Tyrrell's Foote

These merry chaps finally get a coat of mat varnish to dull down their strong tone dip.

 Below is an idea I had for creating tassels on the standards. This really was intended for my Confederate forces, but it should work just as well for ECW too.

I found the best way was to fold it around the pole and then pinch it tight with some pliers. The pole was coated in superglue, so the wire stays in place. Still a test project so watch this space.

This bunch of Roundheads are getting some holy inspiration and divine armour to help them with the fight ahead.

There will also be a command base that will attach itself to the rear of the block. I don't think Commanded shotte had standards, but mine will have two different colours. This will show the two detachments that have been combined to form the ad-hoc unit.

I had to pull a few extras from another regiment to finish this one, they still need their dull coat added. The men are a mix of Bicorne and Renegade miniatures. There are also a couple of Foundry and Redoubt figures in there too. The Foundry figures have been mounted on an extra piece of plastic base, to help them match the height of the larger figures. 

Having the unit divided into four bases means the preacher can be placed in the rear when the lead starts to fly. 

I base my musketeers on these multiple times bases so they become more versatile. They can now line hedgerows and defenses. They can also be split to form smaller detachments or added to other regiments to form larger units. All these formations should be easy to cater for in Victory without Quarter.

Green trousers mark out one of the detachments.

"Keep your faith in God and keep your powder dry!" All this shouting and hat waving gives the impression of a mob rather than a disaplined unit. Maybe the men of Sunnybank aren't mixing with the garrison of Buckley very well.  

 "No Popery!"

UPDATE:

So I've finished the command base and the unit is finished. Just need to flock the bases now ...

I found these thin paper flags from eBay quite tricky to get right and went through a few before success. They stick instantly with the woodglue and are very hard to adjust into position. This is a little scary as my Buckingham Tryned Band regiment has the same type of ink paper standards. I'll have to be really careful.

Men stripped from two garrisons form up. This unit has no pike and will be vulnerable to cavalry attack. In Victory without Quarter this smaller formation only has two wounds as they are missing their pike element.

 However, they can still deliver a full six dice musket attack so are still a formidable unit on the field.

Enemy horse has been spotted forming up on the low ground behind the church...what are our orders sir?

Colonel Tyrrell is getting advice from all sides, but they can't all be right. It's tough at the top.

The picture frame wire looks good in the end, but it doesn't like acrylic paint at all. I will have to complete the standards and then undercoat them with the figure. That might be the answer to the paint coming off while ink washing.

Two standards show the different garrisons the men have been drafted from. This may not be historically correct, but I love units with lots of flags.

Prince Rupert

 

New Orcs from Alternative Miniatures

I came across this new brand of miniatures while surfing eBay and was ammediatly struck by the Centurion style helmet. I have created my own versions in the past with plastic card, so it was nice to find an actual mini which had the design.

There are a mix of different characters and they definitely have a Peter Jackson Uruk-Hai vide about them.

They do come with little extras that can be added to their armour, but I left these off as they looked fiddly. I also went with my brush bristle swords as these will not get lose once superglued.

These will make great headhunter orcs, now I have to remove some weaker ones to find places for these guys.

These normally come with plastic slotta bases but I will be sticking mine on flat bases for multi basing.

The guy behind the company was called Alan and was really helpful over eBay. He even gave me a spare Centurion head for convention. He said in the future they will be doing spare heads etc for exactly that purpose.

Megga Choppa Boyz...sorry. This officer was given a large cutting blade. The ones that come with the figures are good, but these plastic pieces are bombproof.

 I'll have to fast track a few of these to get them on the headhunter bases.

Orcs

The latest batch of Goblins get based up and sent off to the front.

 

Giving 3D prints a blast.

After seeing these Elven figures on eBay for quite a reasonable amount, I thought I would chance my arm.

I'm not quite sure if they are 3D printed or a resin cast, but oh my they are brittle. On opening the pack, I found the riders leg had snapped off. This was easily fixed with super glue. However, while very careful moving the figures, a sword arm got snagged and pinged off into ablivion. I tried to find it but with no luck.

I resorted to finding another sword from a plastic figure and tried to stick it on. Well, it's been over three hours now and the glue still is not dry. Plastic and resin are not friends it appears.

I have a feeling these figures were produced to go with the GW lOTR range and so may look a bit small amongst true heroic 28mm. I hoping a plastic base will lift them up enough so they don't look so bad.

This guy didn't read the Elf and safety booklet about postal travel.

I bought these figures as a test really to check the scale and to see what they were like. I don't think they are Wargames worthy, as they are far to brittle to stand the push and shove of battle. I may have to make sure these figures are in the middle of my bases so others can take the knocks.

I re-enforced the swords and wrists with super glue to try to add some strength. 

Even so, the fear of catching it while playing will still be a constant worry.

Now he is on a base he looks more in scale with the others. Also a shield will help him blend in.

They are nice sculpts and once undercoated they certainly look good. I'm sure they will look lovely when painted up.

 

UPDATE: well, he painted up very well and should look good behind a shieldwall or maybe leading a charge.

He is such a heroic figure I suppose I could use as Gildor, the next commander planned for the army.