Over the last few days I've been very busy with some work and other things... I have been delighted to receive the new C&C expansions. Expansion 4 contains a new bunch of battles, and 5 the revised Epic rules, for playing larger battles, with a huge new deck of playing cards.
I'm very much looking forward to giving the Epic rules a run through, tonight...
Tuesday, 3 November 2009
Friday, 30 October 2009
Numidian Horse III
I thought people might be interested to read how I paint horses.
Essentially, I paint them with acrylics as described in the previous post, then lighly varnish them to protect the paint. Over the varnish I paint a mixture of oil paints (brown and Paynes's grey) and Linseed oil. I then selectively rub this off with the little foam sqaures that come as packing with miniatures; I have plenty of them! This is similar to the method described in the Foundry Painting and Modelling Guide, except I do more painting of detail up front, and use acrylics rather than enamels.
The oil paint settles into the lower areas of the horses. It takes a week or so for the linseed to evaporate.
When thoroughly dry, I'll return to the horses to add white socks, on some, and paint in the metal bits.
The observant will note that quite a few of my Numidian horses have bridles; this is because I have rather more riders than horses, and had to steal a bunch of Native American horses. Bridles and feathers aside, they look great!
Above are the riders, primed red. The figures are a mix of Foundry, Crusader, A&A, Gripping Beast, a Renegade mahout and a couple of Foundry Greeks. It is safe to say that I am scraping the bottom of the barrel of suitable miniatures in my lead pile. The pins on which they are currently impaled, will eventually be cut done to 2mm length, and located in the holes on the backs of the horses; the shields will be added at the very end.
Essentially, I paint them with acrylics as described in the previous post, then lighly varnish them to protect the paint. Over the varnish I paint a mixture of oil paints (brown and Paynes's grey) and Linseed oil. I then selectively rub this off with the little foam sqaures that come as packing with miniatures; I have plenty of them! This is similar to the method described in the Foundry Painting and Modelling Guide, except I do more painting of detail up front, and use acrylics rather than enamels.
The oil paint settles into the lower areas of the horses. It takes a week or so for the linseed to evaporate.
When thoroughly dry, I'll return to the horses to add white socks, on some, and paint in the metal bits.
The observant will note that quite a few of my Numidian horses have bridles; this is because I have rather more riders than horses, and had to steal a bunch of Native American horses. Bridles and feathers aside, they look great!
Above are the riders, primed red. The figures are a mix of Foundry, Crusader, A&A, Gripping Beast, a Renegade mahout and a couple of Foundry Greeks. It is safe to say that I am scraping the bottom of the barrel of suitable miniatures in my lead pile. The pins on which they are currently impaled, will eventually be cut done to 2mm length, and located in the holes on the backs of the horses; the shields will be added at the very end.
Tuesday, 27 October 2009
Operation Zama- The legions are massing!
We've been making steady progress with the painting of the Romans and Italian allies for our Command and Colors Zama game at Bletchley and Salute in April 2010.
Finally, above are the Aventine Legionaries I painted in the summer, before I became lost in the plains and deserts of Numidia. I have planned time to paint the remaining 5 units early next year.
A particular thanks to Keith, who recently and kindly rebased his miniatures to match mine! I'm really please with the way all the units match because of the shield transfers, red tunics and common basing style.
Keith at Aventine http://www.aventineminiatures.co.uk/ has been a staunch supporter of the Zama Project, and is painting two legions of their miniatures (216 minis). Above, the first legion is completed aside from the 32 Velites (all pictures are clickable).
Another shot of Keith's Italians; the allied cavalry, with LBMS designs, look particularly fine!
These Principes have been painted by Craig Davey, who has volunteered to base one of the remaining 2 legions; like me, he has finished 2 units.
A particular thanks to Keith, who recently and kindly rebased his miniatures to match mine! I'm really please with the way all the units match because of the shield transfers, red tunics and common basing style.
Monday, 26 October 2009
Numidian Horse II
A quick in-progress shot of these, after the 3rd painting session, blocking in the colours.
I'm trying a different technique on these, compared to my last batch. This time I want the horses' legs to be almost black, so I've painted them a mix of black and tan. Once I have painted the horses eyes in (a dark brown), and retouched the bay colour, I'm going to hit these with an oil paint/linseed wash...
Sunday, 25 October 2009
Here's a brief extract from my eldest's cartoon log of the old-school AD&D dungeon adventure I've been running. The observant may note that the party has swelled in size with the addition of a druid (played by youngest son) and his badger. The badger has proved a more capable fighter than several of the other party members... We don't have a badger model; Harry appears to have drawn the giant rat that we use in his place, but tail-less !
This week the party entered a throne room, but decided discretion was the better part of valour when they found that they faced with a fiery-eyed lich, casting fire magics. A minority of the party wanted to return to reason with the lich... this led to much soiling of pants and a very rapid retreat.
A later encounter with a faerie led to an enjoyable riddling contest, through which the party ultimately won a magic, talking stave.
"Earth born sword I stab the sky, but bow down low for passersby. So what am I?"
Saturday, 24 October 2009
Masinissa's Numidian horse
These are the second half of my Numidian light horse for Zama; this week I have prepped 21 minis to go with 9 that I bought already part-painted. Most of the horses are going to be bays, with black lower legs and some sock. The dead horses at the front are Crusader eBob mounts. These were spare because I find them a tad too long in the leg compared to most of the Foundry horses I've used, but the slim, bendable legs makes them great casualty figures. I'm planning to do a basic paint job in acrylics, and them add some arty oil washes over the top.
9 of the minis have been painted or partially painted by Alec at BillyBonesWorkshop. I really like what he's done with the skin tones, and will try to copy them on the riders I will be painting.
I'm getting tight for time; going to have to move fast with these! When they are all complete, I'll be able to field 66 Numidian light horse, a good proportion of what we need.
Friday, 23 October 2009
Beat-Pot Aelwrin
Beatpot Aelwrin led a slave revolt against the Lunar Empire. He gained his name from his use of kitchen implements as weapons (his cauldron helmet and a cleaver which you can't unfortunately see in this photograph). He was later converted to the Lunar Way by Jar-eel the Razoress.
Conversions from Foundry miniatures.
Conversions from Foundry miniatures.
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