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.
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Just for a size comparison - here is a 28mm T.A.G. Heian Samurai next to them.
Friday, February 28, 2014
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.
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.
Just for a size comparison - here is a 28mm T.A.G. Heian Samurai next to them.
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Impressive! That is some very fine brushwork! Had you not stated they were 15s, I would have guessed 25s!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jonathan! I appreciate your kind comment and approval. Guess I'm on the right track with these. Auxilia up next. Warm regards, Dean
ReplyDeletewelcome to the world of 15s Dean! :o) I have been to Game Matrix a few times myself,they have a lot of stuff there.. anyway your 15's look great it seems to me you still have that magic paint brush touch regardless if 15's 25/28mm or 1/72 miniatures... your Yamato period Pre-Samurai Khurasan minis look great!
ReplyDeletecheers,
Thanks, Phil. Good to know you've made the trek out west before. Hopefully we can meet up someday. Best, Dean
ReplyDeleteDamn fine 15's Dean, you made a great job on these!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ray! Coming from you - the master of 15's, among other works, is much appreciated. Warm regards, Dean
ReplyDeleteHow do you do that beautiful layering, Dean? Great stuff. I honestly thought they were 28s as well. You're welcome to come and paint my 15s anytime! ;-)
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Aaron
Ah, you're too kind Aaron. The figures were painted in light colors, then given washes. The armor was given dry-brushed highlights. The very detailed sculpting allowing all of this. Regards, Dean
ReplyDeleteExcellent work Dean!
ReplyDeleteLovely work on the Khurasan 15mm Dean!
ReplyDeleteAwesome I though they where 28's as well. Great job so far Dean :)
ReplyDeleteVery nice, must admit at first glance I thought they were 28's
ReplyDeleteGreat looking troops, excellent paintjob!
ReplyDeleteThose are looking great Dean! It does indeed take some adjustment painting the smaller scales and it seems your handling it very nicely.
ReplyDeleteChristopher
Wonderful work, Dean! The combo of your excellent painting on these excellent sculpts make them shine.
ReplyDeleteI'd love your opinion on DBA when you have a chance.
Thank you all very much for your approving comments. My initial apprehension of 15mm has been overcome.
ReplyDelete@ Monty: From the one game I played, it reminded me a bit of Hail Caesar; the three supports for combat (flanks & rear), as well as the die roll plus base number for command options. Combat resolution is also similar. Finally, there is a large DBA crew in the local area (who I've shunned all these years :)) - oh, and being able to store/transport an entire army in a cigar box is very nice!
Warm Regards, Dean
Great start Dean. Looking forward to where you take this given how beautiful your 28s are.
ReplyDeleteVery Nice Work Dean.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see those miniatures on the table. I am very impressed with the quality of detail you were able to bring out of the model. Hard to believe those are 15mm models.
Thanks Michael and Pat! Glad you guys like them. They are my first 15mm figures, and very impressed with the level of quality and detail - makes painting them quite enjoyable. Warm Regards, Dean
ReplyDelete