WIP - Ogres

The first Ogre is nearly completed. All that remains is to finish the gear on his belt and his feet. I will complete the base when all the models are completed. As I have already mentioned in my previous post I am painting up the ogres in different state colours of the Empire. the first batch are from Talabecland.

Ogre Army - Beginnings

I have decided to build the ogre army with an 'Empire' theme in mind. I have bought one box of Ironguts and a Battalion box set to get me started. As I have already mentioned this is an exercise in modelling with green or grey stuff. As you can see I have based all of the Ogres using Gale Force 9 basing materials. I began with placing larger 'boulders, blocks etc'. Next I used the fine grit, followed by their medium grit to create a more interesting base. Once the models have been painted I will add dead/winter static grass, also made by Gale Force 9.

I have added greenstuff to three of the models so far. The first model has already been undercoated black. I decided that some of the ogres would have served in the far north of the Empire, either in Ostermark or Ostland. While others would have served in Averland or Talabecland. The Leadbelchers that come with the battalion box set will be painted up either in Nuln or Nordland colours.

The next step in the process is take six models and start to work on them as a batch. Meanwhile I will do a test paint on the undercoated model.

Something to fill my time

Well the paperwork is underway and I am hurrying up and waiting. Getting myself registered in NZ is a lengthy process and while I wait for forms to come in and go out again I have put myself to work on a fantasy project to keep me occupied.

I have bought an Ogre Battalion box set and an extra box of Ironguts. The purpose of this project is to develop my sculpting skills. I have already added greenstuff to two of the ironguts, giving them a northman look. I have stopped there for the time being while I refocus on the bases as I want to give them a uniform look.

As for the rest of the army I am going to think a little harder on the theme I use. Some ideas so far - Arabic - Saracen, Northmen - vikings or an Empire feel. I will post some pics in the next couple of days of the progress I have made.

A New Blog!

I have begun a new blog to track my War of the Roses project. I felt that it deserved one as it is this period of history that fostered my passion for history and helped to get me involved in historical wargaming. I have called the blog "The White boar". A dedication to Richard III. You can find the blog here - http://jerseyprivateer2.blogspot.com/

War of the Roses Update

Well my travels are coming to ahead. In a couple of days Andrea and I head to New Zealand and I will be attempting to add some more background info to the blog about that turbulent period in Medieval England until I can lay my grubby paws on the models I bought some time ago. I am also giving consideration to setting up a dedicated blog.

Travels Continue...

Andrea and I are leaving Laos today and flying into Vietnam for a couple of weeks. It has been an amazing journey so far. We have seen and done so much. Looking forward to a new country...although I may have to reinforce my pockets after some of the 'stories' I've heard from other travellers in Vietnam.

On the Road...

Well Andrea and I have made it into Georgia. A couple of weeks ago though we were in Istanbul and took time out of the city to travel down to Gallipoli. It was a very interesting and moving experience. I have never been on a battlefield tour, this one being my first and it gave me a real sense of what happened and how the soldiers must have felt. I didn't realise that 250,000 Turkish soldieers lost their lives defending their homeland from the Allies - mostly through disease. The Allied cemeteries are kept immaculate by the Commonwealth War Graves Association and the Turkish government have also ensured that the entire site is kept to a high standard. So many Aussies and Kiwis make the pilgrimage to this site. I explained to someone on the trip that what the Somme was to the British, Gallipoli is to the ANZACS.


The tour lasted three hours as we were bused around the various sites at Gallipoli. I also bought a map of the campaign, which is very interesting to look at and is memento of the afternoon.

Update on the War of the Roses Project

Even though I am far away from home (Bulgaria at the moment) I have finally found a sound internet connection! On checking my emails last night I received an email from my friend telling me that the Perry order has finally arrived. I now have all the models I need to put together enough contingents for both sides of this English conflict.

When I eventually stop moving around on my 'Walkabout - come Honeymoon' I will settle down to some serious nights of building and painting.

Until then....

On the Road

Well, Andrea and I are finally on the road to Australia, Darwin and then we head straight for New Zealand. For now this blog will lie 'slightly dormant.'

However I have been to Salute and met up with various people and wished them well. I also went and picked up a copy of Hail Cesaer, I'll have a read of that in the future when we get settled.

It was quite liberating going to Salute as I couldn't take anything with me!

Cheers for now,

Richard

Married!

On Saturday 2nd April 2011 at 1pm I married Andrea in St. George's chapel at Gorey Castle. It was a truly magical day and fantastic to see so many family and friends there to share it.

Old Miniatures Part 4 and Richard III Billmen

Well I have managed to complete some old Foundry bowmen I had stashed away. I have painted them up as levy archers with sympathies lying towards Henry Tudor. They have taken longer to paint than I expected, too many individuals! But I am reasonably pleased with the end result.

Here is my first stand of miniatures for my Bosworth Project. I am using orbats published by Terry Gore (Saga Publishing) for my Bosworth project. For Richard III's contingent I'll need to build and paint two more bases like the one shown below. I will need to complete the basing but I will do this at a later stage when I have more of the army completed.

Old Miniatures...Part 3

I have had the opportunity to do a little more work on the old miniatures I found in my lead pile. They are mostly Foundry miniatures, so they'll blend in well with the Perry miniatures. They are not taking to long to 'spruce up' either.

More Reading Material

I have just finished reading on the texts I bought recently on, The War of the Roses by Trevor Royle. The first half of the text discussed life in England prior to 1455. The story begins with Richard II before moving onto Henry IV and Henry V. It is during the times of these three kings that the seeds of disruption are sown. Had Henry VI been older (much older) when he ascended the throne then the story would have been very different.

I have two more books coming my way, Richard III and the Bosworth campaign by Peter Hammond and The Red Rose and the White: The War of the Roses 1455 - 1487 by John Sadler. Both of these books are more geared to the military campaigns fought during this 'First English Civil war.' I am about to start Lancaster and York by Alison Weir.

War of the Roses Update

Well I have nearly finished the first batch of Perry miniatures. I have completed painting three men at arms and seven bowmen. The bowmen have been painted with a blue and murrey livery. Unfortunatley for these archers their livery colours are the wrong way round! We'll excute the tailor later.

I used the Foundry paint system to paint these models. I used Deep Blue (20A/B/C) and for the murrey I used Deep Maroon (64A/B/C). I wanted to distinguish between red and the murrey, hence why I have gone for the deep maroon colour.

I am also not sure about the finish on the bows - I may change this at a later date. I hope the phjotos are okay. I will hae to remedy the photographing when I finally settle into a new house...sometime in the future.

As for the bases I have used bestial brown (Citadel colour) as a basecoat and then applied Army Painter scatter (Brown Battlefields) before adding some static grass, a mix of scorched grass and winter dead grass (both Citadel products). I have finally added a touch of the Army Painter Snow. At the moment I am only applying the snow to the skirmish models. When I eventually get round to paint the full armies I may leave the snow off their bases as most campainging was conducted in the summer months.

Old miniatures don't fade..they just get repainted

I found these miniatures in the bowels of my lead pile. With a bit of sprucing up they'll be as good as new.

More Re-enactment photos

Here are some more pics of the re-enactment event which took place at Mont Orgueil Castle back in 2006.

War of the Roses Re-enactment

My brother and I put together a small retinue for the re-opening of Mont Orgueil Castle(Jersey) in 2006. I have managed to get the full set of pictures off my brother and I will be posting a few up here.

The event took place on a Sunday afternoon. We were there from 9am till about 6.30pm. It was a memorable day. Two years prior to the event Jersey celebrated its 800th year anniversary of its 'special' relationship with the British monarchy. Over the course of that weekend the castle saw about 7,500 visitors. On the occasion of the re-opening of the castle 4,500 visitors walked through its gates between 1pm and 5.30pm. There wasn't much time for ale!

Update on the War of the Roses Project

I have been looking through the rules of Medieval Warfare by Terry Gore. I have only played one game so far, and that was awhile ago now. I do like the rules and on reading them again things are clearer.

I have also done a little more painting, but only a little. I might be able to get a day in next week - half term approaches!

Little by little...

Here are some part painted models. I am quite happy with this Man At Arms. I may yet add a little brown ink about his feet and legs, armour never stays that pristine in a fight!

Building the Perry Plastics

I have built the following models from the Bowman and Bills/Mercenaries box sets -

• 3 Men At Arms
• 7 Longbowmen
• 3 Crossbowmen
• 5 Billmen
• 1 Hand Gunner

I have undercoated the batch with grey primer (Army Painter). I have started muddling about with some colour schemes. As you can see from an earlier post the Hand Gunner has the livery of a Burgundian. I have done a few models with a White and Red livery. I intend to paint at least ten models with a white/green livery to represent either Henry Tudor/Earl of Pembroke/Rivers. The others will be painted in blue and murrey(dark red).

Rules, Rules, Rules...

I was looking over my collection of rules for the War of the Roses period and I am really quite unsure which ones I will use. Not that it matters. It will be some time before I can play a game on a grand scale due to my forthcoming travels.

I have Poleaxed by th Lance and Logbow, Bloody Barons from Peter Pig, Warhammer Ancients, A Coat of Steel by those jolly fellows at the Perfect Captain and finally the late Terry Gore's Medieval Warfare.

I know some people rave about Impetus but I have yet to explore this route. I am eagerly awaiting the forthcoming rules from Warlord Games - Hail Caesar. If they are out by the time of Salute I may well get a copy.

War of the Roses Hand Gunner

Well I have managed to do a little more to the Hand Gunner. The Perry models are really easy to paint. I still have a way to go, but I am happy with the progress.

Bills and mercenaries

I have undercoated some billmen, a crosswbowman and the hand gunner. These are my 'test' subjects for this period. I am not sure at this stage whethee I want the models to look as if they have been in the field for a few days or if I want them to look like 'fresh'.

Please excuse the quality of the photography, I wanted to update before the next stage and time is short.

War of the Roses Hand Gunner

The first model up on the painting table is a hand gunner. Not sure how I will paint him, probably with the livery of Burgundy. I have mounted him on a 20mm square base. I intend to base forty or fifty models on 20mm bases for skirmish gaming. The rest will be mounted on larger bases.

More plastic on the painting table...

I succumed to acquiring a a box of the Perry's War of the Roses plastic box sets the other day. Being in Jersey I ordered them over the internet via Warlord Games. Those boys must work nights! I had a really fast turn around to the order.

I have decided to base up the first few on 20mm stands for skirmish gaming. I think that is all I will be able to fit in before I set foot off the island. I have been through my books and have found some liveries I want to use. I will endeavour to post a pic or two as I work through the models.

War of the Roses - a project for the future

Although I am about to embark on a grand adventure across three quarters of the globe I am still painting or reading a little. When I first got myself into the historical period I collected an Essex 15mm WotR army. I bought enough models to paint up two sides. Over the intervening decade or two I have added to the collection with some Peter Pig miniatures.

However my passion for 28mm miniatures has forced my eyes to look beyond the smaller models. Since the Perry brothers have brought out the plastic ranges I am keen to create some armies. Not that it will happen anytime soon but I see it as my next historical project. One that I am keen to finish!

In the meantime I picked up some books to read, the first book is The War of the Roses by Trevor Royle, the second - Lancaster and York by Alison Weir and the third is A Brief History of the War of the Roses by Desmond Seward. I'll let you know how I get on with them.

A New Year and New Adventures

Well it really has been a long time since my last post. This year has some 'big' changes in my life. At the beginning of April (not the 1st, but 2nd) I'll be getting married! And then, off on a journey of a lifetime. I will be travelling overland from London to Darwin - a six month honeymoon before winding up in New Zealand for the Rugby World Cup. I am looking forward to the trip...and the rugby. My fiancee and I will be travelling with Odessey Overland, for anyone who is interested.

I am also looking forward to travelling around New Zealand. I will be using the journey to pick up on my artwork. I trained as an illustrator, graduating from Wolverhampton Uni in 1995 and since then my drawing has been a little sporadic unless I am designing some terrain or paintjob for a unit of lead miniatures.

So my ramblings will take a slightly different thread for the time being. My paint station lies in the basement of my fiancee's house along with my paints and some plastic minis from Warlord Games. Looking forward to the future I will be able to attend Salute 2011 this year in London. The convention is on the day before I leave the UK which is kinda cool. I guess it'll be a fond farewell to wargaming, at least for a little while.