Little Update

Sorry for the silence. I have two exams this week so I've been busy studying for those as well as at a wedding this weekend. Therefore not much painting has happened and I haven't had a chance to take pictures of two archers and a viking bondi that are done. The good news is I may be starting a 15mm WWII project as well so that will add a bit more variety to the blog.

Man at Arms and Retainer

So between painting SAGA vikings this weekend I completed a dismounted man at arms for my WOTR project. He is made up of bits from the mercenary command sprue, hands and sword with buckler from the WOTR command sprue and a mounted man at arms head. I wanted a man at arms wielding a pole axe and pointing like you can build with the WOTR set, but I wanted him wearing a coat over his armour and a turban. The conversion was simple, cut away the hands from the WOTR set and then took off the equivalent of them from the mercenaries set, made sure they fit flush then glued them on. All and all pretty simple and I feel it turned out well. These minor conversions I am doing are heavily inspired by the ones Captain Blood on the Lead Adventure Forum does, they really add a little extra character to the force. As always comments and criticism is encouraged.

To break up what I was painting (the vikings) I whipped together the first mounted retainer of Sir Henry Grey. He is lightly armoured and I have yet to decide if I want to make him the banner bearer or just have him as is. He is wearing leather soled hosen so no shoes or boots. I've seen a few manuscript images depicting this from the later half of the 15th century and I figured it would be a good way to make it seem he was less well armoured than his lord. His horse is about 80% complete and I'll try to finish it off tonight.

First Point of Hearthguard Complete

... well save for basing which I will do once I get my hands on some mdf bases. Finished the three other Hirðmen to go with the first one I painted last week. I've also found a historical gaming club in my city who've recently started playing SAGA and on Wednesday after lecture I will be going to their club night to hopefully play some SAGA, with borrowed minis as I won't have a full warband by then. Next on the SAGA list is to finish painting the WF bonar and build another unit of Hirðmen. Anyways as always comments and criticism is encouraged.

Secret Santa Wishlist

So over at the Blog with No Name ( http://walladvantage2.blogspot.ca/2012/10/last-call-for-santa.html ) a secret Santa is being organised and I decided I'd like to join in. I am new to the miniature blogging community but very much would like to become involved in it. So here is my wishlist for whatever sucker draws me. Also it is good to note that historical miniatures are hard to come by here in Toronto so I would recommend checking with one of these two stores. First the closer is Meeple Mart (http://www.meeplemart.com/) which carries a lot of variety but doesn't always have what they say in stock, think they are also having issues with Perry Miniatures about keeping a steady supply. Second is North Bay Hobbies and Games (http://www.northbaygamesandhobbies.ca/) who are run by the fantastic Terry! He has great stock and has more product than is listed on his site. On top of that he has flat rate $7 shipping within the province and lower prices than Meeple Mart.

Perry Miniatures:

Italian Light Infantry http://www.perry-miniatures.com/product_info.php?cPath=23_64&products_id=2752

Italian Handgunners Skirmishing http://www.perry-miniatures.com/product_info.php?cPath=23_64&products_id=2754

Crusader Cavalry Command: http://www.perry-miniatures.com/product_info.php?cPath=23_33_52&products_id=1760 (I know I don't have a project going for these but I love the figures and I could maybe do a Norman SAGA warband in the future.)

Crusader Cavalry: http://www.perry-miniatures.com/product_info.php?cPath=23_33_52&products_id=1762

Gripping Beast:

Viking Bondi Command http://www.grippingbeast.com/product.php?ItemID=2541

Viking Bondi http://www.grippingbeast.com/product.php?ItemID=2542

Njál http://www.grippingbeast.com/product.php?ItemID=268441439

Gunnar http://www.grippingbeast.com/product.php?ItemID=268441438

Baccus 6mm:

Prussian Grenadiers: https://www.baccus6mm.com/index.php?content=products/syw&detail=syw

Prussian Jaegers: https://www.baccus6mm.com/index.php?content=products/syw&detail=syw

If something catches my eye later I will edit it in.

Sir Henry Grey of Codnor

I've finished painting my first Perry mounted man at arms who will be Sir Henry Grey of Codnor. I will be building up his retinue to use for the 15th century rules conversion of Dux Britanniarum that both Max and Jim are working on (and any other skirmish rules that will work). These are their blogs.

http://arlequinsworld.blogspot.ca/ http://scyldandseax.blogspot.co.uk/

I haven't painted a horse since the plastic Bretonnian knights first came out so I'm not sure how I did with it but it will do for now

Next up for the WOTR is Sir Henry's banner bearing retainer, another man at arms accompanying Sir Henry and a couple of kit bash conversions inspired by Captain Blood on the Lead Adventure Forums.

http://www.lead-adventure.de/index.php

Hirðmaður

Here is the first member of my first point of Hirðmen (hearthguard) for my SAGA warband. He is from the Gripping Beast plastic viking set and this set is far superior to the Wargames Factory one. That said there are some flaws such as the mail sleeved being huge and I prefer the shields from Wargames Factory so the next unit of hearthguard may have them instead. I've learned I absolutely love Devlan Mud when it comes to painting vikings, thus I am worried as it is running low. The one part I am very unhappy with is the shield but I don't know how I should be painting it, any advice is much appreciated.

Can't figure out how to do highlights on a flat surface.

The rest of the unit ready for some paint.

SAGA Bondar WIP

Well here we have the first two bondar painted up. I am not a fan of the Wargames Factory sculpts but again these will have to do until I can afford higher quality miniatures. Thus I will be basing these on some random bases I have laying around, rather than on magnets as I plan to with the Gripping Beast minis. Speaking of those they should be arriving either tomorrow or Wednesday along with a set of Perry mounted men at arms. As always comments and criticism is encouraged.

WIP Bondi

Yesterday I bought two and a half boxes worth of Wargames Factory Vikings for a very good price. About 8 of them were already built but I'll make use of them when I can. That said I started constructing my first point of Þorsteinn's warband, a unit of eight bondar called to service from his estates.

I have to say I do not like the Wargames Factory models. They're finicky to put together, are a bitch to get into natural poses and the detail isn't that great. I knew all this beforehand from reading reviews but somehow thought it wouldn't be so bad. Oh well they will have to do for now as bondar and Þrállar (I have a set of Gripping Beast's plastic vikings in the mail to use for the Hirðmen and my warlord). 

I also molded on two greenstuff cloaks that I am not 100% happy with but I am still very new to using greenstuff and haven't sculpted much besides fur. Anyways I will shut up now and show the pictures.

These two figures were already built but worked for my bondar.

The greenstuff cloak is hiding a glue mess that is on his back.

The two richest bondar. The figure on the right was also built.

There was an ugly gap at the back of his neck, so he got a cloak.

There you have it the first point of my SAGA warband. Hopefully on Sunday I will slap a bit of paint on a couple of them and tonight I'll plunge the two painted models into some Simple Green to strip them. Also if any of you have tips on how to better photograph miniatures I am all ears.

Beginnings of Wars of the Roses

The Entire Force so Far

Here are my first painted (or mostly painted) Perry wars of the roses figures. The Yellow and green are part of my fictional retinue of Baron Patrick fitz Christopher and the red and white part of Willhelm van Brugge's mercenaries.

The Baron Himself

Willhelm van Brugge

Billman and Archer

Two Flemish Crossbowmen

The Other two Archers

These have been used as a Mordheim warband (Marienburgers) and I also plan to expand the force to use for WAB and some sort of skirmish rules.

Prologue to Saga Þorsteinn Svarta

There was a jarl named Þorsteinn Svarti, son of Ketil Þorsteinson, the grandson of Gissur Hvíti. Þorsteinn was a well born lord in Northumbria living at Ketilstún just North of Jorvík where his father settled after coming from Norway with Ívar Loðbrókson in the the year 865.
Þorsteinn did not have black hair, wear black clothes or paint his shield black. That is why most men when first coming into contact with the jarl wondered why he was called the black, but after only minutes in his company they realized it was because of his mood. After loosing his family in a hall burning this Jarl of Northumbria had a permanent scowl affixed to his face and the temperament of a wounded badger. He lead a battle hardened band of brutal men on raids every spring to fund the lavish feasts he held to black out the pain of his memories.
In this codex, I Helgi, will endeavor to write of the events and deeds of the life of Jarl Þorsteinn Ketilsson.