Analogue Hobbies Painting Competition Update 3

Well, things are slowly coming together as the first entry has been submitted to the above competition. Now all that remains is to get cracking on everything else that is going to be painted over the next 80 days. The bulk of the spear units for the Mycenaeans have been undercoated and are justing needing touched up by hand before the real work can start.

Here is just a quick pic of some of the work that is under way at present.

Not that this really show that much other than another two Dwarves for Songs of Blades and Heroes and the start of the flesh base painting on some armoured Mycenaean spearmen; but from little things big things grow. The left hand Dwarf comes from the C07 Northern Dwarf Range and the other was available as a special release through the first edition of Warhammer; believe he was called Throgrimm. 


The best thing about these figures is that they are great to paint as everything is how is everything is. No need to worry about colours or reference just painting purely for the fun of it. Can recommend this to everyone once in a while as it really does help put the pleasure into the hobby!


Hope that everybody has a good New Year and that 2012 is peaceful, prosperous and plentiful for all.

Thats all for now

Cheers!

Seasons Greetings

Seasons greetings to you all. Thank you for your support and interest in 'Brushes and Bases' over 2011 and I hope that you will continue to visit in the New Year.

Cheers for now.

Analogue Hobbies Comp Update 2

Just a few pictures to show what little progress has been made on the Mycenaeans for the above painting competition. The first picture shows a group of spearmen before the flesh is repainted black to take them back to a base undercoat. The second is during the re-undercoating of the flesh. This will have to be checked with Curt to see if its acceptable before real time is spent painting these figures.

 

The second picture also shows at what stage Hector's Chariot is at even though this will not be a part of the competition.


The following pictures show some work in progress on a couple of old Citadel Dwarves for Songs of Blades and Heroes. These 2 figures will also enable a few cheeky points to be added to the score board whilst working on the main units.

More to follow just as soon as they are ready.

Cheers for now

Analogue Hobbies Painting Comp Update 1

Well, there is not much to report as yet; just a large pile of filed lead waiting for undercoating. Normally this is brushed on but given the numbers waiting there on this occasion it will be sprayed on.

The casts have generally been okay, but there have been a few heavy flash lines over faces and a couple of completely mis-cast hands. These have not been spotted when the figures have been delivered during the last couple of years. The end result is that some of the spearmen are of no use as sculpting is not a skill which rates highly in this camp.

Hopefully the next few weeks will allow some painting time to get cracking on these as some other competitors are racing ahead.

Cheers for now

A brief update...

Not much in the way of painting been going on here over the last few days. There has however been a fair bit of reference gathering for the Mycenaeans, especially in regard to shields and shield rims and bosses. Nothing certain for the tower and figure of eight shields having bronze edges or bosses though but a few more sources located and obtained. Thankfully there is always artistic licence so there will be  mixture of bronze and hide shield rims throughout the army. Not necessarily historically correct but within certain tolerances. Here are a few of the historical pictures that have been viewed over the last few days:

Due to the size of these shields, the look is going to be key to creating cohesive and visually impressive units for Impetus, especially for the rank and file. An excellent example of this can be seen here, which gives an idea of the finished effect that is looked for.

Thats all for now.

Cheers

Plans within plans within plans 2

The following has created some interest on the blogging front over the last few weeks:

So after some deliberation and thought an entry has been submitted and accepted. You can find more details at the here on the rules for the competition.

This is being viewed as a motivational tactic to increase painting during the dark months of the year and hopefully enabling the 300 point Impetus army for the Trojans to be completed in this time. In order to qualify for the competition no paint other than undercoat can be on the figures before the 20th of December; so Hector's chariot and spear unit won't be counted in this, but everything else will.

During the course of the competition work in progress pictures can be shown, so hopefully you'll see chariots, heroes and more very soon. The first picture will of course be of a pile of lead and this will include a break down of the units and the figures involved in them.

Before this entry finishes a warm welcome to:

• H.snilloc

Hope that you find the content here interesting and useful.

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 5

Just a few more pictures to show what little progress has been made on the first Chariot unit for the Trojan Impetus army. Despite the earlier misgivings on the white, nothing has changed on the driver and shield bearer. Hector and the chariot runner now have green tunics with white trimmings.

The white and green go well with each other and will work in well with the spear armed units to follow. Each large unit will have a binding colour, in this case the green trimmings, allowing for differences in tunic colours to create a sense of unity without resorting to a uniform approach. This will allow for whites, buffs and cream colours to be used without too much diversity in the figures on the  final base.

The figure of eight shields really cover the majority of the figure as can be seen in the above pictures both with and without. Don't fancy running with one of those for too long.

These four figures are now very near completion as a bit more work was done this afternoon, so its nearly time to start on the horses and the chariot proper. May opt to put a third chariot runner on the base but will decide that once the original figures are nearer completion.

Before this entry closes a warm welcome to:

• Vladdd309

Hope that you find this blog interesting.

Thats all for now.

Cheers

Welcome

Welcome to:

• Willie Anderson

Hope that you find the ramblings here of use and thanks for the encouragement for the new army.

One slight change has been made; Hector's tunic has been reversed to green with a white trim instead of white with a green trim. Pictures to follow shortly.

Cheers for now

Back to the brushes 4

Here are a few work in progress pictures of the first Trojan Chariot unit. This will be Hector's chariot and at present there is doubt on the colour of the tunics; the white is just not sitting right just now. Maybe in the cold light of day it will be okay but at just now it is heading for a new coat of black in the morning.

The white of tunics is too cold for the desired feel of the army and it may be better to start with a light buff base coat rather than a light grey. This will provide a warmer base without having to resort to yellows, ochres and god forbid reds.

The horse hair plume from Hector's helm will definitely be changing colour as it is too stark in white. May opt for a light green here to tie in with the planned colour for the edging of the tunic.

That is all at present but hopefully there will be some more on the same unit throughout this week.

Cheers for now

New Beginnings

As November 2011 comes to an end and the year draws to a close it's is time to look at the coming months with a view to starting a new project. This year started with plans and talk of undertaking a "Rise of Macedon" army for late Philip or early Alexander and this is still likely of happening but later in 2012. The Spartans are so very nearly completed with only a few more stands required for the full 400 point army under the new list so no major change of plans there. 


The main thrust of early 2012 will be to start a 300 point Mycenean/Trojan army for Impetus. The starting point for this will of course be The Illiad itself and the following quote sets the scene for the first two stands of the army; a chariot and heavy foot stand:

The Trojans, on the other side upon the rising slope of the plain, were gathered round great Hector, noble Polydamas, Aeneas who was honoured by the Trojans like an immortal, and the three sons of Antenor, Polybus, Agenor, and young Acamas beauteous as a god. Hector's round shield showed in the front rank, and as some baneful star that shines for a moment through a rent in the clouds and is again hidden beneath them; even so was Hector now seen in the front ranks and now again in the hindermost, and his bronze armour gleamed like the lightning of aegis-bearing Jove. 

The plan is for each character from Homer's epic to have a foot stand and where possible a chariot as well. This will give the army a heroic feel which relates to the primary source as well as defining the opposing sides by character figures and scenes from the epic. Work has already started on the first stand and chariot for Hector and here are a few working progress pictures to start with. All figures are from Redoubt Miniatures.

Driver

Hector

Chariot Runner

Shield Bearer

The Trojan Horse

A constant reference throughout this project will be Peter Connolly's book as below and needless to say there will be no red in this:

Before this entry is finished a belated welcome to:

• Iain

Hopefully you will find some of the ravings here of use.

Cheers for now

Cinaed overview

Well where to start, last weekend saw the Spartans take the field for the first time in a competitive game and for that matter as a finished force and my prediction came true as the wooden spoon is mine, all mine :). To be fair I had 3 very good games and enjoyed them all in different ways.

Game 1 against Crusaders was going to be hard from the very start; when your facing 6 units of crossbows and 4 short bows with 2 light cavalry and 3 Impetuous Heavy cavalry to back them up you know your in for a tough time. So the Spartans fought in the shade to start of with. In-discipline in the ranks broke the battle line as it progressed through the arrow storm, during which time the right flank evaporated under the pressure of the combined skirmishers and light cavalry allowing the Crusaders the opportunity to flank the main phalanx. When the battle line finally clashed the Crusaders held - the dice god was not in my camp at this point - and the Crusaders then released their Knights. The Spartans held them for a while but the flanking lights brought in the end. Overall a very good game and a fair introduction to Impetus.

Game 2 against Carthage was also going to be hard. 4 units of cavalry on the extreme left, with elephants and Spanish light infantry over on the right. I had decided to split my line and hold the left with skirmishers, 1 phalanx and my only unit of cavalry. The rest went forward to clash with the Spanish. Again in-discipline on the left caused problems and a failed charge didn't help matters. The evasion from light cavalry changes a lot from BI. 1 Phalanx held up the elephants whilst the other 2 clashed against the Spanish with support from a unit of peltasts on the far right, yet again I couldn't wear the main line down and it all went horribly wrong from there.

Game 3 against the Huns was just painful and the Spartan's fought in the shade yet again. The Hun player had 2 warbands which were my main target and a good combat ensued there. However, against such a mobile and bow armed force I was always going to struggle. Again the holding force on the right this time dwindled away too quickly and with the loose of 1 phalanx on the left to missile fire very quickly it was over very quickly.

The Spartans are a good army to play with but lacked enough missile troops and  cavalry to hold their flanks long enough for the phalanx to do its job against this opposition. In games 1 & 3 I couldn't just sit there as I would have just been whittled away with no means of replying. Game 2 I could have done so but counted on the phalanx beating the Spanish - which they should have done - allowing me to turn the flank and centre.

Overall Impetus is a good game which has more to offer than BI, not that I am saying I'll stop playing BI as I won't. Things to look out for are evasion, counter charge, skirmishers dispersing when contacted and opportunity charges.
Forgetting a few minor changes in the cohesion test - which is slightly different - doesn't help either.

The day itself was very good with a friendly bunch of guys from Falkirk, Kincardine and Fife. There are already plans for 4 games next year and I'm going to go back after all I don't want to stay at equal 98th in the world rankings for ever :)


Unfortunately, there are no pictures of the day as the camera was on the blink.
Cheers

So very nearly finished...

in the last 10 days 38 Spartans have left the painting table and are now ready for use. Here are a few quick pics of the final work in progress

More to follow shortly.

The old lie...

Dulce Et Decorum Est

Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,


Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,


Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs


And towards our distant rest began to trudge.

Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots

But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind;


Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots


Of disappointed shells that dropped behind.



GAS! Gas! Quick, boys!-- An ecstasy of fumbling,

Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time;


But someone still was yelling out and stumbling


And floundering like a man in fire or lime.--


Dim, through the misty panes and thick green light


As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.



In all my dreams, before my helpless sight,


He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.

If in some smothering dreams you too could pace


Behind the wagon that we flung him in,


And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,


His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin;

If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood


Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,

Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud


Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,--


My friend, you would not tell with such high zest


To children ardent for some desperate glory,


The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est


Pro patria mori.

Wilfred Owen

Nothing else for just know, more updates to follow over the next few days

It has arrived...

EI4 that is. On first glance a good product with an interesting range of army lists. The history for each section provides an overview of the period without detailing every move made by the opposing armies. The campaign that is detailed is simple enough to create game play but has enough detail to keep it interesting.

The main list at this time here is the Spartan list, which offers some more variety within the list. Yes its still a hoplite army but there are options with certain units to create a detailed and varied army without over kill. This does open up some more options the list created for Mantinea but this in itself is good, especially with a days gaming in the offing at Cinaed late next month. On the downside a few more bases will have to be painted but the list has provided the motivation to do this and on that subject here a few pictures of the Spartan's as they stand at present:

Hopefully there will be more to follow over the next few weeks before Cinaed on the 20th of November. Also a quick welcome to:

• Peter Celella

Thanks for joining the brave followers of this blog.

That's all for now.

Cheers.

Breaking the Widow's Wall 2

With just under a month passing by since the last entry there isn't really that much to report. A little painting has been done on both the Vikings and Spartans Allied Phalanx but nothing major. In fact the biggest use of hobby time has been on prepping the figures for the 12th SS Infantry Company for Flames of War. Considering the amount of superglue that has ended up over fingers and hands it is surprising that anything has actually been stuck down or glued in place; still nearly completed before undercoating.

The next few weeks will see a concentrated effort to complete another base of Spartans and some other Ancient Greek Skirmishers to allow for a few different options in the completed army at 300 points. This however, will all depend on the changes to the army list when EI4 arrives. There may be more use for peltasts than skirmishers but time will tell.

Some WIP pictures to follow shortly.

Cheers for no

Breaking the Widow's Wall 1

After reading this months Wargames Illustrated late night with its high contents of Dark Age articles, it was an easy choice this morning to pick up the paint brush and start yet again on the Vikings for Basic Impetus. This base will represent the infamous berserkers for this army and choosing the figures for the base was an interesting exercise. Rather than have a stand full of bare chested warriors gnashing their teeth and stamping their feet, a decision was made to create this by varying the figures, as the stand is represents upto 2,000 men. So a eye catching figure was selected as a centre piece for the stand with other various Viking types to back him up. Easier to let the a few pictures show how the stand is coming together:

Here is an individual picture of the centre piece and name sake for this entry:

The figures are all from Gripping Beast's Vikings, Varangian and Rus ranges and hopefully there will be more later this week.

The magazine also included an in depth battle report of Gripping Beast's SAGA Dark Ages skirmish rule set and whilst it is very tempting and has some very interesting mechanics at present it will be staying with Gripping Beast. 

Ironically, this is the last issue of the current subscription for Wargames Illustrated that will be coming this way. The magazine has not been inspiring lately and suffers from too much of a particular set of rules - understandable considering Battlefront own it. By not resubscribing each issue can be view before purchase and it possibly allows for a change by subscribing to Wargames, Strategy and Soldiers in the near future, but enough rambling there's painting to be done. 

Cheers for now.

Its all a bit of a guddle

As part of this morning was spent preparing old figures for undercoating, in fact preparing 71 Citadel miniatures from 1983 to 1984. This has included stripping, filing, basing and generally getting in a right old mess. The most time spent at the painting desk in a while and still not a brush has been wetted. That will be changing very soon.

The desk as it was a few days ago, showing a mixture of 28mm Citadel, 28mm Ancients and Dark Ages and 20mm WWII in various stages of readiness for use. Well not really to be used, more like to be used in painting but that is another story.

A couple of pictures showing some of the old Citadel figures that have mysterious added themselves to the lead mountain and a few of the WIP Allied Spartan Phalanx in the top right of the top picture; remember them?

I was happier green!

One of the reasons as to why the interest in retro Citadel figures is shown above, great sculpts with character even when they are over twenty-seven years old. The above is from the C10 Half-orc range which even now still firm favourites in the collection. The pseudo Pilos style is a dead give away as to why apart from the overall stance and character of the figure. Never sure if this range was by the Perry twins or Ally Morrison, still great work who it was.

The balance of the figures have now been undercoated, so all being well there will be some progress on a variety of items over the next few days.

Lastly a rough picture of the a WWII British Paratrooper for Disposable Heroes. Might just need to touch up the face on this one as the picture shows all the mistakes too well.

Thats all for now

Its coming

Extra Impetus 4 that is.

The great motivator has arrived, brushes ready to finally finish the Spartans and move on the next army from the many that are listed in the above title. Who knows what may lie within, oh well apart from the following:

THE AGE OF HOPLITES
Athens (2 lists)
Thebes
Sparta
Other cities (Corinthus, Megara, Argos…)
Ionic Greeks
Magna Graecia
Thessaly
Thracians
Early Achemenid Persians
Illyrians

ALEXANDER THE GREAT AND THE SUCCESSORS
Early Macedonians
Alexander macedoanians
Alexander Empire
Later Achemenid Persians
Classical Indians
Maurya Empire
Achean League
Aetolian League
Early Ptolemaic
Middle Ptolemaic
Later Ptolemaic
Graeco Bactrian Kingdom
Indo Greek Kingdom
Galatians
Early Seleucids
Scythians
Early Macedonian Successors
Alcetas and Minor Successors
Eumenes
Antigonus Monophthalmus
Demetrius
Lysimachos

ROME AND THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA
Middle Republican Romans
Carthaginians
Iberian and Lusitanians
Celtiberians
Gauls
Numidians
Later Numidians
Later Macedonians
Later Seleucids 

Too many decisions to be made for this time of night.

Cheers for now

Back to basics

The last 3 weeks have seen neither a brush being used or a post being sent to this blog. The shame of both has brought about some activity with this morning being used to flock some 20mm British Paratroopers for Disposable Heroes and tidy up some old Citadel figures from their C08 High Elves, C09 Dark Elves and C10 in preparation for undercoating. Pictures to follow shortly.

There are no plans to paint anything in particular at present, just what feels right at the time. Obviously, the last of the Allied Phalanxes for the Spartan Impetus will be a priority but as nobody at the club has a suitable opponent at present there is no great rush. The Vikings are more likely to be back on the painting table as they will have more opponents, but that said I haven't had a game of Impetus in the last couple of months.

There will be more updates over the next few weeks as something has to be done about the increasing size of the lead mountain.

Cheers for now.

Back to the brushes

after a few weeks of no activity on either the painting desk or the blog here are few pictures of the almost completed Panzer Grenadiers for Disposable Heroes in 20mm. The figures are all from SHQ and are based on 20mm squares from Warbases - or other suitable sizes for 2 man elements and support weapons. Basing from Impetus has come in to good use here in trying to create a cohesive feel to the sections and the company as a whole as well as helping in the team bases.

HQ Section with attached Sniper

1st Squad

2nd Squad

Each squad has 2 MG34 teams which have been based in 2 differing ways to distinguish on the table as shown below:

The next few pictures show the company support elements:

The Buzzsaw

80mm Mortar

Panzerschreck Team

The final picture shows WIP on a 75mm IG and crew - where obviously the crew still have to see the working end of a brush.

There is still another 10 man section to paint and a few other support options; PAK 40, 120mm mortar and a second MG42 team to complete the company and support options. All being well this will be done and dusted by the end of the year. On that note, the Allied Spartan Phalanx and Macedonian Cavalry are next in line on the desk - all of which need a good dusting before any painting takes place.

Also a quick welcome to:

• Remco de Groot

Hopefully there will be more posts in the next few weeks as the Spartans have been dragging on and there are many plans within plans to complete in the future.

Cheers for now

Beginnings and retro figures

A good break has been had over the last week, with no computers or connection to the Internet. Its amazing how quickly you adapt to not having something that is now taken completely for granted.

On return from holiday a trip to the loft was made to return various items of luggage and assorted items to their respective storage places until the next time; during this time a brief raid was made into the lead mountain in search for some retro figures from the early eighties. The result is below:

This figure was probably one of the very first 25mm miniatures ever painted. No toning at this stage just block colours and orange sleeves. Don't ask why the choice of colours as the figure was painted in 1984 and the memory isn't that good. On reflection the blocking is fairly clean and considering the figure was painted in a mixture of enamels and oils, it still looks fairly crisp. The figure and his 7 other comrades - all from the Citadel C08 High Elves range - are now full stripped and awaiting undercoating. Line drawings of the range can be seen here; needless to say there may be a far bit of ebay searching over the next few months to try and complete this range. 

If anybody has any figures from this range, the Dark Elves and Half Orcs of the same era please contact me if they are no longer required as willing to trade or purchase.

Normal service will resume shortly as routine starts to set in and time presents itself for painting new and retro figures alike.

Also a warm welcome to:

• Geordie an Exiled Fog
• Craig

Hopefully the blog will continue to interest you as it continues to grow in the future.

Cheers for now

Welcome

to the following new followers:

• Amylum
• Greatwhitezulu
• TWD

Thanks for joining and hopefully you'll find something of interest and use in these pages.

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 3

Apologies for the delay since the last post but things have been a little busy here over the last two weeks. The month started well and then rapidly ground to a halt due a variety of reasons including motivation, graduating, work and a few other pressing matters.

The Spartan Allies will require a brief dusting before work can continue and this will not happen until early in August. As will the Macedonian Cavalry that gather dust beside the Allied Phalanx. Oh, and a few packs of phalangites and an armoured Seleucid Elephant arrived the other day from Aventine. They do not disappoint and will fit in well with the existing figures from Gripping Beast and Foundry. Yet more plans within plans to follow.

That said over the last few days 2 platoons of 20mm Late War German Panzer Grenadiers have been finished as a the result of a conversation regarding Disposable Heroes at a recent club gathering. Painters and wargamers tend to be butterflies when it comes to interests and completing projects - well this one is at any rate. This will also allow the opportunity to try out the "Road to Hell" from D& P in the near future. More details and pictures to follow shortly.

Thanks for your patience.

Cheers for now

Allied Phalanx Work in Progress

The first Allied Phalanx for the Spartans is actual meant to represent the Brasidians or Nedamodes. These are mentioned in Thucydides account of Mantinea as holding the left flank alongside the Sciritae. The figure below has been painted to show a lesser Spartiate who will be placed as the Brasidian's officer.

The figure is from Gorgon Studios and is shown with a foundry Hoplon at the top and a Gorgon Hoplon at the bottom. At present no decision has been made as to which shield will be used, although at present the large of the two is preferred. Sorry about the shadows, the ambient light not the best today.

Hopefully more pictures of the rest of the phalanx to follow shortly.

Cheers for now