What did you do today.

[kojibear]

That said, metallic paints these days are so much better than they were 15 or 20 years ago that the need to use the technique to get "realistic" looking metals is much less than it used to be IMO.

Aye, that is a good point. I went into the paint shop in Kamimaezu the other day - Volks? - and saw that Vallejo have quite a few different ranges of metallic paints. They seemed to have a new range though, airbrush paints with blue lids. I wonder if these are a new recipe.

[Primarch]

Last night I managed about an hour with brush in hand on some more figures for my Eighties B-Movie Game. I also managed a little prep time on another batch of minis (different genre) to follow them once they are done.
I'll try and get pictures up of this week's challenge entry tonight. Stay tuned.

[The Other Dave]

That said, metallic paints these days are so much better than they were 15 or 20 years ago that the need to use the technique to get "realistic" looking metals is much less than it used to be IMO.

Aye, that is a good point. I went into the paint shop in Kamimaezu the other day - Volks? - and saw that Vallejo have quite a few different ranges of metallic paints. They seemed to have a new range though, airbrush paints with blue lids. I wonder if these are a new recipe.

The blue labeled ones, I think, are their new "mecha" range, with bolder colors appropriate for big stompy robits - but really the metallics across all their ranges are very strong. The sort of odd thing about Vallejo is that their regular paints are (intentionally) so thick that their Air range is actually just about right for painting with a brush, so you can pick and choose across ranges with abandon. I use VMC Bronze and Natural Steel and Model Air Polished Gold and those three cover most of my metallic needs along with some washing here and there. It's worth mentioning that GW metallics (especially combined with their shades) are widely regarded as excellent these days too, I'm just a fan of dropper bottles so I stick with Vallejo.

Last night I almost finished up my last 4 Stormcast for a bit - just need to do leather and metallics on them and they'll be done. I also started in on the Negavolt Cultists for Blackstone, and ordered up a cheap squad of Dark Imperium Intercessors from eBay to paint up as Veterans - thanks, Vigilus. Thigilus.

[Konrad]

The sort of odd thing about Vallejo is that their regular paints are (intentionally) so thick that their Air range is actually just about right for painting with a brush,

Interesting. I will have to get a couple bottles and give it a try. I have a real love-hate relationship with Vallejo. Love the bottles. But the paints are often hit or miss. Lots of separation problems. I have a ball bearing in all mine just and give them a good shake before using.

[kojibear]

The sort of odd thing about Vallejo is that their regular paints are (intentionally) so thick that their Air range is actually just about right for painting with a brush,

Interesting. I will have to get a couple bottles and give it a try. I have a real love-hate relationship with Vallejo. Love the bottles. But the paints are often hit or miss. Lots of separation problems. I have a ball bearing in all mine just and give them a good shake before using.

I swear by the Vallejo Model Air Black - that goes on smooth as silk! Can't recommend it more. But!! Be careful of splatter. It is an Air paint so it is a little like milk consistency - but you still only need a single coat. (Not that black is usually difficult to get good coverage with. Still this paint has an excellent smooth finish.)

[The Other Dave]

The sort of odd thing about Vallejo is that their regular paints are (intentionally) so thick that their Air range is actually just about right for painting with a brush,

Interesting. I will have to get a couple bottles and give it a try. I have a real love-hate relationship with Vallejo. Love the bottles. But the paints are often hit or miss. Lots of separation problems. I have a ball bearing in all mine just and give them a good shake before using.

Yeah, there are definitely a few Vallejo colors I avoid - seems like there are more dodgy formulations in the Game Color range than the Model Color range, but it's hard to say.

[YellowStreak]

The sort of odd thing about Vallejo is that their regular paints are (intentionally) so thick that their Air range is actually just about right for painting with a brush,

I didn't know that, so have never tried the air range. Thanks for the tip!

[Primarch]

As promised (threatened?) here are the figures I have been working on over the past week or two.

First up, 5 Ultramarines in Mk.III Iron Armour. The minis are from the Burning of Prospero box.

They were all painted in Vallejo Ultramarine Blue and have come out looking very bright indeed.

I used some Tamiya weathering powder to try and dull them down a little. I kind of wish I had gone for a darker blue.

They all have decals from the Betrayal at Calth set. Sadly they don't sit quite right on the shoulder pads (stoopid curved surfaces) and I didn't have any of the solvents or unguents required to smooth them out properly.
So, on the whole, there are a few things I don't like about how they came out, but that's more down to me rushing through them than any fault of the models.

Anyhoo, they were just there to help me with my 'paint as many different genres/scales as possible' side challenge.
The main body of work over the last two weeks has been this force of Bretons for Saga.

Here we have my Warlord and two units of Hearthguard. Bretons use the Norman rules in the game, but while the Normans are the heavy cavalry specialists of the early 1000's AD, the Bretons are more lightly armed. The Normans like to ride down their foes with spears, but the Bretons prefer to shower their opponents with a volley of Javelins before scampering away out of reach.

This unit of Warriors will be doing most of the work for the warband, with enough bodies to soak some damage if need be and plenty of long pointy sticks to throw at anyone who gets in range.

While this unit of Warriors will be taking and holding ground, defending against enemy troops with their trusty spears.

And if need be, this unit of javelin armed Levies will be acting as a speed bump to protect my units from any angry Vikings/Saxons etc who are looking for a little payback.
In all, this comes to 17 cavalry and 20 infantry, painted in around 2 weeks. I had expected them to take a fair bit longer than that, but a bit of focus and a little less time in front of the PC and this is the result.

All of the shields are hand painted in the same three colours to give a unified look to them. (Similarly, I used only 3 colours for their tunics and only 3 for their leggings/under-shirts). Some of the models have water effects on their bases for a bit of extra variety.

But who were the Bretons?
The Bretons hail from Brittany on the North West coast of France. However, their origins actually lie further afield. During the dark ages, around 500-600 AD, waves of Saxons began migrating from Germany to Britain. The locals, feeling that their were far too many Europeans coming to their fair country decided that enough was enough. It was time to exit Britain, a Brexit if you will. So, these intrepid souls set out from the shores of Britain and crossed over to Armorica, which they quickly renamed Brittany. Quite what the local population made of all this is not clear. There had already been an early settlement in the area by Britons following the withdrawal of the last Roman forces from Britain. Romano-British troops had left along with the Romans and were stationed in Armorica. Following the break up of the old Roman Empire, they had put down roots and formed their own communities.
The Bretons came into conflict with their neighbours to the east, the Normans and adopted similar styles in terms of arms and armour, (whether or not they really did prefer to fight with javelins, I'm not sure, but that is how Saga depicts them). By the time of the Battle of Hastings, there wouldn't have been much to differentiate between the two. Bretons formed the largest non-Norman contingent in Williams army at Hastings and went on to help him conquer England. Interestingly, the Royal House of Stuart (originally Clan Stewart) had Breton origins. 9 Stewart monarchs rules Scotland from 1371 to 1603, ending with Mary, Queen of Scots. Following the union of England and Scotland, James VI of Scotland became James I of England and Ireland. Stuarts ruled the United Kingdom until the title passed to the House of Hanover in 1714.

TL:DR - A group of British nationalists emigrated to France after Germans came to Britain, repatriated to Britain with some Frenchmen and became the royal family for a hundred years before more Germans came along and took over.

The more eagle eyed among you will notice the shields are painted in Red, White and Blue, the colours of both the French and UK flags. That was actually unintentional, but a happy coincidence nevertheless.

[YellowStreak]

Nice work Prim and thanks for the history!

[Miguelsan]

Blaine in Peacekeeper armor is finished. That puts my total to 3 miniatures all from Mantic's Warpath Oh the Vertigo!

M.