Back to the Brushes 146

Some pictures of the preparation that has been ongoing over the last few weeks for the Painting Challenge

The chaos before and after a dust and tidy up. A solitary elf stands central on the painting table waiting to be finished during the early days of the Challenge.

Below are some of the figures that have been prepped for the challenge and the running list is below

• 10 28mm Retro Chaos Warriors from Citadel circa 1982-4
• 8 28mm Ninjas from Dixon Miniatures
• 48 15mm Skeletons from Alternative Armies
• 6 28mm Peltasts from Foundry - not shown
• 36 28mm Trojans from Redoubt

The figures above that show colour rather than undercoat have been re-base coated to fit with the rules of the Challenge.

To finish here is some nostalgia from Marillion

Great song,  not so sure about the flaming suit though Fish..... clearly clothes in the late eighties were worse than I remember.

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

Back to the Brushes 85

Some work in progress pictures as promise of the current stand of Mycenaeans that are being painted. This stand will be part of the last submission for the Analogue Paining Challenge this year as well as being the centre piece for the infantry element of the Impetus army. The figures are all from Redoubt and the unit is slowly taking shape.

Below there are several hired hands from Artizan Designs that will be used to boost the Lawmen gang for Dead Man's Hand. These are also part of the painting challenge and are progressing well.

There are also three undercoated preslotta orcs hiding top left of the picture next to the brushes.

Lastly, there are the Earp brothers. The figures again are from Artizan Design and from left to right you have Virgil ( long coat), Wyatt pointing centre and Morgan advancing. Two of these are completed and will be based this evening, the other hopefully completed tonight.

That's all for now but there will be some more work in progress pictures very soon.

Cheers for now

Dance of Bronze 8

Shown here is another recent entry from the Analogue Painting Challenge. This time it is two casualty figures from Redoubt Enterprises Trojan War range.

The figures are well posed and paint up well. These will be used as casualty markers for Impetus when the army finally takes to the table. Hopefully this will be some time soon too.

The work in progress pictures will be next up showing some more of the above and other work too.

Cheers for now

Dance of Bronze 7

This was the third part of the recent entry into the Analogue Painting Challenge. The figures are from Redoubt Miniatures Trojan War range and are based here as a stand of javelin armed light foot for Impetus.

The shields have been painstakingly painted to match in with those from previous stands of this army and whilst the end result is worth it, sometimes it doesn't feel that way when painting them.

Work progresses on another two stands for this army at present with hopefully another one being completed before the end of the challenge. Time will tell on this though as there are many other shiny toys waiting to be painted too.

Pictures to follow shortly of some varied work in progress.

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 84

Well things have been up and down here over the last three weeks. The phrase "Your post has been made redundant but there are other alternative posts you can apply for" has been used. What this means and when it  will be resolved will take some more time to filter through.

Still it was better than what was expected.

In terms of painting, have fallen way behind with the planned  painting for the Analogue Painting Challenge. There has just been too much going on to fully concentrate on painting properly. That said the follow have just been finished off ready for posting to the Challenge.

Sorry, very dodgy pictures but you'll get the idea.

There will be more from the above army soon as well as some other figures that have been nearly finished for a while. The Orcs are finished too, although they have started something, that being an army for Oldhammer 3rd edition. This is a long term project but will be great fun to break up painting the ancients. More of this to follow shortly...

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 82

Well, things have been a bit hectic here over the last ten days and are likely to get more so over the next few weeks. There is a restructure going on at work and everything is starting to become very real. that includes the prospect of significant changes to my job, working patterns and potentially location and place of work. Sadly, this has effected hobby time but it is hoped that this will swing round over the next few days.

Now for something a little more interesting. Pictured below are the last of the second batch of Citadel Orcs. These are now fully painted and waiting on their bases being completed and as the long awaited tufted have finally arrived can be completed this weekend.

Below is one of three Artizan Design figures being painted for a Pulp Hero game at some point this year. Great figures that are full of character.

The first of six stands of Mycenaeans being painted at present; these are javelin armed light infantry and are moving along slowly. Then again everything is at present.

Hope to have the first entry read for the Analogue Painting Challenge this weekend so keep visiting back to see the finished items.

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 81

Progress has been slow over the last week with Christmas and all it brings. Hopefully the next few days will allow a bit more painting to be done on a variety of different elements for the Analogue Challenge.

The first set of Orcs are now painted but waiting on scenic tufts to arrive in the post to finish the basing.

Have started painting the flesh on to a number of the Trojans and Mycenaeans in bulk to have a large number of these figures sitting ready to go. This is being done in  four stages:

• Block coat of Tallarn Flesh
• Base coat of Foundry Mediterranean Flesh A
• Mid Tone of Foundry Mediterranean Flesh B
• Highlight of Foundry Mediterranean Flesh C

The extra layer of Tallarn Flesh is speeding up the process in that it is reducing the need to touch up the base coat of the Mediterranean flesh. Here are a few pictures of the work in progress at present from stages one to three above:

Tallarn Flesh Block coat

Foundry Mediterranean Flesh A Base Coat

Foundry Mediterranean Flesh B Mid Tone

There will be more to follow shortly as the next batch of Orcs are on the table and the Banditos are started for Dead Mans Hand.

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 79

Well the preparation for the 4th Analogue Painting Challenge is now finally complete. Have a look at the link to see the entry figures from two years ago.

A bit of a mix up under coating the last of the figures but it is not the end of the world.

The first batch had been undercoated black and due to a distraction - the phone! The second coat was actually light grey. The figures are darker here and may well be washed black if necessary during the next week pre challenge. A mixed batch here with:

• the 21st Citadel Preslotta Orc
• Trojan Casualties 
• Sassanid Light Horse
• and Trojan/Mycenaean Characters - not shown to the left
• The banditos from Artizan Design are also ready for painting

The Sassanid Light infantry are completed and waiting basing so hopefully will be finished and ready for display this weekend.

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 78

A few more figures prepared for the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge 2013. Below are Mycenaeans from Redoubt, Lawmen from Artizan Designs and Orcs from Citadel Miniatures circa 1984.

There are still a few Sassanids and Trojans to prepare for the off on December 15th. Alongside the preparation work a bit more painting has been done on the Sassanid Light infantry, with pictures to follow shortly.

Cheers for now