Monday 4 February 2019

The Doom Riders!

Thundering across the battlefield the sun reflecting blindingly from their ornate plate armour, could there have been anything more terrifying that a troop of Cuirassiers? My Witchfinder world has thrown up all sorts of challenges not least being choice of miniatures to represent cavalry in the employ of the Dark Prince.
These ‘Warlord Games’ English Civil War Cuirassiers were the perfect choice to represent my Doom Riders with their faces obscured by heavy metal visors.  Truth be told they have been in the painting queue for an incredible length of time, I just find it difficult to start units of cavalry.  That and the fact that they were a real pain to prepare!  The horses themselves are plastic and relatively straightforward to assemble, with options for additional holsters but it was the riders that proved the chore with some badly cast and misshaped. 
Finally assembled they have languished on the side of shame for over a year until the grim realisation dawned that I needed them for a scheduled game.  Looking for a way to help speed up the process, the trusty airbrush was unpacked and the mounts were given a base colour before the saddlery was picked out in a bit more detail.  Having blocked the riders in with a metallic colour, I set about them with a series of washes, the last one designed to give them a hellish feel, with the subtle use of red. 
As is always the way, I am delighted when I finish any cavalry, often wondering what all the fuss was about?  That said there are still half a dozen that didn’t get done, but those that did proved their worth on the battlefield, with devastating effect.
Interestingly, I had taken a number of photographs of the troop fully assembled and ready for painting, but when I checked the date it rather alarmingly declared 4th May 2015!  As a result, I am claiming my first square on the 'Wargame Hobby Bingo' card, namely, 'Finish painting a model that's been in your to-do pile or that's remained unfinished for more than a year'.

47 comments:

  1. Raiders are turned out just great! Very menacing looking band.

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    1. You are very kind Mike, thank you.

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    2. Going back through to steal ideas, and I am going to have to get myself a unit of these.

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    3. They are a lovely set Mike.

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  3. Beautifully turned out hellions Michael

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    1. Thank you Andy, really pleased with them myself.

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  4. Lovely looking riders Michael, suitably ominous! Love the purple trousers and especially the red sashes.

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    1. Thank you Peter, I was starting to worry that the colours were clashing a bit, but they just about pull it off. :)

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  5. Great job and impressive pictures Michael!

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  6. It's a shame they languished in storage so long, they've painted up beautifully menacing - great work.

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    1. Thank you so much Joe, what I haven't said is that there are still another six to paint! Goodness knows when they will get done?

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  7. These look great Michael, good to see your still finding hobby time and have managed to finish an old project, and claim a square on your bingo card

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    1. Thank you so much Dave. I have been beavering away, albeit quietly, behind the scenes. I now need to catch up with what everyone else has been doing?

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  8. Bl**dy excellent !! Just a mo, is Bloody a swear word?

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    1. Trust you to lower the tone, but thank you nonetheless. ;)

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  9. Lovely looking cavalry Micheal!

    Christopher

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  10. It's all downhill after your first Michael! Well done! Great to see you getting another game of Witchfinder in as well!...alas I still have never painted a horse! Though with all the mounted units I have...one day that record will be shattered!

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    1. I can't believe you have never painted a horse Terry, I am staggered! Thank you very much though.

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  11. Nicely done, old chap. I'm not a fan of assembling and/or painting cavalry either. Needs must, but I find it a chore.

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    1. Thank you A.J. It is funny, but somedays the assembly is a chore and others I would rather been tinkering away than painting, I suppose it just depends what sort of mood you are in?

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  12. Very nice Michael, the horses have turned out a treat.

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    1. Thank you. Given that they didn't hold as mush detail as the metal, I was pleasantly surprised.

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  13. Very nice Sir M. Love the added devil red wash. Works a treat.

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    1. Thank you Ray, I might try to push it a bit more on the next batch.

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  14. The colourscheme is simple but highly effective in my opinion and looks great too.
    My only remark being the colour of the holster, which is almost identical to the one on some of the horses.

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    1. Thank you and you're right, that coulor is a bit similar. In my defence it might have something to do with the shade that I used, perhaps need to thin it a bit more first?

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  15. Superb looking work! Cheers!

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  16. These turned out great Michael. They remind me very much of the pistoliers the empire used to use in Warhammer. I guess it must be the style of armour or something

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    1. Thank you so much Simon and I know exactly what you mean, I think it is the plate armour that is doing it.

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  17. Loving the Bingo idea Michael.
    Fantastic looking cavalry.
    Cheers
    Stu

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    1. Thank you Stuart, hoping to have a few more squares ticked off before too long. :)

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  18. They look awesome Michael.
    I have ticked off that particular Hobby bingo square on too many occasions...

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  19. Great additions to your collection, Michael. Hmm, for some reason I had thought the riders were plastic as well.

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  20. These look fantastic Michael. I'm especially wow'ed by the color transitions on the horses' body.

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  21. That is a fantastic looking unit. Bravo!

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  22. Usually I don't read post on blogs, however I wish to say that this write-up very impressived!!

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