Imperium Sine Fine 15

The first post in a long time with anything from a favourite period of mine - the Fall of the Roman Empire.

This is the start of a Romano Brit warband for SAGA that may well double up as Late Romans as well.

To start here is the foot version of the Warlord with and without horn blower.

The figures are both from Gripping Beast and although getting on a bit in age are still great figures with the perfect character for this period.

The base is from Warbases and a milliput collar was added to hold the Warlord himself. When basing have tried to deceive the eye by blending the flock and tufts to make this appear as one base rather than a sabot.

Cheers for now.

#30days30miniatures painting challenge - summing up

Thirty days have come and gone and the painting challenge has been a great motivation to complete a good number of figures that have been gathering dust on the painting table.

Overall, the total number of figures completed came in at 55 broken down as follows:

6mm -  20 cavalry

15mm - 21 foot

28mm - 14 foot

The 6mm figures were all started and completed during the challenge. The 15mm was a mixture of part painted and unpainted figures and all of the 28mm figures had previously been started.

Here is the painting desk at the start, midway and at the finish.

Then past half way

At the finish line

This last picture shows all the painted figures together in a group shot. More detailed pictures will follow on themed posts shortly. 

The main motivator in this challenge has been to clear some figures from the painting table. However, as you can see there are still many more figures to complete; so what next? Well continue the 30days30miniatures painting challenge this time however there will be both a theme and a personal challenge. This is one in the same thing here as the challenge this time will be to complete - not necessarily base - 30 pieces of cavalry in various scales. The reason why? I dread painting horses and yet when finished they are so rewarding. 

So take up your brushes, pick a theme and paint 30 figures in 30 days! You know that you want to.

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 183

Day 21 and 22 sees another two Romano Brits completed prior to basing.

This finishes the first Hearthguard unit for the Romano Brits with all the figures coming from Gripping Beast's Age of Arthur range.

Something smaller for the next few days and hopefully some 28mm figures for the last dash to day 30.

Day 22

Figures completed 45

By the way somehow I have got the days wrong as this actually day 26 so the above figures were painted on day 24 and 25.

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 180

Day 18 and another figure completed in the #30days30miniatures painting challenge.

This time the figure is the horn blower for the Romano Brits SAGA warband from Gtipping Beast.

Shown on his own and as a part of the Warlord vignette for this warband.

More to follow from the first set of Hearthguard for this warband in the challenge shortly.

Day 18

Figures painted 42

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 179

Day 17 of #30days30miniatures and another figure completed. This time the first of the Romano British Hearthguard from Gripping Beast.

Also spent some time basing Arabs over the last couple of days and have the first elements ready to show as finished stands. These will follow shortly.

Day 17

Figures completed 41

Back to the Brushes 178

Day 16 in the #30days30miniatures painting challenge and the Warlord for the Romano British SAGA warband is finally completed.

The figure is from Gripping Beast and is a favourite from that range. When based he will have two different stand, the first and main stand will have a horn blower. The second will allow companions to be added as per the Warband rules.

To follow there will be the start of a hearth guard unit on foot and the horn blower.

Day 16

Figures completed 40

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 77

As promised here are few work in progress pictures of a variety of different figures on the painting table at present.

Above are Sassanid Light Infantry to be armed with javelins. Gripping Beast figures for the ongoing Sassanid Impetus army.

Below are two test Orcs for Songs of Blades and Heroes. These are being painted to try and work the colouring on the flesh for the up and coming Analogue Painting Competition. These figures will not be presented in the competition.

A Warlord for the planned Dux Brittanniarum warband. The blue was painted in the other day but not much progress on this figure in a while.

Another Elf for Songs of Blades and Heroes is shown below. Happy with the colouring on the flesh here, but unfortunately the eyes let the face down and will need some reworking.

Lastly, another two figures from Claymore Castings shown here after the armour has been block painted and washed. This is the first stage on the armour for these gents and there will be another three layers of paint added:

• Base coat
• Base coat mixed with highlight 
• Highlight only

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 67

The last session of painting saw some brush work on a couple of character figures for two very different games. The first a Warband leader for Saxons in Dux Brittanniarum. The figure is from Musketeer Miniatures and was one of those figures that just had to be bought. There are currently two versions being painted, one of which is for something just that little bit different, but more of that when it is complete.

Also some time has been set aside for the first of the Elves for Songs of Blades and Heroes. This figure is again an old Citadel figure from the early eighties, sculpted by Aly Morrison if memory serves correctly. These retro figures are perfect for skirmish games such as Songs of Blades and Heroes and this one may also see some action in a newly started The One Ring rpg game.

The first stand of the Sassanids is now also completed and is being based at present. Will be using a slightly different approach with the basing for this army and not using ink washes on the textured base prior to dry brushing. More will be explained by the pictures of the stand when completed.

Cheers for now