Fury of the North 28

It has been a while since I've painted Vikings in any numbers and since rebasing those that have already been painted on to 40mm squares for Hail Caesar there will be a good few coming this way soon. 

First up are the three on the left of the conga starting with the bare chested axeman.

The other figures are all repurposed from a SAGA warband that wasn't getting any use, so rather than paint more figures yet more rebasing happened. The bases are from Warbases, my friendly local gaming store. 

The berserker winding himself up by baring his chest is from Shieldwall Figures available through Gripping Beast. The overly hairy bare chested warrior is from Wargames Foundry with the rest of the motley crue hailing from Gripping Beast. 

Painting figures for the Dark Ages allows a lot of freedom with colour,  poses and general outlook of the figures. Something that you find less of in later periods and some earlier periods as well. This allows more creativity with the painting and posing of finished figures for the final bases. 

There are a dozen or more Vikings on the painting table at present along with a few other projects that are far more regimented so it will be good to break the monotony of production painting in these guys. 

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.

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 367

Is there ever a good time to revisit a past project; perhaps in the last four weeks of the AHPC XIII isn't the best time or maybe it is. 

Over the last few weeks have had a hankering to return to the Dark Ages, to an age of raiders, ravagers and raven standards, an age of Vikings! 

This has been promoted by the arrival of Hail Caesar 2nd Edition and a brief conversation with a gaming friend; the Dark Ages are calling. 

A quick survey of the painted Vikings not currently based for any specific rules worked out at nine fully painted bases of Hirdmen and three of Bondi; a bit of painting time required to make this a viable gaming force however, it is a good start. 

The picture above shows the start of some frothing loons for the bondi troops and a few more Hirdmen to full out the ranks. 

As none of these have been started before the 21st December 2022, any completed will count towards the tally of the AHPC. A tally, that is far lower than it should be this far in. 

Anyways, enough rambling for now. 

Cheers!

Back to the Brushes 353

 A few of items currently on the painting table at present. 

The second part of Black Guard spearmen for Almorahads in ADLG with first two stands very nearly finished. 

A unit of medium Turkopol cavalry for the Late Crusaders in ADLG

A classic figure from Citadel Miniatures back in the day; a Viking from the Kremlo scenario 

The start of the first unit for Republican Romans in SAGA: Age of Hannibal. Figures from Gripping Beast. 

Some completed figures to follow shortly. 

Cheers for now. 

Back to the Brushes 242

This update for the 30 Days 30 Miniatures shows another five completed Gripping Beast Norman crossbowmen. This takes the total to ten, four to be based for ADLG and six to be based singly for skirmish games and WAB.

A versatile set of figures that will see use as Normans, obviously; Christian Spanish and mercenaries for the Viking and El Cid periods and even First Crusaders.

Day 16 - 16 figures completed

Cheers for now

30 Days 30 Miniatures Painting Challenge round up August 2019

Here is the round up picture of last month's 30 Days 30 Miniatures Painting Challenge. 

Now to clarify what is here and what is missing. All are 28mm unless stated otherwise:

• 12 ACW Confederates in 15mm
• 5 Foundry Viking Berserkers
• 5 Gripping Beast Norman crossbowmen
• 2 Gorgon Studios Spartans
• 2 A&M Arabs at camp in 15mm
• 2 Gripping Beast Numidian Skirmishers
• 1 Gripping Beast Moorish spearman
• 1 Citadel plastic skeleton

Not shown in the round up pic as they are now at their owners house

• 1 Foundry Viking Berserker
• 1 Red Box Human hunter

This takes the tally for the Challenge to 32 figures completed in 30 days. 

The next 30 day challenge will start this evening.

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 236

This month's 30 Days 30 Miniatures painting challenge finished late last night with these figures being completed in time.

Included in this picture there are Arabs from A & M, Confederates from Old Glory and the last of the Foundry Vikings that have been getting painted for a fellow gamer recently.

This takes the total tally for this challenge to:

30 days - 32 figures painted.

Group shot to follow shortly.

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 235

Not been so good with the regular updates in this 30 days 30 miniatures challenge; however have still been painting steadily away.

A wide range of figures including Foundry Vikings, Gorgon Miniatures Spartans, Gripping Beast Numidians and Old Glory Confederates.

Day 29 - 23 figures painted. 

Last session tonight to finish off another Viking, some Confederates and a Moor or two. 

Cheers for now. 

Back to the Brushes 231

Been a struggle over the last week and a half to get some good time to paint; however that changed in a positive way last night and a good start was made on the mercenary crossbowmen for all things Dark Ages.

Below is the bedlam on the tray just now with a lot of Greeks in progress held up by a delayed, well not delivered, paint from a reputable figure supplier. The crossbowmen are on the pallette - ceramic tile - and and will be used as Mercenaries, Normans, Christian Spanish and even First Crusaders.

There are another dozen of these to be painted that will be used for ADLG and Hail Caesar in the future. Those shown below will see use in SAGA and WAB. Yes, that's WAB.

The figures are from Gripping Beast and will be the first figures for the 30 Days 30 Figures challenge started yesterday. Full details on the next post.

As mercenaries in WAB the crossbowmen will see action with a Norwegian based Viking army at 1,000 points. More of that in the future.

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 204

Somethings take longer than others and this Viking Hirdman from Gripping Beast is a prime example of this.

What should have taken about an hour to finish off probably took double that. 

The problem lies with not being able to have a reasonable time at the painting table just now.  With both the motivation to paint and general energy levels being low; it's not having the time it is making the time spent painting count. 

Sat down at the painting table earlier today and felt like putting everything in a box and leaving only one figure there to be painted. With the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge drawing nearer and looking to participate for the 8th consecutive year perhaps a change will be better than a rest. What that change will be remains to be seen. 

Day: 22

Figures painted: 2

Cheers for now

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 133

The last ten days or so have offered very little opportunity to get some painting on any of the current projects done. Its been slow all round to be honest with very slow progress on the Moors for SAGA and Basic Impetus.

To be honest Game of Thrones has gotten in the way this last week as watched the first five episodes pretty much back to back. To say it has been enjoyable is an understatement.

The problem with enjoying something like Game of Thrones is it starts you thinking about another project which often means the current project stalls and falters for a bit or stops altogether. Thankfully the thoughts are small in number and might never happen.

The next four Hirdmen for SAGA and Basic Impetus have moved on a bit since they have been started, but not that much

More to follow soon

Cheers for now

Fury of the Norse 21

As promised here are the next three Viking Bondi from Gripping Beast. The central figure has a hand painted shield the other two are from Little Big Men with some additions to the colour here and there.

These three now mean that there are enough figures to build more sabot bases for Basic Impetus so the new list - of which there are four more stands in - can now be an option if played.

The final highlight on the red does not show well in these pictures and on reflection is perhaps too close to the mid tone of the tunic. You live and learn as they say.

Have recently started another four hirdmen so watch out for progress on them in the future.

Cheers for now

Fury of the North 20

As promised another Gripping Beast Viking Bondi.

Three more to follow very soon.

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 130

Some quick work in progress pictures starting with the Vikings moving ever slowly forward. The other two are having a well earnt break.

Next a few scenery pieces from Hovels in 25mm, these are versatile bits that will see use in a variety of small scale games once finished.

Lastly, a Ranger from the Citadel Talisman range circa 1986/87; that is so very nearly finished.

More work in progress to follow shortly

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 129

Some work in progress pics of Gripping Beast Bondi for SAGA or sabot based for Basic Impetus

Progressively more complete from the left as viewed to the right.

More to follow shortly.

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 115

A couple of work in progress shots quickly taken this morning.

First up a Foundry Norman that is very near completion and to his left the Foundry Rat Catcher or Risk Taker move closer to the final colours. The far left corner shows four more Gripping Beast Vikings slowly getting coloured in; these will be for SAGA or similar.

With the Ratcatcher figure keeping to muted browns on the material as want to show the rats in blacks and greys. No real reason why it was just how the miniature started to come together.

Above is a Reaper fighter or cleric type that will be used as such in some form of fantasy based skirmish game in the future. Mostly armour on this one so hoping to finish up soon.

More work in progress to come shortly.

Cheers for now.

Fury of the North 17

A couple of finished pictures of a bondi figure from Gripping Beast.

This figure will be part of a warrior group for SAGA and there are another 3 to follow that are in varying stages on undressat present so to speak.

Next up from this period will be a Norman from the Foundry/Citadel range. A great figure to paint with lots of character. Again there are another three to follow.

Cheers for now

Fury of the North 16

The two figures from Gripping Beast shown below where painted circa 2003 for a Rohan project that never passed go. Both figures were part of the command structure of the forces planned for the Rohirrim foot.

An interesting choice of colour for the weapon's belt and scabbard, not a colour that would be used for those items now. At this point most of the figures painted would have been used for fantasy skirmish games and these are possibly some of the first pure historical figures painted.

The axe bearing figure was to be a standard bearer, which was recently replaced with the Dane axe allowing the figure to be tucked into a SAGA warband or similar Dark Ages skirmish game.

The musician/horn blower will also be added into the SAGA warband, however will he be more conspicuous than his axe wielding colleague.

The cloak above was painted in Dallimore's layering approach; this being an early example of this style being used here. Prior to then it would have been wet blending when time allowed or dry brushing. Styles change, now the layered approach is the principle style used and the others are there if necessary.

On the subject of painting styles watch out for some progressive work in progress pictures in the near future showing layering being used on a new fantasy warband.

Cheers for now