Good to see you back posting and painting Nik.

That's how to produce an army! Focus on the end result, not on over detailing each figure, this is 10mm army building.

Which code are the small figures with the big hoplite style shields?

Quote from: fred    12df on 27 August 2014, 09:04:44 AM
Good to see you back posting and painting Nik.

That's how to produce an army! Focus on the end result, not on over detailing each figure, this is 10mm army building.

Which code are the small figures with the big hoplite style shields?

Those are the Haedusmen - mix of all four FHA codes: I've used them for Bestigors cos they're big, squat, and seriously fugly 

I presume they're FHA2 & 4 from the Haedusmen range fred.

EDIT: Ah! Beaten to it by Nik

Quote from: nikharwood on 27 August 2014, 08:56:38 AM
Yep - I reckon you're right...

Not sure - did them in a few brief sessions over a couple of days: probably 4 hours or so - then about 45 mins to finish the bases once resupplies of static grass had landed; something like that.

Of course, I seriously cheated with these; fast drybrushing, limited palette and Wilko's woodstain...

It's the way forwards

Highly tempting idea!

Quote from: nikharwood on 27 August 2014, 09:11:19 AM
Those are the Haedusmen - mix of all four FHA codes: I've used them for Bestigors cos they're big, squat, and seriously fugly 

Ta, I've missed those in the past. I'll have a think were they can be used, as your description is spot on 

That woodstain really works well. I might gives this a go for my Medieval armies to see how it compares to Devlin Mud wash.

Quote from: Steve J on 27 August 2014, 12:54:03 PM
That woodstain really works well. I might gives this a go for my Medieval armies to see how it compares to Devlin Mud wash.

It's cheaper, for a start  The tins I've got (Rustic Oak which is darker than the Walnut, both Satin - so you need to spray matt varnish) are 250ml and, IIRC, are about £3.50ish...

Easy to brush on, dilutes / wash brushes with water, dries reasonably quickly & is as tough as old boots...

I am just finishing off some Shermans using a stain method though its AP stuff that I have had for a while and dilute it a bit with turps

The only (major?) problem I have with using stains / dips is that it's making me a lazy b@$tard when it comes to thinking about painting....

Previously, I enjoyed painting multiple layers, highlights, wet-blends etc etc and would practically make my eyeballs bleed to get decent results. At the moment (as in, exactly at the moment) I find myself wondering whether I can "get away" with block colours & a stain on my 1809 Naps...

It's not as if I've got anyone else to please / impress etc - I know I can paint to a half-decent standard - so why, when I'm thinking of getting more armies onto the table more quickly, do I feel guilty / unclean / like I'm a cheating old so-and-so..?

I have always regarded it as just another tool to be used

I am old enough to remember magazine articles and letters from people saying that using acrylics was cheating and people should be using enamels to get a proper look to their figures..Time and techniques move on

Yep - that's a good point, Fenton...and maybe I should just stop mentally beating myself up...

Right - glad that's decided - means I can get cracking with my Naps & do them in a few hours 

If it's a choice between acceptable to good in quick enough time to actually get figures on table and played with versus never actually getting it done, count me in the block and stain crowd every damn time!

Quote from: nikharwood on 27 August 2014, 09:54:56 PM
Yep - that's a good point, Fenton...and maybe I should just stop mentally beating myself up...

Right - glad that's decided - means I can get cracking with my Naps & do them in a few hours 

 

Nik, it's a hobby so it should be enjoyable to you. Getting an army on the table and playing games with it is good. Enjoying painting figures nicely is good. But you don't have to paint every unit and every figure to a high standard. Get the bulk of the troops done with block and  wash, then spend some time detailing on a few - whether this is command units or a few choosen troops it's your choice.

Once the troops are on the table you are the only one who will know which are the ones that have had the extra time and effort spent on them. If you do this with a few units / figures it will please you as you will know that you put the effort in ( of course they will die first!) But if you try to do this for the whole army, it will sit in the cupboard forever.