bench update 29 January

This is not my usual approach to basing! I decided, "let's work out how many bases, stick the minis to bases, clear some workspace" and it turns out I also ordered another hundred 30mm deep litko bases.

bench update 28 January 2023

Nice wet weather! Worked through the last detail and highlight of the new 15, gave them the wash finish, then moved on to power through washing (with mild detergent that is!) all of the others on sticks, gave the horses highlights  then by and large, just gave all of them a matt varnish. 

bench update 22 January 2023

My shoulder was in severe pain after yesterday's effort so all I've done today is set the "need highlights" minis onto paint stands

The remaining minis are all fine, maybe a few pale flesh tints and a matt varnish is all they lack.

bench update 21 January 2023

All the basics done for the extra Scot/Pict minis!

A new-to-me Vallejo color appears here, Greasy Iron, for the Iron helms, chainmail and spear heads. Much quicker than mixing black and silver, and will be very helpful when I get going on the late medieval period.

bench update 14 January 2023

I've focused on the 15 unpainted minis, just prepping them, then deciding on my approach to shields and spears. The Strelets hands are quite loose on the five needing spears: I decided to use grey stuff to pack the hands and bed in the shields, then strengthen with superglue. 

This evening, moderately sure the packing had set, I brushed on the base varnish/tint

next project?

So, Caledonian, Pictish, Pre-Feudal Scots?

Why you ask? Let me explain. I began looking over the pre-feudal Scots since either they or Vikings are the logical next rebase project.

Wait, says I, the 3.0 list calls for either 2x3pk or 2xWb as options. Do I have spare minis? 

So next I open the "Caledonian" set and look at those.

Wait, says I, if I morph these with pre-feudal Scots, don't I get Picts?

I've dug out spare minis (Anglo-Saxons, Slavs) though I rather think I am a 3Pk element and a bowPs element shy. We'll see how we get on.

III/28 Carolingian Franks complete?

If less is more, the army is done. I was going to flock, but this looks nice without it.

Just need to spray with matt finish once the post-New Year rain dries away.

bench update 06 January 2023

Stage 2 basing - slopping a wet mix of red earth over the grey!

Today, obviously, I managed to complete the foot - eyes, flesh and metal highlights, and the dreaded shields - then gave them a dark wash and based them using grey. 

Once those were all dry it was time to switch grouting colors, and get the red patches on.

bench update 05 January 2023

Yesterday I managed to mount all cavalrymen, a right pain it was too. Today, finishing touches to them, fixing to bases, and getting the basics done on the foot.

bench update 03 January 2023

Detail of work on refurbishment:

Much better! There wasn't anything too terrible about their lattice-leather armor or their helms. The issue was more about shields. Those were sculpted based on research and art by Auguste Demmin and presented by L&F Funcken. But modern sources insist round shields were universal.

Meanwhile work on the other 3 spear elements and 10 mounts and one bow-armed cavalryman is at base coat stage.

bench update 02 January 2023

This pic of (more or less) the parts of III/28 Carolingian shows how bitsy-piecy the project is. There are old minis that can be made right, new minis to prep and paint, and some shield conversions to bring elements into harmony. 

There have been two expeditions into storage, locating half-forgotten supplies of shields, spears and mounts. Frustrating attempts to highlight and matt-finish. Visualizing shields and basing. But, getting there.