Empire Archers

 Some more figures done for Geoff's game at Bring out your Lead in August. A mix of historical archers from the 13-15c. 

I wasn't that happy when the yellow, but it sort of matches the colour in the 3rd edition Warhammer rulebook where these chaos are shown deployed in front of the village WC (in case they are subject to a FEAR roll perhaps). 

Only 5 are visibility, but we are assuming they are part of a larger unit. I need to source the chap in the spangenhelm as I've just realised I haven't got him.

I picked these figures up at Devizes Attack show last year, and I think they might be recasts, or rejects from Foundry as some are quite small and there are some very pronounced mould lines , but they scrubbed up ok. 

The flag is based on a Burgundian example showing arrows forming a St. Andrew's cross. 

Hopefully they'll be able to defend the village thunderbox against the evil horde.

The unit will be for sale at £150 after the game.

What I've been doing.pt1

Just to prove I haven't been completely bone idle over the last couple of years I'll put up a few pics of what painting I've been doing ( and remembered to take pictures at the time.

I've been focussing mainly on a Thirty Years War army, that if the combined forces of Ernst Von Mansfeld and Christian of Brunswick. I've found these really easy to paint while feeling frazzled ( and I have been feeling absolutely knackered most of the time). 

The army keeps on growing so I'm up to about 300 infantry and 100 cavalry so far. It's gradually morphing into an Eighty Years War project too, and I'm waiting for a delivery of 3d printed Low Country buildings of the period .

Here's a couple of pictures to whet the appetite. More to follow once I've done some flocking.

Christian of Brunswick. A mash up of Redoubt, Captain General and Steel Fist parts. 

Four 60 man regiments. A real mix of manufacturers, and I keep on buying more!

I haven't taken any pics of the cuirassiers, or artillery yet, but will do so soon I hope.

 

Treebeard at BOYL

I've just finished painting this 80s Citadel Treebeard figure. Not my favourite ent model by any stretch of the imagination, but accurate to the text I think.... clothing of bark and the appearance of not being very 'bendable'.

I'm not sure who sculpted him
(Trish Carden I expect), but the 3 sections of head legs and torso don't fit together brilliantly, leaving a definite straight line rather than following the bark line of the clothing ( if it is clothing). This makes him look more like an automaton than an ent imo, but was no doubt necessary for casting purposes.

Either way he'll join my moot of ents for future games. His first appearance will be at BOYL taking part in a recreation of the 3rd edition Warhammer rulebook battlefield picture where he is visible lurking under some Britains trees.

For the same game, which is being put on by Geoff of Oakbound Studios, I've got a unit of 20 archers, a flock of 5 balrogs and 2 large trolls to paint. Better get cracking!

The Fellowship by Hinchliffe

 Blogger behaving oddly ATM, and only allowing me to post pictures over a week old...so apologies if you've seen this already on my Instagram page @broadsword_miniatures.

I think these were released as a set by Hinchliffe for a short while , but all have individual codes. Old school quirkiness, long arms ( a Peter Gilder trait), Gimli towers above Legolas and one of the hobbits is much smaller than the others. All available now from Broadsword Miniatures individually or £17.50 for the unpainted set . I've also just received my backdrop book from Handiwork Games, which is an excellent product, put to use here.

COMMISSIONS

 The blog seems to be working again now, after a hiatus of being unable to post pictures.

As well as painting random figures to sell, I've received a couple of commissions to paint fantasy figures, which I have thoroughly enjoyed doing.

All sent to the customer now, who likes them I'm relieved to say.

I charge £7 for a standard foot figure and £12 for cavalry, prepared but unprimed by the customer. Fancy uniforms like Landsknechts will be a bit more.

I'm really enjoying painting for payment. I don't feel guilty doing it ( unlike when painting for my own collection), and it's nice working to some kind of deadline.

Tell your friends!

HELP!!!

 After a hiatus I came back to the blog, only to find I can't post any pictures.

I follow the normal procedure, but it's only showing me pictures I've either downloaded from the net, or ones I've taken before January 30th.

What's afoot?

WHAT'S GOING ON?

 Just a roundup of things that have been happening.

It was Colours at Newbury Racecourse yesterday, and I took Broadsword Miniatures  to add to the Oakbound Studio stand. 

Geoff busy with a customer.

I had my best day trading ever, mainly thanks to Martin Hackett ( author of the old Fantasy Wargaming book) buying a large goblin army, so thanks Martin.

It was very hot, but not as bad as I feared, and we were quite close to an open door on the first floor of Newbury Racecourse stand, so got the odd gentle zephyr to cool as down.

I managed to get away to do a bit of shopping.

From top left... some spears and a horse from Gripping Beast for a Bretonnia project. Box of flock and 6 bramble patches from The Last Valley, an old Osprey book with some lovely colour plates of jousting knights, 2 packs of Colonel Bill's ECW vignettes to paint for sale, 3 figures from a rummage box and some Wraiths from Crooked Dice.

So not too excessive. I left a bit earlier than Geoff to get home for my oldest son's 21st gift giving. It's his birthday on Monday but he has to be back at camp , so we shifted things forward a bit.

What better gift to give a Light Dragoon trooper, than a 1796 Light cavalry sabre?

Finally , I've added a few more painted groups to the Broadsword Miniatures page.