Showing posts with label Painting table. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Painting table. Show all posts

Wednesday, 9 July 2014

More late late Romans


I couldn't resist working on the painted cavalry Craig sold me with the three infantry units. There were a few tiny chips, and the superglue had degraded so everything needed to be re-glued. They are mostly finished (below), I just want to apply some varnish to the shields and horses tails. I find that tails, in particular, get a great deal of wear and need all the protection they can get. I painted one shield to match Craig's hand painted ones.


Below, I painted 8 infantry shields to match some of Craigs. Craig painted the small shields at the bottom and the ones in the centre of each Jenga piece (and 25 more not shown). Mine aren't quite as good, but when they are on the minis it will be very hard to tell them apart. I really like the subtle variations one gets with hand-painted designs. I've actually found myself thinking about painting a second unit, so I could have a full 1,200 strong Legione; however 5 nights more shield-painting is a somewhat daunting prosepect.

Saturday, 5 July 2014

Late late Romans


My friend Craig Davey very kindly sold me some Late Roman infantry last year, and they have been slowly fighting their way towards the top of the painting queue.  By painting another 7 minis, I worked out that I could make three units out of them.  Craig hand-painted the shields at the Secunda Britannia, and I'm going to need to paint a few more to match.  The detail on his minis it stunning, and I am struggling to match it.  I've had to clean my painting specs and break out the rarely used 000's!

Tuesday, 17 June 2014

Riding a rail

I've been painting various Roman cavalrymen to complete units, and wanted a way to hold the riders whilst painting them.  I've come up with this low-tech solution; the riders sit on the dowel, held in place by a tiny dot of white glue.  Their feet prevent it from rolling.


I've also established that 6 horses are the most that I can paint in an evening, without pulling my thinning hair out in clumps!  :-)

Last night I finished polishing the latest version of my "To the Strongest!" rules, which I'll use for the Ancient Battles of Rome weekend at the Wargames Holiday Centre on the 28th and 29th of June*.  The rules aren't substantially changed, but with the help of a couple of people who have very kindly carefully reviewed them, I have been able to clarify several points.  If you happen to be one of the people who are play-testing them, and would like the very latest version, mail me at the address on the front of the blog and I'll send them out to you.   

*Mark Freeth still has some places left and can be reached here

Friday, 13 June 2014

Waste not, want not

Alongside the cavalry in my last post, were seven primed Roman archers. I'm using these to complete two more units, one each of Eastern and one of Western auxiliaries, giving me a (somewhat excessive) seven units, of which 4 are shown below. I'm not likely to use seven units very often, except, perhaps, in a big siege, or an invasion of Persia...


I'm also taking the opportunity to improve the basing, moving from 6x3cm bases with two minis each, to 6x5cm bases, with three. The great thing about art card bases is one can carefully separate the top layer with a sharp craft knife, so that they can be re-used. I've been able to recycle some old 6x2cm bases, by sticking them onto the edges of the 6x3's. I have also re-used all the old tufts and even some of the painted grout. When finished, I'm confident that they will look a lot better than in their previous incarnation, and probably only cost £1-£2 for materials.

Sunday, 8 June 2014

Equestrian interlude


With Partizan now behind me, and the Wargames Holiday Ancients weekend on 28th/29th still some weeks ahead, I've decided to finish off a few more units of Early Imperials. I shall work in a leisurely manner and enjoy myself.

My Batavian auxiliary cohorts have been clamoring for an expansion of their mounted arm, in much the same way they did in 69 AD. Next they will be demanding nail-money!  I shall take their numbers up to 18 and also recruit a half-ala of British cavalry. I'll have enough horses left over to recruit another ala-and-a-half later in the year.

With a little re-organisation and re-basing, I should also be able to put another regiment of 18 archers into the field.

I was interested to see that Caliban-Paul is going for a big push on his Caesarian Romans, organising them into 80-figure legions. I also very much like the cloaks he has painted on his Alaudae legion.

Finally, I've started work on yet another ancients project, which I shall keep under my hat, for the time being...  

Wednesday, 21 May 2014

More Romans and a baboon


A hasty and rather nasty camera phone photo of three units of Roman skirmishers that I'm basing. Most of these minis were painted by mate Legatus Hedlius; I've added some Black Tree poses for variety. A better photo will follow when the basing is finished, perhaps after Partizan. I owe Legatus a further debt of gratitude for recommending "Lewis" as a successor for my "Morse" boxed set, which I finished last night. So far I'm liking Lewis!

Finally, I've painted an old Citadel baboon to pass to Scrivs for the Keren game.  IIRC it will have a role harassing the BBC, so presumably it is a fascist baboon.  ;-)


Monday, 19 May 2014

Black legion based

...but not yet flocked.  I'll take a proper photo later on.


There are 101 miniatures in four units, with a legion command stand and a couple of "heroes".  As I've previously mentioned, I'll add a fifth unit later on.  These boys are going to be V Alaudae.

Last night I painted a bunch of archers, that will form the final three units for Partizan.

Thursday, 15 May 2014

The black Legion musters

Last night I finished painting of the second legion for Partizan.


Tonight I need to finish staining them (I'm using inks in Johnson's Klear), and tomorrow I can get on with matt varnishing and highlighting the metallics.  I'm nicely on track for Partizan, although there is still a challenging volume of terrain to complete.

Partizan should be very interesting this year, as (due to a foul-up by the owners) it's going to be held in a huge tent, instead of inside Kelham Hall.  It'll be one to remember, one way or the other!  I'm really looking forward to it.

Thursday, 8 May 2014

Back to black

...instead of following through on basing the yellow shields, I decided to push on and finish the second, black-shielded legion. These figures are around half of them, and are the ones that came ready painted; they are the work of three painters, who I like to think of as the good, the bad and the ugly. The "good" ones in row 3 and 4 are more well-painted ex-Legatus Hedlius minis, and just needed shield transfers. The "bad" ones in rows one and two needed a near complete repaint. The "ugly" ones at the rear had just been blocked in, and look much better for a little highlighting.


I need one more session on this lot's shields, two more on the rump of the minis, and then I can think about varnishing and basing. It is going so well, in fact, that I have cockily decided to paint a cohort or so of archers to provide some fire support.

If anyone would like to see all of the completed minis together, then they will be at Partizan on 1st June, and at the Wargames Holiday Centre on the 28th/29th June, where I'll putting on four large games.

Monday, 5 May 2014

Painting progress...


A quick WIP shot of the first of the two new legions for Partizan. In a few days time, when they are flocked, I'll take some proper photos.

These are now based up as 4 units, each of 3 stands, together with the legion's command stand and a couple of singly based "heroes".  The new 8 figure 60 x 50mm stand is to become the standard for all my Romans.

Later in the year I will add a fifth unit, which can form the third line of the legion.  I'm currently painting the other legion with the black shields, which will make a great contrast.  

Friday, 2 May 2014

The varnished troops

Today I'm varnishing the first of the two legions for Partizan.  Tonight I'll highlight the metallics, and take them off the temporary bases.


A very superior matt varnish was recommended to me by ConflictinColour; Windsor and Newton Professional.  It comes in a silver can and is much better than their other product.  It's at least as good as Testors, and less than half the price.

Friday, 25 April 2014

Romans, Romans, Romans

Apologies for the recent lack of posts; I've been hard at the brush. 

I estimate I'm at least half way through my big Roman project, and on target for Partizan.  In the below camera phone photos, you can see that I've re-organised the part-painted minis into their respective legions. I am going to focus on finishing the yellow shields first.



I've been really enjoying this job, so much that I've ordered enough additional transfers from Steve at LBMS for a new legion, and for various extra units to increase the size of the other legions to 125 each. 

A couple of Victrix Steve's plastic peltasts have infiltrated the metal figures.  I'm painting them up as tests for a future project.

Wednesday, 19 March 2014

Ford Dagenham, 55BC

This is an Essex-based British chariot assembly line, c.55BC, desperately building weapons to repel Caesar's invasion (at Salute in April).


Mate Nick has sent across the charioteers, just in "the nick", as they say, and the chariots, horses and bases are also underway.  It is going to be a busy week or so!

Thursday, 6 March 2014

Latest shot of the irritating Celts

Now partially based; the largest bases I've ever made, with 24 irritating Celts on each, and a few singly based irritating "heroes".


Did I mention that I hate painting Celts?

Wednesday, 26 February 2014

Did I mention that I hate painting celts?


At least the blighters are all blocked in, now.  I just need:-

  • one session to paint in details on shields and scabbards, and wash with ink
  • two sessions to finish and fit an additional 27 shields with LBMS transfers
  • one session to highlight metallics, and snagging
Hopefully I will be basing by this time next week.  I have something special in mind, for the basing....

Saturday, 22 February 2014

More celts...


More celts hit the painting table.  I really hate painting celts.  :-(

Tuesday, 10 December 2013

My painting table overfloweth


On the painting.basing tray, some of Saxon Dog's Foundry Perry EIRs have joined the Foundry Perry LIRs, Numidians and Greek cavalry, and the Aventine Polybians.  3 Roman periods on the go at once!  Now where are my A&A MIRs...

Friday, 6 December 2013

Forming up


I've been busy painting and basing this week, with nothing complete enough to post, in the last few days. However here are the WIPs, for what they are worth. Clockwise from the top:-

  • An extra base of Aventine Polybian cavalry
  • A Foundry late Imperial Legion, 6 figures completing an eBay purchase
  • A rhomboid formation of later (shielded) Thessalians
  • My twelfth (and final?) unit of Numidian horse
Eclectic, neh? After these are finished, I'll crack on with the Perry EIRs.  My 52 unit target is slipping away from me... :-(

Friday, 15 November 2013

Wedgy

This is my latest attempt to base some Thessalians in a convincing manner. I have another unit that has been based twice, and now needs to be re-based again, in the same style. These are the front six figures of a unit of nine. When complete the unit will be in the form of a rhombus, 19.5 cm long. As usual, Nick painted the minis very nicely, and I added shield decals, highlights and stained.


Below is the traffic jam on the painting tray.  These include Numidians, Scythians, Celts, Romans and a nellie!  There are so many minis that I want to paint, just now...


Tuesday, 5 November 2013

I am playing a game tonight (and another at the Wargames Holiday Centre, tomorrow), that needs 10' of hills, and was 6' short.  Luckily I remembered that I bought some GW hills a few years back.  Looking in the loft, I found 3 unopened boxes, with 6' of hills in them!  A big  +1 for hoarding.


The painting tray has been reloaded with an eclectic mix of Indians, Scythians, Numidians and Celts.


The odd selection is because it occurred to me recently, that I have completed 35 units this year.  There would be a certain symmetry in completing 52 in 52 weeks...   I have a lot of painted minis that need basing or units that are an element under strength, and could easily be finished.   The two "santas" will finish off the Scyhtina unit in the foreground, for example.  I'm going to give it a go...