Goth Skirmishers

Apologies for the pause in blogging, lots has been happening since the last post, I've started a new job which takes me off shifts and onto regular days, still within Mental Health Nursing. I've also fitted in landscaping my small back garden, so time to paint and blog has been non existent until now. Life is now settling down to normal and painting will soon resume. I'm also planning on setting up a table in my dining room large enough for some games, even if solo for now; well that's the plan this week unless I get distracted. In the meantime, I've included pictures of some Goth skirmishers, 15mm Forged in Battle. More Picts will follow when I can get a chance to take photographs. I've included a couple of before and after shots of the garden, 2023-2025, it spent last year under black plastic. Now I have a space to read peacefully in the summer if the weather is nice, historical books of course!

Goth Archers

 

The Goths just keep coming, now you know how the Romans felt! Bit of a delay on posting the Picts this week as basing is being finished off. So, I thought I offer up these Goth archers, these are 15mm Essex Miniatures from the lead pile. 

 

Painting this week has seen me complete a Pict chariot and some Arthurian figures. These are in the basing queue and will be making their appearance on the blog over the coming weeks. The rest of the time has been spent preparing the next batch for painting, cleaning castings and gluing spear and shields in place ready for undercoating. I've also made some broom bristle spears for the first time, hoping they look okay once painted up!

Goth infantry 3 the hordes keep coming!

 

The latest batch of Goth infantry are 15mm Essex Miniatures. These are part of an Essex Miniatures Goth army pack that I picked up cheap off eBay, and although the coffin shields are no longer on vogue I'm personally not overly concerned. These will do service in my Goth army and in any army go the period that require a similar troop type. 

Good progress has been made on the Picts, only a chariot, 12 cavalry and 16 warriors left from the lead pile. I'm also painting up the Arthurian Heroes of Camelot pack and a few supporting warriors from Warlord Games, these are nearly finished as type this post. Hopefully, I'll be able to get the first batch of Picts based and photographed for the next blog post. 

Goth Cavalry

 

Goth cavalry, 15/18mm Lancashire Games miniatures. I really like the charging look of these figures, sweeping across the battlefield. During the last few weeks I've been busy rooting through boxes and rebasing figures that I've come across. This has led me to find some forgotten miniatures, namely some 28mm Picts and Early Saxons. So, I've started painting up the Picts, fortunately these were already undercoated. I've also decided that I will keep a log of everything I paint this year, will be interesting to see if I'm being realistic in the plans I'm making. I did do a tally of last years 15mm painting without expecting much and found that I'd painted around 950 figures. Not too bad considering I don't feel I spent much time painting. 

Goth infantry 2

The Goths are invading! More infantry support for my Goth armies, these are 15mm Old Glory Miniatures and are sold by TimeCast Models in the UK. I still think these are great miniatures and are worthwhile looking at, plus the service from TimeCast is excellent. The shields are hand painted, and look much better  viewed at a distance, 3ft rule! Also after listening to an episode on the Yarkshire Gamer podcast with Henry Hyde as the guest, I've started to paint the edges of my bases. Those not familiar with the podcast, there is a section based on Room 101, a repository for wargaming dislikes/hates. If you haven't discovered Yarkshire Gamer podcasts, they are an excellent companion to the painting table, very enjoyable. 

On the work bench I have some 15mm Goth Cavalry just waiting for basing. I've also finished the first set for Empire of the Dead figures, though I have to sort out the basing and I'm pondering whether to buy cobblestone bases, sculpt with putty or use soft foam. That will be a post on it's own. On the painting I've finally started my 15mm Middle Imperial Romans form Forged in Battle. 

Social media wise, I've joined Bluesky, and it already appears a far friendly place to be than the other place that shall not be named. Henry Hyde has also set up a starter pack on Historical Miniature Wargaming, already expanded to a second pack. This already looks to be a promising way to link like minded people. 

Goth Infantry

For the first unit in my 15mm Goth army I've chosen some older miniatures. These are 15mm Goth infantry from Alternative Armies, sold under their Isaurus range. I believe they are formerly Table Top Miniatures. Despite there being only 3 poses, they are very cheap at 35p a casting and singles can be bought. I'm also very pleased about how these veteran miniatures have painted up. 

A couple of new purchases this week. The first is the Jon Hodgson backdrops book 1 - Fantasy. I purchased my copy from Bad Squidoo Games. The second is a new light box, I went for the 40x40cm PULUZ light box. I'm really pleased with both purchases. The light box is a considerable upgrade on my old one, with variable brightness and warm, cold and natural light settings. 

Currently on the painting table are some 15mm Alan and Goth cavalry, and a 28mm set for Empire of the Dead; Gentlemen's Club.