Back to the Brushes 422

 Painting cavalry has always been a bugbear for me. The horse it's self is not an issue; it the bloody harnesses! Cutting in a contrasting colour to the horseflesh to catch the eye and create uniformity is a bind. 

Normally. I'd paint everything from the inside out but in a moment of madness I changed my method and have tried black lining the trappings before the painting the base colour of the horse. Eureka! It works and has seriously reduced the bane in painting horse trappings!.

The horses above are for the Imperial Romans currently on the painting table and are the first wave of three. 

More to follow shortly. 

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 420

A work in progress up date on the auxilia archers from the ongoing Early Imperial Roman project. Using the word project instead of army as at this point it has no set direction. Might end up element based for ADLG. DBA or based singly for skirmish games such as Infamy, Infamy or Clash of Steel.

Either way these figures are nearing completion and the bases as pictured will be done shortly. 

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 419

It has been a few weeks since the last post, the Easter holidays have come and gone - way to fast - and it's now time to get back to the brushes. 

This post shows the start of another ancients project; the Early Imperial Roman army.  At this stage it is purely that as no decisions on basing or gaming systems have been made just yet. 

The bulk of the figures were acquired during the great hording also known as Lock Down and include Warlord Games plastics and Foundry in white metal. 

The figures above are for scale between Warlord Games (LHS) and Foundry (RHS). 

Syrian archers that came partially painted; their robes are changing colour to match a Peter Connolly illustration of the siege of Jerusalem. No reason other than that book has been with me for around fifty years now. 

Classic Legionaries in lorica segmentata with pila. These figures also came partially painted and are in the process of have their flesh painted. It's old school now but I always start from the inside out, so flesh first. 

There will be more to follow including some finished items from last month. 

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 418

The desk needed a good clean so over the last few days been spending a bit of time tidying up a few odds and ends.

Currently, there is a mix of Essex and Museum Miniatures Arabs and Crusaders in the center, flanked by a skeleton standard bearer on left and Thracian skirmishers to the right. Support to the rear from Thracian cavalry and Bundeswehr Gepards. 

Plenty of variety to keep things fresh. 

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 417

Back in May 2025 dug out some Foundry Spartans to start adding to the existing painted collection. 

In between painting three colour NATO camouflage patterns have tidied up the figures started last year and added in a few more. 

Sadly, the last of the mecrite red foundation paint has gone so the base for the red will be ever so slightly different. On that subject, the triad for the flesh is also different as shown on the original post. 

At this point undecided whether to use these figures as a new unit or fillers for existing units. Time will tell. 

Cheers for now. 

Back to the Brushes 413

Some changing faces in the form of werewolves from different manufacturers. Plastics from Warlord Atlantic's, metals from Old Glory and 3D prints from Highlander Miniatures. Can you spot which is which?

No, well above is a Warlord Atlantic werewolf and below front centre and below front right are both from Old Glory.

The unpainted miniature is the first of three digitally printed figures from Highlander Miniatures. 

Finding that being involved in two different projects whilst challenging is helping to keep the black dog away. Ironic really, given the colour scheme for these pups.

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 411

The last week has been busy with other things so as a result hobby time has lapsed as has blogging. So, it's time to get things back on track with some work in progress pics. 

With a first game of Kings of War beckoning thought it only right to spend some time on a character for the army. 

The necromancer was started a while back however, the skeletons rising from the earth are recent additions repurposed from damaged 3D prints. On the subject of 3D prints, here's the start of a few regiments of armoured zombies from Highlander Miniatures. 

It's not all the forces of darkness and death as there has been some progress on the M109 and M113 for the Bundeswehr forces for Team Yankee. Also in the foreground, there are two small objective markers for 15mm gaming in general. 

More to follow shortly as have some time set aside to bash on with these projects and others. 

Cheers for now. 

Back to the Brushes 404

Fresh start for 2026. 

That is the base coat of Vallejo Reflective Green down on this zug of Leopard 1s for Team Yankee

This is the start of a Bundeswehr force for Cold War games around either the Team Yankee or Centag rule systems. 

The rumble in the background shows the bits and pieces of two catapults for the Undead in Kings of War. So far, there has been more swearing than flying on these as there were no assemble instructions provided with these digital prints. 

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 403

Shambling hordes of undeath coming this way across the dark nights of winter cold 

Rebasing from 25mm hex bases to 25mm rounds to enable more generic use in skirmish gaming and easier sabot basing as shown. 

The sabot tray from Warbases is sized for a Kings of War Horde and holds 17 figures. 

Hoping to find time in between the festive period to finish the sabot and individual bases off. 

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 402

Turning the other cheek, with these Spartans from Foundry. 

After a long lull in painting Ancient Greeks and some inspiration from Saxon Dog Wargame Projects on Facebook starting to expand on the existing Spartans and their rebasing back in April 2019. 

Going for more variety in the skin tones for the newer figures, however planing on keeping the same shield imagery for each mora of Spartans.

There are a few gaps in the existing bases so will be painting a few additional figures to complete the bases off. 

The thoughts are to double the number of units to give 16 bases at 60 x 40mm. This will allow a reasonable number of Spartiates for a full DBA army and then moving towards Hail Caesar and ADLG. Depending on how the painting goes may add in a new mora as well. 

Cheers for now.

Fantasy Hero 24

Painted a few years back but only just getting round to posting now.

A retro figure from Citadel Miniatures circa 1984 and one of the first additions to a then small collection of figures for roleplaying games.

As there are a lot of Undead on the painting table, might dig a few more old bones out to see the light of day and a new coat of paint. 

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 401

Been playing with colour the other night, going back to mixing some tones from the base colour and layering from there. 

The base colour is from Vallejo Games colours Scurvy Green and the subsequent tones are mixed from this blended with Army Painter Skeleton Bone. 

It was refreshing to do this and rewarding to have that control and feel of the colours building up. Still to go back for a final highlight or two on the edges and a few other places, then several coats of Matt varnish to knock the sheen off, which is coming from the base colour.

A couple of casualty markers for the Undead hordes in Kings of War. These have been built from a triple 10mm dice cell, a 60 x 20mm base and some spare parts from the skeleton warriors sprues. The MDF parts are all from Warbases.

Cheers for now.

Reconquista 10

Time has moved quickly this month and there are a few things in the sidelines that have or will be completed for the AHPC XV. 

When starting a new project, regardless of scale I like to put a few stands up that will enable me to complete a core unit or two in the early stages of painting that project. Light infantry and skirmishers are often good in that role and will feature in most versions of the finished project when used. 

Here is the first of several skirmisher units for the recently started Tafia Kingdoms army in ADLG. 

Having used more "Christian" figures for this stand it allows further use of the figures in several different armies across the period. Great believer in getting the best use from a miniature. 

The Gripping Beast figures whilst old are still some of my favourite models for this period and the newer sculpts add a lot of flavour to the period. 

A few more finished items to follow shortly.

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 400

Over the last few weeks have been working on a few different projects. To say that there has been little progress would be an understatement, so, a little change of direction was called for. 

There is a steady stream of chat at work relating to Kings of War and the original plan was to paint Dwarves for this however, the figures that are available are mostly retro Citadel figures from a time when character figures made up the range. These are your friend if you're trying to create a new army for a new game. 

Enter the skeletons...

A stalled project that will enable a quick turn around on several based units; skeleton warriors and archers. Some are already finished, some have been partial painted a couple of years back and some are in the process of being painted now. The figures are from the Oathmark range.

Kings of War offers a basing option that is similar to Impetus in that the figures are multi based to suit. The basic infantry base is a troop sized at 100 x 40mm and this is doubled for a regiment.

In the immortal words of Blue Peter, here's one I made earlier from the previously painted figures. Base from Warbases and there are also movement trays to fit as well. 

More on these shortly. 

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 398

Something new, something old and something different. 

Something new - SAGA: Age of Chivalry Hundred Years War from Perry Miniatures. 

Something old - El Cid skirmishers in 28mm from Gripping Beast. 

Something different - 25mm Dwarves for Kings of War including retro Citadel figures at the rear and Ral Partha in the fore; a glutton for punishment. 

 More to follow on these shortly. 

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 397

Some work in progress pictures for the Romano Brits in two scales. 

Firstly, in 28mm Romano Brits from Gripping Beast to be used in SAGA and potentially Midgard; however that's a long long way away. 

These figures are the start of two points worth of warriors, to join the original hearthguard painted in AHPC X back in 2020; and yes, they are very much a project that have been in limbo for a long time. The shield transfers are from Little Big Men.

The second scale is in 15mm and includes light and medium cavalry for the Romano Brits in ADLG.

The picture includes horses for two stands of light cavalry, three stands of medium cavalry and a command stand. 

Lurking on the keyboard are figures from a newly started project in 28mm but more on them later in the week. 

Cheers for now. 

Back to the Brushes 396

Already two weeks into 2025 and already behind with painting plans. 

Have more partially painted miniatures on the desk than finished miniatures and more primed than partially painted. To be fair though that's not that unusual. 

As it's the start of another year - it's past time for New Year greetings - here is the beginning of something new. 

A base filler for Kings of War Free Dwarves Ambush force with a Troop of Ironclad Warriors at the rear.

Old Citadel figures for the above Ironclad troop and an Iron breaker at the front will give both units a definite retro look. 

More to follow shortly. 

Cheers for now. 

Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge XV

Winter has arrived and the prep for this year's Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge is underway. Having joined the lists again I am needing to find 500 points of 2, 10, 15 and 28mm miniatures to paint between December 21st and March 21st. 

Decisions are not always the easiest of things to make and can often change how the challenge runs. The initial running list includes: 

• 2mm Punic Wars
• 10mm DAK for O Group
• 15mm Romano Brits for ADLG
• 15mm Samurai 
• 28mm Romano Brits for SAGA
• 28mm Dwarves for Kings of War
• 28mm Hundred Years War for SAGA
• 28mm Christian Spanish 

There are more options, however, I'm looking to finalise a set list and point values from the above with a schedule to ensure that there is time to complete sections across the Challenge and to keep things interesting throughout.

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 390

 Sometimes you paint something because you want to

Frostgrave Cultist Barbarian

And some times because you've too bloody many half painted figures lying about

Xyston Thracians

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 386

It's been far from quiet here at Bases and Brushes; holidays, birthdays, shows and the daily humdrum of modern life has meant that there just hasn't been a moment to sit in peace and paint a wee man or two. 

Can't comment for others but painting, gaming and the hobby in general is often a release from the constant stream of distractions this digital age offers. Ironic, considering this post is a part of this digital age.

A place to sit for a while, to calm the mind and silence the barking black dogs and insidious whispering voices in your mind. A place to focus and draw on your creativity to summon peace and still your mind and do some colouring in.

Under coat, base coat, under painting, toning, layering, shading, stippling, dry brushing, washes, and glazes are all parts of the process, parts that when brought together make a whole and worthwhile past time.  

Given that space and time it's possible to do this

Gripping Beast Carthaginian Libyan spearmen veterans for SAGA.

A few more hearth guards added in.

Shield transfers from Little Big Men.

The start of a bigger unit of Hannibal's veteran spearmen. Figures again from Gripping Beast.

Base coat on for the flesh colour. 

The next point of hearth guard are on the painting table as well. 

Peace and time well spent. 

Cheers for now.