Sunday, April 28, 2013

Entry #3 to the Lead Painters' League: 28mm Mordheim Warband


Well, I'm having a great time participating in the Lead Painters League. It's prompted me to drag out a bunch of my unpainted figures (and purchase some more) in an attempt to provide a more varied selection of subjects and periods to submit. This week's group of figures is a good case-in-point. Though I had painted a few in the past, I've had these untouched Mordheim castings for probably twelve years, and without the impetus of the League they  probably would've sat untouched for another dozen more.


I particularly like these two-pistol wielding figures. I already had a set done from a few years ago, but found I had another couple raw castings so I was happy to work on them again.


I've kept the majority of this lot in the same blue and yellow 'livery' as my existing Mordheim collection.




These are beautiful GW sculpts - some of their best in my opinion. They have a fabulous, whimsical, quasi-renaissance air about them. I really like their puff and slash sleeves, half-armour and jaunty feathered caps. I entered the five shown at the top for the League, but I've added the two below which I've recently finished.




Again, I invite you to visit the League to view this Round's entries and place your votes (this one is going to be another close one on my part). The variety and scope of subjects is great fun to follow.

36 comments:

  1. Yes, some of the best figures from GW. I think they have lost their "touch" now...
    A fantastic painting work, Curt, they are really brilliant!

    Good luck with the competition!

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    1. Thanks Juan. I think I would agree with you. Their recent stuff seems a little too overwrought in my opinion. Sometimes less is more.

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    1. Thanks Benito! BTW, I've enjoyed your 'Chain of Command' rules review - very helpful.

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  3. Great work. I do like the older (?) GW sculpts for warhammer fantasy. Much better than the increasingly OTT models they now produce so much of.

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    1. I strongly agree. The fantasy range was the one I always enjoyed the best. Today I find that Forgeworld and others are doing a better job at conveying the mood/fluff of WFB and 40K than GW itself.

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  4. Ah, I had these once upon a time. Fine figures finely painted.

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  5. Very nice and yes the old GW stuff was so much better than todays offerings, so many others do it better

    Ian

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    1. Yup, the field is rich with alternatives if you wish to be heretical...

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  6. Another fabulous entry Curt, love the colourful nature of this group.

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    1. Cheers Michael. Yes, it was a nice shift of gears from the greyscale Poilu of last week.

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  7. They look great! I like their colors and poses a lot. Best, Dean

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    1. Thanks Dean. Yes, good figures really help the whole process, I find.

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  8. Nice looking bunch. I really like the figure with dual pistols. Glad you are enjoying the LPL. That one comment from someone there turned me off of it a little bit. I know it was resolved but just turned me off.

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    1. Thanks Sean. I understand what you're saying but I realize that competitions, by their very nature, often create a certain level of tension. I'm okay with that. Nonetheless, this is one of the reasons why I designed my Painting Challenge to be just that, merely a challenge with no over-riding judgement of skill, artistry, etc. I find it helps to create a more easy going, supportive environment. It's no better, just a different approach.

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  9. Oooooh, these are jolly nice! I particularly like the first chap with his gangsta-style grip on his double pistols.

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    1. Cheers Millsy! Yes, he's my favourite as well. I can imagine him blazing away with both pistols and then drawing his sword to close in against his enemies. Rollicking stuff!

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  10. These are excellent old boy, over we go for a bit of voting!

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    1. Thanks very much on both accounts, Francis!

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  11. Excellent work, really nice looking entry for the comp.

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  12. I love them.
    May I say I always vote for you ;)

    Cheers

    Seb

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    1. Bless your beard, Seb. You're a good man. Nonetheless, if my stuff is clearly substandard against the competition then don't hesitate to cast your vote accordingly. I hasn't stopped my wife, the harridan!

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  13. Very nice again Curt.

    I like the high contrast for the blue and yellow striping, it adds to the model a lot. I saw one comment on the forums there, and have to agree, what's with no one seeming painting eyes. Neither you nor your opponent did them this week, and it detracts (in my opinion at least) from otherwise wonderfully painted figures.

    I still thought yours were better though and you got my vote. This week was closer though. Still can't figure out how you lost last week though, obviously not enough people have tried to paint B&W and found out how hard it is to do even half decently, never mind how well yours turned out.

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    1. Thanks Byron!

      Actually, I almost never paint eyes. I can do it, but it never seems to be worth the extra effort. Even though I've entered these figures into a painting competition I still painted them for the wargames table. Who knows maybe I'll try some eyes later in the League.

      I realize greyscale is an acquired taste so I don't begrudge my loss. That being said I do agree with your comment that many don't realize how difficult an effect it is to replicate. I can only paint that way for so long and then I have to take a break.

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  14. These are really lovely, Curt. They're terrific sculpts - very North German renaissance-y, well animated and they look really fun to paint. I love how you blended in the colours on the cloaks, and the way you've caught the theme and captured the mouth on the snarling figure is brilliant. All wonky teeth and (no doubt) bad breath! I don't know if you have the Mordheim rulebook (you used to be able to download it, and second hand copies are fairly cheap), but it's a work of art. The best looking wargames rulebook I've ever read!

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    1. Thanks very much Sidney for your kind words.

      You're right, Mordheim is still one of the best produced rules that have been released - great production value by any measure.

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