Atheling's Anglo Danes- More Command Bases- UPDATED P.15- 28-02-2023

[James Morris]

Your back rankers are better than my front rankers!

Lovely job. Like the falling arrows.

[Atheling]

Thanks to everyone for their kind words, the unit is now based and just needs photographing.

Your back rankers are better than my front rankers!

I dunno..... you have been a solid inspiration rules wise, brush wise and game wise for (at least) two solid decades so you can take some of the credit yourself James

Lovely job. Like the falling arrows.

Cheers mate. They should look good when they are all arrayed. i really need to get it together and "tidy" my studio and get the table set up for some group shots.

[Warboss Nick]

I should have the unit based up by the end of today- fingers crossed- it's a pain carefully putting filler in the gaps of a base that is 40mm x 40mm with four (mostly modern) 28's on the base 

I feel your pain. Even with disciplined rank and file napoleonics that can be a headache, let alone with those nice dynamic poses. Nice work as always on painting the rear guys. Looking forward to the finished unit!

[Paul Richardson]

Really nice, Darrell. Out of interest, do you happen to know where the bald spearman with his shield above his head (rhs of top photo) came from? I don't think I've ever seen him before. 

[Atheling]

Looking forward to the finished unit!

Me too!  I should be able to get some snaps in later today or tomorrow.

Really nice, Darrell. Out of interest, do you happen to know where the bald spearman with his shield above his head (rhs of top photo) came from? I don't think I've ever seen him before.

He's from one of the Drabant Miniatures packs sold by Old Glory (pic below Paul). The DRabant shields are very large so I replaced it with an old one (Crusader Miniatures?) and repositioned the shield to (hopefully) more dynamic position.

Andy handed me a handful of them at a show a while back. They're quite tall and more bulky then most 28's but can be sneaked into units and really do look the part. As you spotted I've used all sorts of different manufacturers for the Anglo Danes.

[Paul Richardson]

Many thanks, Darrell. He's a really nice figure.

[Atheling]

Many thanks, Darrell. He's a really nice figure.

No probs Paul. Drabant do have some really nice miniatures. They are very stylistically distinct and at first glance I thought of just using them as a 'shieldwall' marker. It's quite remarkable how painting can bring some homogeneity to a  hodgepodge of different manufacturers. At least I hope that's how they come across! 

[Paul Richardson]

Drabant look to have quite a few figures with their shields high - presumably blocking arrows, javelins or blows from long-handled axes. I must say I really like the pose.

On the subject of mixing manufacturers, as you know, I do it as well. I suspect the thing to do is mix completely - if you just include one figure by a different manufacturer he'll stick out but if you mix up figures from several manufacturers it'll look fine. For what it's worth, I think you've done an excellent job with the unit - it looks really excellent.

[Atheling]

Drabant look to have quite a few figures with their shields high - presumably blocking arrows, javelins or blows from long-handled axes. I must say I really like the pose.

On the subject of mixing manufacturers, as you know, I do it as well. I suspect the thing to do is mix completely - if you just include one figure by a different manufacturer he'll stick out but if you mix up figures from several manufacturers it'll look fine. For what it's worth, I think you've done an excellent job with the unit - it looks really excellent.

Yeah, I think you are right. Having said that I discovered this quite by accident just by trying to include an many different poses as possible to avoid the units looking too homogenous. I'm pleased that you think that it's working



It has been slow progress of late on the painting table.  I wont dwell on this. I just needed to say it "out loud" for the sake of my own sanity. Back to the toys.

The fourth unit of Anglo Danes have now happily been completed. That is four out of the projected six and one unit of Norse as allies. I have another five Shieldwall Markers, four 40mm x 40mm Command and 12 bases of Skirmisher types to complete. I'm going be kind to myself and say that I'm just shy of being half way through the army. :>)



In order to keep things fresh on the painting table and with a view to hopefully putting on a game later this year at a show [fingers tightly crossed] I have decided to switch back over to my Early Byzantines for a while. Since returning to the hobby last November and having found a new "discipline" to my painting regime I feel confident that both projects will be completed by October this year, in so far as any wargames project is ever completed! I have been in communication with Keith from Aventine Miniatures who has provided me with clues as to what is planned for release with their spectacular Early Byzantine Range. If you are interested in the Eastern Romans/Early Byzantines you really must take a look at this very high quality range.



Back to the Anglo Danes.....

As mentioned earlier it has been slow going of late but the unit if finally varnished and based. This particular unit is my favourite out of all the Anglo Danish units I have painted thus far (all four ). The mini taking the arrow in the chest along with the mini catching an arrow in his shield have set off the unit nicely without having what is arguably too dominant a feature such as some of my earlier casualties on the stands which took up most of the space on a base.

















I have a load of images of the individual bases In the interests of keeping the post relatively short I will post up these later if there is any interest.

[Paul Richardson]

Tremendous. Very dynamic.

[Atheling]

Tremendous. Very dynamic.

Thanks Paul - you comments are always very much appreciated mate 

Here are the close ups of the individual bases:

[Matakakea]

I've had to spend a lot of time going over these just to check out all the little details. I particularly liked the dropped spear on the poor chap in the rear having an 'arrowing experience. I look forward to seeing the group shots of the completed army.

[Atheling]

I've had to spend a lot of time going over these just to check out all the little details. I particularly liked the dropped spear on the poor chap in the rear having an 'arrowing experience.

Thanks

I look forward to seeing the group shots of the completed army.

Me too! Four units done eight to go not including 12 skirmisher bases, more command bases and Shieldwall markers! so, not even half way though 

[Paul Richardson]

These are really marvellous. You must keep going and keep posting.

[Blackwolf]

Very nice