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 385

Continuing to paint these tin cans for the Wars of the Roses retinue that may be for ADLG or may be for Never Mind the Billhooks in 28mm. 

At this point the latter is more likely as a game system however the basing will be on 60mm fronts so not to rule out other games such as DBA, Hail Caesar and ADLG.

In terms of painting, these have been primed with Army Painter Platemail, washed in Nuln Oil and then worked back up with Army Painter Platemail and Shining Silver. 

Planning another session in these shortly with a view to getting some,if not all completed for basing. 

The figures are all from Perry Miniatures and the pair on the rectangular base are plastic the rest are from the metal range. 

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 384

It has been a busy month with a variety other commitments interfering with hobby time. Such is life as the old folks say. 

On the subject of old folks, here are a couple of classic Citadel Hobgoblins from circa 1984.

Using Foundry's Oriental Flesh triad for these Hobgoblins after looking at some classic Japanese artwork for Oni and deciding that brownish reds weren't the colour scheme looked for.

Along side the Hobgoblins are the crew for a canon to be used in Wars of the Roses gaming. The figures are from Perry Miniatures and have their usual detail and excellent sculpting. 

At this stage, haven't decided on retinue colors for them and might go more free flow look to depict a mercenary unit. 

More to follow on these and a few other items shortly. 

Have a good one.

Back to the Brushes 383

Made some progress last night on the first Men at Arms for the Lancastrian's in 28mm.

The figure at the back sporting the red and black colours of the Percy retinue has been added to previously painted figure in the colours of Roos. 

 Another man at arms was added to the motley crew below, the new figure again in retinue colours, although memory fails me at present in who's colours they are. 

Have another three figures nearing completion in the sidelines for these two stands; which leaves seven still to do. 

All the figures shown are metals from Perry Miniatures. 

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.

Back to the Brushes 379

 

Last work in progress picture from 2023 and regrettably there isn't a finished piece to do another post with.

Perry's: Wars of the Roses Warwick the Kingmaker

In the background, there is one of four figures being painted as Northern Borders Scurrours in 15mm. The figures are from Museum Miniatures.

Unknown foot knight.

The foot knight has been spray undercoated with Army Painter Gun Metal then washed in Nuln Oil. 

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 377

No plan survives first contact and prepping for the AHPC IV is no different. 

The foot knights below were painted in a previous challenge and are being repurposed in this year's AHPC. This time the focus will be on creating a Lancastrian force for ADLG in 28mm.

The pile of shame, that way lies.

The next two pics shows a slow start on more foot knights and the first retinue bowmen; all from Perry Miniatures plastic sets. 

Don't tell them but the next lot include the Yorkist Lords

The foot knights and Lords below were prepped previously and have in a drawer, waiting...

We've been waiting for this for a while

The AHPC IV starts on the 21st, so there will be more posts sooner rather than later. 

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.

The Sunne in Splendour 5

Recently started a Wars of the Roses retinue for Lion Rampant and similar style skirmish games.

Following in the footsteps of the DBA army painted a couple of year back these will have Lancastrian colours and will be under the colours of Roos.

The figures are from Perry Miniatures metal ranges and paint exceptionally well. The detail is clear and crisp with not too much flash if any. 

There are another three figures on the painting table at the moment and these will completed later this week. 

Whilst being painted for skirmish gaming, the use of sabot bases will enable these figures to have a bit more use for larger games as well. 

The next group for this retinue will have a darker approach to the painting of their armour; check out Medieval on Netflixs for ideas. 

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 363

It has been a bitty week on the hobby front whilst contending with the dread lurgy. Not had a cold in nearly two years and you quickly forget the joys that they bring you whilst to do your best to go about everyday life. 

So, when the energy levels have been high enough, silver has been the colour of choice:

The figures are from Perry Miniatures Wars of the Roses metal range and once cleaned up are really great sculpts that are pleasure to paint.

At this moment they are being painted just because they where there, however, they will most likely end up as a part of a Lion Rampant retinue for Lancastrian forces. 

The finished figures will be included in this years AHPC XIII tally.

Will be painting some smaller versions in 15mm shortly to boost the DBA army towards ADLG size, but more on that later. 

Cheers for now

The Sunne In Splendour

Roughly twenty years ago in a charity shop lay a slightly worn copy of Sharon Penman's The Sunne in Splendour which made its way to the reading pile.

At the time, there were no thoughts of any miniatures, armies, retinues or games relating to the Wars of the Roses; this is a much more recent plan again brought on by another fiction novel - Stormbird and a bargain on evil bay - 2 15mm DBA armies worth of Gladiator Miniatures Wars of the Roses 15mm figures.

So here starts what is likely to be a fairly long series of posts under the title of The Sunne in Splendour. Ironically, the book of the same title is from the Yorkist view point and Richard the Third, yet the subject here will be Lancasterian figures.

The full Battle

DBA army plus an additional Light Infantry base

Buckingham's Command

Oxford's Command

The first Command stand for ADLG

All the King's Horses

There will be more for this period in both 15mm and 28mm in the future. Hope that you find this interesting.

Stay safe.

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.

Back to the Brushes 252

Christmas has come and gone, a decade ended and a New Year started alongside a new decade. However, all of this was missed here as I was laid low by the dread man flu.

The last two nights have seen the first real painting for this year's Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge X and as you can see below there are some different things on the go already.

First up, DAK in 20mm from SHQ. These are being block painted then washed with either soft or strong tone ink from Army Painter.

Picked these up at Carronade a long time ago now for next to nothing.

Next, Perry Ashigaru for Lion Rampant in 28mm. Detailed figures that so far have been a pleasure to paint. The test figure on the far right is further along is a good guide to how the finished unit will look. The Samurai for this warband will be in a brighter red to show them off on the table. The inspiration for these came from the charge Li Naomasa's Red Devils at the Battle of Sekigahara.

Next is the beginnings of a 15mm War of the Roses army for both DBA and ADLG. The army will be Lancasterian and at this stage very little is known about this period other than the names of a few battles.

Last up are some Romans from Foundry and Gripping Beast. The Foundry are all Late Romans for command stands. The Gripping Beast include Caesarian Romans, Late Romans and four Romano Brits.

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 251

Last session preparing for this year's Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge with everything laid out waiting to be primed or already primed. Not planning on painting everything here in the challenge, just hoping to make a good start on it.

Not shown here are the Samurai or the 6mm Greeks and 15mm Arabs as they are already prepped and gathering dust elsewhere.

The first figure to be painted has still to be decided however, looks like it will be something for the Challenge Island in 28mm.

More of this and other things later.

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 250

As the year draws to an end a new beginning starts: The Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge X, X Marks the Spot.

Prep for this has been underway for some time and has deliberately not been specific to either scale or period offering a variety of choices throughout the challenge.

The question to be answered is what options are there? Well lets see:

• 6mm Ancient Greeks and Macedonians from Rapier Miniatures
• 15mm Arabs from Essex, Minifigs and Old Glory
• 15mm Spartans from Xyston
• 15mm War of the Roses from Gladiator Miniatures
• 20mm WW2 US vehicles from Frontline and AT guns, support weapons and crew from Platoon 20
• 20mm WW2 DAK from SHQ
• 28mm Gondor infantry and cavalry from Games Workshop
• 28mm Late Romans from Foundry and Gripping Beast
• 28mm Prussians from Calpe, Perry Miniatures and Warlord Games
• 28mm English Civil War from Warlord Games
• 28mm American Civil War from Perry Miniatures
• 28mm Moors from Gripping Beast
• 28mm El Cid Spanish from Gripping Beast
• 28mm Samurai from Perry Miniatures
• 28mm Claymore Casting Gallowglass for the Men of Lossarnach in Lord of the Rings
• 28mm Carthaginians from Gripping Beast

As always this only an indicative list of where painted figures will come from and for some of these there are only four or five figures rather than full units or more. 

Looking for progress over a variety of projects in this year's challenge and think the list above gives that and more.

The start date is December 21st 2019 and looking forward to getting some painting done in this year's challenge; the ninth time of being involved.

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 222

The great thing about painting figures for a Arab or Moor army is the adaptability of the main troop types. Spearmen, archers, skirmishers and light cavalry are easily inter changeable between different armies.

This is less so with more specialist troop types and looking at the lists for the Granadine armies circa 1450 hand-gunners jumped out of the page as just that one.

After trawling the net to see if suitable figures could be found, as only four will be required. No such luck.

So what to do? Well Gripping Beast produce plastic Arabs and the Perry Twins produce plastic Late Medieval Mercenaries which include hand-gunners. Like many things the answer is simple once found: kit bash.

The results are below and with a bit of milliput here and there these will do the job nicely.

Overall, very pleased with these and and think that they  will fit in well once finished. 

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 63

Well, after almost three years in the painting off and on the Viking Basic Impetus army is now fully painted. Basing has already started and final pictures are to follow very shortly.

This clears the way for some more dedicated time to be spent on Project S; with the first stands including one stand of Skirmishers and one stand of Heavy Horse are on the table at present. Along side these is another stand of Hun Horse Archers just for the fun of it.

Yesterday saw a new project spring to light with the Divine Wind finally blasting through and a trade of Perry Samurai are now waiting to be painted. A few packs will be needed to push the army up to three hundred points but Claymore is just around the corner.

The detail on these figures is superb and a fair amount of research is going to be needed before any painting starts on them as well. Its all part of the fun of painting an army and here are some pictures from the Perry website

Thats all for today but there will be more very soon.

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 49

A few pictures of some progress on a variety of different items that are currently being worked on at present. Firstly the mercenary peltasts from Foundry that are so nearly there, one more highlight on the red then its straps and helmets. An easy run into the finish here.

Below are 4 Stug from Battlefront and these are just starting out. In this scale the assault guns are relatively easy to paint and paint up quickly. Hopefully there will be completed pictures of these very soon.

The Vikings below are a that stage when the bulk of the figure is painted, its the remainder however, that takes the time. As with all the bases for the Impetus Vikings that have already been painted there will not be a uniformed approach as it looks wrong for these figures. So there is a still a fair bit of work to go on with these guys.

As always there is always one figure that draws more attention than the rest and as shown below, this one is nearer completion than his fellows.

Lastly, is yet another casualty marker, this time from Perry Miniatures. This is believed to be the last Dark Ages casualty marker, but that has been said before.

Thats all for just now and hopefully there will be more shortly.

Cheers for now