Pendraken Miniatures Forum

Wider Wargaming => Painting & Modelling => Painting Diaries => Topic started by: d_Guy on 11 February 2019, 02:00:11 AM

Title: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: d_Guy on 11 February 2019, 02:00:11 AM
Pendraken, always striving for improvement!
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: fsn on 11 February 2019, 07:49:22 AM
D'Guy can use apostrophe's in a thread's tit'le.  :o :o :o :o

Truly he is the favoured of the Dark One.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Techno on 11 February 2019, 10:35:09 AM
Quote from: fsn on 11 February 2019, 07:49:22 AM
D'Guy can use apostrophe's in a thread's tit'le.  :o :o :o :o

Eh !!

Why's that then ?....If you're telling porkies, Nobby.....
Oh well...I'll find out when I press 'post'

Cheers - Puzzled of Wales
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Techno on 11 February 2019, 10:37:25 AM
I don't understand. :o

(No change there, then.) :'( :'(

Cheers - Phil
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: mmcv on 11 February 2019, 10:57:23 AM
I think the crafty chap has used a different apostrophe character to the usual one. ' will still fail but ' is fine.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: d_Guy on 11 February 2019, 05:09:58 PM
I can take no credit. OldenBUA discovered it (or prehapes made it happen). Leon has elsewhere announce the forum being upgraded.
Check Techno's "Just Testing" thread.
@mmcv - I tried every escape character and alternate character I could think of and never had success - this is a programming change.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: d_Guy on 11 February 2019, 07:06:47 PM
My recent "Tartan" thread was poorly conceived and even more poorly executed. I appreciate all the participants, but let me explain what I am trying to do.

I have commissioned Techno (and Pendraken has signed on as well) to produce +/- ten figures to cover roughly 1500 - 1620 (and likely latter) the Scottish highlands, Islands and Ireland. Four gallowglass and four kern/bonnacht figures already exist and I want to add several more. To some of these I want to add a folded blanket (plaid if you wish) that if desired can be painted as "tartan".

The Irish in the later stages of Tyrone's Rebellion had also organized into musket & pike units so I want to have done a couple pikemen and musketeers in the more traditional dress of the kern/bonnacht, as well.

My question remains to those doing or interested in this period and region, would you be inclined to add tartan to the figures?

I realize my painting threads do not get a high volume of views so please tell your friends.  :)


Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: fred. on 11 February 2019, 07:24:55 PM
I like the sound of those figures.

I would add some crossed line patterns to figures, but probably not full on tartan. But in 10mm you can get away with an impressionistic approach anyway.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Westmarcher on 11 February 2019, 08:15:02 PM
Quote from: d_Guy on 11 February 2019, 07:06:47 PM

My question remains to those doing or interested in this period and region, would you be inclined to add tartan to the figures?


Thinking that chequered (or early tartan, if you like) patterns existed in the Ancient Celtic world, I would say, why not? So I googled this and found out that well-preserved textiles were discovered at the Hallstatt salt mines in Austria which demonstrated that tartan was in fashion in the Celtic world of Central Europe in the 8th-6th centuries BC. As regards early evidence of a tartan like pattern in Scotland, here's a link to the Falkirk tartan.   :-B

http://nms.scran.ac.uk/database/results.php?QUICKSEARCH=1&search_term=falkirk+tartan (http://nms.scran.ac.uk/database/results.php?QUICKSEARCH=1&search_term=falkirk+tartan)
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: d_Guy on 11 February 2019, 08:15:26 PM
Thanks, Fred

Right now two of the gallowglass figures have a "plaid" suggested. This could be painted as a plain twill, a typical "saffron" or a tartan pattern. One would wear mail, the other an aketon/gabeson. This would give many painting posibilities.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: d_Guy on 11 February 2019, 08:20:25 PM
Thanks also, Westie
The Falkirk and Hallstatt were what I was thinking of when I did some of my Flodden figures. Thanks for the Falkirk link.
The twill weave is apparently one of the characteristics of "Celtic" fabric and even with two colors can produce many interesting patterns.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Terry37 on 18 March 2019, 03:51:42 AM
Bill, in answer to your question re adding tartan. The answer for me is yes. If that's what was worn, then I'd have to go for it. However, keep in mind the tartans at that time were nothing like we think of tartan today. I see it as very subtle earthy colors, such as grays, browns and tans, with maybe some red or green mixed in or as an occasional base color. Red and black checked is considered the Rob Roy/Macgregor tartan, but here we're talking 1671-1734. You can also consider stripes as tartan, and I would suspect/expect wide stripes. This site may be of help.

http://www.frockflicks.com/the-real-deal-on-tartan-kilts-and-outlander-costumes/

Terry
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: d_Guy on 24 May 2019, 04:23:30 PM
It is an embarrassment to add a diary thread each year and then forget to use or even look at it.
Thanks for that link Terry!

fsn's recent "What Next" thread reminded me I should put up something on my current Flodden project.

Here are the English northern levies:
(https://inredcoatragsattired.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/english-northern-levies.jpg?w=900)

Several forumites have already seen the summary post at d_blog but here is the link:
https://inredcoatragsattired.com/2019/05/20/finishing-up-the-flodden-armies/
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Leman on 24 May 2019, 04:30:02 PM
Nice to see another Flodden project in the making.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Duke Speedy of Leighton on 24 May 2019, 04:35:06 PM
Very nice work Bill
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: mmcv on 24 May 2019, 04:39:11 PM
Superb, all the pageantry on display!

The black edging on the flags really makes them pop, I may have to steal that technique!  :D
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: d_Guy on 24 May 2019, 04:56:06 PM
Thanks, mmcv. There have been discussions various places about the black edging. Others (PaulR and Pierre-the-shy come to mind) edge with the base color of the flag which looks really good. While I made a few of the flags, the bulk are made from the Pendraken Flodden four sheet set.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: mmcv on 24 May 2019, 05:39:42 PM
Yeah I've been edging with the base colour as well. My folding and sticking isn't always the neatest mind you, so black might neaten it up more.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: d_Guy on 24 May 2019, 06:59:40 PM
I use a black felt-tip brush - use the edge only. It is quick and easy and I attribute my mistakes to shot or arrow holes!  :)

Thanks also Leman and Mr. Lemmy. Flodden is weird battle - part medieval, part renaissance. It the gateway drug  to a whole new century of warfare for me, I think.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: paulr on 25 May 2019, 12:35:02 AM
 :-bd =D> :-bd
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: mmcv on 25 May 2019, 08:38:33 AM
Quote from: d_Guy on 24 May 2019, 06:59:40 PM
I use a black felt-tip brush - use the edge only. It is quick and easy and I attribute my mistakes to shot or arrow holes!  :)

Thanks also Leman and Mr. Lemmy. Flodden is weird battle - part medieval, part renaissance. It the gateway drug  to a whole new century of warfare for me, I think.

Thanks for the tip (no pun intended)
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Techno on 25 May 2019, 08:45:24 AM
Belting work, Bill  :-bd

They look stonking !!

Cheers - Phil
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: jambo1 on 25 May 2019, 04:34:36 PM
Superb!, they look the business! :)
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Terry37 on 26 May 2019, 08:16:32 PM
Very, very nice Bill. At some point ....maybe, I'll get my armies of he period painted????? Yours are very inspiring though!

Terry
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: d_Guy on 26 May 2019, 08:38:59 PM
Terry, thanks so much. I bought the Pendraken starter Armies for Flodden then two already painted armies on EBay. I've mentioned that I didn't like the way these last were painted and ended up repainting the entirety of both. The only time savings was I didn't have to prime them! Expensive lesson. Have also now added in most of starter packs as well to get the numbers I wanted.
Going originally with the over-sized flags for the Scots an they all had to be re-flagged. I am at least now starting to like the looks of them.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: d_Guy on 04 June 2019, 05:15:51 PM

Getting back into painting more and just finished up a flock of small bases to represent both fractional units and special purposes units for my messing around with the Flodden period. These take smaller, detachable flags, in this case to represent the Scottish factions taking place in the Battle of Linlithgow Bridge (1526).

The Lennox faction:
(https://inredcoatragsattired.files.wordpress.com/2019/06/linlithgow_lennox-small-pieces.jpg?w=800)

The Douglas/Howard faction:
(https://inredcoatragsattired.files.wordpress.com/2019/06/linlithgow_arrandouglasmisc.jpg?w=800)
In the left foreground is a timber barricade (obviously made of toothpicks) for the Linlithgow Bridge. The three rows behind the Douglas faction (heart) flag are for use elsewhere.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: fsn on 04 June 2019, 05:30:53 PM
Right. I'm new to the period, but why are the top bunch running under the Irish flag, and a section fo the lower photo appear to be Japanese.   :P





(Still waiting for the book you suggested.  :-[ )
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Duke Speedy of Leighton on 04 June 2019, 05:42:56 PM
It's a ❤ not a 🇯🇵
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: d_Guy on 04 June 2019, 06:15:55 PM
 ;D at a distance they might also be taken as Spanish!
Yes, Lemmy has it.

The St Patrick's cross flag is actually an abbreviation of the Lennox arms with the red rose in each quadrant omitted. 
At least one illustration in the book you are awaiting (The Heart and The Rose), shows a Lennox soldier wearing the same as a badge.
In fact when you see the map illustrations it will become obvious why I'm using faction flags.  :)
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Techno on 04 June 2019, 07:48:25 PM
Those are VERY tasty, Bill !!  :-bd

Cheers - Phil
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: paulr on 04 June 2019, 08:24:32 PM
 :-bd =D> :-bd
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Steve J on 04 June 2019, 09:15:05 PM
Lovely work there Bill 8).
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Terry37 on 04 June 2019, 10:23:41 PM
Wow! Look great to me Bill!!! makes me want to get started on my Henry VIII army!!!!

Terry
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Poggle on 04 June 2019, 10:59:43 PM
Very nice!  :-bd
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: pierre the shy on 04 June 2019, 11:14:52 PM
Those look very nice Bill.

Can you use your Flodden stuff for other mid C16 Scots/English battles like Pinkie and Carberry Hill (OK thats a Scots v Scots one  ;) and is more of a skirmish than a full scale battle).

Been reading a copy of "Killing Fields of Scotland AD83 to 1746" by R J M Pugh that Roy found in a booksale for $2. It goes into quite a lot of detail for C16 and C17 battles on Scots soil. 
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: d_Guy on 05 June 2019, 12:43:01 AM
Thanks again gentlemen all.

Peter, yes, I want to do things other than Flodden and the current project is in the book I mentioned to fsn (above), the Scots v Scots Battle of Linlithgow Bridge (1526). Part of the reason for doing those smaller bases is to be able to change the weapons mix (notably adding firearms) as the century advances. Solway Moss and Pinkie (two more Scottish disasters, fsn  :(  )are good possibilities but about 25% of my Scots have pavise which really don't look right except at Flodden. Of course I have some of my Scottish aristocracy in Agincourt period armor so if it isn't one thing it's another.  :)

Thanks for the book reference, I'll take a gander.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: mmcv on 05 June 2019, 06:29:31 PM
Excellent work! When you say detachable flags, do you just slot the flags on rather than gluing them to the pole so they can be lifted off, of have you some sort of clever drilling or fitting system for swapping out flags?
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: d_Guy on 05 June 2019, 09:26:10 PM
Nothing elaborate on the flags. I use a film of white glue, keeping the area around the pole clear, fold the flag and add the "waves" then carefully work the flag of the pole to dry. This makes exchanging flags really easy.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: mmcv on 05 June 2019, 10:21:37 PM
Interesting, I had tried similar before forming them round a thin rod but they tended to be a bit too loose when attached. I suspect the rod was a little thicker than the pole, but I didn't strictly need interchangeable flags so didn't experiment any further. One for the future.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: d_Guy on 06 June 2019, 01:37:05 AM
@MMVC
I pinch the flag into the pole as close as I can. Often after it drys it may gap open more. When that happens I work a small amount of glue and re-pinch until it closes.

Here is a tentative setup for Linlithgow Bridge based on Jonathan Cooper's excellent book:
(https://inredcoatragsattired.files.wordpress.com/2019/06/linlithgow-demo-setup.jpg?w=900)

A green on green checked bedspread?? Yup, making into a board game (sort of).
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Techno on 06 June 2019, 07:44:32 AM
Looks great, Bill !  :)

Cheers - Phil
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Westmarcher on 06 June 2019, 09:17:55 AM
Only now catching up on the last few days' posts. Great stuff, Bill!  If I ever need to know more about this period of my country's history, I'm think you're the man to go to! :-bd

p.s. And what a great idea for a playing surface - if you ever get fed up with the war game itself, you can have a game of 'squares' (!)  :P
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: d_Guy on 06 June 2019, 03:30:09 PM
Thanks Techno!

Westie, I would call on you for same regarding the civil war in my country!
I couldn't help myself, I saw the checked cloth and just had to give it a try, 😀
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: d_Guy on 07 June 2019, 12:15:18 AM
Cry, Awa, and unleash the oxen of war!

First step in making some gun transport for Flodden, pairs of NML19 getting yokes and trails:
(https://inredcoatragsattired.files.wordpress.com/2019/06/oxen-of-war.jpg?w=700)

Note to fsn - have yet to find BW26, like the bulk of these fellows better I think.

Anyone have an idea on color? I've seen both bay and black. An illustration at the Flodden visitor's center has teams pulling a gun during the battle as Guernsey pattern.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: fsn on 07 June 2019, 07:36:51 AM
I like the cut of your jib, young d_Guy.

It's the yolking that irks me. I do like the way you've done those, though.  :)
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Leman on 07 June 2019, 07:52:41 AM
They do look very good. I am assuming cocktail sticks.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Steve J on 07 June 2019, 09:40:39 AM
Great idea with the oxen Bill 8).
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: d_Guy on 07 June 2019, 03:53:36 PM
Leman, I'm using toothpicks (round as opposed to flat). Our cocktail sticks are longer and some what more narrow (but given our idiomatic difference, these might be your cocktail sticks?) We do use the round toothpicks to makeup horse dovers, however.  :)

The great beasts are now getting their ox bows and the middle seam of the yoke cross piece is getting built-up with green stuff.
(A round tooth pick is in the fuzzy back ground):
(https://inredcoatragsattired.files.wordpress.com/2019/06/oxen-with-bows.jpg?w=700)

Fsn, cutting 6mm off each tapered end of the toothpick and butting them together gave (more or less) the shape of the yoke.
In previous communication we discussed the spectacle of the gun train. Here are five teams nested:
(https://inredcoatragsattired.files.wordpress.com/2019/06/oxen-train.jpg?w=700)

As always, thanks for the comments all!

And please, if any one could suggest the appropriate skin color for 16th c oxen in Scotland, I would appreciate it.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Techno on 07 June 2019, 04:27:06 PM
Hi Bill. :)

Totally 'gut' feeling is that they would be black, or so dark brown you wouldn't  really know the difference.

I can only go on the basis that I've stood in a field, with a load of 'these gits', trying to take photos of Welsh beef cattle (for reference).

The 'conversation' was along the lines of......."Will you please get out of my blanking face....I don't want any of you to knock me over and stand on me."....(I think they weighed something close to an 'imperial' ton..)

They were very 'friendly'......But had no clue as to the potential damage they could do, to a skinny little oik like me, if they knocked me flat.....and then walked over me. ;)

Cheers - Phil
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Duke Speedy of Leighton on 07 June 2019, 06:26:06 PM
Browns, blacks, bay, dun, roan all work
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: d_Guy on 07 June 2019, 10:54:38 PM
Thanks Techno and Mr. Lemmy, they shall be base-coated burnt umber, highlighted in sienna (ox blood), washed in black.

Phil, your new tribal name in these part will be, "Near-Stomped-By-Ox".
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Techno on 08 June 2019, 07:34:18 AM
 ;D ;D ;D ;D

Some time after we moved over here, one of our fields got terribly overgrown, as far as the length of grass was concerned.....Too long for the horses to happily munch on.
One of our neighbours 'lent' us a dozen or so of his cows, to get the grass down to a manageable  length, so the horses could go back in.

I didn't know it before.....But in retrospect it would seem fairly obvious....But cows drink a LOT of water each day, so I had to fill one of the troughs at least a couple of times a day.
Each time I did this, I had to stay by the trough as it filled to stop it overflowing too much...This meant squatting near the trough, so I could control the speed of the water going in.

One of the cows, I think her name was Rosie, was particularly friendly and would often amble over to see what was going on. (Or wait for me to get out of the way, so she could have a drink)

It didn't 'worry' me, as such .....But it was a little disconcerting to suddenly notice a bloomin' great head leaning over your shoulder, when you're low to the ground.  ;D ;D

Cheers - Phil

Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: d_Guy on 08 June 2019, 09:00:01 PM
Phil you have sufficient experience to do a James Herriot-like book, your animal sculpts and the associated field research easily filling volume one!  :)

Here is the "official" set-up for Linlithgow Bridge:
(https://inredcoatragsattired.files.wordpress.com/2019/06/linlithgow-initial-setup-unlabled.jpg?w=800)

A ground level view looking south toward the Manuel Nunnery (on the horizon in the center) one mile distant. Hamilton's small blocking force is on the east side of the Avon bridge in the foreground:
(https://inredcoatragsattired.files.wordpress.com/2019/06/linlithgow-low-angle-looking-s.jpg?w=800)
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Techno on 09 June 2019, 08:44:13 AM
That looks cracking, Bill !!  :-bd

Cheers - Phil
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Lord Kermit of Birkenhead on 09 June 2019, 09:21:45 AM
Phil - cows aren't friendly, just nosiey - had corrugated iron to provide our overhead cover on an exercise on Ripon Training area. Local cows all turned up to see if was a new trough. That coupled with earth like concrete, loverly day.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Techno on 09 June 2019, 09:44:54 AM
Yep.....Nosy is probably a much better word to describe them. :)

(Also potentially very dangerous, especially if they're protecting a calf......Each year, you sadly seem to hear of a walker that's gone into a field for a walk, and ended up being knocked over and trampled.) :(

Cheers - Phil
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Duke Speedy of Leighton on 09 June 2019, 10:41:34 AM
Nice fields.
Cows, eek
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Leman on 09 June 2019, 01:11:16 PM
Crikey! that doesn't half look the dog's.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: d_Guy on 09 June 2019, 09:38:47 PM
Thanks again. Leman, I continue to be heavily influenced by your battlefield set up, still working on execution, however. A dog's what i'm Sure I don't know.
:P

Finished first ox train this afternoon. Earl of Lennox can now get his guns on the field:
(https://inredcoatragsattired.files.wordpress.com/2019/06/ox-train.jpg?w=900)
Attempting to indicate chains between the trails but not happy with the result. Will have to rethink.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Westmarcher on 09 June 2019, 10:30:04 PM
I'm going to swim against the stream here. I think the yokes are great but the cocktail sticks/ toothpicks between the oxen are over scale (i.e., too big). The chain effect is good - in fact everything is great - except it's too big - and that's because the cocktail sticks / toothpicks are too big. Just an honest opinion.

[sorry  :-[ ]
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: kipt on 09 June 2019, 11:11:37 PM
You can get real chain, used for model ships.  Very small.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Ithoriel on 09 June 2019, 11:39:59 PM
I like them as is. I think the cocktail sticks work well and if the "chains" are a little overscale I think the effect is very pleasing.

But that's just my two penn'orth!
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: d_Guy on 09 June 2019, 11:41:55 PM
I agree Westie, the original concept was to paint the bottom half black, but as with the chain, simply not working. Happily the trails are easily detached. In fact have already removed.  :)

Kipt, thanks also. I had searched for miniature chain and went into the world of jewelry! Will try ship modeling.

Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: d_Guy on 09 June 2019, 11:56:05 PM
Thanks, Ithoriel. I posted over top of your reply. I appreciate your opinion as you can see the concept. This is one of those times, however, where the image in one's head did not execute properly. For the moment they will pull the guns absent trails.

The killer in this was that my wife thought they looked like "cow-sickles".  :(   ;D
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Techno on 10 June 2019, 06:55:24 AM
 ;D ;D ;D ;D

Bill......The '"dog's".......refers to a certain, tender, part of a male dog's anatomy. (The dog's b*llocks is the full 'term')

I think it's a variation on the "bee's knees"......But why either of those phrases mean something really good, is beyond me.  ;D

Cheers - Phil
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Westmarcher on 10 June 2019, 11:12:59 AM
Quote from: d_Guy on 09 June 2019, 11:41:55 PM
I agree Westie, the original concept was to paint the bottom half black, but as with the chain, simply not working.

That sounded like a good idea to help disguise them (pity it didn't work when you tried it). Before trying the commercial market, I had the idea of using some ornate wire that was wrapped around a wine bottle in a mesh but never tried it out in practice. The advantage of this is that if it doesn't work, at least you had a nice bottle of wine to drink! What about straightening out a wire paper clip and cutting it to the desired length (and, of course, painting it)?
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: fsn on 10 June 2019, 11:32:17 AM
Florists wire.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Ithoriel on 10 June 2019, 03:26:54 PM
Quote from: Techno on 10 June 2019, 06:55:24 AM
;D ;D ;D ;D

Bill......The '"dog's".......refers to a certain, tender, part of a male dog's anatomy. (The dog's b*llocks is the full 'term')

I think it's a variation on the "bee's knees"......But why either of those phrases mean something really good, is beyond me.  ;D

Cheers - Phil

"It's the bee's knees" = "It's the business"

But as to "the mutt's nuts" ... I've no idea :)
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Techno on 10 June 2019, 04:44:19 PM
Thanks, Mike !  :)

Yes....Now you've said that.....The 'bizz-ness' does ring a bell.

Cheers - Phil
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: d_Guy on 10 June 2019, 06:57:50 PM
Ox train 1.01:
(https://inredcoatragsattired.files.wordpress.com/2019/06/ox-train-1-01.jpg?w=800)
Switched down to 1/32" brass rod to improve proportions.
I did find 0.8mm metal chain (thanks again, Kipt)  and the wine wire and florists wire are both good ideas.
In my concept the whole assembly has to be rigid since all the weight has to be carried by the oxen models in front. This allows them to be assembled in infinite ways.  I now have an Ox Train 2.0 design that I will try on the next batch. Continue to appreciate the denizens of this forum!

So, basically Bowser Balls.  :D
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Techno on 10 June 2019, 07:55:28 PM
That'll be as near as dammit, Bill.  ;D ;D ;D

Cheers - Phil
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Westmarcher on 10 June 2019, 08:26:03 PM
For me, that is good, Bill. I'm sold!  :-bd
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: paulr on 10 June 2019, 08:40:31 PM
 :-bd =D> :-bd
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: pierre the shy on 10 June 2019, 09:39:35 PM
They look very good with the rod you used  :-bd
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Leman on 11 June 2019, 11:29:30 AM
Two countries divided by the same language - dogs are particularly fond of cleaning that part of their anatomy and it seems to bring them great pleasure - this seems to explain the saying.  :o
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: d_Guy on 12 June 2019, 02:08:15 AM
Vivid, Leman, vivid.

While I have you here, how does Oman stack up these day for 16th c history of warfare? Reading his chapters on Tudor warfare again and find his prose style and lucidity pleasing. Likely will read the whole thing unless the Renaissance crew here has better suggestions.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Leman on 12 June 2019, 09:09:29 AM
I'm not aware of anything really new specifically on the Italian Wars, other than Mallett and Shaw's The Italian Wars and Turnbull's The Art of Renaissance Warfare. For me the two strongest contenders are Oman (much better prose style than Shaw, who wrote most of the above book after Michael Mallett's death) and F L Taylor's The Art of War in Italy 1494-1529. Despite both books being pre-War they do not appear to have been bettered. I would strongly recommend that you take a look at these two sites, which I have bookmarked:

http://stuartsworkbench.blogspot.co.uk/

http://thegreatitalianwars.blogspot.co.uk/

Stuart is fascinated by Henry VIII's campaign in France 1512-13, and he has modelled some absolutely beautiful 28mm figures for it. These have given me a real insight into what the French and English armies looked like at this time (particularly the French mounted archers who fought dismounted and dressed very similarly to English archers but in the then colours of Louis XII). Pete Smith, who also sells his own flags on Ebay (search for petesflags) is interested in the wider Italian Wars. Although his latest post is last August, it is very interesting as it is his 15mm interpretation of Venetian gendarmes and spear armed pavisiers. Although Pete's Flags are sold in 28mm and 15mm they can be resized for 10mm if you have the right equipment.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Duke Speedy of Leighton on 12 June 2019, 12:54:13 PM
He resized his Tudor flags brilliantly for me.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Leman on 12 June 2019, 01:01:59 PM
Thanks for that info Wil.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: d_Guy on 12 June 2019, 02:44:34 PM
Thanks for that, Leman, very useful comments and appreciate the links. Battle of the Spurs would be interesting particular if you did a "what if" and got the foot heavily involved.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Leman on 12 June 2019, 05:27:11 PM
Indeed, Stuart reckons the Francs Archers stationed in north-west France, of whom many were armed with pike, halberd and arquebus as well as those with crossbows and longbows, were a cut above the usual and were well capable of putting up a good fight.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: d_Guy on 15 June 2019, 06:32:23 PM
I'd mentioned to Techno sometime back that I had a hamstring sprain but after a few days I was relatively OK and this past Monday I was carrying a heavy box upstairs for my wife and at the top tripped forward. The result was a hyperextension of the same hamstring AND a sprained hip (which is arthritic anyway). I am now on two weeks of bed (or recliner) rest with my new friend, an ice pack. I will then get several weeks of PT.

I can only stand to sit in a chair for brief periods so painting and gaming are intermittent. Thursday I was able to clean up fifty-four figures for painting, Friday got them organized and on their painting sticks and today they got acrylic burnt umber primer/base coat (which I brush on). Now my butt hurts.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: paulr on 15 June 2019, 07:44:26 PM
B*gg*r, I hope the recovery goes smoothly and as rapidly as possible
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Ithoriel on 15 June 2019, 09:59:37 PM
Sorry to hear that. Hope recovery is as swift as possible.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: d_Guy on 15 June 2019, 10:12:05 PM
Thanks both, it is a tad annoying.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Westmarcher on 15 June 2019, 11:21:26 PM
Quote from: d_Guy on 15 June 2019, 06:32:23 PM
I can only stand to sit in a chair for brief periods so painting and gaming are intermittent. Thursday I was able to clean up fifty-four figures for painting, Friday got them organized and on their painting sticks and today they got acrylic burnt umber primer/base coat (which I brush on). Now my butt hurts.

Whit? Stand to sit? Sounds like the Glasgow clippie* who said to the perplexed drunk who tried to get on to the tram, "C'mon, get aff!" (Come on, get off).  :P

Seriously, what bad luck! Mind you, at least you're still managing to do some good hobby stuff. All the best, for a speedy recovery.

* a "clippie" is the lady - sometimes, a guy - who used to take the fares on the trams.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: fsn on 16 June 2019, 06:42:23 AM
(http://www.tramwaybadgesandbuttons.com/page148/page149/page194/files/gctww2clippie_stts.jpg)

Westie, how old are you? You sound like Techno's slightly younger brother.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Techno on 16 June 2019, 08:33:17 AM
Awww, Bill....

Hope that the hamstring and hip recover as soon as possible !

The joys of advancing years, seem to affect a lot of our esteemed colleagues on the forum nowadays. :(

Get better soon, Matey.

Best wishes - Phil





Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Westmarcher on 16 June 2019, 09:58:23 AM
Quote from: fsn on 16 June 2019, 06:42:23 AM

Westie, how old are you? You sound like Techno's slightly younger brother.

:P

Not far off, actually ...  :-[  (but still to collect my Old Age Pension). I can vaguely remember the last of the trams in my childhood home town of Paisley and, in later years, being very wary of getting the wheels of my bike stuck in the tram lines that continued to run through the cobbled streets before their eventual removal. In recent years, I discovered that my late mother-in-law was a clippie on the trams for a while and she loved it. She was a wee feisty but friendly woman and despite her size, if you gave her any cheek or bother, she would have had you off the tram before you got to the next stop!  ;D   

Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Leman on 16 June 2019, 10:57:47 AM
We have come to rue the day we got rid of trams, but now they are being restored - to my knowledge apart from Blackpool (which never lost them) they have been reinstated in Manchester, Sheffield, Wolverhampton, Nottingham and Croydon. does anyone know of anywhere else? We very nearly got them back in Liverpool but then the council got cold feet.

Sorry to hear about your trip Bill. Hope all is well soon.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Ithoriel on 16 June 2019, 12:06:00 PM
Edinburgh wasted a fortune on trams a few years back and is threatening to squander even more to extend the existing, useless service.

"500 million f***ing quid to replace the number 22 bus, have they completely lost their f***ing minds!" :)

BTW the 22 bus continues to run ... more frequently and to more stops than the trams.

Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Lord Kermit of Birkenhead on 16 June 2019, 12:08:24 PM
New trams in Liverpool were going to run out to Kirby, same as Merseyrail has, hence being abandoned. Brikenhead had the first trams in the country btw.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Westmarcher on 16 June 2019, 12:54:21 PM
Seen the Hitler / Edinburgh Tram video before - but still good!  ;D

My last experience on the Edinburgh Trams was as a prisoner. We were heading into town and very late for a special dinner reservation at the Balmoral Hotel. We were stuck in a traffic jam in Princes Street caused by motor vehicles which were, in turn, stuck at the junction between the Scott Monument and the Balmoral(?) and thus blocking the rails. We weren't allowed to exit the tram and time was ticking by very, very slowly, putting our reservation at risk. Very frustrating and I'm sure would not have happened if we were in a bus.    :-q
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Duke Speedy of Leighton on 16 June 2019, 01:44:52 PM
This is a hijack, take this thread to Cuba.
(Warning, subtitles not safe for work)
https://youtu.be/scIj3WSOhho
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Steve J on 16 June 2019, 03:52:17 PM
Very funny ;D ;D ;D. Here in Bristol there has been talk for years of putting the trams back on the streets. Eventually they decided to go with a fancy park and ride scheme, with the roads completed before they had anyone to even run it!!! Oh, and bendy buses cause a perpetual nightmare here :(.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: d_Guy on 16 June 2019, 04:00:41 PM
 ;D ;D
"Find Wally"

If not to be highjacked, what are the point of threads? It's like:


In early visits would stick out a handful of bizarre coins and let the "clippy" sort through them.

Thanks for the continued good wishes.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Techno on 16 June 2019, 04:09:57 PM
Quote from: Ithoriel on 16 June 2019, 12:06:00 PM
"500 million f***ing quid to replace the number 22 bus, have they completely lost their f***ing minds!" :)

So...Mike.....Come on.....Are you trying to tell us that you think it was a waste of money ?  :-\

I really think that folk should say what they mean, and not simply sit on the fence and leave everybody to guess their true opinions. ;)

Cheers - A Git.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Ithoriel on 16 June 2019, 04:18:28 PM
Quote from: Techno on 16 June 2019, 04:09:57 PM
So...Mike.....Come on.....Are you trying to tell us that you think it was a waste of money ?  :-

"You might say that, I couldn't possibly comment." ;)
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Techno on 16 June 2019, 04:26:29 PM
 ;D ;D ;D ;D

Cheers - Phil  ;)
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Leman on 16 June 2019, 05:26:56 PM
Obviously if they are used correctly they can be of enormous benefit and cut pollution - or perhaps people like the idea of more youngsters with asthma - makes the awkward little buggers easier to control. The tram from Kirkby into Liverpool City centre would have taken a different route to the train with more stops, and then have looped around the city centre. Would have been a boon now that Liverpool has become a tourist destination. The buses push out fumes and are help to congest the roads.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: fsn on 16 June 2019, 05:43:35 PM
When I leave work (in Liverpool) - about 7pm - I have a 15 minute walk to the car. I almost never hear English (or even Scouse) spoken.

I think everyone in Liverpool is a tourist.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Techno on 16 June 2019, 05:45:40 PM
 :o :o :o

Cheers - Phil
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Ithoriel on 16 June 2019, 05:53:03 PM
Buses here are increasingly electric or hybrid so still no excuse for extravagant spending on a white elephant.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Westmarcher on 16 June 2019, 06:38:57 PM
This (thread derailment) is like visiting someone (in this case, d-guy) who is sick; chatting about everything except the subject matter.

... which reminds me of the time a friend gave me an elephant for my room. I said, "Thanks." He said, "Don't mention it.'
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: mmcv on 16 June 2019, 06:45:21 PM
Quote from: Steve J on 16 June 2019, 03:52:17 PM
Very funny ;D ;D ;D. Here in Bristol there has been talk for years of putting the trams back on the streets. Eventually they decided to go with a fancy park and ride scheme, with the roads completed before they had anyone to even run it!!! Oh, and bendy buses cause a perpetual nightmare here :(.

Did something similar in Belfast here, rapid transit bus system with dedicated bus lanes and park and rides. At the moment they have some Glider (tram like bendy bus) services running east to west and within the city centre to the newer 'Titanic' district. Not sure if they intend to expand anymore since we've not had a government for over two years! Seems to work well the few times I've used it mind you.

P.S. sorry to hear about your injury Bill, hope it heals soon!
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Ithoriel on 16 June 2019, 07:07:33 PM
Quote from: Westmarcher on 16 June 2019, 06:38:57 PM
This (thread derailment) is like visiting someone (in this case, d-guy) who is sick; chatting about everything except the subject matter.

... which reminds me of the time a friend gave me an elephant for my room. I said, "Thanks." He said, "Don't mention it.'

:D :D :D :D

To plagiarise Wilde and Whistler

Ithoriel: I wish I had said that.
Westmarcher: You will, Ithoriel, you will.

:)
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: d_Guy on 16 June 2019, 11:15:23 PM
More thanks.
Just don't sit on my bed while discussing the merits of light rail (and leave the nurses alone!)
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: d_Guy on 18 June 2019, 09:25:42 PM
Got base flesh on the 56 figures. 28 mid 17th c Irish musketeers, 28 early to mid 16th c pikemen. Will now complete pikemen first. Got all the base steel on their armor.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Westmarcher on 19 June 2019, 11:54:16 AM
Quote from: Ithoriel on 16 June 2019, 07:07:33 PM
:D :D :D :D

To plagiarise Wilde and Whistler

Ithoriel: I wish I had said that.
Westmarcher: You will, Ithoriel, you will.

:)

Cheers, Mike.  ;D  ;)
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Techno on 19 June 2019, 03:44:56 PM
Who do you two think you are ?

David Hume ?  ;)

Que the Monty Python 'Philosophers song.'

Cheers - Phil  :)
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: d_Guy on 19 June 2019, 07:16:18 PM
Got the color blocking on the pikemen.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: d_Guy on 21 June 2019, 05:39:15 AM
Now have the 28 Flodden era pikeman painted and based up. These, at best, are wargame quality as more and more I am speed painting  - base coat, color block, highlight, wash, base.:
(https://inredcoatragsattired.files.wordpress.com/2019/06/new-pike-pieces.jpg?w=700)
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: paulr on 21 June 2019, 05:42:01 AM
 :-bd =D> :-bd
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Techno on 21 June 2019, 07:15:20 AM
Look damn fine to me, Bill ! :-bd

Cheers - Phil
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Duke Speedy of Leighton on 21 June 2019, 07:20:42 AM
Very cool
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: mmcv on 21 June 2019, 07:44:37 AM
They look well for a speed paint!
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Leman on 21 June 2019, 08:20:43 AM
Looking great. I love that range of figures.
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: d_Guy on 23 June 2019, 08:03:09 PM
I was not joking about using PaulR's diary as a painting tutorial.
Here are the new Irish musketeers finished off (with a few repurposed ensigns added in).
(https://inredcoatragsattired.files.wordpress.com/2019/06/new-irish-skirmishers.jpg?w=700)
Even though following his exact order of applying paints, washes and highlights, STILL not reproducing his excellent results.  :'(
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: paulr on 23 June 2019, 08:56:11 PM
 ;D

:-bd =D> :-bd
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Duke Speedy of Leighton on 23 June 2019, 11:21:32 PM
They look good though
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Westmarcher on 23 June 2019, 11:22:49 PM
Looking good, Bill.  :-bd
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: mmcv on 24 June 2019, 07:53:21 AM
Definitely look the part
Title: Re: d’guy’s all new and totally improved 2019 painting diary
Post by: Techno on 24 June 2019, 07:54:52 AM
Super work, Bill.

Cheers - Phil