Hoi Folks,
So here's my first entry for this year's Challenge. Usually I try to do a bit more points worth of painting for each entry, but this year time is more spare than the last two years. This year I have two big projects I would like to get finished during the Challenge and several smaller ones. The figures presented here are part of my "big" Dark Ages project. Last year we found out that I am a big fan of the Vikings TV series and yes, mr Hirst has taken a lot of poetical license (for instance it was not Ragnar who entered Paris playing dead, but a different leader entering a city somewhere in Italy), but I just simply don't care! It's a nice story, more or less historically right and I like the essence of it. The plan is for me to create several Viking forces which can be used as small skirmish groups to fight each other but which can also combine to form a larger force to be used in Dux Brittaniarum for which I am also painting a Frankish force.
The miniatures shown here are for Lagertha's warband (hence the shields and yes again I know that warriors would probably have used tehir own specific livery) and the males are GB plastics while the females are Brother Vini resin casts. Actually the latter, along with a 4th figure already finished earlier, are the show pieces the BV guys had on their stand at Crisis 2015. I had pre-ordered some but they had forgotten to include them so I got their unpainted, ready-made showcase mini's.
Cheers Sander
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Welcome back to the Challenge Sander! Lovely work with these chaps. I love most of the stuff from Bother Vinni, though some of his models are a little too salacious for my tastes.
I really like how you've formed these into cohesive units while still allowing them individual personalities. I also really like the weathered and battle worn shields you've done for this unit - it really gives them a gritty, veteran attitude.
45 points for you, dear sir. I look forward the the upcoming war bands from this project.
Those plastics are really nice. Your paint job has really brought them to life. This is a very handsome unit. Nice job!
ReplyDeleteWhy thank you for the kind words! The plastics are rather grand of themselves but I did try to do them justice.
DeleteDux Brittaniarum is a game I feel I would like and the figures are clearly pulling me to get a force and fight a few battle. I would also be tempted by the Franks but would like to see the rules first. Looking at the rules is now a promise for the new year thanks to you.
ReplyDeleteHoi Clint, the DB rules are some of the more easy accessible TFL rules imho. I played a demogame at Poldercon and got hooked. Sadly at present the Franks are not supported in a regular rulebook at the moment but on the FB group someone has done up an excellent fan-made list with scenario's, background and many more factions. I could provide you with the documents if required.
DeleteThe Franks are lovely figures as well and are also rather easily converted: I have a lot of left over plastics and with the addition of a Frankish shieldpack (I think from Musketeer Miniatures) and some green stuff one can create Franks rather easily.
I seem to recall it is played (very rarely) at the club. I shall make further enquiries there first.
DeleteBut I play chain of command so TFL rules are not unknown to me.
@Curt: thanks for putting up the post and the very kind comments! You are sooo right about Brother Vini's miniatures. Quite a lot of them are very good, i.e. the Saga figures and the Landsknecht/ Renaissance figures for instance. The rest of the line is indeed a bit on the erm...too saucy side I guess?!
ReplyDeleteLovely looking Vikings, good start for your Challenge
ReplyDeleteIan
Thanks Ian, more to come along the way!
Deletegreat stuff always great to see some Vikings look forward to following your progress in the challenge
ReplyDeleteThanks James!
DeleteNice work Sander and welcome back to the fray! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you kind Lady, I'm glad to be back.
DeleteGood to see you on the board Sander and a great way to start off mate.
ReplyDeleteNo worries Millsy!
DeleteGreat stuff Sander! I'm also a fan of vikings so always nice to see some related figures :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Jamie, I have some Stronghold Terrain figures planned for later on in the Challenge and they really do look the part.
DeleteNice work!
ReplyDeleteThanks Barks!
DeleteVery good stuff, they are great looking unit.
ReplyDeleteCheers for that Adam!
DeleteLovely looking Vikings. The "lagertha" figure is very nice. You should check out the Shield Maiden figures by Annie Norman/Bad Squiddo games, they would fit in well with this army. This post makes me want to get caught up with Vikings - I stopped at Season 2 for some reason. The
ReplyDeleteThanks Michael, but to clear things up: there is no Lagertha figure in there. They all bear her "coat of Arms" on their shields, I guess that's a Season 3 spoiler of sorts. The Lagertha figure will follow when I get to work on my Stronghold Terrain figures. I have some of Annie's figures and they will be mingled in with the forces of the other lords like King Horic and Jarl Borg. I have just finished the first volume of season 4 and it gets better all the time. If there is a problem it's not that they put actual facts and occurrences out of time-frame and in anachronism, but the way they dress up the extras: the troops from Wessex, Mercia and Northumbria as well as the Franks are all uniformly clothed, other than that, still great stuff!
DeleteReally nice work Sander!
ReplyDeleteThanks Rod!
DeleteGrand work, Sander!
ReplyDeleteThey very much look the part and would fit right in with the Viking show. When reading fiction or watching film I'm looking for entertaining which that show delivers very well! ;)
Only too right, thanks heaps!
DeleteNice work Sander!
ReplyDeleteCheers!
DeleteThey sure look the part! Great way to join the party Sander!
ReplyDeleteThanks Iannick, much obliged ;-)
DeleteHey Sander, these look terrific. I took your advice from the last Challenge and started watching The Vikings - its a great programme, and your figures do it justice, and I am definitely looking forward to your other warbands coming later in this Challenge!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sidney, coming from you that truly is a compliment! The next Dark Age figures I am going to paint will probably be some Franks but nothing like portrayed in the Series, more like real life ones ;-)
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