Monday, May 15, 2017

Landsknecht Pike Additions - Unit Done (phew!)


The first elements of this unit made their debut a little over a year ago, but its only recently that I've managed to finally complete it.

I could go on and on, whining about how painting Landsknechts can a complete rash in the codpiece, how their puff-and-slash uniforms are absolutely hell to paint, that they actually have no uniform so you can't paint-in-groups, but rather have to brush each one as an individual model, that you need a load of them to make a convincing unit... BUT I'd be lying like Conway because for all their fiddliness, and expense in time and energy, I still love working on the little blighters.

A few work-in-progress shots...

Standard bearer carrying the Fugger Family banner.



von Frundsburg banner bearer


Anyway, here they are on the last few bases that I needed to complete the unit, around 20 or so figures to add to the previous 32.


This base I completed during the final days of the Painting Challenge.

The hauptman leading the boys in...


These fellows below I just wrapped up a week or so ago for the Lead Painters League.


As you can see, I have a thing about flags...
And the completed unit of pike.


I had my good friend Byron from SG2 Creations make up some custom clear acrylic movement platters to save both fingers and figures when moving them around the tabletop.



Finally, a shot of my rather modest Landsknecht contingent as it stands now with pike, shotte, commander and handbusche heavy musket team.


Thanks for visiting folks and have a great week!

Next up: Something from Mars

Monday, May 8, 2017

'From Hell's Heart I Stab at Thee...' 19th Century Whaleboat


Not much going on around here these days. Too busy outdoors enjoying the spring weather. Nonetheless, I did join the Lead Painters' League again this year to be aggravated, er, humiliated, um, inspired into getting a few projects done.

For last week's 'Ship's Crew' theme I finished off this whaleboat vignette that I've had sitting in the wings for years.


This is a Eureka Miniatures set, and a lovely little kit it is too. It took a bit of google-foo to figure out the assembly of the boat, but that was no real bother. 

The other bonus was that it 'forced' me to revisit John Huston's Moby Dick (1956). Now, don't get me wrong, the more recent remakes, with Jack Aranson, Patrick Stewart and William Hurt are all fine and good, but I tell you, Gregory Peck's performance remains the reference standard in my heart. 



I fondly remember seeing it as a wee boy at my grandparents farm. I was so captivated with the film that my grandma made me a little harpoon (from a broomstick, with a few feet of baler twine as line) and my grandpa piled some white gravel with a tractor to serve as the leviathan's hump. I spent many happy hours that summer hunting The Great White Whale under the prairie sun.

'...For hate's sake, I spit my last breath at thee...' 

Epic stuff.

Next up: More Landsknechts!

For hate's sake, I spit my last breath at thee.
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/h/hermanmelv390294.htm
For hate's sake, I spit my last breath at thee.
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/h/hermanmelv390294.html