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Miniatures Adventure => Fantasy Adventures => Topic started by: Modhail on 15 February 2014, 12:51:03 PM

Title: A Knight and his followers
Post by: Modhail on 15 February 2014, 12:51:03 PM
Sometime last year I painted a knight for my Warhammer Quest/Dungeoneering/Chanson de Geste/Generic Fantasy project*:
(http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h213/Modhail/WIP/WP_000588.jpg)

It took me a while to get back to the project he is a part of, but I've now painted the first half of his retinue. Here are his archers:
(http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h213/Modhail/Warhammer%20Quest/Generic%20Dungeoneering/WP_20140212_004.jpg)
Once I get around to them (some still need modelling/converting done) his retinue will be expanded with 5 spearmen (also from the lovely old Bretonnian range, like the knight and archers) and a squire (a mount/dismount double figure like the knight). Once those are done, I also have a wife and kids for him, Hasslefree's Alicia and Medieval kids. So, once done I should be able to game most aspects of a fantasy knight's life. (Once I have monsters/enemies and villagers, etc... as well!)

*:A.K.A.: Chuck all the things I like most about fantasy in a blender and call it a project, so it will seem like a sensible, manageable thing to undertake... Instead of the unfocussed rambling insanity it really is!  ;D
Title: Re: A Knight and his followers
Post by: DeafNala on 15 February 2014, 01:13:23 PM
The Knight & Entourage are BEAUTIFULLY painted & based; AND I LOVE the colors you chose...red & yellow are favorites with moi. VERY WELL DONE!
Title: Re: A Knight and his followers
Post by: Hitman on 15 February 2014, 02:29:36 PM
Those look great. You will definitely enjoy using those on your tabletop. Thanks for sharing.
Regards,
Hitman
 8)
Title: Re: A Knight and his followers
Post by: stone-cold-lead on 15 February 2014, 03:32:49 PM
Looking pretty damn fantastic so far! Look forward to seeing the retinue grow.
Title: Re: A Knight and his followers
Post by: TheBlackCrane on 15 February 2014, 03:45:00 PM
They look brilliant; how did you do the bowstrings - is that wire?
Come to that, how about the arrows too?
Title: Re: A Knight and his followers
Post by: Daeothar on 15 February 2014, 03:52:09 PM
Very cool.  8)

I like the colour scheme; basic colours are usualy the most striking, and you did a great job. The colours really tie them together well without looking too uniform.

There are three plastic archers in there, aren't there? As fate wills it, I received a lot of those very same guys off ebay just this morning and I'm already in the process of cutting them up converting them. Mine will be part of a unit of 12 (I've got 5 metal ones for the front rank) for our almost a decade old roleplaying campaign...

I'll be following your thread with interest to see how this expands. I too would like to know how you did the bowstrings, and I'm very curious about the lady...
Title: Re: A Knight and his followers
Post by: Modhail on 15 February 2014, 04:22:45 PM
Thank you, guys, glad you like them too!  :)

The bowstrings are nylon sewing thread, disgustingly fiddly work (they're held on by the combined adhesive powers of knots, superglue and a steady stream of cursing!, but worth it.
The arrows are made from styrene rod, with fletchings from tiny offcuts of styrene strip. I was so glad to have a decent set of tweezers...
But, since this knight, his retinue, and his family will be the core of the Chanson de Geste part of the project, it think they deserved the extra attention.

The lady is still in her protective plastic baggy, as are their kids (http://hfminis.co.uk/shop?product=medieval-kids~hfh044&category=miniatures~juveniles) and faithful hound (http://hfminis.co.uk/shop?product=hamlet~hfn024&category=miniatures~fantasy-monsters-%26-animals). She's this fine specimen for Kev White's skill (http://hfminis.co.uk/shop?product=alicia~hfh060&category=miniatures~fantasy-humans). Because my knight will be a local lord, overseeing a village at most, she isn't the typical fancy courtly lady, but more of a practical, down to earth type, capable of managing the knight's estate while he is off being heroic...
Title: Re: A Knight and his followers
Post by: majorsmith on 15 February 2014, 04:59:40 PM
Really nice painting ! Like the fact you have strung the bows  :)
Title: Re: A Knight and his followers
Post by: Mick_in_Switzerland on 15 February 2014, 05:29:30 PM
Very nice :)

What make are the Knights and Archers?
Title: Re: A Knight and his followers
Post by: Modhail on 15 February 2014, 07:18:15 PM
They're old out of production GW Bretonnians, sculpted by the Perry twins. You might still be able to find them on Ebay and such.
Like most of the old (90s) Bretonnian range, they're actually fairly close to mid 14th century troops, an era sadly under/non-represented since these figures ceased production, seeing how those decades were a lull between major international conflicts (Crusades and Hundred Years War respectively).
I really like the armour and style of that specific timeframe though, and still wish someone would do a range for them (they'd also be suitable for early HYW, but everone seems to have the hots for the timespan of Agincourt and Orleans instead...)
Title: Re: A Knight and his followers
Post by: Michi on 15 February 2014, 07:55:51 PM
Wonderful medievals, I am not bothered by them being GW Bretonians though. They are excellent, Erik!
Title: Re: A Knight and his followers
Post by: stone-cold-lead on 15 February 2014, 09:03:23 PM
They're old out of production GW Bretonnians, sculpted by the Perry twins. You might still be able to find them on Ebay and such.
Like most of the old (90s) Bretonnian range, they're actually fairly close to mid 14th century troops, an era sadly under/non-represented since these figures ceased production, seeing how those decades were a lull between major international conflicts (Crusades and Hundred Years War respectively).
I really like the armour and style of that specific timeframe though, and still wish someone would do a range for them (they'd also be suitable for early HYW, but everone seems to have the hots for the timespan of Agincourt and Orleans instead...)

Foundry do a good selection of early HYW models that match these perfectly in style. Unfortunately they're way too small to be compatible. Black Tree Design do early HYW too but they're not quite as nice as the GW stuff.
Title: Re: A Knight and his followers
Post by: fluffy05 on 16 February 2014, 07:24:29 AM
Stunning figures!

I like your attention to detail with the bow strings  :o
Title: Re: A Knight and his followers
Post by: Elbows on 16 February 2014, 07:28:03 AM
Lovely stuff - huge fan of your choice of colours and insignia.  Very nicely done.
Title: Re: A Knight and his followers
Post by: dijit on 16 February 2014, 08:22:05 AM
As always lovely stuff! Looking forwards to seeing you build his castle too ;)
Title: Re: A Knight and his followers
Post by: tyrionhalfman on 16 February 2014, 09:14:52 AM
Nice use of the old plastic GW archers.sounds fiddly with the bow strings but the result looks well worth it.
Title: Re: A Knight and his followers
Post by: Mo! on 16 February 2014, 08:59:21 PM
Lovely colouring! Is the mounted knight a conversion?
Title: Re: A Knight and his followers
Post by: mweaver on 16 February 2014, 09:29:53 PM
I agree with the previous posters - well done!

-Michael
Title: Re: A Knight and his followers
Post by: Modhail on 17 February 2014, 07:30:38 AM
Aw, shucks, you'll make me blush!

Dijit: I...Um...Ack...Curses! >:( Up until your post I wasn't even considering building a castle... (Looking up ideas and references, and thinking hard if/where I could store one.) ::)

Mo!, the mounted knight is an unconverted out of production GW Bretonnian knight from the mid/late 90s. I got lucky and had a mounted and foot figure with the same crest on their helmet.

Oh, the green stuff work on the banner bearer is finished, that on the squire is about half way done. When the squire is all converted, I'll get them primered and ready to slot in the next opening in my painting queue.*

*:please note that my painting queue isn't as orderly as the word "queue" implies, it's more of a large milling mob where sometimes things get pushed to the front, often on purpose, but equally often by coincidence as well...
Title: Re: A Knight and his followers
Post by: Jorny on 17 February 2014, 07:40:30 AM
The bowstrings and arrows really makes a huge difference to the plastic Brettonian Archers! I have bunch of these from the 5th edition box stashed away. Think I'll have to have a go at them...
Title: Re: A Knight and his followers
Post by: stone-cold-lead on 17 February 2014, 08:48:33 AM
The bowstrings and arrows really makes a huge difference to the plastic Brettonian Archers! I have bunch of these from the 5th edition box stashed away. Think I'll have to have a go at them...

Yeah, the bowstrings work really well. I've tended not to bother doing them as they sometimes don't suit the models, and you have to choose your string material very carefully. After seeing these though I might have a stab at stringing my Bretonnian bows and crossbows that I've had sitting ready to paint for the past year.
Title: Re: A Knight and his followers
Post by: white knight on 17 February 2014, 09:42:01 AM
Lovely brushwork!  :-*

I too love the Bretonnians of that era (before we got the current dross).

I'm planning to get some of Paul Hicks' Claymore Castings figures to mix in, as they appear close enough in style and period:

(http://claymorecastings.co.uk/image/cache/data/images/dealpainted1-800x800.jpg)

Though I've also been tempted by the Front Rank HYW range, as those are a good match to nineties GW in terms of size and bulk:
(http://www.frontrank.com/images/gallery_images/15_large.jpg)

(http://www.frontrank.com/images/gallery_images/14_large.jpg)
Title: Re: A Knight and his followers
Post by: Lowtardog on 17 February 2014, 09:43:02 AM
The BTD not Bretonnians also fit in very well with Front Rank and old GW Bretonnians
Title: Re: A Knight and his followers
Post by: stone-cold-lead on 17 February 2014, 09:45:34 AM
The BTD not Bretonnians also fit in very well with Front Rank and old GW Bretonnians

And if you don't mind a few pumpkin heads and the slightly cruder sculpting then BTD's HYW models fit pretty well.
Title: Re: A Knight and his followers
Post by: dijit on 17 February 2014, 11:57:17 AM
Glad to be of inspiration  :D
Title: Re: A Knight and his followers
Post by: Doomsdave on 18 February 2014, 04:39:21 AM
Gorgeous work.  That first Knight is simply magnificent. 
Title: Re: A Knight and his followers
Post by: Modhail on 18 February 2014, 07:57:13 AM
Thanks for the suggestions on alternate sources, some real beauties among those. :-*
 I've still got a bit of stock of the old Bretonnians, not a armys worth but enough to build a second retinue at least I think. But it's good to have those other sources to fall back on. I like the look of the BTD not-Bretonnians, they're closest to the look I seek in a Knight, but don't they have a bit of reputation concerning (speed/lack of) delivery and customer service?
Something for the future really, I think I shall be needing monsters and villains to oppose the knight and my (growing-but-unpainted) stable of other adventurers first.
Hmm, I should really take proper index of my collection so far, get a proper look at what I have already...
Title: Re: A Knight and his followers
Post by: Daeothar on 18 February 2014, 07:59:46 AM
Hmm, I should really take proper index of my collection so far, get a proper look at what I have already...
lol Don't we all!  :D
Title: Re: A Knight and his followers
Post by: Modhail on 18 February 2014, 08:06:46 AM
You know what the worst is? I was only talking about the Dungeoneering/Chanson de Geste project part...
I've already gone through and indexed several of my other sub-collections for other games/projects in the past, for some time already I've divided up the greater wargaming collection into sub-collections to keep it all overseeable...  ;D