From Codsticker: Warriors of Rohan (80pts)

Back to my main drive for this challenge: my pile of unpainted LoTR plastics from GW. This time a number of Rohirrim, some armed with bows some with hand weapons.

I believe they are known as Oathsworn Militia in the catalogue. It's been so long since I read the books I don't know if the term comes from Tolkien or if it is a GW invention.

When trying to work your way through several hundred minis it's probably best to cut a few corners though I did struggle a bit with that.

I loved painting these figures.

I tried to get them done for last Saturday but just missed the deadline by a day.

That is 16, 28mm figures @5 pts each= 80 pts. 

Next up... another ECW distraction.

From Millsy:

Very nice indeed Rob! You often see these miniatures painted in variations of greens (which isn't a bad thing) but I've always thought a more muted dark age earthy palette is equally if not more appropriate given the landscape they hail from. They have a solid, effective feel too them, like they will always get the job done no matter what the risk or challenge. The basing sets them off very well too.

Great stuff mate and 80 points well earned.

From Codsticker: The First Distraction - 4 28mm ECW (20)

A slow, long running project of mine is a Royalist army for the English Civil War (or War of The Three Kingdoms if you prefer); although my buying and painting for it has slowed down this past year I still occasionally pick up a few figures here and there such as these fellows from Bloody Miniatures, a new range started last year.

This is  the first blister of 16, they are called The Mortuary Men and are meant to represent veteran fighters, possibly having practiced their trade on the continent before returning home.

These are large 28mm figures, meant to fit in with the now defunct Renegade Miniatures ECW line as well the ranges from Redoubt and Bicorne.

Although they would fit in well in a large army, there design is purposefully skirmish intended.

They have great faces and character, my painting really doesn't show the faces in the best light and the details are very easy to pick out.

Although about the size of GW's figures, the lack of bag's, pouches, skulls, etc. means you can paint them up well and quickly. Figures from this range will be constant distraction while I tackle my massive pile of LoTR figures this challenge.

So, a dead simple 4 x 28mm minis @5 pts each = 20 pts.

From Millsy

These are quite something Rob! I'm a big fan of the Renegade / Bicorne ECW ranges and you've certainly done these matching miniatures justice, never mind the beautiful setting. I love the fact you've gone with a range of different hues for the buff coats too.

What rules are you intending to use them for? I've been thinking about some 17thC skirmishing myself of late having been tempted by these minis too.

From Mike W - 28mm Elizabethan Irish Kerns and Gallowglas (85 Points)

Today's post sees me flitting back to my Wargames Club's current project - Border Ruffians & Elizabethan Wars in Ireland to paint 15 x 28mm foot figures. I'm so shallow that any reason to change my focus from one project to another will likely distract me!

The Lot as it arrived from eBay

Seven of these little guys represent Gallowglas warriors whist another four represent Kern skirmishers and a final four represent a group of musketeers.

The finished figures

The figures were sourced from an eBay lot that I acquired over the summer but did not have time to paint at the time, three of the Gallowglas figures came without heads so I sent away for some resin Elizabethan heads and added these heads to these figures.

Four of the Gallowglas, all in mail shirts and wielding large axes

Interestingly, I did not realise that at this time the Gallowglas were typically Scots mercenaries that were used to stiffen the forces of the various Irish warlords. In fact in Irish Gaelic, 'Gallowglas' means Foreign Warrior! It was only that I picked up and flicked through a book on the subject that I found out and that was enough to divert me to do these little guys...

Rear view of three of the Gallowglas that have
additional two handed swords to play with...

The three Gallowglas figures who had head transplants!

The four kerns have a variety of weapons, typically javelins, although a couple have swords. The guy the red tunic would be of higher status.

The four Kerns armed with Javelins, Shields and Swords

Finally I have done four guys with muskets, these guys would have been better paid than regular Kerns and they would have spent their money on better clothes - as per the guy in the red cloak and breaches, or protective helmets etc.

The four musket armed figures with sexy hats, pants and cloak!

Most of these figures arrived undercoated black, I added my own white undercoat and then painted on the generic light brown / ochre coloured cloth. Oily Steel was applied for helmets and chainmail before flesh colour was added for bare skin areas.

Other detail was added as needed before applying coloured washes from Army Painted to add shading. This is a different approach to how I have painted other figures in the collection, where I used a simple Dark Tone wash or Dip to add the shading, I like the results - a brighter, seemingly cleaner resulting figure.

I have a box full of these Irish to do but they would be ineligible for the challenge as many are already pre painted - my task (one day) is to take them off their group bases, repaint to integrate with my existing collection and then put on to single bases.

One day...

POINTS

17 x 28mm Foot Figures @5 Pts Each = 75 Points