Saturday 16 March 2024

Bloody Miniatires: The Unhorsed Cuirassier and The Village People

 Although I am a little behind in my Blogging, I have been productive. These two sets of figures from Bloody Miniatures were finished in the last half of February for the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge. BM 022, The Unhorsed Cuirassier:

And BM 023, The Village People:


These cuirassier were quick to paint up...

.... or rather, should have been, but I found a way of painting the armour that took longer than it should have without a compensatory improvement in finish.🙄


These are great figures for Pikeman's Lament; I used them in one game as Aggressive Forlorn Hope:


Although tempting to paint them all in blackened armour, I decided just this one fellow would get such a finish; I Imagine him to be their officer:


I did not anticipate enjoying painting the Village People as much as I did. 


Once again, the faces of these figures are great.


The lack of bandoliers, satchels and various necessities of war meant that there wasn't a lot of time spent painting fiddly bits.


These are great additions to a band of clubmen.


Hopefully I will be posting pictures of the next Bloody Miniatures packs before the end of the month.












Saturday 17 February 2024

Bloody Miniatures: The Gallant Ladies and Flying Picquets

 The first packs from Bloody Miniatures' wave 4 are The Gallant Ladies (BM 020):


And The Flying Picquets (BM 021):


I had a crack at painting yellow on this young woman...


Not entirely thrilled with how it turned out; getting the brightness and the shadows correct without it looking 'dirty' was a challenge.

The description of these ladies in the Bloody Miniatures catalogue lists several women, on both sides of the conflict that took charge of their castles and domains while their husbands were engaged elsewhere.



The sculpting of the dresses on these figures is superb.


Sadly, this young woman took a header off the painting table mid-paint job.



Even the scullery maid has been pulled into the defense of the Lord's home.





This batch, as a whole, may be my favourite of the range so far.


Their poses are perfect for skulking around, hiding in hedges....


....and scouting the enemy.


If they are lucky, they may find some unfortunate enemy person of consequence hiding in an outbuilding that they could ransom off.


These figures, like so many in the range, have just the right amount of detail.





Sunday 4 February 2024

Bloody Miniatures: All The King's Men and The Parliament Men

 With these last two packs painted, I have finished off wave 3 of Bloody Miniatures. BM 015 is All The King's Men:


BM 016 is The Parliament Men:


Some of these Royalists look a bit dandy...


This gentlemen finds war to be enjoyed with a nice goblet of cabernet sauvignon:


Not all the kings men are from the indulged upper class. Here we have a veteran; perhaps he fought  alongside Prince Rupert on the continent:


... as well as a distinguished swordsmen:


The Parliamentarian men are more dour, and dressed appropriately. This urban businessman doesn't care for taxes (and possibly kittens):


We also have a "plain russet-coated captain that knows he fights for, and loves what he knows...":



Next we have- according to the Bloody Miniatures catalog description- a 'Puritan Intelligencer'. A very serious man...



And finally, an sensible man of the land, who would rather be plowing his fields and harvesting crops than fighting to bring his king to his senses. 

    



Onto wave four... 
    



Saturday 27 January 2024

Bloody Miniatures: The Militant Tendency

Bloody Miniatures released it's third wave in April 2022; this the second pack of  that wave, BM 014 - The Militant Tendency.


The 17th century in England saw a rise in religious division and the birth of fringe movements such as the Levelers and Diggers.

Cromwell saw himself as an instrument of God's Will; many of his soldiers and followers believed it as well.

Having grown tired of Parliament's delinquency in addressing the soldiers concern's (and their backpay) an Army Council was formed consisting of  Officers and common soldiers- known as Agitators-  to lobby Parliament to meet their grievances. 


Driven by a desire for social, political and religious reform I imagine these young men might be perceived as radical, possibly as religious extremists.


This fellow above is one of my favourite figures of the range: fantastic pose and face. I think of him as staunch protestant clergyman, refusing the traditional vestment, preferring lay clothing of a suitable somber tone.



Next up on the work bench, All The Kings Men and The Parliament Men.

Wednesday 17 January 2024

Bloody Miniatures: The Looters

 Once again this winter I have enrolled in the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge, and my commitment this year is to get all my collection of Bloody Miniatures painted. I have competed the first two waves and this years first entry is the first pack of the third wave, the Looters (BM 013):


I am taking my time with this range, trying to do a tidier job, with an extra highlight or two.


These are such characterful sculpts; wonderful details and fantastic faces.


My goal is to have enough Bloody Miniatures painted and enough buildings for a little skirmish game.


Possibly a rescue/kidnapping/ransom scenario....


.... or maybe a looting mission in a ruined village with- you guessed it- zombies!


Currently on the paint desk, BM 014; The Militant Tendency.