I spent this week wandering around the shelves at the Challenge Library, as well as rummaging through my boxes of figures, kits, etc. to find suitable projects to fit the requirements of the various sections. I was able to complete six in time for Monday's Musée des Fossile, including a few with items that go back close to half a century. I hope you enjoy my meanderings.
For the Fantasy section I painted a group of twenty-two 25mm Games Workshop Easterlings consisting of a captain, a banner, four spear and shield, eight sword and shield, and eight archers. These were in the queue for last year's challenge, but the clock ran out before I could get to them. The miniatures were second-hand that need some cleanup and repair to get them ready to paint. They got an overnight soak in rubbing alcohol (2-propanol), followed by a scrub with a stiff toothbrush to remove the previous paint job. Two of the archers had the upper half of their bows missing, and these were repaired with pieces of florist wire. They were painted using Vallejo acrylics, plus a wash of Citadel Seraphim Sepia on all the armour, shields, boots, and gloves. Finally I went in with some 'Old Gold' to highlight the raised areas of the armour and shields.
A Shadow in the East |
Complete group of 22 Easterling Warriors |
Command and Spears |
Archers (Can you spot the repaired bows?) |
Swordsmen |
Our next stop is Children's Books with a Rabbit Stormtrooper from Archive Miniatures. It was sculpted in the late 1970s by Neville Stocken after he produced a line of unlicensed Star Wars miniatures shortly after the first movie came out. (More on this in a later submission. 😉) He modified many of his original sculpts and released them as 'Star Rovers'. The majority of the figures stand somewhere between 33mm and 35mm tall, not counting the bases.
20-gun frigate Rose in the background |
Our local group of gamers, the Fawcett Avenue Conscripts, got involved in playtesting the rules and providing Jeremy and JP with feedback and suggestions on the mechanics of the game. The figures I painted for this submission are a set of eight 40mm 3D resin prints of the Lost that were 'test of concept' of the final design. They are now available on sprues. My inspiration for the paint scheme I used was the look of the 'Army of the Dead' from the 'Lord of the Rings' movies. Starting with black primer, I gave the figures a drybrush of white using a soft brush, followed with a wash of Citadel Biel-Tan Green. I think it makes them look very ethereal.
The last stop on our stroll today is the Romance section, for a love story between a princess and a pirate.
" Why you stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerf herder!”
“Who's scruffy-looking?
- - - - - - - - - -
"I love you."
"I know."
The figures I painted are two old-school 25mm Star Wars miniatures of Han Solo and Leia Organa from West End Games. They were painted with Vallejo acrylics, with a wash of Citadel Reikland Fleshshade on the skin areas. In the background is a plastic model kit released by MPC for 'The Return of the Jedi' which is approximately 1/78 scale. A bit small for the figures, but it works well on the game table.
My Library progress thus far, with more stops in the queue already:
The points being claimed are as follows:
Just a quick note to all those who have left comments on my last two submissions, to which I have not replied. Early in the new year I fractured a bone in the little finger of my right hand. I have to wear a splint on it 24/7 until the bone knits back together. It has been a rather painful experience, especially in the first week of wearing the splint. It hasn't impacted my ability to paint as I am left-handed, but it certainly messed up my ability to type on a QWERTY keyboard. Typing my submissions is the best I can do for now.
Sylvain: Frederick, I feel exhausted running around the Library with you. So today you invented (unless I am proven wrong) the "Bonus Theme Point Bomb". I don't remember ever seen 120 points of bonus themes in one post.
You really bring us in many universes. I really enjoyed the bunny-trooper.
Should I hide in the basement next week dodging another point bomb?
Well done!!
Sorry to hear about your little figure I've broken that myself and know how annoying it is, The submission is a massive one with so much to look over, great painting some very cool figures there
ReplyDeleteI also managed to break the pinkie finger of my non-writing hand so I know what a pain in the behind it can be to not have the use of your most useless finger. Great set of figures. Judith Fingered, one of the authors of your Halifax book, taught my Maritime History in 1985. Great to see the Tall Asparagus' right hand man in miniature. Love the buck teeth on the Storm bunny.
ReplyDeleteFaulty memory, Dr Fingard's class was History of Seafaring. I believe that the Storm bunny's name is Harvey.
DeleteNice work on DA BOMB here Frederick!
ReplyDeleteI like the Easterlings, and I want more bunny troopers!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately there was only one in the collection of figures I received.
DeleteBunny troopers and Han & Leia lovers... Fantastic entries.
ReplyDeleteA fab collection of figures!!!
ReplyDeletewow - thats a tour - I believe leclerc had an interesting back story before his european command so always nice to see an unusual famous person and of course he now runs a supermarket in Royan, no Angouleme, no Avignon, no - crikey he has a chain of them......love the rabbit and the easterlings which you can now get in 1/72 plastics of all things.
ReplyDeleteI scored 100 location points two years ago with 5 twilight ringwraiths, but I guess 120 points is a record. I love your Star Wars minis and Lotr is great, too, and and...
ReplyDeleteSome nice painting here. Surely Han and Leia are the ultimate romance!
ReplyDeletethat's a great mix of work
ReplyDelete