The Hobby Brief — #00003.1
PaintArmyMen.com • August 9, 2026
The
Hobby Brief
This week’s field report on historical miniature releases, painted armies, military modeling and practical inspiration from real campaigns and periods.
Historical Hobby News
Six timely reports on historical ranges, prize-winning armies, period-specific force building and the craft behind tabletop-ready soldiers.
A Prize-Winning Late-War German Army
Julian Suitor’s Cancon-winning Bolt Action force combines a convoy-ambush display, clever infantry conversions, Splittertarn camouflage and tiny modeled MG 42 shell casings.
See the painted army
Inside the Epic Battles Zulu Sprue
A close look at the new Anglo-Zulu War frame, including married and unmarried warriors, varied formations, captured firearms, cattle and casualty markers.
Inspect the sprue
Commonwealth Unit Highlights: Part Two
The second field guide examines Indian, New Zealand and South African forces, from Gurkhas and Māori troops to carriers, armored cars and Commonwealth armor.
Read the unit report
Perry’s Revolutionary French Go Plastic
Perry Miniatures’ new 28mm box builds 45 troops for 1789–1802, with options for line infantry, National Guard, volunteers, conscripts, grenadiers and light infantry.
Explore the new kit
Finishing British Light Infantry and Rangers
This French and Indian War rebasing project closes with British light infantry and Gorham’s Rangers, refreshed colors and a practical washer, pumice, flock and tuft basing recipe.
See the finished units
Britcon’s Historical Games Weekend
The British Historical Games Society brings three days of tournaments, organized play and trade stands to Leicester’s Venue@DMU, a former Spitfire factory.
View the event guideHistorical Video Watch
A full six qualifying uploads could not be verified inside a strict 72-hour window. These are the strongest recent, publicly surfaced historical figure and military-model painting videos; timing and view counts are public search snapshots checked August 9, 2026.
1/72 US Infantry Paint Update
A bench update on Zvezda World War Two American infantry, centered on the .50-caliber machine-gun crew and the challenges of painting small figures cleanly on the sprue.
Watch the update
26th North Carolina: Details and Equipment
Part three of an American Civil War painting series works through belts, buckles and boots on Rebellion Miniatures’ 26th North Carolina figures.
Watch the painting stream
Painting a 1/35 Ka-52 Cockpit
A focused military-model build covers the layered assembly and careful detail painting needed to make Trumpeter’s modern attack-helicopter cockpit convincing at 1/35 scale.
Watch the cockpit build
WWII French Vignette Tutorial
A complete small-scene lesson combining Second World War French figures, composition, surface finishing and a bonus method for painting realistic timber grain.
Watch the vignette tutorial
Painting the Neuchâtel Battalion
A Perry Miniatures tutorial for the distinctive Swiss battalion in Napoleonic service, with an especially useful approach to its bright yellow uniforms and compact unit finish.
Watch the tutorial
Epic-Scale Dutch Lancers
A compact Napoleonic project featuring the Dutch Lancers of the French Imperial Guard, with the vivid uniform colors and massed presentation that make cavalry readable at Epic scale.
Watch the projectFrom James Viola
Three historically focused soldier and vehicle projects from @jamesviolaofficial.
Warhorse US Paratroopers
James reviews a 1/32-scale set of American paratroopers, highlighting the poses, sculpted equipment and painting potential of the historically grounded World War Two figures.
Watch James review
Painting 1/72 German Infantry
A beginner-friendly Italeri guide that breaks down uniform colors, webbing, weapons and small-scale contrast for a clean, readable squad of World War Two soldiers.
Watch James paint
Painting an American M3 Half-Track
James takes a 1/72 American half-track through its olive-drab base, detail work and military finish, offering a practical route from kit parts to a convincing tabletop vehicle.
Watch James paint