Back to the Brushes 135

Another session on the Sassanid archers for Basic Impetus shown below. Trousers and shoes so not a huge amount of progress.

At this point toying with the idea of introducing a new format to basing; instead of dedicated 120 x 60 mm bases looking at using 60 x 60 mm bases to offer more opportunity to use the figures with other systems than Impetus.

On the subject of basing; some progress on sabot bases for Vikings in Basic Impetus shown below. The matches are glued down with wood glue and then the raised edge will be contoured with modelling clay or similar before the usual texturing for basing

Its only an idea at present however, this would allow dabbling with Hail Caesar and Swordpoint, suppose the final decision will be made at the time of basing.

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 128

A bit of a mixed bag here with a variety of work in progress pictures to show.

6mm figures from Rapier Miniatures for the extremely slow moving Greeks and Macedonians for ADG or whatever else takes the mood.

A return to Project S and the Sassanids in 28mm. Figures from Gripping Beast and some progress being made on a unit of archers for Basic Impetus or Impetus.

Next, two stands of javelin armed troops for a generic 15mm Arab style army for Basic Impetus. Have enough figures to create the core units for most Arab/Moor armies of the late Dark Ages and Crusades as long as you don't demand historical purity with the figures.

These figures have been passed on here so thought it only right to take them to the brush and colour them in. As with all 15mm figures the method of painting here is block and wash. Think the javelin armed troops are old Minifigs and know the archers below are Essex

A couple of stands of Confederates that needed dusting and then saw a little paint. The picture shows that they need a little more here and there too.

Lastly more Sassanids, Arab archers and 6mm pikes.

Hope that this is of interest to you all.

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

Persian Fire 3

The first of two planned stands of javelin armed light infantry for the Sassanids are shown below:

In keeping the the other figures that have already been painted for this army the same colours have been used to keep a uniform appearance for the poor bloody infantry. This won't be the case with the cavalry; flash gits that they are.

It becoming harder to get good pictures in natural light just now so apologies for any poor images.

Since all the preparation for the Analogue Painting Challenge is done, the next few nights will be spent working on few odds and sods before the off on Sunday 15th.

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

Back to the Brushes 77

As promised here are few work in progress pictures of a variety of different figures on the painting table at present.

Above are Sassanid Light Infantry to be armed with javelins. Gripping Beast figures for the ongoing Sassanid Impetus army.

Below are two test Orcs for Songs of Blades and Heroes. These are being painted to try and work the colouring on the flesh for the up and coming Analogue Painting Competition. These figures will not be presented in the competition.

A Warlord for the planned Dux Brittanniarum warband. The blue was painted in the other day but not much progress on this figure in a while.

Another Elf for Songs of Blades and Heroes is shown below. Happy with the colouring on the flesh here, but unfortunately the eyes let the face down and will need some reworking.

Lastly, another two figures from Claymore Castings shown here after the armour has been block painted and washed. This is the first stage on the armour for these gents and there will be another three layers of paint added:

• Base coat
• Base coat mixed with highlight 
• Highlight only

Cheers for now.

Persian Fire 2

After sitting waiting to be based for several weeks the next stand of Sassanids is now finally complete.

The figures are from Gripping Beast and will hopefully be joined by a stand of Light infantry in the near future.

Next up will be something different, some more work in progress shots and the beginning of the preparation for the Analogue Painting Challenge.

Cheers for now

Plans within Plans

Its coming to a blog near you! The planning and preparation for this year's challenge has already started and will be based around the following miniatures:

• Orcs from Citadel's Pre Slotta Range - 20 figures
• Lawmen from Artizan Designs - 9 figures
• Banditos from Artizan Designs - 9 figures
• Sassanid Light Cavalry from Gripping Beast - 9 figures
• Trojans from Redoubt Miniatures - 58 figures

The emphasis for this year's challenge will be to complete enough figures to finish the Trojan Impetus Army up to or over the three hundred point level. As the figures can be undercoated before the start date of December 15th this will be getting done over the next few weeks so that everything is sitting ready for the off. Looking forward to this years challenge and hopefully will rise to the task set of myself.

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 74

Pictured below are the two figures that will make up the skirmisher stand for the Sassanids armed with slings.

These are very nearly completed and will be finished and based over the next few days all being well.

There was also meant to be a few pictures of the Daylami work in progress but due to very poor pictures these will have to wait a few more days. Some more work in progress pictures to follow shortly showing Claymore Castings and a retro High Elf from Citadel.

Cheers for now

And Now For Something Completely Different 13

Now finally based and pictured below is the first Elf for Songs of Blades and Heroes. There will be between five and eight figures in the war band and the second figure has been prepared and undercoated for painting.

The theme for this warband is going to be woodland, so the colours will be mid greens and greys as the elves are to represent the Elves of Mirkwood. 

A future warband will represent the Noldor or High Elves and the colours for them will be more in line with their heritage. These figures will also come from the same early eighties Citadel range.

More to follow shortly including Sassanids, Huns and Claymore Castings.

Lastly, a warm welcome to:

• Tomsche
• RazarOne223

Hope that you both find something interesting in these pages

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 73

Spending a bit time trying to finish up some loose ends on the painting table at present as well as working on the Sassanids. Below are some pictures of a figure from Claymore Castings that is being painted to the instructions of David Imrie from Saxon Dog - an excellent blog if you haven't already seen it. The painting style is different from my current style especially with the white undercoat but gives excellent results. Everything apart from the armour is directly from David's tutorials; the armour has had additional layers added to make it stand out more.

There is still a bit of work needed to finish this figure off and when completed it will used for a Songs of Blades and Heroes warband.

Sassanids to follow over the next few days.

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 72

Well, at last that is the stand of Huns finished painting; only the varnishing and basing to do now.

As a reward a bit of time was spent painting an Elf for Songs of Blades and Heroes. The figure is from Citadel's C08 range of Elves for the early eighties and is the first of a new warband for the above game.

Next up will be some work in progress pictures of the Sassanids

Cheers for now.

Persian Fire 2

Here at last are the final pictures of the first elephant for the Sassanids in Impetus. At 300 points two of these beasties can be fielded and this will probably happen in the distant future. The figures are from Gripping Beast and this has been a very enjoyable start to a project. Enough rambling though, here are the pictures:

The choice of colours for the crew and coverings on the elephants back has been very deliberate. The red (Foundry Madder Red) is the same that has been used for the skirmishers and will be used for more infantry stands in the near future. The beige provides a good neutral colour for the red to stand out against.

There are two reasons for this; firstly it will develop common colours throughout the less important parts of the army and secondly it will allow more personalisation to be added to the Savarin stands when they are painted.

The thought behind all of this is to set the elite cavalry apart from the levies and skirmishers of the army not just in terms of the actual units but in the use of colour as well. Time will tell how well this works.

Some detailed pictures of the crew in action above taken from both rear angles.

The last picture below shows the elephant next to a stand of skirmish archers showing the scale of the elephant against them and the start of the common link in colours.

Next up will be some work in progress pictures of the Huns.

Cheers for now