"In The Early Anglo-Saxon Period Most Of Essex Was Covered By Forests."

"So meadow lands suitable for producing good hay were rare and valuable."

This 32mm scale model of a (medium) Anglo-Saxon Haystack was created using "Elegoo" Water Washable Resin on a Mars 5 3D Printer, and is available as an STL (Standard Triangle Language) file from the "Last Sword Miniatures" webstore. Measuring 100mm in height and approximately 75mm in width, the piece of scenery was super-glued onto a 80mm circular MDF base by "Warbases". I also drilled five holes into the base just in case there was still any uncured resin inside the hollow print, which could allow any lingering fumes to properly vent.

Unfortunately during the printing process (where I was printing two of the model on a single plate) a few of the supports failed around one of the haystack's timber legs and caused it to mis-print the bottom of it. Luckily, the rest of the sculpt turned out fine, so I was able to simply cut away the offending part with a modelling knife, and use some Green Stuff to build up the ground around it so as to cover over the gap.

"They wore fur caps, white uniform and white breeches, and short black gaiters."

The model was undercoated using a couple of licks of “Vallejo” Dark Yellow and enthusiastically drenched in “Citadel” Agrax Earthshade. It was then heavily dry-brushed with (more) “Vallejo” Dark Yellow and a little (lighter-coloured) Buff. The haystack's poles were simply given a coat of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, darkened down using a splash of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, and finally highlighted back up with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna.

In addition to my second of several planned haystacks, I have completed another Napoleonic Austrian by "Wargames Foundry". This 28mm metal sculpt is from their AN026 German Grenadiers 1805-15 Marching blister and was undercoated in "Citadel" Abaddon Black. I then applied a base layer of "Two Thin Coats" White Star to his uniform, and washed it with a little heavily watered-down "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade to bring out its details.

"Knight Models" WIPs - Killer Croc just needs his scaly hide completed

I next applied a combination of "Two Thin Coats" Celestial Blue and "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade to the infantryman's collar, cuffs, waist-band, helmet and turnbacks, before 'picking out' his water bottle and bayonet with some "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil. The Grenadier's sabre hilt, scabbard tip, ammunition pouch and helmet plate were simply pigmented using a little "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, Gold and a dash of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. Finally, I added a smidgeon of "Two Thin Coats" Skulker Yellow and Wyvern Green to the miniature's head plume and later washed these areas with "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade and Nuln Oil respectively.

Despite all these time-consuming details I've also made more progress on my Killer Croc Thug by "Knight Models". This "Elegoo" Water Washable Resin 3D figure has really caught my imagination, and as I'm planning on using it for my own 'homebrew' rules rather than the official "Batman Miniatures Game" - which apparently requires a phone app to play - I may well print out a couple more of the hulking bruiser for my tabletop to use as scaly minions for a 'bigger' Waylon Jones sculpt, once this one is finished...

"An Anglo-Saxon Haystack Was A Structure Of Mown Grass..."

"...Called a rick or hay-rick, used to store winter fodder for livestock."

This 32mm scale model of a (small) Anglo-Saxon Haystack was created using "Elegoo" Water Washable Resin on a Mars 5 3D Printer, and is available as an STL (Standard Triangle Language) file from the "Last Sword Miniatures" webstore. Measuring an impressive 100mm in height and approximately 50mm in width, the piece of scenery was super-glued onto a 70mm circular MDF base by "Warbases". I also drilled three holes into the base just in case there was still any uncured resin inside the hollow print, which could allow any lingering fumes to properly vent.

As I want to use the piece for both "Pillage" and "The Silver Bayonet", I decided to paint it using the same basic palette as I use for my 28mm metal Strawbears by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio”. Resultantly, the model was primed using a couple of coats of “Vallejo” Dark Yellow and liberally drenched in “Citadel” Agrax Earthshade. It was then heavily dry-brushed with (more) “Vallejo” Dark Yellow and a little (lighter-coloured) Buff. The haystack's pole was simply given a lick of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, darkened down using a splash of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, and finally highlighted back up with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna.

"In Star Trek, asteroids are used for bases, penal colonies like Rura Penthe, and strategic locations."

With my cheeky little entry into Dave Stone's Season of Scenery Challenge completed, I have also finished another pair of asteroids by "Fat Dragon Games" which are included in the company's "Battlefront Valkyrie" Starter Set. Both of these small 'floating rocks' were created using some "Bambu Lab" Matt White PLA (Polylactic Acid) on an A1 Mini 3D Printer, and as with the previous two I've pigmented I decided to put them on some 40mm round MDF bases by "Warbases" rather than use the tiny, arrow-headed ones they come with.

Each asteroid was primed in "Citadel" Abaddon Black, and later layered using "Vallejo" Sombre Grey. I then shaded the miniatures in "Citadel" Nuln Oil, dry-brushed them with (more) "Vallejo" Sombre Grey, and later gave them (and their bases) a much lighter dry-brush of Heavy Bluegrey. As a final step, the models' stands were washed with "Citadel" Nuln Oil and sprinkled with a little 2mm tall Chilli Red flock around the bottom - thereby allowing me to use them as scatter terrain for any future 'moon-based' battles as well.

"Wargames Foundry" WIPs - Four Napoleonic Austrian Infantrymen

Setting aside my foray into scenery, I've also been making some progress on my burgeoning Napoleonic Austrian force using some 28mm metal figures by "Wargames Foundry". Originally, I had been planning to simply paint just enough soldiers to provide me with a warband for "The Silver Bayonet". But having patiently begun picking my way up a fusilier from the blister AN002 German Infantry Marching, I thought I might simply just pigment a quartet of the packet's identical sculpts instead.

Indeed, I'm hoping to actually play a few games of "Black Powder" by "Warlord Games" with my 'entire' Napoleonic collection once these Austrian infantrymen are tabletop ready, and use them as a tiny unit for my (Second/Third) Coalition army. This change of direction has definitely given my project a bit of much-needed momentum, having recently lost some of my enthusiasm 'battling' to complete an Hungarian Officer, and has actually caused me to get a handful of German Grenadiers undercoated too, ready to take the fusiliers' place in my painting queue when the time arrives...

"Soon After Humans Discovered The System..."

"...A race of aliens known as the Kurgun appeared..."

This Kurgun S-3 Scout was created using some "Bambu Lab" Matt White PLA (Polylactic Acid) on an A1 Mini 3D Printer, and can be purchased as an STL (Standard Triangle Language) file by "Fat Dragon Games" as part of the company's "Battlefront Valkyrie" Starter Set. The single-piece spacecraft has been printed using a 0.2mm nozzle, with a 0.1mm layer height in order to minimise any striation lines on the finished model.

The vessel was initially undercoated using a couple of layers of "Vallejo" Heavy Green and shaded with "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green. I then carefully dry-brushed it with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Green, before 'picking out' its warp nacelle with a combination of "Scale 75" White Alchemy and "Citadel" Flesh Tearers Red.

 "...Claiming the system and all its ancient artefacts as their own."

Having completed the first of my (not) Klingon Forces, I had the time to finish another two of "Fat Dragon Games" Terran S-4 Scouts. As with my Kurgun vessel, both these (not) Federation starships were also created using some "Bambu Lab" Matt White PLA (Polylactic Acid) on an A1 Mini 3D Printer, and can be purchased as part of the company's "Battlefront Valkyrie" Starter Set.

The models were primed using a couple of layers of "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey and shaded with "Citadel" Nuln Oil. They were then patiently dry-brushed with a little (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey, before having their warp nacelles treated to a base layer of "Scale 75" White Alchemy and later a line or two of "Citadel" Talassar Blue.

"Last Sword Miniatures" WIPs - The roof to this granary is almost finished

Sticking with 3D printed PLA, I've also managed to make a bit more progress on the first of four Anglo-Saxon Granaries I rather enthusiastically made recently. Sculpted by "Last Sword Miniatures" I'm hoping these buildings will form the core of a Middle Age village I can use for "Pillage" by "Victrix Games", as well as a low-tech settlement for some games of "The Silver Bayonet" by "Osprey Games".

I actually own a fair few pieces of scenery from this particular Spanish manufacturer - as I joined their Patreon subscription service a few months ago. As a result I have also printed off a set of three different-sized haystacks (in "Elegoo" Water-Washable Resin), and am currently just waiting on the release of a rather large-looking Anglo-Saxon Great Hall to act as my table's centre-piece...

"Deep In The Distant Valkyrie Star System..."

"...The remains of an ancient and powerful alien civilization have been discovered."

This Terran S-4 Scout was created using some "Bambu Lab" Matt White PLA (Polylactic Acid) on an A1 Mini 3D Printer, and can be purchased as an STL (Standard Triangle Language) file by "Fat Dragon Games" as part of the company's "Battlefront Valkyrie" Starter Set. The single-piece starship has been printed using a 0.2mm nozzle, with a 0.12mm layer height in order to minimise any striation lines on the finished model.

The spacecraft was initially undercoated using a couple of layers of "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey and shaded with "Citadel" Nuln Oil. I then carefully dry-brushed it with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey, before 'picking out' its warp nacelles with a combination of "Scale 75" White Alchemy and "Citadel" Talassar Blue.

"Last Sword Miniatures" WIPs - An Anglo-Saxon Granary

To be honest I was a little tempted to begin adding a few more colours to the vessel, as despite its small size, there's a fair few panels to be seen on its hull. However, my plan is to paint up a fair-sized fleet of these Terran starships, and I didn't want to bog down my enthusiasm for the project with tiny details nobody was ever going to see once they were on the tabletop. Indeed, I've bought quite a few of the range's cruisers, frigates, destroyers, cargo carriers, space stations and asteroids, so certainly don't want to dally too long on one specific miniature - especially when I plan to eventually field a few squadrons of Scout ships.

With such a simple paint-job completed, I have had plenty of time to print, superglue and prime the first of four Anglo-Saxon Granaries I own by "Last Sword Miniatures". Whilst I don't currently own a physical copy of "Pillage" by "Victrix Games", it does seem highly likely that I'll be getting in a few games within the next few months, so I thought I had best make a start on building a reasonably-sized Middle Age settlement to use as a suitable battlefield.

"Wargames Foundry" WIPs - A Napoleonic Austrian Grenadier, an Officer, and an Infantryman

The STL files for both the granary and its thatched roof have been printed out separately using "Bambu Lab" Matt White PLA on an A1 Mini 3D Printer, and then super-glued together for ease. Just like my Terran S-4 Scout I am not planning on doing too detailed a job on a piece of scenery as I always think terrain should blend into the background of a game, and leave the miniatures to catch the eye. But I do intend to apply some basic washes and dry-brushes to the building once the base layers are finished.

In addition, I've also managed to get a little further along with the three 28mm metal Napoleonic soldiers by "Wargames Foundry" I want to add to my Austrian warband for "The Silver Bayonet". This has admittedly been slow going, as I've really struggled not to get distracted by all the fabulous-looking scenery I can now 3D print using my A1 Mini. However, I have consoled myself with the aforementioned granaries by rationalising that I can always use them to represent a minor farm or small settlement for some Napoleonic shenanigans too...