Odds and Ends - My work from 2016

Hi there everyone, as we count down the last few nights to Christmas I thought I'd show you what I have managed to paint this year while at university. There isn't really enough to warrant a post each so here is a post of all the things I painted while up there and a couple of small boats as well. Enjoy.

Slim pickings. I simply must stop playing video games while I am at uni at focus on the little ones!

First up a few militia figures led by the brave.... He has no name/story yet. Will think of one soon.

These are figures from the Imex Alamo Defenders set. A good set for militia and civilian fighters

A pair of conquistadors - I finished the one on the left earlier this year but now he has a friend.

ARRRR - Some pirates. Great little figures from Orion.

These are from the Caesar Samurai set. I tried to make it look like they are standing on a wooden floor.

NINJA! Again a little experimental base. This time it is a dirt path at night.

 And now for a couple of boats. These are quite simple and can be used for a variety of purposes. One is long and narrow and the other is short and wide. That's basically all they have to them.

The first boat, El Sol II, I used a nice light blue for this one.

The second boat. This has no name but can fit quite a few figures because of its width.

A shot from behind of the rudder. I went with a wood texture on this using dry brushing to get the texture.

And that is that. I hope you like them and I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year. If all goes well I will have one final post to wrap up 2016 of the boat I am currently working on. (see the other blog)

But until then I wish you all a very good day/night. :-D

Estafanía - Dhow

Hi everyone I am back with a new vessel to show you all. This time round it is something more exotic: A Dhow. These vessels have been used since ancient times in the waters around the Arabian Peninsular and Indian Ocean. They can also be found in the Mediterranean which is how, via settlers, it ended up in Oronegro. Used by fishermen, traders, pirates and many others they are a much loved if rare vessel. Larger ones are employed by the Oronegrean navy from time to time. This one is not one of these vessels. It is more suited to fishing, trade and a wee bit of piracy.

A few pirates have managed to commandeer la Estafaía. They seem harmless enough right now.

I could probably have made the mast and sail a little bigger. And maybe raked the mast forward a bit more

close up of the bow.

Look over the stern

Name plate. I used a fine marker pen for this

And a close shot of the pirates

 Well that's it for today. I have another boat well on the way. It is a cross between a pirate ship and a Greco-Roman warship. It is quite strange but I think you'll like it. Anyway I have a few little things to show you before the year is out. The figures I painted while I was away (these pirates are included in that list).

But for now I wish you all a good day/night. Please comment and subscribe to my little blog. It's always nice to get feedback. :-D

Small Vessel - El Andrés and news

Hello everybody and welcome to this, my first post, from my new student flat. That is right I am back up in Auckland and getting ready for another year of study. But fear not unlike previous years I have not abandoned the little ones back at my parents place to collect dust nay I have brought them with me to paint and, of course, to show to you all.

All my boats so far this year. Coming up will be figures.

So my friends what has Gowan got for you today... well another boat. And returning to a tradition of mine this is named for a distant cousin of mine. Andrew which in Spanish is Andrés. Unlike my previous ones this is not designed specifically to fit a role but a more general category of small craft.

This is the only little boat I have with a square sail and a gaff sail. as seen below.

The gaff sail took quite a bit of work to do. You may notice an imperfection in the stitching on the boom. Somehow I managed to thread the thread back through the thread.

Got to work on getting less of the surroundings and more of the model in the picture.

Our handy little, former robin hood, figure stands in once to provide scale. The roof is removable to allow better figure placement.

And what is any vessel without a name? I think I'm slowly getting the hang of writing with a paint brush.

Well now I just want to cover a few things. While I am up here in Auckland there really isn't enough time or space for me to work on any of my projects just figures. This means that work on El San Francisco and the other two small vessels is on hold until I return to my parents house during one of the holidays.

Now for something a little different someone or some people have been commenting asking for me to paint more moderns and I just want to put your mind at ease on this issue. Firstly I will paint moderns again this is certain. Second although I have not brought any with me I do have loads that are in various stages of completion. Part of the reason I haven't brought them is that many of them were left out in the hot and humid conditions of the garage and as such weird things happened to the paint. Third I also have many many figures that I haven't even prepared yet. We're talking rebel fighters, militia, more Oronegrean soldiers, special forces, Russians, mercenaries and more. Not to mention a selection of kits to make. I will be working on these again. Now I do try to please my viewers but ultimately what I paint is what I want to paint. Look where this blog started, the very first post was of medieval fantasy. Will I return to this subject, maybe. But since creating the world of Oronegro I have found that I want to bring this creation of mine to life. Oronegro is here to stay whether it's modern wars or early history I don't think I'll be abandoning my creation any time soon.

So on that note, a wonderful day/night to you all. let us all enjoy our little hobby where we turn little pieces of plastic, metal, resin and more into a miniature representation of life whether fictional or historical.

Thanks for reading

Gowan

Fishing Vessel 2 - Miguel

The second boat is now done. This one is slightly more generic. This vessel is Bermuda rigged aft and has a jib sail in front. I'm slightly less happy with the colour scheme for this one. Also included in this post are some Fig pics. With the final members of my Oronegrean family and an artillery officer on display. On with the pics :-D

El Miguel, (or Michael) is slightly wider than Carlos providing a more stable platform from which to fish from and a larger storage area for the catch.

As with Carlos vessels such as the Miguel are a common sight in Oronegrean waters, especially along the northern coastline where the many rivers create a nutrient rich environment that supports a large stock of fish.

Once again a whittled down toothpick becomes the tiller for the boat.

Now we get to the pictures of the latest batch of figures. Oddly there are more pictures of them than the boat but that is due to poor planning on my part.

Here they all are in the little supply building

Here is an Oronegrean artillery officer, I felt the choice of using Airfix British artillery was a good one. The uniform suits the Oronegrean colours (dark blue, yellow, white and pink for small details). And they don't look wrong next to Oronegrean troops

Oh crap he's seen me!

Finally the last two family members for my Oronegrean family. Sophia and Alberto.

 

 

Anyway that's all for today. I hope you enjoy the latest addition to my little fleet and the figures. I'll try and take better ones before I put their Bio's up on the Oronegro blog.

Oh and I better not forget my latest follower ScannableGoose from quite a few places by the looks of things. Welcome to the blog my friend. And to you all have a good day/night. :-D

Fishing Vessel - Carlos

Well the first of the hulls made during the Boat Building Bonanza has been finished. Introducing the Carlos. A small fishing vessel based on the Italian Paranza boat which used to be a common sight in the Adriatic sea. My model is not a direct replication given the purpose of the vessel for wargaming. But I am glad that I chose that teal colour in the end as that works quite well. Anyway on with the pictures.

Carlos with the rest of the model fleet.

on the left there you can see the boats that are yet to be done.

Sail is standard A4 folded over with tin foil inside.

Bow view with the name displayed proudly.

Stern view

 Here you can see my father whose nickname is Carlos (amongst other things) with his boat.

Nice view of the sail from this angle

And below as a bonus are a couple or recently completed figures. One is a militia fighter, hunter or perhaps a pirate, very generic and useful. The other is a member of the Oronegrean elite. Dressed in the Oronegrean military colours and a wig this man could be an officer in the Oronegrean armed forces.

Perhaps these men are protecting themselves from pirates?

Or are these men pirates who have taken the Carlos and it's crew hostage?

Well that's it for the Carlos. Hope you're all well and enjoying the start to 2016. And on that positive note let me introduce my latest follower Ace Jagger, welcome to the blog my friend.

And to you all a good day/night. :-D