And Breath................

Ok that is all for now.  

I am sat in the lounge at Dubai Airport on the way home to the loving arms of my family :-)

Once home painting time will be all but non existent, although I may be able to sneak in a game or two.....But.....

I will be back at work in a few weeks and the painting train will be back on the tracks.....I think I will continue of the Fantasy theme as I have really enjoyed it.  In the pipeline are more for the Stygians, The  Demonic Hordes, may be some humans and more Orcs and Goblins of course.

Oh and if I can may be a start on the Barbarians... but we shall see.

Please do feel free to post comments or links on any forums you may think of interest.

Feed back is always appreciated both good and bad although if it's too bad I do have a hefty horde of battle hardened Trolls to send after you.............

Big 'Uns!!!!!!

Ok the last batch of this posting marathon..........

Ogres, BIG, MEAN and POOR HYGIENE!

 Not sure who these represent on the field of battle but I was thinking due to their look may be a human ally or the devil worshiping Stygians?

 Who ever they fight for you are going to wish you were on their side!

Trolls.....not really a lot to say about these bad boys apart from they are Trolls and do Troll stuff........

 But unlike the trolls of Hobbit fame they do not turn to stone when hit by the first rays of the sun...

 Again these guys to fight for various armies and will add a little extra to their battleline.

Different but the same Trolls.....but these ones suffer from 'Gingervitus' so may be these will be seen in the company of the Barbarians who will surely have a strawberry blonde mane?

 If you cheek their teeth out they all need to visit the dentist.....

All these guys are from the Demonworld range, I think I should have bought the molds would probably been cheaper!

And what you see above is 6 separate units, each of 2 bases.  They are just placed together for the ease of photographing.

Black Orcs

The real 'Stormtroopers' of any Orc and Goblin Horde these Black Orcs are big, well armed and just a little pissed with anything that is not Orc, even some poor goblins have ended up on the wrong end of a Black Orc BBQ skewer.........

The first out of the stock-hold  is a unit of Black Orc boar riders, big beasts on big beasts, ideal for smashing headlong into an enemy front line.

Now we give the big beasts on big beasts big, pointy sticks.  Surely these would cause havoc to any mounted foe that happen to be unfortunate enough to be on the sharp end!

'Arras' not really a Block Orc weapon a choice but it's good to have options or so the Warboss thought.

Lastly 3 bases of brutes that actually get to grips with their dinner, i mean enemy.

 An excellent choice for any raving mad Warboss when it comes to sheer force of arms.

These are Blood Dawn figures and are lovely, yes very big for 15mm but it's fantasy and in this case size does matter!  

I am now growing a healthy tribe of Black Orcs and can't wait to let the off the leash soon!

Mine Mutants

I posted some poor pictures of this first unit.  A 4 base large warband unit of Mine Mutants, the twisted populous of the Stygian pits whose bodies have been twisted and deformed by the warping minerals they excavate for the alchemists of Stygia

 These are actually Demonworld figures from their Goblin range but I thought they would be just right to add a little variety to my Stygians, as I have plenty of Orcs and Goblins.

This is the second of the large warbands, although there are only 3 bases in the picture I do have the figures for a forth, I just run out of bases.....however you will have to trust me they will be on the table ready to do battle soon(ish)

Goblins Horde!

To start with 6 bases of Goblin warband.  These form part of the green tide.

There are 60 figures here all from Pendraken 10mm range but it's not all about size, in this case....

 A unit of Goblin Crossbow lend some much needed missile troops to the horde.

 And finally two units of boar riders, both riders and mounts bit....be warned!

All feed back and comments welcome!

Acolytes and Warg Boss!

2 units of Acolytes...these fanatics pledge themselves to spreading to word of the Stygian Gods to all unbelievers....They carry their Green Book (Yes I was in Libya!) into battle with the belief that their devout following of the faith with preserve them in battle!

They could even double up as human followers of one of the Chaos Gods to bulk up may Chaos armies. 

A Warg Warboss and his personal standard for my Eureka Warg Riders, a very nice range.

The 'Man Orcs' are very LOTR film looking and are great....check my other posts out for them.

Spiders, Pump Wagons and a Boss

Ok so the pictorial brake down.....

Firstly the Giant Spider, I love this Demonworld model, in fact I love it so much I have 4.  This one has been made so it can be used as a Warboss.

 The frontage of these colossal creatures is twice that of a normal unit, so that is 160mm long and 80mm deep.

 They are however very tough as well as surprisingly agile, despite it's size and undoubted power it treats woods and rough ground as normal going enabling a nasty surprise from otherwise quite secure sectors of the battlefield.

Orc Pump Wagon

A Demonworld model, I do love their stuff!

A dastardly construct from the mind of the Orc metal smiths and shaman fire makers. 

 It is a mobile piece of field artillery with the added bonus of ignoring defenses such as walls, hedges and field fortifications.

 The trumpet like barrel spews forth a sticky, flammable substance similar to Greek Fire.

It is a weapon that will cause terror in even the hardiest of knights!

Orc Warboss

More Demonworld

One of the many fierce Orc Bosses

5 Weeks Work

Ok, I have had a few complaints about the size of the photos in my last few posts, hands up my fault......in my defense I am and techo bif.....so I have taken real photos and hopefully they will com out  presentable.

So first of all a group shot.  This little lot have ben painted whilst I was working overseas for 6 weeks and represents about 5 weeks work, although I obviously had to do some real work as well.......

Ok so what is crammed into this very busy picture?

24 Trolls-Demonworld

1 Giant Spider-Demonworld

8 Ogres-Demonworld

19 Goblin Boar Riders-Pebdraken

16 Black Orc Boar Riders-Blood Dawn

24 Black Ors Warriors-Blood Dawn

14 Black Orc Bow-Blood Dawn

60 Goblins-Pendraken

22 Goblin Crossbow-Pendraken

24 Orc Crossbow-Demonworld

72 Mine Mutants-Demonworld

48 Acolytes-Demonworld

2 Warg Riders-Eureka

1 Orc Warboss-Demonworld

1 Orc Pump Wagon-Demonworld

A grand total of 2 Specials, 32 large foot, 37 mounted and 258 foot........

Not a bad total I feel

Mutants

The last picture from my initial painting surge.

A 4 base unit of 'Mine Mutants', these deformed beings and their ancestors have worked for generations in the chemical mines in the remote parts of Stygia.  This has resulted in twisted bodies and extra limbs!

They fight as a large warband but of dubious quality.

As well as Stygia these poor souls could also be dragged into the Demon Army

More Troops Ready for Battle

More of the finished elements that I have done. 

 Two bases of Acolytes, these could be double hatted and used it at least two of my armies The Demon Army and the Stygian Army.

The figures are Demonworld from their Ishtak range

 More of the awesome Black Orcs, three bases worth of the large imposing figures by Blood Dawn. They are great miniatures and the Black Orc tribes form the shock troops of any good Orc Warlords horde.

 Orc Crossbow, a basic missile unit able to give the Orcs a little stand off capability not that they stand off much.  Could be useful to soften up the defenders of Human and Dwarf field fortifications or disrupt Human and Elf cavalry.

These are Demonworld figures

Trolls!!!!!!

Next we have two lots of trolls.  Now under the rules I am using each lot of trolls could make two units, 2 bases each or one large unit of 4 bases.  I think under Kings of War the unit would be 2 bases strong.

These are a 'Stone Troll' I think, Demonworld minis and very nice they are to.  Not sure which army they will align with but they will add a slobbering punch to their hosts.

Again Demonworld minis, now these could ally themselves with a human army, may be Barbarians but would be equally at home with the darker elements.....

The leader, centre figure below is a great little scuplt.

Because I am painting very large armies I have lots to do, I go for a simple painting method.  A basic white undercoat them a thinned down main colour followed by the detail, in the case of these two units hair, fur, weapons and teeth!

The whole lot is then washed in Army Painter Dark Tone, based and then sprayed with a matt varnish...........done up to 4 more units for the table!

Fantasy All the Way

A little out of sequence but being back at work and getting into the painting mode once more.  Whilst home I decided to dig into my lead mountain of fantasy figures, I have a mountain or two.....

To that end the plastic boxes full of bare I brought to my remote work place are exclusively for my fantasy collection.

The previous post started it off and the next few posts will continue to show the progression.

For those who have read my earlier fantasy posts you know I like to use Hail Caesar Fantasy, which is a free variant of the very good ancient rules.  However some guys at the club want to try Kings of War in 15mm using big armies.  I think this will work as there is no individual figure removal.  the other option  could be Imputus Fantasy, which would work equally as well.

Enjoy the pictures...........................

Fantasy All The Way

Ok, I am back at work for 6 weeks and back in the painting mode.  The first two weeks have been quite productive.  The difference this time is that I have brought all the gear with me to finish off the painted units. 

First up is a Demonworld Giant Spider and I mean Giant....I love these beasts and my Orc and Goblin army now have 4!  The frontage of the base is 160mm so double the normal unit frontage I use for my fantasy armies.

Below are a stage by stage photo record of the paint job. 

 Undercoat, army painter white

 Block painting begins

 The completed paint job.

 A rear view.

 The finished piece. 

Based, flocked, washed with Army Painter Dark Tone and the sprayed with matt varnish. 

Seven Years War 15mm WIP

The beginnings of my Reichsarmee Army for Maurice.  Here are 5 infantry regiments and 2 cavalry regiments.  The army will be a collection of different states that made up this very eclectic army.  It makes for a very colourful force on the battle field.

I have followed my usual painting routine of base coat, pick out the details and the brush on Army Painter Dark Tone, however I did run out and as I am overseas working at the minute they will have to wait until I get home.

As the army is for use with Maurice they are on 30x30mm bases and 4 bases to a regiment.  I will also be able to use them with Black Powder, which is a rule set that i do like.

Here you can see an example of a 'dipped' base against a raw base, I do like the effect, it looks better in the flesh.  For me the Dip offers a quick and simple way to add a bit of depth and tone to the figures.

I aim to have this army finished quite quickly and end up with 6 Reichsarmee infantry regiments a couple of Austrian Grenadiers to add support, 7 cavalry regiments and 5 artillery pieces.

Should be good when  its all done.

ACW 10mm WIP

Continuing progress on my ACW 10mm project.  5 regiments painted and bases.  One of them, front left has also been washed in Army Painter Dark Tone Dip.  I apply this slightly diluted, with a brush the effects are very nice.

So 5 more regiments, including 2 Zouaves regiments, may be not historically correct but they add a little bit of colour.

Below is a comparison shot, not a very good one I'm afraid as it was taken on my IPad.  The base in the front has been washed.  I feel the dip wash makes a lot of difference and is better in real life.

I have painted another 2 units and 2 more to go before I start on 3 units of cavalry both mounted and dismounted.

Then it will be time for the North to rise.....

I'm Back

Sorry for being away for so long, I have been home and am now back at work.  I managed to do no war gaming nor painting whilst at home due to being rehoused in a holiday cottage following a burst boiler which flooded my house! Deep joy.

So all the stuff I painted when I was away last time is still in its wrapping.

But I am back at work and the paint train is back on track.  In just over two weeks I have managed to paint a decent amount of metal.  I am making a push on my Seven Years War Reichsarmee and 10mm ACW. To that end I have done 72 foot, 8 cavalry and 1 limber for the SYW and 72 foot for the ACW Confederates.  I will try and take some WIP pics later.

Thanks for watching.

WIP More Ottomans

Four more images of my ever growing Ottoman Army.  

The infantry are 'By Sword and Fire' Jannisseries, I now have 4 units of these

The guns and crews are Vexillia (I think)

A unit of light horse

As is my style they were base coated with a white coating then block painted.  Then once dry they had Army Painter 'Dark Tone' brushed onto them.  They would not win any painting awards but they look good enough to game with, especially once they are spray coated in a matt varnish.