Marienburg vs. the Undeadish (update: undead & spooky stuff)

[rufus sparkfire]

The jabberwock looks stunning. I wish mine was that good!

Lovely dwarfs too.

[Metternich]

Your dwarven landsknecht foot  look as likely a lot to ever drag a pike.  Great fun.

[ZeroTwentythree]

Been busy with other things this past week, not much progress on miniatures. But I've still tried to find some time to do a little painting. Working on this...




I've been slowly hunting down various larger than human skeletons. Here's the skeletal fruits of my necromantic labors.



The big fella in the back is the Reaper Colossal Skeleton (Bones version.) Nice figure, and nice price for the Bones version. Almost too large for regular gaming.

The shorter figures on either end are the skeletal ogres from Ral Partha Europe. I really like these, and would like to find more skeletons that match this size, so I could form a unit of at least four without duplicate figures

The three in the middle are (from left to right) Skeletal Cyclops from Grenadier/Mirliton, Skeletal Giant from Reaper (arm not glued on yet,) and Skeletal Troll from RAFM (weapon broke off in the package, I need to fix it.) These three scale pretty well together, and all three are well sculpted and well cast.

One more on my list is this from Iron Wind Metals (so possibly available from Ral Partha Europe as well?) I have no idea how large it is: http://ironwindmetals.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=8186

Still keeping my eye open for other options.

[beefcake]

I love the selection there. I've wanted the cyclops for a while and there is a bunch of other stuff I want from mirliton. People try to sell original grenadier ones for silly money on eBay.

[ZeroTwentythree]

I love the selection there. I've wanted the cyclops for a while and there is a bunch of other stuff I want from mirliton. People try to sell original grenadier ones for silly money on eBay.

I've even seen the same seller listing the same miniature as "Grenadier" for twice the price of one labeled "Mirliton."

I now regret selling a lot of old Grenadier figures in the past, and would love to place a large order with Mirliton at some point. But unfortunately that's not in the budget in the foreseeable future. Even then, I have a few other "still not in the budget" dream purchases in line ahead of Mirliton -- I've been dying to get my hands on a load of White Knight's dwarfs, and I'm looking forward to the Westfalia halflings.




One of the great things about these "bare bones" (or nearly so) skeletons is that they paint up quickly. Finished another unit of skeletons, plus the three giants.





I forsee some "desperately outnumbered defenders" battles in the Marienbugers' future. Quick roll call, counted in units.


The Forces of the Somewhat Less Than Living:

7x Skeleton Infantry
1x Skeleton Guard
3x Skeleton Giants
1x Undead Dragon
3x Undeadish Infantry
1x Undeadish Cavalry
2x Undeadish Ogres
1x Undeadish Giant
1x Vermin Swarm
1x Vermin Beast
1x Jabberwock

Partially Complete:
1x Skeleton Infantry
1x Skeletal Knights (will they ever get painted?!)



Field Army of the Generally Accepted as Being Alive According to Common Definitions:

4x Swordsmen
2x Spearmen
1x Handgunners
1x Greatswords
1x Knights
1x Pistoliers
1x Ogres
1x Speardwarfs
1x Wood Elf Scouts/Archers
1x War Wagon
?? Giants
plus misc. artillery (not sure about working these into the game)

Partially Complete:
1x Handgun Dwarfs
1x Elf Light Cavalry
1x Great Orcs
1x Halfling Scouts

[beefcake]

Nicely painted. I love the sword on the middle guy.

[ZeroTwentythree]

Thanks!

One more pic. Finally finished this crewman for the War Wagon after... years. Something must be wrong with me. I had planned on painting him in bright, clashing colors, but ended up with a more subdued palette to go with the wagon.

[Schrumpfkopf]

Lovely painting as always - but that war wagon - It always felt wrong to me to have just 2 horses in front of that massive thing.
The colection of undead giants is perfect however.

[Steve F]

It always felt wrong to me to have just 2 horses in front of that massive thing.

And no-one driving them!  Lovely use of gold and blue, though.

[Major_Gilbear]

Very nice giants - I like the one in the middle best, as I think the bone looks a bit more natural and the rust on his sword is great.

As for your War Wagon... Well, I always had a soft spot for that miniature, even though it's as silly as the War Altar (another model with nobody driving the horses, who pull around a giant bronze statue on a stone plinth!). I take it from your particular model that you run it as a Steam Tank?

If I may make one comment on painting, I personally think that the War Wagon horses could do with a little more contrast on their barding. Probably only a soft variation (as too stark a contrast would look odd). To achieve this, you could add a tiny amount of colour to it as well.

I'd suggest using a little purple ink, with a touch of sepia ink added to it (I really like the Vallejo inks for this), and then thinned down to a glaze - build up a few soft passes and you'll have that subtle look in no time.

[DeafNala]

OOH! COOL STUFF! The Large Living Impaired Lads are particular STUNNING creations. VERY WELL DONE!

...but that war wagon - It always felt wrong to me to have just 2 horses in front of that massive thing.

I have a few of those Beasties kicking around; re, Friend John has Dwarven Plans for the Wagons, which allows moi to have the crewmen. While the Wagon is a rather cumbersome thing, the crew are FANTASTIC pieces. I love it when a Plan, even a Dwarven one, works out.

[ZeroTwentythree]

Haha. OK, I do agree that the wagon is a ridiculous model. Not just the horses, but the high center of gravity and the fact that it would take very little to send the whole thing crashing to the ground. (Not to mention that my addition of the cannon is a bit unrealistic and dangerous!) But it's got a certain fantasy charm to it.

I also agree that the crew are very nice figures. The only other one I've painted so far is the long-gunner (two of him, actually.)

Lovely painting as always - but that war wagon - It always felt wrong to me to have just 2 horses in front of that massive thing.

Now that you mention it, I bet it would look really nice adding two more horses on the front. I'd just have to find a couple of spares.

If I may make one comment on painting, I personally think that the War Wagon horses could do with a little more contrast on their barding. Probably only a soft variation (as too stark a contrast would look odd). To achieve this, you could add a tiny amount of colour to it as well.

I'd suggest using a little purple ink, with a touch of sepia ink added to it (I really like the Vallejo inks for this), and then thinned down to a glaze - build up a few soft passes and you'll have that subtle look in no time.

Thanks. I may give this a try. I hadn't thought of purple, but it makes sense -- and I've got some far under-utilized purple wash and ink.

[Metternich]

Great to see the old War Wagon finished and on the table.  I also particularly liked your Marienburger units.  And as for Elector Counts engaging in border skirmishes with each other, it happened in the real Holy Roman Empire throughout the 15th and well into the 16th centuries, so I certainly can see it happening.

[ZeroTwentythree]

I think I may have to get one of these.




...and a few tridents for the next time I convert Manann priests or themed figures, so I don't have to make my own again!

[grant]

What a beautiful and amazing project. Always been one of my favourites.