Copplestone Ngoni Female Archers WIP

One of my long-term projects is painting some forces for Congo, and to that end I purchased some mixed Copplestone Africans quite a while ago.

As I also want to play some Paleo Diet in Africa, I thought I would add some archers to the spear-armed Zulus I painted back in 2016 (time flies!); I have four Zulu riflemen almost ready for primer, but I do not wish to use firearms in Paleo Diet.

It also struck me that I can work on an African warband for SAGA Age of Magic, and thus keep myself motivated for getting some minis painted from time to time.

This batch I intend to use for small breaks from Rohirrim, whenever I need some change, but I hope to get the eight Royal Guards painted fairly soon, as I need them to have a 'pure' six-points Rohan warband (and Age of Magic seems to use larger warbands than 'historical' SAGA does, so I shall see myself adding some riders to the mix this summer, too).

Star Wars Legion: Expanding the WotC Forces

I have a gaming appointment with Michael on Monday, and I expect to introduce him to Legion, and I would like the game to have a bit more 'oomph' that the first one, so I checked my WotC collection and was able to build another Stormtrooper squad (actually, when I start using the optional support weapon troopers, I can probably build four), while the Rebels got some Fringe-walker-thingy to use as proxy for an AT-ST.

I really need to start assembling those Scout Speeder Bikes...

Half a Dozen Archers!

I have painted absolutely zip! today, but here is a group shot of all the archers painted so far.

Greek Archer Line-up

Nothing new finished, yet, but here is a status shot of my archers. I expect to have two more finished later today, but now I must drive to Svendborg to pick up Anna!

Vikings Re-post

I am re-posting my Viking warband, because another member of the Powerfist forum requested larger pics, and I need a hosting site, as Powerfist does not seem to support attaching pics to posts.

So here they are!

My Terrain Bases So Far

A small line-up of my finished terrain dressing pieces. I hope to finish two more before the weekend.

1:72 Napoleonics - My Russians

This Russian army is an attempt to model something around 1800. The bicorne-wearing infantry are the Prussian Guard Jägers from the ESCI 'Prussian and Austrian Infantry' box.

For some reason lost in the mists of time, I painted one light battalion with bicornes, and one with the later shakos.

More infantry, and two Dragoon Regiments. I have no idea, why I chose such a light green for the tunics. They also have the 1805-style helmets - for 1800 I think the Dragoons wore bicornes as well, but, well...

This Corps is somewhat stronger than my Bavarian Division, so I may have to leave some of them out, or take some French allies for the Bavarians, if they are to square off.

All in all, I am all set for some Black Powder action - I just need an opponent (or, alternatively, play solo).

1:72 Napoleonics - My Bavarians

This Bavarian 'Division' (all HäT Industries minis) is ready to field (although I shall probably double the Cavalry regiments.

I think this force has a perfect size for trying out the Black Powder rules. I don't know, yet, if it will be against Archduke Michael's Austrians, or maybe my own 'inter-war' Russians under command of Grand Prince Kevin.

1:72 Napoleonics - My French

With Black Powder added to my rules collection, I thought it was about time that I dusted off my 1:72 plastic Napoleonic armies.

Back in the seventies, with wargames not nearly as readily available as they are now, I wrote a set of rules for playing with some of my friends, using quite large(ish) battalions of about 20-25 miniatures.

Later, I adopted Warmaster for playng this era, and we started out with units of 12 models, but later reduced the battalions/cavalry regiments to eight soldiers.

I think we can easily adapt those small battalions for Black Powder, counting the shown formations as 'Attack Columns', and forming a single rank for 'Lines' (and two files for 'March Columns').

Eight models is the minimum required for forming a 'Square', so that should work fine. Of course, we can later enlarge infantry unit size by doubling the models, or even more - but we shall have to see about that.

I know Michael has a sizeable Austrian force, and I have  nicely sized French army (although some of the paintjobs are WIP, as it shows in the photos).

French Line and Light Infantry. I shall have to pull out some red and blue, at least.

Fench Line and Old Guard Infantry.
Again, some units are not quite finished...

French Dragoon Regiment, some Line Chasseurs in early (Hussar-style) uniforms,
and a single Italian Infantry Regiment

French Cuirassiers, the Chevaux-Légers de Berg (too many models - I painted them back in the 'big unit' days,
and the Lanciers Hollandais of the Guard

Some Artillery and Staff

I intend to invite Kevin for a scrap, and see if I can get him interested in this scale for Black Powder (honestly, I don't feel like painting an entire Nappie army in 28mm).

Dark Ages: Full Viking Warband

Here they are, four points of Warriors, two points of Hearthguards for SAGA.

For God of Battles, they can count as two units of Brutes, one unit of Younglings, and almost one unit of Brute Slayers As mentioned earlier, I shall now upgrade the Hearthguard to 10 models, which is effectively all I need to field 24 points in God of Battles, but I shall paint another 10 mail-clad warriors to use as another unit of Brute Slayers, so that I can field different configurations - and only need to do another unit of unarmoured Warriors/Brutes (which will then need only six additional models painted, as the Warriors already count 24 models) for a 36 points army. I shall also paint a Godi for the army; Crescent and Cross has rules for priests, and it is nice to have one for God of Battles as well.

I also need to decide on a Thor model to use this army for Of Gods And Mortals, I shall probably get a pack of the 'fantasy-ish' Vikings from Foundry, together with some berserkers or úlfhednar.

Dark Ages: The Second Point of Hearthguard

And here they are - I shall make a full line-up of the warband tomorrow, as I have to clear some space on the dining table, first.

Dark Ages: SAGA Vikings Five Points

Pitch invasion! I had to use the Subbuteo playmat for this line-up, as it takes up the most of the dining table at the moment, because Lea and I play Striker.

Five points, and the warband could probably work as is, but I still want to get that second point of Hearthguard finished, before I commit it to battle.

Tomorrow I am cooking Bacon and Cabbage, because it is St. Patrick's Day, and I like to try out foreign recipes (cooked French cassoulet last Sunday, yummy!), which is going to take up some of the afternoon, and thus I am not going to work in the veggie garden, so I hope to be able to paint a bit while the bacon cooks. I may finish another Hearthguard over the weekend, as the forecast is showing possible rain, but do not hold your breath, as I need to finish preparing the vegetable garden if the weather permits it, and I have only the late afternoons, because I need to sleep after night watch.

Dark Ages: One Point Viking Hearthguard

You have seen them before - but here they are together, my first full point of Viking Hearthguard. If I get the chance tomorrow, I shall post a photo of the full five-point warband, as it stands so far.

Dark Ages: Armoured Warriors WIP

Although most of my time the last couple of days has been spent cuddling with the kids, I did manage to get the armoured warriors primed, sand glued to bases, and get them glued to cork handles. They are now fully ready for a lick of paint (or two), so I can start the last stage of this, my first fully painted (almost in one go) historical 'army', namely the Hearthguard for my SAGA Vikings.

As it stands, the army is all plastic, but I am contemplating adding some metal Berserkers at a later point, so I can make use of the SAGA Viking special rules.

When I finish up the army for this time around, I have several options to tend to, and I am not sure if I shall construct a Rohan army for SAGA, continue work on my proxy Dol Amroth pikemen, go back to my IHMN Zulus, or paint some pop culture minis for my Christmas Wars project. Whatever I decide, I shall have plenty to do for a while without the need for further purchases.

Dark Ages: Four Points Warriors Line-Up

Both the girls have been ill (cold/flu/something), so I have been laying low on the hobby front. I have lined up the four points of Warriors, though, here arranged in two units of 12, and one unit of 8.

For God of Battles Blood Gorged Vikings, these can be two units of 'Brutes' (6 points, 10 models), and one unit of 'Younglings' (3 points, 8 models) with a few models spare.

When I have painted three points of Hearthguard, I can use those as 'Brute Slayers' (9 points, 10 models), and I shall have both a full SAGA warband, and 24 points of Main Force for GoB.

To round off a full 24 points GoB force, I then shall have to paint six huskarls/hirdmen for a 'Brute Watchers' unit (12 points, 6 models), as I already have a Warlord/Herdlord (12 points, 1 model).

I have not been playing around with the Thousand Tribes list for these, yet, and I have a feeling that I shall rather use my Rohan collection for it, keeping Vikings, Anglo-Danes, and Saxons (when I get around to those) for the Blood Gorged list.

The six hirdmen will not be the end of it, though, as I shall probably want to paint another six, at the same time getting them ready to take over the role of Hearthguard, while my spear-toting, mail-clad Vikings can then shift to the position of Warriors - and I can use some of my un-armoured Warriors as the start of an Anglo-Danish warband. This, of course, also leads to the need for more armoured models to swell the ranks of the Vikings, and I also want to make a dane-axe equipped unit to act as 'Brute Ravagers' in Gob, while at the same time providing the option of dane-axe equipperd Hearthgurad for the SAGA Anglo-Danes.

Still some road to cover - and I do not think that I am getting all the way there right away - but I expect to keep at it, at least until I have used up my first batch of LBMS shield transfers, to avoid them going irreversibly bad.

As soon as the transfers are all used, I think I shall go back to the Perry plastic spearmen and finish assembling the first 16-man block, to be able to get them off my prepping station, as I really need some space there. I might even paint some of them - would like to get my Gondor army up and running - but I have plenty other projects waiting down the line, so I cannot plan that far ahead.

Dark Ages: Three Points + Two Warriors

The newcomers join the party. I am starting to yearn for a game with these, but I need to get the full six points done.

I am not getting more finished today, after all, but I have four almost done, and if I get something done over the weekend, I may finish the last point of warriors Monday afternoon. May. As always, depends on, how many other tasks I have to tend to,  but I am very optimistic about being able to begin painting the armoured Warriors/Hearthguards Wednesday, at the latest.

Dark Ages: Three Points for SAGA Line-Up

As mentioned earlier, I cannot fit the full line-ups on my Vikings on the photo-station, anymore, so here is a quick presentation among the clutter on the dining table.

I have finished two more, they are sitting in the flocking box, glue drying.

Dark Ages: Fourth Point of Warriors Ready for Painting

Yesterday, I got the next eight warriors glued on corks (plus a couple more), so they are now fully prepped for the pain(t) station. At the forefront, the last couple of minis to complete the third point of warriors are waiting for the last licks of paint - I hope to resume painting tomorrow.

Dark Ages: Armoured Vikings

I painted nada today - wife and kids are re-decorating the kids' rooms, and it is stressing me out a bit.

Instead, I finished assembling this group (yes, I opted to make eight right away, after all). They will start out as two points of Hearthguard for SAGA, then be expanded to a ten-man unit for God of Battles, and, finally, when I find time to paint some actual hirdmen for Sigurdr, be used as one point of Warriors, while some of the recently painted Warriors will be transferred to an Anglo-Danish warband (in SAGA terms, that is).

Dark Ages: Line-Up with the Two New Command Models

The compulsory line-up of my progress so far - this will be the last I do in my photo set-up, as it is getting increasingly harder and more fiddly to get them all in the shot, so from now on the line-ups will be done on the dining table.