[10mm Fantasy] Painting log update for December, January, February, March and May

10mm Elf Rangers from Magister Militum

It has been a while since I posted here, but I have been slowly catching up with the updates on my modeling log, after falling well behind.

Still painting 10mm Fantasy, but now adding some scenic elements.

Edit: It often helps to include a Link when referring to a different webpage - D'oh!

[10mm Fantasy] Painting Update August, September, October, November

While it's been several months since I last updated this blog, I have continued to potter away painting 10mm War of the Spanish Succession and, more recently, 10mm Fantasy figures.

Barbarian Warhost - figures from Kallistra, Eureka, Spellcrow

While I love my 15mm Fantasy figures - the level of detail and the shear variety of poses and types - I'm finding myself drawn to 10mm Fantasy and the possibility of huge battles at a reasonable cost. Rules-wise, for Fantasy I'm still looking at Lords and Lands (which I have played and enjoyed), AD&D Battlesystem (which would fit in nicely with our AD&D game - though I would probably modify it to get rid of individual casualty removal), and added to the mix With Sword and Shield (I took part in the playtest and quite liked the rules at that point), Chronicles of Blood (a simple, solo system recently recommended to me), and Battle Valor.

War of the Spanish Succession Brigade - figures from Pendraken and a local sculptor.

For War of the Spanish Succession, we have been using Black Powder from Warlord Games, which gives a fun, quick game. John and I managed to fit in a couple of battles during the Christmas break and are getting the hang of it. 

I have five brigades completed and enough figures to make up a couple more.

More photos here.

[15mm Fantasy/10mm WSS] Painting Log Update for July

Finally updated my Modelling Log for July with some Dwarves and Wood Elves and the first 10mm scale figures I've painted for a War of the Spanish Succession project.

10mm Hesse-Kassel Brigade for the War of the Spanish Succession

There is some debate as to whether the War of the Spanish Succession or the later Seven Years War should be considered the "First World War" as conflicts take place in both the New World and the Old World during this period. We are, initially, planning to use the Black Powder rules from Warlord Games though I'm also keen to give Twilight of the Sun King a try as well.

And, of course, painting up 10mm War of the Spanish Succession figures has got me interested in 10mm Fantasy! Orcs, Ogres and Giants are on the way.

[15mm Fantasy] Some thoughts on basing

Occasionally, the subject of multi-basing comes up. I thought it might be useful to show how I do it - in case my process helps inspire someone else.

Having completed painting up a unit of 15mm Dwarves (or Dwarians) from Battle Valor Games, I first glued the figures to the bases with PVA glue. I use 40mm x 20mm or 40mm x 40mm bases, for a regimental foot print of 80mm x 40mm, though lately I've started to move towards a 120mm x 40mm foot print and a larger unit. The 80mm x 40mm regimental foot print works well for Lord and Lands and Kings of War, while the larger unit works better for Battlesystem.

The right-hand base currently only has five figures on it. The missing figure - the standard bearer - is still on the painting lid while I work on the standard.

Once the glue holding the figures had dried, I painted the bases with a PVA and water mix and then added sand for texture. While that was drying, I added some larger stones as boulders. I kept the space where the standard bearer was to go clear of sand so there would be a clean surface for the glue to grip. In the background, the unit's standard - made from standard weight printer/photocopier paper - has been added to the standard pole.

Once the sand and PVA mix had dried, I then painted the sanded base with black undercoat to seal it.

Once the undercoat had dried, I then painted the bases with my base green - Tamiya Nato Green XF-67 - and painted the "boulders" and some of the sand Games Workshop Mechanicus Standard Grey - in my Fantasy world, all stones are granite or slate.

The eagle on the Dwarian standard is a Veni Vidi Vici transfer and the patterning on the yellow border was made with a fine tipped felt-tipped pen.

Once the paint was dry, and the standard was complete, the standard bearer was glued to the base. After everything had dried, I then coated areas of the base with a PVA and water mix, and then flocked. I have two different colours of flock I use as fields do not tend to be a uniform green colour.

The completed unit. Painting on the PVA/water mix allowed me to control where the flock adhered, which allowed the boulders to pretty much emerge from the flock unscathed.

And that's pretty much it. Given the drying times of each process, I tend to paint the figures during the weekend and then work through the basing during the week - one step each evening.

Further examples are here on my Modeling Log.

[15mm Fantasy] Painting Log Update for April

Another update of my painting log featuring, amongst others, these Battle Valor Games Dwarian Crossbows.

[15mm Fantasy] Painting Update for March

I managed to get a few more figures painted in March than in February. Here are a few extra random photos:

Battle Valor Games Bullites - big, Ogre-sized monsters with big axes and bad attitudes.

Bullite and Battle Valor Games Dwarian Champions with Eureka Wood Elves - an indication of size.

The Battle Valor Games Dwarians I painted this month.

Dwarian Mounted Scout/Crossbows.

Dismounted Dwarian Crossbow/Skirmishers

More pictures on my modelling log.

[15mm Fantasy] Painting log update February

Elvian Cavalry from Battle Valor Games

February was a fairly unproductive month, painting-wise. It was high summer here, with the sort of heat that dried paint on the brush betwixt jar and figure.

Eventually I did manage to finish a unit of Elvian Cavalry from Battle Valor Games. This unit consisted of a front rank of lancers on half-armoured horses with a rear rank of lancers on unarmoured horses.

I replaced the plain shields with sun-embossed shields.

More photos on my modelling log.

[15mm Fantasy] Painting Log Update for January 2017

Goblians from Battle Valor Games

Updated my modelling log for January with a mix of Dwarves and Goblians from Battle Valor Games and a Dwarf from Splintered Light Miniatures.

[15mm Fantasy] Painting Log Update for November

Slowly catching up on my updates - I have just updated my modelling log from November. Here are a bunch of photos that didn't quite make it in for your viewing pleasure. 

A pair of Ogres from Battle Valor Games

Another pair of Ogres from Battle Valor Games

Elvian Knights from Battle Valor Games

Black Orc Archers - figures from 15mm.co.uk's HoT range

[15mm Fantasy] Painting Log update for October

Slowly catching up with photos of completed stuff on my modeling log - this time, October.

I finally made a start on my Elves, painting up some Battle Valor Games Elvians as Middle Earth Noldor.

These Light Cavalry, to left, are converted Elvian Lancers, javelins replacing lances.

[15mm Fantasy] Update of my painting log for September

It's taken a while, but I've finally updated my Painting log for September.

The Aerial Hero, as seen in this photo, is from the Frigian Character pack from Battle Valor Games - an excellent selection of figures.

[15mm Fantasy] Painting Update and a Horde of Orcs.

Finally finished updating my modeling log for August. Now I need to start writing up September.

My painting efforts for August.

My 15mm Orc army in all its glory - figures from Battle Valor Games, Eureka Miniatures, Splintered Light and Magister Militum.

Right Flank: Left to Right and Front to Back: Splintered Light Orc Archers, Splintered Light Orc Wolf riders, Splintered Light Orcs, Eureka Orcs on Fell Beasts, Splintered Light Great Orcs, Battle Valor Games Orcian Infantry, Battle Valor Games Mammoth, Battle Valor Games Snow Trolls.

Right: Left to Right and Front to Back: Splintered Light Orc Archers, Eureka Miniatures Man-Orc Archers, Eureka Miniatures Orc Mage on Fell Beast, Splintered Light Orcs, Eureka Miniatures Man-Orc Light Infantry, Splintered Light Great Orcs, Splintered Light Orc Champion and Orc Mage,  Eureka Miniatures Man-Orcs with pikes, Battle Valor Games Orc Champion, Orc drummers from Ral Partha Europe and Battle Valor Games, Battle Valor Games Orcians and Mammoths, Battle Valor Games Ice Trolls.

 

Center: Left to Right and Front to Back: Eureka Miniatures Man-Orc Archers, Battle Valor Games Orcian Archers, Eureka Minatures Orc Mage and Orc Champion on Fell Beasts, Eureka Miniatures Man-Orc Light Infantry, Magister Militum Armoured Orcs, Eureka Miniatures Man-Orcs with pikes, Eureka Miniatures Orc Mage on foot, Orc Drummers from Ral Partha Europe and Battle Valor Games, Battle Valor Games Orcian Champion wolfrider, Orc Drummers from Magister Militum. Battle Valor Games Orcians and Mammoths.

Left: Left to Right and Front to Back: Battle Valor Games Orcian Archers, Eureka Miniatures Orc Mage on Foot, Magister Militum Armoured Orcs, Battle Valor Games Wolf pack, Orc Drummers from Magister Militum, Battle Valor Games Orc Mage, Battle Valor Games Orcians and Mammoth, Battle Valor Games Orcians with pike.

Left Flank: Left to Right and Front to Back: Battle Valor Games Orcian Archers, Magister Militum Armoured Orcs, Battle Valor Games Wolf pack, Battle Valor Games Orc Mage, Battle Valor Games Mammoth, Battle Valor Games Orcians with pike.

Do I have an Orc-collecting problem? No! I can give up at any time.

[15mm Fantasy] Painting Update, or Where the Heck's the Year Gone?

Orcs from Splintered Light and Battle Valor Games
 in front of a ruined tower from Magister Militum.

While I haven't been particularly active when it comes to updating this blog, I have been making steady progress with my painting. The latest update to my Modelling Log can be found here as I finally catch up with July! August results are still to come.

The last couple of months have been fairly productive when it comes to painting, not so much for gaming. I now feel I have enough Orcs painted to be able to field them as a stand-alone army, which means I can finally concentrate on trying out the several sets of rules I've acquired to see what, to me, makes an ideal set of Fantasy rules.

[15mm Fantasy] Update on the Painting Progress

Wolf Riders from Splintered Light

Only a month and a half late, I have finally finished updating my Modelling Log for April.

Some more Orcs, some more Goblins, some more Dark Elves, a Mammoth, a pack mule, and a wall.

To come, a couple more Mammoths, a couple of wall sections, a couple of towers, some more Orcs and Elves, and ... some other stuff.

[15mm Fantasy] Orcs and Orcians

Once again, someone has asked the question, "How big are those Orcians from Battle Valor Games?"

Just after I received my first BVG order, I took this shot of a bunch of Orcs in the raw ... metal, that is.

Left to Right: Splintered Light Orc, BVG Orc, Splintered Light Orc Heavy, BVG Orc, Ral Partha 

Demonworld Orc, BVG Orc, Eureka Miniatures Man-Orc, BVG Orc with shield.

Later on, after painting up a unit, I took these pictures:

Splintered Light Orcs - left; BVG Orcians - right

BVG Orcians - left; CP Models Bugbears - right

Eureka Trolls - left; BVG Orcians - right

I also have some Blood Dawn Orcs from Magister Militium which I hope to get comparison shots of with the Orcians in the next day or so.

[15mm Fantasy] Modelling Log Update

Ruined tower from Magister Militium

While I haven't posted for the last couple of months, progress has continued with my 15mm Fantasy forces for Kings of War.

In late February/early March I came across a new 15mm Fantasy Manufacturer - Battle Valor Games - apparently rising from the ashes of an unsuccessful Kickstarter campaign. BVG has been steadily releasing figures in their Orcian (Orc), Frigian (Northmen) and Dwarian (Dwarves) ranges over the last month. I've picked up several packs of Orcians and Dwarians (I have decided that I will eventually make a Dwarf force and that these will be my Dwarves), and more recently an Orcian catapult and crew, and a Frigian War Mammoth (to be my Orc King's mount).

Left: Orcians, Right: Bugbears (originally Splintered Light, now CP Models).

The Orcians are large creatures, almost troll-like in size. In Kings of War terms, the Orcians would easily fill the role of Greatax Orcs.

The figures themselves are very nice to paint up, and come in a wide variety of equipment and poses - from a 30-figure pack I could find only a couple of identical figures and several in

Left: Splintered Light Orcs; Right: Orcians

similar poses but with different equipment, helmets, etc. Shields are separate, which allows further customization.

Also in February, I completed a number of other units for my Kings of War project, as well as some rather nice skeletons for AD&D. More pictures can be found on my modelling log.

[15mm Fantasy] Army Building - Painting Progress

The Army of the Unseelie Court - as of mid-December

My Army of the Unseelie Courts is slowly taking shape. At the moment I have more Orcs and Goblinoids painted than Dark Elves, so the army is more an Orc Army with Dark Elf allies.

My latest unit completed is a regiment of Man-Orc pike from Eureka Miniatures.

Man-Orc Pike

These are great figures and very reminiscent of Saruman's army at the battle of  Helm's Deep in the Two Towers movie.

Orc Legion with Shaman and archers plus Dark Elf troop and archers

 These Orcs are from Splintered Light Miniatures - Orcs with great axes at the rear and Orc Shaman and archers at the front. The Dark Elves are from Ral Partha Europe and are essentially the figure mix from the Blighthaven company pack (with an extra archer).

Ogres, Orcs, Goblins, and Dwarves

A pair of Ogres from Splintered Light; Goblin and Orc Archers, also from Splintered Light; an Orc Regiment from Splintered Light; three Dwarves from Splintered Light; and an Orc Shaman from Eureka Miniatures.

The Witch King leading his Orcish Hosts

From 15mm.co.uk, a Wraith Lord (or Witch-King) on his fell-beast, leading his Orc hosts.

The Queen of Air and Darkness, ruler of the Autumn Courts

The Queen of Air and Darkness, an Elf Queen from 15mm.co.uk,

Dark Elves

And some of her subjects, from Ral Partha Europe.

[15mm Fantasy] Army Building - the Host of the Unseelie Court

As I painted and based more fantasy figures, a clearer idea of the army I'm building has emerged - the Host of the Unseelie Court.

The Witch King of the Winter Court

Wanting a Fantasy army that didn't follow the usual tropes, and fascinated by the RPE Dark Elf figures with their asiatic-style armour, I cast around and came across references to the Unseelie Court -

The Unseelie Court consists of the darkly-inclined fairies. Unlike the Seelie Court, no offense is necessary to bring down their assaults. As a group (or "host"), they appear at night and assault travelers, often carrying them through the air, beating them, and forcing them to commit such acts as shooting at cattle. - Wikipedia

So, Dark Elves without the Warhammer silliness, plus I could use Orcs, Ogres, Trolls and Goblins as the lesser denizens of the Unseelie realm.

[15mm Fantasy] Enter, the Bugbear

As those who follow my Modeling Log will be aware, for the last couple of months I've been working on 25mm Science Fiction figures for my Traveller game. This little diversion was born out of a desire to have some suitable figures to hand for use when my players get themselves into the sort of trouble that requires a tactical map. Needless to say, with close to 50 figures now painted, I think that this little project is getting close to its end.

The 6mm Traveller campaign is still ticking over - I have been working out the Order of Battle for both the defenders and the attackers on the colony world of Auru, which has meant that I have had to look at Imperial and Geithurian Republic Star Fleets.The background design work is almost complete, and gives me the option to fight out fleet encounters as well as dirtside operations. I'm even looking at possibly using the Classic Traveller High Guard combat rules with the Trillion Credit Squadron updates for this side of the campaign.

Bugbear Shaman or Spellcaster

One of the members of the Facebook 15mm Fantasy Wargames Group posted some photos of a recent battle using the Kings of War rules from Mantic Games, but with 15mm figures. It looked like fun, the core rules are free, I have some Medieval/Renaissance 15mm armies that have been sitting in a box for too long, and a friend who is up for a game.

Bugbears and Human Warrior (also from Splintered Light)

The game is set for next weekend but, as it was a long weekend here this weekend, I cracked on with a party pack of Bugbears I bought from Splintered Light about a year ago. While 20mm scale from Splintered Light's small 20mm Fantasy range, the figures work well as large goblinoids in 15mm (I have not seen the current Bugbear pack in the Dungeon Crawl: Warbands range to compare sizes, but the 20mm figures definitely look large and chunky in comparison).

The 20mm Bugbears appear to have been on-sold to CP Models in the UK.

The players trialing Kings of War in 15mm are using WRG style basing (40mm x 20mm for Infantry, 40mm x 30mm for Cavalry) so they can use either historical figures, or figures based up for Hordes of the Things (WRG's Fantasy rules). With that in mind, I based up my 12 Bugbear warriors as four elements (3 figures to the element) of Infantry - the first basing I've done in this style for many years - and I was pleasantly pleased with the result.

Bugbear Warband with Shaman/Spell Caster

As the Shaman/Spellcaster is a Specialist, I decided to leave him on his round base.

The Kings of War rules look pretty straight forward, after one read through - the people using them say that there are a lot of tactical subtleties which, I guess, will come out in play.

The Army Lists have a very Warhammerish feel about them which makes me go slightly "meh", but them seem reasonably easy to customize. Currently, I'm thinking of a sort of Evil Alliance, led by a Sorcerer, with Dark Elves and Orcs. Support being provided by allies or mercenaries, such as the Bugbears, a band of Gnolls I still have to paint, some trolls and some Ogres. As I have more than enough single mounted figures for Dungeons and Dragons or Skirmish Gaming, I will quite enjoy basing up the rest on element bases.