Into the Dungeon Again

A Fun Side-Track

Once I had created the scenic display, I immediately had ideas about how to improve it. The mark one version was held together with blue tack and the light was coming out the joins. So I went about gluing it together and adding some details. I then decided add some dungeon scatter and played around with the lights. This gives me the option to use it again as a another semi-permanent display board. 

The dungeon scatter was a mix of crushed stone, brown scatter, green scatter, birch seeds, broken up and painted matchsticks, gold glitter and bones, broken weapons and shields from the bits box. And scattered liberally around the base of the diorama. 

Dungeon adventurers beware of 'unguarded' treasure! 

Repair work continues on these old high elves, this time with a replacement spear*. A metal pin was carefully inserted into the broken spear shaft, the spear head was created from a press mould and the two were joined together with a green stuff collar. Which matches up with some of the same era high elves. 

*The spears on these old lead minis seem especially prone to damage. 

As usual (and entirely necessary), its time for a Friday night beer. And this week is an old favourite - Hobgoblin Gold.  

Rob

A Hero of the First Age

 A Forgotten Hero

As I have mentioned several times before, these early high elves by Aly Morrison are all very much individual characters. Quite different from the uniformed ranks of high elves from later editions. As I completed this mini, the thing that struck me was that he reminded me of the descriptions of the great elven heroes of  the first age from Tolkien. Because of his individual character and unique armour and weapons. 

The ones that beat up Melkor and all his Balrog mates in the first age of Middle earth. Unfortunately I don't have a Balrog mini (yet!). So, had to make do with Sauron in the guise of the Necromancer. Which is still oddly appropriate. 

As seemed fitting I also needed a more appropriate backdrop, so used some of my old Games Workshop floors plans. To create a quick dungeon scene and added a bit of scenic lighting. Not perfect but a great little change from the norm. 

Rob 

Good for Another Forty Years

 After A Bit of Scraping

so, after a bit of scraping with a craft knife, I was able to shape the repaired sword back into a suitable sword shape. There are limits to how much Milliput you can remove but overall once painted I don't think it will be particularly noticeable. 

Rob 

And It Was All Going So Well

Time for Plan B

I was just settling in for a painting session to finish of this mini when I managed to nudge the upper sword. And of course it fell off. I had already added a bit of gel super glue / bicarbonate of sodium around the base of the sword, but it clearly wasn't enough. I had forgotten how soft this old lead is on these minis. It was just too thin to pin, so I decided to replace it.  

I have a Cunning Plan...

After drilling a sword and fitting a paper clip skeleton. I added a thin layer of fine Milliput / green stuff. And did a bit of basic shaping. Once dry I am hoping to  shape it with a craft knife. Milliput can be sanded  and scraped to get a sharp edge. I have done this before and it either work really well of breaks in annoying fashion. So, now wait to dry and get on with something else. 

Rob

Typical Friday Night Post

 High Elf Painting 

Work continues on the very vintage high elves by Aly Morrison. I probably should have sanded the shield before painting but now just added to the vintage style.

This Friday night's beer is Hopping Hare by Badger Brewery which is one of my favourites and surprisingly hard to find in the major supermarkets except Morrisons. 

Anyway Cheers!

Rob 

Monday Post - Finishing Off Minis

High Elf & Amazon Done

Got a bit of time and finished both minis today.  After struggling to get going with the Amazon, I am quite happy with the end result. 

All of the these early Aly Morrison high elves are individual characters and the Middle Eastern vibe really suits them. Obviously this one standards out with the severed goblin's head*

* I decided it was a goblin when I painted it bright green.  

A better shot of the goblin's head. 

Rob 

Elves & Amazons

One Mini at a Time

I am continuing to work through the high elves  and the army is already nearly up to 80% complete!

 

I have trying different colour washes over the silver, to give the elves a more exotic look. Not a great photo but hopefully you can see the violet wash on this mini. 

These Diehard minis have been sitting on the side-lines for a couple of months whilst I work out how to paint them. They nicely sculpted but there are a lot of plain surfaces such as the skin and the cloth. Wile waiting for a high elf wash to dry, I decided to give the Amazon a go and  finished her skin and put the base colours on the rest of the mini.  They will be mercenaries in the Slann army. Helping to drive out the Norse invaders. 

Rob 

Visit to Fort Canning - Singapore

Time for a bit of History

I was lucky enough to travel to Singapore for work recently and had a bit of time to walk around Fort Canning which was the Allied command bunker in WWII before it was captured by the Japanese. It was then abandoned after the war and rediscovered years later.  It has now been restored and is a museum. 

I have always interested by the odd mix of Allied equipment sent to fight in the Japanese theatre where the Allies believed they didn't need to use their best equipment. So, they used planes like the Brewster Buffalo which was seen very much as an outdated model by the time it entered service. 

There doesn't appear to be any brakes!

It was interesting to read about the Indians, that  the Japanese managed to persuade to fight against the Allies (& British in particular) including a Woman's regiment. 

Rob