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