"... Some soldiers do carry crossbows." |
This 28mm model of a crossbowman is manufactured by
“North Star Military Figures” and is comprised of assorted pieces from their
Frostgrave Soldiers twenty multi-part hard plastic boxed set. Carrying a
crossbow and dagger, as well as wearing leather armour, the soldier is the
first of two such armed men I plan to have within my wizard’s warband, and
costs 50 gold pieces.
Having initially built the figure using some ‘Contacta
Professional’ liquid glue for plastics by “Revell”, and then added even more
equipment from one of the box’s sprues onto the infantryman’s back, I gave the
model an undercoat of “Citadel” Abaddon Black. Once this was dry I slowly
worked my way up the model, using various combinations of “Vallejo” paints and “Citadel”
washes as I went.
The most predominant colours used were “Vallejo” Heavy
Sienna for the mercenary’s boots, gloves and backpack, Charred Brown for one of
his pouches and crossbow, Heavy Brown for his leggings, a rope coil, another
pouch and his waist bag, and “Citadel” Doombull Brown for his flesh. All of these
areas were then given a coat of “The Army Painter” Strong Tone Quickshade.
Witch WIP - The warlock now needs only his skull helmet to be painted White to be completed |
Having completed the first of my party’s members, I’m now
close to completing its leader, a Witch. This ‘brewer of potions’ from a
distant, much hotter land, has proved to be as equally difficult and
time-consuming to paint as the Crossbowman, because the sculpt is absolutely packed full
of intricate and brightly-coloured detail; such as his totem’s bright red face.
"Frostgrave" WIPs - A Snow Leopard, a Medium Construct and an Ice Toad |
Finally I have based a few more “North Star Military
Miniatures” in anticipation of the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge and my
participation in the event’s “Frostgrave” Side-Challenge. This four-way battle will
determine who can paint the most points of “Frostgrave” related figures;
including both official figures as well as other fantasy models which are
thematically appropriate. The losers have to construct and paint the winner a
piece of suitable scenery… So I’m already thinking about using up
some of the spare parts from my plastic sprues as half snow-buried weapon caches and statues,
and offering the eventual ‘champion’ their choice of my efforts.
Good to see you keeping busy, Simon. The Warlock has turned out very nice indeed. I like all three of your WIP figures. For me, painting has taken a temporary back seat whilst I play Zombicide: Black Plague. My god, it's addictive!
ReplyDeleteThanks Bryan. The Witch is actually now finished and just needs some basing, so should be posted soon. The WIPs will be properly started once the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge starts in a couple of days time. You enjoy that "Zombicide: Black Plague" and I'm looking forward to your review of it ;-)
DeleteLovely work Simon, so many wonderful things coming off your table at the moment - can hardly wait for the challenge to begin.
ReplyDeleteCheers Michael. Much appreciated. Can't wait myself. I'll be up late tomorrow night to see the Challenge in... and get some paint flowing straight from the start :-)
DeleteLook superb!
ReplyDeleteThanks Gordon :-)
DeleteSounds like you're making good progress on the Frostgrave models. Will we see a game sometime soon?
ReplyDeleteCheers Hugh. I'm certainly making some progress on them, and definitely plan on doing a couple of "Frostgrave" BatReps when I have enough painted minis. I've had a lot of minis on hold waiting for the start of the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge. So once that gets underway, they should be plenty of painted minis eager to see some tabletop action :-)
DeleteNot long before the off, Simon and nice to see some more figures prepped. Looking forward to seeing what you'll be doing with those Frost grave beasties. I'd be inclined to paint the construct as though he was made from giant pencils, due the shape of his head, because it would make me laugh.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jez. Not long at all... Plenty more "Frostgrave" minis to come too. Just basing them up as I type :-) Nice idea with the construct... You'll have to wait and see ;-)
DeleteNice work Simon, good to see the frostgrave chap finished (at last, lol). Best of luck with the analogue challenge.
ReplyDeleteCheers Roger.
Cheers Roger. Hopefully my "Frostgrave" minis will start to flow thick and fast from now on :-) Lots to see and hopefully entertain over the next three months...
DeleteThose are looking very cool!
ReplyDeleteHere's my starter warband - I've posted it on the Paint Table Saturday community as I'm taking a break from blogging
https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/112685009571607395830
Thanks Roy. Saw your "Frostgrave" stuff on the Carry On Painting FB page. Very nice. When are you going to finish off your "Crooked Dice" gang and table though? ;-)
DeleteProbably never, if I'm honest. A stalled project. The boards are sitting up on a shelf in one of the outbuildings and the figures are scattered up in the attic painting room. Nobody local to me plays the game, and I'm trying to get something together to play as quick as I can, so the CD stuff is very low on the list of priorities.
DeleteAh.. Well I've plenty of similar projects myself. Next Year is the release of "7TV" Second Edition, so maybe that'll encourage more of your locals to take an interest? Certainly I'll be doing a fair few BatReps I'd imagine.
DeleteDoubtful. The local club (thankfully just changed its name to Catterick Garrison Wargames Club - formerly The Shire) is mainly Sci-Fi, leaning heavily towards GW and Hordes. I know a couple of fellows from the Pendraken forum who play historicals and pulp stuff, but, again, I'd need to be the driving force to push new games into the mix (and it all takes time). Then there's another group I've just made contact with who are Historical, so no joy there. I'm going to start introducing Frostgrave and Dead Man's Hand and hopefully take it from there. Oh, and Relics, with the CGWC as a couple do have stuff for it already.
DeleteThat's a shame as you seemed rather taken with "7TV" and I was certainly looking forward to seeing your Catwoman cast all painted up. Perhaps another year ;-)
DeleteCrossbow man came out very nicely. Has a great look of a man who lives in the now, working purse to purse and having to cart all his worldly goods along with him!
ReplyDeleteYour witch is coming along nicely too.
Those toads are wonderful sculpts, what colour you thinking for him?
Many thanks Dai. Much appreciated. I'll probably follow the "North Star Military Figures" paint scheme for the toad and do him white with a grey wash. Boring I know...
Delete