28mm Gripping Beast Saxon Thegn Command x 4

Status: SOLD £52.00

Completed this command group of Gripping Beast plastics,from the box set of thegns. The figures are suitable for Anglo-Saxon Armies from about 600-1100. These are nice figures,well sculpted,pleasantly stylised and certainly some of the best currently on the market for this era.

Perry Miniatures 28mm Royal Horse Artillery 6pdr gun and limber

 Status: SOLD £172.00

These figures sold quickly for a bargain price of £172.00, really fantastic figures at a real bargain price.

With Napoleonics I spend most of my time trying to get the edges of colours as neat as possible.Then shade lightly when everything is in place. Over shading can ruin figures of this period in my opinion, so I tend to keep the contrast levels quite low on the fabric areas and make the graduation of tones subtle especially on the faces.
I  had forgotten how much time you can spend wondering what colour each part of the uniform is supposed to be with Napoleonics.

Took some time trying to find out about the lacing button pattern on the drivers uniform, think I have it correct, based it on a driver of the Royal Wagon train in the Waterloo Companion,except with blue and yellow instead of red and white.

 This unit marks the start of my plan to work on the Armies of Waterloo, concentrating on the area of La Haie Sainte initially.This being a six pounder gun could be one of five in Whinyates battery. I have also started off with a couple of 95th riflemen and future plans include more of the 95th, the 32nd,79th and 28th regiments of foot, 1st royal Dragoons, Kings German legion and associated French units.

 La Haie Sainte as it appeared on a my visit to the battlefield in 2008, sturdy stone construction of these farm buildings and the lack of effective high explosive shells in the 1800's meant these buildings became formidable fortifications.
The 6 pounder gun was raised by 2mm on the base before dispatch. After looking at these photos I realized the figures bases made them about 2mm taller than they should be compared to the gun, so some 2mm MDF was glued to the base and then the gun was glued back on.

Close up detail shows some of the subtle, refined shading that sets these figures apart from ordinary wargames figures.

All five gunners are on magnetic bases that allow them to be removed and replaced with three scenic bases that enable casualty removal.

Above a close up of the drivers, the details of the harness, colours of leather collar, hames and other tack is a matter for some conjecture, various books contradict each other on the details, maybe there was a variation in the field anyhow ? I would be interested in any informed opinion on the subject.

2 x 28mm Perry Miniatures 95th Riflemen, British Napoleonic

Status: SOLD for £21.00

  Finished these two Perry Miniatures plastic 95th Riflemen.
 I have been itching to get some Napoleonic figures done for ages and the Perry's stuff is always a pleasure to paint. These are some of the first of the Perry's plastic range I have had a go at and I am really impressed.The faces have a lot of detail and although some items are less "sharp" (such as plumes on hats) than their metal cousins, lack flash and the additional hours spent sculpting really make for great figures.

 It is always difficult to shade black or dark colours effectively, I opted for minimal contrast on the dark green and black of of these figures which I think has worked really well.
If you highlight such a dark green or black too much you can end up changing the overall appearance of the colour from a distance.

 This pair are currently up for sale on ebay.co.uk, starting bid £19.99

28mm Perry Miniatures, American War of Independence

Status: SOLD
Finished these about five years ago, the client wanted to base them himself, looked really good,love the Perry's stuff paints up really well. Top unit is a Scottish regiment,cant remember which now and below an English Regiment.

Crusader Miniatures Dark Age Irish Champion

Status: SOLD for £10.49 

A while ago I painted a Munster army led by Brian Boru, I used Crusader miniatures for the most part,lovely figures,well sculpted, with some real character. This model of a Champion was one of the left overs, so I finished him and placed him on ebay.

The  Curadh were the tribal Champions,some of the greatest warriors in a tribal army, this one has two weapons and chainmail armour ready to lead his kings men in to battle.

I have given him tattoos on his legs and arms.

24 X Gripping Beast Norman Infantry + 2 casualties

Status: SOLD £194.00

 Just finished 24 x Gripping Beast Norman Infantry, including a big armoured "Stormin Norman" leader with a Wyvern on his kite shield, 4 armoured comrades, standard bearer (Lozengy gules and argent banner of the Barons du Bec),18 unarmoured spearmen and 2 casualties. They have a mixture studded red leather and red and white shield designs taken from the Bayeux tapestry and other contemporary illustrations.All spears are steel, so no more bent and broken spears,the figures have been painted to a very high standard and coated in a tough enamel matt varnish.

The basing includes sand, small rocks and a lot of expensive 2 colour grass tufts as well as the more usual static grass. The colouring of soil is a good mid tone,suitable for verdant parts of the Middle East or Europe in the summer.

 This large unit could be split into two smaller units of a dozen each.

 Above a close up of the two dead normans.

Above shown with the unit of archers and crossbowmen also on ebay.co.uk at the moment,starting bid £127.00, buy it now £180.00.

17 x Norman Archers and Crossbowmen 28mm

Status: SOLD £99.00

Just finished 17 Norman Archers and crossbow men, 8 of the archers are from Gripping Beast,1 from Wargames Foundry, 1 converted standard bearer and 7 crossbowmen also from Gripping Beast(one of the crossbowmen, only just finished, is only shown in the last photo.)

 They will be listed for sale on the 10/02/13 with a starting bid of £127.00 (about 50% of the commission price for these figures,so a real bargain).
The colour scheme,red and white,banner of the Barons du Bec. These figures represent household or retained men of their feudal lord and clothing is cut from cloth of his colours accordingly. Complementary units are available on ebay.co.uk
They make a really powerful group of skirmishers, each figure is based on 20 x 20 mm individual bases attached to two movement trays with magnetic attachments. Some blank bases are included for casualties and flexibility of formation.

 Here the skirmishers are shown beside a unit of 12 dismounted Knights from the same household, the skirmishers have been split into a unit of 10 Archers and 6 Crossbowmen on separate movement trays. This photo shows the flexibility of this basing system.The 12 Dismounted Knights will soon be joined by 24 Infantry, which could be combined or mixed in with the 12 Dismounted Knights making a substantial unit.