Big Viking

I had a day off work on Friday so I decided to visit the Wargames Foundry store with the express intention of purchasing some Napoleonic command packs, top up on paints and get a few bases. Things did not turn out that way and I returned with various bargain packs including an Indian elephant, acw figures, lots of ecw and dark ages and a number of other random items which I couldnt resist but none of which have the virtue of fitting in with my ongoing peninsular project.

One of my random acquisitions was a large Viking figure. I've seen this figure before and always thought it would be interesting to paint.  I wanted to try a technique which is new to me, by which the undercoat is removed with wire wool to reveal the metal underneath giving a more worn look to armour and weapons.

So in between various social events and a bit of DIY I've spent time over the weekend painting him up. As this is a new technique to me I thought I would show the progress on the figure.

First up the figure has been undercoated black. Once this has dried I've removed parts of the undercoat with wire wool.

Non metallic areas are re-coated black. The next picture shows the model with basic colours before any highlighting.

The painting is completed and the figure is based and varnished. As a final stage a file is used to remove the matt varnish from raised metallic areas to provide a bit of shine. The next picture shows the finished figure with freshly severed heads courtesy of leftovers from a box of Warlord miniatures Celts.

Overall I'm pretty pleased with the figure and I like how the wire wool technique has given the armour and weapons a worn, dark and menacing appearance.

Fearsome though he is the picture below reveals that he nearly met his match from our kitten Bradshaw who along with sibling Wellington offers me constant harassment during all of my wargaming and DIY activities. 

They have a seemingly pathological desire to kidnap my figures and I ran a bit of a risk letting her get this close. Worth it for the photo though.

Next post will be Napoleonics for definite.

Dark age figure

Just thought I would post this picture of a figure I painted from gripping beast el Cid range. This figure is a bit of a personal favourite not because it's a particularly brilliant paint job but because the figure is just so full of character. He's painted more as a generic dark age figure and one day I will paint him some comrades.

I'm really going to work on the lighting etc for my photos- I promise.

Distractions

Talking of distraction i ended up painting this wildwest figure while I should have been painting French naps last week.







I really love the foundry wild west figures and I have painted a few. Never actually played a game with them though.




Close up.

First pics

Here are some photos of my 28mm Peninsular project to date. The intention is to produce a large French infantry brigade (5) battalions plus a battery of foot artillery and some squadrons of cavalry. Opposing them will be a brigade of British, again with some guns and light cavalry. No problem eh!

The trouble is I keep getting distracted, no doubt a familiar story to most of you.



I havn't yet decided on basing yet, hence the blue tack, but will probably be mainly using Black Powder if I ever manage to finish enough figures for a game.



These photos are also early attempts at photography and I apologise for the slightly dodgy quality. I'm hoping to develop my photography as I go and I welcome any advice and tips.











Pictured on my new terrain boards made by Paul Darnell of Touching History fame. A dream come true.





Only 2 Brits complete so far so they look a bit outnumbered.

Introduction

Welcome to my wargaming blog.

I hope via these postings to chronicle my progress in painting my armies and maybe even playing the occasional game. Overall I'm hoping that posting on this blog will help to keep me focussed on completing projects before I get distracted and start another. Fat chance!

Mainly though I'm really hoping that those who read my postings and look at my pictures will provide me with some feedback to help me develop and learn.