The Figures
These are for Afghanistan. The Marines and the Warrior AFV are from The Assault Group and the other vehicles, two WMIK Land Rovers and two Pinzgauer 4x4, are from S&S Models. The WMIK crews are from Brooks Miniatures. I've bought enough infantry for four fire teams, a GPMG and a platoon HQ stand. There are two SAS stinger crews for some heavy support. I've also got a mortar that isn't shown here. Painting Here we are after a day of preparatory painting. I've undercoated most of the infantry (24) and then moved on to the next stages with half of them. 12 seems like a comfortable number to work with at a time. Everyone was undercoated in black then the flesh parts were covered liberally with Foundry 5B Flesh. Roughly one in four of the figures were given dark skin using Foundry 6A Dusky Flesh. As a final preparatory phase the flesh areas were washed with Citadel Flesh Wash or Coat d'arms 136 Brown Wash depending on type. After this the lucky first twelve were worked on further. The areas where the flesh meets other stuff; cuffs, collars, guns etc, was black lined, I drybrushed the guns with two shades of dark grey at this point as well. Then all the uniform was painted using Coat d'arms 221 Horse Tone Dun. Once this was dry I washed it with Coat d'arms 136 Brown Wash and decided to call it a day. 
The figure next to the paint brush is my test figure. I carried on and finished him to make sure I was happy with my colour choices. His uniform, helmet and webbing were highlighted with Coat d'arms 221 Horse Tone Dun followed by Coat d'arms 522 Pale Sand brown camo splotches were added with Coat d'arms 116 Barbarian Leather. I left the boots alone. His rocket tube and plastic SA80 parts are painted with Foundry 22A and 22B Phlegm Green, a little bright for the tube but good for the gun and I like to keep my palettes simple so I'll live with it. He has a scarf which I painted white. Adding a black pattern like a proper shemagh would make it too busy so I didn't bother.
You can see him a bit better here: 
The first 12 are done after another day's effort, roughly a quarter of the total.
Here are the same three groups based.
The Vehicles
I've finished painting all the British except the three vehicle crews which shouldn't take too long, they're underway already. It's now time to turn my attention to the vehicles themselves. As a last minute impulse buy I ordered a Challenger II from Imprint Models, it was only £20.00 and measures 22cm to the end of the gun barrel, how could I resist? So, today I spent several hours assembling the vehicles. This proved to be a mixed experience. The Imprint Challenger and the Warrior from The Assault Group were easy to build and quickly became lovely looking finished vehicles. The S&S Models Jackal and Snatch Land Rover were also easy to make but were of lower component quality which necessitated a lot of cleaning and trimming of parts. The Jackal crew were nasty and got thrown away but I ordered another set of Brooks vehicle crew to replace them. since I was paying postage I got a pack of stowage too. The S&S WMIKs were painful to put together but I managed eventually and I'm happy with them. There's still parts to add but they'll need to wait until the crew are in place. The Pinzgauers however ended up in the bin. The parts needed loads of cleaning up and trimming, one of the windscreens fitted but the other didn't and was a completely different design presumably from a different kit. There were strange holes in the floors of the cab with nothing to fit or fill them and no steering wheels although mountings for them are on the dashboard and they're going to be visible when the model's built. I began to make a pair of steering wheels but then couldn't be bothered. I finally, after spending too much time on them, decided not to bother at all and chucked them. Life's too short; I'll use my Bedfords if I need trucks. Mostly a success then, here's the motor pool waiting for undercoating. I'm going to spray everything in a basic sand colour but the weather is beating me at the moment, hopefully tomorrow it will be dry enough. 
I'm not good at vehicles, I don't like painting them and I'm not interested enough to spend ages making them look realistic. This time round I did splash out on some decals only to find they were no longer made (thanks Skytrex) so no chevrons on the sides for these babies.
However, I'm fairly pleased with my results, the snatch Land Rover and one of the WMIKs are done. 
You know when you decide to paint an army you have an idea of what it should end up looking like? Well, for me, this is it. (Still WIPs, finished photos once the bases are done and everything's varnished.)
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The finished force
Here's everyone completed at last. It took me 14 days to get these from castings to tabletop. First up, the impressive Imprint Challenger II with a fire team of infantry to show the size. The tank is 22cm from barrel tip to oil drums. 
Next, the Assault Group Warrior.
First section, TAG figures and an S&S WMIK with a Brooks crew.
Second section, as above.
Platoon HQ. S&S Land Rover, TAG figures including the top cover in the Land Rover and the special medic figure.
Support section. TAG mortar and GPMG, S&S Jackal with a Brooks crew and some Pardulon sandbags around the mortar crew.
Some extras. TAG SAS Stinger crews and a special captured Andy McNab figure.
Here's all the basic infantry in a group shot.
Finally some resin mined area markers from Dark Art Miniatures.
British Infantry Organisation and Equipment
Glen Brooks of Brooks Miniatures provided the following information about modern British infantry: A section is eight men, made up of two fire teams of four men. The entire section is commanded by a section commander who holds the rank of Corporal, who also commands the first fire team designated "Charlie". His second in command is a Lance Corporal, who commands the second fire team which is named "Delta". Each fire team consists of a commander, an LSW gunner, a 94mm LAW man and a rifleman, armed with an SA80. Thus a section's firepower comprises two 94mm LAW men, two LSW men and four SA80 riflemen. A platoon is comprised of three such sections, together with a platoon commander's group. This group contains four men in total: the platoon commander (either a lieutenant or second lieutenant); his radio operator; the platoon sergeant; and his 51mm mortar man. Updates 1 section commanders in some units have the SA80 40mm granade launcher. 2. some units in the section have 1 or 2 depending on stores the Minimi. 3. also depending on unit and stores some units are being given the LAW66. 4, and the 51mm mortar is in and out depending on who you talk too. The bottom line is we change ORBATS and kit depending on the tour, units SOP`s and kit at hand. Have you ever wondered when painting your figures what is in the packs? Well here are some answers. 1. The combat jacket will have, light weight compass, pens, pencils, notebooks, biros, first field dressing, pocketknife, map and gloves. Also you may have ops kit ie wire cutter and gloves. 2. The webbing. Working from left to right as you wear it. First 2 ammo pouches. With 6 full 30 round mags. Then the bayonet. Then the utility pouch. In this would be the following. Mess tins, rations, cooker, next should be a small folding shovel however this is total rubbish and is usually left in camp. But the pouch does make a great water bottle carrier. So most men have a water bottle there. Next is the water bottle pouch with, water bottle, brew kit for tea, coffee, also a spoon and mug. Next are the last 2 ammo pouches. In these you have 1 HE grenade and 1 smoke grenade. 3. The daysack / jet packs from the bergan. Here you will carry warm kit, socks, foot powder, more rations, batteries, night sight, poncho with bungees, wet proofs, empty sand bags, string, if long night ops small sleeping bag. Digging Tool, more first aid kit. Maybe spare ammo. 4. CBA combat body armour. Above is what we call CEFO complete equipment fighting order. This may weigh anything between 30-45 lbs. You also carry a 9lb rifle a helmet and some men will carry the LAW 94 as well. With this you live and fight in. Next is CEMO complete equipment marching order. This is with the above, but now add the bergan. 4.Bergan. In the bergan you carry. More rations, sleeping bag, socks, warm kit, string more batteries and more ops kit. This can weigh anything from 50lb upto 70lb + depending on area of ops. In total you are looking at about 70lb-110lb of kit on your back. Then add your weapons. Hopefully now when you paint your troops you may feel sorry for them. 
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