Hi everyone
I thought I should probably introduce myself. I'm a returning wargamer, having been mostly away from the hobby for over 20 years. I started wargaming as a child with my Dad in the '80s, mostly Napoleonic but a bit of Ancients too, using his collection of old Minifig 15mm (although they don't have the detail of modern minis I'm still very fond of them) and Wargames Research Group rules. Always good fun. I then moved into Games Workshop, pretty much playing the full range, before falling out of the hobby in my teens. Twenty-odd years then passed without me collecting anything, although I'd still have a game of 15mm Naps with my Dad every few months. But fast approaching 40 I've now returned to the hobby, starting with Napoleonics, my first love and my Dad's obsession.
I initially wanted to do something different to him scalewise. I thought about 28mm as the figures are lovey but I just don't have the room to do this justice. I'm a firm believer in big units for Naps to give that mass effect and you need a lot of space (and cash) at 28mm. I decided on 6mm and bought a lot of Baccus, which are nice figures. But I'm just not enjoying painting them. Am finding them too small and fiddly. So I've bought some Pendraken as testers and think they're lovely! And I'm enjoying the painting much more. Am now planning getting a whole load more, with a view to playing the 1815 period. Going for 1:15 ratios I think. So 36 French and 40 British in line battalions. Should give a good look I think.
Anyway, enough rambling from me. I mostly wanted to say hi. I've been reading the forum for a while and it looks a friendly place!
Cheers
Mike
Welcome,
This is probably the friendliest forum on the interweb - which to be fair is a fairly low bar :D
Whereabouts in North London - I'm in Walthamstow?
Hello and welcome!
Bloody suferners - welcome
IanS
Hi Mr. meek. I welcomed you at another thread regarding Peninsular War figures but this is the official meet and greet - so welcome again!
It is a friendly place where even our most curmudgeonly manage to struggle over the bar Zippee mentioned. As you have been reading the forum I need not warn you about some of the "elementals" that haunt the place - they are harmless tricksters and fun-loving spirits but forewarned is forearmed. :)
What Ho, Senor Meek!
Welcome to the Forum. If you've lurked you will know we're a mixture of the strange, the wierd and the downright odd. However, the mind-mass is quite surprising in what it knows and the painting skills of some members are to be admired and hated in equal measure. (You know who you are!)
Glad to hear someone's doing some proper gaming, in a proper period. I agree that 10mm is superior to 6mm, especialy as you get a bit older and the eyes start to fail.
I've just re-re-relaunched my Napoleonics (did 20mm, 15mm and now 10mm) and agree on the big battalions. I'm looking to 1:10, with units of about 60 figures. Just readied the first bttn for painting and it's quite intimidating! I have skirmish forces of platoon strength smaller that this one bttn.!
Please put up some picture sof your work. It will be better than mine, which is the low-bar of the forum.
Welcome, enjoy and dive in!
Hi Mike, welcome to the Forum! I've just packaged your paint order as well, so that'll be in the post this afternoon.
8)
Welcome!
Welcome, Mike.
Cheers - Phil.
A big 'Wotcha' from Kent.
MickS
Hello and welcome
Welcome :-h
Welcome Mr Meek.
Its good to have another person from North of the river.
Please ignore ianrs54, he has yet to realise that the world (or all of it that matters) ends at Watford Gap. :D
Welcome on board :)
Thanks folks - appreciate it!
Zippee - Am in Crouch End, so not too far away.
IanS - Actually I consider myself an Easterner: born in Lincolnshire of Norfolk stock (cue in-bred gags...)
fsn - I was doing 1:10 with my 6mm. I think 60 man units look brilliant. It's just a lot of models! I think I'll cut back at 10mm but it's still tempting... Will put some painted Pendrakens up as soon as my three-month old gives me enough time to finish them!
Leon - Thanks for the order update (just a few additions to the paintbox!) and for the response to my customer order email.
thanks again
Hi Mike, look forward to following your progress of getting back into napoleonics via 10mm.
Welcome Mike
Quote from: Zippee on 08 February 2017, 01:03:21 PM
- I'm in Walthamstow?
Lived there in the late 80s in Clifton Avenue by the Royal Standard, spent many a night getting drunk listening to music in that venue. Great memories. 8)
Cheers
Ian
A howdy do from me, too. :-h
Brace yourself for the discovery that Napoleonics have been replaced by SYW as the thinking gamer's horse-and-musket choice. ;)
Never!
Quote from: FierceKitty on 09 February 2017, 12:00:13 PM
Brace yourself for the discovery that Napoleonics have been replaced by SYW as the thinking gamer's horse-and-musket choice. ;)
Only feline ones.
Quote from: FierceKitty on 09 February 2017, 12:00:13 PM
Brace yourself for the discovery that Napoleonics have been replaced by SYW as the thinking gamer's horse-and-musket choice. ;)
Nope, sorry guys, both Naps and 7YW have been supplanted by Marlboroughs wars. At least in my hut club they have.
Am just starting a 'simple' approach to the hobby designed for both the 'newcomer', the guys who can't see well enough to paint anymore, and the guys who have been there, done everything and now want any easier game.
I am blogging progress at:
http://jim-duncan.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/the-portable-wargame-raising-forces.html
and:
http://jim-duncan.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/the-portable-wargame-brief-review.html
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uSrdUqgeBAE/WJuacDaL2ZI/AAAAAAAAG8g/E8HvEZg2--wFQnB2jBQaLFcAO5BKvdbDQCLcB/s1600/P1000460.JPG)
Looking good, that man ! :)
Cheers - Phil
Quote from: senormeek on 08 February 2017, 10:55:12 PM
Thanks folks - appreciate it!
Zippee - Am in Crouch End, so not too far away.
IanS - Actually I consider myself an Easterner: born in Lincolnshire of Norfolk stock (cue in-bred gags...)
thanks again
Too true, not so far - I have dedicated gaming space if you fancy a game anytime. My 10mm Napoleonics are based for Lasalle - as here https://www.flickr.com/photos/zippee/albums/72157668341385696
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7625/26427871313_ff8aeb9822.jpg)
My 6mm for LFS
IanS - Actually I'm from the top end of the Danelaw, I strictly consider myself on an extended wealth gathering enterprise - somewhat akin to the traditional AD&D murderhobo trope but I feel about the same level of affinity with Suferners as I do with Orcs beyond the wall. :D
Those look rather nice. :-bd
Cheers - Phil.
Quote from: senormeek on 08 February 2017, 10:55:12 PM
Actually I consider myself an Easterner: born in Lincolnshire of Norfolk stock (cue in-bred gags...)
As no one else has taken this up! :D
Scientists predict that by 2050 sea levels will have risen so much that Norwich will be completely submerged.
At least then they will have a use for these webbed hands and feet.
How many Norfolk people does it take to change a light bulb?
Two, one to change the light bulb and the other to stick his fingers in the socket first, to make sure the electricity is switched on.
Your from Norfolk if :-
You've been married three times and still have the same in-laws.
You can't get married to your sweetheart because there's a law against it.
You take your dog for a walk and you both use the same tree to pee on
you call your wife....Sis!!!!!
you call your hubby ....Cuz!!
The flood history of the area can be seen on your living room walls.
Quote from: Orcs on 10 February 2017, 10:08:03 PM
How many Norfolk people does it take to change a light bulb?
Two, one to change the light bulb and the other to stick his fingers in the socket first, to make sure the electricity is switched on.
Electricity?
What sort of weird Sci-Fi vision is this?
Haha - well done both! Someone had too do it I guess!
Oh and Zippee, Have been looking over your flickr albums and really like the look of your minis. Great work! I particularly like how bright and colourful they look. My first attempts have been a bit darker than I'd like, which obviously doesn't help at this scale. Any tips? What colour undercoat do you use?
cheers
Mike
Quote from: senormeek on 11 February 2017, 11:22:38 PM
Oh and Zippee, Have been looking over your flickr albums and really like the look of your minis. Great work! I particularly like how bright and colourful they look. My first attempts have been a bit darker than I'd like, which obviously doesn't help at this scale. Any tips? What colour undercoat do you use?
cheers
Mike
Why thank you!
Painting lighter and brighter has been a thing I've had to work towards over the years - it's a bit counter-intuitive. :D
Essentially I undercoat white, then block paint a medium shade, highlight with a bright shade, wash with an overall ink and then add any top highlights (usually just white and weapon tips)
However metals I undercoat either dark brown for yellow metal or dark grey for white metals - I also avoid using pure black, always using very dark grey
The Hungarians above for instance use the following (I always keep a painting description) using Cote d'arms paint references - no doubt the forum editing will play havoc with the table format but . . .
UNDERCOAT WHITE
Basic Base Coat
211 Light Grey Coat
206 Light Blue Trousers
XXX FACING Collar, cuffs, turnbacks (Drummer – swallow nest)
219 Chestnut Brown Flesh, musket, canteen (Drummer – drum) (Officer – sash, cockade)
529 Beige Brown Backpack
231 Mid Grey Greatcoat
212 Dark Grey Shako, shoes, cartouche, scabbard
524 Tan Earth Base
Detail Base Coat
211 Light Grey Cockade, field sign (Drummer – hoops)
103 Yellow Cockade (Drummer – hoops)
209 Dark Green Field sign
504 Panzer Grey Musket barrel, bayonet, cockade centre (Drummer – hoops, sticks)
232 Bronze Scabbard fittings, musket lock (Drummer – drum, plate) (Officer – sash, cockade, shako band)
220 Silver Bayonet, musket barrel (Officer – sword)
Highlights
214 Flesh Flesh
504 Panzer Grey Hair, peak
101 White Belts, straps
XXX FACING Collar, cuffs, turnbacks (Drummer – swallow nest)
239 Bavarian Blue Trousers
525 Uniform Grey Shako, shoes, cartouche, scabbard
BLACK INK WASH
Bright Highlight
101 White Coat, belts, straps
That's for 6mm and 10mm - for 15mm I really only do the same again but with a bit more detail in the highlighting, for 28mm I do substantially more blend work but then that's mostly RPg stuff and in small numbers so the painting style changes dramatically.
Thanks Zippee - that's very helpful. I'm still finding my range, so to speak, after returning to the hobby. I'm not unhappy with my trial efforts so far but they are a bit dark when you stand back from them. I've been using the black undercoat, as it seems all the range these days. However, I was always a white undercoat / inks man when I painted GW stuff back in the day. I think I'll try a few out to see how they compare. And potentially some with grey undercoat and black undercoat but drybrushed with grey or white. Lots to experiment with...
Regarding the undercoat........Definitely have an experiment or two, before you decide SM......
I think you'll find that there's no absolute consensus between those on the forum.
There are those that use white, those that use black.....a few grays, and even a few browns (I think).
Just find what you're happy with.
Cheers - Phil.
Yep, opinions on undercoats tend to be very, erm. . . black and white (with the odd outsider, voting for brown, grey or flesh tone).
Experimenting to find what works for you is very worthwhile.
For the record, others produce fantastic results working from black - I can't: I just cannot obtain the layered 'bright' highlight but that says more about me than the technique.
Try for instance here
http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=7622.0
http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,7199.0.html
http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,9636.0.html
http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,9654.0.html
Yeah I know depressing innit :'(
All that aside, one of the things to check is your basing - I use a very pale sand with grey (nearly white) ballast-chips and a bright 'spring' static grass - if your bases are dark the figures will be, no matter how light your painting.
Just been comparing your cuirassier with the pictures of mine - I don't think there's a major difference. What I do detect is:
1) My cuirasses are much brighter - that darkens the centre of your figure (the belt stands out more so win some-lose some)
2) The paint on yours looks duller - I think that's the undercoat, it's the problem I have. I believe it means you need to add more (and brighter) layers.
3) You've used black for the boots and such not grey - changing this to grey and highlighting viciously will have a major impact
4) Because yours is unbased and lacks socks and such on the horse and the base is black the whole thing looks dark - that's misleading. And good basing will change it all (as would socks :D)
5) I took my picture in a light box with 4 daylight lights, yours is a snapshot from your painting desk . . .
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7723/26831871601_eba9f7392f.jpg)
I'm doing the same experiments n some Prussians.
Normally, I undercoat black, then dry brush white before applying base coats.
I'm trying white undercoat with a brown-black wash before base coat.
Think the colour ping better with the white undercoat.
Some very good advice from Zippee there :)
Particularly avoiding black and light basing
I think it is partly due to the small size of the figures that you need to paint a shade or two lighter than you would on larger figures
PS I'm one of the 'few greys' when it comes to undercoat ;)
http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,8883.msg107226.html#msg107226 (http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,8883.msg107226.html#msg107226)
http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,10663.msg139026.html#msg139026 (http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,10663.msg139026.html#msg139026)
You know the saying 'when you've tried black you won't go back', it was invented by a wargamer wasn't it? ;)
I'm a devout black undercoat man after trying all the other colours mentioned by others. I looked at your picture of the cuirassier and concluded that the only problem is that at the moment the horse is dark which continues onto the unfinished base making the whole figure look dark to you. Once you paint some white socks on the horse and use a light colour for the base like myself and others do, you will notice a marked difference. Try it.
MickS
Quote from: Subedai on 14 February 2017, 05:23:27 PM
You know the saying 'when you've tried black you won't go back', it was invented by a wargamer wasn't it? ;)
Wargamers don't invent, they plagiarise . . .
And like most sayings I've managed to prove it wrong :P
So is the problem with the sayings or with me? :-
Quote from: paulr on 13 February 2017, 08:52:01 PM
PS I'm one of the 'few greys' when it comes to undercoat ;)
I prefer a grey undercoat as well. m/