Wednesday 29 November 2023

Another 54mm figure - Owain Glyndwr, Prince of Wales

 

Owain Glyndwr (or Owen Glendower, or Owyn Glyndwr) lived between the 14th and 15th centuries and was a Welsh nobleman who revolted against the English and succeeded in ending their rule in Wales. In 1405 he proclaimed an independent Welsh state which lasted a full five years (!) before the English under Henry IV invaded and reconquered Wales once again. Henry V later twice offered Glyndwr a pardon but was rebuffed on both occasions.  Glyndwr, who had in the meantime adopted guerilla tactics against the English,  disappears from the radar around 1415 and his ultimate fate seems to be a bit of a mystery as no further information about him is known after that date. It can be said that Owain Glyndwr was the only Welsh Prince of Wales and no other Welshman matched his political and military achievements. My grasp of Welsh history is limited so feel free to put me in the pillory if I have strayed 😄

Pegaso have produced an excellently-sculpted figure of a mounted Glyndwr in 54mm.  The mount is draped in a caparison bearing Glyndwr's heraldic coat of arms of four rampant lions as well as a dragon, that eternal symbol of Wales. Owain's shield bears the rampant lions as well while the dragon is reproduced on his tabard. It is quite an intricate figure to paint and I was apprehensive that I would not be able to do it justice but I have to say that I am happy with the final result. The figure took just short of three months to finish and is entirely in acrylics except for the armour which is airbrushed Vallejo Liquid Silver and lined in Tamiya Panel Liner. Ink is also used in places.

Thanks for visiting and commenting.












 





Tuesday 10 October 2023

British Coldstream Guardsman in 54mm

Yet again, another 54mm figure from Pegaso.  This time it's a private of the 2nd Coldstream Guards at Waterloo. Not a very demanding figure but it is very well sculpted and the parts go together well. The figure forms part of a commemorative boxed set of two figures, one French and one British.  I have also included a picture of the two figures comprising the set.

 







Friday 23 June 2023

Two more 54mm figures and other stuff

As has become amply clear from recent posts, my main activity for the last few months has been modelling as opposed to painting and gaming with minis.  I have rediscovered a passion and fascination that had lain dormant over the years but which suddenly returned with a vengeance mostly thanks to the long months of pandemic isolation.  That's not to say I'm not doing any gaming at the moment but it's solely down to board games with the lads of the gaming group. We are currently running the epic Axis and Allies Global War 1939 - a multi player and veritable behemoth of a game which hardly sits comfortably on a table tennis table and which requires multiple sessions to complete. Clearly it has to be left set up and kudos to Dan for his passion and dedicated wargames room as well as to his gentle wife Yuliia for allowing six unruly man-children into her home every Tuesday.

Board gaming on an epic scale - Axis & Allies Global War 1939

On the modelling scene, I have recently completed two new 54mm Napoleonic figures - a French foot artillery officer and a French line infantryman, both from Pegaso Miniatures.  Bases are from Il Basetta, an italian artisan supplying custom made wooden plinths specifically for miniatures.  The figures are painted mostly in Vallejo acrylics with exception of the metallics for which I use AK True Metal paints.  The mud spattering on the line infantryman was done in oils.

 

 



 
 

Finally, on the domestic front, last Saturday was a very happy day for the family as the son got married. Below is  a picture of the happy occasion, with - from left - my 91 year old mum, my daughter Claire and her partner Vik, the happy groom Steve and his new wife Justine, and yours truly with missus on the right.



 
 

Thursday 4 May 2023

French Guard Chasseur a' Cheval in 54mm

Been a while since I sat down to post something. Doesn't mean I haven't been busy though. Since my last post (gosh, was it eight months ago?), I've completed a few models, managed to actually play a tabletop game (and promptly lost!), have a couple of projects in progress, and have been having regular weekly evening meetings with my gaming group for board gaming. Been on a nice trip in February too. 

Once I overcome my posting apathy I hope to eventually post something on some or all of the above. 

Today I'll start off with a 54mm Chasseur a' Cheval Garde 1815 from Pegaso Models. Pegaso produce beautiful models, their casting is clear and very crisp making their models really nice to paint. The figure is cast in white metal and is painted entirely with acrylics (Vallejo). This has long been languishing in my war chest and I finally found a good enough reason to fish it out.  One of my gaming buddies turned 60 last month so I reckoned it would make a great special occasion present to someone who appreciates this stuff.  As a matter of fact it was very well received.

Would've been nice to add an engraved brass plate but I just didn't have the time to find a decent supplier. If anyone knows of a good one I would be happy if they could drop me a name.

 Anyway, hope you like it!













 

 

 

Thursday 11 August 2022

French 7th Hussars trooper in 54mm

Last February I had published a work in progress post of a 54mm French Napoleonic Hussar.  Those who missed that post can see it here. The figure has been ready for a couple of months now but being the lazy bugger that I am, it took me all this time to come round to take a few half decent pictures suitable for publication.

The figure itself is from M Model and is painted entirely with Vallejo acrylics. No oils. The figure is finished in ultra matt varnish but the horse has been finished in satin. All reins and buckles are scratch built. This is my second 54mm figure, the first one having been done quite a few years ago and can be seen here. These figures take up quite some time to finish and obviously the level of detail is much higher but they are also very rewarding when complete. And they certainly make eye catching show pieces in any collector's cabinet! 












My current project is a 1:72 scale diorama of an Avro Lancaster inspired by a recent visit to the Derwent dam in the UK. This is the place where the famous 617 Squadron made their practice runs before their raids on the Ruhr dams. The build is still in its very early stages (hampered by domestic refurbishment works) so I expect it will be some time before I will be able to present anything of this project. Until then keep well!

 

Monument to 617Sqdn with Derwent dam in the background