My wife always claims I spend far too long lost in my own little world, well now here is the proof. After a busy day at work, if I am not gaming then there is now better way of relaxing than painting, modelling, reading etc...all about my favourite indoor hobby. I also enjoy running, fell walking and mountain biking but injury then illness have curtailed those interests in recent months leading towards an increased obsession with wargaming to keep myself entertained.
One of my main projects for this year is 15mm Carthaginians from Westwind/Forged in Battle. So far I have painted up 10 units or bases for Impetus and To the Strongest.
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh499/Merlin1960/Carthage%20Cav%20and%20Spear_zpskhi0jejb.jpg)
This photo shows my Punic cavalry and Spearmen.
My other project so far this year has been painting 15mm fantasy. I got rid of all my 15mm figures a few years ago in favour of 10mm for large battles and 28mm for skirmish. However, making new gaming friends has led to me not only going for 15mm Ancients but 15mm Fantasy also for games of Dragon Rampant. First up I painted some 15mm Beastmen.
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh499/Merlin1960/beastie%20elites_zps6mjzc0u3.jpg)
and centaurs
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh499/Merlin1960/centaurs_zpsukbfjza0.jpg)
and ogres
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh499/Merlin1960/ogres_zpskh02zig1.jpg)
I next decided to create a map to base my games in. This map will also be used for games of 28mm Frostgrave and 10mm games of Warband. The map is of The Braemarg, a wild and untamed wilderness bordered by several races. The ruins will be home to games of Frostgrave.
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh499/Merlin1960/1634ec1a-ce44-43a9-a0b5-e2d7b07fc1e9_zps4a00ewoo.jpg)
You could say that this really is my own little world. It is loosely based on a much larger fantasy map I drew many years ago, the Braemarg being just a small part of Aelgard. You will notice I like my fantasy quite Tolkien like.
The little that we know of the Brae-Marg has been gleaned from Ancient Elvish maps and Dwarven chronicles. It is a desolate and dangerous wasteland bordered by several races.
Ermain Tor: home to the Human Horse Lords. These are quite Celtic Arthurian in theme.
Valheim and Nilheim: the dark, northern land of Orcs and Goblins.
Feldros: up high in the Aven Peaks, this is a mountainous land of rampaging bands of savage Beastmen.
Dunuik and C'Nos: inhabited by numerous warring tribes of Barbarians, this army is currently on the painting table, with a few units finished.
Galgoen and the Colbryn Forest: Ancient home of the Elves.
KynMarroc: Mountain Hold of the Dwarf Lords of the Line of Marroc.
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh499/Merlin1960/priest%20and%20giant_zpshcgox9tw.jpg)
Here, Red Kator, a barbarian shaman with his bodyguard, outside his hut.
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh499/Merlin1960/dr4_zpsveb6gcuc.jpg)
and here some Barbarians shelter in the ruins of a tower that I just finished making (waiting for the rest of their troops to be painted up).
I hope you like what I have produced so far this year. Soon there will be Barbarian archers and chariots drawn by deer plus the Barbarian warlord, Bodvoc!
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh499/Merlin1960/f6_zpsng58jmaj.jpg)
And here a shot of a recent game of Frostgrave in the ruins, against Roy from this forum. The ruins are those of Fyngores Keep, once home to the Fabled wizard Fyngore until one day it all went wrong (and we get to search for treasure in a ruin without snow).
You have been busy :)
I like your basing style.
Lovely stuff,
Nice place your little world, even if the occupants can be a little scary at times :D
Impressed with the Carthaginians - I have load of their stuff to select after the last Kickstarter, so it's good to see some nicely painted examples.
Splendid stuff ! 8)
Cheers - Phil
:-bd =D> :-bd =D>
Looks like time in your little world has been well spent ;) :)
On second thought, let's not go to The Braemarg, tis a silly place ;D
Very nice looking! I like the world you are creating - fun!
Brought this to mind :)
(https://leadenshipsandtinmen.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/20160327_033126000_ios.gif)
Lovely stuff!!! Some great looking figures there, great painting and basing too!! I like your little world, i tend to drift of into one myself!! :-bd
Colburn Forest?! Sorry, Colbryn. I'll pronounce it Colbyrn; the 'y' giving a 'u' sound ;)
So where's the magical Rift Portal [see Raymond E. Fiest's Midkemia fantasy books], acting as a bridge across space and time and allowing those Samurai Apes to invade from?
Best I not mention the 15mm 'not-Sohei-Monks and not-Ikko-Ikki' invaders then :P
15mm TtS! I've only just started 28mm Ancient Germans! ;D
Nice stuff by the way.
Not counting my DIY spell marker ruining the game photo :-[
Just finished painting the family bathroom, so now it is time to go back to my own little world and paint somthing a bit more interesting.
Thanks for all the kind words everyone, d Guy, I am just like Calvin, have been for over 40 years now :)
Roy, you are only just beginning to understand how much of a wargames butterfly I am ;D
Those Punic troops look terrific. Rather like the Shakespeare themed army featuring Bottom men warriors.
Well, we just did "A Midsummer Nights Dream" as our school play so the influence was there.
Great looking figures, love the terrain, the map is excellent and I've no doubt that many of us spend quite some considerable time making up our own little worlds. The difference being that you have taken the next step. Very interesting.
Rather cool! 8)
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh499/Merlin1960/Barbows_zps49pr2e6l.jpg)
Fresh from the painting table: Barbarian Archers, led by Oddroc, the chap with the raven winged helmet. These are mainly mighty Armies 15mm Fantasy with Oddroc being a Demonworld figure.
:-bd
Very nice, indeed !! :)
Cheers - Phil
Here we have 2 deer/stag drawn chariots for my 15mm Barbarian Dragon Rampant force. These chariots were introduced to the barbarians by their great ancestor, San'Ta who was renowned for his giving.
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh499/Merlin1960/chariots_zps1lzvmfeg.jpg)
I got the Barbarians off ebay, they are a Mighty Armies Army pack. Only problem was the car of all the chariots were missing. I ended up paying more to buy some extra Chariot bodies than I did for the whole army :(.
Tonight, just to be different, I am hoping to play Dragon Rampant against my gaming pals from the other end of the dales...but in 28mm. I will however take along my 15mm forces for 'show and tell'.
Those are great
:-bd
Cheers - Phil
Very nice. :-bd
And now, here is the Mighty Bodvoc himself, Chieftain of the War Crows, surrounded by his men. That now makes 24 points or a basic force of Dragon Rampant.
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh499/Merlin1960/Bodvoc2_zpsz4cokvqz.jpg)
Mighty Bodvoc must now lay down his war axe and take up his mountain bike as he heads for the 7 Stanes mountain bike trails for a week. When he returns he will hopefully get chance to play his first game or two.
Nice work Bodvoc!
Would not like to meet that lot on a dark night.
They're on a stag do.
Nice stuff Bodvoc 8)
Looking good :-bd
But rather you than me riding a bike on holiday!
And you're going to miss a wargames show this Sunday
https://retfordwargames.wordpress.com/cannon-2015/ (https://retfordwargames.wordpress.com/cannon-2015/)
Continuing to enjoy your work Bodvoc. Particularly your own character and War Crows banner with stag skull!
In many ways your world is capturing the essence of my neighbors week-end parties.
Bloody Hell! Is Trump your neighbour - the devil incarnate. Think I'd rather have Tom Ellis living next door.
Very,very nice, Bodvok !
Cheers - Phil
Nicely painted figures on very good bases.
Quote from: Leman on 31 March 2016, 06:08:59 PM
Bloody Hell! Is Trump your neighbour - the devil incarnate. Think I'd rather have Tom Ellis living next door.
;D I doubt we are sufficiently upscale for "the Donald"
I'm liking these Bodvoc - cool stuff.
Nice work Bodvoc
Take care
Andy
Really, REALLY nice Bodvoc. I hadn't seen any of the Westwind 15mm stuff and what I see is encouraging. My only experience of Westwind is their 28mm Weird War stuff which is frankly quite poor by comparison.
I'm bitten by the Ancients bug at the moment - why did I sell off all my Essex stuff :o :o :o and thinking of collecting some more armies for Impetus and Sword and Spear. Sadly options in 10mm are still narrow although I do like Magisters Medievals even if some of the poses are limited.
15mm might be the way to go :-\
Very nice 8)
Latest thing I have finished are 3 rocky outcrops that I should be able to use with most scales of figures. Shown here with some 15mm centaurs to give an idea of size.
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh499/Merlin1960/Rocky%20outcrop_zpsumpjsk8g.jpg)
Looks really cool ! 8)
Cheers - Phil
Really impressed by your work. Great detail in the models and the background.
Never been tempted by fantasy gaming, apart from a schoolboy foray back in the 70s with Minifigs Middel earth range, but this is whetting my appetite :o
Very nice work Bodvoc
Take care
Andy
:-bd =D> :-bd
All the archers except the guy with the sword are left handed...is this normal with centaurs?
My bet, is that the designer is left handed, and it feels more 'natural' for him/her to make them like that. ;)
I'm right handed.....And if I make a left handed figure, it simply feels 'wrong'. ;D ;D ;D
Cheers - Phil
Although I write right handed, last year I discovered that I am left handed when using a bow :-\
... whereas I'm predominantly left-handed but right handed when shooting a bow. When I learnt to use a bow the instructress assumed I'd shoot left-handed but I couldn't hit a thing* so (in despair I think) she suggested I try a right-handed stance and there was an instant and massive improvement.
*Not literally true, I occasionally got a very respectable score on the target next to mine :(
Conceivably centaurs are ambowdexterous.
Transatlantic COAT!
Though it'll have to be shipped over to Nobby, so he can chew it, first.
(We must retain tradition, after all.) ;)
Cheers - Phil
MmmMMmmm ... transatlantic salty!
Wonder what the postage is, now it's been chewed!
Quote from: fsn on 15 April 2016, 06:47:07 PM
MmmMMmmm ... transatlantic salty!
"Salty" in my native land is an Afrikaans term of mild derision for a local white English-speaker, a "soutie" (pr.
so, a needle pulling thread,
tie, a drink with jam and bread, stress on the first syllable, which Maria can't help with). The idea is one foot in Africa, one foot in Europe, and a bit getting salty by dangling in the ocean in the middle.
Useless but amusing information for the day.
;D
Hard to tell what just happened here.
"The weird sisters, hand in hand, posters of the sea and land..."
Macbeth, Act 1 Scene 3
Sorry Guy.
Not sure if this another of our little foibles that you haven't come across yet.
Anyway.........Just in case.
You'll occasionally see one of our esteemed members being asked to collect his coat (usually for a pun, or a really bad joke)....Or get just the word "Coat !" in the follow on post.
Sometimes you'll notice that after one of the above...The writer will say "I'll collect me own coat." (Before I leave)
Before the coat is returned (As well as being one of the designers, I've apparently been promoted to 'coat monitor', as well).....I usually ask Nobby to clean said coat by giving it a good chew.
Hope that makes sense. (You knew we were as mad as a box of frogs already.) ;)
Cheers - Phil (Chief cloakroom attendant)
It comes from two routes:
1) the glorious BBC comedy sketch show 'The Fast Show', where a character would make increasingly horrific faux pas, before realising quite what he had done, and uttering the line:
I'll get me coat!
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2v6abw
2) The early 20th century music hall/theatre tradition where if an act 'died' on stage (went down badly with the crowd) as they would leave the stage they would be advised to get their coat (and don't come back)!
Will
Forum Bar Steward
Ah! Like "check!" or "check, please!" - thanks!
Guy
Forum idiot in training
I would say yes, but...
Quote from: mad lemmey on 16 April 2016, 08:58:12 PM
I would say yes, but...
...there's an error in the third order differential?!!
Can we never teach these da***d colonials proper English usage. :'( :'(
IanS ;)
Like question marks....
Quote from: FierceKitty on 17 April 2016, 06:39:25 AM
Like question marks....
Not really but they have their place I suppose ;)
A bun is the lowest form of wheat!
Sometimes you've just got to roll with it FK.
Quote from: mad lemmey on 15 April 2016, 06:58:07 PM
Wonder what the postage is, now it's been chewed!
Make sure you send a nice piece of Wensleydale with the coat. I have heard he does like his Mac and cheese
I'll start on your coat in a minute.
You can chew Will's coat, as well. :P ;)
Cheers - Phil
Someone finally got it!
Call an Ambulance once a week ???
IanS
First up a photo of my latest game of Dragon Rampant, sadly all the rest of the photo's were too blurred to use. Here mate Steve and I are using both of my 15mm forces.
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh499/Merlin1960/game%20v%20Steve4_zpsqeabnhqg.jpg)
There was treasure up on that hill and my chariots were after it but the way was blocked by the Beastman champion. Meanwhile my Ogres try to chase off the pesky centaur archers.
Next up is my latest two units of 15mm Carthaginian Veteran Spearmen for Impetus. Forged in battle figures, lovely to paint.
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh499/Merlin1960/Carthage%20Vet%20Spear_zpszmb8bbxc.jpg)
You will also see a GW LOTR well, painted up ready as a scenario centre piece for more 15mm Dragon Rampant.
My gaming pals have decided we need to play 'Baroque' soon so I am heading back to my Peter Pig ECW, will post photos once any progress is made.
sorry to hear about the injury but as long as you can still game your good xD when i saw the picture of your map it instantly sparked an instant idea of forming a campaign for players at my local shop with conquering of areas and so on. maybe even having a big board where people pin their armies in areas that they control and having themed mats after the areas :o possibilities are endless
Sorry, Bodvoc.
Missed those previously !
The Carthaginian 'vets' look terrific !
Cheers - Phil
Great looking Carthaginian vets, and very useful too when the elephants get sick.
Thanks for the comments guy's. The Carthaginians have been put to one side to get some more 15mm ECW done ready for our first 4 player game of Baroque this weekend.
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh499/Merlin1960/Sir%20William%20Constable_zps4fudrjvd.jpg)
Here is Sir William Constables unit of Musket and Pike marching towards York, coat colours early war were blue, flag is unknown so I just chose one at random? Photo was taken on my fancy new Samsung phone.
Back to Carthage soon but I would like to paint another unit of ECW cavalry first.
:-bd =D> :-bd
Very cool!
:-bd :-bd
Latest offering from the painting table, a units of 15mm Barbarian cavalry from Copplestone Castings, going to be used for Lion Rampant. Lovely figures to paint, must get some more :)
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh499/Merlin1960/barb%20cav_zpskeoufosy.jpg)
Very, very nice, Bodvoc !! :-bd
Cheers - Phil
Nifty. What are they - Goths?
Goth's, no. They have never been to Whitby! :D
Very nice. Your background bits are nicely done as well.
Superb
Well the few new painted figures I have to show took quite a while to finish as I managed to fall off my Mountain Bike last weekend breaking a finger in my right hand amongst other bumps and bruises. Having two finger taped together to stop me using the broken one has led to all sorts of dropped paint brushes, dropped figures etc...as I try new ways of holding them.
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh499/Merlin1960/Cav2_zpsko3m035f.jpg)
A unit of 15mm ECW Cav, Col. George Doddings Regt wondering which way it is to Marston Moor?
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh499/Merlin1960/Cav1_zpsvyxm0cqn.jpg)
and an old Citadel Treeman repainted for 15mm Dragon Rampant.
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh499/Merlin1960/treeman_zpsmobcxfiy.jpg)
Very nice work, Bodvoc !
Hope the finger mends 'as soon as'.....That must make things bloody awkward painting wise, at the mo'. :(
Cheers - Phil
Quote from: Techno on 11 June 2016, 08:02:05 PM
Very nice work, Bodvoc !
Hope the finger mends 'as soon as'.....That must make things bloody awkward painting wise, at the mo'. :(
Cheers - Phil
Is "painting wise" the same thing as painting wizards?
Hope you recover soon, particularly the finger
Get better soon
Sorry about the finger but the horse unit still looks good. Uh - how's the mountain bike?
Thanks for the good wishes chaps, the mountain bike is in better shape than I am, it rolls and bounces better than I do. :)
Well, the broken finger is now mended but June was so busy with both family and work stuff that not much painting (or gaming) got done. Now I am back painting and have a few games lined up over the next couple of weeks, starting with some Dragon Rampant tonight.
Latest progress: First up I have made another piece of scenery for 15mm Dragon Rampant, an old mine entrance.
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh499/Merlin1960/Mines_zpszzr91ew8.jpg)
I also rebased my 15mm ECW Dragoons putting Horse holders on their bases like in the Baroque rulebook, this freed up a few extra figures which I added to creating a unit of Folorn Hope.
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh499/Merlin1960/Dragoons_zpsfmvbde9z.jpg)
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh499/Merlin1960/FH_zpsyhm32qrr.jpg)
Very nice Bodvoc!
Well, with regard to the photographs, I have to be frank (who, as many of you will know, is not always a good guy). They could be better.*
As for the minis? Quality paint work there, Bodvoc! :-bd
Looks like I missed the saga of the broken digit but good to read its now mended.
* perhaps a better camera? ;)
Thirded :)
Fourthed :)
QuoteWell, with regard to the photographs, I have to be frank (who, as many of you will know, is not always a good guy). They could be better.*
Thanks for the kind comments about my figures and scenery. As for the photo's, well to be Frank as well, I never seem to get a really good photo. These recent ones were taken on my phone with it's 16 megapixel camera, but even when I use our little camera I get similar results. Maybe I need one of those SLR camera's? What does anyone else use to take their photos?
I've always found you can get good results with a compact camera in macro mode, on a tripod.
The secret is the lighting. I invested a small amount on Amazon and got me a lighting box.
I'd agree with Nobby.
Though......I never bother with a tripod, when I send piccies of masters up to Leon...... The 'compact' Pentax in macro (or super macro) mode, and hand held, usually suffices.
(I 'lock' my elbows onto the desk top, so I can hold the little camera steady.)
To take really 'crisp' photos..... a light box and tripod would help enormously.
(Unless you're Forbes (Fred) who gets amazing pics from his phone's camera....which annoys me enormously*. ;) ;) ;) ;D ;D ;D)
Cheers - Phil
* I really don't think I'd get as good photo's with my Canon digital SLR if I used a tripod and a light box =)
I have a tiny tripod. It sits on the table. You can pick 'em up in ASDA for a few quid. Gorillapods are good for this too.
I am sure we have a little tripod hid away somewhere, I will try and find it and see what I can do,
Cheers for the help chaps. :)
Excellent ECW stuff there.
Quote from: fsn on 13 July 2016, 12:12:54 PM
I have a tiny tripod. It sits on the table. You can pick 'em up in ASDA for a few quid. Gorillapods are good for this too.
Our Poundland sells them...I have two.
MickS
How much for, Mick? ;D
Quote from: fsn on 13 July 2016, 07:06:57 AM
The secret is the lighting. I invested a small amount on Amazon and got me a lighting box.
Funny enough, someone else recently invested in a light box (see link)
http://palousewargamingjournal.blogspot.co.uk (http://palousewargamingjournal.blogspot.co.uk)
Not that I am advocating you invest in one, Bod. I think your painting is very good. Nearly as good as mine. OK. Better. It was just me observing that the photos didn't do justice to your work. Anyhoo. I suppose it's really down to how important it is for you to let the world see your painted miniatures. Whilst voyeurs like me love eye candy and wholly appreciate other wargamers showing us their .. erm .. you know, you might decide that spending money on more minis etc., rather than on photographic equipment, will be more fun (which would be good for you and voyeurs like me would be able to see more new stuff you've painted). :)
Take Nobby for instance (please). I do believe I have seen his photos using a light box ...
.... and ....... well .......
....... although he did look rather fetching in ......... :-[
I think I would like to get better photo's of my figures for my own pleasure as well as for sharing, when funds allow I shall get some form of lightbox.
Before I splashed out fro the box, I made my own. A clear plastic box (Really Useful Box Company are excellent), lined with greaseproof paper. I was fortunate to have two small desk lamps with daylight bulbs that I used to shine onto the box.
It's just a case of getting an even, diffuse light on the figures.
In my case, as may have been intimated, my photography is far better than my painting. Hence I tend to delete many, many photographs. :(
My own "lightbox" is four pieces of A4 card. One for the base, one for the back, two for the sides all artfully joined by strips of Sellotape.
Cost next to nothing, stores flat, is big enough for anything in the 3mm - 15mm range that my figures are these days and seems to work well enough.
Ok, I have found my little tripod and fitted it to my camera. I then improved the light onto my table and took several photos, editing the best two for your viewing pleasure :)
First up a field for 15mm ECW/Baroque, this was made from some strips of resin wall bought from the Art Shop in Darlington. I cut a piece out of one to create a gateway, made a gate from coffee stirrers and filled in any gaps in the wall. A quick paint job and it was ready.
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh499/Merlin1960/Field_zpswd9a8cwg.jpg)
I also have painted up some 15mm slingers for my Carthaginian army (14 units done now, they will be ready to actually have a game soon).
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh499/Merlin1960/BalSlingers_zpseidsef4i.jpg)
Tomorrow could a busy day with upto 3 games to fit in, more Dragon Rampant and another go at Mantic's Deadzone.
Very nice work, Bodvoc ! (Figs & Pics.)
Cheers - Phil
Very nice - I like to see effort put into terrain.
:-bd =D> :-bd
The tripod has definitely improved the pictures :)
8) 8) 8)
Nice one
I like the slingers. Have you considered doing one or two with slings tied around their heads, sweatband fashion?