Alan Cavalry

 

Additions to my Late Rome collection. Alan cavalry, 15mm Forged in Battle miniatures. I decided to go with a simple rawhide shield colour to reflect their nomadic nature. These will form part of their own army for Basic Impetus. The last few weeks have been difficult with an ear infection, appears to be clearing now, so I feel like doing something in the eveningsother than sleep. The sun is shining and it's hot as I type this post, I have two hanging baskets to make this afternoon and some figures to paint. After that I think I'll have earned a nice cold beer!

Goth Skirmishers

Apologies for the pause in blogging, lots has been happening since the last post, I've started a new job which takes me off shifts and onto regular days, still within Mental Health Nursing. I've also fitted in landscaping my small back garden, so time to paint and blog has been non existent until now. Life is now settling down to normal and painting will soon resume. I'm also planning on setting up a table in my dining room large enough for some games, even if solo for now; well that's the plan this week unless I get distracted. In the meantime, I've included pictures of some Goth skirmishers, 15mm Forged in Battle. More Picts will follow when I can get a chance to take photographs. I've included a couple of before and after shots of the garden, 2023-2025, it spent last year under black plastic. Now I have a space to read peacefully in the summer if the weather is nice, historical books of course!

Goth Archers

 

The Goths just keep coming, now you know how the Romans felt! Bit of a delay on posting the Picts this week as basing is being finished off. So, I thought I offer up these Goth archers, these are 15mm Essex Miniatures from the lead pile. 

 

Painting this week has seen me complete a Pict chariot and some Arthurian figures. These are in the basing queue and will be making their appearance on the blog over the coming weeks. The rest of the time has been spent preparing the next batch for painting, cleaning castings and gluing spear and shields in place ready for undercoating. I've also made some broom bristle spears for the first time, hoping they look okay once painted up!

Goth infantry 3 the hordes keep coming!

 

The latest batch of Goth infantry are 15mm Essex Miniatures. These are part of an Essex Miniatures Goth army pack that I picked up cheap off eBay, and although the coffin shields are no longer on vogue I'm personally not overly concerned. These will do service in my Goth army and in any army go the period that require a similar troop type. 

Good progress has been made on the Picts, only a chariot, 12 cavalry and 16 warriors left from the lead pile. I'm also painting up the Arthurian Heroes of Camelot pack and a few supporting warriors from Warlord Games, these are nearly finished as type this post. Hopefully, I'll be able to get the first batch of Picts based and photographed for the next blog post. 

Frankish Cavalry

The latest addition is a unit of 15mm Frankish Cavalry from Forged in Battle. After painting 15mm almost exclusively for 2024 I felt the urge for a change. Currently on the painting table are 28mm Picts and Late Romans. Progress has been good, so good in fact that I now have a backlog in the basing department. I have found this switch between scales to be quite productive as I’ve maintained interest to paint a little every day. 

 

On another topic an episode on the Mesopotamia theatre during World War One on the Yarkshire Gamer podcast had me buying a copy of When God Made Hell by Charles Townshend. This campaign has always held an interest for me, as my Great Grandfather served and died in Mesopotamia during the First World War. It should make an interesting read, and maybe inspire a wargames project for the future.

 

 

  

Frankish Infantry

To begin I have to say that I really enjoyed painting these miniatures. The figures are 15mm Old Glory and Gladiator Miniatures, the latter I believe are Josef Ochmann sculpts which are beautiful. Sadly, with Fighting 15s closing due to retirement I'm not sure if Gladiator Miniatures will be picked up and continue to be made available. 

 

Currently on the painting table there's been shift from 15mm to 28mm Picts and a handful of part painted Normans I found in a box and decided to finish off. Lots of basing currently going on as well, so plenty of painted miniatures to add to the blog. While painting I've enjoyed listening to Yarkshire Gamer blog, loved the Trevor Dixon episode, though to be fair it's very hard to highlight one episode as they are all excellent. I've also been listening to the Too Fat Lardies podcast, another painting companion which I very much enjoy. As a Mental Health Nurse I'm a strong advocate for the benefits a hobby can bring; and I from a personal perspective I find painting extremely beneficial. I find it quite heartening to see the topic of mental health being openly discussed within the hobby, and proud to be part of a hobby community that can provide such a positive space.