New Norman Recruits

The third batch of archers have been prepared. The progress so far is:

Undercoat is Revel Black (No. 6) heavily thinned with Humbrol Enamel Thinners. It goes on like a heavy, but very runny, wash. It dries very quickly and leaves the detail easy to see. WARNING - the smell of the thinners will blow your head off so go careful!! I needed a stint in the garden afterwards to clear my head.

(In the background some mailed archers have been prepared and started. More later.)


The 'recruits' painted;

More recruits painted;

And more;

An officer added;

I think that is all my 'Crusader Miniatures' unarmoured Norman archers painted now. This batch needs basing once I've done another casualty (or perhaps a penon bearer) to give 3 figs per base.

More Norman Archers

Second batch of archers now based. A couple of mailed archers and casualty added for variety.

Texture added to bases

Bases part painted - first main coat is Humbrol Light Earth 119

Below are some pics of the completed unit so far.

Just a note here. I'm not making the units any specific size at present I'm simply painting all the castings I currently have and will group into units later.

Lord Brooke's Purple Coats

Lord Brooke's ECW regiment of purple coats. This was my entry in the painting competition at Salute 2012.

Lord Brooke's regiment was the only purple coated regiment of the civil war. They fought at Edgehill in 1642, at Brentford in 1642 and at the siege of Lichfield in 1643 -  that was it for them. They fought valiently at Edgehill but suffered heavy losses. Lord Brooke died at the siege of Lichfield 1643 and the regiment did not survive long after that.

I've always been drawn to this regiment - perhaps it's their distinctive purple coats or their actions early on in the war!

From a painters point of view I like the way the purple, buff/ leather, armour and orange work together to give a pleasing overall effect.

Figures Bicorne/ Renegade. Flag hand painted.

Painting Horses (Part 2)

Part 2 - Painting the Detail

I'll just guide you through the samples I've painted here. There are many, many variations you can do to change the general look of the figure but this tutorial is to basically show the process.

Firstly I matt black the tails, manes, eye/ nostril sockets and the metal work (bit/ buckles.)
For tails/ manes that are not black I've drydrushed them with Vallejo Green Ochre.

Main detail:
Hooves painted with Vallejo English Uniform.
Reigns/ straps are Vallejo Red Leather (front 3), Foundry Rawhide A (back 4) and Vallejo Flat Green (on right.)
Base Vallejo Chocolate brown.

Highlighting

Drybrush black tails/ manes with Vallejo Dark Sea Grey ( or any medium/ light grey.)
Drybush Green ochre tails/ manes with Vallejo Dark Sand.

Highlight reigns with Vallejo Orange Brown (over red leather), Foundry Rawhide B (over rawhide A) and Vallejo Olive Green (over Flat green.)

Socks/ blaze on horse Vallejo light grey highlighted Matt White.
Tiny dot of Vallejo light grey on eyeball (just to give the impression of reflection off wet eyes.)

Metal work highlighted with Citadel Chainmail.

Final  gentle highlight of Vallejo light grey on tops of Tail/ mane.

Thats it then.  Horse are ready for their mounts.
Hope this helped some of you with horses.

Now try all kinds of variations.
Different coloured reigns - black, Foundry spearshaft, Deep buff leather, Buff leather or any other brown/ colour appropriate to your period.
Different undercoats - many of the Humbrol Yellows, browns, khakis, orange , linen .... and many of the Vallejos - Orange brown, Desert Sand, yellow ochre ....
Different oils - Burnt Sienna, Raw umber, Vandyke Brown ( and mix these oils for even more variety.)

Next up: my Salute 2012 painting competition entry - Lord Brooke's Purple coat regiment 1642.

Norman Archers

First batch of Norman archers completed and based.

Second batch painted and awaiting basing. I need  a casualty figure and a couple of mailed archers to complete this unit - this should give the unit more variety!

How they may look when based.

I'm trying to decide whether a full command base ( officer, standard bearer, musician) would be appropriate for these archers or maybe just an unarmoured officer with sword and a couple more archers. I'll see what figures I have - this can be added later.

Painting Horses Part 2 following shortly!