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 378

A revised list for the AHPC XIV adding in Wars of the Roses in both 15 and 28mm

• 10mm DAK for O Group
• 15mm Assyrians for ADLG
• 15mm Mongols for ADLG
• 15mm Wars of the Roses for ADLG
• 28mm Romano Brits for SAGA
• 28mm Moors and Arabs for SAGA and ADLG
• 28mm Late Crusaders for SAGA
• 28mm Late Romans for ADLG
• 28mm Wars of the Roses for ADLG
• 28mm Christian Spanish for ADLG

Aiming for approximately 45 points per week this year to achieve the Challenge target of 500.

Let's see how things roll. 

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 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

 

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 350

As September starts here is the last of August's 30 days painting challenge.  

An Arab horde from Old Glory in 15mm.

A small piece of terrain for desert themed games in either 6 or 10mm - this started life as a Warbases pond base in 2mm MDF.

The rear rank of crossbowmen from Gladiator Miniatures complete the first two stands or half spear hald crossbow for the Late Crusaders in ADLG. 

What the crows see at the start of the bloody day.

The start of the next half and half unit, alas the spearmen didn't make August's muster. 

This completes August's 30 Days 30 Miniatures and the final tally is: 

27 x 15mm Infantry

1 x 15mm Elephant and crew

2 x 28mm Infantry

1 x 10mm terrain piece

Totalling 31 painted miniatures. 

Will be starting the next challenge tomorrow night. 

Cheers for now. 

How Far Jerusalem 6

Another figure completed last night and the basing will be done over the next few days. 

This elephant from Museum Miniatures will be used in a variety of different Arab and their successor armies in ADLG and DBA.

A hefty piece of lead, if dropped this would smart a bit if it landed on your foot. Hoping not to find out at any point in the future, 

Sadly, this only counts as one for this month's challenge taking the tally so far to: 

8 x 15mm Infantry

1 x 15mm Elephant and crew

More to follow shortly. 

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 345

Pictures from a painting session last week as the howdha and basing are now complete as well. Great figure to paint, well defined detail and good fit between the howdha and elephant. 

 

This along with three command stands should all be completed this week meaning that the four stands of medium infantry can be started in earnest to support this big boy. 

Cheers for now off to do some more prepping on Project E

Back to the Brushes 343

Prep the beginning of all figures and in this case Arab Infantry from Old Glory and an elephant from Museum Miniatures. This is affectionately known by some gamers as a Death Star, can't say that has ever really been the case here as those pesky X-Wings always manage to destroy the group before it can get into range. 

 

The elephant is proudly sitting on a vintage base from Warbases; vintage as this was produced pre-laser cut bases became available from Warbases. 

A few more stands worth of infantry to be prepped ready for spraying later in the week along with some more Turkopolen horse archers.

Hoping to be posting more frequently again and looking to settling back to regular painting sessions now the new glasses have arrived. 

Cheers for now

How Far Jerusalem 5

Here are the recently mentioned Arabs to chase the Crusaders away, with two stands of Turcopole horse archers from Gladiator Miniatures. 

The figures painted well however, the bow on one was miscast or damaged in transit/storage. Not the end of the world in any shape or form. 

A couple of lists from this period allow more than two stands for this so a very small order is on its way to fighting15s to add to the ranks. 

Next up will be beginnings of a special formation for the Arabs, known affectionately as a "Death Star." There will in fact be three of these in time but one at time works best just now. 

Hope you found this interesting?

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 334

Just a few of the reasons why this is the first post for 2022

Oathmark Skeleton Archers

15mm Sargonid Assyrians

6mm Normans

15mm Confederates

15mm Arabs and Moors

28mm Skeletons

15mm Crusaders

15mm Hoplites

Time to pick a period and complete a unit or two. 

Stay safe and 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

Back to the Brushes 331

The last of the Moorish Archers are now finished just waiting on being varnished - and correcting the eye on the leftmost figure. 

The figures are from the venerable Gripping Beast range of Moors and still firm favourites here. Will be posting some group pictures of all of this unit shortly whilst looking to arrange a game to send them to the lions as all newly painted figures are bound to go. 

The dark sleeves and turbans were painting in black contrast paint then highlighted as required. The jury is out on these paints at present although the sleeves have worked very well. 

Based on 25mm rounds from Warbases for skirmish gaming in general. 

This takes the tally for this month to:

2 x 15mm Infantry

3 x 28mm Infantry

Still a fair amount to complete for the end of the month and then time will be focussing on a different challenge for the dark nights in the new year. 

Cheers for now

 

30 Days 30 Miniatures Painting Challenge - October 2021 Round up

October has passed and with that the clocks have changed in Scotland and the journey through the long dark begins again.

No orcs on show and nothing to climb over or hide behind either; just a few minis here and there.

From front left to back there are

12 x 6mm Norman infantry

8 x 15mm Crusader Infantry

3 x 15mm Early Imperial Roman infantry

1 x 28mm Moorish archer

5 x 18mm Bavarian Line Infantry for SYW

1 x 28mm Norman cavalry

5 x 28mm Moorish archers

The total of painted figures for October was 34. 

This month will see another painting challenge and the start of prepping for the Analog Hobbies Painting Challenge, but more of that soon. 

Cheers for now and stay safe. 

 

Back to the Brushes 326

The next batch of painted Moorish archers are below; figures from Gripping Beast's Moors range. 

The brighter colours used here are to reflect an Andalusian influence whilst the stark contrast below with the black for more of a Moorish feel. Both are purely artistic licence 

A versatile range of figures that will see use in both SAGA: Age of Crusades and Lion Rampant and possibly a few other skirmish styled games as well. 

This takes the tally this month so far to:

6 x 28mm Infantry

Still a fair bit to go but there is a lot in the side lines at present. 

Hope that you found this interesting. 

Cheers for now. 

Back to the Brushes 324

More Moorish archers for SAGA today and getting near to the final paint session with both groups. The figures are from Gripping Beast and still hold up well considering their age. 

Starting to get the jist of Contrast paints and seeing a lot of potential with them for certain things especially as using as glaze to bring colours together.

Still to complete any figures or terrain this month but there are a lot of items on the painting table. That's part of the problem, needing to focus more on a single element and get it done rather than butterflying around from one shiney to the next shiney. 

Hope that you found this interesting and stay safe. 

Cheers for now

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. 

Back to the Brushes 321

Working away on these archers for the Moors in SAGA as levy troops. The figures are from Gripping Beast and hoping to finish those below in the next painting session. 

The two archers in black below were an experiment to start off with using Games Workshop Contrast paint for the black; I forget the name, its black paint. 

 The levy will be made up of a mixture of these two figures and two other casts still to be started. 

There are a few items finished that will take the count to roughly halfway for this month; just need to take the pictures to show. 

Cheers for now and stay safe.