10mm Vignette pieces

 I was asked to create some American themed 10mm vignette pieces using Pendraken kit . 

First up some Plains wars pieces 

7th Cavalry on foot 

7th Cavalry mounted 

Native Indians 

ACW 

Then some ACW pieces 

Anglo Zulu Wars . InGobamakhosi - Benders of kings .

 The next unit has been completed . This is the biggest Zulu regiment which was around 4000 strong in 1879 . As we are doing a ratio of around 1/20 it’s 200 ish figures . I am going with what looks good on a base so it took 212 . Laid out it has a frontage of 360mm , though could extend to 500mm+ if needed. 

 

It has a mix of 4 shield designs which I have recreated.

 

So that is now 2 of the 3 units for the left horn . The 3rd is under way . 

300+ out of 1000 

Anglo-Zulu War. Zulus - the start of Thousands of em!

 Doing an AZW project has been on the cards for a while. While in 28mm it would look epic - I have seen it several times at shows over the years. I wanted something that would not come with added storage wars. Compared to the Sudan it’s also more limited in scope , so 10mm seems the obvious route to go down . 

Friend Martin said he would do the Brits  and other pieces if I did the Zulus . At least it means no guns and cavalry etc . So the orders have been placed with Pendraken providing the majority - over a 1000 figures and another few 100 from Steve Barber . 

So the first Zulu regiment or iButho has been completed . We are using a rough scale of 1/20 .We  will do a campaign at mad friend Gerry’s Situation Room later this year . So to kick off here is the first one 

This represents about 2000 men from the uMbonambi from the left horn at Isandlwana . Its frontage is 16 inches so a decent size . 

These are an Unmarried regiment , and have black shields with some white spots 

I sprayed them with a colour forge Hyrax Brown rattle can . Then it’s a pretty simple and quick painting process:-

Base coat - Spray

Drybrush a lighter brown - I used Vallejo Flat Earth

Black for the hair 

Weapon colour - flat brown for the Knobkerrie and beige brown for the Assagie 

Loin cloth a lighter brown/khaki/off white 

Head dress and leg decorations picked out a lighter colour , off white 

Give em a thin brown wash 

Metals 

Paint shield back a light brown

Paint shield front main colour 

Paint shield decoration 

Varnish 

Overall it’s quick - took a full evening to do 100 of them after they had been base coated .

Basing is on a mix of 60x60, 60x30 and  30x30 . That will allow for base removal not any mucking about with casualty markers . 

 

I did the static grass direct rather making tufts . It uses 3 different grass , 2 are 2mm and 1 that is 1mm 

 

Another 12 units to do and they will be Washing their Spears.

AWI - new little project time

 This one has been on the back burner for a while. After playing the  Little Wars TV rules for ACW (Alter of Freedom) and enjoying them I decided to pick up the AWI set “Live free or die” . I also picked up an army pack from Pendraken which I have finally started some work on. Of course me being me I want to do some larger units - the 10mm allows for  that nicely . Altogether I think it’s only about 600 figures or so a side - and I have roped in a few if the club guys who jumped in also buying some ready painted at the latest show bring and buy.

I have worked out a simple paint method over a white base with some speed paints and thin washes . This cut down the time to do the first British battalion . This was a 7 base unit - the 43rd Foot - chosen just as it had white facings which cut down paining time.

Bases are 40x20 with 10 figures per base. Most orbats have 4-5 bases per unit but there are some that are 7-8 . It may be a case of making up a few extra command bases for flexibility and to save overpainting infantry , 

I have the remainder of the army pack ready to complete which will be another 4-5 base unit plus some cav and guns . In the meantime I have ordered up another few battalions of Brits - in particular enough for a large highland unit. 

Aim is to build for Bunker Hill sometime next year. 

While sorting out the stash I also came across the ACW reinforcements so these have been cleaned and prepared - enough artillery to boost my existing forces to around 24 guns per side - will limbers etc . Also found a lot more cavalry than expected so I will double my existing forces there . 

The artillery stash is ready to go!.

10mm Fantasy battles - "For Joshua" project.

Yesterday was spent with  JamesM, MartinC today and a few other guys from our local group. We were doing a a play test of our upcoming game at the Hammerhead show at Newark in the UK. We are using To The Strongest as the main rules engine , with of course some tweaks for flying things and magic etc.

It’s a big thanks to those who have contributed painted units so far .

The table needs some more terrain work etc , but as we were just tinkering with the rules to make it more suitable for a quicker participation game - it worked well enough. It’s coming together nicely

we have ordered up a new gaming mad in an arid design with a 15cm grid system on it. I have an eye on a few terrain pieces that will help as well 

So it’s a big thank you to those of you who are helping out .

ACW - Union artillery top up.

As part of the winter painting plan I am now spending a few sessions topping up the 10mm ACW collection.   The first top up is for the Union artillery , which is 9 guns and a limber/caisson team for each.

As with my other ACW stuff they have been finished with thin satin varnish which i think helps the colour to pop a bit more .

Next up more infantry.

AHPC - entry 1 -10mm Barbarians

I have managed to get my first post of the Challenge done, and for me its a really important one. This is part of the "For Joshua" project set up by JamesM..  The link to the project can be found here , and the link the James' video is here.  This is a very noble cause and if you have not seen it - its worth a visit. 

Along with a number of our local gamers and people around the world we are doing what we are good at, to help out the charity that helped James and Amy at their worst of times.

So here I give you my contribution which is a Barbarian horde .. now bear in  mind I don't generally do "spear chucking" this is a little out of the normal for me . The figures by Pendraken were all very crisply cast and were easy to paint. Leon from Penraken has graciously contributed some free figures to the project too - thanks mate.

I will drop these off with James to add to the project shortly . With luck we will have  enough for a game at Hammerhead in March.

well that's the start of the winter waiting season. I intend to work on the small scale stuff first this year . Next up 6mm buildings and 10mm ACW. 

ACW - The start of the Confedrate army.

Having completed my own Union troops last year for the  Old Guard group  game at Battleground I decided I also needed some Confederates of my own. Having reviewed the current project list - in despair -  I decided I would commission these to get me off the ground.

I looked around and saw a local painter Chris (Marching In Colour) who has talent, a good reputation , and reasonable rates. They were duly completed as agreed.  I have now based and flagged them so here they are.

So here is the Brigade of Infantry - and too much artillery!  - well until i get a lot more infantry ! All Pendraken 10 mm

good job Chris - thanks

They have a thin coat of satin varnish , which personally I think really helps to make the visuals of smaller scale figures "pop"