I bought and painted the US starter for Team Yankee at a launch event back in late 2015. Other than a demo game or two, I hadn’t really played. Then Mike, the event coordinator and general instigator at Endgame started making noises about an invitational six month campaign. I knew that was my excuse to build up an army.

I wasn’t really very happy with how the models turned out the first time. The camo looked very airbrushed. I barely did any weathering. The models themselves looked austere without any stowage. So for new models I started over.

I tried using poster tack for as masking for the camo. I bought some AK weathering enamels, and used sponge chipping with Secret Weapon rust acrylics. I ordered 15mm stowage from Skytrex and The Scene UK.

I’m not 100% satisfied. I had to patch up the camo in places where the masking got bumped between colors. The chipping is somewhat erratic. But I’m much happier than last time.

Finishing up the playable models from the US Team Yankee starter.  I couldn’t talk myself into getting accurate Helo Drab colored paints, so I used some Tamiya Black Green I already had.  I did try preshading the panel lines black, although I’m not convinced it had showed much in the end.

The models very conveniently come with enough magnets to make the fight stand and rotor removable for transport.

Now that I’ve got the starter set painted up, I really should get some games in.  I’m eager to do some A-10s and M113s.

I watched the Team Yankee pre-launch hype late last year with some interest.  The period (modern-ish) and scale (15mm – big enough to be visceral, but still small enough to have swarms of tanks!) was interesting.  But I was pretty sure I didn’t have room for another miniatures game in my life.

When Endgame announced a build & play launch event, I failed my willpower save.  So I put in my order for the rulebook and US starter.  Unfortunately, every else bailed.  So I hung out and built, but didn’t get to play.  On the upside, I didn’t have to break my streak of playing with only painted models.

In prep for a future in which I play the game, I’ve gotten painting.  I settled on the NATO tri-color scheme, even though it’s slightly anachronistic, and picked up some Vallejo Air paints designed for the pattern.

This was the first time I’ve used my airbrush for camo work.  I tried to follow the pattern, but didn’t really have the control to follow the lines.  The edges are also much softer than I wanted.  You gotta start somewhere.

The start of an armor horde.  Although if I really wanted a horde, I probably should have picked the Soviets..

15mm dudes are small.  I probably should have been a little neater with the flesh tone.

Next, the Cobras.  Then finding time and an opponent to actually play the game.