"Although They Are Uncommon In The Ruins..."

"... 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

 To add some brighter colours to my Crossbowman’s assemble I used “Vallejo” Heavy Green and “Citadel” Thrakka Green for his robe, “Vallejo” Heavy Blue and “Citadel” Nuln Oil for his undergarment and leggings, and “Vallejo” Heavy Red and “Citadel” Carroburg Crimson for his scarf and waistband. As I wanted the Moor’s simple cauldron-shaped helmet to appear an old battered piece of armour, I gave that a coat of “Vallejo” Gunmetal Grey before heavily washing it with “Citadel” Nuln Oil.

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.