Dispatched from the Front XXXIII - Anything but Arabs.

It's been a while since the last dispatches post. My apologies this entry might be more of a reminder for me to keep me on track.

Chatting during the Cotswold day we shared a listing of half finished projects, we also seem to share one thing in common far to many projects than ever making it to the table. It got me thinking about the need for a clear out or sweep up of the ever going list on the paint table, during lockdown when everyone appeared to have more time I did a full review of projects underway and sold off a number of half finished projects, but things appears to have been building up again with a queue of things that need completing. I can't be the only one that thinks I have two spare figures why don't I buy a regiment to build them out......

So after the mass of figures for the Crusades project a brief pause whilst I clear some of the distractions that need that little bit of focus to get them table ready. My reckoning is that these should be done over 2 weeks - Enough time for a fresh Pendraken order to arrive.

To kick the next two weeks off I found a bunch of spare figures tucked away in a draw for the American Revolution Project. Getting these done will leave me with no spare figures for this project.

Keeping the focus on the AWI I brought a few packs of snake fencing back in March together with some large cosmetic spatula's but they were not wide enough, not wishing to waste anything and gambling that who is really looking in 10mm I straightened them up.  

Not bad basing material for less than £5.00 and these should not take long to get to the table, the sharp sand and I quick spray done over a couple of lunchtimes.

Pretty sure these were 15mm but have been sitting in a box for 25 years!!! Using the same spatula's these barricades were complete in a day, I don't know what took me so long.

Also purchased back in March an extra bunker for the Western Desert a nice piece of kit from Ironclad Miniatures well you can't go to a show and not buy anything. This was half done just needed some extra dry brushing and a light wash. Now ready for the next campaign game.

A package from Studio Historia Miniatures which has been hanging around since the summer. A case of idle hands on a train ride to London and a few clicks later and I am the proud owner of Zombie Camels and the Ramesses II headquarters, I figured the tent would be a good centre piece for my New Kingdom Egyptian forces and the camels for Silver Bayonet in the desert.

They have some great items on the website I can see a few more orders coming their way in the coming months - that damn butterfly.

Hittite Walls and WW2 Greeks - hhhmmm.

A few months ago we gave Xenos Rampant a run out for Chechen Wars, a great game which was really quick to get through in an evening session, it highlighted the need for a few extra heavy weapons, so a quick order from Fighting 15's and there they sat - time to get them done.

That should do for starters 6 different projects to juggle before I even think about projects for next year.

Excalibur 28mm - Songs of Arthur and Merlin.

Now for something completely different.

Back in February I was tempted to put together a bunch of knights to play out John Boorman's Excalibur an 80's classic. The package arrived and there they sat in the draw whilst other projects came along, while having almost finished the Pony Wars projects thought I would revisit these.

I wanted a shiny vs dark feel, with plenty of plate and some great big swords. 

Forlorn Hope do some lovely castings which are perfect for what I had in mind.

First up the good guys.....

Several layers of silver gave me that glistening feel that I was after. With Royal Blue and White to give them a righteous feel.

I am not sure I will go as far as naming the knights of the Round Table, but some most definitely have a Lancelot and Gawain feel to them....

Not sure which one should be King Arthur.

 

I thought I would give Songs of Blades - Songs of Arthur and Merlin a run out, very low level with around 10 figures a side, this version has some nice touches including a nice mechanism for chivalry, penalising knights if they gang up on opponents or use missile weapons.  

What legend of Arthur could be complete without Merlin, I picked up this fine fellow from Studio Miniatures.

After months of 6mm these guys were a pleasure to paint and were so BIG.... so easy to put paint to metal.

Next up the bad guys.

Anyone know where I can get a Modred in 28mm?