Ahoy mateys!

I finished up the free company detachments last week. I am going to run them 3x3 which should allow 6 attacks to a 5 ranked deep unit. One of these 9 man Free Companies is going to be attached to the Swordsmen I have done already.
I still have to finish the movement tray for this detachment.
Here are a couple of closeups of two of my FCers. Front and rear shots. One detachment has all double handed weapons with two doggies and the other has the regular AHWs. I tried to make the FCs look like Navy marine reservists. Constripted in times of was, but basically retired after their servitude with the Emperor's Fleet.
I just started a new job so hopefully I can keep on schedule and get the 25 man Spearman unit finished this week. Enjoy!

Adventures in magnetizing bases

I finally bit the bullet and decided to magnetize some of my armies. The main reason is pure laziness. I hate removing and putting back my models into a figure case. When I travel I just like to place the army in the back of my SUV and be done with it.


I read a bunch of different techniques on how to do this. Some suggested using metal trays cut from metal roof flashing to having a machine shop cut the required pieces. I opted to try something else, magnetic paint! This took me awhile to find at Lowes because it was in a box. Who sells paint in a box when everything else around it are in cans? This can cost about $22 for a quart. I opted for the paint as I already have movement trays for every one of my armies and that way I should just need to put a few layers of this stuff on and be done with it.



Each coat takes about 30 minutes to dry, and even after 5 coats it barely held a plastic model on. Any shaking at all and the models would fall off. Metal figs just fell right off. The magnets I use are 1/4"x1/16" which I got 500 for $25 off ebay.



So I went and tried something else. I bought 3/16" washers which are about an 1" in diameter (same as a 25mm base). The only problem is that I never liked the gaps. So I used some normal household filler in all the gaps and just primed over it, painted, and flocked.



Now they hold even metal figs nice and secure. Even shaking won't knock these suckers off.

The troops are coming together.

In the last two weeks I have finished a unit of 25 swordsmen, my Empire general, a couple of cannons, and a few other models. Everything below was "dipped" using Army Painter strong tone, and was brushed on. I really like the "dip method" and the more I use it the more I like the way a model comes out. It just blends things in really well, and hides small blemishes. The great thing about AP is that afterwards you can always go back and paint on an additional highlight if you like. I still need to go back an do eyeballs for the front ranks and certain key figures.

The general is made from a Brettonian Pegasus with the head switched with that of the armored Empire horse head from the Empire General box. I tried to keep the yellow and blue theme going, and scraped off all the heretical Brettonian heraldry. The cloak didn't come out as well as I would have liked, but I went back and highlighted it as I felt it looked too "dirty" after the dip. The freehand vines were done with a green sharpie.

I envision my general being a significant noble of the region, hence the pegasus. I think I will name him Lord Neilson.

Warrior Priest - I kept his right eye pupil white as if an old scar blinded him many years earlier. I like the rugged look of the warrior priest sculpts, and may have to pick up the other models for them.
This here is Lucy, painted after my real life dog. She will be used in one of the Free Company detachments.

Swordsmen - Banner was freehand, which is not my strong suit. I made these uniforms into halves. Yellow on the left and blue on the right with blue shields. If I do another unit I will change it up. Every model also has a bit of red somewhere on it, either as a ribbon or something small.

Here is one of the swordsmen bravely leaving his unit to show what my standard RnF troop looks like. As you can see I don't bother with his eyes.

Cannons - Each crew has its own uniform. Very slight differences, but it will also help me decide which crew are teamed up.

I am not sure if my next large block of troops will be swordsmen or spearmen. I am waiting to hear some solid rumors on 8th edition before I commit. Until then I will be working on the detachments which right now will be Free Company and maybe another handgunenr unit. Once I have all the infantry done, I will start on the cavalry, hellblaster, and rocket battery.

I am waiting on some rare earth magnets to arrive by mail, and my next post will be magnetizing the army. I will also be using magnetized paint on the movement trays so stay tuned.