Another year, another iteration of my painting diary.
Got some new image hosting sorted after the Imgur geo-fence fiasco mid 2025, so hopefully will be more consistent in posting.
Given the general disaster zone that is my desk with the space to actually work on getting smaller and smaller I decided to excavate the pile of boxes at the back left which had started as handy places to store the next up items. Given this stack was 12-18" tall it had rather lost its original meaning.
So what was in it
- Box of 3d printed undead pirates (a very recent acquisition - unlike all the rest of it!)
- Tray of 6-10mm stacks of oil drums and crates. Got these as freebie to use as terrain or supply markers.
- Box of 'epic' ACW confederates - these are from a gaming mate for me to paint. Done a first pass on one of many sprues
- Stack of 28mm sprues - notionally for SciFi skirmish
- Box of proper epic sci-fi. Mainly 3d prints Some Squat flamer infantry who just need a quick finish (see below). Squat jump pack troops, squat gyro copters (metal) and various tyranid bits
- Box of 10mm Samurai lots of Pendraken metal! These are just the extras on top of what I already have painted
- MDF tray of WWI and weird WWI
- MDF tray of WWI, more Tyranids, some metal stompy walkers - not entirely sure which army for. And some Weird WWI terrain
Also on the desk is a small tray of AWI houses, some other random terrain. And trying to hide on the left hand corner a couple of boxes of 28mm plastics bought from an actual game store whilst on holiday - Afghan tribesmen and sandbags.
Further to the left are 4 ikea shelves (I think meant as a paper storage item) that has notionally WIP stuff in it
- Assorted 10mm, Samurai (sent to the box with the others) AWI British grenadiers - the closest to 'in progress' of any of these. And 6 painting sticks of Araby archers, Renaissance hand gunners and some random characters
- Crammed with 28mm figures mainly SciFi skirmish (largely frostgrave), but some WoTR and Ancient Greek fantasy
- 28mm African tribesmen - half painted. Various 10mm fantasy including a couple of camps - the lizardman looking pretty complete. The Elven one needs the tent painting, then basing
- More 10mm samurai (moved to the box). 10mm WWII British armour - needs decals and basing then is done. Assorted 28mm VSF / Wild West figures
And that is just the madness in plain sight
Most of the first pile is going to return to the conservatory to join the main parts of those collections. So that I have some space to at least do stuff.
The repatriation of figures to the conservatory was less straightforward than expected - both the Samurai and WWI drawers had become rather filled up - some shuffling occurred and most items were put away.
Actually did some painting too - to help with moving items from nearly done, to done and away in army storage
(https://i.postimg.cc/65dfvhBy/IMG-2934.jpg)
The 6 bases of Armoured Clash Enlightened Hellion at the back have only been built and painted over the Xmas period, with basing finished today.
Whereas the 11 (why 11???) bases of squat flamers were painted and based some considerable time ago, did the basing today, and painted the flamer packs a dark red so that they are distinct from the mass of short bright green troops
Main effort over the last couple of days has been the below Dwarves - 3d prints I think for LoTR - who are very heavily armoured so a lot of metal, so pretty quick to get to this stage.
(https://i.postimg.cc/L6z31Vm5/IMG-2935.jpg)
Also being on strips painting is quick as for most figures you are only painting 2 sides, not 4.Which is good as there are 8x3x6=144 figures (minus a couple as they hadn't printed a 2-3mm slice through their tummys).
Which gives a cheeky kick start to 2026 numbers of finished figures of
2026 Total finished - Infantry 62 - Total 62
Nice one Forbes 8)
Nice work there 8) !
Good stuff
Thanks chaps
LoTR Dwarves
More work on these little chaps today whilst hiding from the freezing weather.
Feel most of the effort on beards, belts and tunics won't be visible once they are based up!
(https://i.postimg.cc/J0nCVksm/IMG-2937.jpg)
Next step is basing - not that there is much space for any ground cover!
(https://i.postimg.cc/0jBR8ywB/IMG-2938.jpg)
Great effect on those Forbes
142 Dwarves
Got these little fellows glued to bases last night and flocked them this evening
(https://i.postimg.cc/pd1LvYpM/IMG-2939.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/QMndDkHr/IMG-2940.jpg)
Fairly happy with these but have spotted some of the printed bases aren't as flat as I thought so some gaps - thought I'd managed to trim most of these.
These knocks me over 200 finished figures within the first week of the year. Seriously doubt this rate will be kept up
2026 Total finished - Infantry 204 - Total 204
They look great
QuoteThey look great
Cheers Will
They are certainly a mass aren't they!
"Baruk Khazâd! Khazâd ai-mênu!"
"The axes' of the Dwarves! The Dwarves are upon you!"
- J.R.R. Tolkien
A very impressive host.
Commonwealth vs Enlightened - 1500 pts - Supply Drop Scenario
An early outing for the Commonwealth forces, who are clearly very distant in all the photos and appear grey due to the haze...
(https://i.postimg.cc/zvMzY4nT/IMG-2942.jpg)
The table was Russian like, with a couple of villages, there are a couple hills that kind of make a square with the villages, but they don't show on the overhead shot. On the left flank some swamps, with one impassable toxic green one.
(https://i.postimg.cc/x87fVBK1/IMG-2943.jpg)
The view up the road kind of shows the hills to each side
(https://i.postimg.cc/j29xYBzP/IMG-2946.jpg)
My Enlightened force (all reinforced unless noted)
Back row, left to right
Mars Battle Tripods
Enceladus Mortar Crawlers
Callisto Assault Gatherers
Mono CAV Cohort
Strider CAV Cohort
Sickle Gyro Cav coptors
Front row
Seeker Outrider Cohort (Basic)
Hellion Cohort (Full strength)
Heavy Construct Devastator Cohort
3x Citizen Soldier Command (Basic)
Scythe Drone squadron
1500pts in 3 battlegroups (2x Faction and 1x SURG) to give me 3 command units for lots of Peer Review, and the flanking bonus for SURG. Which given the objectives wasn't the most useful.
Supply drop is a slightly odd scenario, 4 objectives in a narrow strip across the middle of the table, two slightly closer to each side's deployment zone. The objectives are only scored once, at the end of the first turn they are controlled by one side. And are worth 15pts each so quite significant.
We started deploying by alternate unit, but realised that neither was paying that much attention to what the other was doing, not least as we weren't that familiar with each other's armies!
Both armies had a lot of Vanguard units, which was handy for this scenario allowing units to advance to be available to control objectives.
The Right Flank
(https://i.postimg.cc/4yMfRjzz/IMG-2947.jpg)
My Sickle Gyros have Vanguard moved forward, as have most of the CW forces including their Khesig Skycutters (aka land speeders), on are On Lookout. In the centre my Mono CAV and Mars Tripods (with a Boon) have vanguard moved forward. The CW Berserkers have advanced behind the wood.
On this flank I made a tactical error, I was worried about the overwatch fire from the Kheshig sky cutters - but my Gyros have twice the attack dice. So in retrospect I should have moved into short range, shot them up, likely knocking them to half-strength, and then used Hit and Run to block the objective (as roto craft can't hold objectives). But how it played out was I sat back, and in the end the CW rotos attacked, I played a command card to overwatch, but it was effective enough to knock them to Basic strength, and somehow with 5 dice they managed to cause 8 damage to knock my Sickles down to half-strength. I later attacked them, finally knocking them down to half-strength.
The CW cavalry took the objective, and the CW Cossack War Dogs moved into the wood. My units were mainly melee ones and didn't get far enough forward to charge. I did move my Strider CAV far forward - which probably wasn't that useful, as I was hoping to restrict the CW movement, but really it just made them a target.
In the background to the left you can see a couple of CW units moving forward - these have both lost stands from an alpha strike from my Scythe Drones - who had overcharged their attack (of course!) I pulled a 7 or an 8, so got a lot of dice, and killed quite a few stands. Unfortunately I got 5 blanks so blew up one of my planes, and but 2 damage on the other!
The Left Flank
(http://i.postimg.cc/KcsvT3Cp/IMG-2948.jpg)
Much more sedate on this flank - the Hellion infantry are loitering on the lee of the hill. With the CW troops not having moved yet either.
Towards the end of the turn the Mortar crawlers did cause enough damage on the CW infantry opposite them to cause them to Rout when they failed their suppression test - first points to the EN.
At the end of the turn we both controlled two objectives, which were scored, then removed.
The Centre
(https://i.postimg.cc/bYFNnSKG/IMG-2949.jpg)
The photo is the start of turn two - but to catch-up on events at the end of turn 1.
In the centre the CW Berserkers charged the Mars Tripods - I found this really wasn't a match I wanted! The Berserkers are very fighty, and the tripods very shooty. Astonishingly the Tripods one the first round of combat - as the Berserkers overcharge rather back fired on them, with them loosing 2 bases, and carrying 1 damage, but they did chop one tripod down, which is a good exchange given the relative sizes of the units. This meant the Berzerkers had to fall back and fell back onto the objective.
The objective was already held by the CW Winged Hussar Treadbikes - but now having two units on it, one of which was a melee monster made a charge on to this objective by my Hellions very risky.
If it had just been the Treadbikes I would have charged them - as they only have an Impact attack, so don't fight back if charged (they are very dangerous if they charge). The rules for contacting two units in melee are a little light - and its not clear that if I'd charged the Berzerkers in the flank, whether I would have made contact legally with the tread bikes or not. And then the melee would have been down to chance between the two melee units. But I choose not to, and just jumped on the objective nearest to me.
The Berserks charged the Mars Tripods again - this time Sponsons managed to do some damage, overcharge was minor, the Tripods lost the combat, but the Berzerkers were pretty battered by now. Eventually the Citizen Soldiers lined up a shot on the Berserkers (under the tripods!) and with 3 dice, managed 5 hits killing the last Berserker!!
The left hand CW borer maker had advanced towards the hill, the right hand one fell back. One borer had a squad of infantry, the other 4 rocket artillery units. I wonder which was going to go where?
Late turn 2
(https://i.postimg.cc/ncjVGcJX/IMG-2951.jpg)
On the right there have been an exchange of units, with my Striders taking out the War Dogs, then getting removed by the CW Cavalry (just off screen). I was generous and allowed them to take back a charge against the gathers as my opponent had realised they were melee monsters, not the shooting version I normally field. The CW Cavalry then slipped to the side, out of my charge arc. But the Citizen Soldiers shot them up!
In back centre the Rocket Borers have arrived - they where hit by my remaining damage Scythe Drone zoomed in, overcharged with one last hopeful shot, drew a high card, and rolled no blanks so survived for another turn!!
My two units near the borer have just moved towards it with Hit and Run - but can't damage it due to their light weapons (well the Mono CAV could charge, but quite weakly). But by being close they should be within its minimum range.
CW now down to 3 units deployed, and the last borer and infantry about to deploy.
The other infantry deployed in the centre - and after considerable 'discussion' couldn't get out of charge are of my Heavy Devastator Cohort - who smashed them after taking some ineffectual shots (they may have been hit by some Mortar shots too).
The borer managed to run over/through the last tripod, wiping out this unit.
But then the citizen soldiers over charged and melted the Borer - at some cost to them - but at this stage a good exchange.
Turn 3
There was a fair bit of repositioning in this turn to try to get most of my units into position to attack the remaining CW units.
The remaining Drone made a third pass - overcharged again - caused lots of damaged, but finally blew up!
Otherwise more hits on the CW units, without any losses for EN. The game kind of petered out now between it getting late and not too many CW units left.
In the end a big win for Enlightened.
I seemed to be fortunate with card draws, getting good scores for Overcharge, having high value cards I could use to Interfere with CW Commands, although some of mine were blocked too. The CW forces failed nearly all their Suppression tests, while my Peer Review bubbles meant I auto-passed most of mine (and the few I need to draw for I did well on).
Lots of CW special rules are around Suppression - so Peer Review worked well against that. And whilst my first few dice rolls where underwhelming as the game went on my dice seemed to get hotter too!
Fred,
What are you using to post pictures? Since I can't use Imgur I need something else )other than making a blog).
Thx.
I went with https://postimages.org seems to work fine. Very simple and clean site.
I was that fed up after Imgur geo fencing nonsense that it took me a while to be bothered to look for something else.
Nice report there
Thanks Fred.
AWI British Grenadiers
More progress on these figures - think they are about done
(https://i.postimg.cc/43LwYg03/IMG-3004.jpg)
Fronts
(https://i.postimg.cc/TP7QK6sK/IMG-3005.jpg)
Backs
Also been working on some more Armoured Clash figures - the big Sultanate Battlegroup box arrived on Monday
(https://i.postimg.cc/3wS9kTqW/IMG-3001.jpg)
And 3 different infantry clipped off the spures
(https://i.postimg.cc/rpngDkHF/IMG-3002.jpg)
The officer with a sword is a conversion grafting the tank commander onto the normal officer legs
Looking good Forbes
QuoteThe officer with a sword is a conversion grafting the tank commander...
hqdefault.jpg
Quotehqdefault.jpg
This meme is exactly what was in my head when I saw the figure.
Not sure a tank commander with a hawk is any more rational though!
On a more practical note - what colour should I be painting the AWI drums?
There seem to be 3 main parts, sides, cords along the sides and tape at top and bottom.
There is also the skin on the top and bottom but that feels easy as a beige shade.
If British, drum barrel facing colour with white rim and cords. Or brass
QuoteIf British, drum barrel facing colour with white rim and cords. Or brass
Ta Will - makes sense
Also done a quick google image search - red rims seem quite common. And as well as being the facing colour they have the regimental crest and battle honours on them. Not be trying to replicate this in 10mm between the cords @-)
Quote from: fred. on 17 January 2026, 07:33:55 AMOn a more practical note - what colour should I be painting the AWI drums?
There seem to be 3 main parts, sides, cords along the sides and tape at top and bottom.
There is also the skin on the top and bottom but that feels easy as a beige shade.
Fred, you might find this site of interest if you are after drum colours for any of the British AWI regiments - also has details and pics of the contempory colours that they carried:
https://web.archive.org/web/20160528213236/http://www.fifedrum.org/crfd/BD_1.htm (https://web.archive.org/web/20160528213236/http://www.fifedrum.org/crfd/BD_1.htm)
Cheers
Peter
Thanks Peter - that is useful, not sure if I am going for specific units or more generic ones, but certainly gives me plenty of info to go specific.
I think I had found the same site earlier, but on my phone the rather novel right hand side navigation wasn't visible so it didn't seem to work!
Got the AWI British Grenadiers on to bases.
(https://i.postimg.cc/DzpH48wK/IMG-3019.jpg)
I'm not certain what I am going to do flocking wise - options are to follow what I have done for the Americans - leave about 50% bare earth, flock the rest.
Or follow what my mate has done for his British, which is a green painted base with flock over the top.
Brown highlights then flock is what I do.
Armoured Clash - Sultanate Cor Caroli
Been focused on painting up more of my Sultanate forces, initial view was to get 1 or 2 figures a base done, so the army could be played (even if it looked a bit rubbish).
But then I have focused on these two units, who are the super-heavy infantry from the mysterious Order, within the Sultanate.
Got all the basing on these two units finished off, with crackle paint over the figure bases, and some greenery added.
(https://i.postimg.cc/8CznrVgd/IMG-3130.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/VNkHbcPX/IMG-3131.jpg)
Cor Caroli Nyx - in black
(https://i.postimg.cc/bvwF2jfx/IMG-3132.jpg)
Cor Caroli Luminant - in white
(https://i.postimg.cc/fbRg0hQj/IMG-3133.jpg)
They are a bit nice Forbes. 8)
Looking good, nice basing! :-bd
Thanks both
I've enjoyed painting these.
Armoured Clash Sultanate Janissaries
Been busy with more Armoured Clash troops
(https://i.postimg.cc/9MdG06gJ/IMG_3156.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/26RQzkGS/IMG_3159.jpg)
Nice work Fred :-bd
The dried mud bases look very realistic indeed.
Thanks
they are done using GW Crackle paint - the oddly named Agrellean Earth.
I am getting the hang of using it. The size of the cracks is very much dependent on the thickness of the paint, the thicker the bigger the mesh of cracks.
For most of these bases, which have 4 round depressions for the figures, I did an initial coating of crackle paint to avoid mess on the figures. The problem I have found with this is that then when you go around the puddle bases on the figures to blend them in, you end up covering up some of the initial gaps. And it is hard to not end up with some gaps around the figure base and the hole. I think the next ones I do I will just do a single pass of crackle after sticking the figures on the base.
Very cool Forbes!
No idea why that went pink,but hey ho!
Sultanate
Lots more progress on various units, not least down to miserable weather!
(https://i.postimg.cc/mgPmyYbV/IMG_3173.jpg)
Spica Orinas
(https://i.postimg.cc/rwDfN188/IMG_3178.jpg)
Ulgen Gun Trucks
(https://i.postimg.cc/9X9p5jcv/IMG_3218.jpg)
Very cool Forbes
Nice work 8)
Thanks chaps! Enjoyed working on these.
And realised I'd got a bit behind on posting so here are a few more
Khepri Rotor Automata - these come in 3 weapon load outs, there is a magnet at the rear for the other two. The laser at the front is press fitted, so can pop out quite easily. I do like these - they look great and are really effective in game
(https://i.postimg.cc/gJQFSW40/IMG_3212.jpg)
Persian Immortals - very resilient defensive infantry
(https://i.postimg.cc/Gt45pgC7/IMG_3226.jpg)
Siphai Monowheels - these are great too, both from design and in game - they have both a shooting attack and a 'run over' attack - which unfortunately I've not managed to line up yet
(https://i.postimg.cc/T1tbfgjP/IMG_3235.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Kj0TxB7P/IMG_3237.jpg)
And looking at these photos need to do some more base edge tidying up
Monowheels!
Got to love that insanity!
Brilliant work there 8) !
Thanks both
Yes, the monowheels are bonkers - let alone a whole squadron of them in close formation
Vallejo Changed Paint Shades?
I've recently got some replacements of Vallejo paints - and they all seem different shades between the new and the old ones.
Photos below of Camo Olive Green, but also seen this on Iraqi Sand, Sick Green and Heavy Skintone. So across model colour, game colour and game colour extra opaque ranges
(https://i.postimg.cc/xTvPWRJ7/IMG-3243.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/65rhD02F/IMG-3244.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/pXfBgZhg/IMG-3245.jpg)
Sorry images are a bit huge!
I remember awhile back folks were complaining about how the Foundry paints had changed just a bit and didn't match. Someone posted that basically the same company makes all the hobby paints, though that is certainly an exaggeration. Nevertheless, it's always in the back of my mind and when I start a new project, I try to figure out which paints I will be using and make sure I have enough to finish off the project.
Because of all this, I have a tendancy of buying x2 of any color that is critical to my hobby.
QuoteI remember awhile back folks were complaining about how the Foundry paints had changed just a bit and didn't match. Someone posted that basically the same company makes all the hobby paints, though that is certainly an exaggeration. Nevertheless, it's always in the back of my mind and when I start a new project, I try to figure out which paints I will be using and make sure I have enough to finish off the project.
Because of all this, I have a tendancy of buying x2 of any color that is critical to my hobby.
Given the relative cost of figures and paint this seems a sensible way to go, although this side of the pond I have a tendency to go for colour!
I have an enormous number of different paint colours (well shades really). But relatively few get used regularly.
Although looking across at my desk - and the all the pots out, rather than on the storage racks, I'm not sure how true that statement is...
I don't think I have ever bought two of a paint (well not deliberately) most of my projects are fairly organic, and tend to evolve. And given the small size of 10mm stuff, I don't get through that much paint either.
I suppose it's hardly surprising paint shades change between pots produced years apart. But it's still annoying!
Quote from: mollinary on 21 March 2026, 03:57:06 PM...although this side of the pond I have a tendency to go for colour!
;D
Well, Fred, I must have over a hundred paint pots from at least 5 different companies. But as you say, most of them I don't ever use. However, I do have core group of paints which I use often because I like the look. So... blues, reds, browns, some metallics and my basing colors.
For the colours ( ;) ) I use a lot, I'm always sure to have at least one pot in reserve. And if I switch to another project, I make sure that the base colors all have plenty of paint. I think this is a habit I acquired painting 15 and 25mm.
But, like you say, with 10mm it really isn't necessary to go overboard with paints because they don't need that much. Which is nice.
Been busy with Armoured Clash figures - so most of the updates have been over on LAF - but got some Pendraken figures added to the mix this weekend.
One of the (only) downsides to Armoured Clash as a game is that the troop sprues are all mixed with models for around 6 units on each sprue - this means if you want a lot of one type, you either need deep pockets, or proxies!
Fortunately I already had some Pendraken Janissaries painted up - so a quick bit of rebasing later and I have another reinforced strength unit of Janissaries to take the table. Given AC is based on pseudo late 19th C most of the factions core infantry can be reinforced with some judicial usage of historical 10mm figures.
(https://i.postimg.cc/BbfSsSvV/IMG-3317.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/fyQzZzLL/IMG-3318.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/J0Crmrnz/IMG-3319.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/V6Cf3rYw/IMG-3320.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/3NQ878wq/IMG-3321.jpg)
With an AC Janissary stand in the front rank - showing that they are pretty similar sized troops
Very cool Forbes
Anyone got the new Human Collective infantry? Particularly the Regular Infantry and Power Infantry (FWC-COL1 and FWC-COL2)
Interested to know the relative bulk and side of the two codes? Hoping the Power troops are a bit bigger, but not huge.
I'm wanting some proxies to add to my Armoured Clash Enlightened infantry - and given the masks on these guys they are a good option.