Well, I guess I am finally off the blocks! I am always a bit of a slow starter during the Challenge, and I am afraid this year is no exception. So, some long overdue Best Wishes for the new year for all you fine folks and your loved ones. May your paint pots never dry up!
I do have some excuse for not having been very busy painting. Just after Christmas this joined our family:
She is a little girl labradoodle, a companion for our Lucca. Siena, as we have called her, gets along well with her big sister, but as the dog owners among you know having a puppy in the house is not unlike having a newborn baby: constant attention to food and its smelly consequences, and thus broken nights and sleep deprivation… However, she is a joy and a delight.
In all this turmoil I have only painted these eight Late Roman infantrymen for Saga. They are 28mm Crusader Miniatures. They are not difficult to paint, but I like them very much.
I used mostly Contrast paints. I tried the Speedpaint Markers by The Army Painter/ Deep Cut Studio, and found them a mixed blessing. Some of them are really good, and for some work they are quite handy. However, I used the white for the tunics, and that turned out to a not so light grey. I ended up painting the tunics with conventional white paint. I think they look sort of okay, and the Little Big Men transfers really do a lot for them.
Obviously, these valiant soldiers are the steadfast defenders of a crumbling Empire, threatened from all corners by uncouth and wild barbarians, and from within by tax shirkers, fraudulent officials and scheming politicians. A fitting entry for the Empire Bonus Round methinks.
Finally, I am a great fan of Darts (watching it, I'm not a great player), and one of the most sympathetic players I know is Ryan Searle. Even though he manages to play darts at the highest level, he suffers from a hereditary eye condition called ADOA, which he has unfortunately passed on to his daughter, and for which there is as yet no cure. So for my entry fee into the Challenge I donated to the Cure ADOA Foundation, which is a Charity he supports..
So that’s it, but I will have to step up my game if I am to get anywhere near to my target!
8x 28mm foot @ 5 points = 40 points
Empire Bonus Round = 50 points
Total 90 points
And a Squirrel…
Nice white garbed romans - there seems to be an empire theme here about white clothed entries! Interesting to know your experience of pens- my tentative use has not been promising. Anyway there is always something about late romans - maybe their fancy shields ( very nice along with a standard) give the holders some confidence against the dark hordes…..
ReplyDeleteNice work on your late Roman’s
ReplyDeleteI think the tunics have ended up great.
ReplyDeleteVery nice. These speed paints always seem to land in that same zone for me...they seem useful, but end as a mixed blessing of sorts at best...at any rate, fine work!
ReplyDeleteA wonderful first entry, Martijn. I think these eight look smashing and I quite liked your description of a decaying empire (as they say, history does not repeat itself, but it certainly rhymes). I have a few of those pens as well, but have not had the time to really give them a work out.
ReplyDeleteBut the star of this entry has to be Sienna. What an adorable addition to your family. In the photo, Lucca still seems unsure, but I expect they will be getting on thick as thieves. Best wishes with the paper towels and carpet spray! ;)
There seems a lot of late Romans about in this challenge and these are great! Lovely colours ,finish and shields. I've been using pens just before the challenge on my Romano British shields and they worked pretty well?
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
A cool looking unit, the purple and white combination works well.
ReplyDeleteMore nice Roman’s indeed
ReplyDelete