Martian Tripods

 

Originally bought two, misplaced one (habit of mine), got two more for Christmas from Steven and Sarah... so finally found the misplaced one but it's still unpainted. I'm not sure where to go with these - leave it at the four or go all out and eventually build up a force of about twelve. At about 7cms tall they can be used with just about any scale from 6mm upwards to 28mm.

There are two different models - one as a straight gunship, the other with 'grasping appendages' - either command or to collect victims for 'research' purposes...

Note for some reason I couldn't get the link to the Minifigs/Matchlock Miniatures to work! Just came up as a blank screen.

Proof of concept - Kushite and Spanish cavalry

Looking at the Roman and Gallic cavalry, naturally my first thought is 'what else can I use them for'.

Firstly, the Gallic cavalry figure wears trouser and is bare above the waist. Spanish long shield cavalry aren't like that at all.

Using paint to show tunic and boots instead of trousers seems to work OK.

The only physical change I made to the figure was to grind down the helmet crest to give a plain helmet.

The head on this figure looks very Egyptian so I'm looking at using him for Egyptian/Kushite/ Blemye cavalry.

The only modification I made to it was to grind down the raised shield pattern.

For the armour I did alternate copper and iron scales. The colour scheme is quite... well, colourful.

Conclusion - both 'conversions' worked quite well and will be very useful in the future.

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.