Bronze Age Odin Workbench

The latest TMP (The Miniatures Page) Workbench article - Odin by Bronze Age Miniatures.

This 40mm workbench feature was completed and written by me earlier in 2009, but has been delayed as Bill at TMP updates the site. For more information check out;

http://theminiaturespage.com/workbench/840233/

The Odin miniature is one of the very best figures I have painted and I have no hesitation in recommending it. I hope you like the article.

The earlier Thor article can be found at;

http://theminiaturespage.com/workbench/662510/

Tony

Flintloque Dwarf Ulhans - part five

After a short delay, here are the latest on-line build images of my converted Dwarf Uhlans.

The beards are a mix of colours, mainly Games Workshop and Vallejo Game Color, highlighted with subsequent and lighter colours. The Uhlan helmet or Czapka is painted very dark grey with almost no highlighting, the metal work is gold, worked up from GW Dwarf Bronze, through GW Shinning Gold and highlighted with GW Burnished Gold. (I tend to highlight my 'metals' in the same way that I paint other colours, start with a dark base, sometimes over either dark grey for silver or dark brown for gold, a mid colour and a highlight). When finished I washed the gold areas with the new GW Sepia wash.

The cockade at the front is pure white over light grey and the plume is GW Gore Red with a highlight of GW Blood Red (just two layers for red).

I think the figure in the first image (far right) and with the white beard and eye patch is going to be re-painted, these photos show the white beard to be too white. I may paint it dark brown, we will have to see.

Earlier this week, I was having a tidy up and came across the Games Workshop book How to paint Citadel Miniatures. I was struck by how similar my painting style (particularly for Flintloque figures) is to the example painted by Dave Andrews, see page 88/89 Empire Spearman. Maybe I study painting styles too much (or I may be I'm a little anal) but I find it interesting to test out different painting styles in the hope that I will improve. Usually I just revert back to my well-practiced style as seen above.

With reference to the Uhlans, I am particularly pleased with how the converted Pickelhaube helmets have come out. The next update should be painting the blunderbuss guns and sword.

Tony

Hartwell Tavern in 28mm

This week, Dave Bodley at Grand Manner has released a photo on his shop page of the 28mm model of Hartwell Tavern that I produced earlier this year, see;

http://www.grandmanner.co.uk/shop/

The completed model is the largest 'master' I have so far produced being 360mm x 300mm x 150mm tall. The model includes, internal detail, lift out floors, lift-off roofs as well as stone and rail fencing.

I have been looking forward to releasing details of this model for some time, and now with Dave's comments and these photos on the GM site I am really looking forward to seeing a finished casting - a painted casting very soon. Full costs are not yet released, but I would expect it to be a limited edition model. I would therefore recommend that you place your orders as soon as possible.

This photo shows Hartwell Tavern (on Battle Road), the subject of this 28mm model.

When Dave released the AWI/ACW 40mm building there were a number of comments and requests for similar structures in 28mm, Hartwell Tavern was chosen as the first of these releases as Dave had been given detailed photos of the building by Paul of Redcoats at War, see;

http://redcoatsatwar.blogspot.com/

In addition I have been helped in this and other AWI projects with comments from Brendan Morrissey.

Thank you, Paul for supplying them and I hope that the finished model meets with your approval. Thank you Brendan. There are plans for more 28mm AWI/ACW models to follow, please keep an eye on this Blog and the Grand Manner web pages.

Tony

Gloucestershire Earth Mysteries

This maybe one of the most eclectic magazines I have ever come across, Gloucestershire Earth Mysteries, issue 5 from 1987.

I picked it up from an Oxfam charity shop earlier this week and at just 79p, it's been a real revelation, let me explain.

"Earth Mysteries is a term used to describe a loosely connected area of research dealing with ancient wisdom and lost knowledge regarding the landscape, ancient sites and cosmological science." Don't worry - I'm not trying to convince you to become a Vegan, hug trees or start eating organic sprouts, this book offers loads of gaming ideas for anyone looking for original scenarios for D&D, Call of Cthulhu or Lord of the Rings. For example;

Landscape Geometry in Goucestershire - A Templar Legacy? Need I say anything more! As well as being very well written it offers ideas on how the placement of key geographical or man-made structures could have been influenced by man and placed in either actual pentagram patterns or modified patterns. GM's will find the idea of patterns on maps very intriguing.

A Botanical Mystery at the Omega Ring - A study of plants and their placement around an oval structure on Rodborough Common. Once again I would expect the placement of different types of plants, herbs and trees to be used as a clue to the alignment of the structure.

The Hyporeans - Possibly the best written and most researched article in this issue, the origins of the Aryan tribes, their distribution around Europe and how their culture has influenced modern European cultures as well as North American cultures. I could easily write a complete gaming background based on this four page study.

Neolithic Barrows in the Cotswolds (part two) - Another article full of gaming (and modelling) potential.

Investigating the Paranormal at Littledean Hall - If I have to write how this can be used in a CoC game - then my readers are not who I have imagined them to be! Bring your divining sticks for this one.

The Great Pavement - The study of the symbolism of the Orpheus mosaic of Woodchester.

Plus there are others - like the study of Ladywell spring with radioactive Geigertellers to check the radioactive nature of ancient sites!

I have checked the Internet for more stories - try Googling Gloucestershire Earth Mysteries. I came up with this little gem;

http://www.whitedragon.org.uk/articles/undream.htm

A real 'find' and one that I would recommend to any GM, particularly you BigLee. I am sure that you will find much to interest your gaming group in such a magazine. For more info., you could try;

http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~rebis/ts-mags.htm

Tony

A visit to Tewkesbury, Glos.

Earlier today I visited the small town of Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire. I had remembered to take the camera and took over 70 images of different timber-framed buildings. This recently renovated street front house has been build in traditional style and appealed to me. I have taken many more photos, but felt that the owners had successfully and sympathetically built a period house that fitted-in so well with the history of this old town.

The building is on the main street and opposite the John Moore Countryside Museum, Church Street. The sequence of photos move from the left, around the front , side and back of this beautiful house. I hope that you enjoy these photos.

July 10th and 11th, 2010 The Tewkesbury Medieval Festival will see the largest, free medieval festival in Europe, where thousands of re-enactors will travel from all around the country to re-create The 1471 Battle of Tewkesbury, for more details see;

http://www.tewkesburymedievalfestival.org/

Tony

Barking Irons from Alternative Armies

Following my earlier post - detailing the launch of this new magazine from Alternative Armies. I have included a cover image of issue one, due for release on the March 15th with a cover price of £3.00

Barking Irons is planned as a monthly magazine detailing Flintloque/Slaughterloo and other games from Alternative Armies and 15mm.co.uk.

More details are available from;

http://www.alternative-armies.com/BI01_Barking_Irons.htm

With a more detailed review and launch information available from;

http://www.orcsinthewebbe.co.uk/index.php/orcs-in-the-webbe/in-the-alternative/456-inside-the-alternative-barking-irons

I am obviously bias, as the feature modelling article has been written by me, however I feel that with the lack of fantasy based published material, a new magazine deserves to be given a fair chance at success. I would hope that others feel the same way and will agree to support AA in this undertaking.

Once again, good luck to all involved.

Tony

Foul Mouth Freddy Saves the ****ing Sheep

Craig at Orcs in the Webbe asked if I would write a new scenario for my hero Foul Mouth Freddy to feature in a set of themes scenarios, each linked to one of the UK Saints Days. Here is the result for St. David's Day 2010; Foul Mouth Freddy Saves the ****ing Sheep.

"In parts of Taffsea, hidden in deep lush valleys there are many legends of fair folk and evil doings. This is the story of how Foul Mouth Freddy found true love in this most unusual of places."

To read the full story and scenario, go to;

http://orcsinthewebbe.co.uk/index.php/flintloque/scenarios/458-foul-mouth-freddy-saves-the-ing-sheep

I had tremendous fun writing this short story and Craig has done a great job in editing my notes. The whole story should inspire Flintloque gamers to try this simple scenario. I hope that you like it.

Note; Boggies are Evil Taffsea Mine Goblins, and Thelma is a Glaistig, both creatures found in obscure Welsh Folk Tales.

The image above, shows Foul Mouth and Thelma, truly a match made in heaven! Freddy is a modified Flintloque Orc and Thelma is the she-Orc from one of the Flintloque half-box sets, I'm not sure she is still available! (You may have to 'badger' Gavin for it to be re-released.)

I have recently sent a 'master' model of Foul Mouth Freddy to Alternative Armies and Gavin has promised that he will be cast up soon, keep an eye on this Blog for details of the release. In addition, I would expect further adventures of this 'potty-mouthed' Albion Orc to follow soon.

Finally - Happy St. David's Day

Tony