Weekly Workbench 15 October 2017

Lots of work done this week on the first of the Frostgrave warbands and a bunch of new goodies arrived as well.  I also set my self a schedule and some goals for the Tabletop Commanders' Winter Warmer Challenge.  I am slightly behind but will be caught up tomorrow.  As I am following the schedule to get everything done I will not be breaking it the post into categories as almost everything for the next six weeks should be Frostgrave related.

First up, the skeletons of the Eternal Guard from Alternate Armies had The Army Painter Dry Rust Effect applied to their steel parts and Military Shader wash applied to the copper pieces for oxidation.  They were then dull coated and now just need to be based, more on that later.

Duncan's warband is off to a great start with all his main party from North Star being painted and washed with Strong Tone.  They just need some quick highlights on selected miniatures and a dull coat before basing.  Here we have his champion and two extra zombies he may raise into his service.

His two thieves and his archer are nearly ready as well.

Also coming along is his crossbowman and war hound.

One of his extras, his fire giant warrior from Reaper, which on a rare chance he may be able to summon to help him, is also being worked on.

Now onto the goodies that arrived this week.  First up is the shipment from Footsore with a bunch of Arthurian legends.   

 Guinevere was their special miniature exclusive for September and I purchased several of the court to get her.  First is Lancelot and Merlin.  Also arriving are Bors & Tristan and Gawain & Galahad.  I will look forward to painting these in December and once I complete the collection with King Arthur and Mordred making a nice diorama with them.

I also received a shipment from Green Stuff World that included four rollers and their silicone guide rings.  The four rollers I chose were the plain, frozen, cobblestone, and wood.  I also received some more green stuff epoxy putty as I will be making a lot of base tops and some MDF 25mm and 40mm round bases. 

I also ordered from the small boutique company, Dark Sword Miniatures, in order to pick up some female characters for the girls' warbands.  The miniatures are all of outstanding quality; supremely detailed and with mold lines nearly invisible.  In fact, half the miniatures did not even get scraped as I could not find the mold lines.  I cannot wait to start painting these and I will definitely be ordering from them again.

 First up is Mugzy's archer and knight.  She had first pick and chose this archer.  Once Ivy picked her knight Mugzy chose the mace instead of the sword or axe for her knight's weapon. 

 Ivy ended up with the Wilding Spearwife with bow based on the Song of Ice and Fire for her archer.  She then chose the the female cleric with mace for her knight.

 I also picked up two thieves and a paladin for myself.  In this case my wizard has enchanted some woodland creatures to come to his aid.  Ella the cat and Chet the field squirrel are his thieves.  The frothy UK badger will be his paladin and I think I shall name this large fellow Sunflash the Mace (bonus points to anyone who knows the reference without looking it up).

Dark Sword Miniatures also included to free miniatures in the package.

First up is this Female Mage who may very well make an appearance in Felstad one day.

The second miniature is Thief of Hearts #5, she is a little under dressed for use with the kids but she looks to be another lovely model to paint up. 

Last we have the status update for the Winter Warmer Challenge.  See you all next week for another Weekly Workbench and I will do my best to get the terrain tutorial out this week!

Weekly Workbench 8 October 2017

The short break due to my mother's visit is over and I am back to work.  Before she left I did get some painting in and presented her with the mini diorama above, made up of the Irish Wolfhounds from Footsore Miniatures.  Her grandfather used to raise them and she has fond memories of them, but not so much their tails.

Not only a lot accomplished on the workbench but all the kids have completed the Alchemical Monstrosity adventure of the Dark Alchemy campaign for Frostgrave and we will begin the Skeleton Run this week!

Table Top Commanders' started their Winter Warmer Challenge this week and I pledged the following:

1 x SAGA Scots 6pt Warband
1 x SAGA Viking 6pt Warband
6 x FROSTGRAVE basic warbands
2 x Diorama's for Christmas Presents
Finishing the Normandy Diorama

Fantasy:  The largest portion of my work as I try to get the full Frostgrave warbands done before the kids start competing among themselves.

First up is Gideon's wizard.  He is from Wizkids new D&D Nolzur's Marvelous Miniatures line.  They come pre-primed with Vallejo primer.  While there is some minor mold lines that were not cleaned off, the sculpts are excellent, the clear plastic energy pieces are nice, and you get two miniatures for $4.

The second miniature of the set is Gideon's apprentice.  I have a number of other miniatures from this line that will also be making an appearance in the near future.

Lot's of building got done while visiting with my mother as I cobbled together the warbands using the Soldiers and Barbarians box-sets from North Star Figures.  Most of these still need some putty work before priming them as soon as the humidity drops.

First up is two thieves.

Here are three Treasure Hunters, who will double as thieves until the kids upgrade them.

Two Crossbowmen.

Three more Crossbowmen.

Two Infantrymen and a Man-at-Arms/Captain

My Captain with a two handed axe and my Tunnel Fighter.

As the next adventure in the campaign is Skeleton Run I wanted to get some skeletons ready beyond the plain Reaper Bones ones.  Here I have Alternative Armies' Eternal Guard painted and dipped.

Tomorrow I will dull coat, add some rust affects, and base them.

Historical:  I also continued work on my Scots warband for SAGA, getting in some painting as I waited for other items to dry.

Three Archers, also to be used in Frostgrave.

Some warriors.

And three more warriors.

That's it for this week. I have a paint guide, with step by step pictures this time, I am putting together for the dwarf wizards, which should be out in a couple of weeks.  First up though is this week's terrain tutorial I have been teasing about (long finished by waiting to get in the lineup), and then a tutorial on the goblin's of Goblin Town, to finish out that series.  We should also be seeing another battle report as Bubba Time-Hopper makes his way through the Skeletal Run! 

Treasure awaits from Nolzur's Marvelous Miniatures!

Battle Report - Frostgrave: Dark Alchemy-1 - Alchemical Monstrosity

Presenting the ongoing adventures of my son Sheppard's Chronomancer in the Frozen City of Felstad!

Click on this picture for the slide show, stats are at the end!