Fools way of using Speedpaints

 I have gotten several questions (not to mention expressions of amazement) over the results I get from mainly painting with Army Painter Speedpaints, so I thought a short (ish) tutorial of how I do it might be of interest. And since I just painted a batch of Irish with this method...

First step is quite simple: assemble the mini, put it on a base (optionally: cover up the "puddle" with some wall filler), and prime it all white

I tend to refer to this as a "pre-shade". Basically, but a dark brown wash over the entire miniature (althought not necessarily the base). In this case, I used Games Workshop Agrax Earthshade, but Army Painter Strong Tone should give close enough to exactly the same result.

Grab a drybrysh, and drybrush white all over, to enhance contours and lines, and provide some shading once the speedpaint goes over it.

Last step before Speedpaint, paint the base a suitable color (in this case, dark brown)

Now we're onto the Speedpaints. Starting from the inside and going out, skin is first (incidentally, this is Army Painter Crusader Skin, which doesn't look nearly as good over a straight white primer, but with my pre-shade, it looks just right).

Next layer up, his pants and cloak (Irish are thankful in this way, very few layers of clothes). If there were more layers, just keep going from the innermost layer visible and outwards. Since it's Speedpaints, errors are hard to correct, so make sure to keep the belt and other leather details clean

And then, those leather details, in a mix of various browns (Army Painter Hardened Leather, in this case), even if it can be hard to tell).

Last Speedpaints, the hair on the mini (or beard, in this case). If I may offer a few tips, Pallid Bone makes for good blond hair, and Hardened Leather is surprisingly good for redheads. Other than that, the usual mix of browns (try not to overlap too much with their leathers), and Grim Black.

The one thing I find Speedpaints a bit weaker for, is steel, specifically steel sheets (such as swords, axes, shield bosses, and breastplates). So here, I am back to an old method, and "normal" paints. Vallejo Air offers excellent coverage with just one layer.

Once the steel is painted, it is time to glue on the shield (that's been painted separately for ease of access).

With the shield on, the mini is almost finished, and it is time to start the basing. For these, I'm going with a texture paste (Vallejo Dark Earth), straight over the "ground".

Once the texture paste is completely dry, it is time for another wash, just over metal bits and said texture paste (for some extra contrast on the ground).

Once again, wait for it to be completely dry (I usually leave it over night), then grab the drybrush and go over the ground, as well as the lower part of the shield, and possibly the legs as well, with a good, dusty beige (I swear by Army Painter Skeleton Bone for this, but most similar-ish colour should be good).

The last painting step is to just paint the base rim a suitable colour. I usually go with a discrete black, but everyone has their preferred way of doing it, from discrete to garish

To finish the mini off, glue on some static grass and/or tufts.

 And with that, he is done. I can usually punch through 12 of these in about a week, doing 1 or 2 paints a night (ideally, with the speedpaints going on over the weekend, since they dry "enough" fairly rapidly). Brush control is important, since it can be tricky to reverse spills, but once you've got that, it is a very rapid way of getting an army table ready.

Hope you found it useful

/Fool, Out 

SAGA Irish for Age of Vikings

 A small project that, for once, stayed small. It helps that there's pretty much one way to run Irish, with most variations purely lessening their power (which, mind you, isn't necessarily bad, since the Irish can be quite strong). 

It began as an idea when Wargames Atlantic released their plastic Irish. I just took some time getting around to it... (and now Vitrix have teased their own...)

The fact that Irish have a limited palette, and very few clothes, too, do mean that it was a quick warband to paint up, too. The initial kick to get going, assemble and paint all the minis I had, was delivered in May. And had I focused on painting just the Irish (and not jumping between projects as is my wont), I'd have them finished in July at the latest, more likely within a single month (four batches of 12-13, and about a week for each batch)

For SAGA, Levies are the go-to. As things stand now, slings are preferable, but this is the one area I see myself maybe expanding, with some Levy armed with javelins. Also, I had to do some kitbashing here, with several of the slings being from the bits-box, since the WGA kit is a bit low on slings

The warriors are also armed with javelins (even if some of them are well hidden). As peasants, they were mostly limited to natural colors (greys, whites, and blacks), but were also allowed yellow... as I said, a limited palette, and very quick to paint.

And then there's the dogs. One of those "less good" options, but very easy to paint, so I see no reason to not have them ready to use.

The Irish stand out a bit in that they not only have their King (Warlord, in SAGA terms), but also Curaidh (champions and lieutenants). They were the one thing missing from the WGA kit (at least if one wants them in armour), but Victrix Late Romans provided some very useful bodies, especially when kitbashed with some viking bits, and also cloaks from the WGA Irish. 

Finally, there was a golden opportunity for some special objectives, with classic celtic crosses. Good thing I have a friend with a laser cutter and plenty of 3mm MDF (and enough skill to design these for me).

All in all, that is a nice little warband, that will be interesting to field (and not just encounter on the opposite side), that also has helped me figure out how to best utilise Army Painter Speedpaints (a separate guide for that will be coming soon)

/Fool, Out 

Undead Horde for SAGA (and what else may appear)

 This began as a bit of almost-mistake. A long time ago, I painted some rangers, soldiers, and peasants for Rangers of Shadow Deep, and they of course needed some enemies to fight. So I got some Fireforge Living Dead... and to my dread found them fun to paint. 

Then I needed to paint some objectives for a painting challenge, and had some MDF graves lying around...

Next thing I know, I'm making plans for ALL the zombies (and finally found a use for that necromancer I had lying around). Oops?

The plan is to run them for SAGA: Age of Magic, but they can of course be used anywhere and everywhere a bunch of zombies on round bases can be used (and with base adapters, I have even more options).

Where it all started, with some dead peasants that didn't lie down (and then, somehow, there were more dead peasants refusing to lie down... as well as some worn down soldiers). It helps that Undead levies in SAGA: AoM comes in packs of 20 (then fireforge sell their peasant zombies in packs of 18...)

And then there were the graves. Simple extra additions to a Frostgrave Mausoleum, but put them on a round base, and they make excellent low-profile SAGA objectives.

Of course, if doing a real undead horde, one might want some heavier zombies, that may still remember how to swing a blade, and not just drown you in numbers (I said just drown you in numbers, these still do some of that). 

As an adaptation for saga, I needed some zombie archers as well (even if most undead seem to not favour ranged weapons). It was a bit of kitbash, but the end result is quite nice. And it gave me a good opportunity to mess up some models.

All the various soldiers are a mix of local and not-so-local warbands, so if one wants a closer look at each provider (it is very nice of Fireforge to make their zombies in a mix of armours, giving a natural variation) 

I am especially proud of the fellows with purple and yellow shields. I imagine that they are what remains of a mercenary company famous for their "golden" armour... that is now all verdigris, as it was apparently more brass than gold. 

There are a few undead that seem to have known what they were up for, even before they died. They form to hearthguard knights of the warband. And the rust makes them look absolutely badass. It is no idea to run, you'll just die tired...

An alternative to knights as Shock Troops, would be some strange spiders found deep in the darkest forests. Their poison seem to have natural reanimating properties, and they're surprisingly willing to follow strong necromancers... (these are also a remnant from the start of this as Rangers of Shadow Deep, since necromantic spiders are a foe there in some missions)

Then there is, of course, the driving Characters (can't really call them heroes...) of it all. 

The Necromancer (and his raised doggo) responsible for it all (Warlord in SAGA terms, since Undead do have the option of a spellcaster warlord for obvious reasons). It is a bit uncertain if he's still alive, or if he's immersed himself in necromancy to the point of being technically undead himself... 

His Apprentice (a Sorcerer in SAGA terms, for when I need twice the magic... and just a cool model). Very pale, but probably still alive. Very loyal to his master, and it might not even be magic control.

And the Black Knight, an old (dead) nobleman, raised and kept control as the Necromancers lieutenant, in both Mounted and on Foot versions. Somehow, this character told me his entire life story as I painted him (aside from his name, but I know he had a Bar Sinister in silver over black as his heraldry). How he murdered his own half-brother, because he was better suited to rule, and how it was only right and proper that he then try to conquer the world, as he had the power, the will, and the right, noble blood. He also ranted a fair bit about the heroes that put him in his grave, but somehow just because they had the power and will to defeat him, it didn't make it right... and now his blood is all gone, and the Necromancer keeps him very strictly bound to prevent backstabbing (or frontstabbing, or sidestabbing... the Black Knigth isn't particular how he stabs to gain power).

 And then I got to paint a dragon. Slight wear and tear, as with most of the force, but for a dragon, death isn't really that much of a stop. Or possibly, the Necromancer has just pumped the corpse full of necromantic energy, as he is wont to do.

Now I just need to figure out how to transport them all (the dragon is really the tricky part, that fellow is HUGE). And somehow, I still don't have everything I need for that Rangers of Shadow Deep scenario...

/Fool Out 

SAGA Normans, headed for Sicily

 My Normans for SAGA were painted a long time ago (for Version 1, even), and I've been dissatisfied with them for a while. Both in what I have painted, and in how they look (I can do better now). And then Victrix started releasing their plastic Normans... well, the results speak for themselves.

At the same time, I had a golden opportunity to do something different. Most Norman warbands for SAGA are painted as Bill the not-legitimately-born's merry band of England-conquerors, but those weren't the only Normans setting out for new ground. There was in fact another. Down in Italy, Normans first served as mercenaries (for the Lombards against the Byzantines, and for the Byzantines against the Lombards, and for both against the Saracens of Sicily), only to manage to conquer a realm for themselves. So I decided to (losely, as always) base my band on those. At the same time, this means they can flawlessly be used as Crusaders for Age of Crusades, and the Spanish (also AoC) would fit them in fighting style quite well, too.

The Warlord is (as is about 50-50) a Warlady, because I found Brother Vinni's Mathilda of Tuscanny great-looking (and from almost the right area... close enough). The infantryman on the base can be changed between a bodyguard with a command pennants, and a standard bearer with an actual flag, in case a change is wanted. Also, a priest can make for a good advisor model, be it as a Priest, or a scenario hero (and I had one over, from the Victrix Anglo-Saxons).

The mailed fist of the Normans are their knights on horseback. I doubt I'll need 10 very often, or the extra 11th one with a flag, but the idea here is to paint up everything I'll possibly need. And they're gorgeous models. For some splashes of color (other than steel or horseflesh), they've got plenty of pennants from their spears.

Of course, if the mailed fist is the knights, the arm, the body, and the legs that allow for that blow are the Mounted Warriors, harassing the enemy to death and out of position. 20 of them, with Javelins (and enough waving not-javelins, so they can serve as non-javelin cavalry without making me twitch). And, of course, more pennants and a flag. Should be good enough...

And if it's not enough, there's the Breton contingent, 8 more Mounted Warriors with Javelins (either to be mixed in among the warriors, or serving as Breton Mercenaries with their own special rules).

Norman Infantry in SAGA is... let's just call it unsupported and rarely seen. But I might occasionally need some, so painted they are. The Victrix models are great, so I might even be tempted to make some more. The armoured ones could serve as either Hearthguard (Normans can field their knights on foot. I keep being surprised by this fact), Flemish Mercenaries, or just be mixed with the unarmoured ones.

(Fun fact, the armored fellow with his axe in full swing is the very first model I assembled for this project, knowing full well that he wouldn't be seing much use. He was also the last one painted. Seems fitting, somehow.)

If you do need infantry, some mercenaries are much better. Such as these fine fellows from Kyiv and thereabouts. As Vagrant Warrior mercenaries, they are 8 strong, and can have either Heavy Weapons, or shields. The idea is to field 5 with the correct option, 2 leaders (the flag bearer and the one with the extra head), and a single one with the wrong option. Thus I only needed to paint 12, instead of the full 16. Efficiency!

 If Norman infantry is sub-optimal, crossbows are almost memetically so. But they are an option, and if I want to field these as Spanish or Crusaders, then they'd be much better. Only one unit is necessary, but that can be up to 12 Levy for the later factions. Assume the fellows in armour are old, tired, and/or less motivated. Always a good excuse, that (and since Victrix sends fully half their crossbowmen with armour, I need to find a use for some of them at least)

 Now, the much better part to the crossbows: remove the cross and go full bow. If the Norman Crossbows are bad, it is at least half due to these fellows, bow-armed levy. With actual support from the battle board, and more shots for the same price to compensate for the (slightly) lesser individual power.

Now, to be fair, in hindsight, I should have made some of these fellows, and possibly some of the warriors, more arabised, to represent that part of the Sicilian forces. However, I did not realise that until these were assembled and half painted. Well, if I ever decide I need another 12 Levy...

And finally, something to fight over. Stationary supplies, for objectives, and mobile supplies, as Baggage in special scenarios. The sharp-eyed will notice the kitty sleeping on the bigger objective. I might have to do that on more of my objectives, because everything's better with a cat...

But with that, one of my biggest projects (so far) is finished. All in less than a year, and with other projects in parallell... but I'll admit to being a bit tired of painting horses, now. For full transparency, the SAGA Thorsday Warband Challenge (paint 6 points and a Warlord over 7 months) provided a lot of motivation for getting going, and getting through all that horseflesh. But this is obviously (if you know SAGA) more than 6 points, so there were a few extras intersperced (and a fair bit finished after the formal challenge ended).

 Now, to paint something not mounted...

/Fool, Out.

Frostgrave Barbarians

 First finished project of 2025 (nevermind that these have been in the queue for at least 6 months, and been worked on since november). While my urge to play Frostgrave is currently low, the urge to paint never goes away.

These are a mix of the "official" Frostgrave male and female Barbarians, with some headswaps from Shieldwolf Shieldmaidens. Anyway, on to the pictures.

All in all, it makes for a nice tribe.

First up, the ordinary tribesmembers (Thugs and Thieves in Frostgrave parlance) that doesn't require much to get going.

Then there's the support, infantrymen and -women wielding spears, as well as those armed with ranged weapons.

And then the core veteran fighters. Either wielding shields (and being either Knights, or Men-at-Arms, depending on what's needed. One can always claim the extra armor is experience, and the lower speed the scars from gaining said experience) or having anger management issues (what Frostgrave terms Barbarians).

Finally, the leaders of the tribe. A Witch, an Apprentice, and an Chief on Fuzzy Unicorn (Kornovik, Barbarian Outcast, on a whooly rhino).

(And finally-finally, a pair of mercenaries that can be hired by anyone who's got silver. They were strictly speaking not part of the barbarians, but got painted in parallell and based at the same time).

And with that, until next time.

/Fool Out