A Lead Odyssey

Wednesday, 6 May 2015

Samurai Done - DBA IV/59a

And finally added the rest of the basing, so I am calling these done.

Tufts are by Leadbear - leadbear (at) internode (dot) on (dot) net top notch stuff, with tufts that actually stick to the base without adhesive. and don't shed a load of stuff.

I have some ideas for terrain that will continue the Japanese theme, but it could be messy... felt, latex, plaster, stuffing, flock and bicarb... it's either going to be great or look rubbish... we shall see.

So here they are:

The army arrayed

I haven't done all the options, but the Peter Pig DBA 2.2 pack was reassembled in a different configuration. I reckoned I might as well paint up the additional 6Cv I put together, so that if I eventually decided to expand to a full DBMM army, it was one less element to paint.

All up the army is 1 x 6Cv General (plus a dismounted Blade General option), 1 x 6Cv, 6 x 3Bd, 1 x 3Bw, 1 x 4Bw, and 2 x 3Ax. Not a Killer Army, and will struggle against Kn, but should be reasonably effective.

I will be taking the army to David's competition at the Austrian Club on 31 May in Canberra.

Close up on the Samurai Blades, the mounted 6Cv General is behind

The banners are not based on any particular clan, just chosen as a pleasing design and colour combination that was easy to paint.

More Blade, backed by Bow, Auxilia and the porters for a camp/baggage

I found the Peter Pig figures very nice to paint and very well detailed. Every time I look at them I notice some detail I should have painted in. That way madness lies., I would love to see some of these painted by a good painter.

Monday, 20 April 2015

Samurai Progress

First stage of basing complete, just the white glue and sand. Next steps are a black wash, then some dry-brush, flock and tufts (thanks 'Leadbear').

They haven't turned out as nice as I had hoped, my fault, not the castings. I probably should have layered up from white, not gone black undercoat, light-grey wet-brush and washes/glazes. Still, a good base distracts the eye, and I am considering going back and adding more highlights to the faces.

I might.. but then again, I should have made better progress on the Franks for Wintercon by now.

Tuesday, 14 April 2015

Samurai - Continued

Now that the castle is 'acceptable' - some more Samurai painting getting done,. There are still some final washes, and I have to pick up some bases today, but these are very close to done.

Now to work on some rice fields and perhaps a cherry orchard?

Tuesday, 7 April 2015

Samurai

To go with the castle, and also for a DBA3 army, been painting some Samurai. I am concerned they are a little dark, but otherwise reasonably pleased. I thought long and hard before deciding to make them themed but fictional.

Picture quality isn't great, I need better lighting, but these should give you a taster.

Sunday, 5 April 2015

A Japanese Castle

So for whatever reason, I thought it might be nice to have a Japanese fort to go with the Peter Pig Samurai I am supposed to be painting. I dug up some foamcore and card, and had a go. Here's stages one through six. Scale is for a DBA fort, so the base is 80mm x 80mm...

The base, it will be built up with Polyfilla, to look like the rock base you see on Japanese castles.

Foamcore, I really do need to use a sharper blade, there are a few ragged edges.

Coming along.. rubber band to aid alignment.

Main structures complete. Needs tidying, edges neatened and window alignment sorted.

Started doing the tiled roofs, eventually I will apply milliput and stroke down to create a tiled effect.

Roofs and shutters on. Next steps are the sloppy polyfilla coverage for the walls, to hide a multitude of sins, then build up a rocky base, milliput for the roofs. I am also thinking of putting a Tori gate in between the two courtyards, one will be a garden (at the back), the other a cobbled area.

I'm pretty pleased so far, but the wall effects will be the critical part.