Fighting the Hordes of Hell

 

Games Day

Rupert's Blew coats got together again today for another day of gaming. I was very pleased because after years of hearing about it, I finally got to play a game of Dux Belorum. 

I enjoyed it very much and the rules really seemed to make sense and reflect a true Dark Age battle. The mechanic of placing tokens on units to aid them really was fun and made you plan ahead.

I did like how the shield walls twisted and kicked across the battlefield. A nice set of rules I thought and one I can finally tick off my bucket list.

The epic battle came down to basically an even match right at the end, with two units of levy fighting eachother. I lost of course, but even that gave my bard a good story to sing about. 

The other game I got to play was a large Donny Brook battle, with different players with a unit each.

The Spanish fort bustling with activity.

My corn and wheat fields got another outing and this time acted as jungle undergrowth. Best half an hour I ever spent cutting up that plastic door mat. I must pick up another when I see one. Here they can be seen trampling through a wheat field made by Two Sheds Fred. These too are worth they're weight in gold and always get used somewhere in the day's events.

Royal Scots approach the monastery and push on through the gardens.

My trusty unit of red coats open fire onto the Spanish fort.

MiniNatur Ivy

I've had this packet of ivy for over ten years, so it's great to crack it open and let it grow.

I found the best way to apply the ivy was to tear chunks off and stick them on in little bits. This way you can get nice sprawling shapes in the material. Any little left over pieces, they just get stuck on where needed. So basically it's a pattern made of loads of tiny bits that all join visually together.

It's very handy for covering gaps in the building.

Big gap...no problem!

 The bush got some new flock too, this building is ready to go.

 

The House that eBay built.

I picked up this very rural looking timber framed house from eBay. I'm slowly collecting buildings for a ECW campaign in a year or two. It's going to take me that long to paint up my Royalists.

Anyway, this big chunk of timber is great for a manor house or something grand. Stick a big wall around it and you have something worth fighting over.

I updated the doors with some MDF left overs, using gel super glue to make the studs in the door.

This building would work for War of the roses too.

Just blocked up some of the drafts while I had my hammer and nails out.

I will go over this once dry and hide some of the cracks with ivy.

 

Stained the door with dark Contrast paint to give it an oak look. I also posted a guard outside to watch it dry.

Always keep a little stash of twigs from the garden in your bits box.

Buckinghamshire Trained Bands

I decided on the crazy idea to expand the size of the Buckinghamshire Trained Bands. This originally was going to be a smallish unit of Commanded Shotte. However, after finding a set of fantastic Buckingham colours, I've decided to create another large regiment.

The last colour is the Buckinghamshire one. As I come from Bedfordshire, this unit has a connection with me.

I'm going for a speed paint process of dry brushing and Contrast paints.

After three layers of highlights from a black undercoat, Contrast paints are carefully added.

Real fun can be gained by mixing different colours and getting unique shades.

I will use the tunic colours as a guide to layer up, the breeches will stay simple with just one layer.

This US cavalryman will need toning down slightly I think. 

Grey leggings work well on these highlighted figured.

I've ordered some flesh Contrast paint, so we'll have to see how that works out.

UPDATE: The first batch of the new unit are dipped. Working with the Contrast paints is fun and quite rewarding. The figure starts to come together once the flesh is painted.

I'm pleased because this new regiment will help use up all the Trained band figures I bought recently. They are the new ones from Bicorne Miniatures and sport the characteristic buff jerkins.

This regiment of will be bigger than the normal sized ones, as Trained Bands tended to be large donations.

I think in Victory without Quarter, I will keep their stats the same but just add another life to them, giving the unit four wounds instead of three.

I'm also really enjoying swapping the heads of these old plastic miniatures with lead ones. It allows so much more character to come through.