Well I was lucky this Christmas and got a little time to paint and I thought that I would finish off Rędwald, King of Anglia and his bodyguard and banner man, again these are from Gripping Beast. I guess I will finish this Saga boat that I am on, but at the moment there doesn't seem to be an end and I am rather happy about that. Anyway as I am actually putting on a game at Hammerhead in February, I am combining my two loves, Very British Civil War and the Dark Ages together, I wonder what or rather Hoo that can be about, it seemed fitting that I got around to Rędwald.
But more on that later, but firstly Rędwald and crew. I have to say I am impressed with these sculpts and in fact I remember seeing them years ago in Wargames Illustrated and wanted them then but never got around to getting them as I thought I would never play Dark Ages. I am glad I did as this as wonderful sculpts and are bagged full of character.
Rędwald is King of Anglia and is a rather famous chap or rather his helmet is rather famous, imagine being trumped by your helmet? Maybe you could see what the Hammerhead game might be about? I do like this figure, his pose and the way he is holding himself. I have gone for a rather bright violet tunic, not you can see much of that and a fancy yellow and jade hem. I have gone for a simple leather jerkin and mail with gold arm and leg protection as is fitting for a King. But I wanted the figure to be simple as the helmet is where it is at. The actually helmet is a copy of the Sutton Hoo helmet and I have tried to paint it as such which polished steel and silver inlays and gold trim. I think this makes him stand out rather nicely.
Next up is one of his bodyguard who has the famous Sutton Hoo shield or rather is carrying a shield that is similar to the Sutton Hoo shield. I have again gone for a simple palette for him with a green tunic and a jade trim and brighten this figure with a wonderfully bright helmet in bronze and gold and a red shield with bronze fittings. I think this has worked a treat with him and just lifts the figure.
The second bodyguard I have followed what I have done before with a muted palette for a natural weave cloak with a couple of red lines to add interest to it, a red tunic with green trim and a blue striped trousers. The helmet is basically mail with a iron crown and gold trim and the shield is freehand, yes folks I have not used any LittleBigMen transfers on him, is differing reds striped and a bit of blue to bring it out. I am rather happy with the result.
Lastly is Rędwald's banner man without a banner at the moment, I am waiting for this to turn up from LittleBigMen. I really like this figure as it is a simple figure to paint with just his cloak and trousers to worry about. I again have gone with a muted palette with him with a natural grey colour for his trousers and a muted blue colour for the cloak. For interest I have painted his helmet bronze and his horn in well horn colour to add some colour and brightness to him which I think I have managed to do.
Last up is the start of a Viking Longboat or Knarr which I got from WarBases at Partizan in the Park. The actual kit is rather simple with a resin hull and MDF parts and shields. Now for the money this is a good kit to use as a base and with a couple of simple additions I have turned it into something more like a Longboat. All I have done is to plank the fore and aft decks, made a rudder, added a couple of cross beams and wrapped some wire around the mast. Now the wire might get changed for some dental floss as I am not totally happy with it.
Next thing to do is to basecoat the whole thing black and get to painting the wood on it, but I am not sure as too paint it natural wood or go for something a little more colourful. I guess we will have to wait and see about that, but I need it finished for Hammerhead in February so I better make my mind up quickly.
shows how using inks makes it easier to paint a 15mm scale army.
