a Load of Old Toby

ACW 15mm Epics The Stonewall Brigade This week I want to introduce an army I painted over COVID. Warlord Games had just released their range of ACW epics or 15mm, and I had time on my hands. So I plunged right in. I had never painted anything smaller than 28mm up until I did these and it was a massive learning curve.  First Completed Strip First I started with the Stonewall brigade, these were painted in the generic style of the period of a mixed style and colours of uniforms. During ACW the Confederacy had many issues from reusing old Union kit, through to massive supply shortages later in the war. The uniform was often varied sometimes bright, and wild in places, right through to a ragged look later on. Here I have gone for middle of the road mix of butternut and light blue grey, or Confederate grey.   First Completed Regiment When I first got the box with over 100 strips in, I was a bit daunted at the prospect of painting all these. I quite quickly worked out that I di...

Battle of Arsuf - 7 September 1191 Outremer, Knightly Orders and a few French Last week we looked at King Richard I in the Levant, with an army of English, during the Third Crusade. As I covered last week I have always found this era of time captivating, particularly  Richard and the  Third Crusade. This week is about some of the supporting forces of Outremer.   Selection of Outremer I will attempt to steer clear of giving a history lesson but want to provide the context to my reasoning for painting the army and for the battle. Reading from the Osprey Campaign 161 book, the Battle of Arsuf took place after Richard had decided to take the army south from Acre. Forming three divisions, with a fleet just off the coast to keep them supplied. Richard commanded the middle of the Army, Guy & Geoffrey de Lusignan with the Templars the head, and the Duke of Burgundy the rear with the Hospitallers.  Henry Duke of Burgundy As you can probably imagine there was a lot ...

Battle of Arsuf - 7 September 1191 Richard 'Cœur de Lion' & The English Army on Crusade This week we move onto a new army. King Richard I in the Levant, with an army of English, during the Third Crusade. I have always found this era of time captivating, whether it be; Robin Hood and King John, or William Marshall who famously the only knight to best  the great man himself King Richard 'The Lionheart'. But it is Richard himself that am focusing on here.    Richard I 'In Command at Arsuf 1191' One particular part of Richards reign that I find interesting is the Third Crusade. Richard is documented as being big tall strong character by Christian chroniclers but, also as a respected tactician and diplomat by the Muslims. For those that don't know, the Third Crusade took place in the 1189-1190s after Acre fell to the Ayyubid Sultanate, following the famous Battle of Hattin a few years earlier (as in think Kingdom of Heaven Film).  Richard with Templar bodyg...

Eternal Guard, Chariots & Wizards Part Six - Witches, Wizards, & Roses Hello everyone many thanks for joining me. I am now drawing a close my Woodelf army this week. I may return to it in the future, as there are a few more units I would love to collect and paint, I’m thinking of the Attack Chariot and an Eagle rider. Everqueen's Rosewood Guard Having now painted ten plus units it’s time for a break, overall I am really happy with the army and it is probably the best I have painted to date. Model for model I do not think there is a bad one. There are a few that could be considered top tier, not that I’m saying I would win an award, more a self reflection on how I am improving. The first unit to show you today is the Everqueen’s Rosewood Guard, these are my Eternal Guard. Rose Guard Advancing I am really happy with how the shields have turned out in this unit, the green cloth with the yellow shields really make them pop on the table top. They are made from plastic Oathmark,...