December painting update (video).

Still keeping busy, thought I would share my latest YouTube video here, an interesting mixed bag of figures including the 3D printed Winged Hussars and the first unit of 15mm Wars of The Roses.. Please excuse the squeaky chair, I have since given it a much needed shot of WD40!

15 years painting figures for 'Old John'.

 I was reminded whilst replying to a recent comment by James that I have been painting figures for 'OLd John' Cunningham for a solid 15 years in which time I have painted thousands of 20mm 1/72nd figures for him. The video below from my channel show just the tip of the iceberg of John's vast collection and a few shots of the man himself at his large permanent wargame table. I continue to paint on a monthly basis for him and should get to the 3D prints next week. 

As I have wound things down somewhat recently I'm only painting for John and Noel which keeps me happy and I am about to embark on a large WotR 15mm commission for Noel as I finish up his two year Black Powder and Fire & Fury ACW projects this month. 

 

Remembrance Sunday.

 Sharing this old post again in memory of my Grandfather Alfred Charles Gramson, 3rd Foot 'The Buffs'.

My Grandfather.

Some 3D printed figures for Old John!

 Recently I have been painting more 'Streltsy' (Wiki Link )   units for Old John, I believe we are up to around 25 now, each comprising 24 to 30 figures! I really enjoy painting these units as John allows me pretty much free rein with regards to colours, each unit wearing a uniform coat edged with fur trim. These are of course 20mm/ 1/72nd from a variety of plastic manufacturers. Recently John has also been looking into 3D Printed figures to add to his collection and this week some lovely Cossacks, Streltsi and Polish Winged Hussars arrived for me to paint. I never fail to be amazed at the quality of 3D printed soldiers which has come on leaps and bounds in recent years. It will be a little while before I get on to them but in the meantime I thought you might like to have a look at them, I think they will paint up a treat.

Apologies for the poor quality photos.

Another two plastic units in progress by Strelets.

Couple of bits of resin to trim away, the chunky bases come separately for attaching to horses.

Keeping busy - ACW wagons.

 Not my favourite time of year, that's for sure, nights drawing in, grey skies etc but I'm keeping busy painting and modelling. 

I'm gradually finishing off the Epic ACW project for Noel, wagons, dismounted cavalry and skirmisher bases. I'm told we are going onto a large Wars of the Roses commission next using Peter Pig figures 15mm. To this end I have been watching/ listening to lots of related videos on YouTube learning as much as I can about the arms and armour of the period as well as general history. I'm looking forward to it.

The 8  wagons below are by Kallistra a good scale match for Warlord Epics. Fixing the wheels to the axles was a bit of a pain requiring lots of drilling out to get a fit, they kept falling off! Job done though and I'm pleased how they turned out. This week I have 9 bases of dismounted cavalry to paint, also Kallistra.

Hannibal's Barca Army Epic box set completed!

The final batch is painted - 28 bases of assorted skirmishers and two command packs - and that completes this commission. Must say that I have enjoyed this one. Just need to get everything packed up thats left here over the weekend for shipping off to Arizona via FedEx International priority collection service which is about 5 working days, door to door. As always return shipping is included in my prices as standard. Now it's back to Old John and Noel for the next few weeks, I also have the sample Jacobite clansmen to do this week, they are metal Epic strips and very nice castings.

Incoming - some Scottish Fellows!

 A quick general update on what's on the painting desk. I'M finishing off the the remainder of the Hannibal Barca Box set for Leo, the 28 skirmisher bases (each of 5 individual figures) and the command packs left to go this week then a final shipment to Arizona via FedEx. Door to door in 5 working days is a remarkable service and the big advantage of the Epics is that they pretty robust little things with very little weight (plastic bases etc). I do wrap each base in bubble wrap and pack in cat food pouch boxes within a shoe box outer carton for protection.

Once shipped I'll paint a couple more 20mm Strelsi units for Old John before returning to Epic ACW's for Noel as I'd like to get his ACW's completed by start of December. 

Meantime I have another Warlord Epic commission incoming, something interesting, Jacobite infantry for the '45 Rebellion. I offered to do a couple of sample strips first to see what can be done as I have not painted these before but the order is for 32 strips, 16 bases, 4 bases per 80 figure unit. The Clansmen utilise the figures from the previous Pike & Shotte release of Montrose's Highlanders (see Warlord Games image below) and the British Foot will utilise the new Revolution infantry sets, a very clever idea I think.

And of course, just to get me in the mood for the period I had to re watch the classic 1964 docu-drama in glorious black and white!