JohnM again: 28mm 10e Cuirassiers (redux)

"I don't know about you, Francois, but I found the green more slimming..."

These Perry boys, originally in Dragoon Green, were sent back to 'Wardrobe' for a costume change and here they are in all their Blue glory! Well done John, they look great!

I understand that four of these were done before the Painting Challenge so we'll count the remaining eight for the scoreboard. I'll have to get going so John does not squeak in a hat-trick!

From JohnM: 28mm British Horse Artillery - Congreve Rocket Battery

Behold, another entry for the Painting Challenge! This one is from John de Terre Neuve. Here are a beautiful set of stands depicting a Congreve rocket battery about to unleash their destruction (entertainment?) on foe and friend alike! These figures are 28mm castings from Old Glory Miniatures. 

John had started the rocket models prior to the Challenge (check out his helpful review here on his blog) so they fall outside the scoring, but the nine crewmen places him at the leading position on the scoreboard! Rumour has it that there are some French Cuirassiers soon to make their appearance, so keep posted (I understand there was a slight 'wardrobe malfunction' ;) ).

Great work, John!

Excuse me as I scurry back to my painting desk in an effort to catch up...

First Painting Challenge Entry: 28mm Napoleonic French Artillery

Here is something to officially kick-off 'The Napoleonic Spring-Thaw Painting Challenge.' I thought that since Perry Miniatures has kindly offered to sponsor some of the prizes for the Challenge (Thanks very much Alan!) I would show off something from their lovely range of models. This is a Perry Miniature 6pd French artillery piece with its crew. I put on a game up Saskatoon last month and Tim pointed out that I should put some mud and turf on the wheels as I clearly show the furrows in the groundwork. I totally agree and so I decided to begin incorporating elements of this into all of my artillery models. 

I saw 'Secundus' post on his blog Iron Mitten how he did his mud effect and I decided to try a slight variation on his technique. To do the 'muck' I first brushed on some slightly watered-down white glue onto the wheel rims and then tweezered some static grass into it. Once that set up I then brushed on Liquitex gloss gel medium mixed with some brown paint. (I also brushed this into the furrows on the base to better tie it all together.) This gives a nice, wet, gloppy look and dries hard. For a bit of added depth I brushed on a bit of  thinned down Citadel Devlan Mud Wash.  

I might go in and trim down some of the mucked flock, but otherwise I'm happy with the overall look of it and will do the same to the rest of the battery.

In terms of the Painting Challenge this is worth 6 points (1pt for each crew and 2 for the gun model). Book 'em, Danno!

I'll have more stuff to post on the blog very soon PLUS I know both Stacy and Sylvain have some Prussians and Russians (respectively) about to make their debut as well so we should see the scoreboard begin to tick along. Huzzah!!

Empire Steam Tank Conversion

Chitty-Chitty... Bang! Bang!

While we wait for the first entries for the 'Spring-Thaw Painting Challenge' to roll in I thought I'd post something completely off the beaten track. Here is another golden oldie that I've excavated from the display cabinet and dusted off (literally) - an Empire Steam Tank from a previous edition of Warhammer Fantasy.

I converted the base model to make it reminiscent of something Leonardo da Vinci would dream up - sort of a Renaissance Steampunk Land Dreadnought kind of thingy. The kit was virtually all white metal and almost every part was warped or somehow misshapen.  I think about of quarter of this thing is composed of metal pins and Green Stuff filling gaps and holding it all together. Some of the engineering crew are courtesy of my friend KevinH to which I muddled around with their poses and  harmonized their colours. The model weighs a ton. I can't remember all the whacky stuff that this bad boy could do in the game but I do recall it was pretty rude. It got to the point where I felt a little guilty putting it on the table - an emotion I deftly learned to stifle. ;)

I know, like a sail would have any chance of moving this thing - but it looks cool and, really, who can deny a tank with a crows nest?

Another friend of mine, Sylvain, has just finished building a lovely Wood Elf army that is quite the terror. Now that I look at this thing again I really think his pointy-eared, hemp-wearing, tree-huggers need to be introduced to some Imperial Heavy Metal... 


"Toot! Toot! Parp! Parp!"

The Napoleonic Spring-Thaw Painting Challenge!

"Take it back, Féraud. Black-Priming is not just used by effete snobs!"

In the interest of promoting a healthy lead-and-plastic arms race (and the mere hope of the end of Winter) I am hosting a 'Napoleonic Spring-Thaw Painting Challenge' to fuel the engines of productivity. The Challenge will be conducted along similar lines of the well-fought Fawcett Avenue Conscripts Fall Painting Challenge.

Painting Challenge Rules:

'The Napoleonic Spring-Thaw Painting Challenge' will extend from February 2nd to midnight May 1st.

Participants are to be members of, known to or vouched by The Fawcett Avenue Conscripts (Home or Westside Chapter). Any others who may be interested in participating are to contact me via this blog.

All model submissions are required to relate to the Revolutionary/Napoleonic period (1789-1815).

Scoring:
1 point per 25/28mm foot or unmounted horse figure
2 points per 25/28mm mounted figure
2 points per 25/28mm artillery piece or limber
.5 point per 15mm foot or unmounted horse figure
1 point per 15mm mounted figure
1 point per 15mm artillery piece or limber

(Other scales/models points value to be determined by The Judge)

Figures can have been previously primed to the start date (Feb 2nd) but no colour can have been applied prior to that date. In order to be scored the figures have to be based and the groundwork completed. The honour system will be followed in relation to the completion and entry of figures to the Challenge. Woe goes upon the head of anyone who besmirches themselves in the painting of toy soldiers!

On top of general bragging rights, smack talk, etc. modest prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. (Prizes will be gift vouchers (or their equivalent) from an online hobby store.)

In order to be scored, photos of the completed figures/units are required to be submitted to me (The Judge) for posting here on the Analogue Hobbies blog. Updated scoring for The Challenge will also be tracked on the blog.

The Judge (me) will participate in the competition but will not 'place' as a scoring competitor (i.e. no prizes for me).

So, there it is. I hope you take up my thrown brush (with 'white feather' attached) and join me in getting a bunch of stuff done for 'The Beautiful Game'!