September Auctions: AWI Highlanders and British Celtic Command Group

 Yep, it's that time again:

I was going to do the Southern Campaign for the AWI, but I promised myself I would finish the French and Indian War figures first. Oh well, maybe I'll start it next year. Up first are some AWI Highlanders from Perry Miniatures:

AWI Highlander Auction.

I found these Wargames Foundry British Celtic Command lying around as I was reorganizing my hobby room. A pleasure to paint and indicative of the quality of Wargames Foundry.

British Celtic Command Group.

Good luck and Good bidding!

Barbarian from WizKids

Grrrrrrr!!!

Yep. I have discovered the primed resin figures from WizKids D&D range as an inexpensive alternative for some of my gaming needs. Several of my friends kids are playing Role Playing Games, and since that is how I got my start as a kid with painting and miniature wargaming, I told the kids that I would paint their character if I could find it. One of the boys is a German Barbarian - too easy to find!

I have always loved painting barbarians, both fantasy and historical. I blame Robert E. Howard. I was sending WIP pictures and above is one of them. Hey! There's the table again!
 

The figures come with 25mm round plastic bases (smaller creatures have 20mm or smaller bases). I prefer sand on bases so sand it is. I painted the rim of the base with Vallejo Flat brown. In fact all of the painting was done with Vallejo paints.

Add another layer of watered down glue on the sand and let it dry. Add some static grass and other scenery and let it dry. Spray some flat enamel over it to protect the paint and the static grass and presto: one barbarian.

And now the barbarian can slay the other resin monster from WizKids! 

Auction: Beautifully Painted Early Saxons or Western Barbarians

Along with my Late Romans I am bidding (I could not resist the pun) farewell to my ferocious Sea Dogs that have ravaged Britain for a least 16 or 17 gaming years.  The auction is located Here.

They are an excellent elite raiding force.

1 Foot Companions:  5 points. Warriors of course!
3 Noble Warriors: 15 points.  Extra armor, skill with weapons and flags.
3 Ordinary Warriors: 9 points.  We can fight.  Just point us in the right direction.
2 Skirmishers: 2 points.  One stand with bows and one stand with javelins.

Auction: Beautifully Painted 28mm Late Roman Army Wargames Foundry

It is time to bid adieu to my Late Roman Army, my faithful "Lantern Bearers".  Now that I am doing other periods, I need the space so I hope they go to a good home!  The Auction is Here.

I mounted them on 120mm wide bases for the game Dux Bellorum and Impetus. If you want to mount them differently just soak the bases for about 30 minutes in water and the figures will come loose.

For Dux Bellorum I envisioned this force as the cream of the Roman army stationed in Britain with excellent cavalry and solid infantry:

1 Mounted Companions: 5 points.  This is the Roman general and his personal retinue of Huns!
1 Cataphracts: 6 points. Well, I have some painted so why not?  
1 Noble Riders: 5 points.  Veteran and well mounted cavalry.
1 Mounted skirmisher: 2 points.  Armed with javelins, these local auxiliaries have been tracking and keeping an eye on the Saxon dogs.
4 Ordinary Shieldwall: 12 points. Solid Roman Infantry.
3 Foot Skirmishers: 3 points.  One unit armed with javelins and two with bows.

Armor at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Honorable Son #1 and his beautiful bride were in New York City recently, and, being my son, he sent be some great pictures of the armor.

Now I just need to get the descriptions!

 This belonged to Henry VIII

 

2014: The Year in Plaid

Plaid and tartans and stripes - oh my!  Yes, 2014 was the year of the kilt. Not only did I finish my two clan units for the English Civil War, but I also painted a unit of Gordon Highlanders for the Sudan.

It only took 3.57 days for my eyes to uncross after finishing

 

Perry Miniatures are always a pleasure to paint

With a total of 37 blog posts this year it makes it easy to track what I have done in the exciting world of Accurate Historical (and sometimes Fantasy) Representations of Fighting Men . . . or as my wife calls them, Toy Soldiers. Not only was it the year of parallel and perpendicular lines, but also the majority of my time was spent in the 17th Century with my English Civil War project. In addition to the 2 clan units I also finished 2 army command stands, 1 brigade command stand, 1 regiment of foot and 2 regiments of horse.  Probably the most exciting part was playing 3 games of Victory Without Quarter which allowed the forces to fight for King and Country.

 Rupert's Horse -Perry Miniatures

 The Earl of Essex - Miniature from Warlord Games

Other than the English Civil War I made a major leap in Dark Age Gaming by rebasing and painting new figures for Dux Bellorum.

 The fading might of Rome

 Figures from Wargames Foundry

 Above is the completed Late Roman army and here are some pics of the new Early Saxon army:

 You can never have enough Barbarians

On the horizon in 2015 are plans to finish the Romano-Britain army (Arthur), the Sea Raider army (Vikings) and eventually paint a Late Saxon army.

 The first 3 units of cavalry for Arthur

 Plus 2 Gaze of Intimidation!

 Gripping Beast Vikings

Throw in some Lord of the Rings gaming and it was a highly successful year!  Best wishes and may the Lord Jesus bless you in 2015.

 The Vikings make their combat debut against the Uruk-Hai

The Dux Bellorum gazes into the future dreaming of future conquests . . .

150 Followers? How did that happen?

I was getting ready to do an update on my English Civil War project and I noticed that I have 150 followers!

In celebration I thought I would upload some oldies by sentimental goodies.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I painting and gaming with them.

Wargames Foundry Early Imperial Romans.  This was a fun army to paint and looked great on the battlefield mounted for Warhammer Ancients. I think the centurion is actually a fantasy figure that was available from Games Workshop.  I sold this army when I decided to concentrate on the Late Roman period . . . but with those hard plastic figures from Warlord Games I may have to revisit this period.

A great Wild West shoot out after El Dorado Jo stole the gold from McNamara's mine using Play Mobile figures!

  

If you are going to play Warhammer Fantasy, how can you not have lots of greenskins and trolls?  Just point them in the right direction and yell "Charge!"  I really love the troll figures from GW.

My favorite Warhammer army is that of Bretonnia.  Here is a picture of the mounted yeoman.  The Bretonnian army can double for the 100 Years period if you are not a nit pick for historical detail and just love to game.

I became fascinated with the War of Spanish Succession during my first tour in Europe. Just a colorful as the Napoleonic period but with less "decorative attachments" to paint.

Figures are about 98% Dixon in 15 mm with the odd Hallmark figure thrown in.

My armies for the War of Spanish Succession are my largest with approximately 50 Infantry Regiments, 25 cavalry regiments and a bunch of artillery.

A few pictures from my American army for the American Revolution that was also sold to finance other projects.  Figures are Wargames Foundry, Perry Miniatures, Old Glory and Dixon.  Yep, the Perry Range and new hard plastic are calling my name . . .

Love the Late Roman Period and Dark Ages.

The very first period I gamed was the Napoleonic wars with 20 mm Airfix soldiers.  Above are 28 mm from Wargames Foundry and Front Rank Miniatures.

Perry Miniatures hard plastic 28 mm French Infantry painted as the 4th Swiss Regiment of Foot.

British Army for the Peninsular War.  Figures are Wargames Foundry and Front Rank in 28 mm mounted for Volley and Bayonet.

The Black Brunswickers from Perry Miniatures.  The mounted British officer is from Front Rank.

World War II is always a good period to game.  Since I am a military historian, and I know tanks are cool, the majority of my armies do consist of infantry.

German paratroopers.  Painting camouflage in 15 mm is an interesting challenge.  Fortunately Battle Honours has some excellent painting guides.

If an army has highlanders or bagpipers, I'm going to paint them.

The barbwire was actually easy to make with hanging wire and toothpicks.

Currently we have armies for the German Afrika Korps, British 8th Army and Australians in the desert, British in Europe 1944 - 1945, Germans in Europe 1943 - 1945 and Soviets 1942 - 1945.

In one of our games, this was the lone surviving British anti-tank gun that stopped my attack in its tracks.

For people starting out painting figures, I recommend the American Civil War.  Uniforms are easy to paint and most everyone knows something about the conflict.  The figures are 15 mm from various manufacturers.

Okay . . . Zouaves are a little bit harder to paint.

Last but not least, I have to thank my lovely bride of 28 years who allows a grown man to play with toy soldiers . . . I mean historical miniature figures! Thanks sweetie!