Fred's 2016 Painting Diary

[Techno]

Looking really good, Forbes. 
Cheers - Phil

[fred.]

What's it like for kids?  I remember going when it first opened in the 90's and they had a load of interactive displays, crossbow firing, electronic pedestrian shooting (!), etc. so it was quite good fun for younger visitors.  I've not been back since, so we're thinking about taking the kids over in the next month or so.

There is definitely some stuff for kids. But most of it is quite traditional objects in cases. But lots of objects well presented. As I didn't have the kids with me, I kind of didn't pay too much attention to the more interactive kids stuff. The various shooty  things in the entrance hall were all out of service though.

[Bodvoc]

I have just booked a school trip for 128 pupils and the Armouries are putting on some great workshops for us, suiting up in 100 years War armour, firing model trebuchets etc...At least I will have fun, hopefully the kids will too!

[Leon]

There is definitely some stuff for kids. But most of it is quite traditional objects in cases. But lots of objects well presented. As I didn't have the kids with me, I kind of didn't pay too much attention to the more interactive kids stuff. The various shooty  things in the entrance hall were all out of service though.

Thanks for the info, we'll go along and see then.  It won't be for a while yet so hopefully some of the out of service things will be back in action.

[fred.]

I have just booked a school trip for 128 pupils

Good Luck!!

and the Armouries are putting on some great workshops for us, suiting up in 100 years War armour, firing model trebuchets etc...At least I will have fun, hopefully the kids will too!

Sounds great. I only saw a chap talking about the various Samurai displays - but this was very interesting and informative. So actual hands on stuff should be really good.

Double Games
Managed to get a game in both Friday and Saturday night this week.

Friday was 4 player Epic at a mates, Marines and Necrons in an alliance of convenience vs Tyranids. This was using a new 'nid list, and it seems a bit too good. But it was a good game, even if I was struggling with armour saves, and with rally rolls.



Saturday, we tried some new rules - Irregular Wars - which are historical rules in 16th to 17th Centuries, particularly focused on the smaller scale conflicts around the fringes of Europe and the exploration of the New World.
We went with a some what hypothetical Imperial (Holy Roman Empire) vs Steppe Khanate - basically as I had figures for these two armies.


Lots of Pendraken figures (about time, says Leon!) The Steppe Khanate are Pendraken Mongols, and the Imperial Pikes and Cannon are Pendraken too.
In this picture the Khanate forces have moved from their starting position on the right, to the left, and would later move back to the right - they are highly mobile as would be expected. Steve was rather cautious with them and eventually allowed the Imperial shooting to really take its toll. The Imperial pikes proved very resilient in melee - even when flanked. We really enjoyed the rules - they were simple to get the hang of, but had a lot of flavour and tactical thinking. Well worth the £12. I'm working out which other armies I already have a core of - and which need a few additions to increase their playability.


Banana Basing

Lots of basing of the Banana Marines' Armour today - so got all the bases textured, and a couple of layers of dry brushing applied.


But now that it is starting to dry, I am wondering if I have gone light enough.

[paulr]

Short answer, based on that picture is No

[Techno]

Great piccies on the previous page, Forbes ! 

I'd also go for lightening the bases, a tad. 

Cheers - Phil

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

The bases look great.

[fred.]

Added another even lighter highlight to the bases - I think they are about right now - unless they dry darker.

Did a few bits more detailing to a few land speeders, and some marines' shoulder pads. Tidied up the land speeders stands with grey to hide various painting mistakes.

Hopefully get some flock on these in the next couple of days.

[fred.]

Imperial Fists



Finished off the basing with some mixed flock.

The rest of the infantry came painted, so other than a few bits and pieces that I am waiting on delivery of, this lot are done!!

Not quite sure what is next.

Might finish off a few Tyranids while I have the Epic bug.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Nice work, good plan to do bugs whilst you have the bug!

[Steve J]

Very nice and I like the slightly different tones of yellow to break up that massed look.

[Bodvoc]

They look great.

[Techno]

Those look great, Forbes ! 
Cheers - Phil

[fred.]

Thanks chaps.

Very nice and I like the slightly different tones of yellow to break up that massed look.

Yes, this was definitely deliberate  But it seems to have come out ok.

[Leman]

The idea of making the vehicles slightly different in tone looks really effective'

[Womble67]

Very nice indeed

Take care

Andy

[fred.]

Played Epic again last night - a different and fun game.

We played a scenario centred around floating city platforms on a gas giant.



The Imperial Guard were defending the bombed city, while my Tyranids swarmed in trying to capture 2 of the 3 objectives. Jon had done great work in painting up the main floating city board, but as your can see we were a bit short of matching buildings. We decided to play the blue 'streets' as air, so that each block was its own platform - linked by bridges. This proved a little too restrictive on movement. When we play this again I think we will have this whole board as ground. With more restrictions on the movement through the city blocks.


The remains of one of my swarms after getting bombed while crowded on a bridge - not good  

It was a tense cautious game, with the Imperial Guard having to stay fairly spread out to defend the 3 objectives - while the Tyranids struggled to mass enough force to take the two objectives I was focusing on. But in the fourth turn, the pressure finally told and I was able to grab the central objective, and totally dominate the right hand one.

It was a good game, and really mixed things up with the different floating platforms to fight on.

[Womble67]

Looks like you had fun

Take care

Andy

[Techno]

Great stuff, Forbes.

Cheers - Phil