Throwback Almost Thursday - Salute 2009

I Continue to Keep Finding These Photos

Once again whilst looking for some other old photos (still not found!), I came across these Salute photos. 

Rob 

  

Army of One

 A New Army Started

First test figure painted. As is often the case, I may go back and change a few details as the army evolves. But for now I will call this figure done. One area I will definitely work on is the base design. I like my armies to have distinctive and themed bases. Unfortunately I can't find any pictures of my original Slaves from the mark one army. So, you will just have to take my word that the original ones were not as lean and mean as these new ones. 

The shields are a nod, back to the original shield of the pre-slotta human slave warriors. 

Unlike my previous Slann army with the standard sand base painted green*. The new army will have a much more overgrown style.  I am thinking about adding a few bits of ruins and boggy patches of the Jungle terrain. I will also need to look at some more exotic plants either purchased or scratch built. 

*Never was a fan of the goblin green base. 

The old bases were just a bit basic by today's standards. 

Rob

A Little Refinement

 Honestly I Am Making this up as I go Along...

I put together the human slaves is a sudden burst of enthusiasm when the Aztec sprue arrived last week. However, I was not really happy with the shields that I had made. The rivets were just too big and clunky. After a short period of reflection and a hunt round the bits box, I decided the best course of action was to remove the originals and replace them with a thin layer of green stuff into which I pressed the tip of an everlasting pencil to create some rivets. Which looks much better. 

That's better :) 

(The zenithal highlighting looks a bit coarse because the airbrush is clogged and I am working my way through several YouTube tutorials trying to clean it. So, had to use a spray can instead). 

Mark One shields

Rob 

Arundel Castle

If You an Undead Player Check Out the Last Picture

Very pleasant day at Arundel castle yesterday, a couple of things caught my eye. 

Rob

Make Mine a Pint - Updated

Definitely An Oldhammer Addition to the Collection

A quick change of pace and mostly finished a very vintage barmaid.  Detail is a bit soft in places but she still has plenty of character. Bit of an impulse purchase off eBay but I reckon a useful addition. 

C32 Villagers – Compendium 1 c. 1983

Saturday 26th August Update

Wasn't really satisfied with the eyes, so had another go. Still not my greatest work but an improvement. Obviously the I can just blame an old sculpt which is a bit soft but that is a bit of an excuse. However, this painting process is a wip for me. 

'Barmaid, make mine a pint'

Rob 

The Army of Malacassa the Slann Rides Again

 Thinking about Slann Army Building - Part 1

One of the challenges of working on my Slann army project is knowing what to work on. Whilst knowing I will need some Slann! I haven’t been sure of how many and what types. So, the obvious solution was to do what a did before when thinking about the wood elf army which was to write out a starting army list. With the army list complete it was then possible to start looking at how to fill the gaps.

With the wood elf army, a ‘sculpted in the 90s metal army’ was one of my criteria's and given the availability of models formally from  manufacturers like Grenadier and Celtos. This was relatively straight forward  to carry out. However, the same cannot be said of old Slann miniatures from Citadel which regularly go for over £10 per miniature*. So even a very modest army would cost a small fortune and take lengthy amount of time to collect. There are a couple of manufacturers (Diehard & Little Soldier Company) making some very nice Slann proxy figures. Plus plenty of opportunities to kitbash or sculpt add on’s onto existing minis. So, this army will have to be a bit more modern. 

*I am just watching some individual models on eBay at the moment and they are going for between £10 and £30 each with 22 hours left to go!. 

Slann Mage & Army Commander

Now for this miniature there is still plenty of choice in resin, plastic and metal. As this is one of the few miniatures that has continued to be an actual Slann. Whilst I don’t consider £30 - £40 to be cheap, I do only need one and provides a very nice focal piece to the army. Ironically the original Slann Mage on a litter is probably my least favourite original Slann model and I much prefer the later models. So, I could go for any of the other later Slann Mage models  including the latest offering from Citadel.

Human Slaves

There a couple of different ways I could get these miniatures either kitbashing or get some slave figures from the Little Soldier Company. However, I recently got given a box of Wargames Atlantic's Cannon Fodder plastics. And included in this set are separate shaven heads with control collars which remind me of the ones on the old Citadel models. So at the very least this demands a trial kitbash.

So after looking on the internet, I decided upon new Aztecs also from Wargames Atlantic. As they have clothing that suits the pseudo-Aztec Slann and as a bonus I get loads of great weapons and accessories to use later. I was thinking about adding some bellies to the models with green-stuff to copy the original bloated look of the Citadel models. But once I got them they look too lean so it just wouldn't fit. These human slaves look  like they have been fed a few combat drugs prior to battle. 

So, technically this starts the Slann army v2.0. 

Rob 

Grand's Troubadours Finished

The Leprechauns are Ready to Cause Mischief & 300 Posts

Finished off the last couple of leprechauns including the female - Ma Ogg. I almost forgot to add some yellow to her and so had to add a couple of yellow beads. Just to keep the colour theme. 

All of Grand's Troubadours including 'The Dunce'

The Main Protagonists - From the Grand and Ma Ogg

300 Posts

Just looking back this morning, I realised that this my 300th blog post. Thanks to all those who have viewed my blog, chosen to follow and posted comments. Check out 100th Post and 200th Post on these links for a short hop back in time. With any luck I will have finished my wood elves before the 400th post!

Rob 

Boris the Dunce

The Manual Labour for the Troubadours

Boris provides a bit of muscle when the Troubadours need a little extra help. Not even bright by the low standards of the Spriggans and possessed with an incredible stench.  The Leprechauns regularly have to create clouds of fresh air when they get too close...

I really enjoyed painting this model, I have been putting him off for a while as I wasn't quite sure how I wanted to tackle him. However, once I got started the process flowed very easily. I wanted him to look much more grubby compared to the  other two trolls from Oakbound I have painted so far (Bruce the Troll). So I used browns with a lighter green as a highlight and greens with a grey as a highlight. To get the grubby look. Along with plenty of washes and dark spots to create patches of mould and staining. Finally some shading with Carroberg Crimson (watered at the edges)  to give a sickly look. 

A great model from Oakbound and one of my favourites. I am sure any similarities to a real Dunce is purely a coincidence. 

Can't be called the 'The Dunce' without  a special hat. 

Rob