Back to the Brushes 418

The desk needed a good clean so over the last few days been spending a bit of time tidying up a few odds and ends.

Currently, there is a mix of Essex and Museum Miniatures Arabs and Crusaders in the center, flanked by a skeleton standard bearer on left and Thracian skirmishers to the right. Support to the rear from Thracian cavalry and Bundeswehr Gepards. 

Plenty of variety to keep things fresh. 

Cheers for now.

Sunne in Splendour 6

The first completed figures of 2024 and recent entry into the AHPC XIV. 

Two bases of Scurrours for my growing ADLG Lancastrian force. The figures are from Museum Miniatures and fit in well enough with the bulk of the army that are from Gladiator Miniatures. 

The red in the pictures isn't that far away from the red on the miniatures and now realising that it is a step too far and into the realms of garishly bright. It will help me remember that they are on the gaming table in ADLG and other games. 

The red and dark grey (Black) are to represent the colours of the Percy's; although in the Wars of the Roses fiction that I am currently reading, the Percy's are described as wearing blue and yellow, not red and black. I am not a scholar of this period so any thoughts or info on this would be appreciated. 

These were entered into the AHPC XIV as a Historical entry (941.2)  

 

Looking forward to posting more from this period sooner rather than later. 

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 380

 

Work in progress on Warwick above and Percy Scurrours below. There is still a lot to do on Warwick and not happy with the horse so it may be repainted or at least washed with black to settle the tones down. 

Daylight will tell...

Hoping to finish off the Scurrours at the next painting session then move on to the foot knights and retinue and Welsh archers. 

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

30 Days 30 Miniatures Painting Challenge - May 2021 Round up

May passed by in a flash leaving this 30 Days 30 Miniatures six figures short of the finish line. To say that there was a lot going on is an understatement however, that's passed now and its time to rise from the metaphorical ashes. 

The pictures below show a mix of both scales and periods; starting with a few more terrain pieces for 28mm WW2. No idea who the manufacturer is for these which is a pity as rather like the single man sandbag emplacements. 

The greying hut is from Hovel's ACW range although it could be used for any North American conflict from the French Indian War onwards. This is a part of a small farm set with the barn being the next piece to be painted.

Whilst this month, as in May, there have been no 28mm figures completed a few have been getting worked on in the sidelines. This leaves the 15mm figures from Museum Miniatures and Gladiator Games.

The Mongols from Museum Miniatures are the first completed figures for well, Mongol armies across the period of the Mongol Empire. Starting here with the first bow armed light cavalry and medium cavarly. 

Next is the start of a second DBA army for the Late Crusader period and instead of representing a famous or infamous military order this time the figures are being painted for the Knights of Jerusalem. 

Still to find suitable decals for the shields etc for this army; not sure if there is a cross surround by 4 other crosses out there. If not will have to compromise with just the one. 

Although May and for that matter June have passed in a whirlwind did manage to complete 24 different miniatures.  Not close to that figure for June yet. 

Cheers for now

 

 

30 Days 30 Miniatures Painting Challenge - April 2021 Round up

April has come and gone and there has been some painting done. Perhaps not as much as planned but then who would have thought the weather would have been so good?

A mixture of periods and scales were painted including the following:

16 x 15mm Arab or Muslim Cavalry including 12 Museum Miniatures (rear and middle rows) and 3 from Minifigs.

8 x 6mm Dark Ages infantry from Baccus for use in a Norman DBA army

5 x 15mm terrain pieces for ACW games from Hovels. The cludgie and hay piles with a barn, hen house and fencing to follow. 

1 x 25mm road block from Sarissa (think) in MDF with another 4 or 5 to follow.

This month has already started well with a few pieces of scatter terrain completed last night. Pics to  follow later in the week. 

Hope you found this interesting. 

Stay safe

Back to the Brushes 308

The weather here has been exceptionally fair for the time of year over the last ten days and the result has been very little painting has been done. 

The other evening however spent a bit of time finishing these light cavalry and light infantry off. 

The Bedouin light cavalry are from Museum Miniatures and the ankle biters at the fore are from Baccus' 6mm Saxons. Both are for DBA and ADLG although in entirely different scales. 

These lucky few takes the tally so far to

15mm Cavalry - 16 figures

6mm Infantry - 8 figures

There are a few pieces on the painting table that will be finished this week before the 30th

Stay safe and cheers for now

 

Back to the Brushes 307

Ever wondered why you have to dust figures before painting them, why what seemed like the best hobby purchase ever goes past its use by date and ends up in the flea market at your local gaming show? No? Well its been a frequent thought here of late, most likely due to packing items up for sale. 

It's true, that there is a stream of new shiny released every year and that games come in and out of fashion - tell that to those still playing WRG 7th ed or is it 6th ed at a local club - but why does it happen? Is it because at heart gamers are all magpies who collect shiny items or hoarders who don't know how or when to stop? I don't have the answer although I know its out there somewhere and that there will be some factual description and discussions on it.

What to do about it? Well it's simple really, ok its not in practice but is in theory:

• Finish what you start ☺
• Only buy what you you really really need ☺
• Re-evaluate your interests against your collection - not painted or played in 5 or 10 years? Not likely to do again - then its time to say goodbye ☺
• Set targets and make them happen☺
• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable
• Realistic
• Time bound
• Cancel your eBay account ☺
• Disconnect from the internet ☺

Joking aside the point of this does relate to a lot of things in all our lives and at the end of the day you can only play one game with one set of figures at a time. 

Be in that moment, enjoy it and don't worry about the next new game or set of figures that you don't need. Work on what you have and paint 30 Miniatures in 30 Days. It makes sense and here are a few from this month:

Twelve in fact, nine from Museum Miniatures and 3 from Minifigs (think). Based on 40mm fronts for use in ADLG, DBA and Hail Caesar to name a few. 

Hope that you found this interesting and stay safe. 

Scourge of God

A new series of posts starts with these pictures of recently based Huns from Gripping Beast's Steppe Nomads range.

This series will plot the progress of two armies in two different scales linked by the common theme of horse archers.

The first army is the Huns for DBA and ADLG in 28mm with figures entirely from Gripping Beast. The second army is the Mongols for both DBA and ADLG in 15mm with figures from Museum Miniatures. Both very similar in nature although the Huns offer more detail and basing opportunities due to the larger scale.

Currently working on the horses for the Huns as a separate project broken down into different categories by horse colour as below:

The list is from a Trello card and finding this app very useful in tracking larger projects like the Huns and Gondor Rampant. 

After the horse-flesh tones are completed it will be on to the trappings for the horses and then basing and finishing. The riders will follow as a separate project split by light, medium, heavy and command stands. Hoping to complete the entire army for spring 2021 or earlier if at all possible. 

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 254

Moving forwards yet standing still. Progress on several different parts of this year's Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge X.

Above are four Hearthguards for a slow moving SAGA Romano British Warband. These venerable figures have been waiting to be painted for the last decade and where primed inlast year's challenge.

Below are three skirmishers for the Spartans in Mortal Gods. The poor quality of the picture doesn't show the red well on either the skirmishers or the Ashigaru next to them.

The next picture is poor quality again. Limited lighting and poorxquality control. The figures are from Museum Miniatures and are part of the expanding generic Arab forces in 15mm. Out of frame are another four to make three stands of cavalry. 

More to follow shortly.

Cheers for now.