20mm Figure ID? ACW Confederate

 I don't know where I picked this guy up from. I have no intention of doing ACW in this scale. Despite that, many years ago I thought I'd base and paint him up. What else was I going to do with him? Throw him away? 

He's been "in progress" ever since, lingering around by himself or in the corner of the workbench gathering dust. He was nearly done, (all but the rifle and equipment) this weekend when I spied him, and having a few moments, I quickly finished him off and did the basing. I do the ground cover work before I even prime, so I wouldn't use this highly granulated ballast today. Kinda chunky.

I'm sure he'd be fine in a unit and I could definitely improve the eyes, but elected against it. I would also glaze a blue over the pants to fade those gradations in highlights. The bayonet is about to break off, but I dabbed some superglue on the visible crack. He'll go in a foam tray of miscellanea, but more importantly, he's off the workbench at last!

I don't know anything about 20mm metal figures at all - anyone recognize him?

As always, thanks for looking - questions, comments and followers are welcome and encouraged! I'm doing more and more on Facebook so follow my page there too! https://www.facebook.com/One-of-My-Men-Became-Restless-100659928063858

28mm North Star Military Figures - Silver Bayonet - Austrians

My first faction is done for Silver Bayonet - yes I know, I'm quite late. These are the two Austrian sets. I figure everyone will get French so this guarantees a competitor.

The first Austrian Unit, - (L-R) Dhamphir, Officer, Grenadier, Veteran Hunter, Occultist, Supernatural Investigator, Infantryman, and Artilleryman.

 

Second Austrian Unit (L-R) Coachman, Tactician, Woodsman, Heavy Cavalryman, Highwayman, Highwayman, Light Cavalryman, and Irregular. I'm not sure how any of these will fare, seems some have limited use. The cavalry I will not build mounted versions for, the Artilleryman can man guns in some scenarios so maybe he'll get some use.

 

As so frequently occurs, I start with the intention of doing slap-chop only to apply speed paints which turns out wretched. Demoralized, I keep what works, do a crappy hybrid job, layering over the worst of it. I just tend to pick models where slap-chop is simply inappropriate. For this set I primed in gray, then washed with Nuln Oil? Strong Tone? ProAcyrl Black Wash? I can't recall. It didn't seem to matter much.

This unit was black primed then dry-brushed in gray, then white.

Let's not dwell on the many mishaps that occurred along the way and instead enjoy the final results. I'm glad to have them off my table. For Silver Bayonet, initially, I envision  a scenario where my team is much more integrated into army life and historical campaigns. It is here, during combat operations, when the machinations of the Harvestmen begin to manifest. So here they are all the Austrians I own - the single box of Vixtrix Austrians.

The Grenadier and the Dhamphir along with some from No. 59 Jordis regiment.

An officer of No. 50 Stain arrives with a pair of grenadiers, a tactician, two cavalrymen and a doctor. The supernatural investigator marches along with the rest of the regiment (right - background)

The artilleryman rushes ahead to find his unit, while the coachman and the highwayman discuss the absence of both a coach as well as any lupines.

Dhamphir and a grenadier

The tactician demonstrating the proper tactical use of a pistol.

The doctor finds himself on the front lines.

The unhorsed cavalry move to pass through the fence while a Colonel looks on. The woodsman takes a shot at some French or revenants?

A veteran hunter and the occultist (Beethoven) out for a stroll with the supernatural investigator

 For thematic continuity, all Austrians were based with one, out-of-the-bag application of Geek Gaming Scenics' Taigi Hillside. I like this stuff. The blend of materials are weighted so the dark heavy sandy stuff goes to the bottom, the white stony material sits atop that, while the static grass, foam and cork rise to the top. Love it - I have another variant from them I'll use on the Prussians who are next for Silver Bayonet. 

But first, I've collected a mess o' Napoleonic era civilians from Perry, Wargames Atlantic and yes, Battle Honors. Maybe I'll do dwarves or more buildings and terrain bits, maybe another witch. Even I don't know!

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28mm Frostgrave - Wizards Set II

 Again I started with a slap-chop and then aborted it almost immediately and went back to mostly layering. I kept pouches and that kind of thing on speed paints but otherwise used my tried and true methods.

These were fun to assemble and fun to come up with the different color schemes. I have the rules but didn't use them to guide my color choices. Maybe you can help me pick the magic school they belong to and then whether they appear to be the wizard or the apprentice?

I lettered them from A to H so assign the school and rank in the comments. 

I bought this set to make as many witches as I could so this blind hag was the first to be assembled.

The witch in the Little Golden Books version of Hansel & Gretel inspired the colors for this one. This picture in particular used to chill me to the bone when I was a kid - I still love this book and the illustrations.

Not crazy about the hat style and I over did it on the bush - still she came out fine. One of the less witchy ones.

One of the better faces on this one. If you ever get stumped on a color scheme, it's useful to look to the NFL for ideas. These are the the colors of the SF 49ers!

The best explicitly witchy head but with a young face on it instead of that of a storybook crone! The green skinned Elphaba from Wicked it should be then, almost.

Eyes came out good.

Gray eyes? Hard to convey that in such a small scale. Here I kept most of the speedpaint work. She also appears to be the most beneficent of the lot.

I probably should have done red eyes here and made her more of a wicked thing but blue works too in a different way.

Another one of the better faces.

Why not some freehand on that big blank robe?

Oof! This lettering looks awful up close, but fine at regular viewing distances.

This rat familiar is so tiny but well sculpted.

 These were fun! I got less actual witches suitable for 16th and 17th  century New England but these will all work in fantasy games and even Frostgrave though I opted against doing frosty, snow covered bases. 

Which one is you favorite of this lot? Pleas share in the comments below. 

 As always, thanks for looking - questions, comments and followers are welcome and encouraged! I'm doing more and more on Facebook so follow my page there too! https://www.facebook.com/One-of-My-Men-Became-Restless-100659928063858

 

25mm Ral Partha (Iron Wind Metals) - Scarecrows

Shoot, I just realized I have at least two others from this former Ral Partha set of Scarecrows, These two came in an Iron Wind Metals blister pack and I hadn't connected that they were from the original RP range. Had I known, I would have done them all at the same time. 

Instead, these were painted at the same time I did the Wargames Foundry Animated Scarecrows. A misapplied zenithal highlight nearly ruined these too but I corrected as best I could from the slap chop debacle that ensued. 

Everyone know Khaby Lame? He's the TikToker who effortlessly simplifies those over complicated life hack videos from other creators. Anyway, I think he'd appreciate my glowy eyes attempt here. Simply a bright red cavity, followed by a smaller orange dot in the middle finalized by a yellow pin point. I've watched all these air brush guys put in glows and reflected light for OSL techniques, but sometimes a simple three layer sequence works out just fine. The black, hollow eyes were bugging me and needed some dark magic. 

Formally, this is the "Scarecrow with Hooked Polearm" at left and of course, "Scarecrow with Scythe Raised" on the right. Both sculpted by Dave Summers.

These will be sub-bosses of some kind for the more rank and file scarecrow figures.

 As always, thanks for looking - questions, comments and followers are welcome and encouraged! I'm doing more and more on Facebook so follow my page there too! https://www.facebook.com/One-of-My-Men-Became-Restless-100659928063858