From Kerry T: Hold, hold, hold - Scottish foot (100 points)

Morning, afternoon & evening all

I've often made comments in the past about what I call my wandering ill-disciplined brush. Today's entry is an example This leaves me to wonder how the mind works, or perhaps more specifically how the mind of a wargamer works (or doesn't). 

I raise the subject really because I find myself now  having completed  a unit of Scottish spearmen from the "Wars of the Bruce" range from the  Antediluvian Miniatures range. What's so special about that? Err, well the project actually started with a plan to do the Wars of the Roses (1455 to 1487). So how come I find myself offering an entry from the Scottish Wars of Independence (1296 to 1328 & 1332 to 1357).

It all started a few years ago when "Never Mind the Billhooks" was gaining in popularity, when seeing other gamers' efforts, I felt the attraction and bought a load of Perry plastic and metal figures for the period. Now there is an overlay between the WOTR and the Hundred Years War  (1337- 1543) and my mind suggested that with a switching  I could do both, perhaps using many of the same figures.

How did I get here though? - well I think its a combination of factors really

1 The joy of painting and staying productive by flitting between periods - what I mean by my ill-disciplined brush

2 The inevitable cry of " Oh look shiny". Thus the siren call of miniature figure ranges as you browse the net. This time it was the Antediluvian Miniatures range,  Claymore Castings, Perry Miniatures Agincourt range, Footsore Miniatures Baron's war range and lastly the Medbury Miniatures STL range. Oh yes and flags the twin calling of Flags Of War and GMB flags, I've always been a sucker for flags. In the main though I blame the figures, hence in the past seeing Artizan Landsknechts and Artizan Moors along with the Arab irregular cavalry in the WW1 range have led to a weakening of the will and thus new projects

3 A degree of megalomania... I started off intending to paint some English and French, then thought oh I could add some Scottish, Welsh and Irish.....

4 Media -In the past films like Lawrence of Arabia, The Last Samurai, and Kingdom of Heaven have led to the start of new projects. Then there are books or more recently audiobooks, essentially historical fiction (I listen while I paint) - Griff Hosker, Harry Sidebottom, David Gillman, SJ Turney & Christian Cameron whose words have filled my imagination with visual images of tabletop figures and before I know it my wallet's been opened and my brush is off on another wander!

I suppose a medieval purist will be having kittens now, figures from the Baron's war through to early/mid 100 years war are likely to come together to form my intended armies.

I could go on I know but this is by way of explanation of how I find myself here, with these....

Antediluvian Miniatures Wars of the Bruce range spearmen and knights

Based in 5s on 120 x 60 mm Warbases 2mm bases

I just love the action in these figures and was astonished by how good the  painted examples on the Antediluvian site look and so I was hooked. 

Spearmen on this base with a figure from the command pack at the back

They need something behind them I think though, more depth

Aonghus Og Mac Dohmnaill of Islay"s banner

Wasn't sure how many figures to add per base, 6 might have been better

Flags of War banner - a Scottish Saltire

The nearest base shows the knights rather than spearmen

My troops always run away

Used army painter on these, they're a bit shiny though

Well there we are, I'm not sure where I'm going with this project, all over the place as usual. When collecting I didn't really plan the units but I think in the long run I'll try and mix different figures into each unit using a mix of Claymore, Antediluvian, Footsore, Perry and Medbury. The Front Rank I have I think will have to be kept separate. There's an inspirational thread on the Lead Adventure Forum by Gareth Lane or Lord Raglan https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=135278.0 that I've followed

I'm not sure what I'll do for rules yet and a measure of my flutterbyness is that I've bought flags for 100YW French, English and Scottish along with flags for Bannockburn (1314) and Otterburn (1388). I'll just have to see where the butterfly takes me! I think WOTR is going to have to wait

So in summary

20 x 28mm Foot figures @5 points = 100 points

1 Squirrel

9 x 5 - 45 Can opener points

With many thanks

Valleyboy

From Millsy,

I was hoping to see these after you mentioned them on our regular paint and chat sessions!

They are absolutely smashing and the large bases to the front make them both safer for opponent's minis but also add a real sense of theatre. The fact enemies will be pushed back away from the pikemen reflects the way the weapon works and I love it.

The basing itself is great too and has a really compliments the colours of the padded jacks and surcoats. Lovely work mate and another well deserved 100 points.

Cheers,
Millsy

From SylvainR - 28mm Band of Chaos Warriors for D&D (50 points)

 

 

Another band of baddies for D&D. I kept a very simple palette of colors: metal/flesh + red. First, here  are 4 unarmored warriors. My first attempt at painting flesh in this lot was the guy on the right, but I found the result two flashy, so I toned down the color for the next 3 warriors.

 Next, we have 4 armored warriors, as shiny as can be. Note that the guy on the far right has a "full skull" armor.

Finally, here is the boss, on a larger base, with his lieutenant. I tried to emphasize their higher status by adding some bronze trims on their armor. I did not put any grass on any of the bases, to show that these chaos warriors bring nothing but desolation, ashes and tears. I find that the gray base also helps to bring out the other colors, metal and red, and helps tie the band together.

I really enjoyed painting these "heavy metal" models. In fact, I find that painting colorful fantasy figurines is an excellent counterweight to painting hundreds of dull camouflaged WW2 units. The lesson to be learned here is that painting chaos warriors is good for one owns mental health.

 

Points claimed:

10 x 28mm foot figurines at 5 points each = 50 points

Total = 50 points 

Thanks for reading!

***

Nothing says "We are serious about desolation" like "full skull" armour - well done Sylvain!

This is a very enjoyable, yet still clearly ominous, band of bad guys. They are not here for a dialogue - they are here to steal anything they might like, and wreck all the rest of it. Only a bold band of heroes and adventurers can step forward to stop them!

I think you have found success here with your color palette, and your approach to the basing. The metal also looks lovely. The effect is excellent all-around, and I am sure it will be a great D&D session when these bad guys make their appearance!

Another 50 points for you Sylvain, wonderful work. 

GregB

From TomC: Summary Judgement [Literature] [Fantasy] (50 points)

Fans of a certain vintage of British television might recall contestants on The Weakest Link whose hubris would cost their team dearly and so, with these lessons in mind, I have a narrow window left to 'bank' my recent efforts and will be sure to do so!

 First into action is an entry for the Literature section of the library, Commissar Severina Raine from Rachel Harrison's Black Library books, being a single 28mm miniature originally from Games Workshop. I did get this one from eBay and am still uncertain as to how directly this came from Nottingham, which I think is a reflection on Citadel's 'finecast'...

 I must confess that I haven't read any of the books, I just liked the miniature! I did read a sample and whilst she isn't highbrow, she is a traditional adherent to the Guard principles of shoot first raise morale later and very definitely snooty towards those with insufficient moral fibre! 

 The extract I read made no mention of her physical appearance, so she is broadly in line with the artwork available for her, although her hair is more whimsical, I just wanted something which wasn't black! 

 Painting was, for me, relatively speedy, I resorted to metallics in case I ever wish to expand my new Imperial Guard army of one. Otherwise, I tried to balance an all black miniature (there are four variations of black in there) and had a bit of fun with the pseudo full dress uniform (she's not wearing tracksuits, I promise...).

 Part 1 progress below for completeness:

 The other limb for today is a slightly less wholesome offering, this time from Steamforged Games Animal Adventures series, and is a were-rat for the Fantasy section.

 She comes as part of the Rat King of Gullet Cove set as one of four identical lesser villains to harass your party, in this instance primarily with the threat of tetanus...

 After an 8th edition Skaven army, our were-rat here is perhaps a little un-hip on her round base but definitely an opportunity to try something different out!

 She was the product of a single, rather feverish, painting session, having been undercoated earlier in the day. It's almost certainly the fastest I've completed a miniature (I don't count the Salute speed-painting competition...) and perhaps it shows, but it's one fewer grey miniature!

 The colours are almost entirely what happened to be on the palette after Severina was finished, which took me surprisingly far with some extras mostly for the 'special effects' (such as they are).

 I expect this is likely it from me, so our latest additions are both 28mm miniatures for 5 points apiece and fingers crossed for 20 points for Literature and 20 points for Fantasy for a total of 50 points for the entry in total.

I might be miles off my target total but I still got plenty painted and even... had fun! So, thank you so much to Curt for organising the Challenge, Greg for tolerating my accounting shenanigans, the wider minion team and Sarah for all their invaluable support and all the kind participants who have taken a moment to comment on any of my posts, you're all wonderful!

________________________________________

Good work on the lonely Skaven and Severina Raine, Tom. Good gravy, who comes up with these Black Library character names? I suppose the handle works equally well for a Commissar, or a porn star. Still, she definitely looks the business with the peaked cap, storm coat and humungous epaulettes. Cool mini and a great paintjob.

I'm delighted you had a fun Challenge and also managed to slay some grey, Tom. I hope you can roll out with us next year.

- Curt  

From KyleC: (Moar) Blood for the Blood God! (35 pts)

 

So now that I am back, I was able to get a few bits painted up.. 

Finally got this first core unit finished for the Blood God!

Quite happy with what I have here now, and will be great to see them on the table. 

Now this was a fun little project.. I had a Khorogath for my Khorne Age of Sigmar army, but he was missing a crucial bit for the top section, so I never really built it. But I want a unit of Spawns for this army, and this seemed like a good base for one. So after filling it with tissue and super glue ( and airing out the room from the fumes that came from it ) and doing a bit of greenstuff work to give it a body base. From there I just begun to stick a ton of plastic bits on it. Armor panels and the like from the Deamon Prince that I didn't need when building the fantasy version. 

I think he gives off the brutal Killing Blow feeling, but now I need to figure out 2 more to make a full unit of 3.. let's see how that goes then. 

So this is where we stand now for this army.. and it seems I have enough for a 1000 pt force to play a game with. Not the best, but playable all the same. 

Now for the Skull Count so far in this force.. 

- Khorne Lord on Daemonic Mount - 14
- Khorne Lord on Foot - 5
- Khorne Here BSB - 11
- Warqueen - 5
- Chaos Ogres - 15
- Chaos Warriors - 4
- Marauders - 28
- Khorne Chariot - 10
- Chaos Spawn - 36!

Total Skulls so far for the Blood God - 128, which when divided by 8 is 16 proper gifts to the Blood God!

Also I have brought some of my city walls upstairs to the office for photos, but I am not fully sure if it is better or worse for photos.. would be curious on any comments about the photos.. 

For challenge points... 

5 * 28mm infantry - 25 pts
1 * 54mm model - 10 pts

Total 35 pts

Nice work here Kyle, the lads look suitably blood-soaked and ready to spill some gore. "Khorne cares not from where the blood flows..." etc. Your army is looking great and I do fully support the square based regimen. Your Big Fella warrants 10 points for sure!

35 points added!

Dallas

From Kerry T - More plastics - Norman Light Cavalry (120 points)

Morning, afternoon & evening all.

I started last week's post by highlighting how warm it was here as its summer....

And with summer good things come about

Our first pick of Blueberries this year

I've never had any intention of crushing them with a pestle and mortar and adding the liquid to a bottle of Vallejo blue to make a true French Napoleonic uniform blue, I've been adding them to my cereal in the mornings, I love it when the garden fruit come into season.

Its been a busy week at work and instead of playing golf and painting yesterday on my day off I got swamped by a mountain of paperwork instead. Again my usual plan to display a hoard of figures has come unstuck and the PVA is only just drying on these bases. I'm hoping to get a chance tomorrow night to relax with a glass or two of wine and spend some quality time enjoying viewing what's been posted in the last 3 days. My apologies for not passing comments but I will get there

More cavalry again from me I'm afraid - Victrix Light Norman cavalry intended for use as generic forces for the Reconquista in Spain. At least it made the basing quicker

Shields from LBMS

There are some nice head variations in this box allowing a wide range of options

Don't look too closely I've just realised I've forgotten to paint the horses' eyes!

I just didn't have the time or energy to dot them in tonight - like these above I've hit the wall!

I really have enjoyed painting these Victrix plastics, I'll have more Normans painted up as Andalusians next week, the variations on the frames allow you to field them for several regions. They're great value

In summary 

12 Mounted figures at 12points = 120

No time to finish anything for bonus points this week but I did have some female figures arrive in the post today.

Best wishes and thanks for looking

From Millsy: That's a great looking crop of blueberries mate but they are nothing compared to your latest cavalry addition! Such a wonderfully painted crew and based to match. The blues in particular are really eye catching and will surely make these fine fellows pop on the table. Looking forward to the Andalusians now you have teased them... 120 points added to your total!

From SimonM: Sauron by "Wizkids" (5 Points) + Super-Hero Bonus (20 Points) + Xeno Brood Sentry by "Papsikels Miniatures" (5 Points)

This 28mm scale pre-painted plastic model of Sauron was produced by “Wizkids” and is miniature number 029 from their Marvel “Heroclix” Wolverine & The X-Men range. After being bitten by mutant pterodactyls, physician Doctor Karl Lykos was transformed into a humanoid Pteranodon, who was "able to absorb the life force of others through touch." Created by Roy Thomas and Neal Adams, the Savage Lands mutate made its first appearance in the September 1969 issue of "The X-Men by "Marvel Comics".

Clipped from the figure's 'clicky' base and super-glued upon a plastic 25mm circular base, the super-villain was treated to a double-coat of Ethereal Green from "Duncan Rhodes Two Thin Coats" paint range so as to cover up its previous paint-job, shaded in Battle Mud Wash, and thoroughly dry-brushed with (more) Ethereal Green. I then 'picked out' his tongue using a combination of Sanguine Scarlet and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson, before dotting in the energy vampire's mesmerising eyes with a smidgeon of "Duncan Rhodes Two Thin Coats" Skulker Yellow over a "Citadel" Abaddon Black base layer.

Finally, I applied two layers of Sorceror's Cloak from "Duncan Rhodes Two Thin Coats" over Lykos' torn loin-cloth and shaded it with "Citadel" Druchii Violet. To be honest I had originally intended to pigment the garment in yellow, as per the miniature's 'official' paint scheme. But having recently played quite a bit the computer game Marvel Snap, I decided to go with the colour he wears on his digital card.

Having previously completed four Green Pass studio tasks (Sci-Fi, 1980's, Casting Couch & World Cinema), I decided to travel back the way I came so as to use Sauron as the perfect piece to bag my first Blue Pass at the Superheroes studio. Sure, the character has been a lifelong foe of the X-Men, but like so many classic villians, he's also been a hero at times - befriending the Lord of the Hidden Jungle, Ka-Zar, and ultimately sacrificing himself (by hurling himself off of a cliff) when he realised what a threat to Humanity he had become.

Alongside Doctor Karl Lykos' alter-ego, I have also pigmented a rather large 32mm scale Xeno Brood Sentry produced by "Papsikels Miniatures". The model can be downloaded for free as an STL (Standard Triangle Language) file from their PAPSIPACK Welcome Models subscription set on "Patreon", and is based upon a species of H.R.Giger's infamous deadly xenomorphs.

Produced using "Elegoo" Water Washable Resin on a Mars 3 Pro 3D Printer, the monster was super-glued to a "Citadel" 60mm circular base and primed in Doom Death Black by "Duncan Rhodes Two Thin Coats". I next gave the model an enthusiastic dry-brush of Scorched Earth and shaded it with Oblivion Black Wash to help make the creature's base layer look very dark indeed.

I next much more delicately (re)dry-brushed the models with (more) Scorched Earth, before applying a light highlight of Dust Bowl across all the prominent raised areas. Finally, to help better blend this all together, I gave the fearsome fiend an absolute drowning in Battle Mud Wash. This just left me needing to 'pick out' all the alien's metal teeth with a combination of Sir Coates Silver and Oblivion Black Wash, as well as apply a coat of Doom Death Black across its forehead and scorpion-like stinger tail.

One x 28mm scale foot figure = 5 Points

One x 32mm scale foot figure = 5 Points

Superheroes Studio Bonus = 20 Points

Total = 30 Points

From SimonM: Sardaukar by "Big Mr Tong" (20 Points) + B2 Droids by "Nyverdale Tabletop" (20 Points)

These four 28mm scale Sardaukar were sculpted by "Big Mr Tong" and can be downloaded for free as part of a ten-figure set of STL (Standard Triangle Language) files from his "Patreon" subscription service. Based upon David Lynch's vision of the Emperor's elite warriors as first seen in his 1984 American science-fiction film "Dune", the miniatures were produced using "Elegoo" Water Washable Resin on a Mars 3 Pro 3D Printer.

Each figure was undercoated in "Citadel" Abaddon Black, and heavily dry-brushed with "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal. The super-human soldiers' belts were then 'picked out using a little "Vallejo" Steel Blue, and their firearms with Gunmetal. Finally, each model was entirely 'drowned' in "Citadel" Nuln Oil and the Sardaukar's distinctive green face-visor realised using a combination of "Scalecolor" White Alchemy and the "Citadel" Contrast paint Warp Lightning.

Alongside the last of my Sardaukar I have also pigmented four 32mm scale B2 Droids by "Nyverdale Tabletop". These can be downloaded for free as part of Duncan's fifteen-figure strong B2 Droids Collection (Fan Art) on "Cults" and are clearly based upon the Super Battle Droids from "Star Wars". 

Produced using "Elegoo" Water Washable Resin on a Mars 3 Pro 3D Printer, their pre-supported versions are all quite bizarrely placed face down onto the build plate, so resultantly suffered quite horribly from the pimple/acne effect of their struts. Admittedly, the fact the miniatures are so low to the ground does result in a fast print-time, yet this is debatably off-set by their rafts' significant footprints only allowing five models per batch. In future, I may well simply stand them upright (at a 30-40% angle) and supply my own supports using "Chitubox" Basic.

Having based each model onto a 25mm round bases, they were all primed with a coat of "Citadel" Abaddon Black and subsequently treated to some "Vallejo" Gunmetal. I then heavily washed them with "Citadel" Nuln Oil before dry-brushing them with (more) Gunmetal. Disappointingly, this process really highlighted all the pits, dents and deformities of the printing process, so I eventually went back and gave the quartet a second shade of "Citadel" Nuln Oil to darken their overall tone.

In addition, I attempted to contrast some of the Baktoid Combat Automata-built robots' joints, softly-detailed heads and midriff with a further application of "Citadel" Nuln Oil. But this didn't really work, so eventually settled on carefully painting their waists with "Citadel" Abaddon Black, and 'spotting' a light-emitting diode on one of their chests using a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Red and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson.

Four x 28mm scale foot figure = 20 Points

Four x 32mm scale foot figure = 20 Points

Total = 40 Points

From Curt: 'Chaff' Light Infantry for Turnip28 (40 Points)

Hellooo,

I have to say, I'm having a bit of fun reading the bewildered responses from some participants to all this Turnip silliness. Remember, be inclusive people, root vegetable-based wargames need love too.  :) 

So, another small post from me for my T28 project. Moving on from the rank-and-file of the 'Fodder', we now consider the much-abused 'Chaff'.

As you can imagine from their name, Chaff are the light infantry of Turnip28. They're typically tasked to screen other units, nip around the battlefield to seize objectives, and generally be an annoyance. Similar to skirmishers from other systems, Chaff benefit from being able to deploy in a loose formation, making them harder to hit, and, as they sometimes clean their begrimed, rusted muskets, they are marginally less horrible shots than their comrades.

Here are two units of Chaff for my forces. One for the 'Rutabaga Brigade' 

...and the other serving 'The Fighting Fennel Fusiliers'. 

I wanted them to have a slightly different look than the Fodder, so, pulling from the artwork in the rules, I gave them each a pavise to lug around the battlefied (makes perfect sense, right?).  I had a bit of fun freehanding some unit heraldry on the shields. Granted, its pretty rustic, but I figure it fits with the overall setting of weirdness, decay and dissolution of Turnip28.

These eight Chaff will give me 40 points on the long path towards my 1300 point goal.

Next up for T28 will be the 'Brutes', or maybe the cavalry... or perhaps the artillery. No clue really. It'll sort itself out. 

Thanks for popping in for a look! 

- Curt