Jim's Wargames Workbench

After a bit of a delay due to work and family stuff, I wrapped up the 1/600th scale Albatros D.II of Ltn.Manfred Von Richthofen today, applying the decals and then a wash over of diluted Warpaints Pure Red. The upper wing crosses should really have white squares underneath but my I-94 decals were badly off register, so I just used the later ones instead. I will use this model for the McCudden's Cut and Run scenario, which I'm hoping to play over the next couple of days. Tally Ho!

I repainted the skull insignia on the 1/600tg scale Albatros D.III today, having originally painted it facing the wrong way, then added some decals to finish off Godwin Von Brumovski's aircraft, or one of them at least. I'm quite pleased with how it turned out in the end and quite fancy converting and painting some more Austro Hungarian Albatros scouts to go alongside this one. Tally Ho! or whatever the Austrian equivalent is?

A wet and windy Sunday meant I was able to sit down at the workbench and assemble some Tumbling Dice Fokker DVII models for Jasta 40. If I chicken out of the lozenge upper wing camouflage, which is a distinct possibility, these can double up as Jasta 7 machines, which were all black apart from white tail fin. There's an additional lone Fokker Dr.1 in the line up, which will be painted up in a matching black and white scheme. Tally Ho!

I finished the Albatros D.II models today by adding the decals from Dan at Flight Deck, which means I've wrapped them up by the deadline despite not having access to the workbench for two weeks. I'm quite happy with how they came out in the end but I'm taking a break from tiddly planes for the run up to Xmas! 

A few months ago I asked Dan Arute of Flight Deck Decals if he could produce some broad band cross insignia in 1/600th scale, primarily for the Fokker DrI. I was looking for something else on the website today when I noticed that the Fat Balkenkreuz have now been added to the 1/600th scale range, albeit just with narrow white bands. Tally Ho!

The Tumbling Dice 1/600th scale Albatros D.II models are bumping along in the right direction. The blocking in is now finished and I just need to tidy them up before I can do an overall ink wash. Unfortunately, we are having some building work done for the next couple of weeks, so normal service will be interrupted by the workbench being out of action, mainly due to its location in the garage where the builders are storing all their clobber!

A good start on the 1/600th scale Tumbling Dice Albatros D.II 'kette' this evening, with the three tone camouflage applied on the wings and tailplanes. I've gone for brighter shades than the prototype, following the dictum of more intense colours in smaller scales, but there will be a highlight to reduce the contrast once the ink wash has been applied. The fiddly bit is next, adding the engine cowling and spinner in light grey.

A few weeks ago I was trying to track down a copy of Ernst Udet's autobiography, Ace of the Iron Cross, for a scenario writing job, but could only find very expensive new copies. Yesterday, while clearing out the loft I found an old second hand hardback edition of the book, which was a bit late for the scenario writing but a turn up for the books, so to speak, in other ways. Tally Ho!

I finished off the 1/600th scale Tumbling Dice Airco DH2's and a Be2c this afternoon, adding decals from Dan at Flight Deck, although not to the fuselage sides of the pushers as life is just too short for such miniscule shenanigans (I also didn't have roundels small enough...that's my excuse anyway). I'll need to paint some Albatros DII scouts and Roland CII two seaters for the opposition at some point, but it's on to naval things now for a bit of a change.

The Tumbling Dice 1/600th Airco DH2's are pretty good much finished as far as painting is concerned and now just need a tidy up and some decals, followed by a coat of Matt varnish. They've come out looking alright but less nest and tidy than I would have liked. I'm hoping to wrap them up tomorrow after work.

You wouldn't know it but I've made some progress with the DH2 painting today, after a busy weekend scuppered my PC10 project plans. The grey parts have been blocked in with Army Painter Uniform Grey and I've also blocked in the undersides in Vallejo Tan Yellow, tidying up as I went along. Next up will be the Vallejo Cold White rudders and the Vallejo Matt Black wheels and engine.

I asked Dan Arute at Flight Deck Decals if he could produce a set of insignia for Jasta 18 in both 1/300th and 1/144th scale. He has now confirmed that he can do this, subject to a bit of research and design work, with the beginning of August as a likely date. This is fantastic news, as Dan's stuff is top notch and will be perfect for decking out my 1/300th printed aircraft models, once I get round to painting them of course. Tally Ho!

I bosh painted these Tumbling Dice Friedrichshafen G.III tactical bombers today in my day off, as it was too hot outside to do any gardening. They are deliberately a bit vanilla as I wanted to finish them in one go, so no fancy camouflage or other time consuming frippery. I just need to work out a scenario to use them in now?

The 3D prints of an RE8 and Halberstadt CL.IV arrived today from Danger Close Studios and they are excellent. They're definitely printed to a higher quality than Big Jim Prints and in a more robust resin, with good detail but still tough enough to be handled for wargaming. The comms with Jason were excellent with very fast turnaround and delivery. I think I've found my 'go to' 3D print provider and will definitely order some more for small 'duel' style scenarios. Excellent!

I had a half hour time out yesterday, so added some decals to a couple of 1/600th Tumbling Dice models, to upgrade them for some play test games tomorrow. I initially thought these tiny decals would be a pain in the backside to apply, but they went on very smoothly without any swearing involved.