Sometimes, web surfing can result in completely unexpected goodies. While bouncing through the 'Trending' topics on The Old Reader, I found a link to a very interesting PDF on ancient Egyptian maritime activities: Foundations of International Thinking on Sea Power
I have only just started to dig through the Egyptian pdf, but there is a section on maritime activities as based on archaeological findings that could be very useful.
The link above also lists a history of Japanese naval matters that could be of use.
These documents are part of a larger collection: RAN Publications. There is a large collection of documents there, with topics ranging from WW1 to the present. Most of them are concerning the operations of the Royal Australian Navy, including ASW reports and merchant ship movements in WW2. Go take a look!
07 February 2015
25 January 2015
Legion of Ever Present Glory, part 18 (and Mríssa too!)
A small measure of progress on the painting table today:
In this not-so-great pic, the archer cohort of my First Legion of Ever Present Glory troops has been visited by the paint-laden brush! The armor is mostly done, now the bows, quivers, tunics, and other small details need to be finished.
Also in the pic above is the command cohort of my Arídani Legion of Lady Mríssa troops. Nothing has been done to them for a long time, other than the first dabbings of flesh-colored paint on the first miniature. I think that these miniatures are going to be among the hardest to paint for my Tsolyáni force, as the details are small and delicate and it will take some careful painting. I am wondering if I should just paint over the slender chains fastening their skirts with flesh, then go back over the chains with a dark wash and a metallic drybrush. It might make the process some what faster.
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In this not-so-great pic, the archer cohort of my First Legion of Ever Present Glory troops has been visited by the paint-laden brush! The armor is mostly done, now the bows, quivers, tunics, and other small details need to be finished.
Also in the pic above is the command cohort of my Arídani Legion of Lady Mríssa troops. Nothing has been done to them for a long time, other than the first dabbings of flesh-colored paint on the first miniature. I think that these miniatures are going to be among the hardest to paint for my Tsolyáni force, as the details are small and delicate and it will take some careful painting. I am wondering if I should just paint over the slender chains fastening their skirts with flesh, then go back over the chains with a dark wash and a metallic drybrush. It might make the process some what faster.
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Galleys & Galleons, part 3
Now that I have some ships together (see previous post), my thoughts have turned to getting them painted. First, primer. I have found that my usual primer, Reaper Master Series Brush-On Primer, has seen better days and has mostly settled out in the dropper, even after much shaking:
The two on the right were 'primed' with my remaining Reaper primer - you almost can not tell that there was anything there. The pair in the middle were coated with Vallejo Surface Primer. While the coverage is good, this stuff has a bit of a stench to it, and I do not think that I will try it again. On the left pair, I used a 1:1 mix of white gesso and grey gesso.
The gesso seems to be working OK. I have used gesso before, but mostly on 28mm figures and I am concerned about covering in details on these small ships. The gesso is not fully cured, though, so we will see...
The two on the right were 'primed' with my remaining Reaper primer - you almost can not tell that there was anything there. The pair in the middle were coated with Vallejo Surface Primer. While the coverage is good, this stuff has a bit of a stench to it, and I do not think that I will try it again. On the left pair, I used a 1:1 mix of white gesso and grey gesso.
The gesso seems to be working OK. I have used gesso before, but mostly on 28mm figures and I am concerned about covering in details on these small ships. The gesso is not fully cured, though, so we will see...
20 January 2015
New blog, with a painting tutorial
A new blog (not mine :) ) has sprouted up - The Great War at Sea by Grant. He has posted a two-part painting tutorial, with Part 1 here and Part 2 there.
He has some beautifully painted 1/2400 GHQ miniatures - take a look!
He has some beautifully painted 1/2400 GHQ miniatures - take a look!
15 January 2015
Agenda and other issues
Well, now that 2015 is rolling along, how about another one of those posts about what might get accomplished in it???
First off, 2015 has been declared the unofficial 'Year of Tékumel', as it was 40 years ago that the RPG Empire of the Petal Throne, by MAR Barker, was printed by TSR. In honor of that, I am going to continue to work on my Tékumel miniatures, always with an eye to completing the goal of finishing my Ruins of Thámerü scenario, someday. I have a fair number of Tsolyáni forces waiting for the production of the bulk of their opposition, the Yán Kór, to resume. In addition to the Thámerü forces (an element-based force), I would like to get some skirmish forces together for Tékumel as well.
Alongside these troops, the Tékumel naval project waits patiently in the background.
Not to be forgotten is my Mesoamerican project. This one is going to be a bit slower of a wick to burn, but there are many miniatures to choose from. Hopefully the budget will hold up to the task. Some progress has been made, including this:
This is the 2nd edition of Irregular Wars, a rules set based on small unit forces during the Renaissance, including army lists for European, Mesoamerican, Middle Eastern, and Asian armies. It has only just arrived, so a more detailed review will be forthcoming.
The medieval project, based around the fine miniatures from Claymore Castings, is being put on hold for the time being. Just too much on my plate right now. Besides, my lovely wife is more interested in the Mesoamerican stuff...
Speaking of a plate full, I also received this recently:
The latest book from Neil Thomas. I will flip through the pages with starry eyes, and dream of one day having yet another project to accompany the many fine scenarios listed in it! I can almost see starting up a 10mm project for the Seven Year's War...
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First off, 2015 has been declared the unofficial 'Year of Tékumel', as it was 40 years ago that the RPG Empire of the Petal Throne, by MAR Barker, was printed by TSR. In honor of that, I am going to continue to work on my Tékumel miniatures, always with an eye to completing the goal of finishing my Ruins of Thámerü scenario, someday. I have a fair number of Tsolyáni forces waiting for the production of the bulk of their opposition, the Yán Kór, to resume. In addition to the Thámerü forces (an element-based force), I would like to get some skirmish forces together for Tékumel as well.
Alongside these troops, the Tékumel naval project waits patiently in the background.
Not to be forgotten is my Mesoamerican project. This one is going to be a bit slower of a wick to burn, but there are many miniatures to choose from. Hopefully the budget will hold up to the task. Some progress has been made, including this:
This is the 2nd edition of Irregular Wars, a rules set based on small unit forces during the Renaissance, including army lists for European, Mesoamerican, Middle Eastern, and Asian armies. It has only just arrived, so a more detailed review will be forthcoming.
The medieval project, based around the fine miniatures from Claymore Castings, is being put on hold for the time being. Just too much on my plate right now. Besides, my lovely wife is more interested in the Mesoamerican stuff...
Speaking of a plate full, I also received this recently:
The latest book from Neil Thomas. I will flip through the pages with starry eyes, and dream of one day having yet another project to accompany the many fine scenarios listed in it! I can almost see starting up a 10mm project for the Seven Year's War...
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