From StefanK: 28mm Viking Berserkers & Herdmen (41 points)

From Stefan:

Besides my other project I'm mustering a force of Vikings for Saga. Lately I finished a squad of four Berserker that will set free ferocious havoc on the battlefield hopefully.

The miniatures are by Gripping Beast and belong to their nice range of Saga figures. Although some of their figures are slightly old-fashioned these berserkers stick out a bit. They are very dynamic and with the wolf hides over their shoulders they look really fierce. Only their hands are a bit tricky because the weapons have to be glued inside. On the one hand that seems a bit uniform but on the other hand it offers the chance to equip the guys individually. So I chose to substitute the leaden spears with steel ones. 

Very exciting to paint were the faces of the figures. They've been sculpted with a lot of expression and fine detail in them. So it wasn't too hard to work out the eyes, the beards their hair. The clothes - if present at all - were rather plain so for the gifted painter they present lots of space for freehand sketches. Although I wouldn't count me to this illustrious category I'm really pleased with the striped trousers. The result really encourages me to try more patterns like this from now on.

Simultaneously to the Bersekers I was working on a unit of Hirdmen for Saga.

The miniatures are by Gripping Beast and belong to their nice range of Saga figures. Actually I like them a lot although the sculpts are slightly old-fashioned. They are very dynamic and have excellently detailed faces. Their hands are a bit tricky because the weapons have to be glued inside. On the one hand that seems a bit unfirm but on the other hand it offers the chance to equip the guys individually. As Hirdmen they are kind of elite warriors and so I wanted to have them different from the Bondi with spears so I gave them swords and a two-handed axe.

 

Very exciting to paint were the faces of the figures. They've been sculpted with a lot of expression and fine detail in them. So it wasn't too hard to work out the eyes, the beards their hair. The tunics are rather plain so for the gifted painter they present lots of space for freehand sketches. I didn’t dare to experiment too much there so I left it at some careful braids in contrasting colours. The result really encourages me to try more patterns from now on.

As usual I painted the figures with Vallejo Model Colours and shaded them with Armypainter Quickshade (Dark Tone). The fine artworks on the shield are decals from Stephen Hales' Little Big Men Studios. For the bases I used my habitual combination of sand, static grass and tufts.

Lovely work here Stefan.  You've done a wonderful job on reflecting the varied nature of the clothes, shields (hides!) and equipment of these fierce fellows. I really like most Gripping Beast sculpts but I have to say I'm not a big fan of their open handed design. The weapons don't easily sit well within the fists and are always at risk of being broken off during play. I often resort to puttying them close to give them a better chance of tabletop survivability.

These eight Vikings will give Stefan 41 points, with an extra pip for the excellent striped trews on the one fashionable shield-biter.