Flocking Bases

 I'm in the midst of flocking all the 17c figures and terrain I've done over the past 18 months ( and failed to catalogue for this blog).  It really is a bit of a slog, but I'm just glad I finally decided on how to base them.

A coating of Vallejo Brown Mud texture dry brushed with Vallejo Saddle Brown. Originally I chose this to represent the distinctive Mendip soil for my Robin of Sherwood figures ( ROS was filmed mainly in North Somerset), but I like the contrast with the green foliage it gives so decided to use it for my 17c projects. 

( This Essex figure looks like my brother).

Once dry, I apply patches of PVA and then add the odd tuft from my tuft library, and a clump here and there.

I try to stick to shades if green and brown, natural colours rather than the neon flowerbeds some figures are forced to inhabit. After the tufts are pressed in , I dip in a tub of mixed fine foam from The Model Tree Shop. 

I blended 3 colours and happily they came out exactly as I hoped.

The infantry are based on pennies, but I can get more creative with the cavalry bases.

and here are some finished infantry.

The project is coming together and I just placed a second order with TAG for more musketeers.

Once dry, I apply patches of PVA, and then press the odd tuft in here and there.

Roadside Shrine

 I picked this little shrine up from Bicorne Miniatures on Saturday and got it painted yesterday. A nice piece of scatter for 17c European tables.

Photodump of 17c Encampments

 All taken from the book on Pieter Snayers by Sennewald.

I'm just collating them here as a reference.

 

 

Another Batch Finished ( almost)

 I've just added the Vallejo mud to the bases of another mixed batch of 17c infantry, so once that's dry I can start flocking the entire army.

A mix of Redoubt, TAG, Warlord, Captain General, Old Glory and Foundry. 

Devizes Attack Show Haul

 I went to the Attack Show in Devizes yesterday with my gaming friend Speckled Jim. It was quite fun, but no impressive demo games to marvel at unfortunately. 

I did spend too much money though...

A big bag of Redoubt ECW castings from Grubby Tanks. Some musket rests from Warlord, bases from Products for Wargamers, brass pikes, heads and a rather nice roadside shrine from Bicorne, and a bundle of Melniboneans from a trader called Tom ( I don't know his business name). 

And it's raining here in North Somerset at last..... Hooray!

New Addition to the library

 I was pleased to get hold of this Chaosium supplement today. Sorcerers of Pan Tang. It can fetch quite high prices but I got lucky at under twenty quid.

I don't do roleplaying games any more but  I do have a large box of Citadel Pan Tang figures from the 1987 Eternal Champion range, so any extra background material about this chaotic race will be useful when I eventually get round to painting them. 

 

Shading

 I've been continuing painting 17c figures, primarily because they are easy and I don't have to think too hard .

I prime them black ( by hand) and then block in all the colours except metallics, then I dry brush with Ushabti bone, add the metal colours and then wash the whole figure.

Up until now I've been washing the figure with GW Agrax Earthshade, which is a very useful product for grubbying things up, before then highlighting selected parts of the figure. Quite often I won't highlight items of clothing, letting the wash over the bone dry brushing suffice. This creates quite a dark contrast, particularly on light colours which is ok but not always ideal.

I've now discovered Army Painter Soft tone, which is creates a much softer ( surprisingly) contrast which I prefer. It's cheaper too so I'll be using that from now on , occasionally dipping into the Earth shade to use up my reserve.

The last 4 washed with Agrax.

The first 4 washed with Army Painter Soft Tone .

I'm not sure if there's any noticeable difference in these pictures but the

 yellow in particular looks a lot better using the new method.

I need to start painting some up in Dutch colours as I've decided to theme my planned Mansfeld's Army on the battle of Fleurus, and it contained quite a number of Dutch infantry.