I had an afternoon off on Tuesday and spent a jolly few hours at Oakbound Studios trying out some of the Mythic World moulds I bought from East Riding Miniatures last year. So far some very nice figures. I have put pictures on the Broadsword Miniatures page of this blog, but here are a few tasters.
BROADSWORDS AND BEASTS
A study in practical nostalgia, travelling back to the early 1980's with a fistful of cash, to buy all the stuff I couldn't afford on a paperboys salary.
Thursday, 23 June 2022
MYTHIC WORLDS FANTASY RANGE TESTERS
Tuesday, 7 June 2022
SPOONFEEDING RANT
I don't think I've ever ranted on this blog, but I'm of an age it's considered acceptable, or even expected. So here goes...
I've recently joined a few historical wargaming Facebook groups, mainly to find out what's going on and to look at other people's Italian Wars armies. This was about a week ago, and in that time I've seen several posts along the lines of "I'm new to the period...what figures do I need and how should I paint my army".
FFS, go out and do a bit of research! You don't even have to spend any money as it's all online, but you could even buy a book or two, and read them.
Back in my day ( I've always wanted to use that phrase) we had George Gush's Renaissance Armies and an Osprey book and that was about it other than the library ( do they still exist?), but now everything you could possibly need is available at the click of a button and still these people need to be told what to do.
Even on fantasy FB groups, I see similar questions. USE YOUR IMAGINATION.
It seems to be a general trend as well. Every day now at work I get the phrase "what should I plant in my garden?" Countered by "What do you like?" The response being invariably "I don't know."
Would these people go into Sainsbury's and ask "What shall I have for dinner?". Only a matter of time until that happens.
Gaahhh.
Saturday, 28 May 2022
GREEN GOBLINS - RESTORING JOE DEVER'S COLLECTION 4
In the Project Aon battle day pictures is this splendid unit of green Hobgoblins and orcs.
It was about 60% depleted when I took charge of it, with missing or rotted figures. I've tried to replace them like for like and paint them as they were originally done. Joe used a lot of inks on these, so Citadel contrast paints were really useful. When I came to take the pictures here, I was pleased that I had a job telling which were original and which were mine.
above are the survivors, below the rotted.
below, the regiment back to strength as far as I can know. One figure is being repaired by Geoff at Oakbound Studio, and I need to work on the banner I think they had.
Friday, 27 May 2022
LORD VASSAGO? RESTORING JOE DEVER'S COLLECTION 3
Over on the Project Aon site here
https://projectaon.proboards.com/thread/2830/lone-wolf-battle-day-photos
is a description from lucky fellow who attended a battle day at Joe's house. I was ecstatic to find these pictures as they provide another glimpse of Joe's collection. I'm lucky enough to be custodian of many of the regiments shown, but those I don't have, I am recreating.
The commander of the evil forces on the centre left of the first picture appears to be a Ral Partha necromancer with Minifigs Monk Spirit attendants.
He is glimpsed in a couple of other shots too, below in the graveyard to the right of the turquoise statue.
Anyhow, as I didn't have the evil overlord and attendants, I set about copying Joe's.
Tuesday, 24 May 2022
VILE RUNE ORCS - RESTORING JOE DEVER'S COLLECTION 2
Lurking in Joe's collection were this handful of Citadel Fantasy Tribes orcs. 9 survivors and 2 with leadrot in the right.
These guys are in the centre of this black and white picture showing part of the Battle of Thistlewood in WD43.
They are named as Vile Rune Orcs, part of a unit of 50. I don't know if there ever were 39 more, as Joe's collection doesn't always correspond with the army lists in his articles. I made the unit up to 50 anyhow, painted to match the survivors.
The Vile Rune Orcs appear to have been invented by Gary Gygax and first mentioned in a Wargamers Newsletter battle report in 1971. Gygax in a later interview mentions that their symbol was a fist with a raised digit. They are again mentioned in The Monster Manual 1977. Joe Dever was of course a champion D&D player, so would no doubt knew the name before he used it in the Thistlewood scenario and later in Bloodbath at Orcs Drift.
I painted the banner as described by Gary Gygax, but added a few runes from the Vile Rune orc banner shown in Bloodbath at Orcs Drift. Finally I topped the standard with an early 80s Citadel Broo head I had knocking about in my bits box.
Saturday, 21 May 2022
DEMONS AS BLACK AS PITCH - RESTORING JOE DEVER'S COLLECTION 1
I've been repairing some of the regiments in Joe Dever's collection, either doing repairs or replacing rotting or missing miniatures.
These sinister demons sculpted by Barry Minot were missing a few wings. As they are fairly unusual figures, I didn't think I'd be able to find replacements, but happily a seller on Old School Miniatures Facebook group listed some recently so I snapped them up ( one of the many advantages of liking bizarre and eclectic niche figures is there are few people to compete against).
Tuesday, 10 May 2022
SOME PAINTING
One of the issues I've struggled with in the past few years is having too many projects on the go and not enough time. When I do get the chance to do any hobby stuff, I'm overwhelmed by the list of things I'd like to get on with, so usually end up not doing anything at all. Added to which my painting room is so untidy and disorganized, I find it a bit depressing to be in sometimes. A good hour long tidy up uses up valuable painting time, and invariably the room reverts to chaos again very quickly.
However, I'm often inspired by other bloggers, not least Secundus at IRON MITTEN blog. This guy always has several inspiring projects on the go at once, remembers to take pictures of work in progress and posts regularly. Well worth a look if by chance you haven't seen it.
I'm going to try and take a leaf out of his book and post figures even before they are finished and more general hobby stuff.
I grabbed the nearest lithic from the foothills of the lead mountain, which turned out to be some primed minis I prepared last year for part of my Robin of Sherwood project. I've been painting for a few years to build this collection up , but never posted any of them...that is going to change and I'll hopefully show what I've done so far over the next few weeks.
These minis are going to represent Owen of Club and his hairy rabble.
They appear in the first two episodes ( Herne's Son parts one and two) of series 3 of Robin of Sherwood, and are kitted up for battle towards the end of part two
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qnyVAUOI6kQ&t=2782s
from around 44.50
Standard 80's barbarian attire, rags, fur, studded leather and backbrushed mullets, as seen in Highlander and Braveheart. Owen himself is played by the lupine Oliver Cotton, shown here surrounded by Sherwood outlaws.