Celtic swordsmen and others

I've completed the first unit using a mix of converted sword and spearmen.

It gives a better impression of a warband with a range of different figures.

So now I could probably get by with another 7 or so units...

One figure gives me an armoured swordsman or spearman converted from the infantry standard bearer.

Infantry conversion from a cavalry figure - simply turned the left foot forward and put it on a base. There is also a swordsman version of this.

Finally a simple conversion of the infantry spearman.

A lot of the conversions on the mould broke up when the mould was being made. As a result, they needed some work doing to them. As such, I'll be sending a load of them off to be made into a new mould... a mould that will also include some Sarmation medium horse archers. It'll be a while before I get this mould made - got plenty of other stuff to do first...

A late mould (should have been sorted before Christmas!)

 

Originally this lot should have been sorted before Christmas - just didn't make it. As far as I know the Dacian officer and falx warrior were never issued (although I did put them in my catalogue!) and the two standard bearers are both conversions. So this mould is a pretty good expansion! Anyway, it's now been collected by the post office.

More Gallic cavalry

This lot means I've now got three Gallic cavalry units. Again, I've made good use of paint pens for the shields and cloaks.

I'm probably going to do one more unit, the next lot being armoured. That will be simply achieved by painting the torso bronze...

Finally, a command group I should have painted earlier! This means my Dacian light cavalry can double up as Ancient British light cavalry.

Statuesque Miniatures cloth animals by Steven.

'Hi Dad,

I have painted the cloth animals by Statuesque Miniatures you sent me. They were painted, by my standards, quite quickly. About 90% of the painting of the miniatures themselves was done by stippling the paint on using the sponge backing from blister packs.

I continue trying to improve my photography:

·       I have discovered a new setting (telephoto) on my phone which works better,

·      Set the camera to a 5-second timer to reduce camera shake,

·      Supported my hands more with cushions (a proper tripod would probably be even better),

·     Directed light from my painting lamp into the light box, so light is shining on the miniature from all angles.

    I think it is better now (still not perfect). I have also included a photo of a caveman taken under the new conditions to provide direct comparison with earlier photography attempts.'

Dacian light cavalry

 

First actual wargames unit of the year painted and based - which gives me the entire 'allowed' native Dacian cavalry...

Unchanged Gallic cavalry with a tunic painted on instead of being bare chested. Standard is my converted Sarmation standard bearer figure.

I've given quite a few of them 'tartan' tunics and cloaks on the grounds that they could have worn tartan tunics and cloaks :) Tartans simply drawn using paint pens.

Must do some archers and light infantry javelins at some time... Archers using my universal archer figure? possibly add a short cloak? - also need to convert a figure to act as a Dacian infantry standard bearer.

Gods of Egypt

Very slow start to the New Year but finally starting to get things done...

First ones finished are some Minifigs Gods of Egypt. There should be six of them, but one seems to be MIA somewhere between getting it's undercoat and reaching the painting table.

The pictures on these look a lot worse than the figures! One hint about this - their clothing is acually ivory without even a hint of blue! 

Another lot of figures nearly finished is this unit of Celts repurposed as Dacian light horse. There is another unit of Celts undercoated - I've also undercoated a couple of extras so that I can use these as Celts by changing the command element!

And finally a couple of Minifigs Martian tripods undercoated. All the Minifigs figures were kindly donated by Santa (OK, Steven) while the Dacians were test castings from my new moulds.

New moulds RY155 and RY156

This one fills in a few gaps in the classical Roman Range.

 

Mostly an attempt to expand the Gauls by giving them a few swordsmen as well as upgrading the cavalry moulds. Not 100% successful - some of the conversions didn't survive the mould making.

Haven't a clue what happened to the colours on this photo - the blues seem to have gottten lost somewhere. It's a royal blue tablecloth for instance! Meanwhile gives an idea of the 'new' figures - they'll really need another mould.