Sunday 23 November 2014

WIP Athenians and Test

So as my laptop is now dead I'll have to try and get the hang of the iPad blogger AP, wish me luck as my first attempts were a nightmare. I'm not sure how to set a page yet so here goes.



I've had a break from my naps recently to concentrate on a project that I've always fancied doing, ancients!

A few years back a wargaming buddy Von Hannah (and strangely now also a work buddy in passing) asked me if I wanted to buy a number of xyston Greeks and enemies that he no longer wanted. In the stash was a huge amount of Greeks of all types, enough to make pretty big armies as well as thracians, little big man transfers and spears etc (and a number of Indians that I now regret flogging). In all a cracking haul. I almost bit his hand off as I had always liked the xyston figures even though I had no knowledge of ancients other than the odd drive by at shows.

I picked up the reference info I needed and saved the odd site with a lot of help from friends, however with the little time I have had I ended up boxing the troops up and stashing them away in the loft. Every 4 or 5 months I would get them out, dream a little them pop them away again. However for some reason around 10th October I got them out, did the reading and cleaned up a full DBA army and with the help of buddies Robert and JP I somehow managed to get them on the go. I have enjoyed every minute of doing them (and the LBM decals once I got the first 2 or 3 mistakes out the way). I still have to put the finishing touches to the Athenians then varnish and grass them however I'm pretty pleased with them for a 1st effort on ancients.



Pardon the pics as I've not really been using the iPad camera yet.



Just for fun these are a couple of dwarf kings I almost finished when young David was still young and playing LotR. I may just finish them and some of their brethren off at some point as they were fun to do!



I finished this zombie hunter off a couple of days ago. With the walking dead back on the telly I've started cleaning up zombies and survivors again. I'll do the odd one now and again to give me a break from naps. Is base is still to be finished.



And a couple of Von Lutzow's chaps just to show I still love my naps. Since doing the Greeks I'm feeling all warm towards my AB's again. I will continue with these guys again soon. The unit is half way done already.

Ok I'll post this up and see how it looks. Some little give always to come in the near future and hopefully some regular posts!

Also if you have the time could guys could you possibly leave a comment on how the blog shows up on your groupware and if your an iPad user and have any tips for a newbie they would be most welcome!

Happy wargaming!!!

28 comments:

Phil C said...

Awesome! painting Paul, I think you did a fantastic job on the Xyston Athenian Hoplite Army.... love the historical shields/colors you used which is good to see... All the best

cheers,

Paulalba said...

Thanks Phil, I'll work on the pics, a wee bit rough at the moment and a wee bit low res. good inspiration for DBA armies over on your blog!!!

Regards
Paul

GaryA said...

Excellent work all round!

Being blessed with an attention span you can measure in nano seconds, I find it best to swap around when I'm painting stuff - maybe too frequently. However, it staves off boredom.

Paulalba said...

Thanks Gary,
Yes I couldn't agree more! Changing from Napoleonic army to army used to work but I think I need to broaden my horizon!

Paulalba said...

Lol I missed the greek cavalry out of my pic!

John VonBlucher said...

Great looking figures!! Never painted ancients but I've painted multiple Medieval army's in15 and 25 mm.

Sun of York said...

Good luck with the technology. I've recently replaced my laptop, went form Vista to Windows 8 and it hasn't been pleasant.

Those Greeks look fantastic, but the AB Prussians... NICE!

Christopher(aka Axebreaker) said...

Xyston figures are great and you have done a very fine job on them! I suspect with the release of DBA 3.0 we will see more and more DBA armies popping up.

Christopher

Phil said...

These Athenians are gorgeous, amazing paint job Paul!

Ken said...

Interesting break from the Naps!

Cheers

Ken

Steve h said...

look great Paul! but you need to d them Greeks in 28m sir ;)

Sgt Steiner said...

Superb Hoplites and really like Von Lutzows boys

Stryker said...

Paul - I find that its always a good idea to have the occasional break with a different period before returning to the one true period with even more enthusiasm!

Jonathan Freitag said...

Fantastic job on the Greek Hoplites! The Xyston figures are nice and your brushwork takes advantage of that.

Paulalba said...

Thanks Jonathan, glad you like them. Lovely figures the xyston line.

Paulalba said...

Very true Ian, very true!

Craig said...

Nice work Paul, and even nicer to see you back online!

Gonsalvo said...

The Hoplites look great, and I'd say your photos ta=ken with the I-pad are outstanding!

Paulalba said...

Thanks john, it makes a nice change a different scale and period.

Paulalba said...

Thanks SoY, if I get the iPad blog thing going smooth then I think my laptop days are numbered. The blog was the only thing I used it for any more.

Paulalba said...

Hi Christopher, yeah I really like xyston figures, glad you like them! I picked up the DBA 3.0. I'm just waiting for a friend to go for it to as most play 2.0. We will see. I have pleasant memories of playing JP with samurai at DBA. No idea why it took me this long to start my ancients?

Paulalba said...

Thanks Phil, I had a feeling you'd enjoy the change of period as you guys game everything!

Paulalba said...

Thanks Ken, good fun too!

Paulalba said...

Cheers Steve, if only I had the space! I recon collecting the zombies in 28mm is fine as they are just a schirmish.

Some lovely Greeks in 28mm though, been using them as inspiration.

Paulalba said...

Thanks Sgt. S. The von Lutzov have been much funness!!!

Paulalba said...

Thanks Craig, it's been far to long!!! We will see if the iPad gets me updating more!

Rulane10@gmail.com said...

Great to have you back. VL's looking good!

Stig of the Dump said...

Nice work on those Hoplites. Lovely shields.