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. 

Dead Man's Hand 4

Over the last few weeks there hasn't been time to paint and blog so I have concentrated on getting a few things completed. Here are the first of these with another offering from Artizan Design's Wild West range for Dead Man's Hand.

As with other figures from this range these have been great to paint. Excellent sculpts with well defined features and clear lines throughout.

The left eye will really have to be touched up here. They say a camera never lies and this is poorly painted.

These figures pretty much complete the Lawman gang that has been painted over the last few months. This will allow some time for a few character figures to be added for more flavour in the future.

 Next up some small scenery elements for Dead Man's Hand.

Cheers for now

Analogue Painting Challenge Review

The 4th Analogue Painting Challenge has come and gone and its now time to review what was achieved against what was set. An ambitious target was set comprising of the following:

• Twenty-one Citadel Orcs from circa 1984-5
• A Lawmen Gang of nine figures for Dead Man's Hand
• A Bandito gang of nine figures for Dead Man's Hand
• Nine Sassanid Light Cavalry over three stands
• Fifty-eight Trojans and Mycenaeans for Impetus

Early on in the challenge, due to work pressures, the expected total was revised and much of the planned painting shelved. In the end the following figures were completed and submitted:

• Twenty-one Orcs
• Seven Lawmen
• Eight Mycenaeans including two casualty figures
• Three Thrilling Tales figures for Pulp Era games
• One Entry figure

This was not the one hundred and six figures planned for which was always ambitious. In percentage terms only thirty eight percent of my challenge was completed; that said everything that was completed was to a standard that I expect of my painting and am happy with. I can't ask for any more than that.

The painting challenge to me is about taking part firstly then painting figures. Its not about painting the most figures in the time given. I was disappointed that I lowered my total however, this was not the end of the world as by doing this I was still taking part. The real reward from the painting challenge is seeing other painters work and being part of the larger community and help this grow. The challenge shows that this hobby is more than just painting toy soldiers. 

Over the next few months the started figures from the challenge along with a with others will be appearing here. This will included the following:

• Seven Wild West figures from Artizan Design
• Nine Sassanid light cavalry
• Fifty Mycenaeans for Impetus

All of the above are in various stages of "started" and there are a few other figures in the same category that will be added. SAGA will be played more which will lead to more Dark Age figures too. There are some WW2 figures lurking for later in the year, but these and others are a long way off. Plans change painting as for everything else as we all know.

Lastly a warm welcome to two new followers:

• The Kiwi 
• Ed

Hope that you find something of interest here.

Cheers for now

Dead Man's Hand 3

Last entry for the Analogue Painting Challenge as below. The figures are again from Artizan Design and have been a pleasure to paint. There are a few more of this set to follow soon.

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 86

Despite all best intentions very little painting has happened here over this week. This means that regretfully the entry for the Last Stand bonus round of the Analogue Painting Challenge has not been completed in time to submit. Hopefully, the stand will be ready to go over along with a few other loose ends before the last day on Wednesday 20th March. Below are a few pictures of the loose ends as they
currently stand:

A few more casualties and a Dendra panoply clad warrior for the Mycenaeans. The face on the figure below isn't the best casting, however once the helmet is tidied up around the edges everything will look grand.

Below are another three retro figures from Citadel or Ral Partha in the eighties. The bottom Orc is actually licking his sword which will be interesting to paint. Great figures with loads of character to paint. The base coat for their flesh is Foundry Storm Green A which will, when finished allow for some subtle colouring on the flesh.

Another few figures from Artizan Design intended for Dead Man's Hand. The bottom figure will be completed this evening and the others are hopefuls for mid next week. Time will tell.

That is all for now but more work in progress pictures to follow shortly and then something completely different...

Cheers for now.

Dead Man's Hand 2

Here the Earp Brothers that will be used a part of a Lawman gang in Dead Man's Hand. The figures are from Artizan Design's and were great to paint. They have been sculpted based on the characters as portrayed in the Kevin Costner film Wyatt Earp and this has been used a the inspiration for the painting of the them.

Wyatt Earp

Virgil Earp

Morgan Earp

On each of the three figures the black has been varied so that there are subtle differences between each of the brothers. This shows a little better in real life, but hopefully it can be seen here too.

This figures have been submitted to the Favourite Character bonus round of the Analogue Painting Challenge.

Painting on the rest of the Lawman gang continues and four figures are very near complete. There are also some nearly completed Mycenaeans and a few more retro orcs. Pictures of all to follow this week.

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 85

Some work in progress pictures as promise of the current stand of Mycenaeans that are being painted. This stand will be part of the last submission for the Analogue Paining Challenge this year as well as being the centre piece for the infantry element of the Impetus army. The figures are all from Redoubt and the unit is slowly taking shape.

Below there are several hired hands from Artizan Designs that will be used to boost the Lawmen gang for Dead Man's Hand. These are also part of the painting challenge and are progressing well.

There are also three undercoated preslotta orcs hiding top left of the picture next to the brushes.

Lastly, there are the Earp brothers. The figures again are from Artizan Design and from left to right you have Virgil ( long coat), Wyatt pointing centre and Morgan advancing. Two of these are completed and will be based this evening, the other hopefully completed tonight.

That's all for now but there will be some more work in progress pictures very soon.

Cheers for now

And Now for Something Completely Different 18

Pictured below are a few Artizan Design figures that will be used as a part of some Pulp Hero gaming set in North Africa in the future. These have all recently been shown in the Analogue Painting Challenge.

These figures have been painted with a certain film in mind. The central figure should spark memories of Major Arnold Toht from Raiders of the Lost Ark. Well that's where the inspiration came from.

The Braune Bruder (Brown Brothers) are his hired helpers and will be part of his group in several games coming up in North Africa. Planned for the future are some of the DAK, again from Artizan Design.

As with all of the figures from Artizan theses have been a pleasure to paint.

Next up will be something Homeric and some work in progress pictures too.

Cheers for now.