Happy New Year to all Wappellians!!

While 2012 was a year of persistent, extreme challenges for us, the one sustaining element was this blog.  I never expected it to take on a life of its own, as it has.  As this year comes to a close, and the blog nears its 11th month of existence, I extend my gratitude to everyone who has visited and participated in this endeavor!!

2013 holds a great deal of hope for us.  Many of you know about the Kickstarter program that we have been working on furiously for a few months now.

I have run into snags as I try to get things underway, but the ultimate goal is to come up with a better product right off the bat.  Pushing that through is my goal for this upcoming week.

As far as these minis go, I am pretty sure that I had never painted a "beakie" marine until these guys :-)

Here are some group shots...

Once again, Best Wishes for the New Year, and many thanks for taking the time to look at this blog.

Feeling blue on New Year's eve?

Well, in that case, bring in the Smurfguard.  This was a set of figures I painted 3-4 years ago, part of a batch of Ultramarines.  It was unusual in that I had to match some very specific colors that were used on previously painted figures

It was also a very different style than I was used to.  I had to use some metallic paints, in fact.

I have some more images of the other Sternguard figures that I will post later.  Happy New Year to all the folks who are in that earlier time zone!!!

Another puzzle from the past...

This is a puzzle from many years ago.  I think it was an ancient GW figure.  I probably painted this 7 years ago.  My assumption is that it's an old High Elf chariot from the late 80's?

Another mystery for loyal Wappelians to solve!

Bloodknuckle Grymm Beserker... another Stonehaven Kickstarter mini!

OK!  Another Stonehaven dwarf for you!

The impetuous Grymm seldom lets an axe out of his iron grip, even while resting, and is known to plunge headfirst into a fight without the slightest bit of planning.  That never happens in role playing, does it?

And then there were none! Handgunner unit complete!!

Yea!  Here's the mini that I (and Jon) have been waiting for!  The last of the Handgunner unit.

I did a teeny bit of orange reflected light on the figures right next to the powder monkey.  Not anything crazy, since I have to allow for varied formations.

I tried to take as many shots of the whole unit from as many angles as possible.

I hope you folks have enjoyed the process of making this unit a reality!!!

Plenty more to come!!!

I was able to snap a picture of the hawk that lives on our block.  Yes, that is a hawk up near the top of that tree, about 8 houses down from us.    I wish every neighborhood had one... it could cut down on the tree and sky rats.

Making History? Something entirely new for me...

Well, folks, we are about to enter a very strange period in my painting career.  I have painted thousands of miniatures since this all started in 2001, but I have never painted anything that was not a fantasy figure or a sci-fi miniature.

Due to a whirlwind of events, a new long term project has begun.  This one has been 3 years in the waiting.  My first Historical miniatures!!!

We start with some Napoleanic Cavalry from 1812.

What made all this even more bizarre is that these are all sculpted by the Perry Brothers, which means it fells like I am painting GW figures.  Some of these horses nearly match my LOTR horses detail for detail.  There are actually fewer pieces to put together on these guys.  I started out by making all of the sword arms at parade rest, but it was decided that having the front row in charging form would be better.

So, charging arms it is!

Here's the color reference for the painting.  Smile Dave!

And now for the first color test...

This was not shot on my usual photo setup, so it looks a little wonky, but you get the idea :-)

No hockey? No problem. The rest of the Ilyad band...

This is the last of the Ilyad figures I recovered from the archives.  The weapon and armor were typical of the detail and fine casting these folks did.  It sure made a painter's life much easier!!!

Forget the lockout, this guy is ready to play!

For those of you who did not see most of the original posts, here are a few of the other figures from this batch...

And then a couple of group shots...

And then there was one... Handgunners nearly complete!

Almost there!

As you look at this, the final handgunner is being painted.  Once he is done, I will do some clean up work and tie in a few more details.  Then it's on to the Swordsmen unit!

There will be a color change, however, as we switch to Nuln... partly for the sanity of both myself and Jon. :-)

I am working on something brand new that may be revealed tomorrow which has made me think of yet another set of DVD's.  Painting horses!  Why the heck I had not thought of that until now is beyond me, given how many horses I have painted this year!

This would easily be a set of 4 to 6 DVD's.  Dapple grey, Palomino, White, Brown, Appaloosa, and the list goes on.  Years ago, Cathy and I purchased a 600 page volume which contained an encyclopedia of information on horses.  Countless breeds and styles.  I love painting horses, so why not?

Of course, this raises the question of who to 'partner up' with on this.

Aside from GW, I will have to think about what company that could be.  There are a few manufacturers who make some decent horses...