Sunday 14 May 2017

Dark Age Saxon Infantry

Three words that I never thought would be seen to describe part of my collections - Dark Ages Infantry, because at heart I am a horse and musket man and it was my intention to pretty much stick to the 19th century. But here we are with with a unit of Saxon Thegns.

The figures are from the Gripping Beast plastics range. There will be another unit of Thegns and two of Viking Hirdmen. They will be joined in time by a couple of units of warriors and some archers. This project has been inspired after watching all four seasons of "Vikings" pretty much back to back over the last few weekends and a desire to create some sort of adventure game around the series. There is an ulterior motive, not for discussion here, that might become clearer as this mini project develops.

Initially I was going to base them all on individual bases, but they just didn't look right to me - they were just spaced too far apart so I kept with my usual 50mm diorama bases, with five figures to a stand.

So here they are, set against of the background of the Dark Ages building posted last week.

 

 

10 comments:

  1. Most impressive shields, painting, and buildings!

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    1. Thank you Phil. I decided to paint the shiekds by hand rather than use transfers - it gives a rougher look, don't you think?

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  2. Very nice Mark... but...what the hell are you up to?! I have a huge collection of ladies ready to mix it with these boys, any tine they feel ready! Just ordered some more 1812 stuff BTW....

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    1. Ah they are a part of a trade off that will become clear in time.

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  3. They look smashing Mark. Great work!

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    1. Thanks Rodger. I finished the Vikings last night and hope to have them based up within a couple of days.

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  4. I never thought I'd live to see it either, Mark. What next - Ancients? Lovely work!

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    1. Yes its come to this! Still at least I get to work with colour again. No this is very definately as far back as I want to collect. The delayed project of the War of 1812 is calling to me and those Perry figures of Napoleon in Egypt are very tempting....

      The first unit of Vikings is complete now, just waiting for the base texture work to be done.

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  5. Your colorful shields make these fellas pop!

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    1. Thanks Jonathan. I was going to buy the transfers, but I was too impatient to wait for them! I am glad I painted these although I may still get transfers for some just so that I can have some of those intricate Scandanavian designs that I could never hope to paint.

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