What are you working on....?

[Radar]

Those musketeer conversions are top. Well done.

Out of interest what are the buildings in the background of the second picture?

[Westie]

Thanks, guys. Unfortunately, I wish I had the skill to re-do the heads but actually it was only the hats. I shaved down the caps/hats in small increments with a craft knife then added a small blob of Milliput which I flattened into a bonnet shape using a cocktail stick and the point of the craft knife for tools. It took me a couple of attempts with one of the figures. When the Milliput was set, I then used an emery board 'borrowed' from Mrs Westie to smooth off the results (I think I went too far with one of them). They seem to blend in quite well so, all in all, quite happy with the results myself.

The buildings are from my SYW 10mm collection (my 15mm buildings are ACW period) and are manufactured by Battlescale and Total Battle Miniatures. Battlescale don't do 15mm but Total Battle Minis do WW2 'Skirmish,' Black Powder 'Big Battalions' and Fortifications and some scenics in 15mm. Here is the link:-

http://www.totalbattleminiatures.com

[Radar]

Really struggling to paint at the moment. Clearly lost my mojo. Just finished 18 riderless dragoon nags, awful experience. Didn't enjoy it. It really was going through the motions. The dragoons themselves have been undercoated and their jackets blocked in. They might stay in that condition for a while.

Strange , visited Les Invalides a couple of weeks ago, came out inspired and knocked out a couple of Confederation of the Rhine battalions. Enthusiasm quickly ebbed. Maybe Napoleonics suck the life out of me? Or is it the prospect of about 1500 assorted Napoleonic figures waiting to be painted?

ECW project coming to a bit of an end could be the problem too. Although I have reorganised storage and have space for another 6 regiments of foot and 12 regiments of horse. (But can I face death by brown paint again?)

Salute is on the horizon, looking forward to going, but the shopping list is empty.

[Colonel Kilgore]

Salute is on the horizon, looking forward to going, but the shopping list is empty.

So, you might want to look at Pirates? You can play the new ship game at Salute and buy a bunch of land game figures (like ECW, but simpler to paint) to take home with you

[Leman (Andy)]

Three things on the go at the moment, all 15mm: two versions of a Leonardo tank, one pedal power, like his drawing, the other wind powered like a vast landship, and two heavyish Renaissance cannon and crews (same type of gun so I've counted them as one).

Just thinking, I bought the Landship at Northern Militaire, or Phalanx, in the early 90s and it's been sat in its box waiting for the right moment.

[Fat Wally]

Painting up regimental command stands for my ACW collection to change the ID of units.

Preparing to work on POE sea actions by sorting out flags for ships, but will be painting the ships when they arrive (later today).

[Noggin]

Currently working on some ECW

Lots of basing to do as well but that takes a real effort as I love the results but hate the process

[Colonel Kilgore]

basing.... ...but that takes a real effort as I love the results but hate the process

I am totally with you on that one, Noggin!

[Radar]

basing.... ...but that takes a real effort as I love the results but hate the process

I am totally with you on that one, Noggin!

I find putting the texture and base colours on a real chore. Greenery is different - my favourite bit of the process, makes everything come alive. Particularly ECW cavalry which are just exercises in variations in the use of brown paint until they are based.

[Leman (Andy)]

I am rebasing at the moment, most especially two more Peter Pig Renaissance guns and the Renaissance ox drawn wagon, originally painted up a couple of decades ago. I actually really enjoy the basing process. It takes a couple of days owing to the wait for various stages to dry, but the results are really worthwhile. Just completed several command groups for the same period, French and Italian, but off on holiday tomorrow so no more posts for a week.

[Colonel Kilgore]

When you're back, maybe you could share some basing secrets, Leman? Perhaps even for inclusion in The Mill?

Meanwhile, have a great time away!

[Leman (Andy)]

Thanks. Walking up in Hadrian's Wall country. Think there is some stuff on basing in an article I've done for The Mill 2, but would certainly be willing to go into more depth in the future.

[martin goddard]

have a nice holiday Andy. Do take some piggy dice. You never know what opportunities may arise.

[Radar]

Hadrian's Wall - never been there. Quite jealous.

No pre-Salute challenge this year, but I have started painting the figures from the spares box who will be joined by my Salute swag  (thereby creating a couple of companies of firelocks and lots of Covenanter units).

It's quite strange painting up a mix of figures from different units. English musketeers and command, Scots lowland pike and command, Scots lancers and harquebusiers. Normally it's paint an entire unit in one batch. So this is quite a novel experience.

[Leman (Andy)]

I am back, after some interesting sights, and sites, up in Wall country.



Great Chesters Fort and the Whin Sill.



Vindolanda Wall reconstruction. It had snowed by then!