Disappointed!

I have just received two new Battlefront Churchill Tanks.

The quality of the casting of both leaves something to be desired. I won't send them back as I am in a hurry and a reasonable paint job can hide a number of imperfections.

However, on one the armoured trailer had some of the detail completely missing and other bits poorly cast, while the other had a significant warp in one of the sides. Interestingly the detail apears to be there but in a Dali-esque manner.

Crusader Pirates Ahoy!

I have just finished painting and basing these jolly fine Crusader Pirates. They were fun to paint and I am pleased with the results.

For more pictures you can visit my web site at http://members.lycos.co.uk/lastbunny/crusader.html

The Xyston Greeks are proving to be a little more difficult, I keep putting them off. Must get motivated.

Next Projects

I have been preparing two projects today. The first is an Athenian Greek DBA army using Xyston Miniatures figures and the second is a group of Crusader Pirates from Northstar.

The Xyston Greeks are some of the earliest figures produced by that manufacturer and as such they are some of the smallest. Later ranges have tended to get bigger. In this instance small is not a problem they look very good even before undercoating. There is quite a bit of work involved with drilling out the hands, cleaning up the mould sprue and gluing spears and shields on to the figures and if you add in making the spears that's several hours before you even get the first paint out of its pot.

I ordered the Pirates on Monday, after which I had an email saying they would be sent on Wednesday and they arrived today - Friday - I consider that to be pretty good service

Although I had seen figures by Crusader around until now I hadn't bothered to look at any in detail. I have to say I am quite pleased do far. One small criticism, compared to Copplestone and Artizan these figures needed a lot more cleaning up with a craft knife and a modelling file.

And now something a little bit different

As I continue to test out my 28mm painting skills I am on the look out for new challenges and I found this resin model tucked away in a dark corner of my painting area.

I can't remember who the manufacturer is or exactly how I came by it except I think it was freebie with something else. It's not something I would normally buy but I decided to give it a go anyway. (Note: I have just found the manufacturer - the model is by Ramshackle Games of Nottingham)

I like to think of it as a damsel in distress, in need of rescue by some passing hero (male or female just to remain PC).

Perhaps my next project will have to be the hero - well after the pirates and perhaps another 15mm DBA army, oh and maybe some WWII stuff.

I do quite fancy painting some fantasy figures, but not with over large weapons or hugely improbable musclature - hmm perhaps an orc or two.

Perry Miniatures - French Generals Now Finished


Here's a taster of the finished miniature - if you want more pictures visit my web site at

http://members.lycos.co.uk/lastbunny/perry.html

Persians - Now Up on Web Site.

After my picture problems of yesterday I managed to redo the photography in natural light and the pictures are up on my web site at

http://members.lycos.co.uk/lastbunny/NewDBAAchaemenid.html



Here are a couple more work in progress pictures of the Perry Napoleonic Generals. I hope to finish these next week.

New Later Achaemenid Persian DBA Army - Just a taster!




I was hoping to load up a new page onto my web site with the full range of pictures on this new Later Achaemenid Persian DBA army.

Unfortunately the pictures came out rather too dark. I could have brightened them in the image editing stage but I prefer to get it right at the photography stage.

New Stuff on the Painting Table



As a bit of a change I am painting up some Perry Miniatures 28mm French Napoleonic Generals. The work in progress is General Foy.

I have to admit to being a little intimidated at first. It's one thing to paint up some archaeologists or cowboys. The colour schemes can be prety much anything you want within a certain pallet - but Napoleonic figures are different. Ordinary troops have uniforms and generals have elaborate uniforms and Perry Miniatures have lots of detail. And then there are the horses - I am comfortable with painting them in 15mm but 28mm is a whole new ball game! However, this has been a real challenge but I think it is coming together ok.

The 15mm Achaemenid Persians are finished and I will take some photos tomorrow. They should be up on the web site by mid afternoon.

I have also put another Artizan Cowboy up on Ebay so its been a busy week so far.

I will have to find a new project for next week. I wanted to try some female characters but haven't seen anything that really grips me so far.