Reconquista

This entry starts a new series for the blog - Reconquista - posts dealing with the forces clashing in Medieval Spain, both Moor and Christian alike during the El Cid era and later.

The first showing goes to the Black Guard, a centre piece for the Almoravids and Almohads armies.

The figures here are from Gripping Beast and stand out well in the rest of the army. The slight differences in the head gear making these figures suitable for the Guard unit they represent.

 

Painted and based as two separate stands of Foot Protected for Impetus these figures will be usable in both armies as normal or large units. 

The standard comes from Little Big Men as do the shield transfers. These really lift the finished unit and will give it some identity on the table.

There will be more for this army soon along with a few other items.

Lastly, a warm welcome to:

• r.a.e. gingerbhoy
• service ration distribution

Hope that you both find something of interest in these ramblings.

Cheers for now

Items for Sale

More items have been added to the Items for Sale page. If you are interested in anything please leave a comment.

Cheers for now.

Thirty Spears - A Challenge 6

Here are twenty Berber spearmen; ten completed and ten being painted at the moment. All figures from Gripping Beast:

More updates on a few different things to follow shortly.

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 89

Over the last few days the fellow below has been painted. This is the first figure for a base of Christian Mercenary Knights that will fit in with the El Cid and Norman eras well.

The armour still needs a dark wash to remove the nearly new look and a decision has to be made on the horse. The original Gripping Beast horses never really hit the mark. They paint up reasonably well, however the sculpting isn't the best. The decision to be made is whether or not to replace with newer sculpts, the problem being that this will mean replacing a lot of horse-flesh. Decisions, decisions.

In case you are wondering the figure represents William the Bastard, although the choice of weapon will not be a club and a shield is to be added to. It is the central figure after all.

More to follow shortly.

Cheers for now

And Now for Something Completely Different 19

Something a little bit different here and something that there will be a few more entries on in the coming months.

Shown above is the 1st Rifles Company for the ARC forces in Critical Mass. Some of these figures have been shown here before on different bases, but as all wargamers love to rebase their figures here they are again.

The  figures are from Ground Zero Games New Israeli 15mm range and will be the basis of an infantry company for the above game.

 An easy approach to painting these has been used and this style will continue throughout the army. The style consists of basing coating in GW Khemri Brown, detail picked out in black, washed in Devlan Mud or equivalent and then dry brushed. Nice, easy and simple. The basing is different from normal and is based on ready made plaster, base coating and dry brushing. Again nice, easy and simple.

The overall effect give a good wargaming standard that will allow the army to progress at speed along side more detailed painting for Impetus and skirmish based games.

Coming shortly from this range will be support units, a reduced infantry company, scout and assault walkers and grav tanks. All in good time.

More to follow shortly.

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 88

The first Back to the Brushes entry in a while. Pictured below shows the first of several stands of bow armed skirmishers for the El Cid period. Obviously these are in the very early stages of painting.

The figures are from Gripping Beast Andalusian range and for their age are still great figures. Looking forward to seeing their new Arabs in the near future.

There will be more to follow shortly.

Cheers for now

Thirty Spears - A Challenge 5

A quick update before the semi-final kicks off. The next ten Black Guard will be receiving weapons and shield decorations this evening and tomorrow prior to basing over the weekend.

Below is the start of a third unit of Black Guard that will again have two drummers but no standard. This will be the final unit of Black Guard with the following units of spearmen being standard Berber spears.

The first two units will be shown as two completed stands in the one go hopefully alongside the first of the skirmisher units for this period.

Cheers for now.