Some Gael-Norse Raiders

[Cubs]

Just inbetween the paying work I've been slowly adding to my little force of Gael-Norse raiders, made up of Redbox, Gripping Beast and various other models from here and there.

These first two are from the GB plastic 'Dark Age Warriors' box (I think) and are pretty decent models for plastics. The definition on the mail shirts is a little spongy, but the faces are great and I had fun getting the poses how I wanted them. Shields are LBMS transfers with some muck and scrapes added.












This bad boy is an old Citadel Norse from the 80's (probably still available with solid base from Foundry) and he's a beaut. The shield is one of the plastic ones from the GB sprue with another LBMS transfer plus added grime.

[Hitman]

Great looking figures. Thanks for sharing. How do you add scapes to LBM decals?
Regards,
Hitman
 

[Cubs]

How do you add scapes to LBM decals?

Some of the LBMS transfers already come with battle damage and wear'n'tear included, but I always like to add my own! It's always a good idea to brush some varnish over the shield transfer after you've applied it, to give it a protective layer before you poke around at it.

I use a few different methods really. General muck and filth and I add by lightly dabbing some dark wash or dark brown paint here and there. Rusty streaks are just brown ink.  Pale patches of drybrush might look like dust or worn patches with the leather showing through. The blood is a dark red wash sprayed on with a short, stiff-bristled brush.

The actual cuts, scrapes and dinks are just a dark wash or ink for the mark, with a very thin streak of dilute off-white colour underneath (to show the light catching an exposed edge). I like to put a couple of impact-dings in as well as cuts, to hint at arrow or spear strikes.

[rokurota]

Very nice!

[Svennn]

Not to threaten your income but I think we need to see a drop in your paid work just so we get to see more of these.  Quite simply as good as it gets

[Cubs]

Thanks guys. I'm sort of chipping away to get all the unpainted ones painted (don't we all) and hopefully I'll have something like a balanced force together at some point.

[Madhouse Workshop]

Seriously good looking miniatures.  Well done.

[Gracchus Armisurplus]

Absolutely amazing! The metallics in particular are gorgeous!

[Ragnar]

Love your choice of colours.

[Andym]

Brill! Suitably grimey!

[tomrommel1]

 

[tancrede]

Very nice painting, sir ! 

[Duncan McDane]

Great job on all the models - as always -, but it's amazing to see that metals from the mid 80's still are much better in detail and posing than plastics from 30 years later  .
Like you said, even with your painting skills, the chainmail doesn't look convincing in some parts and the natural position of the arms is always tricky to get it looking right... Good there are so many models to choose from nowadays but I'll stick with the good old metal. 
Having said that, like to see more of those...

[Cubs]

Great job on all the models - as always -, but it's amazing to see that metals from the mid 80's still are much better in detail and posing than plastics from 30 years later  .

The advantage of using vintage metals models is that we have a lot to choose from and can reject the many awful ones out of hand! The good ones are really good and stand the test of time, but the bad ones ... yeesh. This Citadel dude compares very favourably with the GB plastics, but I've also got some early GB metal Vikings and they're pretty ugly.

I don't really have an aesthetic preference about metal or plastic to be honest, I like them both if they're good and each have their advantages and disadvantages. 

But since my own collection is more nostalgia, I do tend to have a lot of the (good) old models.

[Hitman]

Cubs;
Thanks for the detailed answer...I had no idea it took that much work to make them look so amazing. I will attempt to duplicate some of your efforts onto my figures. Thanks again.
Regards,
Hitman