Since I recently discovered the Crossfire rules I have been painting and basing my 1:72 scale figures to begin playing games set in Europe. Many of these are from sets that I bought when I was a lot younger and I'm finding uses for figures that never used to mean a lot to me.
World Crossfire Day: April 4, 2009
For the moment I'm trying out marking squad stands with various vegetation and debris that identify them with a particular platoon.
Company markings (when I get more than one) will be a colored stripe painted on the edge of the base (red, blue, green, etc.)
The standard base size of 1.25 inches is a little small for 1:72 scale figures so I have gone to 1.5 inches as my standard base size. Platoon Commanders (PC) have a half width rectangle base (1.5 x 0.75 inches). The Forward Observers (FO) are based on a smaller stand that is 1 x 0.75 inches to distinguish them from PC stands.
When basing these figures, I glue them to a thin piece of corrugated cardboard and use a layer of Spackle on top to blend in the individual bases of each figure. Then I paint the "ground" brown and dry-brush with a light tan. So far for the grass I've used sand and fine sawdust, both painted green.
These are notes about how I'm painting the figures. It's a work in progress as I try to get the washes right. I've also started using dry-brushing to highlight the clothes.
| Pants | Jacket | Skin | Helmet (and Socks) | Webbing | Canteen | Other Kit | Rifle | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| British |
Base: 3p Nutmeg Brown, 2p Espresso Wash: black Dry-brush: Nutmeg Brown |
Base: Safari Taupe Wash: brown + orange Dry-brush: Antique White |
Base: Flesh Wash: Espresso + Bright Red |
Spanish Olive | Café-au-lait | Add 1 part Bright Red to brown used for pants | Café-au-lait | Nutmeg Brown | |
| German | Base: Pewter Gray Wash: black |
Base: 1p Spanish Olive, 3p Pewter Gray Wash: black Dry-brush Dolphin Gray |
same | 1 part black added to gray used for blouse | Black | Brown | Spanish Olive, Pewter Gray, or Tan | Nutmeg Brown | Entrenching tool is black with a tan handle |
| United States | Base: Spanish Olive Wash: 2p olive, 1p black |
Spanish Olive; same wash as pants | same | Spanish Olive | Safari Taupe | Spanish Olive | Spanish Olive or Pewter Gray | Nutmeg Brown | Brown boots |
The British Army 1939-45 (2): Middle East & Mediterranean (Men-at-Arms Series, 368)
The German Army 1939-45 (5): Western Front 1943-45 (Men-At-Arms Series, 336)
German Airborne Troops 1939-45 (Men-at-Arms Series, 139)
These are notes about what figures I'm using to create the stands in each unit. The ones highlighted are incomplete.
See the listing that matches the Crossfire rules.
Germans: 2 companies, using a mix from ESCI: Afrika Korps and
Revel: German Infantry
Armored Support
Artillery
British: 1 company using figures from ESCI: British 8th Army, a few from ESCI: British Soldiers and Airfix: 8th Army.
Armored Support
American: 2 companies using figures from Revell's US Infantry (Set 02503) and the ESCI U.S. Paratroopers 82nd box, with just a few ESCI US Infantry and Airfix.
Armored Support
This is a list of model sets that would provide useful vehicles for Crossfire. Obviously any of the 1:72 World War 2 models made by Revell, Airfix, etc., are appropriate, so I'm just listing ones that might not be so obvious.
Interesting note: comments on how to pronounce "Jagd" in Jagdpanzer, Jagdpanther, etc., can be found in a Battlefront Forum thread (e.g. Jagdpanzer would be "yahktpanzer").
Miniatures Painting Guide and FAQ
Plastic Soldier Review: World War 2
