Back to the Brushes 251

Last session preparing for this year's Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge with everything laid out waiting to be primed or already primed. Not planning on painting everything here in the challenge, just hoping to make a good start on it.

Not shown here are the Samurai or the 6mm Greeks and 15mm Arabs as they are already prepped and gathering dust elsewhere.

The first figure to be painted has still to be decided however, looks like it will be something for the Challenge Island in 28mm.

More of this and other things later.

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 250

As the year draws to an end a new beginning starts: The Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge X, X Marks the Spot.

Prep for this has been underway for some time and has deliberately not been specific to either scale or period offering a variety of choices throughout the challenge.

The question to be answered is what options are there? Well lets see:

• 6mm Ancient Greeks and Macedonians from Rapier Miniatures
• 15mm Arabs from Essex, Minifigs and Old Glory
• 15mm Spartans from Xyston
• 15mm War of the Roses from Gladiator Miniatures
• 20mm WW2 US vehicles from Frontline and AT guns, support weapons and crew from Platoon 20
• 20mm WW2 DAK from SHQ
• 28mm Gondor infantry and cavalry from Games Workshop
• 28mm Late Romans from Foundry and Gripping Beast
• 28mm Prussians from Calpe, Perry Miniatures and Warlord Games
• 28mm English Civil War from Warlord Games
• 28mm American Civil War from Perry Miniatures
• 28mm Moors from Gripping Beast
• 28mm El Cid Spanish from Gripping Beast
• 28mm Samurai from Perry Miniatures
• 28mm Claymore Casting Gallowglass for the Men of Lossarnach in Lord of the Rings
• 28mm Carthaginians from Gripping Beast

As always this only an indicative list of where painted figures will come from and for some of these there are only four or five figures rather than full units or more. 

Looking for progress over a variety of projects in this year's challenge and think the list above gives that and more.

The start date is December 21st 2019 and looking forward to getting some painting done in this year's challenge; the ninth time of being involved.

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 249

30 days have come and gone and very little painting has been done.

The last painting challenge has passed and the future holds many things both new and old, decisions bright and dark, roads to be crossed and travelled. More of all of that later.

These figures have been sitting still for the last month, soon to change.

Prep for the Analogue Painting is near complete with a wide range of miniatures waiting to be painted. Ancients, English Civil War, Napoleonics, WWII and some fantasy figures thrown in for good luck. More of this and some finished ipieces shortly.

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 248

Started on the next group of Confederate infantry for Fire and Fury and the like.

Additions to the growing Confederate force are coming on at a steady rate with artillery and cavalry planned for the future.

Cheers for now.

Lest We Forget

With a Rebel Yell 14

The last of the Confederate Infantry recently completed in previous 30 Days 30 Miniatures Painting Challenges.

The figures are from Old Glory and this time in firing line.

More from this range later in the year or early next year.

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 247

Recently started a 30 days 30 miniatures Painting Challenge and these will be finishing up soon.

Gripping Beast Caetrati are the last skirmishers for the Caesarian Romans and the first for the Carthaginans.

Block painted over a light grey undercoat (Halfords grey primer to be correct) then washed with Army Painter Strong Tone.

The final stages will be to highlight the figures with the base coat colour before basing.

Cheers for now

With a Rebel Yell 13

Confederate infantry advancing from Old Glory. The command stand was painted earlier this year. 

The other five bases were painted during the first 30 days 30 Miniatures Painting Challenge or was it the second.

The Old Glory figures have great character amd paint up well. There will be more of these sooner and later.

Cheers for now.

Fury of the North 23

So the figure is not a Norseman or Germanic Tribesman, nope he is a Briton or perhaps "the" Briton; Merlin. 

From Footsore Miniatures and to be honest a bugger to paint. Not because of the figure itself; the choice of colours picked just didn't sit well on the first run. The grey of the cloak had too much blue in it against the bone colour used.

So, repainted the cloak in Foundry Granite B, a murky grey/green colour. The whole figure was then washed in Army Painter Strong Tone and there you go.

More finished figures to follow shortly.

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 247

Starting another 30 Days 30 Miniatures Painting Challenge tonight, 2nd November. Opting not to have a theme in this challenge as the free flowing approach suits better at present

The outline of the challenge is detailed below, however the main point being to have fun with your hobby.

• To paint 30 figures of all shapes and sizes in 30 days
• The figures can be partly painted at the start 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 - 2nd December will be the end date of this challenge
• To post updates as often as possible
• Lastly to show a round up post with a group picture of everything.

Nothing to show yet, although the round up picture from the last challenge will be posted soon. 

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 246

Somewhere in the melee below there is a germ of a plan.

Might not look like it now however, it is there.

November will see another 30 days 30 Miniatures Painting Challenge starting up after almost 3 weeks with no real hobby output. Real life does take over from time to time.

December will be prepping and getting ready for the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge if it is on this year. Will be the ninth for me if it does go ahead.

Then year end, wow how did we get to here so quickly?

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 245

Yesterday was the last day of the current 30 Days 30 Miniatures Painting Challenge; which earlier this week looked like it was not going to happen.

A last push at the finish line made the following possible:

First up are Confederates from Old Glory. These 15mm figures are animated and characterful; just what you need for charging the Union lines.

Next, an old mid nineties skeleton from Citadel or Marauder Miniatures. A great figure to paint, perfect for finishing off a painting challenge.

Completed this challenge:

Day 30 - 34 figures completed.

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 244

Where has the time gone? October already, OMFG, how did that happen?

30 Days 30 Miniatures Painting Challenge? Struggling this time and only two days left...

Finished off Merlin earlier this week. The figure is from Footsore Miniatures and would suit any Dark Ages Shamanic type for that matter.

Day 28 - 18 figures completed.

Can the time be found to finish off another 12 figures; will give it a go and see what comes of it.

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 243

Quick update on this month's 30 Days 30 Miniatures painting challenge:

The leader figure for the Spartans in Mortal Gods. The figure is from Footsore Miniature and very nice, however the separate sword hand is small as is the wrist it is attached to. Too small to be pinned, other than that a great figure to paint. 

Day 25 - 17 figures completed

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 242

This update for the 30 Days 30 Miniatures shows another five completed Gripping Beast Norman crossbowmen. This takes the total to ten, four to be based for ADLG and six to be based singly for skirmish games and WAB.

A versatile set of figures that will see use as Normans, obviously; Christian Spanish and mercenaries for the Viking and El Cid periods and even First Crusaders.

Day 16 - 16 figures completed

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 241

Another quick up date and another three Arab archers from Essex Miniatures.

Day 15 - 11 figures completed

More to follow shortly.

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 240

Been a hectic the last few days of this week and as a result the updates have slowed down.

So here is a quick post to change that:

Three 15mm Arab archers from Essex Miniatures.

A few more of these to follow shortly.

Day 11 - 8 figures completed

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 239

Another update from this months 30 Days 30 Miniatures painting challenge.

This time the completed figure is a Wargames Foundry World of Greeks skirmisher. This figure will be used along side Spartans, Greeks and Macedonians, a great versatile figure.

Day 4 - 5 figures completed.

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 238

A quick up date on this months 30 days 30 miniatures painting challenge.

A Hun horse archer from Grippong Beast and a command stand for Ayyubid Ghulams from Gladiator Miniatures are now finished.

Day 3 - 4 miniatures finished

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 237

Started another 30 Days 30 Miniatures Painting Challenge last night, 3rd September. Opting not to have a theme in this challenge as the free flowing approach suits better at present

The out line of the challenge is detailed below, the main point being to have fun with your hobby.

• 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 - 3rd October will be the end date of this challenge
• To post updates as often as possible
• Lastly to show a round up post with a group picture of everything.

Work in progress pictures of five Gripping Beast Norman crossbowmen and a long forgotten Hun now very near completion.

So, pick up your brushes, dig out some half painted and half forgotten figures and show it some colour.

Cheers, for now

30 Days 30 Miniatures Painting Challenge round up August 2019

Here is the round up picture of last month's 30 Days 30 Miniatures Painting Challenge. 

Now to clarify what is here and what is missing. All are 28mm unless stated otherwise:

• 12 ACW Confederates in 15mm
• 5 Foundry Viking Berserkers
• 5 Gripping Beast Norman crossbowmen
• 2 Gorgon Studios Spartans
• 2 A&M Arabs at camp in 15mm
• 2 Gripping Beast Numidian Skirmishers
• 1 Gripping Beast Moorish spearman
• 1 Citadel plastic skeleton

Not shown in the round up pic as they are now at their owners house

• 1 Foundry Viking Berserker
• 1 Red Box Human hunter

This takes the tally for the Challenge to 32 figures completed in 30 days. 

The next 30 day challenge will start this evening.

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 236

This month's 30 Days 30 Miniatures painting challenge finished late last night with these figures being completed in time.

Included in this picture there are Arabs from A & M, Confederates from Old Glory and the last of the Foundry Vikings that have been getting painted for a fellow gamer recently.

This takes the total tally for this challenge to:

30 days - 32 figures painted.

Group shot to follow shortly.

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 235

Not been so good with the regular updates in this 30 days 30 miniatures challenge; however have still been painting steadily away.

A wide range of figures including Foundry Vikings, Gorgon Miniatures Spartans, Gripping Beast Numidians and Old Glory Confederates.

Day 29 - 23 figures painted. 

Last session tonight to finish off another Viking, some Confederates and a Moor or two. 

Cheers for now. 

Back to the Brushes 234

Another progress update on the 30 Days, 30 Miniatures painting challenge currently ongoing. This time only two figures completed.

Firstly, a Moor from Gripping Beast that is needed to complete a stand of heavy infantry. This figure was originally started earlier this year and has just languished behind everything else.

Next, is a plastic skeleton from Citadel or Games Workshop or whatever they are now branded.

Originally started in last year's AHPCIX, it wasn't finished before the end of the challenge. Might have been supersition as it would have been the 13th of its lot, might not have. So its finished now and regardless of when it was finished it will always be the 13th of its lot.

Day 19 - 9 figures completed

Better get a move on as time is marching on.

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 233

Further progress for the 30 Days 30 Miniatures with a Moor and five Norman/Christian Spanish Crossbowmen completed.

The next five crossbowmen are already underway below.

The colour of the tunics is more muted than that of the finished crossbowmen which will give the finished units a slight variance in colour.

Next will be more Numidians and Spanish skirmishers for the Caesarian and Carthaginian forces that have been getting worked on.

Day 11 - 8 finished figures

Cheers for now 

Back to the Brushes 232

As mentioned in the last post another 30 Days 30 Miniatures Challenge was started earlier this month. To outline the basis of these personal challenges here are the guidelines used:

• 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 - 2nd August 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.

Simple enough and the real point is to have fun. So on day 7 here are the first two completed figures. 

The figures are from Foundry on the left and Red Box on the right. A father, son pair for a role playing campaign in a semi historic and magical Arthurian world. The Foundry figure is the son!

Day 7: 2 figures completed. 

More updates to follow shortly. 

Cheers for now. 

Back to the Brushes 231

Been a struggle over the last week and a half to get some good time to paint; however that changed in a positive way last night and a good start was made on the mercenary crossbowmen for all things Dark Ages.

Below is the bedlam on the tray just now with a lot of Greeks in progress held up by a delayed, well not delivered, paint from a reputable figure supplier. The crossbowmen are on the pallette - ceramic tile - and and will be used as Mercenaries, Normans, Christian Spanish and even First Crusaders.

There are another dozen of these to be painted that will be used for ADLG and Hail Caesar in the future. Those shown below will see use in SAGA and WAB. Yes, that's WAB.

The figures are from Gripping Beast and will be the first figures for the 30 Days 30 Figures challenge started yesterday. Full details on the next post.

As mercenaries in WAB the crossbowmen will see action with a Norwegian based Viking army at 1,000 points. More of that in the future.

Cheers for now

Fantasy Hero 18

 Another figure from this year's AHPC, and this time a classic Citadel Dark Elf.

An age old favourite and painted as the Curtgeld for this year's challenge. Hopefully over the remainder of the year there will be more from this range appearing over the internet as the darker nights come in.

A simple colour scheme with Madder Red taking centre place on the cloak - obviously. The pale flesh is a Citadel paint triad that will have to Google to replicate on future Dark Elves.

Cheers for now

Imperium Sine Fine 18

The blog has been neglected a bit over the last few weeks with the start of an instagram page: @brushesnbases. Not looking to stop blogging just moving forwards with tech a bit. The real challenge with the two feeds is not to duplicate.

So it's, time to show some completed work from this year's Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge. The stand below is a command stand for Late Romans in ADLG. 

The colours picked for this figure tie in with two infantry units that are being re-purposed presently for show here. Matching in to a figure painted almost fifteen years ago was entertaining as elements of my painting style have changed over the years.

Base from Warbases as were the tufts and scenic decor.

Hope that this is something of interest to anyone who is looking.

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 230

Moving onwards and upwards wirh the Caesarian Romans from Gripping Beast.

The next stand to follow shortly along with something old

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 229

Yet another work in progress picture of the Caesarian Romans.

Artifical light really is no good for photographing miniatures.

That's more like it.

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 228

Work in progress on the Caesarian Romans from Gripping Beast.

The block and wash method of painting is working well for these figures which are currently out of production with no immediate plans to re-release sadly. Will keep looking for a few more on evilBay and various forums.

High lighting and shields next then on to basing. Might even have some finished figures to show soon.

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 227

Steady progress on the first batch of Caesarian Romans from Gripping Beast.

Pilums at the ready, the first troopers have only their shields to finish before varnishing. 

As previously mentioned these have been painted by blocking base colours and then washing with Army Painter Strong Tone wash. The bronze, flesh and tunic have then been highlighted with the base colour to lift key areas of the figures. 

Below, the first command figures prior to the final colours being blocked and the washed. 

The paints used for the are:

Flesh: Foundry Flesh B

Tunic: Foundry Scarlet A

Armour/metal: Citadel Chainmail

Bronze: Vallejo Old Gold

Leather: Foundry Dark Flesh A or Foundry Buff Leather A

Lion head dresses: Foundry Rawhide B

Weapon shafts: Foundry Spearshaft Brown B

Another eight are well on their way to being fully base coated in this style giving the project sone momentum. 

More work in progress to follow shortly. 

Cheers for now.