Back to the Brushes 375

It's been a few months since the last work in progress pic, so here's something in line with the Orctober theme:

First up is Eeza Ugezod, who will be used as a sub-commander for SAGA: Age of Magic. There are troopers to follow for this Regiment of Renown

The small gent to the left of the above pic is Khurma the Fleshripper; who will be the Warlord of Age of Magic Warband. The figure to the left is a puny human from Foundry's Late Roman range for scale comparison. 

These will also be used in a variety of other fantasy skirmish games. 

Hope to post more shortly.

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 368

General Work in progress update

A lot of things on the painting table just now, too many to be honest; concentrated effort this week on those pesky Early Imperial Romans amongst other things. 

Spartan cavalry, dramatic Thracian skirmishers in the background and an UUruk bezerker for Lord of the Rings.

A wee update on the Vikings with the armour blocked in and the start of colours on the clothing.

Roman auxilia in column, Wars of the Roses men at arms and Cultists in the background. The first four stands of the auxilia are now waiting on basing. 

More pics to follow shortly. 

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 274

Another two figures finished painting and this time it is two Orcs from Citadel. 

The righthand figure is from the champion from Uzegod's Mothercrusher Black Orcs and the other figure is an archer from Citadel's Orcs. Both are part of a long lived project to collect and paint some iconic Orcs for Dragon Rampant and have fitted in nicely to this month's 30 days 30 miniatures painting challenge. 

Day 26

2 x 28mm Infantry

16 x 20mm infantry

18 figures in total

Cheers for now
 

Fantasy Hero 7

A recently completed Citadel Orc from sometime a go - not really sure on the age of this one.

Opted for a more grey-green than some of the very bright greens that are often used with Orcs. The base colour is from Foundry's poorly received World War II range of colours and is Soviet Winter Green shades through A to C

Another member of the Black shields, this orc has a plastic shield from the late eighties with no decoration. Not sure on this and it may change in the future if a good alternative can be found.

Some previous victims of the over-sized chopper hide behind the plastic shield, one in slightly better condition than the other although both have seen better days.

As with previous figures from this range have used militaristic colours rather than some of the more flamboyant colour schemes that are often seen. It is a matter of personal preference nothing more.

Another single figure to follow shortly along with some work in progress.

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 150

A few work in progress pictures for the Challenge so far

The Eternal Guard from Alternative Armies move on unholy step closer to completion.

The orc is a straggler from before the challenge that will be finished soon

Two retro Chaos Warriors from Citadel  in differing stages of readiness. The left hand as viewed waiting on basing the right hand as viewed with base colours blocked in for a black and gold colour scheme on armour and cloth.

Background to them all are the peltasts that have received another layer of flesh tone since last seen, not that you'd be able to tell in these pictures. 

More to follow shortly. 

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 144

Seen a bit of chat lately on the blogsphere relating to preparing for the start of this year's Analogue Painting Challenge (VIII) which has get me to thinking: what to do this year. As no theme has been announced yet for the Challenge looking to complete a few pieces here and there pre challenge and then work on the following:

• Trojans for Basic Impetus
• Retro Chaos Warriors and Orcs from Citadel
• Macedonians in 6mm
• WWII Vehicles in 20mm - as it wouldn't be the painting Challenge without some WWII vehicles.

The best thing about all of the above is that they are already prepped and waiting on painting which will give more time to finish off some  other stuff before hand. 

Once the theme is announced will sort out painting challenge level and wait on the start date.

To follow will be some more finished and work in progress pictures. 

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 141

So what has been happening here? Well, truthfully not really that much on the hobby front,  a lot of thinking about things and talk about painting but little direct action. It is all a question of time really, so when a window opened the other night the following appeared.

The orcs are just for the fun of it and why not? Avoiding the bright green flesh used for so many orcs and looking for a more strained and washed out colour picked Soviet Winter Green from Foundry's now discontinued range of WW2 colours. The figure second from the left has the full triad showing from shade to base to highlight. Fun to paint these guys regardless of colours.

Next up is a Citadel High Elf from circa 1984 and the C08 range. Touched up the undercoat for this one and have some thoughts on this figure being in autumnal colours to suit the changing to the season here with the base showing the change of the seasons too.

For all that this figure is the best part of thirty-three years old, she is in good condition after being stripped from an old oil and enamel painting job and then again from acrylics. Somewhere there is a duplicate figure so might paint them as an autumn spring pair but will think on that.

Since both pictures are retro based here is a bit of Bowie

There will be something finished next post.

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 118

With only nine days left before the start of this year's Analogue Painting Challenge, the final preparation work has been completed.

Shown here are a variety of different figures that will keep enough variety to complete the point level set and hopefully more.

First up are range of different figures including in black Citadel Orcs circa 1985, Critical Mass recom troopers in grey and finally  15mm.co.uk Undead in well bone coloured undercoat.

Above shows another three different sets of figures.

First in chaos red under coat, Kaamados Dominion Aagamid Infantry platoon - there are another seven stands drying at present. Next are 11 20mm WWII British vehicles to flesh out the 11th Armoured Division support company. These are from Frontline Wargames. Lastly are the Caesarean Romans from Gripping Beast that will make up the bulk of a Basic Impetus army in 28mm, there are another 16 figures also drying for this range.

Above are Companions and Greek Heavy cavalry from Rapier Miniatures in 6mm and enough figures for two stands of phalanx.

The last picture below show the Curtgeld figure or in this case figures, from Gripping Beast's Early Saxon range - Penda the Last Saxon King. The main question here is do they get a black, grey or white undercoat? Lately have been moving away from black as finding it harder to see things. Guess its an age thing!

As you can see there are variety of different figures to choose from  and if things get boring there are plenty more prepped and undercoated figures to choose from in 28mm for Ancients and Dark Ages.

Cheers for now

And Now for Something Completely Different 26

A brief return to the blog this morning with a few pictures of a miniature painted in March. Think this is one of the original LOTR Orcs from the mid eighties. Great figure to paint regardless and here are the pictures:

Hopefully some more finished pictures to follow shortly.

Cheers for now

And Now for Something Completely Different 25

There hasn't been much time over the last few months for hobby time. This is due to becoming a father for the first time in mid April to a bouncing boy. Everybody tells you to expect a change, however no-one can really prepare you for how much of change parenthood will bring. Have to say all good so far.

These pictures are the result of a long weekend off work and grabbing the time to quickly record some figures that were completed towards the end of March just after the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge.

The figures are Games Workshop Uruk-Hai scouts from the releases that supported the Fellowship of The Ring Strategy Battle Game.The figures are great to paint and are full of the character of the Uruk Hai from the film.

There are currently another twelve figures from this range gathering dust on the painting table along with a few other bits and pieces from other projects. Hopefully as things become more routine hobby time will start to appear here and there and some more painting can be done.

More pictures of completed figures to follow over the next few weeks - time allowing.

Cheers for now.

And Now for Something Completely Different 24

The last of the figures painted for this year's Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge, an Uruk Hai leader from Games Workshop's Lord of the Rings range. This is a metal figure that has now been replaced with its new resiny counter part in "Fine Cast." Not something that will ever grace the painting table here.

Enough rambling here are the pictures

There will be more from this range throughout the remainder of 2015.

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 101

A brief update on the progress of several different projects that are in different stages. Sadly no pictures as the camera hadn't charged properly. Hopefully just operator error there.

The next three "cats" for the WW2 Germans are nearing completion with the final dry brushing, decals and varnishing still to do.

A number of Citadel Chaos Warriors are completed and waiting on final pictures being taken for entry into the Analogue Painting Challenge.

The Uruk Hai have stalled but will hopefully be on track for completion before the deadline.

Dropship troopers for Critical Mass have also stalled, however will be back to these this week. This will hopefully allow the Augmented Troopers time to be started and completed, again before the deadline.

Moving along well with the first of the 6mm Macedonians and Greeks with the skirmish line nearly completed. These are the same as the Chaos Warriors and only require pictures.

Will post some work in progress pictures once the camera charges.

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 100

Below are some working progress pictures of a few of the miniatures on the painting table at present. Firstly, another Chaos Warrior from Citadel in the mid eighties who will hopefully be completed this evening.

Next are two of the nine Uruk Hai that are being painted at present. It seems that there has been a bit of splatter going on whilst base coating the Drop Troopers beneath. The other seven are moving along steadily as well.

The Drop Troopers will support the GZG Infantry recently painted for the challenge - pictures to follow.

Some more "cats" for the Germans in WW2, this time three Panthers all from Frontline. The two pictures show the base colour Mid Stone from Vallejo and then how it looks after a liberal wash of Nuln Oil.

From here the tanks will be dry brushed the base tone again, camouflaged to suit and then dry brushed Foundry Moss C. At this moment not sure on how the camo will look so will be doing some image searches for ideas soon

That's all for now although there will be some completed pictures to follow.

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 99

A quick update on the painting progress at present - apologies for the lousy pictures. As has been the norm over the last couple of months a couple of different periods and scales have been getting worked on at the same time.

First up is another retro Chaos Warrior from Citadel. Bags of character here, although the pic really doesn't show it.

Next up are four AFV from Britannia Miniatures. These will be worked on over the weekend taking the total of completed 1/72 scale vehicles for WW2 waiting to be shown for the Analogue Painting Challenge to nine. There hasn't been an afternoon when the natural light has been good enough to take a range of pictures - as these quick work in progress pictures clearly show.

Last up are - although you may struggle to work out the 28mm figures - Uruk Hai from Games Workshop's LOTR range and 6mm from Rapier Miniatures. The Uruk are to complete a warband started just after the release of the Fellowship of the Ring and the 6mm are this year's major project.

There will be more to follow soon as well as some finished items from a while back.

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 92

The return of the Black Shields with another three pre-slotta orcs being worked on at present. These like the Moorish Spearmen have been languishing around the corner of the painting table since the beginning of this year.

Time to move them on to the ranks of the finished miniatures!

Cheers for now.

Analogue Painting Challenge Review

The 4th Analogue Painting Challenge has come and gone and its now time to review what was achieved against what was set. An ambitious target was set comprising of the following:

• Twenty-one Citadel Orcs from circa 1984-5
• A Lawmen Gang of nine figures for Dead Man's Hand
• A Bandito gang of nine figures for Dead Man's Hand
• Nine Sassanid Light Cavalry over three stands
• Fifty-eight Trojans and Mycenaeans for Impetus

Early on in the challenge, due to work pressures, the expected total was revised and much of the planned painting shelved. In the end the following figures were completed and submitted:

• Twenty-one Orcs
• Seven Lawmen
• Eight Mycenaeans including two casualty figures
• Three Thrilling Tales figures for Pulp Era games
• One Entry figure

This was not the one hundred and six figures planned for which was always ambitious. In percentage terms only thirty eight percent of my challenge was completed; that said everything that was completed was to a standard that I expect of my painting and am happy with. I can't ask for any more than that.

The painting challenge to me is about taking part firstly then painting figures. Its not about painting the most figures in the time given. I was disappointed that I lowered my total however, this was not the end of the world as by doing this I was still taking part. The real reward from the painting challenge is seeing other painters work and being part of the larger community and help this grow. The challenge shows that this hobby is more than just painting toy soldiers. 

Over the next few months the started figures from the challenge along with a with others will be appearing here. This will included the following:

• Seven Wild West figures from Artizan Design
• Nine Sassanid light cavalry
• Fifty Mycenaeans for Impetus

All of the above are in various stages of "started" and there are a few other figures in the same category that will be added. SAGA will be played more which will lead to more Dark Age figures too. There are some WW2 figures lurking for later in the year, but these and others are a long way off. Plans change painting as for everything else as we all know.

Lastly a warm welcome to two new followers:

• The Kiwi 
• Ed

Hope that you find something of interest here.

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 86

Despite all best intentions very little painting has happened here over this week. This means that regretfully the entry for the Last Stand bonus round of the Analogue Painting Challenge has not been completed in time to submit. Hopefully, the stand will be ready to go over along with a few other loose ends before the last day on Wednesday 20th March. Below are a few pictures of the loose ends as they
currently stand:

A few more casualties and a Dendra panoply clad warrior for the Mycenaeans. The face on the figure below isn't the best casting, however once the helmet is tidied up around the edges everything will look grand.

Below are another three retro figures from Citadel or Ral Partha in the eighties. The bottom Orc is actually licking his sword which will be interesting to paint. Great figures with loads of character to paint. The base coat for their flesh is Foundry Storm Green A which will, when finished allow for some subtle colouring on the flesh.

Another few figures from Artizan Design intended for Dead Man's Hand. The bottom figure will be completed this evening and the others are hopefuls for mid next week. Time will tell.

That is all for now but more work in progress pictures to follow shortly and then something completely different...

Cheers for now.

Dead Man's Hand 2

Here the Earp Brothers that will be used a part of a Lawman gang in Dead Man's Hand. The figures are from Artizan Design's and were great to paint. They have been sculpted based on the characters as portrayed in the Kevin Costner film Wyatt Earp and this has been used a the inspiration for the painting of the them.

Wyatt Earp

Virgil Earp

Morgan Earp

On each of the three figures the black has been varied so that there are subtle differences between each of the brothers. This shows a little better in real life, but hopefully it can be seen here too.

This figures have been submitted to the Favourite Character bonus round of the Analogue Painting Challenge.

Painting on the rest of the Lawman gang continues and four figures are very near complete. There are also some nearly completed Mycenaeans and a few more retro orcs. Pictures of all to follow this week.

Cheers for now