'Mercenary' from AdamC: Flemish Mercenaries

This entry is inspired by Saga.  The Flemish Mercenaries are tough infantry unit that can work with a number of Dark Age armies in Saga (not my beloved Irish but you can't have everything). They fight shoulder to shoulder and while they are slow moving their armour and close ranked formation make them very hard to kill.

I did their shields in yellow and black because those colors are associated with Count of Flanders coat of arms. The Flemish had a reputation a capable soldiers that has carried down through the ages. There have been Flemish units serving with the French, Spanish, and Germans Armies through the ages often in specific national units.

I consider using this but decided it was too specific since I might want to use these as some other unit of infantry.  Also this heraldry dates to the 12th century so it might be a bit Anachronistic in a Dark Age army.

I used the scale armour bodies from Fireforged Games they give them the heavily armoured look I wanted and all but one is armed with a spear since this is probably the dark age weapon best suited to fighting in tight formation. There are 8 figures here so 40 points (plus the bonus)

'Mercenary' from AlanD: The Grainy Landsknecht

Argh! Disaster!

For the Mercenary Round, I had my heart set on painting a Landsknecht from Warlord Games. Unfortunately, when I came to give him a white spray undercoat yesterday, the mindnumbing Sydney humidity resulted in a horrible grainy surface. I nearly gave up on the little guy, but decided to persevere, and this is the result. Maybe, as a hard-bitten old mercenary he is a gritty character? 

'Mercenary' from BenF: He's No Good to Me Dead - Boba Fett

Phew, just made it. Baby Evie obliged by grabbing a few hours sleep which gave me a chance to finish this figure off.

When I think of mercenary, it's hard to go past the ultimate bounty hunter who is willing to sell his services to the empire, Boba Fett. The iconic character is one of my favourite, though I do prefer the original version when he had a gravelly american accent.

 This is the excellent Star Wars Legion figure by Fantasy Flight Games. I used the superb Sorastro painting tutorial video to paint this chap. It was actually a nice change from all the 6mm i've been painting of late, and it was fun to try out some new techniques like wet-blending, battle damage, and off-source lighting. I think the OSLmay have worked out better had I used the fluro paints recommended by Sorastro, but I made do with the lemon yellow and light orange I had in my paint collection. I think it ended up ok.

I really like these Legion figures, and have a few more to paint up when I get tired of 6mm, including Han and Chewie.

Not sure how to score this fellow, as the Legion figs are '35mm', whatever that is. I guess its probably scored as a 28mm, so 20 points plus the bonus.

'Mercenary' from Barks: I am Kroot!

Dahyak Grekh is a Kroot mercenary who has found his way to the Blackstone Fortress. Kroot are half-bird half-lizard half-man hunter culture aliens, who were almost their own thing until they were bundled into Codex T'au in the late 90s. I'm pretty happy with the earthy tones and contrast on this figure. Being a Kroot, he's 40mm from toe to crown so I'm angling for a cheeky 7 points here.

'Mercenary' from BillA: Ogres For Hire

"So youse wants tuh hire my brudder Garnuk an' me to fights for you agains' th' barony across th' river? Right, we'se can do that, no problem, so longs as we'se gets paid our fee.  Two feed bags o' gold coins an' two fat hogs.  We'se growin' boys, y'know, gotta eat up to grow big an' strong.  Youse wouldn't want my brudder an' I tuh go hungry, now would ya?"

These are Reaper DHL#02312, "Vourgha the Ogre" (in the bearskin cloak), and DHL#02288, "Garnuk the Ogre" (barechested).  Both were sculpted by Bob Olley back in the 1990s and each stands about 60mm tall.  I've glued them to 50mm bases on the off chance I'll get to use them as Giants in a Oldhammer-inspired Kings of War army. 

Skin tones were done using Reaper's "Golden Skin Triad" as a break from all the Bronzed Skin I've been painting on gladiators lately, and the relatively large expanses of bare skin sculpted with only ordinary muscle instead of SUPER BULGING MUSCLE meant I felt more comfortable freehanding some tattoos on them as a break from painting neutral/earth tones on them.  Which I also think is the same reason they ended up with red hair. 

The bases were done with GF9 "Ash" flock and Army Painter "Mountain Tufts." I wanted them to look like they were from someplace so desolate that being the biggest, baddest, most brutal duo around was the only way to survive, and now they're monetizing that survival. 

"Oh, I'se almost forgot...th' baron across th' river? He paid us three feed bags of gold coins and four hogs tuh come over here an' pretend tuh offer our services, get in th' tent here wit' you an' then kill ya.  Ain't nothin' personal, y'know, jus' business. Now hold still, this'll hurt for a minute."

'Mercenary' from BrettM: Mad Donna

For the mercenary bonus round. I had this old Mad Donna figure that needed painted up.

Kept the hair a simple color. Thought about painting it all different colors but I'm pleased how it turned out. 

Like how the hearts on her holster stand out. Sculpt is def not the best one. However I did enjoy painting it

Now to see how she fairs in an actual game! 55 points closer to the goal!

'Mercenary' from ByronM: Souxsie and Diesel

For this weeks theme round I pulled out a miniature that I have had kicking around for probably 5 or 6 years.  It was picked up because I instantly fell in love with the overall look of it.  It is Siouxsie and Diesel put out by Studio McVey and sculpted by Yannick Hennebo.  I immediately got that old school 40k / Necromunda vibe from it and had to have it.

However, I then saw how fine some of the detail was, and go nervous about painting it.  Over the last 5 years though I have improved a fair bit in my painting and with this theme being Mercenary I remembered her and went digging in my pile-o-shame for her.  I picture her as a mercenary for my Escher Jail Bird gang for Necromunda that I painted in the challenge 2 years ago.

I am happy I waited to paint this figure as I am not sure I could have managed as good an overall look 6 years ago.  We all get better over time.  I still think it needs something for a bit more pop, but could not figure out what that was, so left it for now.

I am not sure about anyone else, but to me the dog looks like Blue (Don Cherry's iconic dog) and therefore just had to be painted white.  It catches a little too much light in the images so looks a bit brighter than it is, it was just hard to balance enough light for the darker figure compared to the light grey / white dog. 

Siouxsie had to have an orange shirt to match the rest of my jail bird figures, and then I went looking for some other brighter colours as she has a very punk look.  The punk look meant the jacket had to be black, as did all the buckles and belts, but I added in some pale blue / turquoise for the jeans and purple for the hair to make sure she still had some colour.

For once I am even happy with how a figures skin and face turned out.  Despite being super tiny and fine I managed to get her eyes and lips painted and put on some purple eye shadow (the wife thinks I am nuts, but that's nothing new). 

The last thing was the base, which actually came with her and is a wonderful sculpt in itself.  I simply did some grey concrete and a bronze manhole cover and I was done.

Oh, and thanks to Curt for finally showing me how to take some decent pictures!  I am far happier with how the colours and shading show up in the photos now.  Previously, I could never capture a good likeness of the figures as they were always washed out.  His method really helps capture a better representation of the figures.  Thanks!

'Mercenary' from ChristopherS: Gone to Texas

While the Texas War of Independence from Mexico did inspire many Texans and those that travel to Texas to fight for the cause there were others who went for adventure and yes profit and this is one of those individuals.

The Texas War of Independence or Revolution if you prefer was fought from Oct 2 1835 to April 21 1836 between the American/Texan colonists, Tanjanos (Mexican  Texans) and Volunteers from the US against the Mexican Government led by President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna because they felt their rights were being taken away by the increasingly centralization of the Mexican goverment. After defeating the small Mexican garrisons in Texas the colonists declared the Republic of Texas to be born. This resulted in Santa Anna marching with an army to reclaim Texas with victories at Gollad and the famous battle of the Alamo before eventually being defeated by Sam Houston's newly trained  Texan army at the battle of San Jacinto. While the Mexican army was forced to retreat behind the Rio Grande they never recognized the Republic of Texas and continued a slow burn conflict until the US Annexed Texas in 1845 which led directly to the Mexican - American war resulting in Mexico's defeat and the end to Mexico's bid to reclaim Texas.

I've always been interested in the Texas War of Independence since I was a kid really from watching John Wayne's Alamo version(still think it's the best) and always thought it would be nice to do the period, but just didn't like any figures for it until I discovered Boot Hill miniatures and was blown away and knew I had to collect them! The figures just ooze character!  I now already have a box full of these wonderful figures in my lead pile just waiting for me to really fully commit to them, but right now I have other projects that first need attention. However, this will give a small sample of what is to come for those that are interested.

What is also great about this period is it's perfect for Sharpes Practice which I'll be modeling my forces for. It will work wonderfully for skirmishes due to the small size of the forces involved. However, I might need to create my own lists as there isn't any for it just yet that I know of.

I mostly painted the figures using Foundry paints and some Vallejo and were a pleasure to paint. While it's tiring for my old eyes I did some black lining on this figure as the range is very well suited for that and I wanted to bring out more of the character in these figures.

So that's 1 28mm mounted miniature + bonus round for 60pts.

Thanks for viewing!
Miniature Company- Boot Hill Miniatures

'Mercenary' from DaveX: Sniper

For this bonus round I decided to paint up a US Special Forces Sniper as a Mercenary.  He could be from any nation representing any organisation or corporate venture or perhaps he is sworn to say nothing to anyone about who he is or what he is doing?

This figure is a limited release from Elhiem Figures, some of the best figures in 20mm.

For those curious, the background building is a 3D Print textured and painted by me prior to the challenge.

Some of you might recognise who this chap is.  He is based on the art from Osprey's Force on Force Ambush Alley Modern Ruleset.  I painted him to look more like a Mercenary and not just a Random SF Badass.  

If you like this figure quickly head over to Elhiem's Website and grab him before he is gone!

'Mercenary' form EvanH: "It Is, It Is A Glorious Thing To Be A Pirate King!"

Got a bit of a golden oldie lined up for this fortnight's Bonus Round, an old metal GW Ogre Maneater in Pirate kit. Maneaters are the well-travelled mercenaries of the Ogre world. And what's more mercenary than a pirate?

The Captain comes in at just over 54mm in height, and weighs a bloody ton compared with the current crop of plastic and resin figs. He's been in the Garage of Shame since 2006, so it's about time he was given a good lick of paint and unleashed upon the world.

He has a Gnoblar decked out in feathers and a fake beak perched on his right shoulder, playing the role of a parrot to give that authentic piratey look. Have to say, he looks pretty fed up with the gig.

I went with an extremely colourful palette, figuring that Ogre pirates would fancy some sartorial finery every bit as much as their human colleagues. Stripes and bright colours are the order of the day when this scurvy rogue is on deck! His left boot is firmly planted on a treasure chest overflowing with doubloons. His weapons are rusty but serviceable.

"It's all about the money, boys!"

He's blinged up, even sporting a gold tooth. He took a while, but he repaid the effort and the time taken. A lovely sculpt, and another addition for my longest-running army project ever.

So there he is - I hope he meets with your approval!

What's next? Stay tuned...

Ev

'Mercenary' from FranL: Jane"Boobies" Rambo...

......bare breasted mercenary queen!

The terror of South East Asia, the little known sister of more well known John Rambo but no less fearsome to injustice anywhere she finds it!

Another free figure from Ray "Budgie Smuggler" Rousell and my lovely goddaughter's care package/christmas present, the 28mm mercenary from Belt Fed Gaming also known as Rambo Lynne!

She is a "for the points" submission as Ray "Sandbag Badger" Rousell pulls too far ahead.......

Poor painting and even poorer camera work but hey ho........

'Mercenary' from FranjoB: Grenadiers from the Hibernia Irish Regiment

Like other European countries, there were foreign mercenary units in the Spanish Army of early XIX century. Some infantry regiments of Swiss, Wallonian and Irish origin. The Regiment of Hibernia, created at 1709, was one of the three Irish regiments at 1808. The other two were the Irlanda and the Ultonia. They fought through the War of Independence of 1808-1814 (Peninsular War for you, anglosaxon people ;) and suffered the same hard conditions, drawbacks and (sometimes) victories, like the rest of the Spanish Army. An army that fought in an occupied homeland (occupied by the most powerful army of the era, the Napoleonic French), with its Corps dispersed around the periphery, without the lead of a central government and bad supplied both in materials and reinforcements. An army defeated by the French on most of the battles they fought, but that kept coming back to fight on another day, bleeding the French Army and keeping tens of thousands of French troops, with the help of the guerrilla, out of the way of the Wellington’s Allied Army.

Apart of that, I love Ireland, I do. I’ve been there near a dozen of times and I had very good moments and memories: hiking at the countryside, travelling around a big part of the island and, of course, enjoying the people, the music, countless Guinness and pub craic.

So it was impossible for me not to make this little homage to those Irish fellas who fought for my country 200 years ago. These are seven grenadiers with the colours of the Hibernia Regiment, from the classic Front Rank 28mm range.

I know that the filigree in the sleeve is missing... but I'm not brave enough and still haven't got the skill to paint something like this or even more dreadful:

 

They are the last addition to my 1808 Spanish Army project. Closing ranks with their eighth fellow countryman (painted before the challenge), the grenadier comrades of the Valencia Line Infantry Regiment and the Volunteers of Catalonia 1st Light Infantry Battalion.

So 7x28mm figures plus 50 theme bonus = 85 points.

See you soon