Back to the Brushes 327

 Since it's October and the Battle of Hastings was in October here are few Normans of very different sizes.

First up, is a Norman Milite from Gripping Beast that has been waiting a few brush strokes to finish him off. Another versatile figure range that can be morphed into El Cid Spanish and 1st Crusaders and early Feudals as well. This figure is part of a Hearthguard unit for SAGA and other skirmish games as well as the possibility of WAB at smaller point games. 

Next are two stands of missile troops for a Norman DBA army in 6mn. Crossbows to the left and archers to the right. The base sizes are the sames as would be used for 15mm figures just a few more figures per base. The first units of spearmen are on the painting table just now but most likely to be next month before they are here. 

The same versatility will be available with these figures once finished and they'll see a fair bit of use in the future. 

This takes this month's tally to:

6 x 28 mm infantry

1 x 28mm cavalry

12 x 6mm infantry figures

Getting there and the 6mm figures are a bit cheeky but still count. 

Hope you found this interesting

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 326

The next batch of painted Moorish archers are below; figures from Gripping Beast's Moors range. 

The brighter colours used here are to reflect an Andalusian influence whilst the stark contrast below with the black for more of a Moorish feel. Both are purely artistic licence 

A versatile range of figures that will see use in both SAGA: Age of Crusades and Lion Rampant and possibly a few other skirmish styled games as well. 

This takes the tally this month so far to:

6 x 28mm Infantry

Still a fair bit to go but there is a lot in the side lines at present. 

Hope that you found this interesting. 

Cheers for now. 

Back to the Brushes 325

Still working on these two buildings from Warbases. The walls are textured, base coated and washed ready for the layering to finish and the tiles - where applied and base coated are ready for drybrushing and weathering. 

Window frames and woodwork still to be worked on and then there is the front porch - to flagstone or not to flagstone?

A lot of potential for gaming in 28mm with these kits as the roofs lift off but more on that later. 

 The next posts will show other progress on figures and such stuff. 

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 324

More Moorish archers for SAGA today and getting near to the final paint session with both groups. The figures are from Gripping Beast and still hold up well considering their age. 

Starting to get the jist of Contrast paints and seeing a lot of potential with them for certain things especially as using as glaze to bring colours together.

Still to complete any figures or terrain this month but there are a lot of items on the painting table. That's part of the problem, needing to focus more on a single element and get it done rather than butterflying around from one shiney to the next shiney. 

Hope that you found this interesting and stay safe. 

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 323

A brief update for this month's 30 Days 30 Miniatures and the initial pics of the two buildings currently on the painting table - Warbases Veni Vidi Vici range barracks A and B. A is on the left as viewed and B, well it's obvious isn't it, sits next to A.

The starting point for these after building is to create additional texture. The tiles are from Warbases and the mix for the exterior walls is a blend of PVA, paint and very, very fine sand. Once the roof tiles are in place on both buildings it will be time to start colouring in. Washes and layers will provide the basis of this with contrast coming from the windows, doors and woodwork on the porch. Will look at possibly weathering these buildings further by using weathering powders.

As the barrack blocks can be displayed singly or together will be looking at painting the roof and long walls in a single session to keep the colours close to each other. The gable ends will be done next before looking at the windows, doors and woodwork at the front of the buildings. 

More work in progress pics to follow

Cheers for now and stay safe

30 Days 30 Miniatures Painting Challenge - October 2021

 Will be starting another 30 Day Painting Challenge this evening and continuing the catch up on the growing shortfall from recent months. 

For the 30 Days 30 Miniatures Painting Challenge there is no theme to this, just to paint and complete 30 miniatures regardless of their starting condition or size. 

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 - 31st 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.

Hope that you will find this interesting.

Cheers for now 

Back to the Brushes 322

There goes September as we move into October and the last quarter of 2021 and another 30 days 30 Miniatures Painting challenge has ended. 

September's painting

A few different periods and scales here this month as well as picking up on stalled projects. 

From left to right there are the following:

1 x 28mm ruined classic column from Templar Wargames

1 x 28mm Norman archer from Gripping Beast

3 x 28mm Moor archers from Gripping Beast

4 x 28mm Fallschrimjager snipers from Warlord Games (Centre) and Artizan Design

9 x 15mm Early Imperial Roman Legionnaires from Plastic Soldier Company

This takes the total for September to 20 completed figures including the building for Warbases. Short of the total however, there is a lot sitting so near finished that October will be a full on month.