Back to the Brushes 208

Hope that everyone had a great time over the festive period and are relaxing in preparation for the New Year. 

Today was the first real painting session for this year's Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge and a varied host of Undead have been started. 

The 28mm figures at the back include Mithril Miniatures and Citadel; both from back in the late 80's and early 90's.

In the foreground are more 15mm undead archers from Alternative Armies/15mm co. 

There are a few other figures in the wings that have been started. It's been a in the moment day so moved from one group to the other as the flow went. No worries just going with it and will see what the next session brings. 

Cheers for now. 

Season's Greetings

Ì

Merry Christmas to you all near and far.

I hope that 2019 brings you hope, faith and peace in whatever you do. 

Next year will be time for change and restarting faltered projects; regardless of hobby or real life.

Back to the Brushes 207

There are already points on the board and some fantastically painted miniatures to view in the Analogue  Hobbies Painting Challenge.

The painting table as it stands with the first figures for this year's challenge front and centre.

Next are freshly prepared Ancient Greeks from Foundry. These have now all been undercoated.

Will be a few days before there is any real painting time for these retro figures.

Cheers for now.

It was the night before

The Ninth Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge...

Every where was quiet and all over the blogosphere hands were as busy as elves preparing the Little Lead Men for the challenge.

Some of the Little Lead Men were very very little whilst others were a bit bigger but they were all shiny in the beginning. That is of course until the busy hands used the big grey and black spray clouds and covered their shiny cores up.

Soon the grey and black sprayed Little Lead Men would be brightly coloured with glorious colours so they would shine once again.

As the days lengthen after the winter Solstice follow the progress of the Little Lead Men as they follow in the footsteps of the first Little Lead Man recoloured after a long time in the darkness.

The question is; which one will be first?

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 206

The IX Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge starts on Friday 21st December and the prep is still moving towards completion. 

To add to the spirit of the challenge the Late Roman army currently based for Impetus will be rebased. 

Wargames Foundry Late Romans

Rebasing is the bane of many a gamer, for some the end of both system and army. To avoid selling the Late Romans and gain the most use of the figures; the frontage for the of the basing will be 60mm. Nothing new there, however this will allow ADLG, the DBx family, Hail Caesar and Impetus to be played.

On reflection, the hassle of rebasing is offset by the use it will offer in the future.

Cheers for now.

30 Days 30 Miniatures Painting Challenge Round up 4

This challenge was indeed that with mixed motiviation for the hobby in general this past 5 - 6 weeks.

The final challenge came this week with being away with no internet access or 4G. The feeling of isolation lasted for about an evening then the digital detox started. Recommend it to all - disconnect for a week it is rewarding. It also meant however that this post is late, the shame!

So, back to the challenge and yes it was a success with more than thirty figures being completed in time, just mind you.

Two 28mm figures for SAGA or any Dark Ages skirmish game in general. A Gripping Beast Viking on the left and a Foundry Norman on the right.

A Macedonian phalanx in 6mm with 27 figures on a 40 x 30mm.

A mix of stands for ACW gaming with figures from Freikorps (centre) and Old Glory on the outsides. The single figures are for break through markers and the others are casualty markers.

Here is the group shot of everything together; 37 figures in total including the terrain piece.

6mm: 27 infantry

15mm: 7 infantry

28mm: 2 infantry and 1 terrain objective marker.

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 205

Gathering of the host of prepped figures for the forth coming Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge IX.

In the centre there is a mixture of undercoated Macedonian Pike, Hypaspists and mercenary hoplites with a fair few El Cid Spanish foot. On the right there are undercoated and untouched Peltasts.

There is also a full 15mm Later Crusader army for DBA to be cleaned and undercoated for this challenge.

Decisions, decisions; what would you paint: Ancients or Dark Ages?

Cheers for now. 

Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge IX

This years Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge IX has been announced by the Snowlord himself.

To quote Gandalf from the Return of the King -

"The board is set, the pieces are moving. We come to it at last...

The great battle of our time."

Well maybe not a battle but certainly a frenzy of brushwork across the blogosphere and a great deal of fellowship as well. 

Keep following for future updates on the prep work for this year's challenge. 

Cheers for now

x

Back to the Brushes 204

Somethings take longer than others and this Viking Hirdman from Gripping Beast is a prime example of this.

What should have taken about an hour to finish off probably took double that. 

The problem lies with not being able to have a reasonable time at the painting table just now.  With both the motivation to paint and general energy levels being low; it's not having the time it is making the time spent painting count. 

Sat down at the painting table earlier today and felt like putting everything in a box and leaving only one figure there to be painted. With the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge drawing nearer and looking to participate for the 8th consecutive year perhaps a change will be better than a rest. What that change will be remains to be seen. 

Day: 22

Figures painted: 2

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 203

Slow progress for this 30 days 30 miniatures painting challenge with the scatter terrain piece below being the first completed item.

This will be used for SAGA Crusades and generic skirmish games.

The chaos of the painting table with a good few figures on the brink of completion; hopefully some will be finished soon as there are eleven days left in this challenge.

Day: 19

Figures completed: 1

Cheers for now.

Lest We Forget

Back to the Brushes 202

After over twenty years service the faithful paint pot finally gives in and dries up.

Never been a colour to see extensive use however; always useful when painting armour and metallics in general.

Now to try Foundry 35C Spearpoint. How will it compare and will it last the next twenty years?

Cheers for now.

Dance of Bronze 18

Shown here are the completed stands of Greek light cavalry for ADG.

Based on 40mm fronts allowing use with a variety of systems including ADG, Basic Impetus and Command and Colours.

Cheers for now

30 Days 30 Miniatures Painting Challenge

This evening will see the start of another 30 days 30 miniatures painting challenge. This will be the fourth in a row.

The theme this time is anything goes; foot, cavalry, vehicles and other creepers and crawlers.

The rules of the challenge are simple:

• To paint 30 figures of all shapes and sizes in 30 days
• The figures can be partly painted as the main point is to complete figures that have been forgotten
• Basing is not necessary to count as completed
• Any scale is good
• Too have fun
• The end date is set by your start date - 26th November will be the end date here
• To post updates as often as possible
• Lastly to show a round up post with a group picture of everything.

Below is a picture of the painting table as it currently stands

and anything currently on the table is fair game for this challenge

Take up your brushes, pick a theme and finish off some long stalled project. 

Cheers for now.

30 days 30 miniatures round up 3

The third 30days30 miniatures painting challenge has ended successfully reaching the target set.

Shown below are:

28mm - 8 including 1 piece of scatter terrain

15mm - 21 infantry figures

1/300th - 6 e-boats (not in picture)

Painting different scales and periods provides different foci and motivations.

The 28mm figures allow more expression and detail to be shown. These are painted with more focus on creating the best effect of light and shade through the use of layers and washes to do so. Increasingly, the focus is on figures as individuals rather than figures within a unit; this is regardless of the figures being part of a warband or larger unit. Realism is a part of this; even with fantasy figures as still looking for colours to look right and correct for the materials used. Sorry, no flurescent pinks here.

With the 15mm and smaller figures the massed effect is more relevant and a quicker and less detailed painting style is used. Self coloured undercoats help with this, for example; if the robes are to be white then the undercoat will be white. Speeds the painting up and allows the washes used to do their job - tone the figure. Brighter colours also add to this so rather than using black use a dark gray and let the wash do its job.

Not highlighting or drybrushing the figures keeps the muted colour effect looked for from the painting and helps the sculpting create the shaded areas along with the wash. When based and deployed in groups the mass effect is good and each stand strengthens the others.

So, what next? Well another 30days30miniatures painting challenge of course in preparation of the ninth Analogue Hobbies Painting challenge coming to the blogosphere soon.

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 201

This 30 days 30 miniatures painting challenge has come to an end. Below are the last figures painted for this challenge; a solitary Norman from Foundry and 18 Arabs from Essex.

Two different scals and two very different painting styles. The 15mm figures are painted using block and wash whilst the 28mm figure is layered from base colour to highlight.

Will post a full review of this challenge shortly.

Day 30

Figures painted: 30

Cheers for now

Fury of the North 22

Today is the 952nd anniversary of the Battle of Hastings.

The picture below by Angus McBride shows the moment when William, Duke of Normandy raises his helm to show he is still alive.

Below is another interpretation of the same moment however, this time from Colin Patten and Gripping Beast.

Not the best pictures however the natural light hasn't been the best when the free time has been available to take the pics. 

Cheers, for now.n

Back to the Brushes 200

Day 21 of this 30days30 miniatures painting challenge sees the continuation of the Romano Brits with another Hearthguard for SAGA

As with previous members of this warband the figure is from Gripping Beast.

A spontaneous decision last night saw the painting subject being taken from the rear. Worked out well and two long forgotten Foundry Normans saw some colour for the first time in over a year.

It would seem that the point of this painting challenge has strayed somewhat as there are more figures edging around the painting table than at the start. Need to sort this out and finish off some of those figures that are nearer the finish line than others.

Oh that and the fact that its the last third of this challenge.

Day 21

Figures painted 11

Cheers for now

Passing the line

Just noticed that this blog has crept past the quarter of a million views.

A huge thanks to everybody for their views and comments; it is really appreciated.

Cheers for now

Imperium Sine Fine 16

The first unit of hearthguard for the Romano-British/Arthurians for
SAGA warband.

The figures are from Gripping Beast and have stood the test of time well being about twelve years old. The shield transfers are all from Little Bigmen Studios.

These figures will fit in well with the newer Colin Patton sculpts available from Warlord Games which the cavalry look like particularly good figures for this period.

More to come shortly including progress in my current 30days30miniatures painting challenge.

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 199

Thirteenth day of the 30 days 30 miniatures painting challenge sees two very different items painted and finished.

First up is a generic piece of scatter terrain from the Lord of the Rings skirmish game from Games Workshop.

This will be used as an objective marker in SAGA and there is a second one that will be painted as desert terrain for use in Crusaders SAGA.

Next are six Eboats from Navwar. These are from a long stalled project for General Quarters. Due to the size and limited painting these will count as only one completed figure.

Day 13

Figures completed: 10

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 198

Day nine of this 30day30miniatures painting challenge sees a return to a long forgotten project - Mordheim. The figures below make up the first part of the Cult of the Possessed warband.

Shown above are three Beastmen from Black Tree Design. These required the shields and various small pieces of equipment painted and have done so for about ten years or so.

Next are two figures from the original warband, the Magister on the left as viewed and a henchman with the battleaxe on the right.

Deliberate choice of colours with red mask and emerald green robes on the magic user. These colours are used throughout the figures in this warband regardless of the status of the character. On both of these figures again there were only small pieces of equipment and personal items to be painted to complete.

In the background the next figures to be completed can be seen even if out of focus.

Day 9

Figures completed 8

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 197

Six days into this 30days30miniatures painting challenge and so far only three figures have been completed.

This time another stand of archers for the  Ayyubid Arab army in 15mm.

The figures are from Essex Miniatures and paint well.

Hope to have a good painting session over the next few nights to increase the tally of completed figures.

Day 6

Figures completed 3

Cheers for now

Imperium Sine Fine 15

The first post in a long time with anything from a favourite period of mine - the Fall of the Roman Empire.

This is the start of a Romano Brit warband for SAGA that may well double up as Late Romans as well.

To start here is the foot version of the Warlord with and without horn blower.

The figures are both from Gripping Beast and although getting on a bit in age are still great figures with the perfect character for this period.

The base is from Warbases and a milliput collar was added to hold the Warlord himself. When basing have tried to deceive the eye by blending the flock and tufts to make this appear as one base rather than a sabot.

Cheers for now.

30days30miniatures Painting Challenge

This evening will be starting another 30 days 30 miniatures painting challenge.

The theme this time is anything goes; foot, cavalry, vehicles and other creepers and crawlers.

The rules of the challenge are simple:

• To paint 30 figures of all shapes and sizes in 30 days
• The figures can be partly painted as the main point is to complete figures that have been forgotten
• Basing is not necessary to count as completed
• Any scale is good
• Too have fun
• The end date is set by your start date - 19th October will be the end date here
• To post updates as often as possible
• Lastly to show a round up post with a group picture of everything.

Below is a picture of the painting table as it currently stands

and anything currently on the table is fair game for this challenge

Take up your brushes, pick a theme and finish off some long stalled project. 

Cheers for now.

With a Rebel Yell 11

Recently completed command stand, out of ammo markers and a casualty marker for cavalry are shown below.

The command stand and out of ammo markers are from Old Glory's Blue Moon range.

The casualty markers are from Freikorps and were great to paint. Casualty markers often prompt the thought of getting and painting a few "flats" for the fun of it. Maybe someday...

Thanks for visiting.

Cheers for now.

Fantasy Hero 15

Finally completed and based, the mid level ranger figure from Citadel's AD&D range circa 1985.

Looks like the cloak might require an additional coat of varnish.

Originally started in the VIII Analogue Painting Challenge and recently completed in the 30days30miniatures painting challenge.

Some small horses and riders to follow shortly.

Cheers for now

30 Days 30 Miniatures Painting Challenge Round up 2

This 30 days 30 miniatures painting challenge was based on painting 30 Cavalry and was a success in the sense that 30 miniatures were completed in 30 days.

There were challenges; time away from home for a family funeral, the subject matter and the bane of all hobbies - real life. All that said have managed to complete the following:

6mm - 16 Greek Medium Cavalry

15mm - 6 Bedouin Light Cavalry and 6 Mamluk Heavy Cavalry

28mm - 1 Norman and 1 Late Crusader captains.

30 days 30 cavalry

From back left to front right by scale: 28mm, 28mm, 18mm, 15mm and finally 6mm.

Ayyubids, SAGA and Greeks

Painting horses has always been a challenge and have now finally worked out why. Its not the horse or the scale of the miniature as painting horse flesh is easy enough. Layering, drybrushing, stippling and washes can all be used to achieve good results for horses. No, the issue lies with the trappings on the horse.

 So, you paint the horse flesh add in stars, socks and strips as needed, colour and dry brush manes and tail. Voila, the trapping picks up various colours and finishes on the way. Time to pick out the trapping in black again before painting and layering another three colours on to it. This is an issue in larger scales and less so in the smaller scales.

Well, not anymore as have changed the way of doing this to one that will save time and sanity. Its simple, base colour then highlight with mid tone.

As all painters I am always looking for advice and ways of improving how to I paint; anything to help with horses would greatly appreciated.

Real life effects us all and devours the rarest of commodities - time.

Will be starting another 30 days shortly.

Thanks for visting and cheers for now.