Saturday 22 January 2022

Christa Hook painting

I was very excited on Friday when the original painting of the Downshire Irish Militiaman that is on the front cover of my new book, arrived in the post. Christa Hook has done a fantastic job in painting this and the vibrant colours and layering has really given depth to the image. I can't wait to get it framed and hanging in pride of place in 'The Mess.'

Thursday 6 January 2022

Irish/ Scottish Tower House in 28mm

I've never lost my childhood fascination with castles, and after a trip to a clan reunion in Ireland a fews years back where I managed to visit a few, I was determined to try to scratch build a simple fortified tower house. I wanted to be able to use it for table top fighting in Ireland and Scotland, so something generic was what I was trying to achieve. During the 2021 lockdown in New Zealand I decided to have a crack at making one using artist board and cardboard. I did cheat a little bit by getting a resin portcullis doorway printed off at work and I bought a roll of vinyl brickwork from our local Christmas shop for the floor of the parapet. This tower is loosely based on Dunguarie Castle on the shore of Galway Bay. I may have made it a bit too big, but I had to be able to have single figures on 30mm base defending the parapet. The following is a series of photos taken through the building process. This is only stage 1, as I intend basing the tower surrounded with a barmkin (defensive wall) and a couple of out buildings, such as a stable and small forge. So this is still a work in progress.
Thanks for taking a look. Until next time.