Friday 3 October 2014

Blog update

It's been quite a while since I updated the blog, mainly due to my retirement from work and the number and frequency of holidays I've had to take with my good lady and the boys!
Any hoo major building work has commenced at Casa Robinson and it won't be finished till the new year so I'm hopeful of getting more posts on. On the gaming front I've not done a whole lot but picked up a very nice 28mm Norman Warband for Saga and a unit of Late Roman Cataphracts for my Dux Bellorum stuff, the 28mm Modern Afghan Brits are progressing as well.
To kick off with the Normans are very tidily painted but they were on winter snow bases which were nice but wouldn't go with my Vikings so they've been removed. I got sufficient forces to cover a warlord base, 3 units of mounted hearthguards and a unit of levy bowman.
I very very rarely paint mounted figures and I've knocked a couple of Perry Norman Knights up from their First Crusade range, I followed my normal super matt varnish procedure and I'm thinking the horses look quite dull and lifeless, the ones I bought have a bit of a sheen and I'm thinking I like that look better. There's 2 photos below and I'd be interested to know what you folks think looks the best?
First off is my super matt version
Below is the bought version with horse flesh sheen!
Please post your thoughts but I'm heading toward a satin sheen! Dougie

13 comments:

  1. Hi Dougie,
    I hope you enjoyed your holidays.

    I like the original matte version better. I know the *shiny* version looks like that the horse is lathered in a bit of sweat (after all carrying someone in armour around a bit, then having to gallop as well *would* be strenuous) could be perceived as being more realistic.

    I still like the matte version more. But given my lack of ability, this opinion is to be given only small weight.

    Andrew.

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    1. Cheers mate, another wargaming decision to agonise over !

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  2. I prefer matt... regardless, they both look great and I'm looking forwards to seeing them all together!

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  3. I too would have to go with the matt version. Sorry, does not help!

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  4. Have to apologize for making it more difficult, but I like the matt version better too! That being said, the satin look still looks great. The matt just feels more gritty and real to me.

    Congrats on your retirement!!!

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  5. Definitely the matt version. What do you use to get such a good finish?

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    1. Hi Pat, Daler- Rowney Soluble Varnish Matt, its the bees knees, never ever had an issue with it and it dries dead flat!
      There's a link below that describes the best way of applying it. Dougie
      http://www.orctrader.co.uk/Articles/Varnish.html

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    2. Thanks for that Dougie. Daler-Rowney is what I actually use as well but it is good to know that I am on the right track if you are using the same.

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  6. Satin for a well groomed knights mount with some mud or dust on its fetlocks. Matt for the common hacks for the rest of the force. Congratulations on your retirement.

    All the best

    Airhead

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  7. Thats the decision made then, I'll go for the dirty dusty matt look!

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  8. Late to the party for commenting on this but isn't the satin photo a bit glossy, or is that how it turned out? My satin horses have a sheen on them rather than the glossy varnish look. Just a thought. Neil

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    1. Hi Neil, the bottom horse is as it came and it is too shiney, I'm fairly sure I'll be opting for a matt look. Dougie

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