Some painted Strelets minis

(Para a versão em português,  clique aqui)

Here are a few of the minis I've been painting in the last few days, all from the "Vikings against Franks" set by Strelets, which I own five copies of (1 won in an eBay auction and the others bought together as a second hand sale, also on eBay. Strangelly, the seller did not know that it was 4 copies inside a single box: the ad only said "100+ miniatures"). 

First, let's see the Franks, this lovely band of Christian warriors and knights:

The whole group of Franks I've painted so far.

I'd say this one is an officer due to his fancier armor

I really like painting armor because of the shiny result I get with metalic ink.

Here is a king (Charlemagne?) with a santard bearer (left) and a scout(?) (Right)

Four archers, one of them trying to string his bow.

Now let's see the vikings, this lovely band of pagan warriors and berserkers:

Here we have a commander figure. I'd call this one a Jarl.

The whole band together

A berserker with his belly full of beer (You may not like it, but this is what peak performance looks like!). For this one I kept the original collor of the miniature on his pants, boots and weapon because I liked it. And on the background in the left, another berserker swinging his great two-handed sword.

A bald berserker with a giant club

Two viking archers

Although this kit got a somewhat bad review from the guys at Plastic Soldier Review, I liked it a lot. 

Of course, it was one of the first kits produced by Strelets, in the early 2000's, and the company has improved a lot the quality of its miniatures since then, but I like this style that has a rather toy-ish look, and also the fact that there are no repeated poses in this set, which means 40+ poses, which brings a welcome variety to a wargaming army. There are a few miniatures I did not like very much (because of a few details) but on the whole this is a good medieval set!

It makes me think that Strelets planned this one to work like a standalone wargame, hence the title "Vikings against Franks". 

I'll definetly try to play a skirmish using only this set some day!

Algumas miniaturas pintadas da Strelets

(For English version, click here)

Eis aqui algumas fas miniaturas que estive pintando estes dias, todas do conjunto "Vikings against Franks" da Strelets, do qual possuo 5 cópias (uma adquirida via leilão no eBay e as outras quatro conpradas de segunda mão tambem no eBay. Estranhamente o vendedor parecia não saber que havia 4 cópias dentro da caixa, pois o anúncio só dizia que eram mais de 100 miniaturas).

Primeiro, vejamos os francos, este adorável grupo de guerreiros e cavaleiros cristãos:

Todos os francos que pintei até agora.

Eu diria que este é um oficial, por causa da armadura bonita.

Gosto muito de pintar as armaduras, por conta do efeito brilhante da tinta metálica 

Aqui uma peça de rei (Carlos Magno?) com seu porta-estandarte (esquerda) e um batedor(?) (à direita)

Quatro arqueiros, um deles tentando encordoar seu arco) 

Agora vejamos os vikings, este bando adorável de berserkers e guerreiros pagãos:

Aqui uma miniatura de comandante. Provavelmente um Jarl.

O grupo todo

Um berserker com a barriga cheia de cerveja (você pode não gostar, mas é assim que se parece um homem no auge de sua performance!) E no fundo à esquerda outro berserker empunhando sua imensa espada de duas mãos 

Um berserker calvo carregando um porrete enorme

2 arqueiros vikings

Embora este conjunto tenha recebido avaliações negativas pelos editores do Plastic Soldier Review, eu gosto muito dele.

Claro, foi um dos primeiros kits da Strelets, do começo dos anos 2000, e a empresa melhorou muito a qualidade de suas. Miniaturas desde então. Mas eu gosto do estilo deste conjunto, que tem um jeito de "brinquedos" e também gosto do fato de não haver poses repetidas, o que significa que são mais de 40 poses, o que traz uma variedade de poses muito bem-vinda em qualquer exército de wargame. 

Há algumas miniaturas neste conjunto de que não gostei (por causa da escultura mesmo, que achei feia), mas no todo acho que é um bom kit. 

Me faz pensar que a Strelets planejou esse kit para ser um jogo por si só, daí o título "Vikings contra Francos"

 

Com certeza um dia desses jogarei um skirmish usando somente as peças deste conjunto!

Australusian Flag

(Para a versão em Português, clique aqui)

Here is the first Australusian flag, dating from the County's foundation by Count Isidro, the noble galician knight who fought against the moors during the Reconquista wars and thus earned his share of land and glory.

Flag made at https://flag-creator.com/

Andalusia's flag is based on the crest of the shield that Isidro carried to battle: a black shield with a golden cross in the middle. The blue field around the shield evokes the blue collor from the Kingdom of Galicia's flag. Isidro fought under the king of Galicia, who in turn gave him lands as reward for his services. These lands came to be the County of Australusia, and untill the Kingdom of Galicia was absorved by the Kingdom of León, Australusia was a vassal state to Galicia.

This flag was used in battle and was also waved on top of military and government buildings across the County.

In battle, Count Isidro and his decendants carried this flag along with their own coat of arms, the black shield with a golden cross.

Over the centuries, the flag of the County of Australusia has undergone changes throughout its history. However, the image of its first flag has always remained vivid in the people's memory, and it is still flown today at festivals and civic holidays in Australusia

A bandeira do Condado de Australusia

(For the English version, click here)

Aqui está a primeira bandeira de Australusia, datada da fundação do condado por Isidro, um nobre cavaleiro galego que lutou nas guerras de Reconquista contra os mouros e conquistou sua cota de glória e terras. 

Bandeira feita no https://flag-creator.com/

A bandeira de Australusia foi baseada no escudo que o próprio Isidro usava em batalha: um escudo negro com uma cruz dourada no meio. O campo azul é reminiscente do azul da bandeira do Reino da Galícia, terra natal de Isidro e sob cujo rei o cavaleiro lutou. Como recompensa por seus serviços, o Rei da Galícia concedeu a Isidro o título de Conde e lhe deu as terras que se tornariam o Condado de Australusia. O recém-formado condado foi vassalo do Reino da Galícia até a absorção deste pelo Reino de Leão.

Esta bandeira era usada em batalha e também hasteada no topo e em mastros de prédios da administração do condado e em edificações militares.

Em batalha, o Conde Isidro e seus descendentes carregavam esta bandeira junto de seu próprio Brasão de Armas (o escudo negro com cruz dourada)

Com o passar dos séculos, a bandeira do Condado de Australusia sofreu alterações ao longo de sua história. Mas sempre esteve viva na memória do povo a imagem de sua primeira bandeira, a qual é hasteada até hoje em festivais e feriados cívicos de Australusia.

Miniaturas medievais de reinos Ibéricos

(For English version, click here)

A verdade é que não há muitas miniaturas medievais feitas especificamente para representar os vários reinos ibéricos medievais (Portugal, Castela, Aragão, Leão, Galícia, etc.).

Ao menos não na escala 1/72, a minha favorita.

Praticamente só temos a linha El Cid, feita pela HäT, a qual inclui belos kits de infantaria e cavalaria espanholas, almorávidas e andaluzas.

Para representar os reinos cristãos da Península Ibérica, eu uso as seguintes miniaturas:

- HaT El Cid Spanish Infantry

- HaT El Cid Spanish Light Cavalry

- HaT El Cid Spanish Heavy Cavalry

pictures of the boxes taken from: https://www.modelwereld.eu/

- Strelets Normans (por causa do estilo da armadura)

- Revell Normans (idem)

- Strelets Norman Archers (bons para representar arqueiros leves e arqueiros camponeses)

- Strelets Medieval Crossbowmen (são besteiros "genéricos")

- Airfix Robin Hood (são muito boas para representar camponeses, Milícia Civil, etc)

- Strelets Medieval City Levy (idem)

-  Zvezda Peasant Army (idem)

- Dark Dream Studio European Knights (são cavaleiros "genéricos" que podem ser usados para praticamente qualquer nação européia cristã. Eu os uso para representar oficiais, generais, nobres, comandantes de tropas, etc.)

Este é um dos melhores kits de miniaturas medievais que existem! 

- Redbox Burgundian infantry and Knights - Set 1 (considero uma boa infantaria genérica, ainda mais se não pintarmos as cruzes de Santo André no peito de alguns dos soldados)

- Redbox Burgundian infantry and Knights - Set 2 (idem, e pode representar piqueiros leves)

- Redbox Landsknechts Heavy Pikemen (as armaduras são um tanto genéricas, ou pelo menos genéricas o bastante para mim para representar piqueiros pesados ibéricos!)

- Italeri Templar Knights (bons para representar os Cavaleiros da Ordem de Cristo, a primeira Ordem Militar de Portugal criada pelo rei Dom Dinis. Esta ordem foi composta em sua fundação pelos cavaleiros templários que sobreviveram à extinção da ordem templários decretada pelo Papa Clemente VI)

Em postagens futuras irei publicar fotos de minhas miniaturas pintadas. Mas, como todos sabem, este é um hobby que requer muita paciência. Tenho mais miniaturas do que tempo para pintá-las!

Miniatures for the Iberian Kingdoms

(for Portuguese version, click here)

Truth is there are not very much miniatures designed specifically to represent the many Iberian medieval kingdoms (Portugal, Leon, Castille, Aragon, etc.),  

At least not on the 1/72 scale, my favorite one.

As far as I know, there is only the El Cid line designed by HäT, which includes nice infantry and cavalry sets representing the Spanish, Almoravid and Andalusian kingdoms.

The Iberian christian kingdoms are sadly underrepresented here. 

However, one can always use the more "generic-looking" miniatures in order to represent whichever kingdom he desires. 

Thus, I'd say that the following miniatures are very good to play as the Iberian Christian kingdoms:

- HaT El Cid Spanish Infantry

- HaT El Cid Spanish Light Cavalry

- HaT El Cid Spanish Heavy Cavalry

box pictures taken from https://www.modelwereld.eu/

- Strelets Normans (due to the armor style that kinda evokes the crusader attire)

- Revell Normans (same as above)

- Strelets Norman Archers (good to represent light archers and even peasant archers, hunters, etc.)

- Strelets Medieval Crossbowmen (these are very good "generic-looking" crossbowmen, and this set includes a good number of poses)

- Airfix Robin Hood (excellent miniatures to play as peasant armies and town levys)

- Strelets Medieval City Levy (same as above)

- Zvezda Peasant Army (same as above)

Robin Hood, by Airfix, is one of the best medieval sets ever made. Useful in any army. The medieval city levy by Strelets is very useful as well! The Medieval Crossbowmen set is also great and fits well in any army. The only complaint I have against the Zvezda Peasant Army is that there are only 3 archers, and it could use more poses!

- Dark Dream Studio European Knights (these are "generic looking knights" which may be used to play as literally any European Christian nation. I'd use them to represent officers, generals, nobles, troop commanders, etc.)

Now THIS is one of the best 1/72 sets ever made! Very useful and beautifully sculpted!

- Redbox Burgundian infantry and Knights and set 1 (I consider these minis a good array of "generic" infantry, specially if one does not paint the St Andrew cross that is sculpted on the chest of a few the poses in this kit)

- Red box Burgundian infantry and Knights set 2 (same as above, good to stand as "Light Pikemen")

- Redbox Landsknechts Heavy pikemen (their armors are quite generic-looking, or at least generic enough for me, so they can stand well for Iberian Heavy Pikemen!)

- Italeri Templar Knights (good to represent the Knights of the Order of Christ, the first Portuguese Military Order, founded by Denis, a.k.a The Farmer King or The Poet King, the sixth king of Portugal, after Pope Clement V ordered for the anihilation of the Templar Order)

In future posts I will share pictures of my painted miniatures. But, as we all know, this is a hobby that requires much patience. I have more miniatures than time to paint them!

Building a tower

A couple months ago, using a chocolate powder can (which is tall and slender - very fitting for a tower) I made this medieval tower model. 

The materials I used were:

- The tin can

- Mask tape (to cover the metal surface of the can)

- Clay (to make the tiles. The clay sticks to the mask tape easily)

- Glue (plastic glue, so that the tiles are better fixed, and to add a thin transparent coat on them, just to keep them in place)

- toothpicks (to help make the top of the tower and its battlements)

- metal wire (to shape the round top of the tower)

- popsicle sticks (to make the floor on the top of the tower)

The tower almost finished, with the clay bricks already sculpted. I used a hobby knife to trace the brick outlines on the clay surface (in the background another "tower" I made using the same process but using a towel paper roll. It will become a mill or something like that)

The round top of the tower. The floor is made of popsicle sticks glued together then sawed in a round shape. I then drilled roles with a small hand drill and placed toothpicks around. Then I wraped wire and glued paper to make a round "wall" were the battlements would be placed.

The top of the tower completed with clay, the bricks and battlements already sculpted.

Another view of the top of the tower. The Archers are just for reference. The tuna can in the background was used to help shaping the round wooden floor!

The tower set, with 3 landsknecths arquebusiers already on watch!

Now all that is left to do  is to decide if I will paint the tower or not (I kinda liked this  "earthy" clay tone), and which collor will it it be.

I also need to make a door and a few windows (probably out of cardboard paper).

So far this tower has been sitting on my bookshelf for a few months, waiting a game and/or to be finished.