Exiles Painting

Working on my Photography set up

2018-03-21T20:13:00.000+00:00

Been taking a few test shots, need to up the light a bit but as a first try on my new set up I am happy. My targets today were some Modern 28mm Figures and the new Necromunda Goliath Gangers

The Modern are the Empress miniatures Delta force and the Eureka Miniatures Recon Marines, and as everyone knows the Necromunda are good old GW.
Peace James

Hitting the Social Media with new logo

2018-03-15T19:48:00.000+00:00

So as I start down the road to my new full time commission painting I have set up a FaceBook page

FaceBook cover picture.

I have also set up an Instagram account to share all my WIP and finished figures quickly

I have also taken the time to design a new logo, I'm pleased with it as its simple but has a not towards Lord of the Rings.

I have also been busy working already with some 28mm German WW2 Infantry.

This blog will be a little bit more active this year so pull up a seat and enjoy the journey with me.
Peace James

Big News & what I have been painting

2018-03-11T09:56:00.001+00:00

I cant believe its March already, so much for me keeping this blog up to date. Still here I am again.
Its been a busy start to the year for me will plenty of painting. I completed a large amount of Zulus and painted up some Colonial Naval troops to act as crew for the Steam boat I built last year.

I also managed the attend a local games club for a couple of weeks and played Zombicide and Tanks

But the main thing I have been doing this year is planning, I have reached a point in my life and career when I want to work for myself. To this end I have decided the relaunch my commission painting. I have a few more ideas that will run along side this but those will be kept under my hat for now.
So if you know anyone who needs the service's of a top notch painter send them my way.

I will be creating a Facebook page this week and share my commission's on this blog and on Facebook.
I will also carry a stock of painted units that can be bought direct from me.
Exciting times ahead.
Peace James
Exiles Painting.

Zulu's and Necromunda progress.

2018-01-14T08:39:00.000+00:00

How have we got to almost half way through January already!!. I set myself a few goals for this month and have been working hard towards them.

Zulu's have been stuck together and undercoated and yesterday I painted the fist two units, well almost. I undercoat my figures in my old garage (on its last legs with no windows or doors) and have an old washing machine that I use as my table/stand I had undercoated the Zulus before work and in the evening I popped in to grab them. I have no light in the garage but the table is just in the entrance so I step in grab the board of figures and step out...usually. We have been having some very strong winds in the UK and that day had been such a day, as you can imaging plastic Zulu's have very little weight and had been blow off the table onto the floor this I only worked out after my step into the garage resulted in a crunching sound. Yes one base of Zulus took the brunt on my 18 odd stone and are beyond repair so one unit is a base short and will be made up to strength in the next batch. I still have the base work to do but have with the look of these Zulu's and they do not take long to paint.

As I showed in the last post I stuck the Necronuda figures together in short order and have decided to paint them one at a time rather than as a batch. I completed the first figure and am very happy with the colours picked

While moving my hobby stuff around before Xmas I uncovered my old Necromunda figures, I have to say they still look good and will be seeing action as soon as I complete the latest figures.

As I was working on prep before Xmas this occurred which I am sure many wargamers will understand.
Wargamers train of thought... Need to finish undercoat on Bloodbowl orcs, have some paint left so will undercoat a few more Zomicide black plague figures of Dad's... Must stick more Zulus together as I promised Dad.. While the glue is out might as well pre base them... Guess can pre base the rifle armed ones too... Seems a shame not to base the Sudan mounted as well. So an hour later desk is full of stuff little of which I planned to paint.

One of my big goals for 2018 is to get back regular gaming, I had looked at two local wargames clubs both of which meet in Stoke-on-Trent (about 30-40 min) but they meet on Thursday and Friday both days that my Wife works evenings so I have never felt I could get over. but this week I looking into maybe a Boardgames club and found one only 5 mins form me that meet on a Tuesday evening Cheshire Gamers I love a good board game and will take my Zombicide along but after introducing myself over social media very quickly found that a few of these games want to move over to miniature wargames... I am sure I can help with that .

So I will be popping along this Tuesday and seeing if I like it.

Necromunda 2.0

2017-12-28T09:55:00.000+00:00

Morning All,
As I explained in my last post I am going to crack on with the new GW Necromunda, now after opening the box I have to admit that you get plenty for the money (no always the case with GW). The figures and Terrain are nice hard plastic although the figures seem unnecessarily complex to put together. This is some thing I noticed last Xmas when putting the new Bloodbowl figures together. I put this down to the figures being designed on computers and not sculpted.

anyway with it being that odd period between Xmas and New year I knuckled down for some work, I stuck the House Goliath gang in the morning and have to say that GW have made it tough for you to mix these new figures with any old ones you may have tucked away from the 90's these guys are HUGE forget heroic 28mm these guys are almost 40mm but you get some very nice scenic base's

By the afternoon I moved up to the hobby room to start on the House Escher but got a bit distracted while the first girl dried and ended up constructing all the terrain bits.

So this is where I sit today I have all the big guys and terrain done and four of the girls, I have a family meal today but should have time to complete the Escher gang and then its primer time.

While gaming has been a rare occurrence for me one of my other hobbies has been going great, most Saturdays I am found on the sidelines of my local sports clubs trying to capture stunning action shots, its something I enjoy and has kept me from trying to play sport (while always ended in injury for me). I have an instagram account where I share my sports and a few gaming images.

I also provide images for the local newspapers sport pages and love seeing my work popping up and promoting the local teams. Other that that my life revolves around my lovly wife and daughter plus our Scottie dogs (plus our daughters Schnauzer cross)

Till next time Peace James

Painting toy soldiers for games you never play with friends you dont have!!

2017-12-26T08:42:00.000+00:00

The title to this post comes form a chat I had with a fellow blogger it was said to him by an ex-partner during a heated conversation. It is something that has stuck with me as it cut so close to the truth, I enter my 45th year and my last regular wargaming was as a teenager, so can I call myself a wargamer...
It is tough to admit but I don't make friends easily, I can safely say that my two best friends are my wife Liz and my Dad Paul. I'm not fussed about this as I have a great life, it just means that playing wargames for me is tough, I am not a one for solo gaming, for me playing wargames was always more about who is round the table then whats on the table.

My Dad retired a few years ago and threw himself back into wargames so I have been mainly painting stuff for him the play with, this has been great for keeping my painting focus. I guess that I am really a painter who would like to play more. This brings me to why a have resurrected this blog after so long in the wilderness. It is for me to get my ideas and plans in print, I always find painting to a target brings the best out of me. If along the way I gain readers and share tips that can help all well and good but that will not be my goal.
I have been a very blessed person over the last few years with my personal finances in a very nice place I have been able to pick a job that leans more towards a great work/life balance than wealth gathering. I have a great job that is Mon-Fri 9-5 this hopefully will let me try and find a local games club where I can put the painting/gaming back into balance too. I have also been able to build up an impressive collection of games/figures that will keep my busy for many a year.

In 2017 my daughter moved out and the now spare room has become a hobby room for me and my wife one side holds all my wargames/boardgames stuff and the other side holds my wife's sewing knitting and dolls house stuff. it gave me chance to build my own painting desk, I raised the desk level so I can paint without ending up hunched over.

another big plus for me has been the explosion in figure based board games I started with Zombicide for my 40th Birthday and have built up an impressive array of board games just waiting for my attention. I guess this is where this blog will come in as I plan in 2018 to work on completing these games. I have two local wargames clubs to try out and will look for boardgames clubs too. I have several GW boardgames that go back to my youth and the peak (so far) of my wargaming which I am keen to get my brush into.

This blog is going to be where I put my plans and results, so where do I plan to start. I have been painting Zulu war figures for playing the era in skirmish so I have to finish these but I want to make a start on my board games, oddly I want to start with the last one bought as I know my Dad is keen too, so I will be sticking together and painting the figures for GW's Necromunda.

Gaming wise I will be looking at attending the local wargames clubs before the end of January.

January goals

Stick together necromunda figures and terrain
Attend at least one wargames club session
Play at least one game (wargame or boardgame)
Finish Colonial Zulu's

Happy new year, and bluring the lines

2017-01-17T16:00:00.000+00:00

First post of the year so can I wish all readers a happy new year may 2017 bring you plenty of hobby time. For me I plan to get back gaming in 2017 and push my painting skills. To which end I wanted to talk about how I see my hobby and the painting involved.
As I see it as a painting wargamer (e.g I paint more than game) Military Modelling and wargames are either end of the same hobby. For wargames you want plenty of well painted miniatures but these are to be viewed from arms length on a table top. But military modelling is all about making the figures look lifelike and the top painters in this field can make figures look alive. This is a very time heavy way of painting figures can take weeks to complete with the top painters spending hours on maybe a single blend. I have tried this style and find it very tough to be spending as long on one figure as I would spend painting a whole unit of even and army of wargames figures. Its not that I do not like to spend that amount of time, just that hobby time is finite and I still love to play wargames (or new era board games) and want/ need to paint figures for them
check out the top models on Cool Mini or not for 2016
And a few of my own attempts at Military Modelling style painting

I am at heart a wargames painter I excel in this style of work I have a method of painting that while effective is quick enough that painting an army will not take me years. My style for wargames is a simple one best summed up as Face's and Base's. You put extra effort into painting the flesh this gives the figures a great focal point, the rest of the figure can be done is basic colour with minimal highlights you then put extra effort into making the base work as stunning as you can. For me this is the best pay off between getting the army onto the table top and making the figures look great the base is visible form all angles and gives a great first impression and when the figures are looking at closer the well painted flesh will draw the viewers eye and give a impression of higher detail than you have actually put on the model. Below are my latest figures for the Sudan wars which show my face's and base's style (these would be add to a Sabot for the full base effect)

But in the last few years (maybe decade) the biggest growth in wargames has been in skirmish games. games that may only involve a few figures or a squad on each side. For me this is a chance to blur the lines between the two end of my hobby, I still want figures to play with but if I only need to paint a dozen of more figure to get a playable force I can put a few more hours into each figure to make them a bit more of a display piece. To this end I have a few projects that I will be giving this extra level of detail to namely my 40mm Napoleonic figures to play Sharp Practise my newest era Modern Special forces playing the Spectre rules set and maybe some WW2 SAS below are the first figures form my 40mm Napoleonic and my Modern stuff.

Christmas Swag and 1st Entry to winter challenge

2016-12-28T19:42:00.000+00:00

So here I am starting my third winter challenge, it seemed fitting that this forms my return to the hobby when it was into the first month of the forth challenge when I fell out of love with painting and gaming. I am already staggered with the output of (to me) new challengers and I look forward to getting to know the people behind this talent.

not changed much just the hair has slipped

In the spirit of returning my first entry throws back to a young James who in 1989 was all about the GW and Warhammer, I had been one of the kids who watch the channel four NFL show so when GW released and game based on football but set in the Warhammer world I was sold. I played Blood bowl with a human team for a good year or two and if exams had not got in the way I would probably have been one of those who kept the game alive as a cult classic since. But while I did not play BB again I did keep the passion so after a commission opened my eyes to the vast collection of BB miniatures from other companies I started to collect them with a view to one day restarting.

My Christmas Day haul

Giving yourself only 5 days to complete your Dad’s Christmas present with no plan B might seem mad to some but anyone who watched my output in my first Winter challenge will know I work best with tight a schedule.

I love the character in these figures the faces are the real star of the sculpts, the team consists of 2 throwers 2 blitzes 2 Black Orc Blockers and 8 linemen. All the numbers are free hand and the base has colour mark so indicate the position.

I continue to work on other figures ready for my second entry been working on some fantastic 40mm Rifles.

And so the time draws near.

2016-12-18T13:35:00.001+00:00

No I am not talking about the time when the big fella come down your chimney with box's for you lead pile. I talk about the day when 100 hardy bloggers can finally put away the primer and glue and start slapping paint on those hard prepped figures. While I still had plenty of colonial figures still prepped from the forth painting challenge, as with any wargamer I can never resist new lead/plastic.

As I plan to use this challenge to get myself back up to speed with my painting have set myself a low 1000 point target and have two periods that will get my main attention. I have 40mm Perry miniatures Napoleonic figures that will be used to play skirmish level games using the Sharp Practise. I have a good starting level of figures but will need to add more as I go to get them up to the correct level for a big game.

The second period is Ancients and a new game system Kings Of War (KoW) historical while my Dad and I love to play some ancients we do not want to spend a lot of money so I suggested we scale down and play the game at 10mm so that is what I have two armies in 10mm from Pendraken miniatures I have British Celts and Romans.

So that is (was the plan) but.....

I want to finish the colonial period that I started back before I took my break so I have a dozen or so Afghan tribesmen and 12 mounted plus a great new Perry Miniatures mountain gun to finish all my Afghan stuff, this period is already getting some great gaming from my Dad with a adjusted set of Donnybrooke rules (Kilts up the Kyber)

I also have a few more to finish my Sudan period, while I have completed all the Highland Infantry I do have plenty of tribesmen both foot and mounted, I might also have bought myself a river boat....or two which will need building and painting and will give the games some real eye candy. I plan hope to play these as large skirmish game with another Donnybrooke adjustment.

But just next to the Sudan figures in my prep box is.... what is that, well it looks like a load of Zulu war British foot and Mounted, and if I have all these Brits I must have some Zulus around here somewhere.


I see Zulu's...

So I may have drifted away from my Two period painting challenge, but in for a penny in for a pound because I have asked Santa for the 2016 Blood Bowl game and had already stock piled several teams for playing, so these might have made it into the prep pile...

That's all....honest.....ok maybe you can see the ACW guys who will be played using Sharp Practise.

OK so I might have prepped a few Cars and bikes for Devils Run and some Fantasy figures ready to play KoW, namly my favourite race the dwarf's and some thing for my Dad in the Norsemen, and with Grand kids playing with my Dad nowadays we need a good fun army for them to use (because no one lays a finger on my Dwarf's) so we may have invested in a Goblin army.

I promise that's is all...wait..

Peace James

Fresh start, Fresh period and inspiration.

2016-12-01T13:12:00.000+00:00

So with a return to the painting table and wargames in general, I wanted to look at a new period for me. I have often wanted to get into the American Civil War, even more so since reading the Bernard Cornwell Rebel books

I cant put my finger on why but reading the Cornwell books always inspires me to paint armies, after reading the Arthurian series I painted a Warhammer Ancients Arthurian army and the Sharpe books have lead me to delve into the Two Fat Ladies Sharp's Practise and the Perry miniatures 40mm range.

So when I resently sold my old climbing gear I put the money towards and new period for me and I have to admit that the attraction of the ACW is the Perry miniatures plastic box sets meaning if I want to expand my foothold in the period it will not break the bank. So I was very pleased to see that the Perry twins have created the ideal kit for me to get into this period in the form of their Battle in a box.

While the 40mm Sharp's Practise figures will be painted over the winter the ACW might wait a bit longer. My Daughter is looking to fly the nest in 2017 and that will open up her room to become our hobby room half will be dedicated to knitting and sewing (my wife's passion) and the other half will be my wargames room including a good sized wargames table. All this will be in the future, I hope that I will be able to document the building up of my hobby room in 2017 on this blog.

Winter is coming!!!

2016-11-22T07:38:00.000+00:00

If you are a fan of a certain fantasy TV series you will understand the reference, but for many of us in the wargames blogosphere this has a far greater meaning because the start of winter heralds the return of the world famous Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge. From the original idea of Canadian wargamers clubbing together through the dark cold winter months to pretend to be busy painting so the other half can't get them doing endless DIY jobs around the house (not true just my imagination....honest) to this the seventh edition, it has become the incentive for hundreds of mad painting projects that would otherwise sit in the lead pile.

I first took part as one of the 47 Ronin, when I was pipped at the post but an avalanche of points in the final hours from New Zealand.

I returned in the next winter with mad plans to paint three different Colonial periods and started on fire turning out loads of Afghan Tribesmen and Colonial troops

but then a month into the winter real life got in the way and I had a hobby shut down.
while I have been painting the odd figure or two since, it is three years since I turned out figures at that rate. So while I am picking up where I left off with this fantastic painting challenge I have set myself a reachable 1000 point target.
I look forward to watching the output from my fellow painters and hopefully offer support or/and advice where I can.
So to all my fellow Wargames bloging painters

Flag Football Pre-season games

2016-11-21T11:53:00.000+00:00

I took my American Flag Football team up to Halifax yesterday (Sunday 20th) to play a couple of friendly games against team from our BAFA league conference (MEC Middle England). Due to a few of my players being coaches for University teams (Full kitted football) I was light on numbers. I have had to become a coach only due to tearing my Hamstring earlier in the year so I only had five players to call on. Our Flag is a 5v5 game so my lads had to play both Offence and Defence but I could not be prouder as they came away from the day with two wins.

25-22 Against the Leeds Samurai and despite our teams 2016 MVP Sergio de Paco having to leave game two with a fractured finger (at which point I changed from photographer to ambulance driver) the boys with the help of one of the watching Samurai carried on and took the second game 33-30. Was a hugly satistfing day with many of the aspects I have worked hard on with the team in training being put into effect.
If you are on facebook feel free to check out (and like) the teams page to keep in touch with all our efforts in 2017.
Cavaliers Facebook Page

Ready to get some serious painting done.

2016-11-19T16:59:00.000+00:00

Spent the week putting my hobby room in order and very happy with the results.

New paint racks and storage draws

box's of prepped figures and a couple of box's of lead

a mobile paint desk so I can be more sociable


My plastic moutain and box sets

My board Games stash

Plans for 2017

2016-11-13T08:28:00.000+00:00

So while I have been painting over the last few years its just been a bit here and a bit there, going forward I need to put a few loose plans in place so here goes.
1. Work my way through my Zombicide figures.
I have painted all survivors for seasons 1 & 2 but still have season 3 and the expansion Noisy neighbour's to do. I have the zombies from both the above to paint also.

(Black Plague is my Dads)
2. 40mm Napoleonic.
I have long planned to play the Two Fat Ladies Sharpes Practise in 40mm and have slowly built up enough French and British figures from the fine Perry Miniatures range. This winter I plan to paint these up, I will be putting real effort into these with fine scenic base's and well painted figures.

I will also be creating some scratch built terrain as the stuff I do have would be small for 40mm it will be walls and small bits maybe building up to a building or two.
3. Lots and Lots of new Board games.
I have several board games waiting for some love all the game I bought are figure based ones and many re released GW classics. I do have a few new kids on the block including Devils Run

The other games I have to work through are Star Wars (Imperial Assault), Space Hulk, Hero Quest, Rum and Bones, Blood Rage and a few more.

I also have a few games that do not need painting.

4. Warhammer Old School.
I am returning to my Oldhammer project I have Dwarves from several companies plus some old GW sculpts and I am painting my Dad's Norse which are old GW now Foundry sculpts. I might look to add some Orc and Goblins but will see how things go.

5. Kings Of War Historical.
after I found GW had killed WFB I was looking around the net to see what the kids are playing now and see that KoW has stepped up to the plate and that they have produced a historical version (I loved Warhammer Ancients) I picked up the rules and took them away last week on my holiday. I have to say the look fun and while I would not invest to build any 28mm armies I do like the idea of playing the game at 10mm so that is my plan ( I feel the rules use some of my favourite parts from an old historical set called Shock of impact).

6. Colonial 28mm.
I have all the Sudan and Zulu war stuff I had prepped three years ago still sitting awaiting paint so they will aim to be completed by the end of 2017.

7. Blood Bowl.
Oddly I bought several Blood bowl teams and start players last year with plans to paint in years to come but as the game is being re released this month might push these up the list and try and get them done in 2017

8. Keep myself chilled.
I have lots of other stuff in my life that helps keep me on an even keel, my wife Liz is chief among them and we celebrated our 20th anniversary in 2016 I also have my dogs (while 2015 saw us lose our first Scottie to cancer, we added another young pup). And most weekends I can be found on the side of various sports games armed with my camera.

So while I cant promise to be as prolific on updating this blog or in painting I do have plans to keep busy through 2017 and hope some of you will keep checking in to see how I am doing.
I hope to share some of my photography and news on my Cheshire Cavaliers Flag American Football team
Peace James Brewerton

What I've been getting up to!!

2016-11-01T19:50:00.001+00:00

Well hello my old friend, my blog has been inactive so long I almost forgot where it was.
I on the other hand have been very busy. Shortly after I closed down the blog I was not in a fun place with work, being a Supervisor working nights with a boss I just did not understand took its toll and to cut a long story short I quit in September 2014 after 16 years at the same company and jumped to another (the term out of the frying pan into the fire is very apt) this led to a hellish 11 weeks before I admitted defeat and quit management altogether and returned to my old company as a Warhouseman. I have since spent the best two years of my working life I just show up do my job and take my money.
So work is sorted but why have I been away from my hobby, truth is I returned to an old passion Photography and found I was rather good at sports photography so I have been busy chasing the action for these last three years.

But not only that I developed a passion for Flag Football (non contact American football) and with an inheritence last spring I created my own team the Cheshire Cavaliers who I coach and manage, we completed our first season of National competition in the summer and are building towards 2017 currently.
http://cheshirecavaliersflag.co.uk/

But this is a painting blog so I guess you want to know what I have been doing painting wise, the answer is not alot. I have got into board games and thr family enjoy regular games of Zombicide, I have several board games including the old favourites from GW SpaceHulk, Bloodbowl and Hero quest.
I have plenty of figures built up ready for my return to the hobby and in the last few months with my Cavalier Manager duties easing I have been getting the brushes out. This is why the blog has been restarted.
I can only say sorry for the way I disappeared but the work stress had already started and was crossing over into the hobby. It was time for a clean break and that was what I did, I hope that my painting friends will understand and help me ease back into things.
Peace James

Happy New Year

2014-01-01T19:32:00.001+00:00

This Blog is no longer active feel free to have a look through and I may in the future return to it but for now I have other fish to fry.

But for now its Peace and Adieu
James

Secret Santa and Challenge update.

2013-12-27T20:06:00.000+00:00

I was very lucky to have two fine gifts from my Secret Santa and Santa clause, I got two greta packs of Perry's Samurai that will be cleaned up and based this weekend ready to join the ranks o my Ronin figures also some great terrain scatter in the form of barrels. My Secret Santa Clause was a great figure produced by Gringo 40 this is an officer of the French Foreign Legion who will when based become a stream ship captain for the Sudan.

I took a quick shot of my paint desk, you can see that I have my Bengal Lancers under way plus some Afghans and Dark age stuff.

I was able to get my first entry in to Curt the other day a group lot of NWF Foundry Figures that I had great fun painting.

Regular Posting will be interrupted

2013-12-23T00:18:00.000+00:00

I think my plan to post each day during the challenge and to challenge myself to complete 4500 points was always going to be a loser. I want to spend every possible second with brush in hand and stopping to take photos and blogging has taken a back seat.
I will try and post fairly regularly but it may just be a few photo's of WIP and the odd comment. Please be assured I am still reading as many blogs as I can and am very active on the FB page (as it sits next to my painting desk) but if anyone wishes to contact me drop me an email of FB message.

Wild Bunch Day 6

2013-12-20T20:05:00.001+00:00

Back up to full speed again today, I completed the Guide Infantry ready for base work and dip. On the base front I have been thinking and I plan to paint the base's with the craft paint and when dry will paint the dip on the figures and base I will then complete the base work with dry brush and tuff's.

I have completed the flesh on the Camel Corp so then will see more attention this weekend. After putting away the finished figures I dug out my next batches. I am starting on the Afghan's these I will do in groups of ten painting them in the same colours and then when I put them all together they will look irregular.

I have one of my Afghan Command stands and the first unit of Bengal Cav, I think you can also see in the end of this picture my entry for the first bonus round a figure from Perry Miniatures AWI range.
Peace James

Wild Bunch Day 5

2013-12-19T23:27:00.003+00:00

Its been a day of big changes in the Brewerton world, anyone who is friends with me on FB will know I had a shocking start to the day but I slept well and was able to hit the brushes this evening. While I did get plenty done I had no time left to take and upload pictures before getting ready for work so it looked like I was going to fail at my post a day challenge after only 4 days but I said to myself get a grip and have grabbed 5 min at work to fire off this quick post just before the days end.
The big change I talked about is at work I held informal talks with my manager on Monday and tonight I put in a formal request to return to the day shift, my manager informed me that he had already broached the subject with the Ops director and been told I would be accommodated so it looks like 2014 will be the year I return to the light. How this effect my hobby well time will tell but I do know it will free me to go gaming on evenings so I think it will only be good for my hobby.
I was going to leave this post pictureless but remembered a picture on my phone I had taken to show Dad how I plan to base our Zulus, the picture shows 2 units of NNC (2x20) the Zulus will vary from 15-20 Married to 20-50 Unmarried the bigger being on two bases the smaller on just one. It does mean a slight change to my painting tec as I will now base them after painting as even I would have trouble getting my brush in to all areas if I based first.

Wild Bunch Day 4

2013-12-18T20:33:00.000+00:00

Well my painting time was well busted today..let me tell you a tale. My Daughter moved out 4 months ago but at the moment we still have her dog, this means every evening she comes home to [~~use our wi-fi~~ ][~~eat our food~~ ] walk her dog. Now she has a Virgin mobile phone on the same contract I bought for her 16 birthday we paid her bill all the way through Uni but I told her as soon as she got a job it was up to her to pay, so when she got her first job I dropped a few hints about sorting her bill out but a few months went by with us still paying in the end I did what any good Dad would do, I cancelled the standing order and let her know she needed to sort it out before the next payment.... you can guess what is coming. While I was on holiday in Norfolk we had a panic call from Cardiff station as her phone had been cut off and as the contract was in my name they needed to talk to me what followed was a three way talk with me in Norfolk and Mel in Wales and I am sure the Virgin rep was in India. This I stupidly thought was the end of MY troubles.... no chance the contract is up and Mel is wanting to change her phone/contract but get this I am still the name on the contract but all data protection info is Mel's so they would not speak to her but I could not answer the questions. After 20 minutes on the phone we got them to accept it was Mel's phone and she promptly cancelled it.
Problem over I hoped... Mel seemed happy and was looking at new phones on the Internet this is where I slipped up as she said I hope I can get it sorted soon.
"" you will never get it before Christmas now"" said I
Now anyone who has seen a baby after a candy has been taken off them mid chew will know the look I was now faced with. I could see my painting time fading into the night as I knew I would have to step up as Dad and get this sorted.
"" Unless you go and pick one up from a store""
"" I can run you up to the retail estate and wait while you sort it and then run you home""
The look of relief was great to see,not sure if this was all for the phone or partly for the offer of a life home as it is evil out side tonight. I had not been totally selfless in this offer as you will remember yesterdays comment about looking for craft paint at Hobby Craft (which is on the estate). So while I waited for Mel to get her phone I picked up a huge tub of brown paint for £2.
I did get an hour on the brushes after all the fun was over and have almost completed the Zulu War command stand and progressed the two Warrior monks.
So Fellow painter always remember to think before you speak as it can impact on your painting time.

Wild Bunch Day 3

2013-12-17T20:57:00.000+00:00

So I am starting to really get into my stride, today I have been working more on the Sikh Infantry and the Zulu War Command stand. But I have been itching to get painting some of my Sudan stuff so have pulled out my Camel Corps these are by far my favourite casts from the Perry Sudan range (so far). I have not actually put a brush on them yet but they have made it from the box's to the desk.

As you can see to the left of my desk I have two warrior monks on the go again great Perry Miniature casts. I have been thinking about what to do for my base's I have loads of Sudan and NWF which I want to base the same so I can swap in units when needed. That will be a huge area of base to paint and if I use my usual colour I will soon run out of my brown Vallejo paint. I have come up with the plan of nipping to my local hobby craft and picking up some cheapish craft paint of the right tone of brown. This will last me so much longer and save me money in the long run. I have plenty of tuff's of various brown's and gold's which will finish off the base's just fine. The Zulu war stuff will use the same paint but as I have not used the brown primer on them I and sure the end colour will be a bit darker.
I have been keeping track of all the wild bunch's progress and have found the FB group a great tool while painting I can chat to fellow painters which is so much fun and gives a real group feel to this years challenge. I have been highly impressed with the efforts put in by all so far this year and Curt keeping track of all the fun side challenges has been a fantastic addition to this years challenge.

This is a view of my side storage to the left of my painting desk (which I worked out I have now owned for 24 years being as my Mum and Dad got it for me to do my A level studies on, my painting desk not the computer desk shown) as you can see I have my laptop which also provides my music, usually BBC radio 2 or a CD. All the figures you can see are my non-colonial figures for this year mostly Dark-age and Samurai with the last few French and Indian War figures.
Anyway I hope all my fellow challengers are getting into their stride and having as much fun as I am.
Peace James

Wild Bunch Day 2

2013-12-16T21:07:00.002+00:00

Just a quick post today before work, I had a good day on the brushes and pushed the Sikh and Civies up to dip and base point. I have also started on the next unit of NWF infantry which is the Guide Infantry. I have picked out a few more of my Samurai figures as I enjoyed the last one so much.

Wild Bunch Day 1

2013-12-15T18:33:00.000+00:00

So the day has finally arrived all of us wild bunchers are free to paint like mad things for the next three months. I was awake early today as I am having real issues sleeping on my nights off at the moment and at ten to five I gave up and took my boys out for a walk, as I returned the boys to their leads after a great run around the field my oldest Mackie took a bite at Toddy 99.9% of the time they get along fine and most of the times they don't its all bark and posture but today Mackie got his teeth into Todd's ear and drew blood. Back home I checked the damage and by then the blood flow had stopped so I cleaned him up and sorted out breakfast. The canine related issues did not stop there as I was making my cup of tea I had not latched the gate keeping the boys out of the kitchen and when my old cat came in the boys burst into the room and attacked the cat (this has happened before and I am not worried about them hurting her but her causing damage to them) all I can do when this occurs is block the dogs enough to let her make her escape, which I did today with only me suffering scratch's. All these things occured before 6 so as you may guess I decided I needed to chill out a bit and let my nerves settle before trying to paint.
When I hit the painting room I logged into Facebook and was please to see several fellow Bunchers already online and chatting away. How cool is the world we live in when painters from all over the world can chat away and enjoy their painting together.
First job was to pick out my first batch of figures to paint, anyone who followed me last year will know I like to do several bunch's of figures at the same time. I started off with some Sikh troops from the NWF and civies from the French and Indian war, I picked out one of my Ronin and added a command stand from the Zulu war and finally one of my NWF Screw gun and crew.

The pictures show you where I am leaving them today, I have a full day of painting tomorrow before work at 22:00. I am enjoying painting all these figures but find the Ronin flesh the most pleasing work today.

Peace James

The Wild Bunch last few days till launch

2013-12-11T01:24:00.001+00:00

Well I like many of my fellow Wild Bunchers am champing at the bit to get started on my challenge figures. I managed to add a last order to Perry miniatures this week for a bit more Madhist Cav and Camels. This was due to the very good new that my daughter her had her contract at work extended so I no longer had to hold back some money to cover her rent (if needed). I should see those in the post tomorrow and get them prepped up for Sunday.

I am very much looking forward to getting some great Colonial gaming done in 2014.
below is a rough list of what I plan to paint over the next three months:
NWF:
Gurkhas (Foundry)
Guides (Foundry)
Sikhs (Foundry)
Black Watch (Foundry)
Gattling and screw guns (Foundry)
Bengal Lancers (Foundry)
Guide Cav (Foundry)
Tribesmen (Foundry & Old Glory)

Sudan:
Naval Brigade (Perry Miniatures)
Black Watch (Perry Miniatures)
Egyption Inf (Perry Miniatures)
Camel Corp Mtd&Foot (Perry Miniatures)
19th Hussars (Perry Miniatures)
Gattling Gun (Perry Miniatures)
Madhist warriors (Perry Miniatures)
Madhist Camels (Perry Miniatures)
Madhist Cav (Perry Miniatures)

Zulu War:
3 x Infantry Units (Empress Miniatures)
1 x Marines (Foundry)
NNC foot and Mounted (Empress Metal and Warlord Plastics)
Zulus (a few :) ) (Warlord Plastics)

Dark Age:
Saga Anglo-Danes (Gripping Beast)
Viking (rather a lot) (GB Plastics)
Viking (not as many) (Foundry)
Dux B Saxon Force (GB Plastic)

SYW:
Hussars (Foundry)
Lancers (Foundry)
Hanoverian Inf (Front Rank)

F&IW:
Indians (Warlord/Conquest)
Canadian (Conquest)
Civies (Foundry/Conquest)

WW2:
Red Beret's (Renegade Miniatures)

I have a load of other odd figures like my Samurai and Cowboys that will see paint if all above is completed.

I will try and post pictures each day of the challenge so watch this space.

Peace James