A couple more fantasy models painted this weekend

A couple of models were completed this weekend. The first model was a wraith. It was quick and easy to construct, but took a bit longer to paint as getting the cloak right took a while.

Wraith

A side view of the wraith

The second model was vortex, quite a big model. The painting was quite straightforward followed by a lot of dry brushing.

A vortex

The vortex from the side

While on the tabletop there have been some samurai games to test out a some rules and try out some scenario options for a remote game this coming week.

A test game on the tabletop

Painting fantasy and WW2 gaming

 

Boo!

This weekend’s modelling and painting activity finished some Fell Bats for my fantasy armies. They are made by Games Workshop. They we easy put together, much simpler than the tree lord made last week, and fun to paint.

The bat wings were painted with a combination of dry-brushing and washed added at the end. All my figures are getting a gloss finish as it seems to bring out the colours.

I have based the bats on a 3x4 inch base.

At the moment my idea for the fantasy games I want to play is to have a number of wizards of different strengths in the game that can summon up units, such as the Fell Bats. The idea comes from the old SPI game Sorcerer which I played a few times years, years, and years, ago.

WW2 games are continuing on the tabletop using a version of Tank-on-Tank board game rules and using free movement rather than hexes. The games are quick games and played mostly in under 30 minutes duration. Given the short duration, I have been playing scenarios 2 or 3 times trying out different strategies. 

The latest setup uses the scenario “Tank and infantry action on the St James Road” from “Wargames” by Donald Featherstone. I added fields to the scenario so that the infantry can play a more influential part in the game by holding positions and causing delays.

WW2 action at St James Road setup and ready to play.

German forces ready to launch their attack from behind the embankment.

Given the quickness of the games I may create a short campaign. 

Weekend painting of a fantasy miniature

Most of this weekend’s free time has been directed towards constructing and painting a Tree Lord kit from Games Workshop. It is a rather nice model and large model which took a while to build. It has lots of detail and is quite an intricate model with some 30 odd pieces. The painting was for the most part a combination of washes and dry brushing.

A Tree Lord

Tree Lord from the side

The model stands some 14cm tall (5 inches approx.). Here with other models for scale.

I also rebased a couple of my existing Orc models, a leader and flag bearer.

Orc leader on boar and flag bearer

This week I will be returning to the WW1 Palestine campaign.

Back to painting some fantasy units

My main project for 2023 is to get a couple of fantasy armies on to the tabletop. I started late last year and  have a head start with a good number of Orcs and Goblins already painted. These will be rebased a unit at a time as I paint up another unit. I am using a mix of miniatures mainly from the Kings or War range and Games Workshop.

This week I finally finished some Spirit Hosts which I had started before Christmas and had put aside. While they were fiddly to glue together, they were fun to paint with a base of white, blue wash, and a heavy white dry brushing. On their 3x3 inch base they looked a little lost, so I quickly added some gravestones, nothing fancy, just made from MDF board and roughly painted.

Spirit Hosts recently completed with gravestones added.

An Orc cavalry unit was selected for rebasing. This was painted over a decade ago.

Orc cavalry.

On the wargaming table I have been playing a bit a sci-fi this week, using some simple one-hour wargaming style rules with different chance card deck for each army to reflect their abilities. There will probably be more posts on this over the next couple of weeks.

Sci-Fi game underway

One Fantasy unit painted and another rebased

This week has been very productive with the making of a Sci-Fi themed backboard and now a couple of Fantasy units are completed. Off the painting desk came a unit of Centaurs. I was very relieved to have finished these. They are metal figures with separate arms and equipment which all seemed a bit fragile and had to be drilled and pinned, so I don't get any breakages from handling on the tabletop. This was very time consuming and my enthusiasm dropped during process, but now they are finished all that is forgotten and I am pleased with the end result.

Centaurs completed - from Mantic Games

A side view

Out from storage I pulled out some Goblins for rebasing from their individual bases to larger multi-figure bases. A total of 30 Goblin figures fit quite nicely on three bases (which are 3x3 inches).

A close up of the Goblin standard. I painted these 10 years ago when my eyesight was better.

The Goblins all rebased as a unit.

As the weekend comes to an end I could not resist trying out the Sci-Fi backboard which I completed on Friday. A quick game has been thrown together. It looks like an ambush is on the cards.

A game is setup and ready to begin.

A Tripod and Fantasy Figures Painted

Last week I tried videoing a game with my Daughter's help and equipment (tripod). It all worked quite well and you can see the results in last week's post. I thought I would try using video on one or two other occasions and I purchased a basic tripod myself. The tripod will also be useful for hosting virtual games, something I want to do having participated in a small number of virtual games myself.

A recent purchase of a tripod

This week I finally finished another unit for my Fantasy armies. These figures (Stormcast Eternals by Games Workshop) have been sitting around half painted for a couple of weeks as I was busy gaming. They are beautifully detailed models which took some time to paint.

Just off the painting desk

I also rebased some of my Ork chariots. These models were painted a decade ago and have been sitting in a storage box since.

Ork chariots emerge after a decade in a storage box to be rebased.

I think it about time I returned to the WW1 Palestine campaign for my next post.

Another fantasy model painted and a purchases arrives

Painting of fantasy models, or model, continued this week. It has been quite a while since I have painted any model this detailed, and it was enjoyable to spend time using both washes and dry brushing. Quite a change from the recent block painting I have been doing, which works well for me when I am painting quite a few figures.

An Eternal commander painted up this week.

A view from the other side.

From the storage box of painted Orcs and Goblins I selected some Goblins on spiders and rebased them.

Goblin spider cavalry.

A recent purchase arrived of Mantic Kings or War figures, some Elves and Centaurs. I hope to get around to these in the next couple of weeks, but first I will be gluing together and painting the Eternals from the starter set.

The recent purchase.

Newly painted fantasy figures and rebasing an old model

Work on the fantasy armies is progressing. As I paint up some of my unpainted fantasy models I also dip into the storage container of painted Orcs and Goblins and re-base them into new units. This time, rather than an Orc or Goblin, I found a giant which can be used with different armies.

The giant was painted a decade ago and has been sitting a storage since and has never seen the tabletop. It just required a rebasing.

The recently painted Eternal Retributor figures are from the Games Workshop Age of Sigmar starter set purchased a few years back. In all there are 18 Eternal figures which will be painted as opposition for the Orcs. These will soon be added to with some Elves. I was hoping to get some Wood Elves second hand, but they seem rather in demand and expensive. As an alternative I have purchased some Elves and Centaurs by Mantic Games. They are yet to arrive, and I will am interested to see what they are like to paint.

Painted this weekend from the starter pack

Another view of the unit. The wings were quite fun to do with lots of over brushing.

With this project I am hoping to eventually make up three smallish forces:

• Hordes - Orcs and Goblins
• Alliance - Eternals, Elves, Dwarves, and Men (Wars or the Roses figures)
• Neutrals - Giants, skeletons, dragons and vampires (These can be used to supplement other forces).

A size comparison with the orcs

The next painting project has started

I have opted for my next painting project to go with a Fantasy theme. I have a good few Orks and Goblins already painted, these were done many years ago to oppose my son's Wood Elves when he used to play Warhammer. Since then they have been sitting in a box and now is the time to get them on to the tabletop with an opposing army, or two.

The first fantasy unit based.

I have decided to rebase them on 3x3 inch MDF bases I have cut. This size base will suit most units and I can get between 3 to 4 of these large 28mm figures on a base.

After many years stored away the Orks and Goblins see the light of day.

A close up view of the Orks.

Grrrrrr

I also have an Age of Sigmar starter box from a few years ago to add into the mix. These will require painting. There are not many of them and I am starting to see what other units I may need to buy to increase the number of units to oppose the Orks. I quite like to look of the Mantic figures as they have the more traditional looking elves and dwarves.

Part of the Age of Sigmar starter set and how they may be based.

This should keep me occupied for the next few months.

Next project and other stuff

Now I have completed my Saxon and Norman paper armies (although I do have some Viking paper solders still to add) I am starting on my next project to paint some Fantasy units to play Dragon Rampant. I really enjoyed Lion Rampant and bought the Dragon Rampant rules quite a while ago with an aim of playing some fantasy games in the future.

I already have a number of Warhammer Orc units painted and will use the Warhammer Age of Sigma starter box to provide some opposition and add to these with one or two extra purchases to build a small army (most likely from ebay).

the next project

Having played quite a few WW2 games as part of my current WW2 campaign. I was in need of an 18th Century fix, and what better excuse to get out my old Peter Laing AWI figures. No game reports just some photos...

Finally, some more second hand books arrived. I have Ancient and Medieval Wargaming as an eBook and just wanted to get a hardcopy. The Wargamers Guide to Dark Age Britain was reasonably priced and too tempting to pass by. The Saxons and Normans will quite possibly be on the tabletop in teh near future. Finally, Battle Notes for Wargamers was purchased mostly for nostalgia, but I am very tempted to create the Raid on St Nazaire once I complete the current WW2 campaign.

Recent second hand book purchases

The next two WW2 campaign actions have been fought and will be the next post or posts.