From GregB: Leopold's Leopard Company (122 points)

"Leopold's Leopard Company" is ready to meet an opponent's charge...

I am super pleased to present another Regiment of Renown from GW's old "Dogs of War" collection - here is Leopold's Leopard Company, and they are ready to stand in your battle line - so long as the deposit is paid up front and on time. These battle-hardened pikemen are long-OOP metal castings from Games Workshop and the glorious before-times.

One of the front-rankers, pike set, ready for the clash.

A back ranker.

Leopold and his men started out as guards of the Temple of Lucan and Luccina in the Tilean city of Luccini. It was fancy, well-paid duty. The unit is resplendent in fine armour adorned with the symbols of the temple - in particular the visage of the leopard who had guarded the divine twins! They are further adorned with the pelts of leopards. As military units go, the Leopard Company dressed the part!

These chaps are ready for a fight too!

How did the Leopard Company end up as mercenaries? Well, let's just say "local Luccini politics" intervened. In the midst of some civil strife there may, or may not, have been a siege of the temple in which it may, or may not, have become necessary for Leopold and his men to, er, "borrow" the gold offerings stored within which in turn may, or may not, have brought down some kind of divine curse which can only be held at bay by traveling the Old World, fighting as mercenaries and sending a portion of the gold they earned back to the temple to, um, "repay" their "debt."

Leopold and the command group. He is carrying healthy-sized "sword" (more of a cleaver), and I love the pistol tucked into the belt.

Naturally the command group has the nicest collection of pelts!

It is a real thrill to get this unit over the line for a couple of reasons. First, this is a Dogs of War unit which I had not previously painted back when I owned my original collection. I had wanted to take a crack at them, but a) already had assembled a decent-size force and b) was kind of intimidated by all of the leopard-style pelts. Nearly every figure in the unit is wearing a pelt. The studio models in the army book looked amazing (of course), but painting those spotted pelts looked really tricky and beyond my brush skills at the time.

Another ranker.

25 years later wariness of painting the pelts was still holding me back, but I was determined to try...there was a lot of trial and error on the first couple of test figures, but I managed to work out an approach that seemed OK, and in particular looked pretty good when the troops were massed together. Even if the spot pattern is not exactly that of a leopard, I can always push the fantasy-escape-button. "Oh, you see, those are the pelts of the, er, 'Tilean Mountain Leopard', and the spots look...just like that..."

From this aspect you can see some of the assorted small details that add character. Like the chap at the rear with a portion of rope, the different types of packs etc. 

Each time I have completed one of these units, I have commented on how wonderful these old sculpts are. This time will be no exception - let it be said, again, that these old sculpts are just wonderful! So much character, brilliant metal sculpts from the Perry brothers. While there is, of course, broad similarity to the figures, there are a number of small little variants among the sculpts that add just enough difference, and a little touch of character, to let each figure be slightly unique while preserving the overall uniform look to the unit. It has been such a treat to paint these figures, with their crisp, proper metal lines and details. 

I love these big pike blocks!

So that is now three large, chonky pike blocks completed to serve as a solid backbone for my "Dogs of War" army, but this project is still not yet complete. The army will require some artillery support and a bit of cavalry to round things out. Time in this edition of the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge is running short, so those elements are likely to have to wait until the next one, but who knows what might be possible before things conclude? 

"Ready lads!"

Points-wise we have 24 figures, 28mm in size, which should be good for 120 points. That's all for now, but I hope to be back with more as the mad-dash to the AHPC finish line looms. 

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Sylvain: Another convincing demonstration of your talent both with the pigment and with the verb. As you said, despite their individuality and their personal details, the figurines, as a whole, contribute to the overall sumptuousness of their company. Your projects always come with a story that I always enjoy reading. I will add 2 points for the large flag. It has been an honor to be your minion; "à la prochaine". 

 

 

From BruceR: Al Mukhtar addition, raising of skeletons, Ogres, breaking from 10mm 28mm General (158 points)

When I took on the vampire counts, I was primarily focused on a force to put on the table to fight my other armies.  I also knew a couple of my gamer friends had played the undead in WHFB.  We played our first game I realized a prime component of the vampire counts is raise dead.  First few games and proxy of goblins.  To the etsy and perfect.  Skeletons rising from the ground.  So, 9 bases of raised/raising skeletons.  Hopefully enough for play when one of my compatriots can seem to roll endless amounts of 5-6s to cast raise dead.  I do enjoy like the coffin lid shields.  

Al Muktar's Desert Dogs x2:

My second submission of the Dog's of War desert raiders.  Here I simply spot painted over a black undercoat.  I feel it gives the figures some depth with the black lines showing.  This group had two standards; I gave them similar sword style banners to lead the way.  I did notice two missing sword arms and without any type of substitute I went ahead thinking casualties of war.     

Empire Captain/General TOW:

As I've stated previously the warmaster armies will be heading to Adepticon at the end of the month.  This has taken up most/all of my hobby and playing time.  One of the crew who has not gamed much in the past few years decided to play some Warhammer, The Old World with his son and invited me over.  I have extensive empire and greenskin armies.  After one game I thought, brings back some memories, so when I saw an escalation event at ACon 500/1000/1500 I decided why not break out  the old forces and let some youngsters put me in my place.  

In a break from 10mm I remembered I had a sweet empire general from the time of the end of WHFB.  It was finecast and I paid way too much for it.  I dug around a bit and found him. Here is my new empire army general Luigi Mario Fettuccini.    He also comes with 4 skulls (skull duel) like any good empire general should.  The hammer came separate and I snipped the block and pinned it in place.  The soft material worked fine and I didn't mind painting him.  I did mind the price tag I saw on the box (must be getting  old "get off my lawn")  

Golgfag's Mercenary Ogres:

I didn't think I would get to these, which are the last of my 10mm 3d printed warmaster miniatures (aside from a few characters that may come later).  Golgfag's Mercenary Ogres.

I remember having these fellows a long time ago.  In fact, they were actually a different sculpt originally.  They came in a hard plastic box from citadel if memory serves.  I remember painting the shields on their backs like jack-o-lanterns.    Sadly, one of the units sold into the world.  

These are the new rendition of the mercenary ogres.  A little bit more cartoony and being small I decided to liven them up with bold paints.  They are mercenaries and don't pay for food (eat their foes) so their coin must go to dress.  I did experiment with two bases using primarily speed paints with highlights.  The others were my standard 10mm blotch paint method.  

Points:

Skeletons:  108 10mm skeletons 

(many only half out of the ground so 1/2 points    =  54 (81)

Al Muktar's raiders 12 @ 3pts 10mm cavalry        = 36

28mm Luigi @ 5 pts                                               = 5

Ogres:  18 at 15mm @ 2pts per                            =36

Total:                                                                    =131 (158)

Skull Duel:  108 skulls in the skeleton horde 

                          4 on Luigi

                       1 on Al Muktar's leader

                       9 on Golgfags (4 on standards, 2 drummers, 3 on helmets of the Golgfag)

                      122 total Skulls.

Thanks for looking and hope you enjoy my 10mm madness.  May you roll good dice and stay well.

Bruce

 

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Sylvain: You have wowed me again. Your brushwork on these tiny figurines is just amazing. Your colors are vibrant and always spot on, like the bones of the skeletons. And General Fettucini looks like a sharp dress man, very suitable when you fight for the Empire. For points, I would say that your skeletons are, on average, at least 3/4 out of the ground, so 81 points instead of 54. It has been an honor to be your minion; "à la prochaine".

 

From BruceR: Fleshing out the Force, More Braganza's Besiegers (56 points)

Back from somewhat sunny California (still warmer than North Dakota) and once more into the deep freeze (so to speak at -4 F).  Nice little break from the temps and now back into the downslope of the challenge.  

I am taking a Dogs of War force to Adepticon end of March to play Warmaster and need the requisite 4 units of bows.  I had ordered them early on for the Challenge and when I started to paint realized I was short about half the stands.  Oops.  back to the interweb for reinforcements.  They arrived while I was away and I started on them as we recovered from traveling this past weekend.  

I took a different approach to the troops this time.  

The prints come as 2 figures on a base front and back rank.  I placed most groups of 2 on popsicle sticks and also tried 2 stands of 8 on their bases for painting.  Not sure which method worked best.   

I gave them the black undercoat and as they are mostly armored, I decided to slap-chop them and use metal speed paint for the armor.  This seemed to speed up the process, without a downgrade in finished product.  The pouches, bow strings, bows, limited flesh, shields (these probably took the most time) and I think makes the unit pop at this scale, were done with acrylics.  I did go back and hit the helmets and shoulders with acrylic gold as I find the speed paints seem to dull the figures down somewhat.

I've started using Monument Hobby Pro Acryl Brown Earth Fine basing texture for all of these 10mm bases, a light dry brush and add clumps of flock.  

I will be using them as simply crossbows so they do not get the pavis bonus or armor bonus.  Simply ranged armed humans.  I think they look better than simple crossbows so play for looks and fun I say.

So, here are the 7 stands to flesh out my required 12 stands.

1st Unit:

I smeared some basing pumice on the shield by mistake and
figured normal weathering for campaigning so didn't sweat it.

2nd Unit w/ additional stand:

The force defending the hill:

The four units completed during the challenge.  

Points for the week:

7 Stands of 8 10mm figures at 1pt per figure          Total 56 pts  

Thanks for looking.  Hope all are enjoying the challenge and keep those brushes up as the finish line is in sight.  

Bruce

 

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Sylvain: The demonstration of your painting skills, by picking up so many details on such tiny figurines, just blows me away. I will add 2 points for the flag. Seeing you army would be a good enough reason to travel to Adepticon. Extraordinaire!