A Break from Wargaming!

 

Until next time, have nice day...

Hobby Spending - February 2023.

 

This month has been quite quiet on the hobby front, mainly due to work as not only have I interviewed and got a promotion from Shunter to Driver guaranteed within the next year, I've also been off busy learning how to operate other freight yards to increase my route knowledge and availability to cover shifts.

I've still picked up a couple of bits though, mainly for my own Horus Heresy project, more of that to come.

First thing I picked up was Antor Delassio:

He is a Blood Angel and one of the characters from Kill Team Cassius of Deathwatch: Overkill fame (if you remember that splash released boardgame).

My own White Scars Captain on Bike is another member of the Killteam.

My second purchase for the month was a Metal Apothecary:

An old metal Space Marine Apothecary. These models have a ton of character and being firstborn, fit perfectly with my HH plans. 

I'm thinking of turning this guy into an Imperial Fist.

Like in the previous month's post, here are the totals for the month:

Deathwatch Antor Delassio, Blood Angel - £4.99.

Classic Metal Space Marine Apothecary - £2.20

Total for February: £7.19

Budget for February: £50.

Over/Under Yearly Budget: under budget by £44.01.

Where is the time going this year, it's already the end of February.

Until next time, have nice day...

Repanse de Lyonesse, Damoiselle de Guerre - part 4.

 

It is the Bretonnian year 1,017 (Imperial Calendar year 2,007). The lands of Bretonnia are ravaged by foul Chaos invaders and with King Louis the Brave dead, the Knights of Bretonnia, whilst valiantly defending the peasant populace under their protection are being thrown back at every turn.

*****

Four months had passed since the vision of the Lady, and Rapanse had risen from a simple peasant shepherdess to an accomplished warrior leading scores of knights against their foes.

From her first stumbling fight against the Beastmen she now fought as a woman possessed of all the skill and power of a Grail Knight with years of experience.

Chaos warbands had been ridden down and routed to the sea by her forces all throughout the northern coasts of Lyonesse, L'Anguille and now Couronne as they rode towards the capital which was under siege.

Knights had formed up and ridden to her side, daily pledging fealty to her leadership for the duration of the crisis, many recognised instinctively that she had been blessed by the Lady and held her in awe.

Riding along the main thoroughfare, the capital came into sight and the Chaos hordes besieging it were almost without number. Barbarian tribes, clad in thick furs howled and fought against neighbouring Beastmen warbands at the rear of the force. More disciplined and monstrous forces were closer to the city and trying to force a breach.

A brace of stone throwers hurled masonry torn from the town outside at the city walls which cracked asunder. A bronze gilted battering ram was slammed repeatedly into the thick oak gates which had been sealed closed for weeks now.

Rapanse wheeled her horse to look upon her army, the knights forming themselves into one huge wedge formation. She wheeled again and took off at a gallop towards the enemy forces, the loyal knights following, shaking the ground with the force of so many heavily armoured riders bearing down.

Too late the tribes turned from their squabbles, ridden down and crushed into the mud beneath the charging tide. Horses whinnied as they contacted the enemy, but the knights fought on. Lance's impaling those ahead until they splintered under the attack. Swords were drawn and the bloody work began.

Still they rode on, cutting down tribesmen, Norscan's, mutated Ogre's, larger mutated tribes, and they came upon the equally heavily armoured warriors at the core of the force. 

These elite warriors fought back with superlative skill, tearing knights from their saddles as they rode past before beating them to a pulp with their brutal hammers and maces.

As they neared the center of the enemy line, stars exploded behind Rapanse's eyes. She shook her head and realised that she'd been struck with the flat of a spear. The perpetrators arm suddenly separated from his body in a welter of blood and screams, and though she was uninjured, the banner of the lady had fallen.

It had not reached the ground however as a knight riding past caught the falling tapestry and sacrificing his sword he held the banner aloft for all to see. The Blue and Red in stark contrast to his heraldry of pure white.

"Onwards lady, let us cut the head from this vile horde" his voice rang out metallic through his helmet and Rapanse nodded, urging her horse onwards again towards the lord behind this attack.

Reinvigorated, the knights turned and followed her into the fray again, their collective rage at the damage to their beloved country spurring them on. Rapanse, filled with the power of the lady was as a beacon to them, glowing with a golden nimbus of power from the Goddess.

As the Chaos lord swung at her, she turned her horse away from the incoming blow, over-extending her attacker. Mutated animal eyes looked up at her and squinted, reacting to the radiant golden light which played about Rapanse's head.

The moment of hesitation was all she needed and as if guided by the Lady of the Lake, the Sword of Lyonesse passed through the vile mutated warriors neck and separated head from shoulder. In an instant the chaos horde faltered as the power holding it together faded.

The survivors of the lesser tribes howled and fled, the more disciplined elements put up a fighting retreat or died to a man in place as the Bretonnians took them apart, piece by piece.

*****

The final post in my Rapanse de Lyonesse series is the showcase of the completed model.

I'll let the photo's do the talking as I've covered most of how I painted her in the previous posts:

She's been a good project to get finished and I've really enjoyed painting this old model.

I even managed to get some better paint on her face.

I hope you've enjoyed this series, as I have a few bigger projects to start working on now. I may return to Bretonnia one day with a 3D printer army as I've found some good STLs recently, but one thing at a time.

Until next time, have nice day...

*****

As the celebrations began, the great doors to the city opened and the Men-at-arms marched out to secure the entrance road.

Behind them, flanked by his last remaining Grail Knight guardians, the young king of Bretonnia, Louis the Young, bade Rapanse approach and kneel.

"We had heard of your approach and prayed to the Lady for salvation. That she provided is a blessing to all of Bretonnia" he said and the gathering crowd cheered.

"Rapanse, in recognition of your deeds to our fair land these past months and your defence of our people, I hereby knight you and raise you up to be a Duchess of Lyonesse. Arise Rapanse de Lyonesse, rise a knight and Damoiselle de Guerre of Bretonnia" the king cried and the crowed erupted into ecstatic cheering.

"My lady" the knight of white heraldry knelt as she stood, "I believe this is your banner, I kept it aloft for you so as not to sully the colours of the Lady ". Draped over his outstretched arms was the Banner of the Lady, still as fresh and new as when it had first been woven.

"What is your name?" Rapanse asked the humble warrior.

"Henri le Massif, my lady" he replied still not looking up.

"I name you Paladin of my army, the Chevalier's de Lyonesse, you will be my banner bearer and personal champion as I see you have drank from the Grail".

He nodded and rose to his feet, towering a least a foot above her and held the banner aloft in on upheld arm. The breeze caught it and the emblazoned Fleur-de-lis fluttered to the cheers of the Bretonnian populace.

The January 3D print challenge - 2023, part 3.

 

Hello, welcome to the third part of this small series dealing with the January 3D Print Challenge.

If you remember, I bought £10 Blind Boxes for myself, Chris and Cardboard Fortress which all came with a guaranteed 'Ziri' miniature so we could all paint her and compare/contrast our different painting styles.

This can be found in Part 1 and Part 2.

For part 3 though, I wanted to showcase the three miniatures I received and got finished throughout the month*.

So, with Ziri, as already discussed, I chose this piece of artwork as an inspiration piece after a fruitless search for JRPG artwork which wasn't Hentai, Porn or Waifu material.

Not rehashing everything said in parts 1 and 2, but I kept to the colour scheme with just the cloak being used to add some brighter colours.

Chris did comment to me over messenger that they almost seemed like Parrot feathers with the colours.

I'm most proud of her blonde hair though as it's the first time I think I've ever done a decent job on that colour hair. It's usually too bone or yellow coloured.

The second character I received was Vivi, a Black Mage from Final Fantasy**.

He is one of my favourite characters from across the franchise so I was really pleased when he was in the box.

Culled from the internet again, I found the Final Fantasy IX concept artwork for him.

Armed with this I made a start, the Thunderhawk Blue coat, and the green/white striped trousers were iconic, as was the hat with the leather wrapped around it.

A lot of contrast paints were used;

Skeleton Horde for the hat.

Apothecary White and Militarum Green for the trousers.

Wildwood for the leather and his staff.

For the leather this was then coated twice with Carroburg Crimson wash to give that deeper red look.

I deviated with his cuffs and the tails of his coat by using Ulthuan Grey line with red or black as this gave a much more satisfying contrast to the blue coat rather then the light grey used in the artwork.

The third miniature I received in my Blind Box was a Doberman, more specifically "Guard Dog 3".

A quick jaunt to Google again and I gathered this reference picture:

One of my friends said that I should paint him as Scooby Doo, but I chose not too, preferring to keep within the somewhat more realistic/sensible side of the JRPG theme I was trying to work within for the project.

Not much to comment as it was a fairly decent and simple paint job.

Abaddon Black basecoat with Mournfang Brown patches for the markings.

I then lightly drybrushed the entire mini with Stormvermin Fur to get some definition on the face and musculature, then toned that down with an all over Nuln Oil wash.

He was the quickest mini of the three to paint, and most people's favourite***.

Lastly here's a group photo of the trio, they didn't come with bases so they're on 32mm's.

I tore up some cork to make rocks and then used my usual builders sand.

As a different tack, I worked over a light grey undercoat and painted the bases twice with Snakebite Leather, the rocks with Stormvermin Fur washed with Earthshade.

Then I drybrushed the entire base with Ushabti Bone for a highlight.

Some grass tufts from the drawer and edge the bases with Abaddon Black and they were done.

The final step was to lightly spray them with Matt Varnish, this helps set the Tufts in place as well I've found.

This has been an enjoyable diversion of hobby time, and bringing Chris and Cardboard Fortress into it was a fun conversational time as well.

As I said in Part 2, I am going to run one of these with other people again in a few months, but rather then the £10 Blind Box, I'll buy an STL and print/cure a miniature for everyone taking part. As there are some awesome creators out there on the internet and some really lovely models which deserve to be physical models.

I've another couple of 3D printed projects in the pipeline which I've already received, having had them printed here by a friend.

Until next time, have nice day...

*I never specified that we had to paint all three mini's, I just decided to get them all done and ready for the display case.

**We Print Mini's do other characters from Final Fantasy, I may have a punt on some of those later in the year.

Cloud, Today, Aerith, Vincent from Final Fantasy VII are all available from the seller that I've found searching through their listings.

***Kind of like this:

The January 3D print challenge - 2023, part 2.

 

So, a couple of days late posting this, but we all finished our January 3D print painting challenge inside the deadline.

I challenged Chris and Cardboard Fortress to paint up the Ziri miniature from the Blind Box I bought them each for Christmas, with myself taking part with a third box.

We all had to start on 1st January and have her completed by the 31st of January with proper lightbox style photographs taken.

There was no brief for painting, just do what you want and have fun, conversions were allowed, but should have been kept to a minimum because the point was to get her painted and then compare all three of our models in this post.

*****

For my own miniature, I took inspiration from the other miniatures I received in the Blind Box, one of which was Vivi from Final Fantasy which I'd already mentioned.

I decided to follow this JRPG inspiration and did a bit of searching for suitable reference images, eventually ending up with the Swordswoman image which I based this miniature off.

I went for a blue undersuit and kept the metallic corset and bra from the artwork, along with the blonde hair. Metallics are based, washed and highlighted, although the photo kind of looses those in definition.

Turning to her back, I decided to add some coloured detail on her feathered cloak using contrast paints. 

Cardboard Fortress offering next, and he said he was going for a classic pulp adventurer look to his miniature.

The blue corset/leotard and white stocking with the armour do sell this look, seriously go and look up some classic pulp adventure artwork.

He has taken the highlights one or two steps further then I did on the blue, and the white looks great.

To contrast with the bold blue, he opted for a muted grey cloak, and a different way of painting blonde hair.

Thirdly we have Chris's dark offering.

Chris often works in a desatured, dark style with muted tones.

She's very much the image of a classic ranger here, with the dark green and leather browns.

Aside from the obvious difference of this miniature being a Brunette instead of a Blonde, Chris has also done a darker skinned colour, which almost looks grey at some points.

Contrasting with mine and Cardboard Fortress as well, Chris's gold seems much more vibrant, maybe because the rest of the model is quite dark coloured, it draws the eye towards it.

Three different painters, three different styles and three different interpretations of the same miniature.

I used quite bright bold colours to try to get that JRPG feel, Cardboard Fortress is a bright, but toned down Pulp Adventurer and Chris'is the Dark Fantasy archetype, I think we've all hit the target with our respective painting.

Interestingly, in spite of not talking or comparing much (both myself and Cardboard Fortress have been ill during this past month) both of us came out with quite close schemes with the blue, Caucasian skin tone and blonde hair, the differences are there to be seen, but they are both similar schemes.

Chris's is the most different, but again that's his general painting style as well*, amusingly he's the only one to not paint the severed head as a greenskin, but in actual fleshtones...

*****

This has been an enjoyable time and I'm glad that we all got it completed in time.

I am considering running another one of these in a few months time, but instead of buying blind boxes, I'm going to buy an STL for a miniature and print/cure them myself before sending them out to participants.

I'll send out invitations to various people I know to see if they want to take part this time too, leave a comment if you wish to be considered.

Until next time, have nice day...

* Which you'll see if he ever starts his blog up again, he keeps threatening to and saying he has stuff planned, but never actually pulls the trigger!

Repanse de Lyonesse, Damoiselle de Guerre - part 3.

 

It is the Bretonnian year 1,017 (Imperial Calendar year 2,007). The lands of Bretonnia are ravaged by foul Chaos invaders and with King Louis the Brave dead, the Knights of Bretonnia, whilst valiantly defending the peasant populace under their protection are being thrown back at every turn.

*****

With banner flying high behind her, glittering sword and armour, and bright blue shield, Rapanse rode with head held high, filled with the power of the Lady of the Lake. 

Her horse kicked up clods of mud from the churned roadway as she followed the tracks leading away from the hidden tomb she'd visited.

Peasant refugee's, first few and slowly gathering in numbers as she rode Northwards parted before her and bowed as she passed. None could believe their eyes as they saw a young girl riding towards the invaders, clad in shining armour and determined look set upon her face.

Children cheered as she passed, men and women shied their gaze away from her passing, however looking upon the banner seemed to lift all spirits as she passed through.

As time passed, she began to hear the noises of battle ahead and the numbers of peasant refugee's dwindled. Discarded belongings scattered the sides of the road, some casualties and unfortunates who had succumbed to their wounds of the battle ahead lay where they had fallen trying to flee.

Steeling herself as the sounds grew in volume, she rounded the corner under a stand of trees and was shocked by her first sight of open battle.

Everywhere she looked Bretonnian warriors struggled to hold back a tide of frothing Beastmen. Men at Arms pushed with their shields and were battered backwards by the raging clubbing of the blood mad Gor warriors.

A unit of archers followed the commands of their Villein and knocked and loosed arrows to bellowed command's, elsewhere other archers fought tooth and nail with their knives as they had ran out of arrows to fire.

The last few gallant knights were preparing a charge and trying to turn their horses back into the fray.

After her shocked moment of hesitation, she heard the Lady's voice whisper to her and spurred her horse forwards.

"Rid my land of these foul foes. For they do offend me with their presence".

With banner whip-cracking in the rush of wind, she charged past the knights with a shouted cry.

"FOR BRETONNIA AND FOR THE LADY".

The Knights quickly brought their horses under control and gathered into a lance formation about her, filling up ranks of each flank charging in behind Rapanse.

Though there were only seven knights left, including Rapanse, they fought like the heroes of old. The power of the Lady and Giles le Breton filled each warrior and they hacked and slaughtered their way through the press of half-beastial foes.

A shaman threw a crackling black ball of energy at them, which was deflected upwards into the banner and absorbed, the banner glowing brighter, ever brighter.

Rapanse wheeled her horse and made for the creature. Rearing up and flailing it's front hooves, her horse kicked the foul thing into the floor and stamped down, ending it's life and breaking the resolve of the warherd which turned to flee.

When all was secure, the knights gathered around and were shocked and humbled to find that they had been led by a young girl. One who not only was obviously blessed by the lady, but one who willing rode into combat to defend her homeland.

Each one knelt before Rapanse and pledged their oath of service to her and to the lady, to see the invaders repelled and to ride with Rapanse to see it done.

*****

Part three of this series about Rapanse de Lyonesse focussed upon the next section of painting.

When last we left our heroine, she had her base coats applied but was looking a little flat and lacking in detail.

This time around I've re-layered the Macragge Blue which is the main base colour, leaving the darker shaded areas under the detailing.

The red got a layer of Mephiston Red on the same principal, likewise the yellow with Iyanden Darksun*.

The white I wasn't happy with at all so it got a fresh base layer of Grey Seer from the pot.

Highlighting started with the blue which was Calgar Blue (kind of on an Ultramarines kick here), and the red got highlights using Evil Sunz Scarlet, in order for them to be bold enough to stand out. My pot of Dorn Yellow* had dried up, but I don't think that the Darksun really needs the extra highlight, if I'd have used contract yellow, then it would have definitely.

As you can see, layering on the heraldry on the surcoats of her horse has really added to the miniature, and keeping with the limited scheme of blue and red with spots of yellow and white draws your eye to the details sculpted onto her.

At this point I hit her with a spray coat of Matt Varnish to protect the paintwork I'd gotten into place, and so that the next step could be to brighten up her armour and bring the sheen back after the shading step earlier. This also had the added bonus of taking the sheen off of her lance and making it look like weathered wood.

I do think her face is going to need some work after looking at this close up though. That'll be in the next and final post in this small series when I get her finished.

*****

I had mentioned that Bretonnia wasn't always the shining chivalrous kingdom it is remembered as, well when originally introduced into the setting, Bretonnia was quite similar in atmosphere and depth to the Empire. Its ruling class were uncaring, the least caring being the King himself, while corruption in every form was everywhere, the nobility (themselves sordidly decadent) were willfully blind to it, preferring to hide their fear and corruption behind extravagance. 

In this version the kingdom is rules by an absolute monarchy and is around 1,500 years old since its founding. Mostly considered a backwater compared to Karl Franz's much older Empire, the kingdom surpassed it's neighbour at some point and was considered a beacon of modernity and progressiveness.

However the previous three rulers (up to the settings current timeline in 4th edition), had let corruption and degradation set into the kingdom and the cities had become scenes of squalor.

Mud and slowly decaying buildings marked a stark contrast to the calm, rolling fields of the countryside outside.

A Bretonnian knight from WFRPG, looking very Empire-esque with those ruffles on his clothes and that 'stache.

Bureaucrats embezzled money which was raised to repair buildings and roads. The nobility were often thrillseekers and unwittingly would be members of chaos cults, and they would willfully turn a blind eye to this to indulge in extravagant balls and banquets.

This is a world away from when the kingdom was retconned into the high fantasy, Arthurian inspired knightly theme it took on in 5th edition onwards.

This is often the most fondly remembered version of the Bretonnian kingdom, and many still lament GW making the range go out of production (I get it from a marketing/IP perspective, as you can't copyright Arthurian Knights). 

I've waffled on enough for now, in the final post as I mentioned I'll have finished Rapanse off, and I'll showcase her properly.

Until next time, have nice day...

*It's strange how some paints dry up and some don't. Iyanden Darksun is an old pot of paint, from when GW made the foundation paints range I believe (I think it's been renamed to Averland Sunset now).

Whereas Dorn Yellow is a newest edition layer paint and that's the one which has dried up fast.

Hell, I have a very old pot of Dark Angels Green which is still good, and is in one of the clear hexagon pots which they used to use about twenty years ago!