Category Archives: Miniatures

It Figures

East African Renaissance Campaign, Miniatures

Back home in Central Oregon. Time to finish up the Ottomans. Started prepping the cavalry this afternoon. After extolling the virtures of the Tabletop Miniatures back in July, it figures there would be problems. Lots of flash on the cavalry figures.

Flash is inevitable, but flash should be like major league umpires….consistent. If you know where it’s going to be after doing one figure, then prepping can be a  pretty straightforward procedure. If not, then it’s a trial. I like to paint and play. Preparation is an necessary evil.  It takes me 3 days.  Day 1 for working on the figures and gluing them to tongue depressors.  On Day 2 the figures are primed, and on Day 3 they get a coating on flat black acrylic paint.

Plan to finish the cavalry next week. There are only 16 figures, so that should be reasonable. Then two artillery crews, a few miscellaneous sappers, and a handful of left-over Arab light cavalry. Finish these up, and on to the Abyssinians after a post-Labor Day hiking trip and, more importantly, a visit from my long-time friend and wargaming accomplice, Tim!

East African Renaissance Campaign

East African Renaissance Campaign, Miniatures, Renaissance

Started working on my 15mm Turks last Friday.  Most of them are old Tabletop Miniatures.  These castings are deceiving.  At first glance, they are less than underwhelming, but they paint up really well.  Here’s a link   http://www.15mm.co.uk/collections/altuos-15mm-renaissance?page=3.

First started buying Tabletops when I lived in Iowa.  They had an outlet – with the molds – in an low density industrial complex just outside of Des Moines.  Used them for my Dark Ages Campaign.  There was a problem with relative scale, especially the European Renaissance figures.  Some seemed more like skinny 10mm than 15mm.  I still have some 12th century knights stashed in the shed.

I’m halfway through the 48  infantry figures.  I’ll finish up the mounted when I return home.  Just one step closer to the start of the East African Renaissance Campaign, now set for Thanksgiving.   More on that later.

I’ll try to set up Mission: Grenada, tomorrow.

Another Army To Paint

East African Renaissance Campaign, Miniatures, Renaissance

Spent part of Sunday prepping 48 Ottomans for my East Africa Renaissance campaign game.  My plan is to paint them while I’m taking care of my Mother for the next few weeks.  I’ll still have some cavalry to paint when I return, as well as an Abyssinian force.

The campaign involves the Ottomans, Portuguese, Ethiopians (Abyssinians), Arab City States, Native Tribes, as well as Manchu Chinese.  The Manchus are  a quasi alternate history element, assuming that dynastic leadership encouraged, rather than forbid, further exploration.  I’ll rely on the Irregular Wars rules rather than DBR or DBA.  My initial one-off games using IW have gone fairly well.  But, more on that later….