Workbench & Restorations

Workbench note — September 2026

138th Rifle Division / 650th Rifle Regiment — Stalingrad 1942 — Crossfire - 15 mm

This project represents Soviet infantry and supporting elements of the 138th Rifle Division, 650th Rifle Regiment, during the fighting around the Barrikady Gun Factory at Stalingrad in 1942.

The 138th Rifle Division, commanded by Colonel Ivan Lyudnikov, fought in the Barrikady sector as part of the Soviet 62nd Army. The 650th Rifle Regiment was among the division's units committed to the defence of the factory area, which later became closely associated with the small Soviet bridgehead remembered as Lyudnikov's Island or the “Island of Fire.”

The force was built for Crossfire in 15 mm and was conceived as a compact historical gaming formation rather than as a parade-ground representation. Rifle squads, command figures, machine guns, mortars and supporting elements were based individually according to their battlefield function, while the terrain was designed to suggest the rubble, broken masonry and dusty ground of the devastated industrial district.

From a painting point of view, this army became an important experiment in improving readability at gaming distance. The figures were initially painted over a Vallejo 73.602 Black Primer, deliberately retaining some of the dark undercoat in deep recesses and between equipment, limbs and clothing. The main uniform colour was 70.921 English Uniform, followed by selective highlights with 70.880 Khaki Grey. Rather than covering every fold, the final highlights were concentrated on the upper surfaces and most visible edges, allowing the figures to remain readable at approximately 40–60 cm. The combination of selective dark lining and small, controlled highlights proved more effective in 15 mm than adding increasingly fine detail. 

Faces and hands were painted with 70.860 Medium Fleshtone, shaded with Vallejo Flesh Wash 2021 and highlighted with 70.955 Flat Flesh. Eyes and mouths were only suggested with very small marks using a Sakura Pigma Micron 003 pen. At this scale the intention was not to reproduce complete facial features, but simply to give enough contrast for the face to remain visually distinct.

The Soviet helmets were based in 70.894 Russian Green and later received selected upper highlights with 70.924 Russian Uniform WWII. This second stage deliberately pushed the helmets slightly beyond their original dark appearance: the aim was to preserve the characteristic green tone while making the head and silhouette more visible from normal tabletop distance.

Weapons and equipment were treated as separate colour areas to prevent the predominantly khaki uniforms from becoming visually flat. Rifle stocks were painted with 70.875 Beige Brown and later given small warm highlights with 70.981 Orange Brown. Metallic parts were picked out with 70.863 Gunmetal Grey, canvas bags and pouches with 70.821 German Camo Beige WWII, leather straps with 70.983 Flat Earth, and boots with 70.950 Black, with restrained 70.862 Black Grey highlights. The red piping and details on the officer's cap were picked out with 70.947 Red. The core palette for uniform, helmet, weapons and equipment developed from the original Soviet WWII colour plan recorded for the project.

The bases also went through a later revision. The first treatment was deliberately subdued and urban, but when the completed force was viewed from normal gaming distance the figures and terrain occupied too similar a tonal range. A light drybrush of 70.875 Beige Brown was therefore introduced across the highest rubble and ground textures. This small change made a surprisingly large difference: the dusty ground became lighter, the reddish masonry remained distinct, and the darker figures separated much more clearly from their surroundings.

The finished army therefore represents more than a completed Crossfire force. It became a useful exercise in finding a balance between historical colour, miniature scale and visual interpretation. In 15 mm, colours that appear subtle and realistic in isolation can become too dark when the whole unit is viewed across the table. Selective highlights, controlled separation between materials and a slightly lighter terrain palette can preserve the historical impression while making the models considerably more effective as miniatures.

The final models were protected with a light transparent finish and presented with a hand-written cream identification card on a red backing, together with the Microhistory Models Italy — Hand-Painted / Handcrafted seal.

Status: force completed. Final selective highlights and basing refinements completed.

Workbench note — July 2026

Tullian Roman Army for DBA 3.0 — 15 mm

This project is a reconstruction of an early Roman army of the traditionally named “Tullian” period, approximately 578–400 BC, created for the DBA 3.0 wargaming rules. The army represents list I/59 and is built in 15 mm scale using Essex miniatures.

The aim of the project is not to present a definitive image of the Roman army of this period, but rather a historically plausible interpretation based on the available literary, archaeological and iconographic evidence. For early Rome, direct evidence is limited and often fragmentary, so any reconstruction must be approached with caution.

The historical framework follows the traditional military system associated with Servius Tullius, in which the army was organised according to census classes. This is reflected in the modelling choices: wealthier warriors are represented with heavier equipment and hoplite-style panoply, while lower-status troops appear with lighter arms and less elaborate protection. Cavalry, spearmen, auxilia and skirmishers were all treated with subtle variation in clothing, shields and appearance in order to suggest differences of rank, role and social condition.

Particular care was taken with the shields and insignia. Most shields were kept in bronze or in restrained natural tones, avoiding anachronistic later Roman symbols. Decorative motifs were used sparingly and only where historically plausible. Among the visual inspirations considered were the Chigi Vase for archaic hoplite equipment and the boar motif from the Tomba Giglioli at Tarquinia, which helped inspire the reconstructed command standard with its bronze boar and red cloth.

From a modelling point of view, the project was also an exercise in balance between historical caution and visual coherence. The palette was deliberately kept sober: bronzes, off-whites, muted reds, leather browns and dry earth colours were chosen to evoke an early central Italian setting without imposing a false sense of uniformity. The terrain treatment follows the same logic, with a neutral dry ground suitable for archaic Latium.

The concept sheet shown here is therefore not a photograph of the completed army, but a project sheet: a visual and historical guide defining the intended look, colour approach, sources and interpretative boundaries of the build before final presentation.

Status: army completed; 

Photographs of the completed army are shown in the Early Roman Army c. 578–400 BC gallery

Workbench note — July 2026

305. Infanterie-Division at Barrikady — Crossfire 15 mm

This project represents a German infantry company of the 305. Infanterie-Division during the fighting for the Barrikady Gun Factory at Stalingrad, October–November 1942.

Rather than fixing the miniatures permanently to a single regiment or company, the force has been designed as a modular historical formation, suitable for scenarios involving the division’s infantry regiments — especially the 576th, 577th and 578th — together with attached support elements.

The core force consists of a company commander, three infantry platoons with nine rifle squads, two machine-gun teams and a 5 cm light mortar. Two forward observers represent off-table support from an 8 cm mortar and 10.5 cm artillery. A StuG III of Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 245 is planned as an additional support element for scenarios where armoured support is historically appropriate.

The basing was designed to evoke the devastated industrial landscape of the Barrikady complex. Fine rubble, broken brickwork, fragments of metal, pipes and masonry were combined with a restrained palette of greys, browns and dusty reds. The aim was to reproduce the character of a heavily damaged factory environment without overcrowding the bases or reducing their practicality for play.

The infantry was painted mainly in Vallejo German Field Grey, with controlled highlights and tonal variation. Helmets, leather equipment, weapons and exposed metal were treated separately, while the rubble received layered grey drybrushing, brick-red accents, dust, rust and selected metallic highlights.

The two forward observers were further detailed with scratch-built Feldfernsprecher 33 field telephones, made from plastic strip and fine copper wire. These small additions help distinguish the observer stands while remaining historically appropriate for German field communications equipment of the period.

For gameplay, the three platoons are identified only by small colour dots on the rear edge of the bases. Command and support stands remain otherwise unlabelled. This keeps the models visually clean and allows machine-gun teams and other supporting elements to be reassigned according to the scenario.

The project is based principally on Jason D. Mark’s Island of Fire, together with contemporary photographs, maps and documentation relating to the 305. Infanterie-Division and the fighting around Barrikady.

Status: infantry company completed; StuG III support vehicle to be added later.

Photographs of the completed 15 mm force are shown in the 6./Infanterie-Regiment 577 — Barrikady, Stalingrad 1942 gallery

Workbench note — June 2026
Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk 1:72

This is my next modelling project: a 1:72 Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk, built from the Italeri kit and presented on a compact scenic base.

The idea is to create a clean and elegant display inspired by Aviano Air Base, with a concrete apron, safety lines, low barriers and a distant mountain skyline. The aircraft will be finished in very dark tones, with subtle panel modulation to make the faceted shape readable without losing the distinctive black appearance of the Nighthawk.

This project is also a personal gift for my friend Fabio, connected to memories of his youth near Aviano. For this reason, the model will not only represent an aircraft, but also a small personal story.

The presentation sheet shown here is a visual concept for the build: it defines the scenic idea, the colour approach, the suggested plaque and the main modelling choices before starting the work.

This project has now left the workbench and has been completed as a finished display model.

Photographs of the finished model are shown in the Aircraft Models 1:72 gallery.

Workbench note — May 2026
Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6/R6 “Yellow 17” 1:72

This project was dedicated to the Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6/R6 “Yellow 17”, associated with Oberleutnant Gerhard Stamp during JG 300 “Wilde Sau” night fighter operations in Germany in 1943.

The model was built as a compact historical display, combining the aircraft, a pilot figure, an airfield-style base, small accessories and a descriptive label. The aim was not only to represent the aircraft markings, but also to suggest the atmosphere of a late-1943 Luftwaffe night-fighter airfield.

The colour approach followed the documented late-war Luftwaffe appearance of this machine, with a dark, heavily overpainted camouflage, yellow identification markings and dark lower surfaces connected with night-fighter use. Particular attention was given to the overall mood of the scene, the presentation in a display case and the relationship between model, base and historical note.

The presentation sheet shown here is a post-build summary of the project: it collects the subject, colour references, scenic concept, modelling choices and final display idea in a compact visual form.

This project is now completed. Photographs of the finished model are shown in the Aircraft Models 1:72 gallery.