Orc Army - Dragon Rampant

 Welcome Fellow Grognards and Young Guard!

Happy 50th Blog!  Well, might not be as exiting as a million viewer button from YouTube, but I was quite surprised that I had reached this mark.

2023 has been a very productive year on the paint table.  Honestly, I have been trying to catch up with my posts on painted models this year.  The major push has been Dragon Rampant armies, but I have completed other projects that I hope to post here soon.

For your enjoyment on this 50th post, I offer the Orc Army for Dragon Rampant!

Orc Warband....36 pts.

Orc Warlord on Dire Wolf (Elite Rider/ Leader).... 6 pts.  (Wizards of the Coast)

Black Orcs (Heavy Foot/ Offensive) ... 6 pts.  (Heartbreaker)

Assault Orcs (Heavy Foot) ... 4pts. (Chronopia)

Assault Orcs (Heavy Foot/ Reduced Models) ... 4 pts (Chronopia)

Orc Archers (Light Missiles) ... 4pts.  (Reaper Miniatures)

Orc Crossbowmen (Heavy Missiles) ... 4 pts.  (Harlequin)

Ogres (x2 units) (Bellicose Foot) ... 4pts each for 8 pts. (Games Workshop w/ head swaps with GW Orks)

Hope you enjoyed this installment of "Of Dice and Army Men"!

One parting shot.  With this army painted and posted, I've reached a new high for miniatures painted!

220!

Next up...Goblin Warband for Dragon Rampant!

GAME ON!

PAINTED MINIATURES SCOREBOARD:

2021 Painted Miniatures: 169

2022 Painted Miniatures: 214

2023 Painted Miniatures: 220 !!!  NEW RECORD!

Ride the Lightning! - Blue Dragon

 8/23/23

Hello again fellow Grognards and Young Guard!

Just wanted to drop another one shot, single mini paint project.  I found this guy on ebay, rescued him and repaired some wing damage he had, likely in the original manufacturing process.  The sculpt captures a twisting turn in flight, facing to engage a ground target.  It was difficult to get some decent pictures of this guy as much of his detail is on his underside and obscured by the wings or just due to the positioning.  

As far as Evil Dragons go, the Blue Dragon is one of my favorites and rates right up there with the Red Dragon.  

I imagine putting him on the table in Fistful of Lead Core/ Fantasy or Dragon Rampant.

Get ready to soar and ride the lightning and GAME ON!

PAINTED MINIATURES SCOREBOARD:

2021 Painted Miniatures: 169

2022 Painted Miniatures: 214

2023 Painted Miniatures: 154

In the Eye of the Beholder

 8/23/23

Hello fellow Grognards and Young Guard!

Below is a quick post on a single mini project.  This model is by Wizards of the Coast (WOTC) from their D&D line.  Once I saw this mini, I new I wanted to paint it.  It was a challenge to create the eyes as well as get the wet gums and teeth.

I used the pre-painted model in online pictures as my paint guide.  One of the eyes had to be re-sculpted a bit, as it had a clear "beam" attached to it.  I cut the beam off and then cleaned up the eye.  Hopefully you can't see which one it was (...I'm not telling).

I'm pretty proud of this model, having tried some new techniques and was happy with the outcome.

I've been painting armies recently and it takes a toll.  I find that I just need one of these single model or terrain projects to break up the madness.

Hoping to put this Beholder on the table in my Fistful of Lead Core or Fantasy games.

Remember...Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder...Hope you enjoy!

GAME ON!

PAINTED MINIATURES SCOREBOARD:

2021 Painted Miniatures: 169

2022 Painted Miniatures: 214

2023 Painted Miniatures: 153

Simple Conversions for Galactic Heroes or Xenos Rampant - Gran Raider aka Ree Yees

Welcome fellow Wargamers to another installment of 'Of Dice and Army Men'!

Before I get too deep into the armies I have painted for Dragon Rampant, I have been working on a little side project for Galactic Heroes or Xenos Rampant.  It all started with an idea I had a few years ago and the Gran Raider figure from Star Wars Miniatures Game.

As you can see, this guy is not properly outfitted, in my humble opinion, for survival in the Star Wars universe.  He, for whatever reason, is bringing a knife to a blaster fight.

Now these minis are fairly cheap, likely for that very reason.  I have acquired a few and an evil plan has began to take shape!  Evil, quite evil....

As goes with the Grognard name, I have been playing wargames for quite some time.  I was introduced to table top wargames back in 1992, by some friends who were playing Warhammer 40K, Rogue Trader.  Times were different then, and we purchased boxes of plastic marines, 30 to a box if I recall correctly and just built our chapters out to massive numbers.  To do the same today, would like run the same cost as funding the next space shot to Mars.  But I digress...

So, having had many 'beakie' marines, I also was left with a pile of alternate arms, weapons, and accessories.

Lighting struck and when I saw this Gran Raider, he was destined to go under the knife.  Through the wonders of conversion, I removed both his arms (into the bits box they went) and glued on a right and left arm from my 'beakie' marine bits box.

I painted some additional details onto the marine arms to match the existing details on the Gran Raider model, repeat and 'voila', a squad of troops ready for the Galactic Heroes game!

 With some use of a power glove and bolter from the bits, I created a 'Sergeant' for the squad as well.

So, here is the full squad for your review.

There are many minis out there that can be repurposed and converted for your games.  In many cases, they can be done cheaply as well.

PAINTED MINIATURES SCOREBOARD:

2021 Painted Miniatures: 169

2022 Painted Miniatures: 214

2023 Painted Miniatures: 35

Until next time fellow Grognards and Young Guard, keep your fingers clear of your Xacto knife and Game On!