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.

Hannibal antes Portas 4

This is an entirely new scale for me;  2mm something that at one stage I wouldn't have even entertained painting. Well painting isn't entirely the correct phrase, its more like dabbing with colour.

The miniatures are from Irregular Miniatures and were an idea my friend and fellow gamer. His idea was that I paint a Carthaginian and Republican Roman army and pick one, he would supply the figures. 

There are six stands of figures here, four skirmishers and two cavalry, with the furthest away cavalry being started the week before the Challenge so they are not included. All are based on 60mm front and the depths will vary as below: 

Skirmishers: 60 x 15mm

Medium and Heavy Infantry: 60 x 30mm

Cavalry: 60 x 30mm

Elephants: 60 x 40mm

Above the cavalry from the rear and then below from the front. 

These were entered into the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge as a Front Desk and New Acquisitions entry (902.2)

Looking forward to posting more work in progress pics and finished entries soon. 

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 359

RayR's recent post made me have a look at the calendar and realise that AHPC XIIII is 6 days away and I haven't started the ritual tidying of the hobby desk. The picture below shows the daily carnage that I call a hobby desk and a poor attempt has been made to start the tidy up.

More pictures to follow over the weekend - time allowing - including some of the prep work started for this year's challenge including:

• 28mm Republican Romans for SAGA: Age of Hannibal
• 28mm Carthaginians for SAGA: Age of Hannibal
• 28mm Late Romans
• 15mm Early Imperial Romans for ADLG
• 15mm Arabs for ADLG
• 15mm Thracians for DBA and ADLG
• 15mm Wars of the Roses for ADLG
• 6mm Punic and Macedonian Wars for Age of Hannibal (LittleWarsTV) and DBA

Looking forward to the off and following everyone's progress in paint. 

Cheers for now, 

Ross

 

A little bit of miniature Bingo

This was passed on to me from a friend who also blogs and games as a bit of fun. 

A simple little way to motivate yourself for painting in the new year:  Roll 2D5 and use the first for rows and the second for columns.

Have fun painting  as I am now changing the painting order on the Carthaginian warband for SAGA to the newest purchase rather than the most likely to be used. Will have one figures finished for Tuesday not all twelve of the levy unit. 

Cheers for now

 

Back to the Brushes 333

The AHPC XII is now in full swing and the entries are being posted by various challengers. Have started a few threads for this now. The pic below shows the variety in periods that are being worked on just now. 

Clockwise from the top left corner:

• Carthaginians in 28mm for SAGA
• Crusaders in 15mm for ADLG
• Hoplites in 15mm for DBA
• Sargonid Assyrians in 15mm for DBA
• Figures started before the AHPC began earlier this week
• Skeletons in 28mm for Fantasy skirmish
• Early Imperial Romans in 15mm for ADLG
• Fallschirmjager in 28mm for Chain of Command

A lot of there to keep the painting mojo going and some are parts of previously started projects whilst others are starting afresh for this challenge. 

More detail to follow shortly. 

Stay safe and cheers for now

 

Back to the Brushes 332

Will be starting another 30 Day Painting Challenge this evening although there will be a slight difference in this months Challenge: 

The difference being that the AHPC XII starts on the 21st December and from then on it's only miniatures that are prepped only - none already started. 

Prepping has been started and to be honest there is always enough on the sidelines to be starting with. First up will be some 15mm and 28mm being

• Sargonid Assyrians for DBA
• Carthaginians for SAGA
• Wood Elf Regiment of Renown for Oathmark
• Skeleton Warriors for Oathmark
• With various units to follow that will continue on with started projects from the last couple of years. 

As always 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 (As Many as You Can month) 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 - 21st December will be the end date of this challenge
• To post updates as often as possible
• Lastly to show a roundup post with a group picture of everything.

The Round up post for November 2021 will follow tomorrow or the day after. 

Hope that you will find this interesting.

Cheers for now 

Hobby Plans 2021

With the passing of 2020 hopefully soon to be forgotten by all its time to look ahead to 2021. 

A year of endless possibilities, change and new challenges? Probably all and many other things.

In terms of hobby plans for this year here is a brief outline:

• Successfully complete the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge XI
• Finish painting the following:

• 18mm Bavarians for the Seven Years War
• 28mm Prussian Landwehr
• 28mm Hoplites
• 28mm Caesarian Romans
• 28mm Phalangites
• 20mm D.A.K.
• 15mm DBA matched pair for the 2nd Punic War

• Try to game as often as possible virtually or once the vaccines are in place safely in person
• Develop painting skills further and possibly look into a basic airbrush set

That should keep things busy for the year without adding in any new shiney that might catch a magpie's eye. 

Stay safe and thanks for visiting

Cheers for now

Hannibal antes Portas 3

The following Ancient Spanish Infantry have been completed over the last couple of months and finally gotten round to texturing and flocking the bases. Can't beat a good flocking!

All the figures are from Gripping Beast's Punic Wars range and will form a part of both DBA and ADLG armies as allied, mercenary and core troop types.  Shown above are Iberian Scutarii on the left and Caetrari with mixed weapons on the right. 

All of the figures here have been painted using block base colours then wash and highlight with the base colour. The limited colour scheme speeds the process up and the end results pass the rule of three foot. 

Another stand of Caetrari below this time as skirmishers. 

There will be more completed pics soon along with some more work in progress after a few nights off the brushes with a swollen thumb. 

Hope that you found this interesting. 

Cheers for now

Hannibal antes portas 2

These have been lurking at the edges of the painting table for some time now so decided to finish them off during this challenge.

Yes, all the pictures were taken at the same time in the same light and yet the one above would appear to be on a grey base sheet rather than white, who knew. 

All of the light cavalry figures here are from Gripping Beast's Punic Wars range and are very versatile as they can be used in both sides and several others of the period including the Caesarian Romans. 

Might get a few more of these in the future although annoyingly they come in packs of three, meaning will need two packs for three stands. 

Think it is about time to go back to using the camera rather than the phone as these pics are washed out and fuzzy at time. 

The skirmishers are also from Gripping Beast and could do with some support from javelin armed troops in ADLG. 

Both the cavalry and infantry are based on 60mm fronts although the cavalry are on 80mm deep bases. Prefer the deeper bases as this allows more staggering of the horses giving more movement. Also allows more figures to be on a base to differentiate between light, medium and heavy cavalry more easily. 

The 60mm fronts will also enable these to be used in other systems such as Hail Caesar and DBA.

More to follow shortly.

Hope that you found this interesting. 

Stay safe and cheers for now.

Hannibal antes portas

Another new theme here and this time it is the start of a range of figures that are multi-purpose in Ancient Mediterranean warfare, Ancient Spanish and Iberians. 

The first stands for these versatile troops are two bases of Caetrati which will be used in both Carthaginian and Caesarean Roman armies for both ADLG and DBA. The figures are from Gripping Beast's Punic Wars range and have gathered dust for far too long in the lead mountain. 

Ultimately these will be a part of the Carthaginian army that will be started later on this summer. however do like to do a test stand or two before starting the bigger units. 

Painted using block, shade wash and then highlighting with the base tone which is quicker than layering with three tones although not as effective. When using the Rule of Three Feet they look very good and mean that two armies will be useable for gaming much sooner than thought. 

To follow these will be more infantry and then on to both light and medium cavalry.

Probably should swap the shields on the front base over so the colours are in a different order than that of the second base, however that is a task for another day. 

Hope you found this interesting.

Stay safe and cheers for now. 

Dance of Bronze 20

Recently completed and based these Greek slingers are from Foundry's original range of Ancient Greeks. 

As a result they are slightly shorter and thinner build than the World of the Greeks range however this does not stop them being used in the same armies. 

As these were the last two left to paint there was no option to vary the poses on this stand; it was advancing with sling as shown or nothing.  

As they are broadly generic figures they can be used for most armies in this period so will likely be a part of the Spartans and future Caesarian and Carthaginian armies for DBA and ADLG

Hope that you found this interesting. 

Stay safe and 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 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

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 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.