Move completed, so back to the projects.

Now nicely settled into our new home, just about everything is in its place, it all went really well, no major hiccups at all. So it is back to the hobby for me. I had to leave the majority of my 28 mm figures behind, until I can sort out some kind of storage shed for the new place, I hope to have that in place within the next week, and they can be transported here.

I did however, have the AWI project with me, it has been here for a couple of weeks before the move, so they will be what I shall be working on initially, though I do intend to mix and match with Vikings, English Civil War and Imperial Romans, to give some variety to what I am painting. I have always in the past, stuck to one project and virtually seen it through to the end, but that can be very monotonous at times. I then get sick to the teeth of seeing the same figures and so they get set aside, that is the reason I have been working my way through them all this year. I am pleased to say, I am well on the way to completing all that I have.

Six test figures, the base coats were done before they moved to the new location, so it was just a case of highlighting and fine detail. A little touching up is also needed. They still require a coat of varnish and the bases, though painted with a textured paint, also need to be finished. That will be done when I have enough figures painted up to make it worth my while.

Six private soldiers of the 33rd Regiment of Foot (West Riding of Yorkshire)

Next up on the bench are the Woodland Indians from the Liberty or Death box set, it only contained a single sprue of eight warriors, I have since added a further box from Warlord, containing a further 24. They are mostly built, still need pouches, powder horns etc. and are now awaiting a coat of primer.

Some great action poses. This sprue and the three in the box are identical, but being plastic, it will be easy to create individual looking figures.

Continuing work on the Mounted Arabs and AWI.

Work is progressing on the Arab Warriors, I have four mounted units in progress at the moment. Two units of six heavy cavalry with spears, one unit of light cavalry archers and finally, one unit of light cavalry javelins.

First unit of six figures which are heavy cavalry with spears.

Second unit of heavy cavalry with spears.

Light cavalry with javelins in front, with light cavalry with bows behind.

With the completion of the scratch built fort for the French & Indian Wars/War of Independence, I couldn't resist taking a sprue from the Liberty or Death box set to paint up a few test figures.

As you can see from this artwork of the troops contained in the box, The figures top left, top right and bottom right, are going to be very tricky to paint the waistcoat and jacket trims with the arms and weapons in place.

So for the six test figures I have begun with torsos. I am using a completely new technique for me, namely I primed the plastic, I normally coat them in PVA. I have also painted the bases with textured paint, again a first for me, regular followers of this blog will know I am old school and just use flock. The paint is being done in layers, all the paints are Vallejo.

Jackets Flat Red, Waistcoat, trousers, belts and turn backs in Stonewall Grey. Next a wash with Umber wash.

I used exactly the same base colours again to highlight, concentrating on the folds etc. Again this is totally alien to me, but I was determined to experiment.

I then highlighted again, this time the Jacket with Vermillion and the white areas with Wolf Grey. A final highlight, using Off White for the belts and White for the waistcoat and trousers.

A totally new way to paint for me, but so far, I am quite pleased with the results and the arms can now be attached. Hopefully causing little or no damage to the paintwork.