bench update 28 May 2023

Gosh I wish every weekend could see this kind of progress! The good combo of weather and pressure I'm feeling combined to see me speed-painting the Libyans and getting them onto bases. I even had time to glue the LCh crew in.

Speed-finished minis - I stuck with 50-50 varnish/flesh wash, then went back over hair. White highlights and probably cape detailing remain. 

Ivory latex grouting, from Selleys. It holds moisture well, allowing enough time to go back over all bases with mixed-size grit in a wet solution.

Grit will need to be applied later, once ochre color is done. The staining is from a wash of the same varnish/flesh. Crew have bases (and feet) trimmed down to fit, then superglue is used. 

bench update 27 May 2023

Bulk painting is all done today, and the LCh mounts are done too, which is a relief. Carefully reaching through a base to get to hard to reach spots is not something I like to try!

Looming in the background of this shot is the pile of camelry that arrived recently to fill the gaps in Bedoiun and one of the Andalusian/Saracen variants. The pressure is on!

bench update 21 May 2023

Today I focused on the LCh again, getting them to the point where they are fixed to bases. I seem to remember needing very firm platforms when it comes to fixing the crew in. Once these are dry I can finish up the harness, shading of beasts, etc.

I also tested a couple of washes as a way to finish the foot without over-darkening. The mini on far right has an Army Painter flesh wash, which is probably the way to go (mixing with varnish, I mean).

bench update 20 May 2023

The last couple of days I've turned my attention to the LCh. Sorting out which minis to use as general and driver and archer has the useful side-effect of confirming the Libyans are only good for the 7b side, the period where they swung the same big bronze swords as other post-Troy foes of Egypt.

Drivers

Base coated LCh- they are not fixed to those bases, it just seemed convenient to use them

bench update 16 May 2023

The "brush upward" being satisfactory - had to use quite a liberal brush or else multiple coats - it's then time for "brush downward" with about 25:75 tan to bronzed flesh. 

Again, quite a liberal brush is needed and I later spot-brush onto shoulders or sheltered cheeks with a much smaller dry brush. (The steps above using a big makeup brush).

Next I'm testing how easy or hard a simple silver-grey coat onto feathers, loinband, and cloak is:

bench update 14 May 2023

Stage 2 of the Libyan paint job is brushing, in an upward-focused way, Vallejo Elf Skintone. 

I've also sorted out the two light chariots needed for 7b, but have yet to prep them. They are the ubiquitous Atlantic Egyptian types.

bench update 11 May 2023

Thanks to Norman Dean I have a new approach to base coating the Libyans - gesso! It's pretty good, just a few gaps here and there, though I won't know how flexible it stays until towards the end of the project. I used the same splat on thick, brush again with a coarse dry brush, as I do with thin base wash.