AHPC XVI: Mike W: 28mm Zombicide Xenos, Survivors & Undead Egyptians (120 Points)

 This week  I have returned to a couple of themes that I began thus year's challenge with. Namely some Zombicide Invader figures and some Undead Egyptians!

My first figure is of a Survivor, 'Preacher Karl'  dressed in largely black and blue attire, I'm pretty pleased with the outcome.

Preacher Karl, showing teh blued armour nicely.

As usual a light undercoat followed by a wash of black speed paint. The artwork for this character hinted at some blue, so I decided to use a blue speed paint was on all armour and leatherwork.

Karl's other side!

Weapons, visor and backpack were painted in gun metal with a light black ink wash finishes this guy off nicely.

The Xenos group

The rest of the Zombicide batch was made up of 13 Xenos of various types. 3 x Tanks, 4 x Hunters and 6 x Workers, all done using the recipe I have described in previous posts.

Closer view

Difference thus time was that I was little impatient in applying the AP Rune Grey Speed Paint over the undercoat on the Workers!

Resulting in a lighter grey finish to these guys. I was annoyed at first but then realised even Xenos would likely have different skin tones, so I'm more relaxed about it now...

You can just make out the lighter complexion of some of these guys

The three Xenos Tanks, a worry for any survivor!

The four Hunters

In this group we're also 3 x Sentenal Guns, robotically controlled heavy weapons. I gave these a basic gun metal finish.

And the six Workers 

First of the views of the Sentinal Guns

And the reverse view.

Next up are a batch of undead Egyptians, some may say Khemri, I prefer to be a little less specific. THe figures are form a game called Ankh, which has some pretty cool Egyptian Gods figures, which I my get around to later.

5x Mummies

Again aaaaa cream undercoat followe dby a diluted AP Dark Ink wash and a follow-up drybrushhhhing of light cream bandage colouration. Gold was added to taste and weapons and shields styled to fit in with my existing undead army.

Two mummies painted as the manufacturers envisaged - no conversion work!

I did some convertung on three of the mummies, giving one a whip - to make him into a Discipline Lord, whist the other two where given GW shields and a sword or a spear.

Finished conversions.

To add to the mummies were the other three undead cat swarms that I sourced frm th esame eBay outlet as the mummies. I now have a total of 4 Cat swarms and these will operate much as traditional Khemri Beetle swarms

Not sure if any of the cats were originally lucky black cats....

but they've used up all their nine lives!

Finally a solitary Night Goblin, lost form last week's Greenskin batch when I was moving my office / studio furniture around after decorating the room!

Once lost and now found

AHPC XVI: From GrahameH -15mm Russian and Austrian Napoleonic. 272pts

 A very quick post this week as I am still trying to finish rebasing a few armies that I started before the challenge began. I had thought I had finished painting my Russian and Austrian Napoleonic armies last month, but I found these so thought I better get them done.

Napoleonic Austrian 

Half a Regiment of Austrian Cuirassiers (which means at some point I will have to purchase the other half!!!). Why do Austrian units have to be so large? 24 AB figures (96 pts)

Russian Napoleonic 

2/3 of a Russian Artillery Battery. Again AB Miniatures. (48 pts) 

Russian Cuirassier Regiment 

30 AB Figures (120 pts)

Finally the Command group for my Guard Cossacks (8 pts)

That's it. Sorry for the poor quality of the photos. The figures do look better in real life honest.

AHPC XVI: From Mike W - 28mm Greenskins (105 Points)

 So after a hiatus in my painting production last week, I'm gradually getting back into the swing, albeit that this post is a smaller contribution that I'm usually able to do.

This week I present a group of 21 Greenskins - 20 x Orcs plus one Night Goblin!

The completed batch of Greeskins

The reason for my hiccup in painting was that I succumbed to my wife's entirely reasonable request to redecorate my office / studio room! It's very hard to argue that I'm no good with a big paintbrush when I spend so much time painting with little ones! 😀

Some big 1:1 scale painted terrain! 

I was thinking I could claim a point or two basis this work being classed as terrain but no, that would bee too cheeky.

Back to the Orcs, the painting method was exactly the same as previously described an the 20 Orcs and single Night Goblin will be distributed to add numbers to existing regiments in my collection.

Another view of the Greenskins

Close-up of the Orcs

So 5 more Orcs Biguns to join the regiments I already have

Three shield armed Orcs, two with spears and one with
choppa to re-enforce existing regiments

First smaller group of the 12 x Orc Archers that are in this batch

The 3 x Skulls I'm claiming for in this post are clearly seen here!

Final shot of thee Orcs and the stray Night Goblin!

Hopefully lots more figures in the next couple weeks - until some re-carpeting needs to be done.....

Friday Night Games - 10mm Hussite Mini Campaign

Words & Photos by Mike W & Mat

On Friday 9th January through to 23rd January, we met at Rupert's venue to play  Mat's 10mm Hussite Mini Campaign. This involved strategic moves on eth map below, until a suitable tabletop scenario develops, at which time it is played out as a regular wargame.

Campaign Map

Mike N & Mike W took on the role of the Hussites, whilst John, Steve, Rupert and Dave controlled the Hugarians / Bavarians who opposed them. Mat supplied the figures, rules and umpiring duties on the day.

Husite column arriving on the tabletop, enemy positions on the distant hills.

Enemy positions revealed.

Hussites move to outflank

Hussite Cavalry deploy

Hussite War Wagons

Week #2 of the second battle saw Mat step in to run the Hussites as the two Mike's were unable to attend.

All looked to be going well for the bewagoned vagabonds initially. The lager was strong (but had they drunk too much of it?) and Johns made charge up the road towards the heavy guns faltered and fell back.

The clever pike surge through the forest on the other side of the lager progressed agonisingly slowly as the pikemen wrestled their long pikes through the low branches (Steve threw a 4cm move then another 5cm move…), whilst imperial horsemen gathered all around.

The end game, week#3. Imperials overrun the Hussite war wagons.

But then the pikemen surged out of the forest and hit home. After a spirited melee they overwhelmed the war wagon in front of them and this precipitated a rout from neighbouring wagons.

Rupert’s foot surged down the hillside and crashed down on one whole side of the lager pinning down reserves.

John rallied for one last charge and this broke through over the captured gun…making it clear that the Hussites were in real trouble as the mounted knights licked their lips and surged forwards to finish off the disarrayed rebels.

Rupert had amassed the greater number of victory points so stands in high esteem in the eyes of Emperor Sigismund…weird to see Rupert win…strangely unnerving!

What to say to sum up: the Hussites generally played their campaign well. I guess the lesson may be don’t lager up adjacent to a copse that blocks line of fire, and maybe scatter the guns more evenly around the perimeter of the lager rather than concentrating them in particular areas…otherwise better roll higher dice!

Imperials did well too. They held their knights back and avoided gung ho charges…which proves that even inbred chinless aristocrats can learn given enough futile bloodshed!

AHPC XVI: From GrahameH 15mm Byzantines Essex Miniatures 210 pts

 My first entry this year, now I have recovered from the Flu etc. I am currently behind on my basing so only a short entry. 

I was in the process of finishing my Byzantine armies when the challenge began, hence the entry. All figures are 15mm from Essex Miniatures. 

First three units of Byzantine Infantry. All figures are based for Impetus. Each unit is made up of 16 figures. (48 figures = 96pts)

Three units of Arab Archers again based for Impetus. Each base consisting of 8 figures. (24 Figures 48pts)

Two Arab Light Cavalry Units (10 mounted figures 40pts)

Lastly a Camel unit (5 mounted figures 20pts)

That's it. Hopefully more to follow once I catch up with my basing. 

AHPC XVI: From Mike W - 28mm Orcs & Night Goblins plus more Skaven (245 Points)

 This week I have started on my pile of Orcs & Goblins... There is of course the old adage, that you can never have enouigh Orcs! To which I subscribe whoe heartedly, however, be that so, they still need to be painted.

10 x Orcs, destined to be new recruits for various regiments in my collection

This group of about 50 figures, will hopefully get painted over the next couple weeks, they are part of an eBay bulk buy I acquired three or four months back. They have all been treated to an undecoating process - black spray paint followed by a 'zenathal' white spray paint coating form top downwards. As I am based in teh UK - I use Halfords' undercoat spay paints, which are available in large cans at a very reasonable cost.

A slightly different view

Five Big 'Uns with two hand weapons

This week's batches are a group of 10 x Orcs plus a batch of 21 x Night Goblins. I have described in previous year's my method for pinting Orcs and this has not changed, I'm comfortable with it and it will maintain consistancy with the rest of my collection

Two orcs, heading for a regiment armed with shield & hand weapon.
All my Orc regiments nad white & red shield designs, although
some have red & white designs!

As these figures were pre-owned and already built, they do not actually form a single Orc unit, this suits me fine as they will be conscripted into existing units in my collection to bulk them out.

The green skin was applid over the undercoat, I used Army Painter Orc Skin Speed paint, I used various other black and brown shades t block in their clothes, before using Lead Beltcher for all metal work - be it armour or weapons.

Close up on three of the Orcs, not skull on left hand figure's sword hilt.

Everthing getrs a watered down Dark Tone wash before I spend time picking out details - concentrating on mouth & lips as well as brass / gold work on weapons and jewellry. THen other hight light area is on any bone work! - skulls teath etc.

Then it is time to apply a highlight to the green skin, using GW Warboss Green before adding in nails & claws using GW Elysian Green. 

Bases are my standard Brown paint/glue gloop with fine sand and electrostatic grass added to taste!

Moving on from the Orcs I now bring you a group of 20 x Night Goblins, again whilst most of these are armed with bows, there are a few other odds and ends, these will all be drafted into existing regiments in my collection.

The completed 20 Night Goblins

My approach to painting these Night Goiblins is very similat ro the Orcs, with the same undercoating process being used for the whole of ths group of Orcs & Goblins. I painted all these little guys' robes with black speed paint before picking out all the skintones in GW Warboss Green.

Another view

I prefer my goblins to be  lighter shade of green to my Orcs and I have put together a new recipe for these guys, highlighting the skin with GW Elysian Green and doing claws and nails with a mix of GW Elysian Green. and Zandri Dust - in essence making the goblins a shade lighter all over than the Orcs.

I like th eresults which is good but now I'm feeling the need to go back and highlight all my other goblin figures in a similar way, this will be a big task....

And another...

Bows and spears were painted brown, armour, swords, spears and bow tips etc were done in GW Leadbeltcher Metal and then boots and laces and armbands were done in a leather colour or where it was material in a cream colour thaht was then washed with a light brown for shading purposes.

Close-up on five of the little guys

I blinged-up the figures by adding a lot of brass / gold earrings, lip rings and weapon furniture, additionally as with all greenskins the other feature point is the mouths so teath and lips were carefully added to give contrast to the green of their skin.

And another five!

Bases were my Warhammer standard fine sand and electro staic grass.

At some point I may add a standard to the guy with the spear but I'm happy with the look now

The final five

Next we have 17 x Skaven, painted to the same recipe as described in my previous posting. Not much to add to these in way of commentary but I'm still very undecided about the bases - I may just switch to may standard Warhammer bases as above but in the meantine I'm still experimenting and open to ideas!

17 x Skaven in three ranks

Whilst I'm using a mix of new and old models - I like the esthetic of teh newer figures - I particularly think that the some of teh older models look dated and so have tried to add rome robes to a number of tehse figures.

Another angle

I simply tore off small pieces of tissue paper, soake dthem in PVA glue and then draped them over the figures in an attempt to make raggety old cloth. I'm pretty happy wit hthe results and think this helps tie the older fgures in better.

Closeup of some of the Skaven

Some more...

A view of the home made robes on some of the older figures
when compared to a newer figure (left)

The last of this week's figures.