Ogre with a pole

It's not just been about Robin Hood around here.  I've also done another Ogre.  This one is a little more recent than most of my 'C' series ones from the '80's.  I'm not a fan of most of the ones that came out of that period, they're a bit cartoonish, but this fella fits pretty well with the older ones.

I kept the tones generally earthy and similar, as I really wanted the focus to be on the face, and that bright red hooter most of all.  I think I've managed to achieve that.

He doesn't have a rag on his pole yet.  Given the of model I don't think my usual paper flags will look right, so I may have to try some thin metal (from a tomato puree tube or similar), or greenstuff rolled flat.  I'll need to think what should be on it first though!

Quite pleased with the way that nose has come out.

Wanted his sword/chopper/cleaver to look tarnished overall, but like it had also been recently sharpened
 

Robin Hood, Robin Hood (and a rock)

The miniature is very into stories about England's most famous quasi historical outlaw, Robin Hood.  I'm not sure quite how it started.  Possibly the other half reading her some stories.  Definitely nothing to do with living within a short distance of Nottingham and Sherwood Forest.

Whatever the reason, she has just absorbed the stories.  We've watched the Disney version with the foxes, read children's stories, done Tony Robinson's excellent Maid Marion and Her Merry Men.  She's sat through the whole of the 1938 Errol Flyn movie 'The Adventures of Robin Hood' (she calls that "Daddy's Robin Hood") and I've even read her bits of Robert Pyle's 'The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood', which is written in an incredibly dense 19th century take on 'Ye Olde Englishe' (but there seems to be something about the rhythm of the words that settles her down).  I've dug out my old Lego Robin Hood sets, and it would be fair to say that I have also had to play Little John to her Robin Hood on quite a few walks to and from school, avoiding imaginary sheriff's men as we cross the fields between our house and school!

Whatever the reason, I somehow found myself with the (partly self-imposed) task of putting together some miniatures for a Robin Hood game (and writing some rules a 6-7 year old can follow).  Finding suitable miniatures isn't quite as easy as you might think, but I managed to source some from a couple of manufacturers.

Completed first were a nice trio of heroes and villains from Studio Miniatures Medieval Mayhem range.  First up are an excellent Robin and Friar Tuck, very much in the Errol Flynn mode.

 

  

(Tuck definitely having some un-Christian thoughts here)

 

 I've kept the colours pretty close to the original, apart from blonder hair for contrast.

 

Now, I know I've sort of done Friar Tuck once already (here) but: (a) he came in the same pack as Robin Hood; (b) he is such a well done version of Eugene Pallet's iconic performance as the rather martial friar; that I just couldn't resist.  I will admit that I was particularly pleased with how my shading and highlighting of his habit came out.

Time for a villain (boo, hiss!).  And who better than the dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham!  The sculpting is clearly based on a certain scenery chewing performance from the 1990s (not sculpted with a spoon, but definitely looks as if he would be into merciful beheadings).  I decided not to go with the film's overall black outfit though, as I felt it would just be a bit too much, and out of kilter with Robin, so I went with a more opulent look. Highlighting on the blue is a bit too scrappy and the blue wash for shade is still too shiny.  Might see what a coat of matt varnish could do for him, but I like the overall effect.

I have a few more on the go - Maid Marion, Little John and Will Scarlett as done by Footsore Miniatures, and a few more from Studio who can stand in as 'extras'.

Finally, I also made use of the Miniature's other hobby, filling my pockets on walks with rocks, to do a quick scenery piece.  No paint at all on the rock, just left as found, and turned into a mysterious standing stone!

Reiksgard knights

Latest efforts are a whole unit.  I’ve always liked ranks of knights in armour, probably why even my warhammer fantasy armies were human.  Probably a misspent youth watching films like Ivanhoe and Henry V.  

As per a previous post, my first proper Empire army was very much based on 15th Century War of the Roses/Burgundian type figures.  When GW first started producing the more early renaissance type models in the early 1990s I was initially unsure about them.  Then when I got back into Warhammer some years later found I developed a real liking for them.  I've since been gradually collecting those ranges to add to my already overly large Empire force.  

These are the Reiksgard (I'm sticking with the 3rd edition cod-German spellings thank you!), the Emperor's bodyguard and standing army.  The 3rd edition fluff hinted at different chapters of the order throughout the Empire, which I sort of reflected in my knight units using the plastic kit.  These however have been painted more 'traditionally', using reds and whites, and hints of the Altdorf claret and blue.

I think they've turned out pretty nice.

I'll admit to a bit of cheating with the banner.  I wanted to stick with an Old School look, so this is actually the one from the original introduction to the 'modern' Empire from White Dwarf issue 147, scanned and reprinted.

 They are also lacking shields at he moment, although to be fair that does mean you get to see the armour better, and shields would be pretty anachronistic with this style of armour.  I will do them, I just need to work out where I've put them!

 I also have units of Knights Panther and White Wolves waiting for their turn, plus some of the older knight models - they're significantly larger models, so will get prepped for their role as 'High Helms' - a secular order of knights briefly referenced in Ravening Hordes as exceptionally tall, but not particularly bright, warriors.

Just wish GW had made some attempt to update the horses since 1992, they do get a bit samey after a while!

And finally...

I had some company whilst finishing these off.  Here's the Little Miniature painting a plastic dwarf.

Reiksgard and handgunners

Latest progress - first up, a musician for the Reiksgard.  Even though I don't really use my Warhammer Empire army much these days, I still can't help adding little bits and pieces to it.  Most of it is painted up in the colours of Averland, but I like the idea of adding some small contingents from other provinces, and particularly Altdorf.  The idea that the Imperial capital might send some assistance makes sense.  And while their, they can keep an eye on things...

Same technique as previously.  Black wash on armour, then highlighted.  The only difference this time is that the model had been undercoated black, so he had to have an 'undercoat' of VJ steel first.

Moving on, we have some handgunners that I had started ages ago but needed finishing off.  This time just trying out different provinces.

Left to right: Hochland, Altdorf and Middenheim.  I do like these older metal handgunners.

 

Unexpected Squats in the Painting Area

 A couple of random squats that turned up in the undercoated pile.  I always really liked the original Rogue Trader metal squats (less so the plastic kit and hairy bikers look), had a handful in my (pre army list) 40k mercenary/pirate army, and occasionally pick up extras when they turn up on eBay for reasonable amounts - hence these two.

Not quite so fancy ogre

 Last ogre until I can get in the attic to look for unpainted reinforcements.  Another by Marauder Miniatures.

Pleased with the face, another success for the contrast paints.

Very pleased how the rust on the gauntlet turned away

Fancy Pants Ogre

Another classic ogre.  This time from Marauder Miniatures.  Trish and Aly Morrison produced some rather nice landsknechte style ogres.  I'll admit though that this one sat on the 'must get around to painting pile for quite some time, on the basis of just looking like quite an intimidating task to paint, starting from the colour choices onwards.  I had to get over the idea of choosing clashing colours deliberately, which felt odd.

Pleased I did it though, and pleased with the result (although the photo makes him look a bit shinier than he actually is).