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 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 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.

Back to the Brushes 374

A couple of test figures for the Christian Spanish re-conquistadors to give the Moors a worthy opponent. 

The figures are from Gripping Beast's El Cid range that will also morph into early Crusaders if the opportunity raises. 

Will be using a range of muted reds, yellows, warm greys and beiges across these figures. Not wanting complete uniformity in the units but will use colour to show better units from their peers.

Back to the Moorish cavalry soon. 

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 373

Sat last night and continued colouring in these two Hearth Guard minis for the Moorish Warband. 

Gripping Beast figures with their older style of horses that don't depict the pride of Andalusian horse flesh that well. 

Have opted for darker shields for the Hearth Guard so the small details jump out in various hues of yellow. 

After that, there is only a few bits of equipment to finish on this pair before moving on to the next two. 

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 372

Continuing on with the theme of El Cid and with a nod to Dean's superb WAB Corner blog I am picking up on a Moorish Warband for SAGA.

Original started prior to the pandemic, this project stuttered out early in 2020 leaving the Warlord and his Hearth Guard to finish for either a four or six point warband.

Every warband in SAGA has a Warlord and above is a work in progress pic of the Moorish Warlord from Gripping Beast. 

A single piece miniature, well sculpted and cast has been enjoyable to paint. 

Unlike the rest of the warband, I've used brighter colours - yellows to be precise - for the majority of the clothing on this character. A theme that will carry on to the Hearth Guard unit to follow shortly.

Hope that this has been of interest to you. 

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 371

It's been a while since my last post here, almost three months to be fair. Could say this has been because of real life, lack of motivation or just plain couldn't be arsed. A combination of all three would be about right. 

So, in an effort to rid all three malaise I am starting a new project in 28mm: El Cid Spanish and Taifa Kingdoms.

Above, shows the first figure for the medium/heavy spearman. The red in the top left image is base coated with Mechrite red from Games Workshop's old foundation range. Each picture moving clockwise then adds a layer of Foundry Red Shade, Mid tone then the highlight.

The figures will in the main come from Gripping Beasts fantastic El Cid period range with a few here and there from other suppliers such as Artisan Design and Crusader

The four spearmen above will make up the rear rank of the first stand. The yellow, is the Foundry Yellow Ochre triad. The central red is the Foundry Madder Red triad again over Mechrite Red, which is perhaps too strong a base tone for this red. 

More to follow with these and a few older projects shortly. 

Fury of the North 28

It has been a while since I've painted Vikings in any numbers and since rebasing those that have already been painted on to 40mm squares for Hail Caesar there will be a good few coming this way soon. 

First up are the three on the left of the conga starting with the bare chested axeman.

The other figures are all repurposed from a SAGA warband that wasn't getting any use, so rather than paint more figures yet more rebasing happened. The bases are from Warbases, my friendly local gaming store. 

The berserker winding himself up by baring his chest is from Shieldwall Figures available through Gripping Beast. The overly hairy bare chested warrior is from Wargames Foundry with the rest of the motley crue hailing from Gripping Beast. 

Painting figures for the Dark Ages allows a lot of freedom with colour,  poses and general outlook of the figures. Something that you find less of in later periods and some earlier periods as well. This allows more creativity with the painting and posing of finished figures for the final bases. 

There are a dozen or more Vikings on the painting table at present along with a few other projects that are far more regimented so it will be good to break the monotony of production painting in these guys. 

Cheers for now. 

Back to the Brushes 369

Challenge Update

As the AHPC XIII starts it's final fortnight here are a few of the hopeful's for last posts. 

The Viking with the bared chest and the ochre tunic and axe wielding loon to his left have already made the pass. The question is how many more will go with them. 

Pictures to follow of some finished 15 and 28mm figures. 

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 367

Is there ever a good time to revisit a past project; perhaps in the last four weeks of the AHPC XIII isn't the best time or maybe it is. 

Over the last few weeks have had a hankering to return to the Dark Ages, to an age of raiders, ravagers and raven standards, an age of Vikings! 

This has been promoted by the arrival of Hail Caesar 2nd Edition and a brief conversation with a gaming friend; the Dark Ages are calling. 

A quick survey of the painted Vikings not currently based for any specific rules worked out at nine fully painted bases of Hirdmen and three of Bondi; a bit of painting time required to make this a viable gaming force however, it is a good start. 

The picture above shows the start of some frothing loons for the bondi troops and a few more Hirdmen to full out the ranks. 

As none of these have been started before the 21st December 2022, any completed will count towards the tally of the AHPC. A tally, that is far lower than it should be this far in. 

Anyways, enough rambling for now. 

Cheers!

Back to the Brushes 364

Pushed on through the veil of a cold to continue with two very different sets of Romans:

Republican Roman Triarii from Gripping Beast for Age of Hannibal and 15mm Early Imperial Romans from Plastic Soldier Company and Essex Miniatures for ADLG.

Still really like the Gripping Beast Republicans although many now prefer Victrix and Aventine for this period. 

The temporary hold - shields and transfers - on the EIR has now been resolved and will be looking to get some progress on these this week for future AHPC XII posts.

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 362

 Been painting some flesh tones on these poor bloody pedes for the ever expanding Late Roman project. The final highlight has to be added and then it's on to helmets, armour and the like. 

In total there are 16 figures here that have not seen any paint prior to the shortest day of 2022 with another two off screen when the pics were taken. These 18 will count towards the AHPC XIII whilst the others are just along for the ride. 

The figures are from Gripping Beast and are still firm favourites here for this period. There is something in the sculpts that captures the varied and failing nature of the Late Roman period. 

At this point no choices have been made as which unit they will represent although its likely to be less prestigious unit, perhaps one with a plain shield to avoid using transfers for a change. Still plenty to do before making that call.  

Feel that a dose of focus is required as these have jumped the queue in front of their smaller and earlier kin of EIR Legions.  Still waiting on the post to sort out a small parcel so they can get back on track. 

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 353

 A few of items currently on the painting table at present. 

The second part of Black Guard spearmen for Almorahads in ADLG with first two stands very nearly finished. 

A unit of medium Turkopol cavalry for the Late Crusaders in ADLG

A classic figure from Citadel Miniatures back in the day; a Viking from the Kremlo scenario 

The start of the first unit for Republican Romans in SAGA: Age of Hannibal. Figures from Gripping Beast. 

Some completed figures to follow shortly. 

Cheers for now. 

Back to the Brushes 349

Another addition to the army that is never finished: the Late Romans.

This time a stand of Light Infantry archers for ADLG or whatever in 28mm.

The figures are Gripping Beast's Romano Brits and paint well although the posing is somewhat static.

This takes the total so far this month to: 

8 x 15mm Infantry

1 x 15mm Elephant and crew

2 x 28mm Infantry

There is still one night to paint on and there are a few bits sitting to be photographed that will help with the numbers. 

Cheers for now. 

Back to the Brushes 342

Snuck in twenty minutes painting time this morning before heading to work.

The figures are Gripping Beast Romano Brits that are being painted to add to the main 28mm Late Roman army for ADLG eceteria 

The tunics have a base coat of GW Dheneb Stone, a soon to be finished pot of paint that the newer GW paints just don't match.

The base colour will be lightened by light grey then white for the final highlights.

Hands and bows are done and will be added in this evening once the tunics, belts and accessories are painted.

The command figures that were started alongside these will be up soon as starting to get a bit of interest in painting again. 

Cheers for now.

 

Back to the Brushes 341

Rebasing is the bane of many a wargamer and it's no different here which is why these have sat in their storage box over the last 2 years waiting to be textured, flocked and tufted. 

The above Late Roman Equites Primo Sagittarii where originally painted and based back in 2013 for Impetus. They have now been joined by another unit below and both are now based on 60mm fronts for use in ADLG and anything else that suits. 

All the riders are from Gripping Beast as are the unarmoured horses. The armoured horses are from Footsore although they were originally purchased from their predecessors Musketeer Miniatures. 

The colour scheme was developed from the images on the Notitia Dignatitum shown below. in the second row, second from the left:

Used the red as a spot colour to allow it to draw the eye in rather than fill the figure with large areas of red; plenty of other figures to do that on. 

Will post some pics of the finished bases when ready and now looking at stand or two as the army lists allow it and the figures are already primed. 

Hope that this was of interest.

Cheers for now. 

Back to the Brushes 340

Bilbo said "Don't adventures ever end?" The same is true of some armies and the Late Romans are one of those here as there is always another unit needing painted.

This time it's a stand of light infantry archers that will be used in Later Roman, Patrician Roman, Romano Brits and possibly Arthurian Briton armies for ALDG in 28mm. Along with a few command figures to complete a general's base for ADLG.

The archers are from Gripping Beast and have these new fangled separate hand thingees whilst the command figures are from Foundry, the smaller sculpts of the two groups. 

Looking to make some quick progress on these chaps and integrate the command figures into an existing stand whilst the archers join the ranks of Light Infantry and support figures for DBA and ADLG. 

Hope that this was of interest to you?

Cheers for now

30 Days 30 Miniatures - November 2021 Round Up

 A late round up picture from November's 30 Days Painting Challenge.

In total 16 figures completed last month. Slipping backwards again however, the AHPC XII will end this year and start next year in a glorious fashion. 

First session was last night and have started on the Carthaginians for SAGA and Fallschrimjager for Chain of Command. Both in 28mm. Blocking in fleshtones for humans and horses. 

Pictures to follow shortly. 

Cheers

Reconquista 9

Finished these off the other evening and that completes the 1st point of Levy for the Moors in SAGA. The other six to follow when the daylight allows for some better pictures. There was clouds and sleet here earlier, so not the best natural lighting for photographing figures painted in tones of black. 

The figures are from Gripping Beast and have been a pleasure to paint up and will be moving on with the second point of levy being the crossbowmen. 

This will take the warband to the following 6 point list:

• Warlord
• 4 Mounted Hearthguards
• 8 Warriors
• 8 Warriors
• 8 Warriors
• 12 Levy with bows
• 12 Levy with crossbows

After that the decision will be whether or not to include the Legendary Black Guard for a an 8 point warband or another unit of Hearthguard and Mounted Warriors. The Black Guard being the cheaper option as the figures are already here, the other two units might mean hunting through the lead mountain before purchasing yet more unnecessary new shiney. Decisions decisions...

Hope that this is of interest to you and your painting plans within plans are moving on well too. 

Stay safe and cheers for now