In Her Majesty's Name: How to Paint Orville and Wilburton Wright for the Wright Pirates

Here they are, the illustrious leaders of the Wright Pirates, Orville and Wilburton Wright. These guys are ready to square off against The Bucharest Brigade, Society of Thule or the Black Dragon Tong inthe sweet steampunk game, In Her Majesty's Name. These daring adventurers hail from the US and are quite a formidable pair.

Enough of that, we started with base figures from Artizan Designs and did a few minor modifications. 

Orville had a hole drilled into his hand and a sword was inserted. This should help him out in those close quarters fights.

Wilburton was a bit tougher. We added a small spring to the barrel of his weapon and a piece of wire to feed the gun from his power pack.

The power pack, attached to his belt, was a small component from a circuit board.

Now onto painting Orville. Base coats of brown were painted on the coat, pants and shirt.

A wash of black was painted into any cracks, folds or crevices to accentuate shadows.

Dry-brush the original color over the areas where the wash was applied...

then dry-brush on your mid-tones and highlights. Here the pants received a Khaki mid-tone over the base coat and a highlight of Linen.

In mid process Orville is shaping up. The collar received a Mink Tan and will get a coat of Linen and final dry-brush of White. His scarf will remain black so simple highlights will work.

We used Brass on his goggles and Bronze on buttons and buckles. Sword blade was painted with Gunmetal, Sterling Silver and a highlight of Aluminium. For the hilt we used Antique Gold. The goggle lenses were painted with Midnight Blue and reflections of Winter Blue.

Now Orvilles younger brother, the daring and boisterous Wilburton. Once again we placed all the base coats on all the major areas. Burnt Umber jacket, Nutmeg pants, Chocolate Brown scarf and gun stock and a Tan for the flesh tones.

Being the brother full of bravado, we decided a red scarf would set him apart from the rest of the pirates. We added a coat of Heritage Brick, then Tomato Red and lastly Napthol Crimson.

A simple dry-brush off Linen adds highlights to his scarf, pants and coat.

His hair was based with Nutmeg and you can see the gun mid process.

Wilburton's hair was given a dry-brush of Orange, the cable Midnight Blue, fur collar finished like Orvilles and washes applied to the gun. the gun barrel was given a coat of black, dry-brush of Medium Gray, Linen and lastly White.

Here's another angle to see the hair and other details.

Now the finished product. Orville is now clearly sporting a pencil thin handlebar mustache and 5 o-clock shadow. Wilburton is eagerly motioning his men forward while his gun is smoking from the last freeze blast.

Extra black washes and highlights were applied to bring out the details.

Orville striking a nice pose.

...and to close things out, here they are leading a contingent of Wright Pirates across the airship yards. Now to get you their stat sheets!

Have a great Battle,

The Old Crow

In Her Majesty's Name - Baron Măcelar and The Bucharest Brigade Stat Sheet

Way back in May we showed you the "The Bucharest Brigade" and their fearless captain, The Baron for In Her Majesty's Name. If you haven't checked out the game itself, it is a great steampunk skirmish game. Today we finally give you the stats for Baron Măcelar and the Bucharest Brigade.

Here we see a recent portrait of the Baron. Many have been speculating the Baron is in league with the Society of Thule. Others believe he has ties to the Dragon Lady because of his mysterious ways. In reality, the Baron is devoted to serving the King of Romania. From his hidden base deep in the mountains he launches his unrelenting quests for the King.

He is an inspiring leader to his men in the Bucharest Brigade and a powerful captain for any adventuring band. Because of the many "Legends" of the Baron's exploits his opponents find him terrifying. He is a talented tactician and ruthless fighter.

Baron Măcelar Intuneric
Pluck 2+, FV +4, SV +3, Cost: 93
Talents: Terrifying, Inspirational, Leadership +3
Equipment: Arc Pistol, Tesla-Phelps Arc Generator, Magneto Static Barrier, Sword

The Baron's dedicated second in command is Lt Kane Zaray. Kane is almost as terrifying as the Baron as he lifts his weapon single handed and sprays his opposition with the "Eckto Canon"

Lt Kane Zaray
Pluck 4+, FV +3, SV +2, Cost: 44
Talents: Tough, Strongman, Leadership +1
Equipment: Eckto Canon (treat as flamethrower), Faraday Coat, Combat Knife

The Bucharest Brigade has been serving the Baron faithfully since the founding of the Brigade. Their opponents call them as the "Immortals" due to their fearless and resilient nature.

Immortal
Pluck 5+, FV +2, SV +2, Cost: 28
Talents: Tough,
Equipment: Steel Breastplate, Military Rifle.

Any Immortal can have a Breath preserver (+2 points)
Any Immortal can have a Pistol (+3 points)
One Immortal can be given Strongman and upgrade to Machinegun (+11 points)


The Baron may use a heavy walker from time to time if the mission calls for its need. It is equipped with a steam-fist, Machinegun and has a Congreve rocket on its shoulder with 3 explosive rounds and 3 gas rounds. On these missions he will not take his arc gen, arc pistol or projection barrier but will instead carry a pistol, Magneto-static Jacket  (+69 points)


Let us know if you get a chance to use these guys!

Have a Great Battle,
The Old Crow

Warhammer 40k Apocalypse Necron Tesseract Preorder

The Necron Tesseract Vault/Obelisk can be used by every Warhammer 40,000 player in games of Apocalypse. What is Apocalypse you ask? For those who are unfamiliar, it is a companion volume to Warhammer 40,000, allowing you to play huge games using all the models in your collection.

The greatest heroes of the age lead battalions of troops and tanks against the foe. Super-heavy war machines dominate the conflict like gods of battle as bombardments rain from the skies. Your battles in the 41st Millennium will never be the same again.

Onto the Necron Tesseract Vault holds an imprisoned C'tan Shard, turning its powers into phenomenal weapons of mass destruction. The Obelisk meanwhile, annihilates any aerial threat foolhardy enough to trespass into a tomb world's airspace.

The model stands just over a whopping 9" tall, and 10" wide and the Tesseract Vault can dominate everything on the tabletop. And that's without mounting it on its flying stand!

The kit is stuffed with details and there are two ways it can be put together: either as a Tesseract Vault or as an Obelisk.

If you assemble the Tesseract Vault you will need to use the C'Tan Shard miniature as part of the construction.

However, if you elect to build the Obelisk you will also be able to use the C'Tan Shard as a separate miniature.

This plastic kit contains 57 components and a Necron Transfer Sheet. As all Warhammer 40k models, it comes unpainted and requires assembly.

The Tesseract will also dominate your wallet, retailing for 160 USD. The kit is available for preorder from Games Workshop but no release date is available at this time.

So, it will dominate everything?

Have a Great Battle
The Old Crow

Perry Miniatures Preview and Happy Independence Day to Us Yanks!

Today in the good old USA we celebrate Independence Day. In light of the holiday we bring you a preview of something Perry Miniatures is cooking up, a plastic set of American Continental Line Infantry.

The main frame will have three infantrymen in long tailed coats and two in hunting shirts which was a common campaign attire. Both will have separate arms to allow you to build infantry advancing or marching at the shoulder or marching casually.

These will go great with the already released Perry Miniatures plastic box set of American War of Independence British Infantry. There is no release date on the American Continentals just yet.

Happy Independence Day and have a great battle!
The Old Crow

Warhammer 40k: Da Green Baron Fighta Bomma

In our ever broadening attempts to find the odd and wonderful miniatures for wargaming, we bring you Da Green Baron, Fighta Ace of First Ragna-Ork War, Fighta Bomma!

Some intrepid Mek came up with a doozy here.

Da Green Baron is armed with four big shootas...

.. and up to your choice of four grot bombs or suparockits, mix and match if you like.

The finely detailed miniature is resin cast, with metal elements.

As usual, the model is sold unassembled and unpainted.

You can probably score one of these beauties on eBay, we haven't found them anywhere else.

Have a Great Battle,
The Old Crow

New Release: Dark Age Warriors from Gripping Beast Plastics

Gripping Beast has put out another Dark Age plastic box set of warriors perfect for your SAGA warband. These Dark Age Warriors may be used to represent almost any unarmored European warrior from the Late Antiquity to the Early Medieval period. This will be a splendid addition to the Saxon Thegns and Viking Hirdmen already available.

They might be found in the Auxillary of Justinian's Byzantines, in the Goth hordes that fought across Europe in the twilight years of the Roman Empire, lining the Shieldwall at The Battle Of Hastings, supporting the Thegns of Alfred The Great or the Hirdmen of his Viking enemies, or even raiding unsuspecting villages and monasteries throughout this period.

In this Gripping Beast Plastics box set you'll find parts to assemble 40, that's right, 40 finely-detailed Dark Age Warriors. Each Warrior can be armed with a spear but for extra flexibility, the set also contains additional parts for you to make up to 8 of these warriors with swords and 8 with hand axes. If  you prefer pelting your enemies from afar, up to 32 can be outfitted with slings or up to 16 with javelins.

The figures are flexible enough to add to most any SAGA warband. There are also parts to create horn-blowers and as always, plastic bases for all the figures.

With all these figures, we're sure you'll have a great battle!

The Old Crow

The Wright Pirates for In Her Majesty's Name Steampunk Adventure Game

All righty then, today we finally get to post the Wright Pirates! Our next company of adventurers for "In Her Majesty's Name" Steampunk miniatures game. These air raiders reside in the Northeast of the United States and have quite a history of adventuring for Country or King. You could call them mercenaries, as long as you do it behind their back.

We started once again with packs of miniatures from Artizan designs and primed them with black Rustoleum automotive primer. Being airmen, we wanted leathers so decided to stick with earth tones. Here the lieutenant has his overcoat painted in Raw Umber and his inner tunic Chocolate Brown.

The regular troops all have shorter jackets so just received the Raw Umber.

Khakis seemed to fit the best so a base of Mink Tan was used.

The skull caps were painted with the same Chocolate Brown as the Lt's tunic.

Side arm holsters and ammo bags were all painted a Burnt Umber except for the riflemen who received Olive ammo pouches. Straps, gun stocks and accents were mainly painted with Coffee Bean.

The fur collars were based with the same Mink Tan

Then were accented with Warm White

Scarves received an extra highlight of Titanium White. Goggles and buckles were painted with Metallic Brass. The lenses were painted Midnight Blue. Originally they were to have bare hands but it was decided that the air being so cold at high altitudes would require gloves.

Weapons were painted with Metallic Gunmetal and highlighted with Aluminium. Extra parts were treated with a mixture of Bronze and Copper

So after a few final touches, they were immediately assigned a guard duty rotation.

Or sent on a clandestine mission for the US Secret Service to investigate a hidden Prussian Installation

And at any time they could be called upon by their wealthy industrialist benefactor to explore far off South American jungle ruins for ancient artifacts.

Watch out for the natives boys!

OK, there's guard duty there too.

We hope you enjoy the Wright Pirates and stay tuned as we frantically try to prepare their company leaders!

Have a Great Battle,
The Old Crow