A Warband of Young Warriors for the Early Saxons

It seems to me that I started working on these figures for another Early Saxon warband eons ago, progress has seemed so glacial. The figures are from 1st Corps and are sold as Young Warriors. As such they sport almost no armour beyond the occasional helmet and are armed only with spear and shield in the main. They are posed mostly in one of two standing poses, the Command pack figures excepted. All in all they are far from striking figures; not poorly sculpted at all, just bland and disinteresting to my eye. While I'm on a roll, they don't really fit my idea of a 'young' look either, too many beards on show. In their favour though they are cheaper than their Gripping Beast alternatives! Though the latter are much 'younger' looking in my opinion, being clean shaven. Enough of my blathering, judge for yourselves if you would ~

Next to pass under the Brush of Doom are a base of Hearthguard for the Early Saxons. I'm currently waiting on delivery of the buckler transfers from LBMS/Victrix so once they are finished I will be off on a diversion as you've seen, hopefully to rejuvenate an old project and hopefully reinvigorate my flagging mojo for the Arthurian project one at the same time! More on all that in due course...

The Age of Arthur Project ~ Update

This blog post is really as much for me as for my interested followers or any casual visitors. The four birds' eye view photos show where I'm at right now with the Age of Arthur project and gives me an idea of what else I could realistically add, given that four 4L RUBs is at the very limit of current available storage space here in GHQ! So, let's all have a closer look and think about the possible additions, starting with the Arthurians {or more properly the Post-Romans} ~

Their first 4L RUB contains: two units of Medium Infantry PEDYTS, each of three bases; three bases of javelin armed SKIRMISHERS; two bases of skirmishers with SLINGS; one base of Hearthguard and a Command stand to lead them; two Command Stands for the PEDYTS; a Champion; and lastly a fishwife vignette! There's clearly enough room for a further three bases of PEDYTS in this box.

In their second 4L RUB there are: four bases of Commanipulares; a Command Stand for a Cavalry Division; and the Army Command base. I do need to add some ARCHERS to the army, and could still clearly add both infantry and mounted figures in the space available! Some careful thought needed there then.

Turning next to the Early Saxons ~

Their first 4L RUB contains two WARBANDS, each of three bases, three bases of ARCHERS, and two bases of javelin armed SKIRMISHERS - I need to add a Command pack from Foundry to complete both these and a Command Stand for the Division. Beyond that there is obviously room for a further WARBAND of three bases.

Their  second 4L RUB so far holds: one WARBAND of three bases - with a second WARBAND of Young Warriors currently passing under the Brush of Doom; the Army Command; Commands for two Warbands; a Command stand to lead the Hearthguard; a Blind Seer vignette; and a Bard! The figures from Gripping Beast for the base of Hearthguard are next in the Painting Queue once I finish the final base for the Young Warriors. There is clearly space for additional WARBAND bases at some point in their second RUB.

I shall have to see where the spirit takes me in the coming weeks and months. Finding sources for figures from different companies strikes me as somewhat easier for the Post-Romans than for the Early Saxons from my initial web browsing. For the former I could use Footsore, Crusader/Artizan {from North Star} and Gripping Beast alongside 1st Corps. For the Early Saxons figures from Footsore and New Line Designs would add in different figures for variety there. More on all of this as and when, subject to the state of my mojo as usual...

Arthurian Pedyts

Back refreshed from a bracing but surprisingly dry break in the South Lakes area I've pressed on with more figures for the Age of Arthur project. First to pass under the Brush of Doom and muster into GHQ are two bases of Arthurian Pedyts. The figures are from 1st Corps supplemented by two officers, one from Wargames Foundry and the other from Gripping Beast - a spare Wolftails Warrior figure. The shield transfers are from my LBMS remainder packet, fitting some shields more convincingly than others it has to be said, and the bases from Warbases as usual. There remain six figures will populate the unit's command element, and are well underway as you read this, but have a look at these anyway ~

When I decided on a whim to build two small armies for the Age of Arthur I had in mind that rather than usual figures from the Wargames Foundry ranges I would try to utilise other manufacturers' products. So far I've ordered figures from 1st Corps and Gripping Beast as you've seen already. Remaining in the Lead Pimple for this project are three bases of Saxon warriors - 24 figures in all -and six mounted Arthurian heavy cavalry, so its time to consider what I might order next for the project, and who from of course! I'm considering either Crusader/Artizan Miniatures from North Star or Footsore for my next tranche, if value for money was the sole consideration it would most likely be those from North Star, but then I do like the figures from Footsore... more thought needed I believe, not to mention counting the coin deposited in the warchest, before any decision is reached.

Arthurian Command

The last of the smaller groups  for the present, being three figures to represent an Arthurian Sub-General and his Companions. The figures are from 1st Corps and the shield transfers are more LBMS left overs. At a push the base might also represent the Arthurian Army Command on foot. The separate hand & weapon combo has proved resistant to UHU, Superglue and both combined, so I wonder how they will fare in action on the tabletop battlefield here in GHQ? Time will tell on that.  In the meantime, here they are awaiting your comments ~

There will be an hiatus now in painting sessions as I'm away from the home base, staying for a few days in the South Lakes area for Sue's birthday. On our return it should be on with an Arthurian infantry unit, once again using up some left over shield transfers from LBMS as I've enough odds and ends to service all their shields.

Early Saxon Characters

I am confident that I don't really need to say this, but I detest the modern trend started by Wargames Foundry of putting figures into blisters for sale. I look back nostalgically to The Lost Golden Age of buying figures individually to suit the look of units in MY armies. This is pertinent to my most recent efforts with the Brush of Doom in that I wanted specific figures for my Early Saxon  Sub-General bases from Gripping Beast but of course they are either sold in blisters of Characters or at inflated prices in Saga packaging. The result is that I'm left with these figures: a blind Seer and a rather over enthusiastic minstrel/bard! Neither of which I have much use for in Hail Caesar games,  but there you go have figures, will paint! My maxim of waste not, want not gets me again! Anyway, blathering on done with, here they be ~

The Blind Seer and guiding boy are just right for Dark Age/Fantasy games I'd say, so may get out in The Saga of Bicca Biccasson, if I can persuade anyone to give it a go that is. The other figure, well, it's a nice table filler, I'll give it that. Moving on, next up enduring their rite of passage under said brush are three 1st Corps figures suitable to populating a Sub-General base for my Arthurians. After those are completed I plan to move on to an Arthurian infantry unit which I'd hope to complete by the coming of Spring...at last!

Goth Champion

Just as I'd finished with my Dark Age Welsh for the 1066 & All That collection and my additions of three bands of Gothalikes to my Late Roman collections were fading into distant, hazy memory I received yet another unexpected and kind gift from Aly in the post. It was the free figure accompanying the Once & Future King supplement for Hail Caesar from Warlord Games. He's obviously a post-Roman Briton by dress and is labelled as Agravain, a knight of Arthur's fabled Round Table! Right up my street to be repurposed as a Gothalike champion then! While waiting for the paint/varnish/glue to harden on the last of the Welsh warriors I sploshed colours on him as and when I could and, almost magically, he was finished ~

He won't see any action here in GHQ as it is currently fulfilling the role of a storeroom for kitchen bits old and new while the second stage of refurbishment is completed by Geoff and his team from Bonds of Brewood - a highly recommended company if you are in my area. Meanwhile, more ACW figures are passing under the brush as and when the opportunity arises. More on them in due courseI am able to update you.

Maredudd ab Owain

Just a brief entry to show you my rendering of Footsore's Maredudd ab Owain, a Welsh king of the C10th, who is posed on a bit of Welsh slate for appearance's sake. He will stand as a command figure alternative in Hail Caesar games or as a champion in any Mudgard games in which we might use the Welsh. On the death of his father Owain in AD 988 he became king of Dyfed, Ceredigion, Brycheiniog, Gwynedd and Powys. He most probably died in AD 999. Not a great deal more to say about him really ~

Next up are three figures for the command stand which I'd hope to have finished to share with you soonish. When those are completed there will be two bases of armoured Poor Welsh Warriors with a mixture of spears, swords and hand axes to process. I still hope to add some slingers and a bard at least, when those are all done that is.

More Welsh, thankfully not singing though!

I've been plodding on as and when I've felt like it painting my Footsore Welsh to add to the 1066 & All That project. This offering consists of Poor Welsh Warriors with spears,  two bases of eight figures, seven being unarmoured and armed with spears with an extra figure added for command; one the Welsh Commander [an eye watering  £5.00!] with the other from the armoured warriors pack. It appears that little or nothing is known about shield designs so I opted for plain shields in the main. One base has shields in the red range, the second in the green. See what you think anyway ~

Now I have got through 22 of the figures I think I can reflect on a couple of points if you'll bear with me. Firstly using my limited range of drab and dull colours has been a challenge, rather as I remember painting ragged Confederates for my ACW project was. Secondly, without LBMS shield transfers there is little to detract the eye from my modest painting efforts, prettifying the bases excepted ~

Next up are some figures for a Command stand and then possibly my favourite figure from the range, a warrior with coracle! What could be more Welsh? I may even add a few figures to the project once I've finished those in the queue, especially a pack of slingers and a bard! Afterall, they must surely have at least one singing Taffy amongst their ranks!

Welsh, but no Druids!

I had a short intermission between finishing the 'Gothalikes' for my Late Romans and starting on something different. On the upper reaches of my painting desk awaiting their  moment under the brush were two regiments of Dixon Miniatures, slated to be Pennsylvania infantry, and the Footsore Dark Age Welsh which Matt also sculpted for them. I thought I'd give the latter a go first, so three bases of two skirmishing Poor Welsh Warriors with spears are the result ~

These are nice, delicate figures but as full of movement and vim as the more robust Vikings I finished last month. In all I bought enough figures for two bases of eight Poor Warriors with spears, two bases of armoured Poor Warriors with a mixture of swords, hand axes, Dane axes and spears, a command stand of Chieftain, standard bearer and warrior with a coracle - in case a quick get away is needed! Oh, and a Hero in case these get a Mudgard run out! 

One thing I've already noticed is that my range of drabbish colours could do with being a tad more extensive! I've started on the figures for the first base of Poor Welsh Warriors with spears,  four are ready for varnishing and four more to start after tomorrow's SCW game over at Phil's.

Mounted Viking Raiders

When I was deliberating the extent of my involvement as a backer for Matt Bickley's Footsore Vikings I carefully chose the option which I felt would most readily fit in to my 1066 & All That collection. As I've been painting my way through the figures I've become reassured that I made the correct choice. I did though add two packs of mounted Vikings to my core selection, I confess because my sole base of mounted Saxon Thanes had just been trounced by the Normans! Now, did C11th Vikings fight as mounted Heavy Cavalry? Or did they fight as Light Cavalry, or as mobile Mounted Infantry or just as Raiders?  Can't say honestly that I know, nor will I be spending time trying to find out. I follow Dave Andrews' stock reply, I wasn't there so I can't know! Just humour me on this please, here are the latest  'toys in a game' ~

As usual the base is 3mm MDF from Warbases. The banner is once again a free download from Wargames Foundry, reduced to about 75% if I recall accurately. That's it then for the present. My Kickstarter purchase is all ready now for gaming in their turn. I have a similar number of Matt's Footsore Welsh, but won't be tackling them yet a while. Next up are some Wargames Foundry Saxons/Franks (masquerading as Goths) for my Late Roman collection. At least I've already punched out their shield transfers!!!!! 

Bondi with Bows

Having finished off the basing of the Viking Hirdmen from my Kickstarter I pressed on briskly with the next element for the project, eight Bondi with bows. I have largely chosen muted colours for these, reflecting I hope their lower status in the hierarchy of Viking society. They are based in fours on 60x50mm bases rather than the single 120x60mm base I used for the Hirdmen. In this way they can be fielded as a support base for the Hirdmen, as a distinct unit (by abutting the two bases), or as skirmishing infantry using the two bases spread out (or even mixed with the other skirmish bases). The bases are from Warbases as usual treated in my usual manner to harmonise with the 1066 & All That collection. Anyway, no more waffle, here they are ~

All that remains now are four mounted Viking Hirdmen and I will have completed painting the figures from my Kickstarter Vikings purchase. More on those, and the project in general, in due course I would hope. Speaking of which, those elements completed to date ~

Meanwhile my thoughts turn to two scheduled games here in GHQ before the end of the month and WMMS (on 30th March at Aldersley Leisure Village, Wolverhampton 10.00-4.00pm).

Viking Hirdmen

Just before we left for our truncated week's break in the South Lakes area I completed the painting of the next base of figures in this mini project. These are a pack of eight Hirdmen in mail armour from Matt's Footsore Vikings, supplemented by two figures from the 'Bondi with spears' pack in rather more staid poses than their brethren I featured in the last Viking post. The shield transfers are from LBMS of course and the base from Warbases as ever. Their banner is a free download from Wargames Foundry, reduced by 50%. Not much more I can say about them, so here they are ~

Next up in this sequence will be figures from a pack of 'Bondi with bows'. When I have completed them it will leave just four mounted figures from my Kickstarter purchase and this mini project for the 1066 & All That collection will be completed. The Viking contingent will then comprise two bases of Hirdmen, two of Bondi with bows, one of mounted Hirdmen, two bases of Bondi skirmishers, one of Berserkers and two Command stands. Here's a sneak preview of the project's progress so far ~

From the Saga of Bicca Biccasson mini project I could add a Shaman, a number of Heroes and various Monstrosities to play games in the Midgard genre if we wanted some light gaming.

More Vikings!

The second group of Matt's Footsore Vikings to endure their time under my brush have made it across the painting desk and are ready to add to the 1066 & All That collection. They come from the 'Bondi with spears' pack, being chosen from the more active poses on the whole. This has lead to me mounting them on skirmishing bases for our games, although they can be added on the flanks of the main warrior block to make a larger unit, as indeed can the base of berserkers I featured in the previous post.

The LBMS shield transfers almost fit the shields if you don't look too closely. Punching out the holes is a definite pain in the nether reasons though! The bases are Warbases 3mm MDF ones, Phil converted me to them over the 2mm ones I was using. The brass spears are from Pendraken, again though drilling out the hands to accommodate them was not fun. 

Next in the painting queue are a base of 10 Hirdmen in mail. They look like a mean and nasty set of chaps if you were facing them. So far I've painted the five in the front rank - those looking most suitable to portray shield wall types - and have another three started from the rear rank with the remaining two on their MDF hexes ready to go. 

Sue and I are off for a short break now, so no painting or gaming lined up obviously. No game report from today's meeting with Phil either as we were giving the rules I've been working on for the Saga of Bicca Biccasson project a run through or two. More on those in due course too.