HAWKS

Chris Palmer

   Just wanted to give everyone a heads up that Reaper Miniatures’ Bones 5 Kickstarter is in it’s final few days, and will be ending this Saturday the 2nd!
   There’s been a lot of great stuff unlocked and still more to come.
   The big highlight of this project so far has been the almost yard-long Pirate Ship that Reaper will be doing.   The plan is to have it come apart at the deck levels so you will have several decks worth of playable surface.

   One of the expansions I’m most excited for is this Dark Depths one.  Lots of cool critters in it, and some great fodder for making units, which as primarily a wargamer, I’m always looking for.

(Click to see larger)

    You can check these figures and a lot more out at the Kickstarter main page: Bones 5: Pizza Dungeon!

via All Bones About It http://allbonesabout.blogspot.com/2019/10/reaper-bones-5-kickstarter-in-its-final.html
from Tumblr https://harfordhawks.tumblr.com/post/188720511913
via IFTTT

Chris Palmer

     This past week I painted a pair of the Dark Dwarf “Irontongue Priest” figures , and a trio of the “Pounder” figures, from the Bones 4 Fan Favorites Expansion.    I wanted to use these for a unit of regular Dwarves, having more gaming use for them that way than painted up as Dark Dwarves; and while they’re a little more ragged looking than the average Dwarf, I thought they’d fill the bill of a  unit of normal Dwarves just fine.
     I got a set of 5 of these Dark Dwarves with the Bones 4 Kickstarter, then was lucky enough to pick up 4 more in a trade; then luckily, the free October Bones Black figure from Reaper turned out to be the Dark Dwarf “Pounder” figure, supplying me with the 10th one I would need to make a unit. 
          I planned to use the two “Irontongue Priests” as the command figures for my unit; so I kept one the way it was originally sculpted to be the main leader. For the other, I trimmed down the wings on the helmet, and cut the spike out of the other hand.  I then cut his pointer finger free and bent it out to make him look like he was pointing.
       Next, I prepped the figures in the usual way, soaking them in a dish of water with a couple drops of dish-soap added, then giving them a light scrub with a soft toothbrush, and then rinsing and drying them.  I then glued them to 1" black-primed fender washers with Aleene’s Tacky glue.  I then glued the figures in onto tongue depressors.

     I started with the two “Irontongue Priest” figures that I would be using as my command figures, painting them entirely with Ceramcoat “Black”.  When the Black was dry, I drybrushed the figure with  Folk Art Metallics “Gunmetal Grey”.  I then passed over it with a lighter drybrush of Ceramcoat “Metallic Silver”

     Next, I drybrushed the capes on them both; the one with the spike I used Folk Art “Brushed Metal "Brushed Bronze”, and the other I used Ceramcoat “Copper”.  I also used the “Brushed Bronze to paint the helmet wings on the one holding the spike.  After that, I painted their hammers and the spike with Reaper MSP "Aged Pewter”.

     I then painted their faces and hands with Americana “Shading Flesh, and did the beard on the lefthand one with the "Black”, and the beard on the righthand one with Americana “Light Cinnamon”.   Next, I let everything dry for a while, and then gave their faces and hands a coat of Citadel “Reikland Fleshshade” wash.   When that was dry, I gave the beard on the righthand one a coat of Citadel “Agrax Earthshade” wash.

      I let all the washes dry, and then did spot highlights on the armor and weapons with the “Metallic Silver”.  I also drybrushed the cape on the lefthand one using some Ceramcoat “14K Gold”.  Next, I highlighted their faces and hands with Crafter’s Acrylic “Flesh”; and after that highlighted the lefthand one’s beard with Crafter’s Acrylic “Cloudy Shy”, and the righthand one’s beard with Americana “Sable Brown”.  Lastly, I painted the bases with “Americana "Mississippi Mud”.

     I set the two Priests/Leaders aside, and began on the trio of “Pounders”; painting them entirely with the “Black”.  When the Black was dry, I drybrushed the figure with the “Gunmetal Grey”.  I then passed over it with a lighter drybrush of the “Metallic Silver”

    Next, I painted their tunics with Reaper MSP “Fresh Blood”, and their faces and hands with the “Shading Flesh”.   After that, I painted their pouches with Americana “Raw Umber”, and then their hammers with the “Aged Pewter”.

     I then painted the beards and eyebrows on the left two with Crafter’s Acrylic “Orange Spice”, and the beard and eyebrows on the righthand one with some “Light Cinnamon”.    Next, I let everything dry for a while, and then gave their faces and hands a coat of  the “Reikland Fleshshade” wash.   When that was dry, I gave the tunics and the beards a coat of Citadel “Agrax Earthshade” wash.

via All Bones About It http://allbonesabout.blogspot.com/2019/10/dark-dwarves-irontongue-priest-and.html
from Tumblr https://harfordhawks.tumblr.com/post/188653135613
via IFTTT

Rob Dean

via The Sharp End of the Brush http://sharpbrush.blogspot.com/2019/10/painting-172-fantasy-individuals.html
from Tumblr https://harfordhawks.tumblr.com/post/188582706368
via IFTTT

Chris Palmer   Old Glory is going to be releasing a new line of figures with accompanying rules early next year called “Wars for Ozz”; They are based heavily on the original L. Frank Baum books, but with their own unique twist.  I was lucky enough to be part of the rules development team, and had a chance to get my hands on some of the figures to paint before their general release.
     These are a couple of the Allied units, which can be added to the forces of any of the four major factions in the game: Munchkins, Quadlings, Winkies, and Gullikins.

   The first is a unit of Skeleton warriors.

  And the second is a unit of fierce. Pumpkinmen

via One More Gaming Project http://onemoregamingproject.blogspot.com/2019/10/new-old-glory-wars-of-ozz-figures.html
from Tumblr https://harfordhawks.tumblr.com/post/188550049273
via IFTTT

Chris Palmer

     This past week I painted the Village Mob Woman from the Bones 4 Core Set Townsfolk group.
     I prepped the figure in the usual way, soaking it in a dish of water with a couple drops of dish-soap added, then giving it a light scrub with a soft toothbrush, and then rinsing and drying it.  I then glued the figure to a black-primed 1" fender washer with Aleene’s Tacky glue, and then placed the figure in my painting grip.
  I forgot to take a starting picture, so here’s the illustration from the Kickstarter page.

     I began by painting her head and arms with Reaper MSP “Rosy Skin”, and her dress with Accent “Golden Harvest”.  I then painted her apron and bonnet with Crafter’s Acrylic “Storm Cloud Grey”, and her corset with Ceramcoat “Black”.

     Next, I painted the rolling pin with Americana “Light Cinnamon”, the torch with Americana Mississippi Mud" , and her hair with Americana “Asphaltum”.   When everything had had a while to dry, I gave her face and arms a coat of Citadel “Reikland Fleshshade” wash.  When that was dry, I gave her apron a coat of Citadel “Nuln Oil” wash; and when that was dry, I gave her rolling pin and torch a coat of Citadel “Agrax Earthsahde wash.  I also applied some Agrax Earthshade” directly into the folds of her dress, but didn’t give it an all-over wash.

     When all of the washes were dry, I painted her eyes, and then highlighted her skin with Reaper MSP “Rosy Highlight”.  Next, I highlighted her dress with, first, Americana “Moon Yellow”,and then Apple Barrel “Lemon Chiffon”.

     Next, I highlighted the apron and cap with, first, Americana “Grey Sky”, and then Americana “Snow White”.  I then highlighted the corset with Americana “Charcoal”, and then a little of the “Charcoal” mixed with some “Grey Sky”.  After that, I highlighted the rolling pin with Americana “Sable Brown”, and the torch with Americana “Khaki Tan”.    I wrapped things up by painting the flame, working from the bottom of the flame to the top using, the “Lemon Chiffon” first, then Crafter’s Acrylic “Bright Yellow”, followed by Crafter’s Acrylic “Pure Pumpkin”, and then Reaper MSP “Blood Red”.   Lastly, I painted the entire base with the"Mississippi Mud".
      I let the figure dry overnight and the next day I gave it a coat of Americana “DuraClear Matte” varnish. I then used some white glue to glue some fine sand to the base.  When the sand was dry, I painted it with a coat of Americana “Raw Umber”. When this was dry, I drybrushed the sand with Ceramcoat “Territorial Beige”, and then with some Folk Art “Butter Pecan”; lastly I drybrushed it with a little of the “Bleached Sand”.
      Another overnight dry, and I sprayed the figure with Testor’s Dullcote".

     A fun and simple little figure.  I’m happy with how she turned out.

via All Bones About It http://allbonesabout.blogspot.com/2019/10/village-mob-woman-bones-4-figure.html
from Tumblr https://harfordhawks.tumblr.com/post/188494977228
via IFTTT

Buck

This was an unusually hobby-filled weekend. Friday night was HAWKs club night. I hosted another play test of the Wars of Ozz rules for Old Glory on Saturday. On Sunday, I painted some figures that have been staring at me on the painting table for a while.

I have been working on a set of rules, called Wars of Ozz, for Old Glory to go along with a new line of figures. Both rules and figures should be in full production and for sale by March 2020. Friday night was the first test outside the small group that has been involved while the project was secret. Now that Russ has posted some news about the project on TMP, I can talk about it a little.

Saturday we held another play test of the rules with a smaller group. I am working on just a few things to get the Reaction Test chart correct. Then I have to work a little on the named generals and wizards. I am hoping to have it done by Christmas.

On Sunday I had a chance to paint these Imperial Assault figures that have been sitting on my painting table, mocking me, for months.

from Buck’s Blog http://bucksurdu.com/blog/?p=9205
via IFTTT
from Tumblr https://harfordhawks.tumblr.com/post/188480728713
via IFTTT

Rob Dean

 Monday was a holiday, and I was able to finish up a couple of things on my work desk.  I have had 12 of the 16 figures wanted for two stands of spears for my Cold Islander army (Dark Ages mostly Vikings) for the Northlands/Portable Fantasy Campaign, and I finally received the inspiration (thanks be to Calliope) to finish off the last four.  They have been stalled for many months at this point.  However, as usual, once finished I usually have no trouble getting them based, varnished, and logged in my painting register.  That completes the originally planned Cold Island army (3 heroes, 2 blades, 6 warbands, 2 spears and 2 shooters in Hordes of the Things), and I can now move on and start working toward fielding the other two incomplete armies.

via The Sharp End of the Brush http://sharpbrush.blogspot.com/2019/10/painting-172-dark-ages-and-25mm-dux.html
from Tumblr https://harfordhawks.tumblr.com/post/188451625588
via IFTTT

Chris Palmer

     Just wanted to let my readers know the Reaper “Bones 5” Kickstarter has now hit the halfway point with15 days left to run.  It is breaking records from their past Kickstarters, with over $2 million dollars pledged already, and over 15,000 backers signed up!

(Click to see bigger)

      The Core Set already has over 130 figures in it, making the cost per figure less than a dollar!  And there are two great Expansion sets completely unlocked (Dungeon Dwellers and Daimyo) and three more being worked on (Greek Odyssey, Dark Depths, and Brinewind).  Plus lots of cool individual Add-Ons, and new “Encounter” sets!

To find out all the details, go to: Bones 5 Kickstarter.   Get in on these great deals before it’s too late!

via All Bones About It http://allbonesabout.blogspot.com/2019/10/reaper-bones-5-kickstarter-hits-midway.html
from Tumblr https://harfordhawks.tumblr.com/post/188425944768
via IFTTT

Chris Palmer

     This past week I painted the Hell Hounds from the Bones 4 Fan Favorites Expansion.   When I first saw these, I had the idea that I’d like to get two of the sitting version of the Hound to paint as innocuous statues, perhaps for guarding a gate or doorway, and then use the two standing versions to  paint as their demonic counterparts; that the statues would change into when anyone got too close to what they were guarding.
     I then lucked out and found a second copy of the sitting one in the flea market at our club’s gaming convention a couple weeks ago.
       I prepped the figures in the usual way, soaking them in a dish of water with a couple drops of dish-soap added, then giving them a light scrub with a soft toothbrush, and then rinsing and drying them.  I then glued the two sitting figures to  black-primed 1" fender washer, and the two standing figures to black-primed 1.25" fender washers, all with Aleene’s Tacky glue.  I then glued the figures in pairs onto tongue depressors.

     I began by painting the two seated hounds entirely with Americana “Charcoal”.  When that was dry, I gave them both a coat of Citadel “Nuln Oil” wash.

     When the wash was dry, I drybrushed them with some Americana “Neutral Grey” mixed with a little of the “Charcoal”, and then just the plain “Neutral Grey”.  After that, I painted their neck rings with Americana “Asphaltum”, and then dabbed them with a little Accent “Golden Oxide”.   Lastly, I painted their bases with “Americana "Mississippi Mud”.
      I let them dry overnight and the next day I gave them a coat of Americana “DuraClear Matte” varnish.    Then, when  the varnish was dry, I used some white glue to apply a sand mixture onto their bases.

   I then started work on the standing versions.  I wanted to try a bit of a lava/interior heat effect, and I didn’t feature having to hand paint all the teeny tiny cracks sculpted into the hounds, so I thought I’d try it in a bit of short cut way.
     I began by panting them entirely with Reaper MSP Bones “Cinnamon Red”.

          I then drybrushed the hounds with the “Charcoal”.

          Next, I drybrushed them with some Ceramcoat “Black”.  I then tried an experiment on the left one, and gave it a coat of thinned Iron Wind Metals “Yellow” ink.  That looked really bad, so I then tired hand painting the cracks with Reaper MSP “Golden Glow”.  I just wasn’t happy. with the results.

     So, I did what I had tried to avoid, and painted all the cracks individually; this time with Americana “Tangerine”.  I then painted the crack centers with Crafter’s Acrylic “Bright Yellow”.    I painted the eyes and teeth with the Bright Yellow" as well, and then gave the eyes and teeth all highlights with Apple Barrel “Lemon Chiffon”.  After that, I painted their neck rings with Americana “Asphaltum”, and then dabbed them with a little Accent “Golden Oxide”.   Lastly, I painted their bases with “Americana "Mississippi Mud”.,
      I let them dry overnight and the next day I gave them a coat of Americana “DuraClear Matte” varnish.    Then, when  the varnish was dry, I used some white glue to apply a sand mixture onto their bases. 
  Another overnight dry, and I sprayed all four hounds with Testor’s “Dullcote”.

          Well, they won’t win any painting awards, but for gaming use I think they turned out okay.  Those cracks in the dogs were just so small to paint properly…

via All Bones About It http://allbonesabout.blogspot.com/2019/10/hell-hounds-bones-4-fan-favorites-figure.html
from Tumblr https://harfordhawks.tumblr.com/post/188342525123
via IFTTT

Rob Dean

Different hobby project

Overview of the field near the end

 The background for this is a raid launched into enemy (Darmis) territory by the King of Verdance, while Darmis was occupied with an invasion of Cold Islanders.  The last game played resolved the Cold Island invasion (in favor of Darmis), so the raiders were generally looking for one good score before heading for home.  As luck would have it, my battle generation system generated a skirmish (to be played with Dragon Rampant), and the forces turned out to be fairly general medieval groups. I therefore decided to use a scenario from Lion Rampant, the Dragon Rampant scenarios being not terribly generic.  I ended up with a convoy action (what else, eh, Ross?). Darmis, with a force of three knights (elite riders), an archer and a scout unit, had the convoy, and the Verdance raiders (a knight, an offensive heavy foot unit, an elite archer, a regular archer, and a scout) had the task of preventing them from getting it across the table.  The convoy player is allowed to attach his three transport elements to any unit, so I put two with the archers (carts I painted in August), and one (an Airfix Maid Marion as a Darmish noblewoman) with a unit of knights.  Having a transport element keeps a unit from being issued attack orders.  It’s not clear whether a countercharge should be allowed, but the Darmish situation was bad enough, in my opinion, that I thought I’d better allow it.  As a solo game, I knew the opponent wouldn’t complain…

As is usual for a Rampant-series game, there were a few turns where initiative turned over quickly, but they pretty much balanced out.  Both sides had their commander with a unit of knights, and lost them to repeated wild charges.  It might have been worth paying the extra points for the command units to be rated as “steady”, not subject to the wild charge rule.  At the end of the game, the Verdance raiders had both of their units of archers pouring arrows on the Darmish archers, who failed courage checks for casualties twice and rallied both times before ultimately routing.  It did prevent them from effectively returning fire.

Last of the Darmish units fails a morale check and abandons the convoy

 So, with the noblewoman and her attendants captured, I expected that the raiders will be heading home in the next map move.

Near the end; Darmish archers attempt to shoot their way through the roadblock without success

via The Sharp End of the Brush http://sharpbrush.blogspot.com/2019/10/encounter-at-terrils-tavern-part-1.html
from Tumblr https://harfordhawks.tumblr.com/post/188330549863
via IFTTT