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Post by: carlos13th
Quick Index of the finished models in this thread for ease of use for any newcomers.
Samurai Archer Unit, Page 4
Oni Japanese Demons, Page 5
Flames of War British Machine Gun Team, Page 7
Police Swat Team for Fist Full of Kung Fu. Page 8
Uesugi Samurai Buntai, Page 12
Batman Miniatures Game, Nightwing, Page 16
Zombicide Zombies, Page 17
Flames of war British Infantry page 17
Batman Miniatures Game, The Red Hood Page 18
There are other photos in the thread of things including terrain, Half painted models, terrain and a Trip to Salute but that's just an Index of some finished models so you don't have to wade through pages of me blabbing with very little painting progress. Unless you want to of course.
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Post by: Pacific
Yes that final guy looks quite characterful!
Are the first bunch of Ashigaru with arquebus? How do they compare to the Perry and North star metal guys (would they look OK next to each other in terms of scale/proportions?)
Subscribed to this blog, looking forward to more
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Post by: carlos13th
Here is a comparison of what I have assembled. I have put the WGF models in several times so you can see the sizes
From left to right
EM4: Unarmoured Samurai > WGF: Ashigaru > Perry: Samurai > TAG: Monk > WGF: Ashigaru Kneeling > WGF: Ashigaru > Warrior Miniatures: Ashigaru
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Post by: Da Boss
Awesome thread! Exalted so I can keep an eye on it.
Also, get well soon, I want to see where this goes
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Post by: carlos13th
Thanks mate. Updates will be slow but they will happen.
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Post by: Azazelx
This looks like it'll be interesting. Put a link in your sig.
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Post by: carlos13th
Good shout Az
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Post by: carlos13th
While a pain in the ass to put together I was quite happy with the WGF Ashigaru so far, can't really be said for the Samurai, they are much more difficult to put together and the poses you can achieve with them are not the best. I think in the future I would rather take the financial hit and pay a little extra for Perry Samurai over buying another box of these.
Think I will use perry as my front ranks and use these to bulk out the unit.
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I was originally going to make a 10 man unit but got annoyed after 5 well more like 3 if I am honest. Not happy with the bannerman, he was very a much a that will do job. Also the guy on the right looks like he has a dislocated shoulder.
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Post by: Pacific
Nice comparison shots, thanks for posting them!
Interesting to see the developments, will be following this blog
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Post by: carlos13th
Thanks Pacific. Sorry I haven't managed to do any painting yet. When I have felt well enough my priority has been helping the misses with the cooking and cleaning rather than getting any painting done.
I am waiting on a bunch of TAG and Westwind mini's I got through a trade to arrive atm so it should be a nice addition to the force. Even though the sengoku era miniatures such as Perry and the Genpei wars minis like Tag don't really go together historically since this force is more Samurai themed than historically accurate Samurai I don't see it being a problem.
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Post by: carlos13th
Mini update
Had a bad few weeks illness wise. Just started painting again today. I am learning how to paint properly as I do this so I imagine my first models wont be great.
I am painting my Ashigaru to look like Uesugi Kenshin troops. So black armour and dark blue underclothes. So far I have only painted one coat of paint on the arms and legs.
The Dark blue I have may be a little to dark, may have to lighten it up. Or use the blue thats on the Samurai in the background. Though that may be a little to light.
Once the arms are done I am going to drybrush the armour a medium to dark gray then work on the face.
Any tips on drybrushing or anything else are welcome.
Will post up some more size comparisons soon adding west wind samurai and the assault group samurai.
Hoping to pick up some old glory archers and possibly some steel fist for christmas.
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Post by: carlos13th
WIP of a Perry Samurai
Anyone know how to paint lacing properly? I
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Post by: squall018
Cool stuff here. Are you going to do individual bases or group bases for KOW?
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Post by: carlos13th
basing them on pennies and then using a movement tray with cutouts. Probably from Warbases.co.uk once I can afford it. That way I can switch between skirmish games like ronin and larger games like KOW.
My financial situation has changed drastically since starting this project so it will be a little while until I can afford to do that. Luckily I have plenty to keep myself busy until then.
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Post by: GrimDork
Pennies huh? That's pretty interesting. I like the color scheme so far, can't really help with the lacing thing though =/
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Post by: JoshInJapan
I see it's been a while since you updated this blog. Did you get distracted by another project?
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Post by: carlos13th
Not at all, this is very much my main project haven't touched much else since.. Still working on it. Progress however is slow. I have a head injury which means the amount of time I actually feel well enough to paint is rather limited. I am however plugging away at it a tiny bit at a time.
Going to try my best to get a few miniatures finished this weekend, cant promise though.
I wasn't going to post this image because I didn't feel it was update worthy alone but since I am replying anyway here are some of the things I am working on.
I got a little frustrated trying to do lacing on my WGF Ashigaru so I am working on some monks as well as others.
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Post by: GrimDork
Still looks like you are getting somewhere, just keep chipping away.
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Post by: carlos13th
Yeah I am chipping away at it slowly. Got some part painted WGF Ashigaru on the desk too. I am learning how to paint as I do this as well so I am hoping that as I go on the quality of painting should improve.
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Post by: GrimDork
That's what I'm doing. I'm very much at a stage in my painting career that "good enough" is all I usually strive for, I'm all about lining the shelves and growing my "painted minis cheering section". If I can get better as I go, more the better right
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Post by: carlos13th
My plan is to spend more time on the front ranks than the filler guys closer to the back. So I imagine the guys I paint later will go towards the front with the earlier guys heading to the back ranks.
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Post by: carlos13th
Managed to finish off a Metal Ashigaru I had as a sample. The model is alright but not great. The lack of detail lead to me to base painting it and then dipping it with army painter Dark tone instead of spending a large amount of time on it. I am not to sure on the base yet. May not stick with the basing theme but your thoughts would be appreciated. Sorry for the very slow progress but thats going to be par for the course until I get better and the picture quality. Once I have some decent models painted up I will get out the GF's camera and use that instead.
Bonus: Let my GF paint a WGF Samurai with hilarious results. Its not finished yet and I think the face will get painted over but she has managed to paint the least fearsome menpo anyone has ever seen. She managed to paint a Samurai who has the face of a power puff girl.
Power Puff Samurai
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Post by: GrimDork
I dunno man, he's still got a sword. I'd back away slowly if he was coming at me. I like your base, good mix of rocks and vegetation. I like the colors too, what is his shirt/vest made of, is that some kind of bamboo (or other natural material) for armor? The pattern of the sculpting looks off for fur but maybe I'm looking at it wrong, it's kind of the right color for fur. I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to period piece samurai, I mostly just know katanas are cool. Keep going, you're getting places
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Post by: carlos13th
Its supposed to be a straw cape. Its way darker than I wanted. More of a yellow colour for future straw capes I think. Not sure what yellow to use though.
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Post by: GrimDork
Yeah straw, that's what I was trying to think of. It is a bit dark, looks more like rotted straw, maybe he's poor and can't afford a new cape? Nothing neon for straw. You could almost try something like bleached bone. Either muted yellow base and drybrush BB, or do BB and add a bit of yellow. Maybe.
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Post by: carlos13th
Ill give that a try. Maybe its wet straw..or I just fethed up.
I will have to try some other colours.
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Post by: GrimDork
In my book it doesn't look nearly bad enough to bother going back on it until you've come across something you like better. Try a different technique on the next guy, and continue to refine it as you go. If you get 10 guys done and the last one is perfect and it makes to happy to do so, then go back and fix any you don't like. I've wasted weeks or months and scrapped entire army projects because I kept nitpicking my test models
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Post by: carlos13th
Yeah I am not a huge fan of the model itself so its not gettign repainted. I have other better models with straw capes hwoever that I would like to get right in the future. Atm though I am doing a few test models here and there so I can get down what I want from my army before batch painting.
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Post by: carlos13th
I received my order from Warbases recently and figured I should share how I am planning on basing these guys. The only based up models I have atm are a few Ashigaru but they should serve fine for examples. The Archers need some touch ups and the base to be finished but they are almost finished.
I am most likely going to put ranged troops in groups of 10. They will be mostly Ashigaru but may chuck a Samurai or two in them as a unit leader kind of model.
Lighting is terrible so you cant see from these pictures but I actually managed to paint some of the lacing on these models. The trick is to just get on with it even if it looks gak and clean it up later. I was way to worried about screwing it up and after a few failed brushstrokes I would get disheartened. This time I just plugged away at it doing the barest hint of a small line on the brush. cleaned up where my brush went places it shouldn't using black then toned it down a little using a wash.
While its not technically in the rules of Kings of War and I may have to change it somewhat I never much liked generals running around the battlefield on their own. So I ordered this base custom for my general. He will be on horseback in the middle with a retainer/bodyguard on one side and a banner bearing with his personal standard on the other.
Just for completeness sake here is a sampling of the many different types of model I will be using for my Samurai.
The guy on the very left may not get used, I love the model but the size of his hands and head seem a little small compared to all the others. Most of the size differences in the models can be forgiven by thickness of armour or clothing and the difference in sizes in general between different people but his head and hands seem a little to small even for that. Then again if I use him as an individual instead of in a unit maybe that wont be as noticeable.
Models are from left to right
Kensei, Nortstar, Steel Fist, The Assault Group, Foundry, Old Glory, Perry, West Wind.
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Post by: GrimDork
Well those warbase things certainly look easy to use. I like the idea for the general base. I doubt people would give you too much grief, while they usually aren't quite that big KoW heroes seem to go onto bigger than normal bases anyway. And it will look cool, that's what counts
Looking forward to seeing more of these as you get them done!
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Post by: carlos13th
A better picture of the Ashigaru. I think these are pretty much finished besides the bases. I may touch them up a little later to improve them though as they look a little flat.
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Post by: GrimDork
Look pretty solid. Would suck to be some kind of badass samurai and get downed by some mook's arrow. Oh the indignity, he'd have to end himself before the arrow finished the job.
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Post by: carlos13th
Bit like this Takeda general
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamamoto_Kansuke_(general)
Apparently after his battle plan went wrong he charged into battle alone getting wounded several times before retiring to a nearby hill to finish himself off.
Wasn't his fault though. His battle plan was to send men to sneak up to the enemy camp and ambush them. What he didn't realise is some how the enemy general had predicted this the men who snuck there at night found the enemy camp abandoned and the enemy troops were waiting at the Takeda camp ready to attack. Feeling he had failed in his duty he picked up a spear and stormed the enemy despite being 60 with a lame leg and eye.
The battle ended with huge casualties on both sides.
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Post by: GrimDork
Gah, large battles with huge casualties generally tend to suck.
The wiki article suggests it was a victory anyway though? Well maybe it settled his ghost.
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Post by: carlos13th
From what I have read it was considered a victory for by some Takeda but they lost a large number of their generals including the Daimyo's brother. Certainly wasn't a clear victory for either party.
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Post by: GrimDork
Ahh yes. It sounds much like me trying to do maintenance on my airbrush, much time is wasted, and while it may work a little better, it's hard to call it a decisive win
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Post by: JoshInJapan
carlos13th wrote:A better picture of the Ashigaru. I think these are pretty much finished besides the bases. I may touch them up a little later to improve them though as they look a little flat.
Those are very nice.
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Post by: carlos13th
Thank you.
I am going to add some gloss to the armour to make it shine and maybe try to highlight the skin a little, especially the face but that will come later once I have more of them done.
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Post by: carlos13th
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Post by: Maniac_nmt
Did you use premade flower tufts or did you brush on some glue and sprinkle flock?
I ask, as I've tried to mimic a dusting of snow by brushing on some light pva and flocking as seen here:
http://www.dakkadakka.com/gallery/571701-.html?m=2
I've though of trying it with other stuff to make clumps of flowers.
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Post by: carlos13th
Premade sorry
I bought them on ebay from this seller
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/draxmodels/m.html
£4 got me about 25 green tufts and about 25 mixed flower tuffts. They are alittle to big for basing on pennies though so I have to cut them smaller.
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Your ones look good but maybe a little to heavy on the snow.
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I wanted to add this. Its a mock up of how my General will be based. Its mostly held together with blue tack and optimisum. I will probably change the banner bearer to a running one but my running banner bearer decided blue tack wouldnt hold him together so I swapped him out for one cast all in one with the banner already attached.
The General will stay the same unless I find a better Uesgui Kenshin model and so will the body guard unless I can find a model with an Ogre mask and Kanabo (Apparently Steel Fist will be releasing one but I dont know when exactly.
I may get the base redone with one of the penny cut outs further forward and one further back so they look less in line.
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Post by: GrimDork
Looks like your bow-guys are ready to put an end to some samurai's legacy before he gets a chance to close distance. I really like your commander and entourage display base, pretty spiffy.
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Post by: carlos13th
Thanks mate. I am glad to finally be making progress however small.
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Post by: carlos13th
Wanted to show what I am working on atm. My Archer unit is half finished but after that I have two arquebus units to paint up.
Most of the Archers are Old Glory and all of the Arquebus are Perry.
Group Shot. Archers in the middle
Arquebus Unit One. There are two Samurai in the First row
Arquebus Unit One: Another Angle
Archer Unit: Unit Leader is from Perry
Archer Unit: Another Angle
Arquebus Unit Two: The Samurai one from the Right is reciving his Gun from the Ashigaru behind him who was loading.
Arqeubus Unit Two: Another Angle
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Post by: GrimDork
Sweet, cant wait to see what you do with them! That's a respectable amount of metal minis, this samurai army is obviously a labor of love huh
Keep up the good work! Automatically Appended Next Post: The grunt passing the rifle forward to his boss is great too, and probably a good idea if the samurai is better trained.
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Post by: carlos13th
Yeah I am enjoying the army and cant wait to see it all painted up. By the time I retire it might be possible.
Most of my army are metal.
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Post by: carlos13th
To add a little more of a fantasy element to my army I am going to be using Ogres as part of my Kingdom of Men List. Of course being Samurai they will be Oni instead.
Put in an order for three Oni from Dixon. Only one of them has a picture on the website. I ordered him and two others. If they are any good I will order some more in the future.
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Post by: GrimDork
Hmm those look pretty cool in theory. And they should match your theme well enough.
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Post by: carlos13th
Yeah they are also less than £2 each where as other oni I could find were 3-6 times that,
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Post by: Maniac_nmt
Good luck with the Oni. I was unimpressed with their Ashigaru and Monks.
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Post by: carlos13th
Yeah I don't like dixons standard troops either. Espeically because they are priced similar to perry and have pumpkin heads.
Hopefully though dodgy proportions wont be a factor so much in mythical creatures. Thats my hope anyway.
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Post by: Maniac_nmt
If you end up not being happy with Dixon, you could try Bushido's Oni:
http://bushido-thegame.com/savage-wave
They have some nice looking Oni that should work well. More expensive, but nice.
And I agree with your comments on my snow, but it was a trial. So next time I will try and 'thin it out' a bit.
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Post by: carlos13th
Thanks Maniac I will let you know. Both Bushido and Kensei have some decent Oni but I was hoping not to pay that price. If the Dixon are not very good I will not buy anymore but use them temoprarily until I can afford the more expnesive ones.
The best Ogre Proxies for me would be the old Rackham Dai Bakemonos but they are only available as dodgy recasts or expensive second hand. They look great though.
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Post by: DarkSoldier
Looking for oni, I know that Reaper made one for the Dark Heaven Legends line (2468).
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Post by: carlos13th
Thanks will check it out
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Post by: Jehan-reznor
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Post by: carlos13th
Yeah I have I mentioned Kesnei a few posts back. Some of there Oni are really nice. Their other models are nice to but a bit pricy and the heads and hands look to small next to some of my other models. Thanks for the link none the less though.
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Post by: carlos13th
I kind wrote off dixons entire samurai range off due to the large head and hands but I am Surprisingly impressed with the oni from dixon turns out there a few demons in the rough, I also picked up a sumo from them because I have wanted a sumo for a while. I heard their Ronin were scaled closer to other manufacturers so I order one and it looks pretty good. In the bellow photos the half painted samurai is perry the rest are ronin.
As you can see the Oni looks suitably imposing next to the samurai and the ronin is well scaled alongside the samurai.
Slightly better shot of the Oni
Not dissapointed at all with ordering from dixon.
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Post by: GrimDork
Sweet, glad that worked out for you. They look a touch small compared to some other ogres but since they're going to be a bright color, red usually isn't it.. or was it blue, if you put them on the right sized bases or tray they should do fine. And thematically they are certainly superior.
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Post by: carlos13th
They do look a little smaller than I would like. And the poses don't help with that but thematically and price wise they work well.
Ian probably going to paint them red, but I will look to see what other colours oni were too.
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Post by: GrimDork
Yeah, just put them on the right bases/trays. It can be one of those size indirectly proportional to badassery things. They're obviously Oni, that should do well enough.
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Post by: carlos13th
Yeah sadly I couldn't find any decent size comparison for the mantic ogres next to normal people. I like mantic ogres a lot but they just don't fit thematically. I will probably end up with 6 ogres total. Mostly red but maybe one or two of them will be blue.
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Post by: GrimDork
Mantic ogres are pretty big but just off hand I'd say they're probably a touch smaller than gw big belly ogres. Kind of in that big but realistic/convincingly huge, not crazy over the top large.
The guys you ordered win for your theme regardless.
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Post by: carlos13th
Thanks for the information mate. Still wanna get hold of the rackham dai-bakemonos eventually.
Have you given up on your space marines completely then?
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Post by: GrimDork
I've shifted to the "wait and see" camp. I dunno if I'd work on them just for fun, so I'm waiting for the book to come out and then I will check the reaction of that 40k club. If the internet thinks it's passable and those guys intend to play full steam... I'll start working on them again, it'll only be a 2-3 week setback.
I kind of hope it falls apart though, I've had a great tank graveyard/scrapyard idea to use up all of my vehicles
Those Rackham guys do look pretty cool, good luck finding them.
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Post by: carlos13th
Maybe you should just pick out a few models you like the look of from the space marines and paint them for the hell of it. If they are no good game wise you have some nice looking models you can use in Deadzone.
I would love to see you convert a Landspeeder to contain enforcers or another deadzone race.
Or as you said lots of burn out tank terrain.
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Post by: GrimDork
Land speeders may look futurey enough to let them hang around deadzone terrain for sure I'm definitely going to keep back some stuff to paint and or use, but the only way I'd paint space marines for fun anymore is if I went through the trouble to tall scale them so they're sufficiently imposing.
But hey, aren't we supposed to be talking about Samurai here?
Are you planning to implement any war machines in your forces?
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Post by: carlos13th
Yeah don't own any yet but the plan is to use this pack as the crew for two cannons
https://www.perry-miniatures.com/product_info.php?cPath=23_38&products_id=2344&osCsid=lkp0utkb2aqcfni9l7ggc23pa0
The two cannons will be these from oshiro model terrain
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Post by: GrimDork
Sweet, those fit the bill nicely.
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Post by: carlos13th
Two Crew per cannon should be fine.
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Post by: GrimDork
Yeah, that's how KoW seems to do it. I guess remembering back GW had more like 3 usually, but the KoW machines I've seen have all been two, and the crew are little more than decorations anyway.
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Post by: Azazelx
Hey! Just found this blog. Your samurai-themed force is looking great - very cool to see it developing here stage by stage. While I realise that it's officially naughty to suggest it, I'd look into the recasts of the Rackham Dai Bakemonos - especially since they're not actually available any more. Also the Relic Knights guys that I suggested ages ago - if they ever come out!
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Post by: carlos13th
Thanks mate. Heads been playing up so I haven't made much progress yet. I will plan to paint or even sit down and start painting but not feel up to it and only get 5-10 mins done. My unit leader for my archers is nearly done now.
The dixon ones work fine for me at the moment but the rackham recasts are on my radar for the future. Trying to finish off my archer unit then I'll either move onto a unit of teppo Ashigaru, some oni or paint up a steel fist bear fur armour samurai. That said I have a pair of monks half way through painting that need to be finished so I may knock together a unit of Monks next. Automatically Appended Next Post: The sashimono needs some work but this guy is pretty much done besides the base.
And here is how he stacks up next to the oni.
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Post by: GrimDork
Lookin good. I think the oni are big enough, they're just crouched.
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Post by: carlos13th
Yeah I would prefer it if they stood up straight to look more imposing.
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Post by: Azazelx
That's alright. They're temporary until you get the Rackham boys in. Then these guys can be repurposed into something else. Unit-base them appropriately and they could make great Foot Guard with 2h weapons (Lesser Oni).
The guy you posted above looks good. I especially like the red-white-dun on him. Very effective.
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Post by: carlos13th
Yeah they certainly do the job for now and they are decent despite the age of their sculpts not perfect but decent.
I managed to get a few quid from sales and trades this month and checked a message to Steel Fist to get their next pack of Samurai the moment they get released. The reason I did this is becuase A) I like the models and the customer service I received has been great so far, which means a lot to me and B) because they have the perfect model coming out to represent Kojima Yataro on my command base. Kojima was one of Uesugi's generals. He carried a Kanabo and had an Oni/Ogre helmet
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kojima_Yataro
Here is the model
Just need to practice some free hand to get his banner right.
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Post by: GrimDork
That stick looks fairly hitty. Probably good at crunching those lacquered plate things that seem go make up the armor.
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Post by: carlos13th
Imagine it would do a good job of crushing plate, bones and anything else that got in its way.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanab%C5%8D
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Post by: GrimDork
Yeah, sounds like they used them to break horse legs to forcibly dismount enemies. Automatically Appended Next Post: That and the ogre mask... like giving a kanbo to an oni
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Post by: Fifty
Awesome pic. Kuinyoshi is my favourite artist after his pupil, Yoshitoshi.
My all-time favourite Samurai is Saito Toshimitsu, largely cos of this pic:
I would give my left nut to own a full set of Yoshitoshi's One Hundred Aspects of the Moon.
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Post by: carlos13th
That's a fantastic print fifty. Any idea where I can find others by the same artist?
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Post by: carlos13th
Painting progress has slowed from a snails pace to stop this past week as I hurt my wrist getting better acquainted with the floor. Its still not better so I may liven up my weekend with a trip down to the hospital to get it looked at.
In lieu of any painting I wanted to share with you the lovely buildings from oshiro model terrain that should serve as a great backdrop for both Ronin and Kings of War. Ronin will need much denser terrain than KOW.
Here we have two small village houses and some Japanese gravestones.
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Post by: GrimDork
Huh those look pretty spiffy.
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Post by: carlos13th
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Post by: Azazelx
Hope your hand/wrist is okay.
That's some looking terrain. If you're interested, here are some other buildings that some friends of mine have:
http://www.johnjenkinsdesigns.com/japan.htm
oh, and a nice army box:
http://shop.zenitminiatures.es/category.php?id_category=20&id_lang=1
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Post by: carlos13th
Thanks az
Sadly as nice as kensei are I can't really use them, their heads and hands are just to small when I compare them to something like perry or tag. If I was using them alone they would be fine but they are to small compared to the other ranges to look right mixed in a unit for me. In to unit by themselves they could work though.
Some of that terrain is pretty sweet though, wonder what uk shipping would be like.
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Post by: carlos13th
Finally made some progress, some drying time and some varnish tomorrow will leave me with a complete archer unit finally.
Used some uesugi decals to make the leaders sashimono. As long as nothing happens while drying I am happy with how it turned out
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Post by: GrimDork
That looks sharp, I like it.
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Post by: carlos13th
Custom job I ordered a while back from a place called company b. highly recommend them.
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Post by: Azazelx
Have to agree - that banner looks great. Please update with the full Archer unit as well.
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Post by: carlos13th
Will do. Hopefully tomorrow evening or Monday. Depending on when the varnish dries. Need to matt them then put some satin over the armour to give it that lacquered look.
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Post by: carlos13th
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Post by: GrimDork
They look nice, also, interesting wall texture
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Post by: carlos13th
Thats the kitchen at the girlfriends place.
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Post by: Azazelx
Nice work. I like how they're (almost) all unique sculpts but your paint has unified them as a unit really well. I'm also very impressed by your unit basing.
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Post by: carlos13th
Thanks Az. Do you mean the movement tray? Thats more Warbases doing than my own.
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Post by: Azazelx
I mean the base deco - what you've done on the 25mm rounds and also the tray to tie it all together.
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Post by: carlos13th
Ahh I see. Yeah it was easy enough to do. Only difficult part was cutting out the tufts and flowers to fit them on the minimal space on the movement tray.
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Post by: GrimDork
I was gonna say something about that too, they look just fine separate, but you can barely see the seams when you slot them into their larger base.
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Post by: carlos13th
Ohh I forgot to say. The bases are not 25mm rounds, they are british pennies.
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Post by: GrimDork
That looks kind of cool. Could be a neat little game. It kind of looks like the guards are currently all mono-pose depending on type or something. They've made some interesting choices in terms of colors/poses, probably why they've got quite a few models on offer out of the gate, limited posing. But let it get some backers and there may be some sweet cherry-picking potential if they offer such a pledge level.
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Post by: carlos13th
Yeah looks like a cool board games if I had the cash I would be very temped to pick it up. I'll keep an eye out for it at retail in the he future.
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Post by: Azazelx
Well, they're calling it August 2015, so I expect it will come out either Christmas 2015 or sometime after CNY, so I don't think there will be any hurry.
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Post by: carlos13th
Many months ago I saw some previews from steel fist minitures that I decided to pre order the moment I saw them. Saturday they came through the door.
My models are still on pieces so these are not my pictures but I figured I would show an example of what I received.
Very excited to put some paint on these but at the same time I want to work on my lesser models first to increase my paitning skill.
Some of the heads and back banners on the mounted guys will differ
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Post by: Azazelx
Wow. Those are - as the kids say these days - dead sexy. I always love stuff with separate heads and the like. So much more scope to customise your force.
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Post by: GrimDork
Those are quite fancy, enjoy
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Post by: carlos13th
Honestly they'd will probably sit in a box for a while until I have some more rank and file stuff done. Can't wait to get them painted though.
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Post by: GrimDork
Yeah, it's just as well that I don't own any Infinity TAGS yet, I'd probably do the same thing due to intimidation/showpiece factor.
Looking forward to seeing what you do with them though
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Post by: Maniac_nmt
Those Steel Fist minis look gorgeous. Those sculpts are right up there with the Perry stuff.
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Post by: GrimDork
I'm pretty sure if I were just some conscripted peasant soldier with what essentially amounts to a pointy stick, and I saw one of those demon faced fully armored monsters headed my way I would probably lose bowel control and rush in the other direction, even if it was a cliff.
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Post by: carlos13th
In my opinion steel fist samurai even blow perry out if the water. And I love the perry sculpts.
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Post by: Maniac_nmt
carlos13th wrote:In my opinion steel fist samurai even blow perry out if the water. And I love the perry sculpts.
How is the flash on them? I find that to be my only gripe about anything the Perry's do. Their stuff often has loads of mold lines or flash. Your photos are at least comparable quality, if they lack some of those issues they're worth the price hike.
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Post by: carlos13th
Almost none. If your interested I'll send you a picture of the parts.
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Post by: Trondheim
I have to say, those Oni are some of the best I have ever seen. Even if I would have gone for a bit more neutral colour myself, or perhaps a jade colour. That and those mounted samurai looks awesome
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Post by: carlos13th
I went for red because that's what they colour is used in all of the illustrations of Yokai I could find were. Would like to see how they looked in jade though.
They were a bargain at only about 2 pound each from dixon. Especially when I can get 6 of them for the price one oni from say kensei.
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Post by: Maniac_nmt
carlos13th wrote:Almost none. If your interested I'll send you a picture of the parts.
Yes please.
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Post by: carlos13th
Will probably be tomorrow so I can get decent lighting.
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Post by: carlos13th
Here are two of the four sets I received. There is pretty much no flash and I am hard pressed to find any mould lines.
However they will take a bit of prep work in drilling out the holes for the sashimono. Also some of the spear holders will require holes to be drilled into the hand with a pin vice to fit the weapons.
Worth keeping in kind that while the infantry can be mixed with perry and look a little bigger but not out of place I wouldn't recommend mixing the mounted troops with perry mounted samurai, the size difference of the horses is too great.
To me these are the best Samurai on the market. I believe they will be having a kickstater before the end of the year too.
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Post by: Maniac_nmt
Those do look very nice. Are the horsemen precast on the horse, or separate? They look precast, but just want to check.
I've come to appreciate not precasting such bits together (or precast shields on models as an example).
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Post by: carlos13th
Riders are precast on the models. Heads and weapons seperate.
I find that pre cast riders I don't mind because their is little to no scope to reposition the rider anyway (though you can usually mix and match different horses with riders. ) I am in total agreement about shields though.
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Post by: carlos13th
Here are the oni so far. Just wanted some feedback on the tiger skin. Does it look alright?
Will need to change the title of this blog soon as I will also be painting up a swat team force for fist full of Kung fu and some infinity stuff alongside my samurai.
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Post by: GrimDork
Yeah I'd say it certainly works.
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Post by: carlos13th
Any suggestions for the colour of the belt?
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Post by: GrimDork
Right above the tiger skin loincloth? Hmm. Either stock leather, or to be creepy, use the same flesh tone you use for your dudes I wouldn't put it past an ogre to make himself a nice comfy humanskin belt out of stragglers.
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Post by: carlos13th
Trouble with paitning it leather is how to make it stand out from the kanabo thrust in the belt. Maybe a darker brown,
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Post by: GrimDork
Human skin then
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Post by: carlos13th
As interesting as the concept is I dont see the Oni having the patience or fine motor skills to make a human skin belt that doesn't fall apart instantly.
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Post by: JoshInJapan
A quick GIS search for "aka oni" shows mostly white belts, not unlike the obi that samurai would use.
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Post by: GrimDork
Hmm, then yeah just lighten or darken your leather mix for the belts
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Post by: carlos13th
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Post by: GrimDork
Lookin good to me! I'm torn between the sword and hammer dude for my favorite.
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Post by: carlos13th
Hammer time for me.
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Post by: carlos13th
Working on this piece of Terrian. Should be done tomorrow.
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Post by: JoshInJapan
Is that an MDF piece, or did you build it from scratch?
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Post by: carlos13th
Ohh thats MDF kit. I wish I had that kinda scrach building skills. Its the 4 ground Peasant Labourers dwelling.
http://www.4ground.co.uk/Default.aspx?page=268&pid=712
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Post by: GrimDork
Looks nice. Do your samurai have a skirmish game to play too?Seems like a few of those would center out a skirmish battlefield nicely.
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Post by: carlos13th
The Osprey book Ronin will be the Skirmish rules I plan to use.
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Post by: JoshInJapan
I just got a copy of those rules, but I've only had time to read about four pages.
Automatically Appended Next Post: Also, thanks for the link. Some Japanese buildings would be a nice complement to all the samurai figs I have.
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Post by: carlos13th
Oshiro are fantastic too. They require no building but do require painting. 4 ground requires building but no painting.
http://www.oshiromodelterrain.co.uk/catalogue28.html
The Ronin rules seem like a lot of fun. Havent tried them yet though.
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Post by: carlos13th
Peasant dwelling is now built. Also started putting paint on a Resin one from oshiro.
From the front
From the Side
You can see an Ashigaru poking out of the door
Here is the Ashigaru inside
With an Archer for scale
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Post by: GrimDork
That's pretty darn neat What is the roof made of, it looks like some kind of material or fibers?
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Post by: carlos13th
I think its teddybear fur.
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Post by: GrimDork
But it comes that way? Or was it your own innovation?
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Post by: carlos13th
Yeah it comes with the model set. Its got PVA glue pasted over it to glue down the strands.
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Post by: Azazelx
Oni are looking great - Hammer-Time is my fav of the three. That building also came up great!
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Post by: carlos13th
I'm glad we agree on hammer time. Yeah I want more of those buildings.
Painting the lacing and feet of a Samurai atm.
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Post by: JoshInJapan
Regarding thatched roofs: I read somewhere (it may have been the Warhammer: Historical rulebook) that to make faux-fur like that more realistic, you can paint it with watered-down PVA glue, and then run a fine-toothed comb through the fibers. If you do that in two or three strata, you get a thatched roof that doesn't look fluffy.
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Post by: carlos13th
Already did that.
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Post by: JoshInJapan
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Post by: carlos13th
Maybe I just didnt do the best job of it.
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Post by: JoshInJapan
You have tried it once, which is once more than I have, which puts you way ahead in my book. Have you finished the samurai sandal you were working on?
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Post by: carlos13th
Nah migraines came out in full force not long after I wrote the post about painting him which put a prompt end to my painting session.
The model has been sitting with just the face painted in the bottom of a box for ages. He got misplaced in between moves.
Here is how he looks so far though
Lacing on the helmet is off white, blue then off white but not sure if it shows here
Going to do something similar for the armour lacing too. Lacing thst is done will get neatened later,
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Post by: Azazelx
Man. All those fiddly little bits like the stitching. I don't know if I'd have the patience to build a whole army with that kind of theme.
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Post by: carlos13th
I'm finding the samurai with lacing easier to do than infinity models ATM. Not sure why but I struggle to get decent coverage my haqqislam so far.m
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Post by: Maniac_nmt
Azazelx wrote:Man. All those fiddly little bits like the stitching. I don't know if I'd have the patience to build a whole army with that kind of theme.
It does make for slow going, but once you get used to it it isn't that onerous.
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Post by: ckig
Looking good! Nice themed army you got.
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Post by: carlos13th
Not had many updates lately for various reasons but wanted to post something here.
I am heading back to work in January which I am looking forward too. Will be staying with a friend while I do so wont have most of my models still had some nice stuff for christmas I will have with me so I will be working on some of those including a trying to plug away at the few Samurai I have with me when I can.
Atm I am halfway through a Samurai and two monks as well as a Flames of War British machine gun platoon.
Not sure what from that lot I will start painting first but I have started putting together the icestorm stuff so I can play through the introduction rulebook and start to learn the rules.
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Post by: GrimDork
Nice haul I especially like the SNES controler
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Post by: carlos13th
Yeah its a Snes controller for PC. So will have to get on the case of some emulation.
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Post by: GrimDork
Ahh I didn't see the USB plug, that's cool beans. I've got a playstation or xbox 3rd party controller that I use but a plain and simple snes controller would be pretty darn usable too Simpler as well.
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Post by: carlos13th
Yeah it sadly isnt working on my MAC atm. Cant find the right drivers for it.
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Post by: carlos13th
Happy new year guys. I'm drinking a cup of coffee nursing the first hangover I have had in nearly two years looking and some models and deciding what to paint today once the house mate wakes up.
The way the house is laid out means going into the living room to early would wake him so I am stuck here deciding between paitning tanks of infantry. At least for now.
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Post by: Pacific
Quite a nice haul there for Xmas Carlos!
Don't think I would know what to open first..
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Post by: carlos13th
Yeah I got lucky there. Played the first scenario of ice storm, clipped all the british infantry from the sprues and attached a few of the nomads from icestorm onto scenic bases but haven't started paitning anything yet.
Spent most of today cooking malaysian food and hopefully will paint soon after chilling for a bit.
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Post by: GrimDork
Sounds like a fun day. Is that stuff spicy or what?
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Post by: carlos13th
Yeah it's pretty spicy. Made Nasi Lemak (coconut rice) to have something that cools it down.
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Post by: carlos13th
So I have decided to write a to do list of what I want to get painted this year inspired by Grimdork's utterly insane list.
I dont have all my hobby stuff on me so it will be slightly limited but here is what I want I plan to do. I will update this to the front page in order too keep track of what I have done and will cross off when I have finished it.
First up is Flames of War.
The majority of my flames of war army was bought by a friend of mine who I was chatting to about painting miniatures. I told him about some sales that were on that I was looking into and he bought me a heafty chunk of the army. The rest comes from presents from the girlfriend and sister.
So I need to paint the following for my Flames of War British which are 15mm scale ww2 miniatures.
British
Vickers Machine Gun Platoon. (This isn't far from being finished. Need to touch them up a little then shade then base)
3 British Infantry Platoons (Around 30 guys a platoon give or take.)
1 British Infantry HQ (Less than 10 models)
5 Cromwell Tanks
3 Sherman Firefly Tanks
1 Heavy Mortor Platoon
4 Universal Carriers with crew
4 6pdr Anti tank Guns with crew
4 Lyod Carriers with crew
So we are looking at around 100-150+ x 15mm infantry along with 20 x 15mm Vehciles
Next up is Infinity. I want to focus on painting up Nomads this year. If I have time and finish my other stuff I my branch out and paint some of the Haqqislam. The Pan O stuff from Icestorm will go to the misses. These are 28mm Sci Fi miniatures.
Nomads
3 Alguaciles
1 Mobile Brigada
1 Reverand Healer
1 Grenzer
1 Spektr
3 Wildcats
1 Intruder
2 Hellcats
1 Alguacile Hacker.
1 Senior Massacre
16 x Infantry
Next up is the reason I started this blog in the first place Samurai at the moment I just don't have the paitence or skill to patch paint enough Samurai to make a Kings of War force. That will come in time as its still my long term goal but I want something smaller more short term.
Short term I want to create a few playable forces for Ronin: Samurai Skirmish Game from Osprey.
For this I hope to paint the following
Bushi Buntai (Samurai)
3 Yari Ashigaru
1 Teppo Ashigaru
1 Yumi Ashigaru
2 Katana Samurai
1 Hatamoto Samurai
Soehi Buntai (Monks)
2 Archer Sohei
4 Naginata Sohei
1 Teppo Sohei
1 Senior Sohei with Katana
Bandit Buntai
3 Peasnts with Bamboo Spears
3 Armoured Bandits 1 Melee weapons
1 Teppo Bandit
1 Archer Bandit
1 Armoured Bandit with Nodachi
25 x 28mm Infantry
I may add to those sightly depending on the points values of the forces in order to balance them. But what is there will be my goal in the first instance.
Finally if I manage to do all that I will paint a SWAT team / Police Force for Fist Full of Kung Fu which will consist of the following
Police
1 Max Payne style plain clothes cop
1 Chow Yun Fat from Hardboiled Cop
4 Person Swat Team with Gas Masks
1 Swat Team Commander
1 Agent in a suit
Thats 8 x 28mm infantry
So thats the plan for this year if all goes well. I am mostly recovered from my head injury so should be able to paint a lot more than I have been able to previously. Hope that holds up.
Thats over 200 models in total maybe more. Now to see if I can actually pull it off.
Automatically Appended Next Post: Last of us Diorama
Almost forgot to mention this one.
My friend who got me the Flames of War stuff loves Last of Us. Its his favourite game so I plan to paint him a last of us Diorama. It will require painting the following.
1 Hasslefree Clint
1 Hasslefree Beth
1 Clicker Zombie (this will require a conversion of a normal human figure)
Finally I will use a 28mm 4 ground ruined building as part of the Diorama. These are pre painted so require no painting.
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Post by: GrimDork
Your list is looking pretty rough too, man. Here's hoping we can both put some significant miles down on them whether we get done or not
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Post by: carlos13th
Yeah lets hope I can do at least most of it.
The actual number of Samurai I have to paint is huge. But lets not try to deal with everything at once.
If I some how get everything on the list done I will either paint more Infinity or more Samurai.
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Post by: JoshInJapan
Your to-do list looks good. I'll be watching with interest.
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Post by: carlos13th
Thanks Josh. Look forward to following what you do too.
If anyone would like to let me know what they are more interested in than others let me know. It might help guide my direction when I am unsure what to tick off next.
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Post by: GrimDork
I wanna see the zombie Dio, and then the Flames of War stuff
All of it sounds neat though, the models for the Ronin skirmish game and Infinity dudes will be cool too
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Post by: carlos13th
The Zombie Diorama has to wait until I see the GF next as the models are at hers.
Working on a flames of war platoon right now which isnt to far off done so you may get your second wish.
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Post by: EyeamRai
All these gigantic lists!!
Good luck and have fun!
I'll be along for the ride.
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Post by: carlos13th
Thanks EyeamRai are you going to do something similar?
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Post by: EyeamRai
I don't have a giant list I'm just starting off with 2 models a week and will increase it if I seem to reach that too easily.
I did not reach my goal this week.
I blame the holidays and the plague...
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Post by: carlos13th
Mini update here.
Figure small updates of progress will help keep me motivated rather than waiting until everything's done. Hope that isn't too annoying for people.
Flames of war machine gun platoon are painted and dipped. Tomorrow if I am 100% sure everything's dry and the humidity is ok they will get Matt varnished and sealed. Then based.
Here is a photo of them in all their glossy still sticky from the dip glory. The shot doesn't show the whole platoon btw. Just a few close up.
Also weather permitting the YouTube comment section in nation form also known as the nomads will get primed. May put together a few more guys stick them on their bases and get those primed too. Bases are resin and from antenociti's workshop.
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Post by: GrimDork
Little army dudes look pretty cool, I'm eager to see how they look sealed and based as I don't follow a lot of 15mm/FoW projects.
Bases look pretty sweet. Nice amount of detail but not so much that they're liable to bog you down.
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Post by: carlos13th
Yeah I figure the bases shouldn't be too difficult to paint. Base Coat. Pick out the few details that are there, wash and dry brush shouldn't be to difficult. Don't want to spend hours working on the base.
A sent a friend of mine (the one who bought me some flames of war stuff) a photo earlier next to a penny to show him just how small the flames of war stuff was and he was shocked. They are tiny little things.
Looking over them I should have done a better job of cleaning them as at least one of them has a serious mold line I should have taken care of. he will get extra foliage around him to mask that.
Going to try to get a game of X-Wing with the misses when I see her next too. Which may be a little while. Before then I have a few friends into gaming ill try to get a game with.
Just saw this comic which would likely be very true to life if I actually had any spare cash.
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Post by: EyeamRai
That comic is hilarious!
I did not realize how small Flames of War was. I knew it was smaller than the the stuff I do but holy cow!
Looking good!
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Post by: carlos13th
Yeah the flames of war models are about the height of the penny in the infinity photo if they are standing up.
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Post by: GrimDork
I think I've seen that one before, and it's fairly amusing
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Post by: carlos13th
I could see that happening with you too grim.
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Post by: GrimDork
Yeah it kind of did partially. Damn things just beg to be collected =/
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Post by: carlos13th
It may happen with me eventually too.
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Post by: carlos13th
Flames of war HMG Platoon are finished and based.
Only decent light was on the balcony doorstep so the ground is a bit footprinty
Whole Platoon
Command Team
Piat Team
4x HMG Team
Automatically Appended Next Post:
I might try to get some better photos tomorrow when the light is better.
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Post by: GrimDork
Those are cool, nice work.
Definitely an interesting size, if only one of the scifi games/genres I liked better offered minis at that size. Just can't get into the WW stuff, though it's neat to see other peoples' projects.
So what's that 16 done for you so far?
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Post by: carlos13th
17 guys in total. 3 on each HMG team, 2 person Piat team and 3 in the command team.
Not to sure about my basing tbh. I think the tufts are ok but that static grass doesnt look great. Automatically Appended Next Post: Edited the previous post because I added the same photo twice.
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Post by: GrimDork
Missed one of the command guys and counted poorly
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Post by: carlos13th
Thats fine. Need superglue before I can do the next lot.
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Post by: carlos13th
Played x wing quick start rules with a friend today.
The game is a lot of fun and I think I will pick up another start and some expansions later in the year when I have the cash
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Post by: GrimDork
I agree. I think the quick start rules have some virtue of their own by being so simple. Without worrying about actions and with some of the rules parred down, you can play a bit faster.
That said, TIE fighters are way more fun when you get to barrel roll
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Post by: carlos13th
My xwing. Sadly got blown up. I was doing great at first, took out his first Tie figher and got his other down to 1 while only taking 1 or maybe 2 damage myself.
Got into a dog fight after wards and I had about 4 bad rolls in a row doing no damage and he kills me.
A lot of fun though. Gonna try to full rules next week.
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Post by: GrimDork
For just x-wings and TIES the full rules don't get too much more complicated. Just some actions and a couple of things change a little. Its more with the expansions and combinations of cards and upgrades and some maneuvers that can get a bit deeper.
The dice favor shooting success slightly but both sides and both kinds of rolls can see dry spells and hot streaks.
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Post by: carlos13th
I really like the movement system where you use the dials and move simultaneously.
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Post by: GrimDork
Yeah that is one of the coolest parts. The ordering due to pilot skill is also one of those simple yet potentially complicated things about the game too. Do you swarm low pilot skill or try to ensure highest PS to better react to foes and shoot first.
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Post by: carlos13th
You don't get to see the other guys movements before you choose your own though right?
The way we played you all picked, place your things face down and then flip and make the move one at a time worst pilot first and so on,
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Post by: GrimDork
Sorry, I was getting a bit ahead of where you guys are.
Everyone picks at the same time and then reveals in order. Even if your guy is pilot skill 9, you pick your move at the same time as the rookie/academy guy.
But when you start using actions you will find that you do your action when you move which means that higher pilot skill comes into effect.
If you have a PS1 TIE fighter and he moves to get around someone, he has to choose at that time to barrel roll to the side or not. In some cases a roll to the right may be best, or a roll to the left. When you get to the higher skilled pilots, everyone else will already have moved and done their actions (not shots, that comes after this phase of course) so once you flip your dial and make the move on it, you will know what everyone else has already chosen to do for actions and will be able to act best accordingly. You don't have to guess which direction of barrel roll or boost (move of agile fighters, go straight or bank 1) move to make, as you know how the field looks now.
Some combinations of cards will even allow you to barrel roll *and* boost with certain ships meaning you could get the hell out of dodge after everyone else moves and defines exactly where dodge is
It's also a potentially big deal with Target Locks which are important for torpedoes and missiles. If you move first your opponent may be out of range when you get to your action step, only to later move into your range and declare their own target lock on you when you were unable to do so.
Sorry for rambling, I just find it a really interesting part of the game
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Post by: carlos13th
Ohh that makes sense now. Automatically Appended Next Post: Got some photos with some better lighting btw. Realised some paint has chipped off of some of them so next time I'm working with the same colours I will touch them up a little.
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Post by: GrimDork
Oooh, that really shows off their colors better. I like 'em!
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Post by: carlos13th
Yeah the soilders kinda blended into the background with the other shiot. They are clearer in this one.
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Post by: carlos13th
Figured I would do a little report about how I am gettting on at the end of each month.
The month started off strong with the flames of war stuff finished within the first week but sadly nothing has been finished since then. lots of assembling done and a fair bit of stuff half painted but nothing else finished.
Here is what is on my desk after todays session of painting and modelling.
So this month I have assmbeled about 7 infinity models. 2 Loyd Carriers (The small green things at the front.) And two 6prd guns (not shown)
Also partially painted are the four Universal carriers (Green things at the back. Two sherman Tanks, and the two loyd carriers. Only three of the infinity models have been primed.
All in all not a fantastic month but better than Janurary last year was. I have a busy weekend so I doubt those carriers will be finished before the end of the month but maybe I can sqeeze some time in.
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Post by: GrimDork
Looking forward to seeing it all done
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Post by: EyeamRai
Progress is progress!
Everything is looking good.
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Post by: Azazelx
Oooh, Flames of War stuff! Nice looking MG platoon, and the vehicles look like they're off to a great start.
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Post by: carlos13th
If you are here there is a chance you are interested in Samurai models. If that's the case I would be remiss if I didn't shared a link to the new kickstarter from steel fist. Who make some of my favourite samurai Minitures, particularly their Daimyo.
I plan to back the Kickstarter despite having a decent number of steel fist guys already I haven't got around to painting. That said steel fist models will make up some of the Samurai the Ronin force in my goals this year.
Anyway just wanted to share.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/536771983/samurai-lords
I know there are plenty of other kickstarters people have been excited about lately but for me this is the one I have been most looking forward too.
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Post by: RobertsMinis
You have to have admiration for people who can paint so well at 15mm and smaller. It is the main thing that puts me off playing or painting anything smaller than 28mm. Well done and the basing is rather spiffing as well.
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Post by: carlos13th
Thanks rob. Honestly it wasn't that hard though. The dipping did pretty much all of the shading so the only difficult part really. Was picking out the details on the webbing.
I consider a 28mm samurai or infinity model considerably more difficult to paint up to an acceptable standard.
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Post by: carlos13th
The bases need neatening but I am going to sort that out when the rest of the crew are Finished. These guys are a bit of a rush job but atm finished quickly is far more important to me than never finished. I will take longer on the rest of the crew though. When doing the rest of the crew and I have the colours on my pallet I will do some extra highlgihts and sort out the bases.
Here are my Police Swat Team for Fist full of Kung Fu. These guys are standard troops / mooks that will be in the game. I have some more mooks a protagonist and bruiser I haven't started to paint yet.
Without further ado Meet Echo Team
I've decided to name some of them based on some of you guys posting here just for a bit of fun as you help with the motivation to keep painting. I am not inventive when it comes to names by the way.
Always ready to blow the hinges of a door with a shotgun we have Grim - Call Sign "Reaper"
Next up we have Azazel leader of the team and the one who gets in the gak when things go wrong - Call sign "Top"
Next we have JoshinJapan sneaking into postion - Call sign "Shinobi"
Here we have Eyerai weapon pointed down ready to pick protecting the rear from threats - Callsign "Eagle"
Finally we have me armed with the pistol code name - "Revolver"
The Protagonist and Bruiser will be named after the movie characters they are based off but a suited agent, a sniper and a plan clothed cop in body armour I plan to name after posters here too one of which will probably be assigned to Pacific who has posted here since the start. If your reading this and you have a preference mate let me know. If I can eventually get a game in its gonna be hilarious to watch us die horribly which is the main reason I am doing this.
So here is the rest of the team that need to get painted.
from left to right we have. Suited Agent (Unnamed), Max Payne, Tequila, Sniper (Unnamed), Plain clothes cop (Unnamed)
If anyone would like to claim any of the unnamed ones feel free.
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Post by: Eilif
Nice Work and Excellent choice of figures to expand the group.
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Post by: GrimDork
Cool, shotguns ftw. Nice work
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Post by: Azazelx
Ooh! I've been named!
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Post by: GrimDork
Yeah yeah, but don't you see that MY guy has a SHOTGUN? Oooh yeah.
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Post by: EyeamRai
Nice to meet you Echo Team!
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Post by: JoshInJapan
Ha! I'm the sneak!
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Post by: carlos13th
Yup Josh the Shonobi
When I finish all the group I will try to take a photo with better lighting.
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Post by: Dreadclaw69
Can I ask what range the SWAT team is from?
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Post by: carlos13th
The Gas mask guys are from The Assault Group. Not sure where the leader is from though sorry.
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Post by: Dreadclaw69
Thank you for the info
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Post by: carlos13th
Found the leader model. Its RAFM USX Modern Sgt. Flanagan.
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Post by: carlos13th
So turns out the decals I had for the universal carriers are the wrong kind. So the tanks and universal carriers have been shelved for the time being until the new decals arrive.
So today I primed a few samurai and finished off one that needs to be based. Need to prime the archer and Arquebus troop tomorrow but the basic composition of my first buntai for Ronin is sorted.(Damn just realised the rules state you need 2 ashigaru for every samurai if you are using Ashigaru and Samurai. Meaning I will have to add another Ashigaru.)
Ashigaru - Yari - Medium Armour - 18 points
Ashigaru - Yari - Medium Armour - 18 points
Ashigaru - Yari - Medium Armour - 18 points
Ashigaru - Teppo - Medium Armour - 18 points
Ashigaru - Yumi - Medium Armour - 18 points
Ashigaru - Gashira - Katana - Medium Armour - 18 points
- 108 points
Samurai - Katana - Heavy Armour - 24 points
Samurai - Katana - Heavy Armour - 24 points
- 48 points
Bushou - Nodachi - Heavy Armour - 37 points
Powerful - 3 points
Kenjutsu - 3 points
Total Points 199
So here they are minus a single archer
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Post by: JoshInJapan
Groovy. I expect frequent WIP photos.
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Post by: carlos13th
Thanks Josh. Might be a week or two before I get any major progress done. Bit busy over the coming weeks. Cant wait to start painting the steel fist guy guy as the Buntai leader though.
Just realised I have an ashigaru officer from my archer unit painted I can use as the extra instead of an extra Yumi Ashigaru for the same amount of points. Will help me finish sooner.
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Post by: GrimDork
Finishing sooner is usually cool
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Post by: EyeamRai
Nice! What game are the samurai for?
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Post by: carlos13th
A game called Ronin from osprey but they will also serve double duty as kings of war models once finished.
Ronin can be had pretty cheap from amazon at around £12 for the paper rules and half of that for the kindle version.
The game requires roughly between five and fifteen models and looks like a lot of fun with some interesting diverse buntais (squads/teams/factions) you can build your own using models from perry, steel fist, the assault group etc or buy the northstar packs. I plan to get the northstar Koryu packs sometime down the road as it's the most characterful pack in my opinion. It's also the one pack that I cannot find equally as good models for a lower price in a diverse range of sculpts.
At the moment I have enough models to make a sohei buntai (monks) several bushi buntai (samurai) and at least one bandit / ikko ikki buntai. I can make either or of those previous two with models like peasants doing double duty being used for either buntai, don't have enough peasants to do both at the same time. Also have some wako I can make another bandit buntai with.
Plan is to section my models into buntai size forces and paint them then combine those to make my kings of war units. That's why everything is based on pennies and then placed in sabot trays. It allows me to easily use models for both games.
I can probably use them for fist full of Kung fu too now that I think about it. Fist full of Kung fu has silly enough rules to allow me to play swat teams against reanimated or time traveling samurai.
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Post by: carlos13th
Only done a little bit of painting over the last couple of days. Bits of flesh is all.
Instead of using the Ashigaru I have already painted up I am gonna use a Ashigaru Banner bearer as the final Ashigaru to round out the Buntai. Mostly because Banners are awesome and I love the heraldry of Samurai.
Here is he is.
Having researched the Banners carried by Uesugi Kenshin's Army I will using be painting up the banner bearer to carry one of the following.
I will most likley either do the Bishamonte (Bi) God of War banner second from the left. Or the Dragon banner third from the left.
That or I will go for the standard Uesugi two bird mon seen on the right hand side of this image.
I will be using decals for this and not even attempting to free hand anything.
Also most of the troops in this force will have Sashimono (Back flags.) With the uesugi two bird mon on it. The leader will have a 3d sashimono, not sure which yet. Maybe a bell shaped one or the circular streamer type.
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Post by: GrimDork
Huh sounds cool, I like standards and banners too so I'm quite looking forward to your results with this one
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Post by: JoshInJapan
Those banners are nifty.
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Post by: carlos13th
Yeah the samurai archives forum has a whole thread devoted to samurai heraldry.
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Post by: Azazelx
Nice concepts - I'm looking forward to seeing how they come out!
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Post by: Maniac_nmt
carlos13th wrote:A game called Ronin from osprey but they will also serve double duty as kings of war models once finished.
Ronin can be had pretty cheap from amazon at around £12 for the paper rules and half of that for the kindle version.
The game requires roughly between five and fifteen models and looks like a lot of fun with some interesting diverse buntais (squads/teams/factions) you can build your own using models from perry, steel fist, the assault group etc or buy the northstar packs. I plan to get the northstar Koryu packs sometime down the road as it's the most characterful pack in my opinion. It's also the one pack that I cannot find equally as good models for a lower price in a diverse range of sculpts.
If you haven't played it yet, Ronin is a great game. It may take a little to get used to the adding and subtracting, but it plays very quick, has some great mechanics, and captures the feel of the period very well. There is a historical gaming group I play with, and we've run it a few times now (and I've played it a few outside of that). I have yet to have an unenjoyable game with it.
I've got sufficient for two Bushi buntais and a Sohei Buntai (one Bushi Buntai is mostly painted, and the Sohei are all in progress). So I do enjoy seeing someone else building up buntais for it.
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Post by: EyeamRai
Sounds like a pretty neat game. I have a couple of those Osprey games that I need to check out now.
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Post by: carlos13th
Maniac_nmt wrote: carlos13th wrote:A game called Ronin from osprey but they will also serve double duty as kings of war models once finished.
Ronin can be had pretty cheap from amazon at around £12 for the paper rules and half of that for the kindle version.
The game requires roughly between five and fifteen models and looks like a lot of fun with some interesting diverse buntais (squads/teams/factions) you can build your own using models from perry, steel fist, the assault group etc or buy the northstar packs. I plan to get the northstar Koryu packs sometime down the road as it's the most characterful pack in my opinion. It's also the one pack that I cannot find equally as good models for a lower price in a diverse range of sculpts.
If you haven't played it yet, Ronin is a great game. It may take a little to get used to the adding and subtracting, but it plays very quick, has some great mechanics, and captures the feel of the period very well. There is a historical gaming group I play with, and we've run it a few times now (and I've played it a few outside of that). I have yet to have an unenjoyable game with it.
I've got sufficient for two Bushi buntais and a Sohei Buntai (one Bushi Buntai is mostly painted, and the Sohei are all in progress). So I do enjoy seeing someone else building up buntais for it.
Yeah I haven't had the chance to play a game of it yet for various reasons but I will do once I have two buntais painted up. Will probably buy some more 4 ground terrain at some point to as it really enjoyed putting the first one together.
Mind linking me to a photo of your buntais?
EyeamRai wrote:Sounds like a pretty neat game. I have a couple of those Osprey games that I need to check out now.
Yeah I am really liking the current osprey way of making games. Lots of cheap rulesets coming out from them. Many of them with their own small miniatures ranges but also with plenty of alternatives you can buy online. The kindle prices on some of the rulesets means you can buy them just for inspiration even if you are not 100 sure you can do anything with them. I did that with IHMN and while I'm not sure if I will get around to trying them for the 4 quid or so it cost me I really don't mind.
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Post by: Maniac_nmt
Here is my main buntai:
I still need to finish the third Samurai and add in some Yumi Ashigaru. I chose the Otomo clan for various reasons. As a minor clan I felt no one else would be running them. Then, as a Christian clan it would be a good excuse for including Teppos.
Then, my ninja:
My sohei aren't far enough along to share. Mostly just having primer and some base colors on a few.
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Post by: carlos13th
Looking good mate. Combination of perry and kensei right?
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Post by: Maniac_nmt
Samurai are Perry and Kensai. I have some WGF for the yumis.
The Ninja are a miscellaneous mix of out or print minis I picked up on Ebay
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Post by: carlos13th
Trying to decide what Sashimono to pick for my Leader/Hatamoto wanted to get your input.
One of the following will be mounted on the models back. Not sure which yet.
Here are some painted examples of the Sashimono in question
http://www.steelfistminiatures.com/images/products/11/320/1.jpg
http://www.steelfistminiatures.com/images/products/32/320/1.jpg
http://www.steelfistminiatures.com/images/products/31/320/1.jpg
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Post by: GrimDork
For a simpler look go with the on that looks kind of a like a fan or moon, second link, round one with the bit of red at the base.
If you want elaborate do the one... best way I can describe it is a hoop with tassels or papers hanging off of it.
I like those better than the bells or grass skirt looking thing.
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Post by: carlos13th
Thanks mate. Yeah I am so so about the bell Sashimono as well.
Yeah the hoop streamer type is probably my favourite..
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Post by: Azazelx
I'm partial to either the ring or the multi-fan, though I know nothing about the "proper" way these things should look.
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Post by: Maniac_nmt
The hoop or the multi-fan/feather one would be my pick. Failing that, maybe the lantern.
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Post by: EyeamRai
I like the hoop too.
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Post by: carlos13th
Thanks guys. Not sure if I will use the hoop for this model or the next steel fist model I am going for which is tin bear fur armour.
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Post by: GrimDork
Well damnit! Don't show us the gold if you aren't gonna let us spend it man!
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Post by: carlos13th
Might have two hoops, not sure yet.
http://www.warlordgames.com/downloads/pdf/Pike-and-Shotte-Samurai-Army.pdf
Wanted to share this too. Samurai list for Pike and Shotte for those who are interested. Should be yet another way I can use the Samurai.
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Post by: Azazelx
Sounds like a plan! The more games you can use them in, the merrier. I know there have been some homebrew rules to use Samurai in SAGA as well - and that doesn't need many figures at all. I'll see if I can find out what the guys who were playing it used exactly.
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Post by: Maniac_nmt
There are a number of homebrew Samurai lists for Saga, here are two examples:
http://studiotomahawk.freeforums.org/phil-s-samurai-battleboards-and-lists-t4584.html
http://studiotomahawk.freeforums.org/samurai-battleboards-and-swords-for-hire-t617.html
These are from the forums of the makers of Saga, Studio Tomahawk. On the whole they are very supportive of folks homebrewing factions and playing them (they provide templates for dice, blank battleboards, copies of all the rules that have gone into wargaming magazines, etc).
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Post by: carlos13th
Thanks guys. What kind of size force is needed for Saga? Are we talking 20-30 30-50 or closer to a hundred?
Always nice to see a company who supports fan lists and the like.
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Post by: Maniac_nmt
Saga is usually played at 4 points or 6 points.
Each point buyys one of the following:
4 Hearthguard
8 Warriors
12 Levy
For Feudal Japan, regular Samurai could be seen as Hearthguard. Poor Samuari and Ashigaru as Warriors. Poor Ashigaru as Levy or no Levy at all.
So, at 4 points you will usually see about 24 to 28 models. Typically two Hearthguard and two Warriors. Occasionally 1 Hearth, 2 Warriors, and one Levy.
For most armies Levy are the missile troops, although Norman and various Crusade armies can take missile base warrirors to represent the prevalance of such weapons in those armies.
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Post by: carlos13th
I think i would probably do Hatamoto or other high ranking officer looking types as Hearth guard, steel fist would be perfect for this as they stand out next to the perry's as being larger with generallly more ornate armour.
Normal Samurai as Warriors
Ashigaru for Levy.
That sounds about right to me.
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Post by: Azazelx
Thanks Maniac - they appear to be the same lists my mates were using.
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Post by: carlos13th
No real painting progress this week sadly. Been working on real world stuff and super busy. However I wanted to share the weekends supply drop.
A second hand book on samurai weapons and armour
And another 4ground building
And here is how the leader so far. I am thinking about red for the unpainted thigh guards, what do you think?
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Post by: GrimDork
Sweet. Looking forward to seeing the building .
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Post by: JoshInJapan
The shin guards should probably match the rest of the armor, I think.
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Post by: carlos13th
The shin guards will be black. I meant thigh guard with the squares on it under Neath the armour.
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Post by: JoshInJapan
Shouldn't those be the same as the rest of the armor as well? Unless you're talking about the lacing...
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Post by: Azazelx
I don't know enough about Samurai armour to have an opinion there, but the book looks like a great reference for you.
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Post by: RobertsMinis
4Ground stuff is so good. Fun to build as well!
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Post by: carlos13th
Yeah I genuinely enjoyed building the last one.
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Post by: Maniac_nmt
It is, but can be bloody expensive. I've got a number of their Dark Age kits that I bought on sale which have been a snap to build. Their Japanese stuff is silly expensive however.
Sarissa also makes some really nice kits, Sengokou appropriate, for less. They don't come with thatch, but on the whole wouldn't mind trying them (I've got their Dark Age church and Norman manor house. Both have been a joy to assemble and have lovely detail).
http://www.sarissa-precision.com/Japan/cat1603369_2186570.aspx
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Post by: carlos13th
Just waiting for this to dry now then I'll trim the hatching on the roof a little.
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Post by: carlos13th
It needs varnishing which will be done when the rest of the Buntai are finished being painted but here is the first samurai of them finished. Gonna go back over it in better light to check for anything I've missed but I'm considering him done for the most part.
Here are my first two buntai in various states of unpainted fighting in front of the newly built house. Once they are finished I will recreate this.
I needed some black and white counters for ronin combat. Decided to go for mini dice instead of counters so they can be used for other things including wound counters,
http://imgur.com/6PU0X13
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Post by: Maniac_nmt
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Post by: Azazelx
That mock-up battle scene looks great, and the Samurai looks pretty sweet as well.
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Post by: carlos13th
They are a mix of assault group, and perry. There may be some old glory stuff In there too.
I don't have any kingsford stuff but it does look great. Bit bigger than perry or assault group though and closer to steel fist size.
Their horses are smaller than others too, being closer to ponies. Which is accurate for the time period but worth keeping in mind none the less.
I will recreate that mock battle once they are painted.
Automatically Appended Next Post: On a side note I would totally have a samurai in this darth vader armour in my army if it was avalable
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Post by: RobertsMinis
Building looks great.
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Post by: carlos13th
YwH the 4 ground stuff is pretty sweet
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Post by: EyeamRai
I really like what you're doing here!
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Post by: carlos13th
Thanks mate, just hope progress starts to speed up soon.
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Post by: RobertsMinis
Carlos, not sure if you or one of your friends buys Wargames Illustrated, but there is an article on The Battle of Sekigahara 1600 in this months addition (March Issue 329). I've not read it, but thought of your blog when I saw it.
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Post by: carlos13th
I buy it when I see an article I like the look of. Thanks for pointing hasn't au out to me, I will have to find a copy. Automatically Appended Next Post: Went to the shop earlier but couldn't find a copy of wargames illustrated would consider digital version but 4.50 for a digital version is a bit much.
I did come across some people in imperial costume though so figured I would share some photos. I've recently started playing x wing with some friends and the gf and I swear those guys were there to convince me to buy more x wing stuff.
Not sure why but seeing those lot is making me really tempted to walk down to the local game store and add to this collection.
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Post by: GrimDork
Hah, always good to see nerds out nerding it up
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Post by: carlos13th
They were collecting for children in need so I donated a few quid.
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Post by: RobertsMinis
A Bounty Hunter rather than a Bargain Hunter at TK Max...
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Post by: carlos13th
These are not the deals you are looking for. Automatically Appended Next Post: These are not the deals you are looking for. Automatically Appended Next Post: Quick poorly lit progress photo at the end of tonight's painting session. Just showing what I've done so far and how they are progressing.
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Post by: RobertsMinis
That made be laugh!
Looking forward to seeing the finished Samurai. The lovely 4Ground and Sarissa terrain would tempt me to get into the period.
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Post by: carlos13th
If you were anywhere near me mate I would happily lend you one of my forces once painted to play.
I plan on painting up at least 2-4 forces then trying to recruit some guys at one of the local games stores to give the rules a try with me. I'm also on the look out for a cheap way to do a game mat and I think I've found one. Javid mate meant for train modeling seem pretty cheap and is probably what I will end up going for.
I think once I get the first two forces done I'm gonna work on some terrain to get the game to a playable state. I have two resin houses that need painting and a plasticraft house and bridge on it's way that was really cheap I wanted to try.
The resin houses are much smaller but I figure if I group the smaller hand painted resin and plasticraft houses together and group the mdf ones together it will look like a richer and poorer part of the village.
Right next to each other though they just wouldn't work. Resin one Is only partially painted btw
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Post by: GrimDork
To me the rich/poor thing works I mean the doorways are pretty similar in size, one house is just smaller than the other, its a thing that happens. The one on the left has fancier roof decorations and what looks like a second floor, what opulence!
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Post by: Maniac_nmt
carlos13th wrote:I plan on painting up at least 2-4 forces then trying to recruit some guys at one of the local games stores to give the rules a try with me. I'm also on the look out for a cheap way to do a game mat and I think I've found one. Javid mate meant for train modeling seem pretty cheap and is probably what I will end up going for.
Watch out for model train grass mats. If they are paper backed they will tend to shed easily. Once the mats are glued down to something they hold up just find, but otherwise you will get loads of flock coming off every time you unroll them.
I've coated terrain boards with them, but they are a mess until they are fixed down. (plus the paper bends and creases easily making for something that would be problematic over time if used as a pure gaming mat).
Rather, if you don't mind a solid color, look into wool felt. It is heavier and denser than normal felt. This means it won't fray or pull apart easily once cut. You can iron it to flatten out creases, and it won't shed. Less visually appealing than a grass mat, but easier to find than a cloth or rubber backed mat.
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Post by: carlos13th
Yeah I need to see the mats on person before I commit to buying really. Grim dork mentioned felt too.
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Post by: GrimDork
Felt is fine, it isn't a superior gaming resource, but it's a classic that gamers have been getting by on for ages.
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Post by: carlos13th
So besides lacing and sashimono and banner decals these guys are mostly done. Wanted to show what I have so far and ask if you have any suggestions on what needs work.
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Post by: GrimDork
Damn that little gang is really coming along, what's gonna go on the banner?
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Post by: carlos13th
Probably the uesugi. Mon.m
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Post by: Azazelx
I concur. They look really good so far. I can't see any glaring omissions at this stage.
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Post by: RobertsMinis
Between Josh and yourself, I am going to be building Japanese models or terrain soon.
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Post by: carlos13th
RobertsMinis wrote:Between Josh and yourself, I am going to be building Japanese models or terrain soon.
The more the merrier mate.
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Post by: ckig
Looks good to me. I do like that commander model. They'll all look great once finished next to your terrain
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Post by: carlos13th
Yeah the leader is a great model.
Here is a closer looks at the lacing
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Post by: Azazelx
Amazing work - but definitely worthwhile!
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Post by: JoshInJapan
Looking good. You put more effort into the lacing than I do. Is the leader going to carry a sashimono as well?
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Post by: carlos13th
Yeah it's going to be a big red hoop
This is how he is looking ATM
http://imgur.com/mHGme6i
http://imgur.com/zDO5g7D
Automatically Appended Next Post: One of you wanted to know what banner I was going to use.
Here is a photo
I won't post any more photos until they are totally finished.
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Post by: carlos13th
So I wanted to have these guys done by now but the hobby gods are fickle and I am an idiot...I put the decal for that banner on backwards but I refuse to fix it so its staying that way.
Also I just moved house so have had no painting time sadly in the move some of the paint jobs on the guys I had nearly finished I have shown here got a bit scratched up (Always a problem with metal models). Still i am mostly unpacked now so hopefully can get a bit of painting in to fix the scratches and finish them off luckily the lacing seems undamaged which is the hard part.
Also since I last posted i have picked up a village barn I have to put together. Some Mats to play and take photos on and a Samurai Warship which should be in the mail in a week or two.
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Post by: GrimDork
I look forward to seeing this warship. But if you have a warship you'll want some cannons. And if you have some cannons you'll want another warship. And if you have two warships you're gonna need a water mat....etc.
Regardless, looking forward to it
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Post by: ckig
Nice work on the lacing. Is anything going on the top of that banner? Not that it needs anything.
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Post by: carlos13th
What do you mean ontop of the banner? You mean like a skull, etc or shape or spear point etc?
Probably not tbh. Despite the crazy sashimono and helmets it doesnt seem like they put things on top of banners. Unless they were actually using 3d shapes as banners themselves.
I do need to finish paitning the wood up the top though.
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Post by: ckig
Yeah that's what I meant but I don't think it needs anything either actually. I like how it looks, not overly blingy
I'd love to see the warship btw!
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