Another Slight Diversion

A little diversion…

Count Belisarius — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 21:28:57 +0000

Little being the operative… When I did my big 15mm fantasy project during lockdown I painted lots of 15mm Fantasy… Most was ‘character’ stuff that could be used in skirmish type games (e.g. Frostgrave) but I also painted quite a few figures as largish warbands. One of these was dwarves. At one of the local Durham shows I’d seen some really cute 15mm dwarves from Four A Miniatures. I picked up a few but hadn’t done much with them. Although Four A still have a Facebook presence the owner (Andy Coleman) has never really got them in full production so what I have I think came from master moulds. But I picked up a few more direct and ended up with a few painted.

Time moved on and then Midgard arrived. I figured I could rebase some of the larger contingents I had a make up usable fantasy armies. I started with the dwarves and also did a few bases of Gnolls.

What I had left was odd figures that wouldn’t work for Midgard bases. So contacted Andy Coleman and he was able to supply enough figures to make up proper bases. So sorting these out I laid them all out ready… And then did nothing for over a year…

Having reached a little lull in all the 18th century stuff I decided a tidy up was in order and seeing all the stuff there I couldn’t face just dumping it in a box to forget about so thought it was worth ploughing on and finishing. So this was what I had…

There are some ropey Irregular mounted dwarves which if I replace the spears may be usable. Other odds and ends are Scibor dwarves for command and heroes. Very nice but not cheap. But the gun is nice.

You can see at the back the three almost completed bases and I realised painting twelve figures would enable me to complete them. So that was stage one…

And finishing these gave me three more bases…

I’ve now started work on twelve more crossbows and trying to sort a magic user as I don’t want to have to buy a resin one… So I’m hoping in a week or so I’ll have a full Midgard army! I do have other 15mm fantasy I could rebase and produce an opposing force… And maybe paint a few more…

A concert for the Archduke…

Count Belisarius — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 22:53:44 +0000

The Archduke, Otto Fritz von Hesseburg, looked out across the grounds of his new home, Schloss Hesseburg. He had come a long way since his days ruling the tiny Burgraviate of Altefritzenburg. His close relationship with Oberstgeneral Seamus Günter von Donovan and his Legion, the Savage Swans, had seen his army expand beyond all expectation and see fighting across Europe, far into Grenouisse as paid mercenaries, and across the southern seas to fight in Byzarbia and further south in that dark continent. The Savage Swans had proved valiant allies in his endeavours and the new larger Legion still served Altefritzenburg loyally. He pondered on the many campaigns fought alongside Braunschweig and how, after the defeat at Pescadrix, their treachery and scheming with the forces of Britannia had led to the Archduke suffering a great loss. When he travelled to Britannia his greatest joy was to see Sir Archibald Bax, the greatest keyboardist of the century, perform. As relations between Britannia and Altefritzenburg decayed following the treachery after Pescadrix that joy was no longer available and it almost broke his heart…

But now things had changed. The growing strength of Altefritzenburg and recent campaign successes and seen an opening of diplomatic channels as the influence of Braunchsweig at the Britannic Court waned. And one unexpected outcome of this was a request from Sir Archibald Bax to perform for his old friend. It was clear that Britannia would want something in return for this honour but for now this was too good a chance to miss.

Sir Archibald brought his own musicians to accompany him but the concert would also see the great Altefritzenburg singer Frau Maria von Schwielig perform alongside the great flautist Jakob von Gälweig. The party had arrived in relative secrecy as it was known agents of Braunschweig would see this event as bad for their relationship with Britannia. The Archduke chose to wait until the day of the concert before meeting Sir Archibald but the musicians rehearsed in the woods in the extensive grounds occasionally watched by the Archduke’s advisers.

The grounds of the Schloss contained ancient ruins and Otto had decided that these would provide a suitably epic backdrop to what was for him a very special moment.

And so the day arrived and the guests arrived. The nobility of Altefritzenburg gathered round tables with ruins around them and awaited the arrival of the musicians.

First to perform were Frau Maria von Schwielig and Jakob von Gälweig.

Then the string quartet joined them. Four of the finest musicians in Britannia.

And now the moment the Archduke had longed for. The clavichord was put in place and Sir Archibald Bax began his performance. The Archduke was enthralled, as were the nobility. The performance was all he could have hoped for.

As the final piece approached it’s finale Otto moved closer to savour the moment and the audience listened intently.

The concert finally came to an end. The Archduke was stunned by the performance. It was all he had hoped. Whatever Britannia might ask in return would be worth the cost. He looked down at Sir Archibald, smiled, and whispered under his breath, ‘Mein Lieber Archie’.

NB. I’ve amended the text after someone pointed out that Archie was playing a clavichord not a harpsichord. And that it would be quite quiet and unsuitable for being accompanied by other instruments and definitely too quiet for an outside concert… I’ve tried to source a 28mm harpsichord but with no joy. I can find a 1/48th but that may be too big. And then I’d either have to remove the Archie figure I have or buy and paint another. And then have a spare clavichord… Not sure I can be arsed. Especially as no one seems to have got my Liberace joke…

Just for a change…civilians!

Count Belisarius — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 16:47:36 +0000

It is looking like the annual Ayton game WILL be happening next May and that the main game is looking to be 17th Century… Finally… So late this year and start of next year is going to see a return to my C17th stuff. Obviously that WILL include civilians… And post-Ayton next year will see the a possible 10mm Napoleonic project when the recent Pendraken ‘kickstarter’ lands. So over the next few months I need to really finish off any C18th I want to do. Having had the recent sort out I’d already decided to finish off (or at least try) my C18th civilian lead pile. Which may or not be possible…But I’m going to try…

First up are the various Eureka 18th century vignette sets. Although I could have done these a fixed vignettes with the assorted figures sat round their tables I wanted to have the figures as flexible as possible… So I’ve started doing these on individual bases and hopefully when I do various tables they can all sit at them or near them or wherever I like!

The chap with the parasol is an odd Old Glory figure I had lying around. The actual parasol was missing so needed re-making. Quite pleased with these. I’ve got another 5 prepped and then will do assorted tables. And then the Eureka assorted musicians. And somewhere for them to play…

An Orgy of Organisation…

Count Belisarius — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 16:44:05 +0000

Having completed a lot of odds and ends of C18th civilians and skirmish stuff recently I’ve mostly just dropped it in various RUB boxes with little rhyme or reason. So I felt I needed to organise things a little better if only to enable finding stuff if I ever use them in a game…

Ecclesiasticals

First up were the various ecclesiastical figures… Monks and Nuns and assorted priests… I seem to now have a few of these…

Most of them are from several Midlam Miniatures Kickstarters. I’m quite a fan of their figures. They always paint up well. The Benedictines in the last pic are from Conquest Games and the Cultists I snuck in there are from Fenris Games. Priests etc. are from various places. There are a few more ranges out there that I don’t have (Foundry e.g.) but for now I’ve probably got enough…

Devilry Afoot

Next up was to gather together all the odds and ends I did for Devilry Afoot. Which I’ve still yet to play… Too many makes to name them all. I may still move the Cultists to this box as probably where they belong.

Populating the 17th Century

My C17th project is a bit of a slow burner. It may pick up if Ayton next year goes the 17th century route. I’ve done some proper armed figures as well but these are the ones aimed at using in skirmish type games. There are obviously more civilians to do… The duelling type figures are 3D prints. Nice figures but feel light and fragile…

Ottomans and Turkish Pirates

These are separate from my 18th century big battle Ottomans. To be used for skirmish type games and spanning both 17th and 18th centuries. A mix of Warlord, Eureka, Trent Miniatures, and probably the odd other make mixed in there. I’ve included two of the Ottomam guns as I have yet to find space for them in the main army boxes…

C18th Civilians

And finally we come to the 18th Century population of Altefritzenburg. There are 200+. Which is quite a lot…Nobles, Bakers and Town Watch, Gents, Ladies, Armed Civilians, Female Servants, Clerical Staff, Ratnik Street Traders, Duellists. All sorts of makes. Too many to list…

So there we have it. Much stuff sorted. I should really stop with the civilians but… I have a pile of Eureka ‘gents and ladies’ and some Midlam beekeepers. The plan is to finish those and then move on to other stuff. And resist buying more civilian types… Or maybe move to the rest of the 17th century civilians I have…

We shall see…

Workbench Update

Count Belisarius — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 23:35:25 +0000

Busy few weeks. Stuff going on. Usual lack of project focus…

This was a workbench update started weeks ago and never completed… I’d been making up some C18th Zombie types using the Wargames Atlantic Minutemen, Villagers, and Zombie sprues. Quite pleased with them. Will eventually do more…

I picked up a random Ebay auction supposedly of C18th civilians. The 2 women are from West Wind and probably C19th but not sure it shows. One was a Foundry pirate that became another gun crew. And one was a bloody hopping vampire! Still, they were fun to do.

I also picked up some coin holders for the Devilry Afoot markers I made some time ago. And I’ve been getting down to Bay Games most Tuesdays for Pocket Midgard. The pic shows a rather outstanding roll I made to cause much consternation to my opponent. Unlike this week’s game where my side were almost wiped out and lost by 33 points!

And I also grabbed some Foundry bandsmen because you can never have too many…

The final pic is of the assorted figures I picked up from Conquest Games back in May at Partizan. Monks and Nuns. Which I’ve now painted! They also included a Necromancer figure that I thought fitted nicely in with my Midlam assassins…

And finally some random bits. The Talisman Priest I’ve had for more years than I can remember… I bought two of the Midlam Wizard Apprentices to act as clerks for the Altefritzenburg Legal Guild… One had a pointy hat but I was able to swap it for a tricorn. Three Midlam serving women. A shady guy with a bog of something. And a vampire/demon/whatever type figure…

And having again failed to post this I’ve completed another six figures! Five more from Midlam and a priest from God knows where.

So that is the current state of play for recent stuff… I’ve also been doing a LOT of sorting and the next post will detail all my civilians/skirmish stuff…

And I sort of have a plan for the next few weeks. I don’t have many (honest!) 18th Century civilians left so I’m going to finish them! I’ve found a few duplicates of stuff as well and they will be listed soon.

More to follow…