Thursday 15 June 2017

Colonel Bill's cart crews


We often think that painting is both a chore and takes ages. This is not always so. Taking a break from the Prussians, I painted 3 of the cart crew I bought at Campaign 2017, which took no time at all. They are basic figures in all essence.


I like how this figure looks. The paint is mainly glaze, shade and washes from Games Workshop (games-workshop).









Another figure with a shade,wash &glaze. Top only in this case

As noted elsewhere, I am trying for individuality. The village figures, i.m.h.o., should be a bit grungy. Which is why the shade; washes & glazes are such a big help. They tone down vibrant colours and make them seem lived in and washed a lot.

I do have the sitting figure to paint. But on with the Napoleonics meantime.

Thanks for looking







Saturday 3 June 2017

Poems for Wargamers 2


Battle

“We grasp our battle-spears: we don our breast-plates of hide.The axles of our chariots touch: our short swords meet.Standards obscure the sun: the foe roll up like clouds.Arrows fall thick: the warriors press forward.They menace our ranks: they break our line.The left-hand trace-horse is dead: the one on the right is smitten.The fallen horses block our wheels: they impede the yoke-horses!”
They grasp their jade drum-sticks: they beat the sounding drums.Heaven decrees their fall: the dread Powers are angry.
The warriors are all dead: they lie on the moor-field.They issued but shall not enter: they went but shall not return.[24]The plains are flat and wide: the way home is long.
Their swords lie beside them: their black bows, in their hand.Though their limbs were torn, their hearts could not be repressed.They were more than brave: they were inspired with the spirit of “Wu''.Steadfast to the end, they could not be daunted.Their bodies were stricken, but their souls have taken Immortality—Captains among the ghosts, heroes among the dead.
By Ch’ü Yüan (332-295 b.c.),