31 Jan 2015

Fireteam Drava

 Hello guys,

It took me longer than planned to get this batch painted. I started working on them some three weeks ago, as I have put my hobby on a side rail for a while.

Fourth letter in a Slovene alphabet is actually Č (ch as in cheese), but I decided to skip it as it wouldn't be used in international codes I presume. Drava is a river, so there is not much to add here.

This is my fourth and last fireteam, and as Empress miniatures only sell three packed teams, this one was built from various packs.
 
From left to right there is a grenadier (command pack), SAW gunner (support pack, sniper), rifleman /AT gunner (support pack AT4) and another rifleman (EOD pack).



 The conversions are mostly the usual addition of canteens, slight alternation to helmets (elastic strap for grass) and, naturally, weapon swaps.

Sniper-to-SAW-gunner conversion also included broadening of the pouches to make them a bit more accurate. Below is a sniper miniature before it was converted, with my dead-end sniper project next to it. While using sniper as a SAW gunner allowed me to get another fire team (and with that another full squad), I won't have a suitable sniper miniature until I buy sniper/ATGM teams pack in future.
Below are miniatures at an early conversion stage (Weapons in place, but hands haven't been sculpted except at SAW gunner that was done way earlier). As you can see AT4 gained some bulk, but I feel it is a tad too short. He had his right arm completely cut off and repositioned at a different angle (with AT4 he held a tube, while RGW has handles). He also had his rifle pinned to his hip, but I didn't bother sculpting straps - they are a nightmare!

This is it for today. I have 4 more miniatures to convert and paint and I will be done with what I currently own for moderns. I plan on purchasing more packs in future, but probably not in the first half of the year. After those are done, I will tackle my unpainted pile (either medieval fantasy I started a while ago or even finally paint survivors I owned for years) as I do not plan on ordering anything new.

Thanks for looking,
Mathyoo

19 comments:

  1. Awesome conversion and paintwork again mate. You'll be needing more insurgents at this rate

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    1. Heh, yes, I think the 15 odd Slovenes are more than a match for 27 insurgents I got, at least using the Breaking news rules. Maybe if I would drop the Slovenes one training level below, things would be more balanced!

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  2. Great work mate.

    Have you tried using paper strips for webbing strips? Try the sticky part of a post it note cut into small strips. I've seen it used quite effectively in the past....

    Cheers,

    Pete.

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    1. Hmm, this could work - I've seen people use card for it before, but I am a bit reluctant to put paper on my miniatures for some reason. I just left it as it is as - somehow - the lack of a sling didn't bother me at all!

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  3. Some skillful work there, buddy. A fine team. Well done.

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  4. Yeah, they're looking good Mathyoo, camo is well painted.

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    1. Thank you, I still need to gather courage before I start working on the camo :D

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  5. Great conversions dude! Nicely painted too. Empress seem to be quality mini's, I've been looking at their stuff for my military in ATZ.

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    1. They are great, I can only recommend them. And not too expensive, either.

      I suggest you go for newer factions, US Infantry's mould must've slipped and their legs are not perfectly alligned. Then again, it could be that I was just "lucky" with a pick. There are many other countries that would all be good.

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  6. As others have said already, they do look good. Very nice!

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    1. Thanks Colgar, I am glad you like them!

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  7. Good work and splendidly done. All the conversion work seems to have come out well. very well in fact I especially like the AT-4 gunner.

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    1. Thanks! There is something I really like about the AT launchers as well...must be all the extra fire power.

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  8. Great looking conversions (impossible to detect too in the completed painted picture) and great paint-job.
    You're still a button counter imo - wider pouches ffs !).

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    1. Thanks Joe, but the pouches were needed, otherwise it would only be a weapon swap!

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