Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Colonial Adventures => Topic started by: Atheling on 21 July 2020, 10:38:17 AM
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Hi,
I've been experimenting with speed painting in order to get a decent number of Beja onto the tabletop. Some years ago now I managed to get eleven (yes, you read that correctly; eleven!) to a finished stage by using my normal many layers method. This was simply not going to do the job. Certainly not if I was ever going to have the numbers on the tabletop that I desired!
I've bunged a few of pictures into this post, two are of my experimental speed painting technique and one of a kit bashed Beja which hopefully shows what is possible by simply doing a little planning and foresight.
All the details of how I went about sped painting the Beja here and more examples of some kit bashing to create more variety can be seen on my blog here:
https://justaddwater-bedford.blogspot.com/2020/07/first-painted-perry-miniatures-beja-and.html (https://justaddwater-bedford.blogspot.com/2020/07/first-painted-perry-miniatures-beja-and.html)
Speed Painted Beja:
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QMs_E4AGKcU/XxX8phHkz_I/AAAAAAABD2w/EtVmrc0ZVcsXTjXxqmf44jA7L-Yir9hvwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/BEJA%2B1A.jpg)
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QcdiylHrGRI/XxX8qYvskgI/AAAAAAABD28/iFXJWOXiZuYFS1bbpw6XIl1wx8mI6OU4gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/BEJA%2B2A.jpg)
Kit Bashed Sample:
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q68xGaRK1-k/XxX8s5kr2lI/AAAAAAABD3w/LMtjh1tYRI0w9uVSOMh8w-03Ijz4JY7aACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/BEJA%2BKITBASH%2B5A.jpg)
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great stuff - looking forward to seeing more
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I have just left a comment on TMP about these might as well repeat it here..
They look good. I'd even go as far to say I prefer the speed painted ones over the ones that took you a long time…
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The Old Choice: do we paint a few figures nicely or a lot figures adequately. Well, no choice for me, I have too many so it is definitely adequate at best. Your 'adequate' is pretty good.
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great stuff - looking forward to seeing more
The other half of this little lot being metal required a good coat of gloss varnish before they got their coat of matt this morning so given that I haven't missed any nook and crannies with the matt varnish I hopefully have more to show tomorrow :)
I have just left a comment on TMP about these might as well repeat it here..
They look good. I'd even go as far to say I prefer the speed painted ones over the ones that took you a long time…
Yeah, I have just read it prior to popping over to LAF again lol
I don't think it's an unfair judgement TBH. The 'speed painted' models do look a bit better- perhaps it's the tendency to over do the skin tones, something that works well on fabrics but maybe not so on flesh.
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Wonderful stuff! Just love your style. If that's speed painting then we should all live life in the fast lane.
I'd query the name of the thread, though. Beja were involved in the campaigns on the Red Sea coast, they never got much nearer than about three hundred miles from the Nile.
Sorry, reverted to being Private Picky of the Picky Patrol for a minute there! :)
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The Old Choice: do we paint a few figures nicely or a lot figures adequately. Well, no choice for me, I have too many so it is definitely adequate at best. Your 'adequate' is pretty good.
Thanks- funnily enough quite a few, mostly on other fora, have commented that my speed painting is better then my more layered approach lol o_o
Wonderful stuff! Just love your style. If that's speed painting then we should all live life in the fast lane.
Thanks- there should be another seven ready tomorrow- they're a day behind the last lot as they were all metal and needed a good coat of gloss prior to matting down.
I'd query the name of the thread, though. Beja were involved in the campaigns on the Red Sea coast, they never got much nearer than about three hundred miles from the Nile.
Sorry, reverted to being Private Picky of the Picky Patrol for a minute there! :)
No worries, Private Picky has on occasion been know to reside within me too :)
Hadendowa then? ;) :)
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Hi,
I managed to get seven more Beja varnished yesterday and experienced my very first problems with Windsor and Newton Professional Matt Varnish where some speckling had occurred. This took me by surprise as I have never had any problems with Windsor and Newton Professional Matt Varnish Spray until yesterday. The mystery was compounded by the fact that the humidity in my part of the country was quite low yesterday.
I gave the mini's another coat of Windsor and Newton Professional Matt Varnish last evening, skipping the stage where I would immediately add a brush on acrylic gloss over the speckling (much more of a problem when I was using HMG Matt varnish adopted prior to finding Windsor and Newton many years ago), I simply applied the W&N Matt varnish again and the mini's have come out well. In effect, an experiment on speed painted models so less of a 'loss' if missing the re-glossing stage was missed out and it all went pair shaped.
In the meantime, the Beja painting frenzy continues on my painting desk :)
As usual more information and 360 degree pics can be found on my blog here:
https://justaddwater-bedford.blogspot.com/2020/07/more-beja.html (https://justaddwater-bedford.blogspot.com/2020/07/more-beja.html)
Pics:
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7Geefr2vcjY/XxdEO3FyDYI/AAAAAAABD44/Ly0PQlAa5qgUT8-hEJyaUyh_nRF4_j8egCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/BEJA%2B3A.jpg)
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uVYt0mOKnzw/XxdEPpVWuKI/AAAAAAABD5A/HiAGvbJe5yod-gQTIdUDMuNAwo16boeJwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/BEJA%2B4A.jpg)
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They look great
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Absolutely, they are really cool fella. Now to read the blog.
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They look great
Thanks Smokey- appreciated.
Absolutely, they are really cool fella. Now to read the blog.
Thanks :)
Oh, and let me know what you think of the blog. I'm of a mind that I have a tendency to waffle so any feedback would be great :)
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Lol...gonna take a number of visits! I hadn’t bargained on it being such a treasure trove!
I’m only worried I’m going to come away with too many new projects.....you are a machine!
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Lol...gonna take a number of visits! I hadn’t bargained on it being such a treasure trove!
That's really lovely of you to say so :) Oh so much appreciated.
I’m only worried I’m going to come away with too many new projects.....you are a machine!
Welcome then, to your doom lol
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Hadendowa then? ;) :)
Hadendowa are the particular sub-group of Beja that fought the British in the Red Sea littoral. But they still never went anywhere near the Nile. There were no "Fuzzy Wuzzies" in the Nile campaign. You want different figures if you wish to accurately represent that. But if you just want some cool-looking Sudanese and you aren't all that worried about button (or hairstyle) counting then you're cool.
"Fuzzy Wuzzies" are good for the first, second and third battles of El Teb, Tamai and some skirmishes with the Egyptians early on. That's about it, historically speaking. Unfortunately they aren't any use for the second Suakin campaign, as they had adopted the Ansar uniform and shaved their heads by then.
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Hadendowa are the particular sub-group of Beja that fought the British in the Red Sea littoral. But they still never went anywhere near the Nile. There were no "Fuzzy Wuzzies" in the Nile campaign. You want different figures if you wish to accurately represent that. But if you just want some cool-looking Sudanese and you aren't all that worried about button (or hairstyle) counting then you're cool.
Yeah, I was just yanking your chain a little bit :)
"Fuzzy Wuzzies" are good for the first, second and third battles of El Teb, Tamai and some skirmishes with the Egyptians early on. That's about it, historically speaking. Unfortunately they aren't any use for the second Suakin campaign, as they had adopted the Ansar uniform and shaved their heads by then.
Thanks. That's pretty clear. i'll be getting around to Egyptians at some point purely so kick Hicks Pasha's proverbial arse if nothing else :)
The lack of variation with the bit of an oversight with the Perry Mahdist wars range in that thee is loads of variation in terms of numbers in their Beja packs- 12 packs if you include the camels. Less so with the Kordofan packs- 5 packs. But the Nile Arab and Late Ansar packs are limited to two packs apiece which is a real shame. I'm certain that they would sell like hot cakes if the number of packs of the above were to be enlarged upon in line with the Beja packs.
I've got another "hush hush" project that I'm waiting for delivery of that will be keeping me busy for quite come time but it's all Beja for now with some Brits thrown in for good measure if I get the time.
BTW, how do the Castaway Arts sculpts compare size wise and more importantly quality wise with the Perry Offerings? Do you think many of their sculpts would accept Perry plastic heads?
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By the way, just need to add that I absolutely love these ones, too. Outstanding work there, even more so considering they have been speed-painted. I have a box of these somewhere I've been saving for a rainy day. I'm sorely tempted to break it open having seen this example of how good they can look.
I might try to see if I can wrangle some other early Ansar types out of that box. I have some Copplestone Shilluk itching to fight somebody, and they did fall out with the Ansar quite early on (at I time, I think when the Mahdists were still not using firearms yet (need to check that, though). Might make a fun skirmish project.
Haven't seen the Castaway Arts ones in real life, so I'm not much use there. Sorry.
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By the way, just need to add that I absolutely love these ones, too. Outstanding work there, even more so considering they have been speed-painted. I have a box of these somewhere I've been saving for a rainy day. I'm sorely tempted to break it open having seen this example of how good they can look.
Thanks- appreciated. It take me about one five or six hour sitting to do 12 so not bad going- but, that does not include glossing and then matting down- and basing of course.
I might try to see if I can wrangle some other early Ansar types out of that box. I have some Copplestone Shilluk itching to fight somebody, and they did fall out with the Ansar quite early on (at I time, I think when the Mahdists were still not using firearms yet (need to check that, though). Might make a fun skirmish project.
That is at once an "ah, very interesting" and an "Oh no!" moment lol What have you done?!? ;) :)
Haven't seen the Castaway Arts ones in real life, so I'm not much use there. Sorry.
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I think your speed painted Beja look top notch
8)
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I think your speed painted Beja look top notch
8)
Thanks matey :)
More to come, probably not tomorrow though..... but maybe :)
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Partial Vallejo Game Colour Washes Review- For Beja Tobes
There's a small review of the at least to me, newly discovered Vallejo Game Colour Washes and their application in painting the next batch of 12 Beja on my Blog here:
https://justaddwater-bedford.blogspot.com/2020/07/vallejo-game-colour-washes-review.html (https://justaddwater-bedford.blogspot.com/2020/07/vallejo-game-colour-washes-review.html)
I added the highlights last evening- these examples are just the base colour and the wash:
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V2EHOAg0CJQ/Xxho_4IboWI/AAAAAAABD6A/NbBahv1vEYglOUV_-2lBXOSBytbR1F_YQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/BEJA%2BINK%2BGREY%2B1B.jpg)
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s2hl8zw3McU/Xxk95r64znI/AAAAAAABD6w/_grVcsk2FDU5ZZQscXErSiMxYUqE6WKmwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/BEJA%2BINK%2BUMBER%2B1B.jpg)
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Wow. That’s VERY effective.
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Wow. That’s VERY effective.
Cheers Richard. I'll pop up the pics of the end result after a highlight or two.
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Some of the miniatures on the bases are some of my first kit bashed/converted Beja. I'm really happy with the way they have come out.
Speed painted again.
If you have a mind to you can see more on my blog here:
https://justaddwater-bedford.blogspot.com/2020/08/up-nile-beja-lot-five.html (https://justaddwater-bedford.blogspot.com/2020/08/up-nile-beja-lot-five.html)
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2PS9s5zYzaQ/X0E5R2kKYwI/AAAAAAABEQo/gprXNLzCgo4F3pytsLcGYkztR8fQlBS4QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/BEJA%2BBASE%2B5A.jpg)
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1UGfhraS-Uw/X0E5Uk-y5jI/AAAAAAABERg/bB88b4SiBqQxjt6J4ZYep9sfK_ec3eWoACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/BEJA%2BBASE%2B8C.jpg)
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zJBJHQENlHI/X0E5S7lGfXI/AAAAAAABEQ8/vZR5aWQpbQQCCCyTaV76o30uwCF589Y1wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/BEJA%2BBASE%2B6B.jpg)
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BTOg9pHgzDE/X0E5T05Ya7I/AAAAAAABERQ/LgaiP1Nn1Qw2sYqDS_10jNxxIBVMOourwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/BEJA%2BBASE%2B7C.jpg)
Cheers :)
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These are lovely looking, very natural
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These are lovely looking, very natural
Thanks Fred. I'll hopefully have time to a to get in a shot or two of the whole unit of 36 today.
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Lovely work.
Sorry if it’s a daft question, that you’ve answered elsewhere, but as you mentioned they are speed painted, how long would it say it takes you to paint a figure on average using this method, as opposed to your traditional method?
I appreciate you don’t paint a single figure at a time, but presumably have a rough idea how long it takes for X number of figures?
:)
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Lovely work.
Sorry if it’s a daft question, that you’ve answered elsewhere, but as you mentioned they are speed painted, how long would it say it takes you to paint a figure on average using this method, as opposed to your traditional method?
I appreciate you don’t paint a single figure at a time, but presumably have a rough idea how long it takes for X number of figures?
:)
Not at all. In truth it depends. Sometimes I can get 12 (the number of mini's in each batch) in one sitting of say six to eight hours. So in that respect they're not belted out as such. Sometimes double that time. Why? I wish I knew lol
You have to bear in mind that the Beja from the Perry Sudan range are pretty basic when it comes to garb and weaponry so they are easy to paint at a rate of knots. I'm working on three projects at one time; two are being 'speed painted' (I guess that means something different to each individual painter) and one I'm really taking my time with.
I've got to a stage where I just want to get the mini's on the table and the dice rolling with most of my projects. With that caveat that "where I just want to get the mini's on the table and the dice rolling" is directly proportional to me being able to actually mix with others again! lol
Hope that helps? Or indeed makes sense? :)
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Hope that helps? Or indeed makes sense? :)
It does...and your speed painting is certainly quicker than my reply to your answer lol
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It does...and your speed painting is certainly quicker than my reply to your answer lol
lol
I tried the same method on some 15's over the weekend- not a great result! :'(
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Yet more Beja for my Sudan project.
Sorry about the quality of the pictures. They were taken very early this morning. Too early in fact.
I'm not sure I quite had my wits about me as I forgot to set up the lighting and a couple are out of focus. I will do better next time!
As usual you can see more group shots plus single base shots from different angles on my blog here:
https://justaddwater-bedford.blogspot.com/2020/09/up-nile-beja-lot-6.html (https://justaddwater-bedford.blogspot.com/2020/09/up-nile-beja-lot-6.html)
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q8csj5sjE-E/X1Y_sYYX9FI/AAAAAAABEes/3Tj8eTmlAnUSDLgPJS5a4E1DIyoO60nxACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/BEJA%2BLARGE%2B1.jpg)
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BxMzrNSZztM/X1Y_sSkSK4I/AAAAAAABEew/Z6-AI6NIr9ghV2Ds42CtQcpE7raMcRZNgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/BEJA%2BLARGE%2B2.jpg)
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1BYM-FMHxyA/X1Y_swSiazI/AAAAAAABEe0/pE6YAnhZGRwVruTmQMgKVdFMV3a_nRm-QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/BEJA%2BLARGE%2B4.jpg)
Cheers
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Looking good. I might suggest adding some bigger rocks to your groundwork...just to create more diversity. Keep up the great work on this project!
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Looking good. I might suggest adding some bigger rocks to your groundwork...just to create more diversity. Keep up the great work on this project!
Cheers mate. :)
Re: rocks. I normally do but I forgot to do them on this little lot lol Not for the first time either o_o
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Very nice indeed ! For what rules set are they based ?
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Very nice indeed ! For what rules set are they based ?
Thanks Major Weenie :)
They are based for Kevin Kalder's Up the Nile (available from Caliver Books) but they will be sued for various rules which include, Hail Caesar, Sands of the Sudan, The Men Who would Be Kings, pretty much anything that is not overly prescriptive with base sizes and even then I plan on just bending the rules a little.
I'm going to be basing my Regulars (British and Egyptians etc) on 50mm x 50mm bases which match the diameter of the Beja bases. They will just have six mini's on each base to simulate the closer order of said troops.
Hope that helps to sheds some light?
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They look great that's quite the collection you are building up.
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They look great that's quite the collection you are building up.
Thanks Diablo Jon. I've got another batch of 12 ready to roll. I'm busy painting Early Byzies at present though :)
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(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-diuaKHGEzDU/YIqTrNLfI8I/AAAAAAABGQg/tq4pzP8iofUkE4RrBfiYS6wYOBcyPMyMQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1300/MOUNTED%2BINFANTRY%2BSECOND%2BEL%2BTEB%2B2%2B1A.jpg)
New pics of older conversions of the Mounted Infantry, part of the Cavalry Brigade under Brigadier General H Stuart at the Second Battle of El Teb.
More pictures of the whole unit and the single bases from various angles can be seen on my blog here:
https://justaddwater-bedford.blogspot.com/2021/04/perry-miniatures-converted-mounted.html (https://justaddwater-bedford.blogspot.com/2021/04/perry-miniatures-converted-mounted.html)
The conversion work was quite straight forward. File between the legs of the Mounted Camel Corp models (poor chaps!), which actually proved to be quite a job and extend the puttees further behind the legs as the original models were sculpted to fit upon camels.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FyKf5OBJxeQ/YIqTFOeAVqI/AAAAAAABGQQ/0QEoeTIri6sUIA9xN2uPMWw89P0J-hKYgCLcBGAsYHQ/s702/P1040200.JPG)
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iGJt1RhBxuQ/YIqUGyKAfMI/AAAAAAABGQs/kk-GJedd2cAnPP7cGgSyZiKbwGJ5XACJACLcBGAsYHQ/s1300/MOUNTED%2BINFANTRY%2BSECOND%2BEL%2BTEB%2B2%2B1B.jpg)
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OXw-W8lOMS0/YIqUHE60BSI/AAAAAAABGQw/rwrMY8UMpCgzsECPAekitwK-QPdlA3AawCLcBGAsYHQ/s1300/MOUNTED%2BINFANTRY%2BSECOND%2BEL%2BTEB%2B2%2B1C.jpg)
Sample of the single model bases:
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nKihWNFUIVM/YIqUWT_V04I/AAAAAAABGQ8/Ag5sr1KNNscbbB-OzhWMVKIlYlVtAa3ZACLcBGAsYHQ/s750/MOUNTED%2BINFANTRY%2BSECOND%2BEL%2BTEB%2B2%2BBASE%2B1B.jpg)
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Excellent work !!
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Cheers mike.
They're the only Brits I have completed despite having boxes and boxes full of Brits for the Sudan. I'm still maintaining the "rule of threes" when it comes to projects. I'm planning on just 12 dismounted Mounted Infantry then moving onto a full unit, though, I think I have 12 Beja to complete to round off a unit first. o_o
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Lovely painting as always. :-* :-*
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Thanks matey :)
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Smashing job. An interesting omission by the Perry brothers, that they didn't include figures for the MI in their range. Turned out it was no obstacle, though.
Those Camel Corps fellows are lovely figures. I have used them several times as the starting point for various conversions (WW1 Sudanese Camel Corps, East Africa Rifles, KAR in Somaliland). Never painting a single one as what they are supposed to be yet, though. Maybe one day. :)
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Really lovely painting
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Really lovely painting
Thanks Steders :)
Smashing job. An interesting omission by the Perry brothers, that they didn't include figures for the MI in their range. Turned out it was no obstacle, though.
Thanks Plynkes. It is a bit of an odd omission. They pretty much have everything else nailed, at least that I can think of. I wonder if Michael just forgot or didn't think their was much call for them being mounted?
Those Camel Corps fellows are lovely figures. I have used them several times as the starting point for various conversions (WW1 Sudanese Camel Corps, East Africa Rifles, KAR in Somaliland). Never painting a single one as what they are supposed to be yet, though. Maybe one day. :)
Ooooh! I would dearly love to see these, painted or not. Please post up pics, or failing that a PM would do if lack of paint is an impediment? I'm genuinely interested as it is usually little men which swords, spears and shields that get the attention with my putty work :)
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Sure thing, though they are all things I've posted on LAF before. Nothing new, unfortunately. Is it okay by you if I post them in this thread? (can't have the moderator hijacking and hogging someone else's thread without permission! :))
If you'd rather I didn't then I'll pop 'em in a PM for you.
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Sure thing, though they are all things I've posted on LAF before. Nothing new, unfortunately. Is it okay by you if I post them in this thread? (can't have the moderator hijacking and hogging someone else's thread without permission! :))
If you'd rather I didn't then I'll pop 'em in a PM for you.
Pm them please as the thread is going to be seeing more painted traffic soon :)
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Sorted! :)
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Sorted! :)
Cheers Plynkes, I'll hop over to my PM's now. 8)
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These are great! An unfathomable gap in PM’s range.
Not a cheap conversion though, I’m sure.
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These are great! An unfathomable gap in PM’s range.
Not a cheap conversion though, I’m sure.
Perry Miniatures are relatively cheap when compared to most other companies so not too bad.