so!
Troy
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Happy Holidays - Back in Business!
Merry Christmas to all and here is wishing everyone a peacful New Year! Finally got the new computer, just in time for Christmas! I have been working on some of the FiB Russian Infantry (Maxim HMG teams) and a BF KV-1.
I added a bit of battle damage to the turret and hull to replicate photo evidence I have seen of these uparmored KVs. I also added a tow cable, a new commanders hatch cover (the supplied one was too small) couple DP-27 MGs as well as screened air intakes. Still have to do some paint chipping and add some mud and dust.
Should have some pics up of the painted FiB fellows soon!
Troy
Sunday, December 12, 2010
FiB Germans Review
Next up from FiB are 15mm Germans
G-INF01 German Rifle Platoon.
This is an early to mid-war offering. All figures have with high boots and most have high collars. MGs are 1 x MG34 and 2 x MG42.
My blister contain 40 figures consisting of:
29 x riflemen in 10 x poses (some with only one included, others with 5), 4 x NCOs in 2 x poses with SMGs, 1 x Officer with SMG, 3 x MG-42 LMG teams, and 1 x 50mm mortar team.
THE GOOD.
- Again, this is a quality product. Well packaged and crisp detail as well as minimal flash.
- White metal is of very high quality. Very strong.
- Most face and hand detail is good.
- Uniform detail is accurate and very well sculpted.
- Overall, equipment is very well done. Grenades, gasmask can, haversack, mess tin, entrenching tools and webbing are very good. Gasmask can is particularly well done. This is nice to see as may companies model this in sizes ranging from massive to itty-bitty.
- 50mm mortar team is very well done.
- Lots of grenades molded on.
- Again these mix well with most BF figures.
THE BAD.
- Most of the helmets are too tall and flare too much on the bottom. Not the best around. Disappointing.
- Kar-98 Mauser rifles are a bit fat and detail is just ok.
- Some heads are too big. Some hands are too small. One in particular (Officer) has a skeleton hand that ruins an otherwise excellent figure. Not sure how to go about fixing this...
- Most water bottles are too small and lacking in detail.
- Not the best MG-34 or MG42's I have seen in 15mm but not the worst, built more for strength than accuracy.
- Poses are ok overall but somewhat boring.
- Figure bases are small. May not be a real issue but there are no team bases supplied either. FOW bases are easy to find though...
BOTTOM LINE: 34/40. Recommended. These figures are nice overall, but the poor representation of the iconic German helmet really brings down this offering. May not be as big an issue with everyone.
Accuracy 7/10 - Good overall detail. Helmets, water bottles and rifles bring down a 10/10.
Variety: 9/10 - Believable but boring poses.
Quality: 9/10 - Strong metal, good packaging, good casting. A few miscast areas.
Scale: 9/10 - Mix well with BF. Some large heads and small hands bring down a 10/10.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G-INF02 German HMG Platoon.
My blister contain 12 figures and 4 x HMGs consisting of:
4 x gunners, 4 x ammo loaders, 4 x kneeling figures.
THE GOOD.
- Well packaged and crisp detail as well as minimal flash.
- White metal is of very high quality. Very strong.
- Most face and hand detail is good.
- Most uniform detail and personal equipment is accurate and well sculpted.
- Again these mix well with most BF figures.
THE BAD.
- Lafette tripod are miss-cast and very poorly detailed. EPIC FAIL!
- Gunner is all wrong for the Lafette. He is firing by gripping the pistol grip and not the remote elevating handle and trigger mechanism of the tripod. Would be ok for LMG figure though. This is a case (I think) of trying to use 1 cast fits all.
- Ammo loader is loading from the wrong side of the MG42(!) ...another epic fail. Shown this way on the website too. Could face him backward on the right side (left actually) but this is a major F-up.
- Again, the helmets are too tall and flare too much on the bottom. Not the best around. Disappointing.
- Aside from 1 figure per team, all of the weapon teams are exactly alike. Not really any different from most other companies out there but...
- Some figure bases are small. May not be a real issue but there are no team bases supplied either. FOW bases are easy to find though...
- Some water bottle scale/detail issues and a few dud faces.
BOTTOM LINE: 32/40. While the figures themselves are ok, the blister is supposed to be HMG's and in that role, they fail miserably. Not recommended.
Accuracy 5/10 - Tripod, gunner, loader, water bottle, and helmet issues.
Variety: 8/10 - Believable poses but repeats and no schwere MG-34s bring down a 10/10.
Quality: 9/10 - Strong metal, good packaging, but poor tripod casting.
Scale: 10/10 - Mix well with BF.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G-INF03 German 8cm Mortars.
My blister contain 12 figures and 4 x mortars consisting of:
4 x loaders, 4 x ammo carriers, 4 x kneeling figures.
THE GOOD.
- Again, this is a quality product. Well packaged and crisp detail as well as minimal flash.
- White metal is of very high quality. Very strong.
- Face and hand detail is very good. Hands are very well scaled and all hands have 4 fingers and a thumb.
- The loader is actually dropping the round down the tube, no need to build him up or pose on a crate.
- Uniform detail is accurate and very well sculpted.
- 1-piece 8cm mortar is an excellent cast. It has a sight and well sculpted elevation mechanism.
- Overall, personnel equipment is very well done.
- Again these mix well with most BF figures.
THE BAD.
- Most of the helmets are too tall and flare too much on the bottom. Not the best around. Disappointing.
- Figure bases are small. May not be a real issue but there are no team bases supplied either. FOW bases are easy to find though...
- Aside from one figure, all of the weapon teams are exactly alike. Not really any different from most other companies out there but...
- Some figure bases are small. May not be a real issue but there are no team bases supplied either. FOW bases are easy to find though...
BOTTOM LINE: 38/40. Great kit, just fix the damn helmets!! Highly Recommended!
Accuracy 9/10 - Great overall detail.
Variety: 9/10 - Believable poses but repeats bring down a 10/10.
Quality: 10/10 - Strong metal, good packaging, good casting.
Scale: 10/10 - Mix well with BF.
Troy
G-INF01 German Rifle Platoon.
This is an early to mid-war offering. All figures have with high boots and most have high collars. MGs are 1 x MG34 and 2 x MG42.
My blister contain 40 figures consisting of:
29 x riflemen in 10 x poses (some with only one included, others with 5), 4 x NCOs in 2 x poses with SMGs, 1 x Officer with SMG, 3 x MG-42 LMG teams, and 1 x 50mm mortar team.
THE GOOD.
- Again, this is a quality product. Well packaged and crisp detail as well as minimal flash.
- White metal is of very high quality. Very strong.
- Most face and hand detail is good.
- Uniform detail is accurate and very well sculpted.
- Overall, equipment is very well done. Grenades, gasmask can, haversack, mess tin, entrenching tools and webbing are very good. Gasmask can is particularly well done. This is nice to see as may companies model this in sizes ranging from massive to itty-bitty.
- 50mm mortar team is very well done.
- Lots of grenades molded on.
- Again these mix well with most BF figures.
THE BAD.
- Most of the helmets are too tall and flare too much on the bottom. Not the best around. Disappointing.
- Kar-98 Mauser rifles are a bit fat and detail is just ok.
- Some heads are too big. Some hands are too small. One in particular (Officer) has a skeleton hand that ruins an otherwise excellent figure. Not sure how to go about fixing this...
- Most water bottles are too small and lacking in detail.
- Not the best MG-34 or MG42's I have seen in 15mm but not the worst, built more for strength than accuracy.
- Poses are ok overall but somewhat boring.
- Figure bases are small. May not be a real issue but there are no team bases supplied either. FOW bases are easy to find though...
BOTTOM LINE: 34/40. Recommended. These figures are nice overall, but the poor representation of the iconic German helmet really brings down this offering. May not be as big an issue with everyone.
Accuracy 7/10 - Good overall detail. Helmets, water bottles and rifles bring down a 10/10.
Variety: 9/10 - Believable but boring poses.
Quality: 9/10 - Strong metal, good packaging, good casting. A few miscast areas.
Scale: 9/10 - Mix well with BF. Some large heads and small hands bring down a 10/10.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G-INF02 German HMG Platoon.
My blister contain 12 figures and 4 x HMGs consisting of:
4 x gunners, 4 x ammo loaders, 4 x kneeling figures.
THE GOOD.
- Well packaged and crisp detail as well as minimal flash.
- White metal is of very high quality. Very strong.
- Most face and hand detail is good.
- Most uniform detail and personal equipment is accurate and well sculpted.
- Again these mix well with most BF figures.
THE BAD.
- Lafette tripod are miss-cast and very poorly detailed. EPIC FAIL!
- Gunner is all wrong for the Lafette. He is firing by gripping the pistol grip and not the remote elevating handle and trigger mechanism of the tripod. Would be ok for LMG figure though. This is a case (I think) of trying to use 1 cast fits all.
- Ammo loader is loading from the wrong side of the MG42(!) ...another epic fail. Shown this way on the website too. Could face him backward on the right side (left actually) but this is a major F-up.
- Again, the helmets are too tall and flare too much on the bottom. Not the best around. Disappointing.
- Aside from 1 figure per team, all of the weapon teams are exactly alike. Not really any different from most other companies out there but...
- Some figure bases are small. May not be a real issue but there are no team bases supplied either. FOW bases are easy to find though...
- Some water bottle scale/detail issues and a few dud faces.
BOTTOM LINE: 32/40. While the figures themselves are ok, the blister is supposed to be HMG's and in that role, they fail miserably. Not recommended.
Accuracy 5/10 - Tripod, gunner, loader, water bottle, and helmet issues.
Variety: 8/10 - Believable poses but repeats and no schwere MG-34s bring down a 10/10.
Quality: 9/10 - Strong metal, good packaging, but poor tripod casting.
Scale: 10/10 - Mix well with BF.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G-INF03 German 8cm Mortars.
My blister contain 12 figures and 4 x mortars consisting of:
4 x loaders, 4 x ammo carriers, 4 x kneeling figures.
THE GOOD.
- Again, this is a quality product. Well packaged and crisp detail as well as minimal flash.
- White metal is of very high quality. Very strong.
- Face and hand detail is very good. Hands are very well scaled and all hands have 4 fingers and a thumb.
- The loader is actually dropping the round down the tube, no need to build him up or pose on a crate.
- Uniform detail is accurate and very well sculpted.
- 1-piece 8cm mortar is an excellent cast. It has a sight and well sculpted elevation mechanism.
- Overall, personnel equipment is very well done.
- Again these mix well with most BF figures.
THE BAD.
- Most of the helmets are too tall and flare too much on the bottom. Not the best around. Disappointing.
- Figure bases are small. May not be a real issue but there are no team bases supplied either. FOW bases are easy to find though...
- Aside from one figure, all of the weapon teams are exactly alike. Not really any different from most other companies out there but...
- Some figure bases are small. May not be a real issue but there are no team bases supplied either. FOW bases are easy to find though...
BOTTOM LINE: 38/40. Great kit, just fix the damn helmets!! Highly Recommended!
Accuracy 9/10 - Great overall detail.
Variety: 9/10 - Believable poses but repeats bring down a 10/10.
Quality: 10/10 - Strong metal, good packaging, good casting.
Scale: 10/10 - Mix well with BF.
Troy
FiB British Review
Next up from FiB are 15mm 1940 British
EWB1 1940 British Rifle Platoon.
My blister contain 41 figures consisting of:
27 x riflemen in 5 poses, 3 x NCOs with rifles, 1 x Officer with pistol, 3 x Bren teams, 1 x Boys ATR team, and 1 x 50mm (2 inch) mortar team.
THE GOOD.
- Again, this is a quality product. Well packaged and crisp detail as well as minimal flash.
- White metal is of very high quality. Very strong.
- Face and hand detail is very good. Hands are very well scaled and all hands have 4 fingers and a thumb.
- Uniform detail is accurate and very well sculpted.
- The 'Brodie' helmet is the best I have seen from ANY company out there. It is very symmetrical and scales well for 15mm.
- Pack, bayonet and scabbard, shovel and gasmask pack are very well detailed.
- Again these mix well with most BF figures.
THE BAD.
- Not many poses. Also, would have been nice to see few figures with bayonets.
- Head size is a wee bit large, no worse than early BF sculpts.
- Lee-Enfield detail is lacking on some figures and a few are a bit too short.
- Most water bottles are too small and lacking in detail.
- Not the best Bren gun I have seen in 15mm but not the worst, built more for strength than accuracy.
- Figure bases are small. May not be a real issue but there are no team bases supplied either. FOW bases are easy to find though...
BOTTOM LINE: 36/40. These are the best EW Britsh figures I have encountered so far. Highly Recommended!
Accuracy 8/10 - Great overall detail. Water bottles and rifles bring down a 10/10.
Variety: 9/10 - Believable poses but repeats bring down a 10/10.
Quality: 10/10 - Strong metal, good packaging, good casting.
Scale: 9/10 - Mix well with BF. Large heads bring down a 10/10.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EWB2 1940 Early War British 3" Mortars.
My blister contain 12 figures and 4 x mortars consisting of:
4 x loaders, 4 x ammo carriers, 3 figures covering their ears and 1 x Officer with binoculars.
THE GOOD.
- Again, this is a quality product. Well packaged and crisp detail as well as minimal flash.
- White metal is of very high quality. Very strong.
- Face and hand detail is very good. Hands are very well scaled and all hands have 4 fingers and a thumb.
- Uniform detail is accurate and very well sculpted.
- The 'Brodie' helmet is the best I have seen from ANY company out there. It is very symmetrical and scales well for 15mm.
- Pack, bayonet and scabbard, shovel and gasmask pack are very well detailed.
- 1-piece 3" mortar is an excellent cast. It has a sight and well sculpted elevation mechanism.
- Great poses! The loader is actually dropping the round down the tube, no need to build him up or pose on a crate. Excellent ammo carrier.
- Again these mix well with most BF figures.
THE BAD.
- Aside from one figure, all of the weapon teams are exactly alike. Not really any different from most other companies out there but...
- Head size is a wee bit large, no worse than early BF sculpts.
- Most water bottles are too small and lacking in detail.
- Some figure bases are small. May not be a real issue but there are no team bases supplied either. FOW bases are easy to find though...
BOTTOM LINE: 37/40. These are the best EW Britsh mortars I have encountered so far. Highly Recommended!
Accuracy 9/10 - Great overall detail. Water bottles bring down a 10/10.
Variety:9/10 - Believable poses but repeats bring down a 10/10.
Quality: 10/10 - Strong metal, good packaging, good casting.
Scale: 9/10 - Mix well with BF. Large heads bring down a 10/10.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EWB3 1940 Early War British Vickers HMG.
My blister contain 12 figures and 4 x HMGs consisting of:
4 x gunners, 4 x ammo loaders, 4 x spotters.
THE GOOD.
- Again, this is a quality product. Well packaged and crisp detail as well as minimal flash.
- White metal is of very high quality. Very strong.
- Face and hand detail is very good. Hands are very well scaled and all hands have 4 fingers and a thumb.
- Uniform detail is accurate and very well sculpted.
- The 'Brodie' helmet is the best I have seen from ANY company out there. It is very symmetrical and scales well for 15mm.
- Pack, bayonet and scabbard, shovel and gasmask pack are very well detailed.
- 1-piece Vickers MG is well done and even includes a cooler water can and hose.
- Gunner figure is well done and grips the handles of the HMG well (he is molded with the grips so the weapon would need these added if stand alone. He is constructed in such a way as to be able to use as a binocular officer as well. In fact, this is the same figure from the mortar teams.
- Again these mix well with most BF figures.
THE BAD.
- All of the weapon teams are exactly alike. Not really any different from most other companies out there but...
- Head size is a wee bit large, no worse than early BF sculpts.
- Poses work but are pretty hum-drum and stiff.
- Figure bases are small. May not be a real issue but there are no team bases supplied either. FOW bases are easy to find though...
BOTTOM LINE: 38/40. These are the best EW Britsh Vickers teams I have encountered so far. Highly Recommended!
Accuracy 10/10 - Great overall detail.
Variety: 9/10 - Believable but dry poses bring down a 10/10.
Quality: 10/10 - Strong metal, good packaging, good casting.
Scale: 9/10 - Mix well with BF. Large heads bring down a 10/10.
Troy
EWB1 1940 British Rifle Platoon.
My blister contain 41 figures consisting of:
27 x riflemen in 5 poses, 3 x NCOs with rifles, 1 x Officer with pistol, 3 x Bren teams, 1 x Boys ATR team, and 1 x 50mm (2 inch) mortar team.
THE GOOD.
- Again, this is a quality product. Well packaged and crisp detail as well as minimal flash.
- White metal is of very high quality. Very strong.
- Face and hand detail is very good. Hands are very well scaled and all hands have 4 fingers and a thumb.
- Uniform detail is accurate and very well sculpted.
- The 'Brodie' helmet is the best I have seen from ANY company out there. It is very symmetrical and scales well for 15mm.
- Pack, bayonet and scabbard, shovel and gasmask pack are very well detailed.
- Again these mix well with most BF figures.
THE BAD.
- Not many poses. Also, would have been nice to see few figures with bayonets.
- Head size is a wee bit large, no worse than early BF sculpts.
- Lee-Enfield detail is lacking on some figures and a few are a bit too short.
- Most water bottles are too small and lacking in detail.
- Not the best Bren gun I have seen in 15mm but not the worst, built more for strength than accuracy.
- Figure bases are small. May not be a real issue but there are no team bases supplied either. FOW bases are easy to find though...
BOTTOM LINE: 36/40. These are the best EW Britsh figures I have encountered so far. Highly Recommended!
Accuracy 8/10 - Great overall detail. Water bottles and rifles bring down a 10/10.
Variety: 9/10 - Believable poses but repeats bring down a 10/10.
Quality: 10/10 - Strong metal, good packaging, good casting.
Scale: 9/10 - Mix well with BF. Large heads bring down a 10/10.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EWB2 1940 Early War British 3" Mortars.
My blister contain 12 figures and 4 x mortars consisting of:
4 x loaders, 4 x ammo carriers, 3 figures covering their ears and 1 x Officer with binoculars.
THE GOOD.
- Again, this is a quality product. Well packaged and crisp detail as well as minimal flash.
- White metal is of very high quality. Very strong.
- Face and hand detail is very good. Hands are very well scaled and all hands have 4 fingers and a thumb.
- Uniform detail is accurate and very well sculpted.
- The 'Brodie' helmet is the best I have seen from ANY company out there. It is very symmetrical and scales well for 15mm.
- Pack, bayonet and scabbard, shovel and gasmask pack are very well detailed.
- 1-piece 3" mortar is an excellent cast. It has a sight and well sculpted elevation mechanism.
- Great poses! The loader is actually dropping the round down the tube, no need to build him up or pose on a crate. Excellent ammo carrier.
- Again these mix well with most BF figures.
THE BAD.
- Aside from one figure, all of the weapon teams are exactly alike. Not really any different from most other companies out there but...
- Head size is a wee bit large, no worse than early BF sculpts.
- Most water bottles are too small and lacking in detail.
- Some figure bases are small. May not be a real issue but there are no team bases supplied either. FOW bases are easy to find though...
BOTTOM LINE: 37/40. These are the best EW Britsh mortars I have encountered so far. Highly Recommended!
Accuracy 9/10 - Great overall detail. Water bottles bring down a 10/10.
Variety:9/10 - Believable poses but repeats bring down a 10/10.
Quality: 10/10 - Strong metal, good packaging, good casting.
Scale: 9/10 - Mix well with BF. Large heads bring down a 10/10.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EWB3 1940 Early War British Vickers HMG.
My blister contain 12 figures and 4 x HMGs consisting of:
4 x gunners, 4 x ammo loaders, 4 x spotters.
THE GOOD.
- Again, this is a quality product. Well packaged and crisp detail as well as minimal flash.
- White metal is of very high quality. Very strong.
- Face and hand detail is very good. Hands are very well scaled and all hands have 4 fingers and a thumb.
- Uniform detail is accurate and very well sculpted.
- The 'Brodie' helmet is the best I have seen from ANY company out there. It is very symmetrical and scales well for 15mm.
- Pack, bayonet and scabbard, shovel and gasmask pack are very well detailed.
- 1-piece Vickers MG is well done and even includes a cooler water can and hose.
- Gunner figure is well done and grips the handles of the HMG well (he is molded with the grips so the weapon would need these added if stand alone. He is constructed in such a way as to be able to use as a binocular officer as well. In fact, this is the same figure from the mortar teams.
- Again these mix well with most BF figures.
THE BAD.
- All of the weapon teams are exactly alike. Not really any different from most other companies out there but...
- Head size is a wee bit large, no worse than early BF sculpts.
- Poses work but are pretty hum-drum and stiff.
- Figure bases are small. May not be a real issue but there are no team bases supplied either. FOW bases are easy to find though...
BOTTOM LINE: 38/40. These are the best EW Britsh Vickers teams I have encountered so far. Highly Recommended!
Accuracy 10/10 - Great overall detail.
Variety: 9/10 - Believable but dry poses bring down a 10/10.
Quality: 10/10 - Strong metal, good packaging, good casting.
Scale: 9/10 - Mix well with BF. Large heads bring down a 10/10.
Troy
Friday, December 3, 2010
Computer Dead
Hey All.
As my computer has died and refuses to startup, I will be offline - until its replacement shows up. If I can bum the wifes laptop, I will get the FiB reviews up but she doesn't like to share!
Should have a new one (computer - not wife) in 2 weeks.
Troy
As my computer has died and refuses to startup, I will be offline - until its replacement shows up. If I can bum the wifes laptop, I will get the FiB reviews up but she doesn't like to share!
Should have a new one (computer - not wife) in 2 weeks.
Troy
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