Militia

[labrat]

It's time for the militia to grow a bit. I have some new drawings finished to preview to you. These fellas are doing their damage from across the battlefield (hopefully).

This is a different style than the last set of militiamen so let me know what you think about it.

[cowboyleland]

Coincidentally, I was recently thinking about "the bow problem" as I worked the Robin Hood 2.5's. You'll notice I didn't use any, which is a major omission in a Robin Hood "set." The problem is they need to be thicker than "real life" to not tear and curl (too much) but still look good. I would say that these are too fat in the middle for historical european self bows and narrowing them there (say 33%) would allow a more gradual taper to the end, which would look more natural.

Just my 2 cents

[vodswyld]

I love the style of these, and I hope to see many more figures out of ya'll.

[josedominguez]

I love the variety as always

Are these guys going to be part of the militia release? Or a separate pack?

I'm churning out 15mm armies for a massed battle and I'm hanging on for more of your releases!

What's next?

[labrat]

Feb 24, 2011 8:12:35 GMT -9 josedominguez said:

I love the variety as always

Are these guys going to be part of the militia release? Or a separate pack?

I'm churning out 15mm armies for a massed battle and I'm hanging on for more of your releases!

What's next?

These guys will be in a separate set even though they are a part of the militia. Along with these archers I will be adding some crossbowmen/handcannoners. So there will be a grand total of 15 ranged militia (5w/bows, 5w/crossbows, and 5w/handcannons).

Here is a preview of those:


The plan was to get some ranged footsoldiers done next, but I might do something else first to mix it up and help to keep me motivated. Perhaps barbarians or something, although I was thinking I could just use Jim's berserker set for the barbarians. I'm not 100% sure yet what is coming next. What would you like to see next?

[paladin]

First impression: very good ! Some of the archers remind me of Tom Meier minis, there is some sensibility to your pen, labrat. They all seem to be handdrawn. Nothing can beat that in my opinion. No vector-tricks. I also like the historical feel of your work.

One suggestion: the arrow-barrel on the right of the archers shows some contradiction in perspective. To make it all flat (bottom and top) is (I think) a valid option.

I wonder, labrat, how much time do you need for one mini in this style and technique (with coloring) ?

[labrat]

Thank you for your kind words all. I'm afraid I can't take full credit. Parduz has been instrumental as part of the design team I'm attempting to form. He gives some quality feedback to help me get the figures looking good.

Coincidentally, I was recently thinking about "the bow problem" as I worked the Robin Hood 2.5's. You'll notice I didn't use any, which is a major omission in a Robin Hood "set." The problem is they need to be thicker than "real life" to not tear and curl (too much) but still look good. I would say that these are too fat in the middle for historical european self bows and narrowing them there (say 33%) would allow a more gradual taper to the end, which would look more natural.

I am fully aware of this issue myself. In miniatures many of the proportions are exaggerated to create a decent look at the small scale. Weapons is one of these things. The bows I have drawn are far too thick to be accurate, so I have chosen to ignore accurate and make them thick so that they are not flimsy. Just a sacrifice I chose to make.

One suggestion: the arrow-barrel on the right of the archers shows some contradiction in perspective. To make it all flat (bottom and top) is (I think) a valid option.

I have had the barrel issue mentioned to me by others as well. I plan to fix this in the inking process.

I wonder, labrat, how much time do you need for one mini in this style and technique (with coloring) ?

As far as the time it takes per figure, I'm not really sure. I would estimate anywhere from 2-5 hours. It's hard to say because I haven't really nailed down a process yet. I have tried many different things, and some seem to take forever and others aren't so bad. I am getting closer to finding a process that works well for me.

[gilius]

Out of curiosity, do you draw your models on paper and scan them or do you draw them straight on the computer with a tablet? I ask this because the lines look very natural, yet they are also very clean... I usually can only get one or the other (sort of.)

[cowboyleland]

Right, and if I want the mini's and the bows give me the heebee jeebees (for non-English speakers, that is an old term for a weird feeling, sort of in between fear and disgust, which is a strange thing to feel for thick paper bows, but it seems to be how I feel) I can always trim them thinner with my x-acto.

Cheers

[Sirrob01]

Labrat I got away with fairly thin bows on my fox bowmen, the black outline adds a significant amount of support and width to even a thinnish section.

The other cheat I used was handle were the bowmen hold the bow, although this might not work for militia...

saying that I did have the added advantage of my fox's being Jim scaled rather than SS scaled (SS 10% smaller roughly)..although I do have some rescales in the works to bring my fox's down to SS scale but haven't got to any test builds yet...

I'm looking forward to these guys when there done and they do look good

[emergencyoverride]

These guys look great! I cant wait to get them on the table. I would like to see the cannon or catapult next if you have it figured out. ex. 3d, 2.5 etc. Commanders and Captains would be good also. But whatever you put out, I'll be eagerly awaiting it. ;D

[Parduz]

Feb 25, 2011 9:33:02 GMT -9 labrat said:

I'm afraid I can't take full credit. Parduz has been instrumental as part of the design team I'm attempting to form. He gives some quality feedback to help me get the figures looking good.

This is like saying that the person who made the paints used by Picasso deserve some credit.... take your credits, 'cause you deserve them

[Reivaj]

WOW these guys looks really good!! ;D

[josedominguez]

Brilliant as ever....... how about some mounted knights next???
some with lances, some with 2handed weapons

[labrat]

Feb 25, 2011 13:01:30 GMT -9 Sirrob01 said:

Labrat I got away with fairly thin bows on my fox bowmen, the black outline adds a significant amount of support and width to even a thinnish section.

Ok, you talked me into thinning them out a bit. Hopefully they will be more pleasing when they are not so "chunky".

Out of curiosity, do you draw your models on paper and scan them or do you draw them straight on the computer with a tablet? I ask this because the lines look very natural, yet they are also very clean... I usually can only get one or the other (sort of.)

Sometimes I draw them in pencil and then scan them in. I start with a small (close to actual size) rough sketch to get in the basic pose and proportions. Then I blow that up 200% or so and trace over it to create a more finished sketch.

Sometimes if I'm working on the computer already, I just start sketching in photoshop. Then just create a new layer overtop to do my more finished sketch.

I started inking these guys in photoshop today. I've had a good pace lately, so hopefully no long delays like with the first set of militia. Stay tuned.

[josedominguez]

How about barbarians for Bellicose that could double for chaos types in that other game a lot of people play? That's how I'm getting my group to try out bellicose....... swap warhammer over to paper minis, then swap the rule book when I've got them hooked

barbarian with 2handed weapon
barbarian with flail
barbarian with hand weapon and shield would cover that game's options

[nikloveland]

Feb 27, 2011 10:09:03 GMT -9 josedominguez said:

That's how I'm getting my group to try out bellicose....... swap warhammer over to paper minis, then swap the rule book when I've got them hooked

LOL!

[josedominguez]

They'll never notice, I'll even keep saying waagh to keep them docile

[boffothesane]

I tried saying "waagh" to my wife...did not keep her docile.

Also did not persuade her to play Bellicose.

[josedominguez]

I think even GW are embarassed by the whole waghhh thing now

[labrat]

I'm making some good progress on this model set. The first 5 are pretty much done. Here is a preview of one of them. Now I'm started on the ones with crossbows and handcannons.

[revgunn]

These look really good. Sort of remind me of the Copplestone stuff I used to buy a lot of. Your shading is great.

[Parduz]

Yeah!! great.
I'd just make the left sole longer.

And don't forget the arrow!

[labrat]

Mar 2, 2011 23:51:34 GMT -9 Parduz said:

Yeah!! great.
I'd just make the left sole longer.

And don't forget the arrow!

Done and done! I also pulled back the bow a bit too, so it would look like there was some tension in it. Before it really wasn't much more pulled back than the others that weren't even currently being fired. I think it's a bit better.

[Parduz]

I think is one of your best figures.

[paladin]

Yip. Perfect shading as revgunn said. I think, it's also a very good balance between detail level and clearness/readability.

[cowboyleland]

He looks good. I like the bow thickness now. You might even try a bit more flex since he is at full draw, but please yourself

[Vermin King]

Looks really good. Can't wait to see the rest of the group.

[nikloveland]

Man, he does look good.

[josedominguez]

And he's using his bow properly!
The number of minis with the arrow knocked on the wrong side is amazing.

Lovely work, another mini that will really stand out at 15mm
I love that you are producing units of minis for massed battle but each has enough character to be used in RPG (the variety in the footsoldiers was excellent).