Thracian Command (Crusader Minis) - WIP

Anxiously waiting for the Minwax stain to cure and dry completely. Waiting for the stain to dry is the longest part of the process. Once dried, the figures will be sprayed with Testors Dullcote. A bit a highlighting will be then be added, and finally the geometric patterns associated with Thracians will be painted on the garments and shields. The rhomphaias for the musician and helmeted leader are former naginata blades - the musician's a T.A.G. and the other one from Dixon - both left overs from a Samurai project.

The can of Minwax Tudor Satin stain is a few years old, and just about dried out save an ounce or so under a hardened film. I have to use some thinner to get it to flow properly, but determined to use it all up.

The figures blocked painted prior to the stain.

Once completed, this command will be based along with a group of javelinmen currently on washers.

Just Another Re-Basing Project - Missile Troops

Just tidying up some missile troops - all painted many moons ago, and formerly based on metal washers. Round plastic bases were used for the archers, and Litko 40mm squares for the handgunners. The archers are Crusader Normans, Warlord Games Romans, Curteys Medievals and Old Glory Cretans. The handgunners are also Old Glory - from their Hussite ranges.

They just seem more manageable now; for transporting, storage and gaming.

Yamato (Pre-Samurai) DBA Army

Well here is the army arrayed - less an element stand of Psiloi. They're on a nice display board my buddy Pat L. (Socal Warhammer) gave me a few weeks ago.

Still need to attach an appropriate flag to the standard bearer.

The bases were cut from some plasticard stands that I already had - they have magnetic sheet bottoms.

These were the first 15mm figures I've ever painted; and I found them not at all displeasing to paint up.

Yamato (Pre-Samurai) DBA Army - WIP +3

The Army General and Standard Bearer are done. Both are in lamellar armor and wearing the later style helmet which resembled a baseball cap. The General's armor has been gilded, as well as his war fan.

An appropriate banner needs to be found and added to the Standard Bearer.

The only figures needed to complete this army are two Psiloi.

Once they're all based, I'll take an Army group photo.

Yamato (Pre-Samurai) DBA Army - WIP +2

Here are the cavalry - which will be based 2X3Cv. The horses are every bit as nice as anything in 28mm IMO. Four of the six riders have separate upper torso and lower halves.

All of the riders are in keiko lamellar armor; unlike the foot figures which are all in tanko plate cuirass. Four of the riders have the later style bowl helmet, which evolved into what later samurai would wear.

I opted to dry-brush the lacing on the keiko armor - unlike the impressive way Steve Dean painted his on the Khurusan website. It looks like he individually picked out the lacing - something I can't fathom doing.

These take care of the main troops for the army - just the General and his entourage and two psiloi need to be completed. I don't have the psiloi figures yet, as Khurusan's aren't available yet. I'll peruse the figures at the local store to see if they have something appropriate.

Yamato (Pre-Samurai) DBA Army - WIP +1

Finished the Auxilia - the early list has them as 2X3Ax, but the later list has them as 1X4x. Since the pack came with 12 figures, I figured I'd have them four per element base - more the merrier. They will have shields, but the shields were out of stock when I placed my order. Hopefully they'll get restocked soon -  shields really give the Yamato and earlier Yayoi warriors that certain look.

The spears were cut down as they originally looked more like pikes. I have found that light base coats followed by washes, and finally some dry-brush highlighting is the way to go for painting 15mm. We'll see how it works with horses, as the cavalry are next.

Yamato (Pre-Samurai) DBA Army - WIP

This is my very first 15mm project - a DBA army no less. Several weeks ago while stopping in at my local gaming store, The Game Matrix, the owner and  proprietor, Chris Ewick, talked me into my first ever DBA game. Chris is a great guy all around as well an accomplished painter and gamer. So, fueled by this experience, I turned to a range that has intrigued me since their release several years ago. The only thing that held me back was the scale/size - 15mm. I've concentrated on 28mm figures with only a brief and limited period painting 1/72nd plastics, so never thought I'd ever do anything in 15mm. Well, these Khurasan Pre-Samurai look so cool on the websites I've viewed I figured I'd give them a try with DBA. They arrived yesterday and I was overwhelmed - first by their beauty and then by their diminutive size. I did a quick internet search of painting 15mm figures, and took the sound advice of "don't try to paint them like 28mm." I ended up using washes and dry brushing and feel they look good enough for gaming. Here are the bowmen which will be based 3 per on 6 bases - I guess in DBA speak that would be 6X3Bw. The general, cavalry and auxilia will be next.

Although the Khurasan site shows some of them wonderfully painted by Steve Dean in keiko, or lamellar laced armor, I found them all to be wearing tanko, or solid cuirass armor. This eased the painted as the dry brushing brought out the details. I don't really know how Steve Dean painted the lacing on his - that must've been incredibly time consuming, but it is very impressive.

Here's an angle showing the very nicely sculpted helmets. They are of the Shokukufu, or battering ram, type. Some have the more pronounced beak appearance.

DBA calls the Yamato period Pre-Samurai and breaks them into two separate lists - the early one for the period 500-644AD and the later one 645-900AD. The break is based on the political change in 645AD called the Taika, or Great Change, Reform. Military, there probably was a more gradual change until the next period, the Heian - which is when the Minamoto and Taira rose to prominence.

Just for a size comparison - here is a 28mm T.A.G. Heian Samurai next to them.

Choson Monk and Guerrilla Commanders

These will be generic commanders for the irregular forces - and monks if I ever get some.

They painted up without a fuss mainly due to their simple garb.

And I do still need to run a game with all of these figures.

Choson Irregular Commanders - WIP

These came with the Perry set with the Kwak Chae U figure earlier painted. Figured they might as well be painted up and be used as the command for the militia guys. There was a strong contingent of monks at many of battles, but I haven't painted any up yet. Anyway, here they are after receiving a brushing of Minwax Tudor Satin stain.

And prior to the staining; a nice basic colors block-paint job. The peasant and monk attire make for very quick and easy brushwork. In fact, the majority of Korean troops have a very limited color palette.

HYW French Command Stands

Several command stands for a French Hundred Years War army. The mounted figures are the Bastard of Orleans and La Hire. They are division command stands subordinate to the Joan of Arc army general  previously based. The center stand is an army general stand for use prior to Joan's appearance - as all of the identified figures on the stand were either killed or captured at Agincourt.

A few more shots of the "Agincourt" army command stand.

The Oriflamme standard was downloaded from the excellent Warflags website.

Killed or Captured at Agincourt

Here is the flower of the French nobility that were either killed or captured on Saint Crispin's Day. They are from the Perrys' foot command set. There's actually one more figure in the set, but I didn't paint it up.

They are, from left to right: 1) Jehan le Meingre "Boucicaut", Marshal of France - died in captivity in 1421 at Yorkshire; 2) Charles d'Albret, Constable of France - KIA; 3) Charles of Artois, Count of Eu - released from captivity in 1438, and lived until 1472; 4) Jean, Duke of Bourbon - died in London in 1434; 5) Charles, Duke of Orléans - released in 1440; 6) Guillaume de Martel, bearer of the Oriflamme - KIA; 7) Lord Rambures - KIA.

They'll be based along with mounted figures for command stands.

"Those woods stink of Cossack!"

Okay, that's a pretty overused line, but still a great movie. Anyway, here are the Perry guys next to a Gorgon Ney which was a giveaway at an Adepticon a couple of years ago. My buddy Pat L. (Socal Warhammer) picked one up for me when he was there. Thanks again, Pat.

I couldn't find my tub of plaster which I used for snow on the Ney base. I ended up using baking soda, which I wasn't too happy with. Oh, well, I might end up rebasing them some day anyway.

Only after looking at the photo below, have I realized I missed a portion of the Ney base.

I may end up getting a few more figures to beef up Ney's contingent.