Blew Cap for me! English Civil War Clubmen

Clubmen were hastily assembled militia, banded together to defend their homes, in this case against Montrose's Highland marauders! I painted them up as part of the same commission as four of my previously posted Highlanders, from Warlord Pike and Shotte plastic infantry.

These particular clubman have been fortunate enough to gain, through one way or another, seemingly military-grade gear, unlike most of their ill-equipped comrades. Their clothes, however, are an assortment of colors - civilian work clothes re-purposed. The idea of a uniform was still emerging, even among the regular armies.

This particular model carries a matchlock musket, and all the necessary equipment to fire it, as well as a hunting sword, called a hanger on a baldric at his side. Also, a knit cap protects against the cold northern winds. While fairly simple to paint, I enjoyed researching this period, learning more about the campaigns in which these soldiers fought.

His face is almost hidden under a broad hat, but you get a good shot of the gun. While inaccurate, the matchlocks offered a measure of protection to the slow-moving pike blocks, often grouped at the flanks.

Speaking of pikes, here's a pikeman. The size (some six inches long on this model) was startling to me at first, this is a weapon I'd not like to cross! He also wears a large, round helmet, the origin, as I recall of the New Model Army's nickname 'roundheads'. I had a few models left over from this commission, mostly musketeers, which I'm painting, eventually, as New Model Army.

There was one exception to the clubmen, I painted this one in the hodden grey of the Covenenters, soldiers of the Presbyterian Kirk of Scotland. A very interesting force, who switched sides during the conflict, fighting with the Cromwell-led parliament, turning over King Charles to them, before switching sides and supporting the king's son, Charles II.

Like these? Check out my Etsy shop, where you can custom order some of your own!

Also, check out my Highlanders here

Dark Tower: Church Militant Spellcasters and Hellhound

Here's a few more miniatures for my Dark Tower Frostgrave campaigns, two Cleric-like spellcasters, and an extra-dimensional stalker.

 First up is a bishop for the Church Militant, a vestige of the old order in the plague-ridden, anarchic city where Dark Tower takes place. It's a really nice model with a lot of detail, and a very serene look to it, which I tried to bring out in the face. He holds a medallion, with another around his neck. I painted these as the sun and moon... perhaps he can bring day or night by using the proper image...

Around his neck is a scarf, embroidered with dots arranged in triangles, a Celtic symbol of holiness. He also has a good bit of magical gear, a rod of healing, and two wands - well equipped to fight the many demons and sorcerers he shall face.

Here's his apprentice, clad in the same, although less embroidered colors as the Bishop. This, along with the Illusionist and Plague Doctor in my previous post, are three of my favorite miniatures I've painted. The colors on the clothes, and the smooth tones on the face, really turned out well. I actually left a bit of flash on the model, which forms the lowest finger. I liked how it looked with the one hanging down!

Like her master, she carries a good bit of magic items, fitting in well with the rest of the well-equipped Church Militant. These two spellcasters will be supported by some recently purchased Frostgrave soldiers, mostly men at arms and crossbowmen, painted in the same gray, yellow and turquoise livery.

 Lastly, a Hellhound to stalk those unfortunate enough to violate its hiding place. I've taken my inspiration more from Hound of the Baskervilles and H. P. Lovecraft's short story The Hound rather than the Hellhounds of modern gaming, using it in Frostgrave as a personal demon trap from Into the Breeding Pits with will-based bay attacks.

It has a very distinctive color, which is actually one half from a separated Vallejo Prussian Blue! It reminds me of another Lovecraft's story, The Color from Space, appearing black, blue, or an iridescent purple under different lights. Perfect for extraplanar life, whose strange dimensions possess colors, and senses unknown to man...

Interested in Dark Tower? Check out more miniatures here

Want your own horrifying Hellhound or blessed Bishop? Check out my Etsy shop for pre-painted miniatures, and custom orders.

Caledonia! Ancient Celts of Scotland

I enjoy wargaming in much of Scottish history, my Highlanders have already been posted, now I cover another favorite period of mine, Roman-era Caledonia. I finished a couple of Warlord Games plastic test models recently, and a large beast to go with them...

 First is a standard warrior, armed with sword and shield. His body is covered in blue woad tattoos or warpaint, and his breeches are a bright plaid, all of which I painted by hand. There are many conflicting views on how the Celts, particularly in a fringe region such as Scotland would have looked and fought, I went for more of a primitive, tribal look for aesthetics, as much as anything else.

The shield is blank, so far, although once he goes through a game or two it may gain some sort of decoration. I'm still unsure as to what game to use these in, most likely Games Workshop's LotR skirmish game, adapted a bit to suit my needs. These models have a lot of character, well sculpted and very dynamic, as is illustrated well by the next warrior...

...who runs, hunched over his shield. The raven, the carrion bird, was a symbol among the Celts and Germans of battle and death, the Irish goddess Badb was said to appear in the shape of one. The raven on the shield was inspired by an illustration by Louis le Brocquy  from Thomas Kinsella's translation of the Irish saga Tain Bo Cuailinge, a great source of inspiration for my Celts.

He, too, has a plaid on both breeches and tunic, and has similar warpaint to my other warrior. I tryed to stay away from the 'Braveheart' look on the woad, using La Tene style Celtic art as inspiration. I then took leave of history, adding a touch of the fantastic with...

...a Wendigo. While actually a Native American creature, the Reaper model, bought for my Frostgrave games, fit too well with the feel of my Celts to pass up. I based the paint job on an illustration in Pathfinder Bestiary II, but toned it down somewhat, and adapted it to Reaper's model. A wash of red was patchily applied to blend in with the hands, and, although you can't tell in the picture, I painted the eye-sockets crimson as well.

In game he'll serve as a good spirit of the forest, ready to destroy any desecrating Romans who happen to venture on his turf.

Interested in your own Caledonians? Check out my Etsy shop for pre-painted miniatures, and custom commissions.

Dark Tower: Illusionist, Plague Doctor and Attic Whisperer

These are a some Reaper Pathfinder miniatures I've painted up for Frostgrave, to serve in my homebrew Dark Tower Campaign.

First up is Josiah Curvinus, my Wizard. I'll play him as an Illusionist, my preferred school in the game. His costume is loosely inspired by Tom Baker's in Doctor Who, particularly the scarf, which was a lot of fun to paint!

Here you can see the scarf a little clearer, I went the labor intensive route and hand shaded all of the stripes, effectively painting the scarf twice. The base was sculpted like a Shang Chinese pot decoration, and I added greens over the grey, to make it look like either moss-covered stone, or weathered jade. I'm really pleased with how it turned out, and look forward to playing with him.

Next is a Plague Doctor, which could be used as an Apothecary, but I'll use him as a Thaumaturge, or part of the Medicant's Guild in Dark Tower. By restricting Heal spell access for the other factions, and the more offensive spells and soldiers for the Medicants, I hope to create a sort of troubleshooter faction, going around healing and fighting demons and undead.

 The miniature was a catalyst for the whole campaign, and I enjoyed giving it a dark, gritty look, although it now turns out a little too dark for the camera!

The last is an Attic Whisperer, painted straight from the illustration in Pathfinder Bestiary II. It's a very creepy looking miniature, although small, as the group picture shows, and I have another one to paint.

  I built the bones up from a medium tan, and bleached them with a thinned out white, dry brushing the dirt on its smock in a couple of browns. I also added a light wash of grey on the base, to give it a dusty look. This is one of many monsters I've come up with homemade game stats for.

If you like these, check out more Dark Tower miniatures here.

Want a Plague Doctor of your own? Check out my Etsy shop for both pre-painted miniatures, and custom commissions.