3mm Novan Elites Affray Infantry Century Mechanized

3mm Novan Elites Affray Infantry Century Mechanized is a pack of unpainted metal miniatures produced by Vanguard Miniatures. Taken from their site, it includes: 65 Affray infantry, 15 Heavy support weapons infantry, 15 Specialists – 4 officers, 1 priest, 1 mystic, 3 century banner bearers, 3 medics, 3 engineers, 10 Trojan APC’s. 

How did I paint these?

Just to help some of you or to convince you that painting 3mm miniatures can be easy and fast.

1. Wash with liquid soap all the miniatures.

2. Remove (cut) the unnecessary pieces, that come with casting procedure. Easy and with little unwanted ("flesh" is the term to describe them) parts.

3. I have based all the infantry on round bases bought from other source applying white glue to the miniatures. They glued fine. 

4. I usually prime metal miniatures. Not this time, as I feared that in 3mm as opposed to 6mm, I would lose the details.

5. Apply a prepared brown painted putty on to base. Repeat procedure.

6. I have applied a coat of Lime Green 827 paint from Vallejo and repeated the procedure. Use thin paint or you will ruin the details on the miniatures.

7. For the infantry I have painted Black 950 Vallejo the weapons. I have corrected mistakes made with Lime Green 827. For the Trojan APC vehicles I have painted the tracks with Natural Steel 864 from Vallejo, and also on the sides on some details.

8. For the infantry I have applied a mix of Lime Green 827 and White 951 also from Vallejo, just to the head of the soldiers and flags of the century banner bearers. I have repeated procedure. For the Trojan APC I have started the camo pattern that I chose to make. First, Lime Green 827 and little White 951 for the first pattern, and a new pattern with Lime Green 827 and more White 951.

9. I have painted again the bases with a lighter brown to cover the Lime Green that was painted by mistake on the bases from the other steps.

10. I have applied a Game Ink 72094 diluted with water from Vallejo on all the miniatures. The ink was doing a wonderful job as details were brought into light... by shades.

11. Now, onto more highlighting. A mix of Lime Green and White, again to the head of infantry miniatures and the flags and some parts of clothing and a little touch, sometimes a thin line, other times some points on the weapons of the soldiers with Natural Steel, to produce a little discontinuous shine effect. Depending on the type of infantry (officer, priest, mystic...) here someone else can do a better job than me. It is enough done to improve the paint job I did. For Trojan APC White was painted on the front to symbolize the headlights, and a carreful Lime Green and White was applied to some points where the ink job left no paint, just the bare metal.

12. (optional) Arrange the miniatures into the desired formation, place a 8mm white cube next to them :)) and make some photos (with something better than I had the possibility), enjoy and share with the community.

 

The infantry was based on a round base prepared with brown putty.

 

Notice the details of the miniatures. Incredible!

 

During the painting process, a poor photo done late in the night.

 

Nova APC in its splendor!

 

Do you see them? Neither do I, but who cares! They are lovely...

 

Heavy weapons infantry is also accompanied by light weapons infantry and other specialists.

 

Banner bearers in 3mm.

 

For comparison purposes: soldier next to an APC and the 8mm white cube.

 

 For comparison purposes: soldier next to an APC next to a Centurion Main Battle Tank and the 8mm white cube.

 

Novan Elites Affray Infantry Century Mechanized: Reporting for Duty!

 

Nothing compares to arranging this miniatures in as many formations as you like. This reminded me of Risk boardgame and the carreful arranging of the miniatures just to be destroyed in a matter of second by a poor roll. Yes, those were the times! Now, we have these incredible detailed miniatures to work with.

 

Natural Steel paint applied to the tracks of a Trojan APC (bottom right)

For the Centurion MBT see a review here. For other thoughts on painting 3mm miniatures, please follow this link.

Conclusion

The amount of detail is astonishing. Art. There are many 6mm miniatures that do not have that many details like these 3mm miniatures from Vanguard Miniatures. There are many miniatures in this pack, worth the money and could easily do a mass battle to remember after years and years. Or just a sci-fi military formation to enjoy watching. No matter what you decide to do with these miniatures, is an interesting experience to paint and use them, guaranteed. Did you liked this? Share your own experience on painting 3mm miniatures!