SAGA Vikings [4]

I painted in the mail and helmets today, using a drybrush of GW Boltgun Metal, followed by a wash of GW Deneb Black Ink over the helmets and a highlight of GW Chainmail to pick up up the details. While I was in between stages I drifted off to try out the Halfords Camouflage Khaki ultra matt spray that I found the other day on a 1/300th scale Brigade Models Iron Cow tank...but that's another story!

SAGA Vikings [3]

I was supposed to be at the club last night for a game of Fire and Fury but things went a bit pear shaped on the domestic front and I ended up babysitting instead. I'm now continuing my new found child care role as the boys and the other half are off camping with the cubs, leaving me to look after my daughter at home.

I have a whole list of things that I have to do round the house but I'm hoping that I'll get some painting in at some point. The bondi warriors have now been undercoated and based, so I have the full four point warband ready for some brushwork, if I get the time today.

Sorry about the dodgy photo..the wife pinched the decent camera!

SAGA Shields

I was considering painting the shields on the Vikings using simple patterns and a couple of different contrasting shades but saw these decals on ebay and thought they'd be worth it, assuming they fit the Foundry shields that is. Anyway, I've orderd a set in the hope that if they're too big or too small I can trim them or paint in the gaps to match.

SAGA Vikings [2]

Here's the warlord and his hearthguard all based up and undercoated, ready for some production line painting. I've decided to clean up and base one unit of bondi warriors next rather than the hearthguard berserkers, in order to add some bulk and a bit of range to the initial four point warband.

Bread and Circuses

Personally...I'd prefer a diamond studded refund, so I could spend it to sort out this:

...and get this fixed as well:

Holiday Reading

I popped into Waterstones today and spent a £10 book token that I'd earned from previous book buying expeditions. I also found Max Hasting's magnum opus on WW2 in Sainsburys this afternoon for only £3.99, so it's been a very successful day as far as the library is concerned. One or other of these new aquisitions will end up on the holiday reading list, either this week or in the Summer.

SAGA Vikings [1]

Here's the line up for the SAGA viking warband with the jarl, the hersir, the berserkers and the warriors in descending order. I should get some time to start on these tomorrow.

Battle for the Bundu

I made my habitual trip to the Oxfam bookshop today and found this rather splendid book on the campaign in East Africa, with particular emphasis on the activities of Von Lettow Vorbeck. This is a subject that I've been interested in for years, although I've yet to convert my enthusiasm into anything approaching a game. I do have some 10mm Pendraken Imperial and German army packs but I think it really calls for something in 15mm, assuming someone comes out with some decent figures, or the far less complicated but far more expensive 28mm option.

SAGA Viking Warband

I made a futile attempt to get hold of some Anglo Danish SAGA dice this afternoon but found that they'd sold out. However, in what appeared to be a good omen of some sort, the Viking dice set had just been re-stocked by Northstar, so I've now ordered a set. This means that the SAGA project will have a definitely scandinavian focus, with the Normans on hold for a second warband at a later date.

With that in mind, I dug out the box of Foundry Vikings that I originally aquired at some point in the last century for WAB Shieldwall. I've selected a six point warband with some room for adaptation just in case the format needs adjusting. I haven't played the rules yet, so may have overcooked things a bit but I have chosen a nice selection of figures nonetheless.

I couldn't be bothered with painting twelve levy archers so, instead, I have three hearthguard units of four hersir figures and a berseker unit to make things a bit scary. I also have two eight figure warrior units made up of spear armed but unarmoured bondi. To complete the Norse warband I have a jarl figure, who may well end up with a suitably bizarre but fitting title.

Up and at 'em!

We're all going on a...SAGA Holiday.

It's half term next week and, for a change, we're not going anywhere as the boys have cub camp to go to and there's quite a lot of work needed on the house and garden. This means that I'll have some time during the day and in the evening to get a project off the ground and, possibly, completed by the end of the holiday.

I've decided to have a crack at a warband for SAGA for the following reasons:

1. I already have loads of Foundry Vikings, Crusader Normans and Gripping Beast Anglo Saxons.

2. I have the rules and dice for the Normans.

3. I only need to paint around thirty figures.

4. The painting is pretty straightforward, especially on the chainmail figures.

5. I can do some scratchbuilding.

6. There are a couple of existing players up at the club.

I'm still debating whether to go for Normans or something else but, given the timeframe and my existing dice set, the Normans make the most sense. However, as I live in Winchester, the one time capital of Wessex and royal seat of the Anglo Danish kings, I might be tempted to do some huscarls instead. Either way, I'm planning to start on something over the weekend and will forus on a four point warband as the quickest way to get a force on the table.

I'm looking forward to it!