About Us

 

For many years the founders of SPS (John Sharples and Graham Campbell) presented large scale wargame displays throughout the United Kingdom at a variety of wargame shows under the title 'Gentlemen Pensions', as well as wargaming privately as a loose group of enthusiasts. One of the aims of the group was to use the highest quality painted figures (and flags) possible. The public games have been a remarkable success over the years. This has been due to the high standard of painted figures and terrain used, and the size of the armies engaged. Each figure being painted and based to a high standard by professional painters based in the UK. The group has achieved best game of show on a number of occasions.

However, in recent years, the cost of such high quality painting in the UK, in the quantities required, has become prohibitive. The cost of painting 28mm models to such high standards was costing as much as $30 per figure, and averaging $10 to $15 per figure. As a result we began to look at alternative sources of figure painting.

There are a number of painting services available, especially in South East Asia; some offering what seemed like an excellent service, but when we look closely there were often extra hidden costs that soon mounted up. A lack of communication and language difficulties with some services added to the problems. Basing, texturing, shading, different painting standards; all were listed as extras and each category added that little bit more to the basic painting price. This made the painting less of a bargain than at first appeared. We also found through bitter experience that the quality of painting standards could be highly variable from order to order. What we considered high quality painting was sometimes not the vision of other people.

In December 2003 John and I decided to start our own painting service for wargamers and collectors to meet the demands of wargamers and collectors who wanted to own high quality painted figures in their collections. So we formed Siam Painting Services (Thailand) Ltd. Our aim was to obtain consistent high quality painting at a reasonable price, where the price would be fixed with no hidden extras! We are also still one of the few companies to offer free basing as part of the painting price. We hoped the new company would allow us to continue to build our own collections and to pursue our large scale 28mm wargames.
 
As the Thai company grew with its ready painted units and painting services going mainly to the UK it became obvious we would need to open a second company in the UK to handle the UK and European business. As business grew it was also obvious John’s time was being increasingly dominated by the demands of the UK company. In April 2006 John left the Thai company to concentrate on running the UK company, Siam Painting Services (Europe) Ltd. John still remains closely involved in offering advice on painting quality and services from the UK, as well as supervising UK order and stock painting.

I now operate Siam Painting Services (Thailand) Ltd as a wholly independent company offering ready painted stock and painting services to the rest of the world, but closely working with John and our UK based company Siam Painting Services (Europe) Ltd, which trades under the name BIG BATTALIONS.

 

I aim to provide the highest quality painting service at a price within the reach of every wargamer and collector. As a wargamer I know just how exacting these standards can be and how disappointing it can be when painting companies let you down. I also decided that for those who wanted instant armies I would produce a range of bespoke ready painted units. I now offer an exciting range of 28mm, 15mm and 10mm Napoleonic and Ancient units ready to use on the table. My ranges will continue to expand with time to meet the demands of customers.

I chose North West Thailand as the base of operations as there is a cultural and artistic history in Northern Thailand that produces artwork of great beauty and detail. It has taken time and effort, but I have been able to recruit a number of highly skilled artists (many are graduates from local fine arts colleges) whom I have trained in the use of modern model painting techniques. These painters are now producing painting that meets our demanding standards. But I have not rested on my laurels, the painters are keen to develop their skills and the company invests heavily in training in order to further improve the quality and product lines.

One additional rule that John and I set ourselves was that we would not seek to exploit the painters. The premises are fully furnished and cooled to meet the painter’s requirements and their salaries, reflecting their skills, are higher than average for the region. John and I will not, in any circumstances, use child labour; all our staff members are over the age of 18 years of age. We will not exploit our painters simply to increase profit. You may also like to know that Thailand has some of the most demanding and stringent labour laws in the region. There is a very active government labour law office in Chiang Mai which any worker can complain to at any time if they feel they have been treated badly or unfairly. In addition this office has the power to make random inspections of any premises. I am please to say we have always been able to satisfy the demands of this government department. Our low rate of staff turnover is a testament to the way the painters feel about working for us. You may find some other countries in Asia, keen to increase foreign business, do not operate such high or demanding levels of labour care. If you would like any further information about our working conditions and environment feel free to ask or contact the Royal Thai Embassy in your home country!

In August 2007 the company was joined by a new general manager, Walter Hufschmid. Walter is a Swiss national who has worked in production management in Thailand for nearly twenty years. He is married to a Thai national; he and his wife have lived in Chiang Mai with their children for over eighteen years. Walter is happy to deal with any queries during the painting process. Walter only asks you provide plenty of information with each order as this aids efficiency and makes our turnaround that much faster.

Siam Painting Services has developed through the hard work and determination of a veteran British wargamer and the continued efforts of the manager and painters at Siam Painting Services (Thailand) Ltd.

Graham Campbell is the Chairman of the Gentlemen Pensioners Wargames Group who has presented award winning wargame displays throughout the UK for a number of years. Graham spends half the year in the UK, and half in Thailand. A dedicated wargamer since childhood Graham owns a large collection of models in 15mm and 28mm scales.

Right: Avoiding the rush hour!