BP Challenge WIP1

So the Black Powder Challenge has started over on YouTube and I've made a slow but steady start however I'm away for around 2 weeks in total so will fall behind with my goals. The challenge is over almost 3 months so I should have time to catch up?

 This is the 1st batch I'm working on, a wee commands for Russian and Prussia.

2 Russian command bases, 1 figure and all horses from AB and 3 Sho Boki Russian command figures. I've made a few small errors on the uniforms so please don't use them as a reference.

Lovely face sculpted by Sho Boki from his generals set.

A start on crazy Platen's trumpeter

And crazy Platen with his base coats done.

And the poor Polish uhlan smashed over the head.

That's me for the moment, happy wargaming!

BP Challenge Prep

Been missing for a while tinkering with Uboats and tanks however for the next 3 months I'll be taking part in another YouTube challenge. A few of the guys will be putting together a Black Powder Painting Challenge to try and get a few things ticked off before the end of the year.

I'm sure my figures will be used for Black Powder at some point so I think it's fine for them to be added into the challenge.

I'll be hoping to get my East Prussian National Kavalry finished as they have sat around for far to long since I converted them, 24 to do. Winters on its way as my black undercoat didn't cover the metal so well?

Also a few Russian command bases using Sho Boki's range with the odd AB thrown in. I added a little green stuff in areas to the ADC's to give them a little more body.

And another command base to be finished off although Prussian this time.

This one is crazy Platen's trumpeter bashing a polish uhlan over the head at the battle of Mockern 1813.

That's all from me at the moment, hope everyone is getting into their painting and enjoying the rugby World Cup!

Gunners Painting Service

A big shout out to Dan over at Gunners Wargaming Blog (possibly a big arsenal fan or he has been in the artillery?).

If you have seen Dan's excellent painting and conversions then you will be pleased to hear that Dan has started his own painting service and to kick off his new venture is very kindly offering a bit of free painting on selected items. You can enter over on Dan's blog here (or maybe not enter giving myself a better chance of winning as I could do with the help getting my own troops painted!!!):

http://gunnerswargamming.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/gunners-painting-services-give-away-comp.html?m=1

You can also check out Dan's price list over on his blog here:

http://gunnerswargamming.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/now-taking-commissions-gunners-painting.html

Have a nice weekend and happy wargaming!

Awe ra best

Paul

Give away entry closed

Just a wee note to say that entry into my Christmas give away has now ended and I'll post the winners over the next few week. Thanks to everyone who entered or posted a comment of support.

Best of luck to all who entered!!!

Awe ra best

Paul

New Year Give Away

Back on the iPad tonight and I've looked out some stuff that I'll probably never paint in my life time.

All received with the best intensions in mind so I'm hoping some of you guys may like 1 or 2 of the items?

Not a huge haul of goodies, however if you want the chance to win an item or 2 just leave a comment on this post with your preferred items (I'll make it a limit of 5) before midnight on 10th December 2014 and the winners will be posted before Christmas 2014 (I've changed the entry cutoff date so I can get in another post or 2 before the end of the year, I didn't think that 1 through with it being my first give away). You don't have to be a follower of my blog and it doesn't matter where you are in the world. My good lady Mylene will choose the winners from a hat on the 2nd of January 2015 and I'll post the winner of each item up on my blog in the days following and I'll get in contact with you somehow then post your item/s out in the 1st couple of weeks in January, that should give the Post office time to recover from the festive madness!

Also If you feel like posting a link about my comp on your blog that would be cool however it's not required to get an entry (and will probably slim down your own chances at the same time ;0) 

No.1 is a group of robots or alien type troops in 28mm. They have received a white undercoat but not heavily and nothing that can't be removed easily. Perfect for a sci fi skirmish game, very nice figures.

No.2 are a couple of 28mm perry samurai, 1 will need a bath in simple green. Lovely figures and I finished a couple for a friend but really not my scale.

No.3 is a 28mm roman chap, he was a give away for the 1st couple of hundred arrivals to a scottish Wargames show either Kirriemuir or Claymore if I remember? A cracking figure however the David's already have 2 in their Roman army so this guy is surplus to requirement.

No.4 is an 80mm French guardsman, ahh those dreams of painting large napoleonic figures to pop in a display cabinet!

No.5 is another 28mm show give away figure this time of the Marques of Montrose I believe? I really like this figure however I have no use for him.

No.6 is a 54mm figure of Krasinski of the guard lancers, this is a lovely figure but I just don't think I'll ever paint him. 

No.7 is another give away from a show, possible Gordon of Khartoum? Might make a good pulp character? If you know who he is let me know!

No.8 Another 3 chaps with no reall place in my collection yet still very nice figures. I believe 2 are show give always from up here in Scotland and the middle chap may have been a free figure when I bought foundry paints? So 2 highlanders from different time frames and another chap all in 28mm, maybe someone will want them?

And last up No. 9 something for 15mm/18mm folks!!!! A wee load of blue moon Prussian Landwehr, these are nice little figures and are a good size comparison to AB and Old Glory however I have enough unpainted figures of both AB and OG to do me so if someone wants them then stick your name in the hat.

Ok guys, I hope some of you out there are looking for some free stuff!!!!!

Best of luck

Cheers Paul

And happy wargaming!!!

Saxon WIP 7

So my pics are mince, sorry for that as I'm actually very happy with these guys. I have been jumping about (thankfully within the same nation, however still destructive for a good flow of painting) from line to lights and then to artillery. I have managed to screw the nut and get all of my Von Low battalion base painted, AP'd and have done almost half to completion.
   

I managed to forget the gold band on the officers shakos so I'll have catch that later. I used regal blue for my facing colour and I feel it works a treat, not to dark after the army painter and not to light either.
   

The mounted officer is slightly converted so he looks different from from my last battalion officer. I repositioned his arm and took off his head and repositioned him looking forward. I have no idea if the saddle covers should have royal logo's but I just gave them a few light swirls for fun.
 

The regular infantry guys look sweet and as well as the AP are shaded with all 3 Foundry whites (were they needed, I don't really know? maybe just 2 would have done fine?).
   

despite his glossy appearance this little guy is a dream for me (compared to the last 1 I did!) as I feel the head swap came out fine (he used to be a french grenadier sapper with beard). I struggled a bit with the apron but it looks not to bad. I now have him all highlighted and matt.
 
The Saxon sappers/pioneers are a little bit of pain for me as when I think of any S/P's I think grenadier and red cords and the only pic I've seen of 1 had red cords (however he was from the artillery so that didn't really help). With the Saxons having completely independent grenadier battalions I think of their S/P having red cords but the line guy I have decided to go with the white cords and NCO coloured pompom (and my light infantry S/P will have dark green). I you know any different please feel free to correct me!!!

Saxon WIP 6

I've had a Saxon command stand in the back of my mind for months, thinking what figures I would use for them. I finally settled on 2 as mentioned in my last post and I just wanted to show you how they developed into a Saxon General and ADC.
  

 The figure on the left is an AB Austrian command figure. He fits the bill because he has the short boots shown on the pics of Saxon General plus he is pretty much a blank canvas as he has no epaulettes or turn-backs and there is very litte saddle detail.
  

I started by adding the saddle detail to the General as well as reshaping its rear. I gave him epaulettes and repositioned his hat to the later style (this was pinned into place). I then turned it into a French pattern bicorne while adding the Saxon style of national cockade and pin. The ADC was given an aiguillette made of wire and the ADC armband on the right side and rear.
    

Here they are mounted up, baset coated and painted with Army Painter dark tone. I'm finding the Army Painter is helping me get my figures painted quicker however after the AP is applied I still do a fair bit of fine detailing. I believe I do just as much painting as before when I worked from dark to light from a black undercoat.
     

Forgot to mention I also added some appropriate lace to the Generals chest plus turn-backs and an iron cross to the ADC. I'll post pics when they are totally finished.

Saxons WIP 5

Just a couple of pics to show I have actually started my next Saxon battalion. I didn't feel much like painting tonight however I plugged on and got my 1st wee man for the battalion AP'd just to make sure they would look fine. I let him dry for a short while and started messing around with the second coat (just to test the water). Thumbs up!!!

   

1st battalion Von Low (blue facings with white metal buttons) all cleaned up and ready to be painted. Loads of conflicting info on uniforms (even my flag sheets have conflicting names). I'm going with what the 28mm guys say.

  

A crap pic (someone with jam fingers was using the camera at Christmas and I have been struggling to clean it). Anyway just like my last battalion I did a test figure and he looks pretty good. Once totally dry he will be pretty much repainted, I went with a darker flesh undercoat (that looks not too bad), I'll highlight with the lighter shade so with the AP it will look like 3 shades.
 
The Master Plan: Robert over at "La Bricole Forum" set the rules on the painting comp (bog standard troops from any Nation). I consider the Saxons to be a cut above (ahmm) however they fit the bill. I have set myself the challenge of painting 3 line battalions (yes 3) and 1 light battalion as well as a foot artillery battery and command base, oh and some jagers before close of play 31th March. Will I be able to do it? Not a chance in the hot burny place!!! However I will try to do as much as I can as after all its a great excuse to get stuck into that unpainted lead pile.
  

Started converting my Saxon command tonight as I couldn't be bothered painting and just wanted to chill watching a fikm. The General was an Austrian with reshaped saddle and bicorne repositioned, fine detail still to be added. The ADC was French with the roll around his chest removed and saddle reshaped and again the fine detail to be added. I have planned to keep all my nations brigade command to 2 figures but I was tempted to make this a 3 man and put in a white uniformed mounted officer to differenciate the Saxons from my fuure French. I decided with the 2 as the red breeches of the general should sort that out.
   

Been on shift since 31st December 2011 and finished today 2nd at 3pm. Again I didn't much fancy sitting down to paint so after a wee sleep I did some more work on converting my Austrian and French command into Saxons following pics I have found online. With a bit of luck I will be finished them tomorrow and they will be ready to paint. Sorry about the pics being a little rough.

Competition Time (1)

I would like to wish everyone a very

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

   

Thanks to everyone who has visited my blog for a wee look or to leave a comment and to everyone I have exchanged emails with. It has been a fun year even if I didn't get very many figures painted and I will work towards changing that ASAP!!!

   

  Now to a little bit of Business, Curt over at Analogue Hobbies has started another competition. Even though I have no thoughts that I can paint enough figures to win it is great fun taking part and inspiration to get the brushes out. The comp started 20th December (my 1st efforts of 2 walls and a hallway in my house were not scored!!!).

 

And a second competition has also begun!!! Robert over at La Bricole has started a Naps comp (bog standard troops). Again I don't for a minute believe I have a chance of winning but it is great to be taking part alongside so many top painters and I'm excited to see all the troops coming together.

   

These are the troops I hope to paint for both competitions, roughly a Saxon brigade in total. As you can see I have all my gear looked out for them. I won't be sticking rigidly to any 1812 or 1813 order of battle (sorry to any purists reading). 

   

If I get half this lot finished I will be happy so wish me luck!!!