Warlord Games British Infantry - Easier to paint than assemble?

Warlord Games British Infantry

On Tuesday I traded from Phil a box of Warlord Games WWII British infantry for some Flames of War Shermans that I was never going to paint.

So On Wednesday lunchtime I got the sprue cutters, sharp knife and glue out and made a start - well what a ball-ache these things are.

• Far too many pieces than are really necessary especially compared to the lovely Desert Rats done by the Perrys. 
• Once assembled they don't look to good either, all the weapons are fine scale, but the figures have the great big hands and faces that are the norm in wargame figures these days so the guns look rather dainty. 
• Regarding the dainty weapons, the moulds are not laid out too well, it's nigh on impossible to get some weapons off without breaking them.
• Some weapons are really easy to break once on the figure, the Bren barrel is far too thin.
• There is a good right arm throwing a grenade, but no left arm that can hold the rifle or SMG in a natural position.

By Thursday evening though I had got them all assembled here are a couple of tips to help with your blood pressure:

• Use Revell Contacta cement, get what adhesive you want where you need it!
• Read the instructions and ensure you are using the right hands for the weapon you are going to use
• Stick the weapon into the right hand of the figure, when that is dry stick the right arm with weapon onto the torso then stick the left arm in place.
• Be careful not to break any of the more delicate weapons.

On Friday evening I stuck some texture on the bases and gave them all a spray with Halfords grey car primer and then followed up in the morning with some Army Painter Leather Brown.

Warlord Games British Infantry

Once dried the figures were given a basecoat of Vallejo English Uniform, the uncovered helmets, 2" mortar and PIAT were painted Bronze Green. The covered helmets and any visible blanket rolls were painted Russian Green. The webbing, packs, gaiters and gas mark case were painted Khaki as were some patches of foliage on the helmets. The rifle butts and entrenching tool handles were done in Saddle Brown as were some patches of foliage on the helmets. The weapon fittings, boots, bayonet scabbard, etc. were painted in Black. The flesh was then painted in a mix of Saddle Brown and Basic Fleshtone.
Doing this on all twenty five figures only took two or three hours.

The figures were then washed with Vallejo Sepia Wash. Once dried I made a start on the highlights - the uniform does not need highlighting!

• The Khahi was highlighted using first Khaki and then a mix of Khaki and Pale Sand.
• The Bronze Green was highlighted using first Bronze Green and then a mix of  Bronze Green and Russian Uniform.
• The Russian Uniform was highlighted using first Russian Uniform and then a mix of  Russian Uniform and Pale Sand.
• The Saddle Brown was highlighted using first Saddle Brown and then a mix of  Saddle Brown and Pale Sand.
• The Black boots and bayonet scabbard was highlighted using Black Grey.
• The bayonets were painted Gunmetal Gray and then highlighted with Silver.
• The weapon fittings were highlighted with a mix of Gunmetal Grey and Black.
• The flesh was highlighted using Basic Fleshtone and then Basic Fleshtone mixed with a little Ivory.

Although transfers are provided I painted on the unit patches and rank stripes by hand.
Finally some detail on the hands faces and weapons was picked out using Windsor & Newton Peat Brown Ink.
All colours apart from the ink are from the Vallejo Model Colour range.

Again, like the base-coat the highlights only took a couple of hours.

I reckon I spent less time painting them than building them.

Here are some more shonky close-up pictures!

Corporal with Thompson

Corporal with Thompson

SMLE Rifle

SMLE Rifle

SMLE Rifle

SMLE Rifle

Bren Gun

Bren Gun

SMLE Rifle

SMLE Rifle