Sixteen Years Later Mordred Returns

 Salute 2006 Mordred Painted

Probably one of the longest periods of time to complete one of my duels. I am pleased how they both came out and once again Mark Copplestone's figures paint up well.  

'Come, Father. Let us embrace at last.'

Mordred - Excalibur (1981) 

Mordred played by Robert Addie in the 1981 Excalibur movie, one my favourite early fantasy films (Remember Lord of the Rings is over twenty years away at this point). Incidentally it was directed by John Boorman who wanted to film Lord of the Rings but couldn't get the rights so filmed this instead. Thanks John, a childhood gem. 

I think there is an obvious bit of influence from the film with Mordred's helm on the Salute figure.  

Robert Addie, also played my favourite TV baddie of the eighties - Guy of Gisborne in Robin of Sherwood. He wasn't most dangerous baddie in Robin of Sherwood but he had persistence and could sulk. 

What? He got away again!

The finished shield design. 

I decided the shield was a bit to close to a Union Jack design.
So had to be changed. 

Bruce will stomp anyone. 

The Classic Pose

The Woods - Building a Warband

A Leprechaun Warband for the Woods?

While I get the hang of playing the Woods and deciding what warbands to use, I have decided to mainly use my existing figures. This will give me time to learn the different parts of the rules  and try different force combinations. I did get lucky when I realised I still had one owl left over from Dryads. As they proved handy in the first game.

Rob 

The Sleeping King Returns

 Salute's King Arthur Finished

'Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone and anvil, is rightwise King born of all England.'

Thomas Mallory

A really nice Romano-British take on King Arthur by Mark Copplestone for one of the two Salute 2006 figures. He was fun to paint and I think has painted up well thanks to the crisp sculpting and moulding on the figure. 

Clothed in Royal purple

Arthur is beset by Spirits summoned by Morgan Le Fay

WIP - Bruce the Troll

Bruce shows off his moves!

Another one of those figures which I am enjoying painting. Who I have quietly doing a bit here and there. Bruce is now mostly painted. I just need to work a bit more on the detailing and then onto the base. 

He really reminds me of the classic Citadel C20 trolls although sculpted in a completely different style. Just the right mix of funny and scary and doesn't  look like he's have been working out at gym. All odd body portions and a folklore style. With some nice details. I decided that those shoes look like stone which seems a very troll thing to do! So painted as slate. 

Once I finish off Mordred, I think will have a go at the 2012 figure - A Mayan Warchief. Sculpted by the  Jacques-Alexandre Gillois of Miniature Studio. Apparently it's themed on the end of the 13th B'ak'tun of the Mayan Long Count Calendar.

Rob 

2021 By the Numbers

 My Hobby 2021 

Like most people, now seems a good time to have a bit of summary of my hobby progress in 2021.

First and last figures of 2021.
Citadel 90s Beastman Champion and Citadel 80s Gollum

This year I have painted over 250 figures and scenic items. The most productive year for a while. Painting a couple of armies seems to have helped. And kept the blog going for a year. 

Painting Output

Top Three Miniatures of the Year

My favourite figure of the year is the halfling ranger captain. What I am pleased about is how well the small conversions (backpack and spear) went and the overall visuals of the figure. Doesn't necessary stand out as much as some of the other figures i have painted this year but the aim was to be precise with the painting. He was also  painted up as my Golden Gobbo entry  and consequently it make me push my painting skills on a bit. 

Next up, I will have to put in my Ent in the top 3 this year. It is by far the most complicated miniature I have attempted to sculpt. A very challenging but ultimately rewarding project. As expected it gives a good perspective into the sculpting skills that required to produce a whole figure. I learnt a lot whilst sculpting this figure  and read a lot of good advice on blogs and forums. 

I plan to have a go at sculpting some more figures this year. Something like a troll which is more humanoid but still a bit flexibility on the proportions etc.  I don't see me attempting any humans etc. any time in the near future as sculpting on a smaller scale for human sized 28mm  figures is just too damn small without better magnification.   

And finally one of the Warmonger elves I painted in the middle of the year. I really like the sculpting on this figure and from a painting perspective I was pleased about the colour blends on the hair and flowers. It was the first time recently that the blending went well in these areas. 

Favourite Unit

Easy choice for this one, my Giant Killers of Hambrook, the Halfling archers. I really enjoyed painting these guys. In fact the whole halfling army was really entertaining, resurrecting them from their poorly painted hell. Up until the hounds I haven't bought any extra figures for this army. It has just been about reclaiming my existing figures. I still have about a dozen to send through the paint stripper. Need to add a baggage train though. 

Lone Wolf Collection 

Painting Through the Years

2021 was the year that I finally got round to finishing my Lone Wolf figures. So while there are still a few gaps in the collection this does for the moment feel like mission completed. 

Machineries of Destruction

At the beginning of 2021, my Chaos army received an unexpected boost in the form a Chaos dwarf contingent including a Chaos Dwarf Mortar and Chaos Dwarf Swivel Guns. This is a good example of one my projects going sideways after picking up a few new shiny old figures. I didn't have any plans for a Chaos dwarf contingent until after picking up a swivel gun crew. But ended up as being a really interesting little side project and development of my sculpting skills. 

I decided to scratch build  a gun to go with them after not being able to get an official one on eBay.  And if you have got one swivel gun then you might as well have three. Once I finished the swivel guns, this led onto the mortar.  

And this was also my first outing using the Citadel technical paints in the form of Nikhilakh oxide. These paints have really come on in the last few years and make achieving these specialist effects very easy. The different types  of paints is one the changes that have occurred since getting back into painting. 

Films & Shows

2021 was the year I got back into the cinema and to a wargames show.

I will avoid spoiler alerts on this one but Spiderman - No Way Home is one the best Marvel Superhero movies and my favourite film of the year. A very satisfying story that fits the Marvel universe and tidies together a number of different elements. 

Dune, Bond and Suicide Squad were also good movies. 

Biggest let down was the Green Knight, I obviously missed the point after reading a number of good reviews about it as it didn't seem to go anywhere for me and was just a series of random episodes without any point. Nothing wrong with the actors just the story. 

A number of great films to look forward in 2022 to including Avatar and the new Fantastic Beasts. Plus of course who will be the next Bond and the new Doctor Who...

Salute 2021

It was great to get back to Salute, well it might not have been a normal year. It was the first time back a wargames show  and a good time was had by all. I was finally able to see (& buy) some of the miniatures that I have been looking at on the internet. 

Duel

My duel mini-projects has helped me to finish some of those figures that lurk around the paint bench. So one final duel to end the year.

Happy new Year 

Rob 

Wargames Bingo Part 4

 Halfling Knights, Finishing Off Figures & Chrimbo Duels

I continue to work my way through the Wargaming bingo card and now I am having think about what projects are need to complete the remaining squares. Which is an interesting way to drive some unusual projects. I got a scenery kit at Salute which I plan to do to finish another square. 

No.13 - Break out a game or army you have not played in over a year, Play it and paint at least one new model for your force.

Now this is a technical choice, as I haven't played any games for over a year prior to the Fantasy Warrior's game last month. So technically any figure would count against this square. However, I haven't played Fantasy Warriors for at least a couple of years prior to Lockdown. So I think this follows both the letter and the spirit of the request.

My unit of revenants have been missing a standard bearer for dome time and this is a Bob Naismith sculpt done for Grenadier (via Fornlorn Hope). This figure seems to respond very well to a bit dry brushing after the washes. Making a quick and fun job of completing this figure.    

14. Paint a new version of one of your old character models. (Maybe the same sculpt, an updated sculpt or a newly converted version)

Before Repainting!

During Repainting

I have posted this figure before Halfling Knight and as seems to be the case at the moment, this figure is the one that inspired me to (re)create my current halfling army. The halfling army like the undead and Chaos armies which were all started as a mini-project to paint one or two figures. 

I had a unit of five halfling knights, so have painted this model at least six times now and may paint another of the remaining halfling knights with a bit of light modification. Sadly I don't have all five knights now and don't have any pictures of the original paint jobs. 

and After

No.15 Make a diorama (Simply placing a unit or army on a display board does not count)

Barbarians vs Fighting Men

Undead vs. Halflings

Now I have just completed  three small dioramas (third one with pictures to follow) as Christmas presents. So this completes this bingo square. The theme of the dioramas is Fantasy Warrior duels. So not surprisingly the figures are all old Grenadier figures by Mark Copplestone and Bob Naismith. 

The undead giant is still available for just over £4 which seems an absolute bargain from Fornlorn Hope. 

Rob 

Duel 6 - This Time Its Personal

 Finally Finished Duel No.5 

Sea Elf & Goblin Wolf Rider

The idea of painting a pair of odd figures has certainly  helped me get a few extra figures finished. This duel has taken the longest to finish. Which mainly due to the need to re-strip the goblin wolf rider and mount before actually starting to paint.  I am not particularly motivated to get to do the paint stripping step so it normally waits until  there was a little pile of figures to do. As it was in this case. Anyway with the goblin and wolf stripped clean I could finally get round to painting them. Not really repainting as neither were ever finished.  The moulding on both was bit soft so it was hard to get fine detail. Particularly on the wolf fur but he looks ok. And this duel finally got finished after a couple of months. 

The first 5 Duels

Duel No.6 Arthur & Mordred

I was looking for something a bit different and I came across Arthur and Mordred from Salute 2006. Still in their original packaging. This seems a bit of a natural choice and a ready made duel. I mount them separately so they cam be used on the gaming table. 

The image for The official Salute 2006 Painted Figures

Rob 

Another Last Mini of the Month

Finishing with a Duel (Again)

My vintage AD&D adventurer characters continues to grow. But I doubt you find these two in the the same party. Lawful good paladin  and chaotic evil fighter.  Bit a last minute rush to finish him by month end. But it is good to finish a few figures by a target even if it is my own benefit.   I expect he will be drawn to the banner of chaos as I need a few more figures to bulk out the Chaos warriors unit. 

Both figures are very nicely sculpted and with all of the figures in this range are well kitted out for a life of adventure. 

A chance encounter turns violent. 

Duel No.7 Encounter in the Wilds

I have attempted to paint the wolf rider before but didn't like the look of the fur so I may strip the paint off and try again. I will however keep on a circular base as I seem to play LotR most. 

Rob 

Duel No. 5 - Lawful Good Enforcer

 At Least a Level 10 Paladin!

After what seems like a long time, I actually have finished something. I seem to have lots of stuff in progress which are all moving forward a little bit without actually finishing anything. However, I finally focussed on one figure and got him done. It probably helped that we have had a change in the weather form hot and sunny to wet here on the South coast of the England!

I definitely went for a bright heroic colours as befits the noble paladin. As this is the high level character he is well kitted out in an array of top end items and like other figures in this range is well prepared for adventuring! This meant it it took a while to work through all of the base colours as there are lots of different parts before  starting the highlighting/ washes. But an enjoyable figure to paint and adds to my small but growing band of AD&D adventurers. 

Rob

Last Mini of The Month

Grenadier Elf  with Big Horn!

The Fae Queen's Kin take on the might of the undead.
(A Mixture of Grenadier, Prodos and Warmonger Elves
vs. Classic Citadel and Fornlorn Hope undead) 

Yes, juvenile I know.  Finished off the the painting of one of the two repaired Grenadier Elves. This is an original 1990's figure which has sat broken in the bits box for the better part of two decades. I just need to actually play some games with all of these painted figures. Once again showing with a bit of patience (& Green Stuff) it is possible to make repairs and improvements. 

A better look at the tartan pattern. 

First attempt at tartan. I probably need to have a look at a painting tutorial to get the order right. definitely a painting skill mini-challenge. 

Beauty & The Beast

My two favourite figures that I painted this month was the Blood Rage troll and a Warmonger Elf.  Both great sculpts. I had a chance to try painting skin tones over a larger area on the troll and it was a good opportunity to try painting skin in a mixture of colours. The elf was a bit the other way and try and get some smaller details right like the two tone flowers and blending the skin on a smaller figure. 

Good vs. Evil

Picked out my next two figures for the duel mini-challenge. Both Classic Citadel AD&D high level figures from the 80s. In the left corner - The Very Definition of Lawful Good. The Paladin, and in the right corner - bring the chaotic to evil. The Chaotic Evil fighter. 

One Month Tally

All the figures painted in May. After last month's army building with work on the Dryads, Wilde Hunt and Fungoid Shrooms. This month has been much more about  characters and starting a small core unit of elves. Included in this is the second of the scratch built/sculpted forest spirits. 

WIP

A few bits and pieces on the work bench at month end. I have a couple of goodies on order, but I want to finish most of these before starting anything new.  The Warmonger Elf (Far Right) will be the Fae Queen but still needs dome serious back up. 

Rob