Well it's taken a while but my paint brush has finally started work on some figures for Vikings - well really a Dark age period gaming in general. The first lot are not PP mini's - but I have some of those in the pile to do.They are based in the typical ancients style - so they will be good for DBA, Art de la Guerre etc. But they will work for many other sets like Vikings and Hail Ceasar..
At the moment I am thinking of using 2 physical bases - one behind the other, to be a single Vikings base. That would make them 40mm wide and either 30 or 40 mm deep - a bit bigger than the one stated in the rules but I think it will work. I want the effect of a decent sized forces and that basing should give me a decent number of figs on the table.
I have started with 30 standard 'heavy spear bases' - so 120 figs. I'm not the best painter but I try. Here are the lot of them so far:
(https://mellis1644.files.wordpress.com/2019/07/img_1825.jpg?w=640)
I have various buildings, ships and other things to do as well... You can see more pictures and comments here: https://mellis1644.wordpress.com/2019/08/19/dark-ages-heavy-foot-spearman/
That looks good. A hostile looking bunch.
both shieldwally and threatening - excellent!
Got the Saxon Leader bases now done (not the general though) - these will be elite heavy foot in other games. :)
(https://mellis1644.files.wordpress.com/2019/07/img_1804.jpg?w=640)
I'm kind of ignoring the standard/recommended basing for Vikings and going to use the 40mm wide as a standard with loads of figs. I hope it will look good at the end of the day. See here for more pictures: https://mellis1644.wordpress.com/2019/08/26/dark-age-elite-heavy-foot/
Well it is a battle game, not a skirmish.
Done some more of these. This should easily cover my armored troops and there are some berserker bases to boot. :)
(https://mellis1644.files.wordpress.com/2019/07/img_1895.jpg)
The full post is here: https://mellis1644.wordpress.com/2019/08/31/dark-age-heavy-foot-swordsman/ (https://mellis1644.wordpress.com/2019/08/31/dark-age-heavy-foot-swordsman/)
Let us know how they fight in the first game. With identifiable leader bases they can often develop a "character". Of course I make sure that unit has plenty of armoured bases along with matching it with weaker opponent units. Perpetuates the wonder.
I do enjoy the longships game a lot, albeit that is of course very biased :)
I'm onto the 'medium foot' for this project now, which will be the Unarmoured troops in Longship's games. I have 34 DBA style bases (40 x 20 mm bases) done so far - don't worry there are more to come.
(https://mellis1644.files.wordpress.com/2019/07/img_2092.jpg)
I may be going a little over the top for this but we'll see. Not sure if I will use 1 or 2 bases for a single Longships base. Here is a picture of all apart from the 'berseker bases' which were in the front of the above shot.
(https://mellis1644.files.wordpress.com/2019/07/img_2059.jpg)
I am happy how these have come out. I think there are a few PP figs in the mix but it's hard to say really as I have a load of different figs for this game...I have enjoyed painting them though even though I'm far from the best painter in the world.
(https://mellis1644.files.wordpress.com/2019/07/img_2063.jpg)
More pictures on my bog https://mellis1644.wordpress.com/2019/11/02/dark-ages-medium-foot-swordsman/ (https://mellis1644.wordpress.com/2019/11/02/dark-ages-medium-foot-swordsman/).
They look to be able to do the business to me.
Mellis,
Thanks for the offer of pictures on your bog. Whilst tempting, I'll stick with visiting your blog :)
:-\ oh dear.
Well I slowly continue to paint up bases for this project. I have my first set of loot bases done - sheep and slaves for the raiders. I know there are some PP figs in this mix but not sure which ones.
(https://mellis1644.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/img_3376.jpg)
These are not PP ones though:
(https://mellis1644.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/img_3374.jpg)
You can see more photo's here: https://mellis1644.wordpress.com/2020/04/14/dark-ages-baggage-and-spoils-of-war/
Mellis
Very nice.... another set of rules i may have to look at... seems to be played quite a bit & everyone seem sto be having a lot of fun. Thanks for the pictures.... the livestock look quite fun to paint.
Bob
They all look rather splendid. Been thinking about Vikings for a couple of hours. Might be because The Longships has just been on BBC2. Quite an amusing film, once you get past the Vikings who don't wear trousers, wobbly swords, Richard Widmark escaping from a Moorish prison by jumping in the sea then washing up in a Scandinavian fjord. Plus Leonard Rossiter as a beastly Persian soldier whipping the Viking prisoners..
Quote from: Radar on April 14, 2020, 05:31:57 PM
They all look rather splendid. Been thinking about Vikings for a couple of hours. Might be because The Longships has just been on BBC2. Quite an amusing film, once you get past the Vikings who don't wear trousers, wobbly swords, Richard Widmark escaping from a Moorish prison by jumping in the sea then washing up in a Scandinavian fjord. Plus Leonard Rossiter as a beastly Persian soldier whipping the Viking prisoners..
The rules are just as fun as the film, if slightly more historically accurate :)
Simon
Added my second post of loot and stuff bases. These definitely have the PP figs - I'm still not sure what the guy with the box of heads is going to do with it but heck. Ransoming the saints heads I guess. :)
(https://mellis1644.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/img_3385.jpg)
More pics here: https://mellis1644.wordpress.com/2020/04/23/dark-ages-baggage-and-spoils-of-war-2/ I may been to try a solo game of Longships soon.
I keep painting for this - at some point I'll get to play the game. :)
I still have more figs on the painting table but here are a few more bases.
(https://mellis1644.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/img_2702.jpeg?w=1280)
I even have some berserkers ready for the fight:
(https://mellis1644.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/img_2686.jpeg?w=1280)
More pic's here: https://mellis1644.wordpress.com/2020/05/18/dark-age-viking-or-heavy-foot-swordsmen/
Your photos are making me want to jump back into this once I get established in my new home. MAD Vikings is also motivating me in that direction.
What technique are you using to make chainmail look like that?
Quote from: Matías on June 26, 2020, 12:29:34 AM
What technique are you using to make chainmail look like that?
Sorry for the late reply.
I do a black undercoat, then block paint with a dull metal colour - I tend to use an art paint metallic for that. Then a black wash (I use GW ones) and finally on the raised bits especially for the rich I'll do a light silver drybrush. Less is more on that last stage though
More pic's of commander/hero bases and a good selection of I think Piggie dead this week
(https://mellis1644.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/img_4487.jpg)
(https://mellis1644.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/img_2665.jpeg?w=1280)
I should have a very big set of toys when this project is done :)
More pic's here: https://mellis1644.wordpress.com/2020/07/28/dark-age-viking-or-saxon-command/
So, I am slowly continuing my build up of forces. So I started some mounted figs for a change. I'm sure I'll find a use for them in some manner.
(https://mellis1644.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/img_4473.jpg)
Here is a close up shot of the first rank:
(https://mellis1644.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/img_4476.jpg)
More pic's and details on my blog: https://mellis1644.wordpress.com/2020/10/04/dark-age-mounted-saxons-vikings/ At some point I'll get to actually play a game I hope...:)
Wow...
It is a very beautiful army...
Really nice painting.
Superb work !
Cheers
Xavier
Those mounted troops have come out particularly well. The chainmail effect really "pops". Thanks for sharing!
Simon
I have done my final post of my Dark Ages stuff. I still have several longships to paint in the lead pile but the main armies and support are done.
So the looters need to hit the table soon.
(https://mellis1644.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/img_4411.jpg)
Time to read the rules again I think...
Nice work - and the basing looks suitably boggy.
I look forward to seeing the longships!
Simon
If you double the army size you will be able to join in with CaK play testing.
Very nice and just in time for C&K.
Derek
Mellis----Nice job. They look fearsome and great. I particularly like your mounted troops.
Quote from: Leslie BT on October 11, 2021, 05:12:55 PM
If you double the army size you will be able to join in with CaK play testing.
I have loads of figs so more than enough for CaK. I think I mentioned that I would be more than willing to help with CaK play testing :)
Agreed. A firm favourite at the Stoke club and it often gets an outing at the weekender.
On my rather lengthy to do list is an all mounted Carolingian army using Frank's Lancashire games, and getting some wolfhounds so I can use my figures as Irish.
Those figures are making me want to jump back in to the Viking project. It stalled badly with my move to the continent. I rather like the idea of one base behind another, it solves the necessity of half bases very neatly. As I am going to have to rebase my Square Bashing units I may well look at 8x30mmx20mm, with casualty figures on the same size base. A neat solution that will still give a nice looking unit.
I put the work so far in the eye candy section... Just 500 or so bases of figs done so far. :)
You can see it here: https://rulesforcommonman.uk/index.php?topic=4234.0