Update

Not much has been happening on the painting desk for a while.
I finally finished off a unit of Vikings. These are second hand, so did a bit of a repaint and added a few shield designs.
This is supposed to represent a deep unit for TtS rules so its really the base depth that matters. I tried squeezing a few more minis on the base but then it looked really crowded and a bit of a pain with the spears pointing in all directions. Now I remember what a pain it was organising all the individual based models on a movement tray for WAB games.

On another note I've been making some headway with my DAK forces.

Dark Age Plastics

Only 4 months since last post so I should be able to produce a truck load of painted miniatures...............no such luck.  I had a grand fishing trip up north with a few mates back in July and since then wargaming and painting has dropped off the agenda. I did get a bit bogged down with the WoTR figures and I think I needed a change.

In order to get back into the painting mood I decieded to have a crack at the Wargames Factory  viking bondi set which I had purchased a while back.

As these were dark ages figures I used Army painter on them to quicken the process and give an overall dirty feel to the unit. Just had to manage the assembly step first.

Block paint the figures, cover with Army painter, a few highlights, a couple of LBM  shield designs and hey presto a new bondi unit.

For plastics I was happy with the overall results but I still prefer metals myself. Although this dosent stop the purchase of any new plastic box sets just so I can have a gander at them.

Anyway, they did the trick as since completing them Ive finished some Aventine Roman commanders and started a few Greek peltasts. Oh yeah, Ive also managed to purchase a truck load of new unpainted figures.............you know how it goes, paint one and buy three to replace it on the pile!!!!.

Finished warband

I managed to finish the bases on the rear ranks and spray them over the weekend. 

So now, combined with the lads in front they fit in nicely.  These figures will portray a unit from one of the 'Kingdoms of Caledonia'.................Pictish, Strathclyde, Scotland etc. One of the benefits of this type of figure is that they are fairly generic and be used from ancient periods to late medieval.

The question is now..................what to do next???

Back to the Warbands

June already, I cant believe the year has gone so fast.


Anyway, on to more interesting matters. I purchased a couple of packs of crusader miniatures a while ago to complete a warband I started last year. As they were to make up the rear ranks, it was a quick (and I mean quick) paint job followed by the magic "army painter". I've also used a few other figures (foundry & GB) to make up the numbers.

Progress so far................

 Quick slap of paint..........a couple of pieces of detail on clothing here and there.

 Army painter.......then glued to the bases.

I'll complete the bases hopefully over the weekend and finish with matt varnish. Then for something new!!

WAB on a Sunday

Headed off to Cookie's house a weekend or so ago to partake in a Dark-Age WAB fiesta. Cookie cooked up a BBQ for lunch, which we washed down with a few cold beers, and we made a day of it.

We didnt work out any points between the armies, it was just a matter of throwing on the table what we had with us. As it turned out, there were a hell of a lot of Vikings so we suggested the game represent a second Viking invasion shortly after 1066 V's a combined army of Normans and Saxons.

What a blood fest, the game started at 9 in the morning  and we called it quits at about 6pm. Victory seemed to be leaning towards the combined Norman/Saxon army. Even though we used WAB, this size of game would probably have flowed a lot quicker with the new "Hail Caesar"  rules.  Guess I'll have to try them sometime as I recently purchased them along with "Clash of Empires". Both sets look OK.

Figures were from a number of manufacturers, with even a few plastics thrown in. (Much to Cookie disgust!!) 

Thanks Cookie, great day had by all.