33 Minutes Later

Doing Some Painting

Before 

Finally finished the latest round of work trips and time to do some painting, not really geared* for a long evening painting so went to a 30 minute finish a figure session. 

This was the first test mini with the Oathmark head on the EM4 spear dwarf body. 

Once I started painting him, I realised I hadn't remoted enough of the original plastic. So, I painted it brown to look like leather and fortunately it will be covered by the shield. Something to look out for on the next twenty!

33 minutes later

*mentally geared that is!

Its obviously not Friday night but is time for a beer. 

And one from my work trip. 

Rob 

Slann & Dwarves

A Title that Sums Up the Post!

I was a bit distracted form painting up the last couple of wood elves this week.  But I did put together the Slann slaves and paint up a couple of dwarves. 

I am pleased with how well the EM4 dwarf bodies match up with the Oathmark dwarf heads. Giving me the first stand of dwarves for the army. I think they fit the brief for a group for dwarves living on a mountain. 

I need to get the lighting sorted in my painting room as a couple of the bulbs have gone and I am sitting in the gloom while painting. And this also making the photos a bit harder to take!

Entertainment sorted for a Friday evening.

Rob 

Strong Tone vs. Nuln Oil

 A Clear Winner

After trying out Strong Tone earlier in the year and not being impressed, the Oathmark Goblins sat at the back of the paint bench for a couple of months (See Crooked House, Rangers & Strong Tone ). So it was time to give the goblins another go, this time with a better colour palette and a Nuln Oil wash.

I am much happier with the result. As I have 30 odd to do, this needs to a reasonably fast army style painting scheme. Where I can use the wash to do the heavy lifting. So after a quick bit of dry brushing and a few details picked out. One goblin done (once the shield has been finished)in just a few minutes.  

The strong tone coated goblin has been given a coat of Nuln oil and a coat of Agrax Earthshade and looks much better for it. 

Strong Tone (left) / Nuln Oil (right) 

These Oathmark goblins look more like LotR orcs than goblins to me. Not that is an issue but they were originally bought to bulk up the Black Sun goblins for Thistlewood. 

A Lonely Goblin or Orc?

Perhaps he was happier alone...

Rob 

Finally Finished the Dwarves

Thistlewood -  King Amias' Dwarven Contingent

Joris Dwalinson & the Guild of Sappers and Scouts 

Finally got round finishing the next set of five dwarves to complete the dwarven contingent for Thistlewood. Just the banner to add. I still have another five to complete which I can do in the background. Nearly three quarters of the good forces are now ready. 

Benni & the Pots

Benni the halfling is now underway and this is all of the pots etc. that come with the Viking house. I decided to fill up some of the pots with food and drink. 

Rob

Oathmark Light Dwarves & Goblins - First Impressions Plus the Mighty Atom

Oathmark Dwarf Engineers & Rangers 

 

I ordered three sprues of these dwarves off of eBay in order to make my unit of dwarves for the Thistlewood  scenario. But I also thought they could be used as the Engineers from Orcs Drift. And finally would make a interesting allied contingent for the halflings if put them together as rangers and miners.  I also decided to do a quick review of the dwarves plus the Oathmark goblins I got for Christmas. 

The first five put together. 

Each sprue has enough parts to create five dwarves equipped with either bows, mining equipment or two handed weapons. Plus a few extras such as a spear. Also fifteen heads also keeps the variety up (So each one of my dwarves in my unit can have a different head).  As I found out when I put the first five together, not every part goes with all of the bodies. So a bit of dry fitting is needed before splashing the glue about. But overall they went together ok. I really like all of the little extras on the sprue (top of the picture) which include things like pipes, tankards and horns. Which will be really useful for all kinds of scene setting and making them into individuals.

Dwarf rangers kitted out for the wilds.

I am equipping five of the dwarves with bows and add backpacks etc. from the bits box to turn them into rangers similar to my halfling ones.  Just need to add the green stuff straps etc. 

The halfling rangers are soon to be joined. 

They would also be a decent  alternative for the company of Thorin Oakenshield. Overall I am pleased with these guys and makes a nice change from all of the heavily armoured dwarf kits already available. In summary a great sprue of miniatures with plenty of character, choice of weapons and a nice little set of extra parts. But can be a bit fiddley to put the right arms on the right bodies. 

NOTE: I have also ordered the dwarven Warchief from Fornlorn Hope (ex-Grenadier) as the unit commander and will use a couple of EM4 dwarves has his personal bodyguard. You may ask why I am mentioning this minor detail. Its a great miniature but I don't even have it yet!

But whilst looking for the picture of this figure, I found someone selling one on eBay for £15. So I guess it always pays to look around before you buy! FYI - Its £2.30 on the Fornlorn Hope website. This figure has been around since the Nineties so maybe the eBay one is vintage...

Oathmark Goblin Raiders

I got a box goblins from Oathmark for Christmas to use with Thistlewood. Now I was originally planning on using my LotR goblins but sometimes my projects spin off in sideways directions. As I would quite to paint them up some goblins as Black Sun goblins(as mentioned in the scenario). With banners and shields, etc, to match the scenario description. Now I haven't decided on a  design for the Black Suns but would quite like to make some shields especially for them if I can come up with a suitable design. 

Where as the dwarf sprue felt like a character set, the goblin sprue feels very much like an army set. With five similar goblin bodies and heads and all five can be equipped with hand weapons, spears or bows. So a very flexible choice of builds like the dwarves. But no extra items to customise your goblins. Although it does come with a banner pole and what I assume is  a small set of boss weapons  and a special character head. So you can add a unit commander. 

First five put together at random

Unlike the dwarves,  I just put all of the goblin parts together at random and didn't have any real difficulty. So I think building all thirty shouldn't be too difficult. 

So overall a simple little set which should build up a unit double quick. 

The Mighty Atom*

"Nice to See You, To see you nice"

Bruce NOT Rift Cragg

While inspecting my new Trolls from Oakbound, I couldn't help noticing that one (Listed as Rift Cragg)  of them reminds me of a famous British TV personality Bruce Forsyth from all of my childhood and most of my adulthood. Who was famous for hosting game shows and his catchphrases. One of those all round entertainers from the good old days.  And even the troll seems to impersonating his famous pose. 

So from now on this troll will be known as Bruce. 

"Give Us a Twirl"

*Bruce Forsyth was known as the Mighty Atom back in the 1930's !! when he made his TV debut. 

And Finally Enough of this Madness & Back to the Oldhammer

As we turn to 2022, time to start think about what projects I want to finish and one of them I want to finish is painting my classic Citadel LotR collection. Which sort of got me back into wargaming. Anyway I painted Gollum back 2018 but was never really happy with the finish. So he is first up for a make over and then onto the other characters from this little set. 

Rob