An attempt at returning...again (again?) and Cav-uary

I have found myself with a bit more time on my hands (don't tell the wife 😉) and instead of mindless doom scrolling I thought a return to writing this blog is in order.

Yep I know I said something similar back in 2019 and that lasted 4 months...so...who knows how long this will last.

At the end of the day it's a documentation of my painting methods, which help me as a reference point on future projects and that's all that matters right? Right?

After writing that intro I sit here staring at the blank page ahead - overwhelmed with what I need to write.

It's easy to throw down a list of paints as a reference but adding intros, and turning it into a document of steps in something else.

Is this why I stop and start on this blog...anyway less self loathing/reflection onwards!

Like many wargamers/hobbyists I spend a fair amount of time looking up ideas on youtube, and that's where I found (amongst many others) The Cult of Crafting and a link to their discord. 

One individual on that discord community started sharing month based painting themes from the "Oldhammer" forum (we all know about Orktober/Orctober but there are others) and that has inspired me! 

With these themes I have a direction, instead of aimlessly working through my backlog, and by damn I'm going to try to stick to it.

I should add that there will be some adjustments to the theme from the Oldhammer forum. As an example January is meant to be "Slann-uary" but I thought that was too specific plus I don't own any lizard models (and remember it's all about me after all) so, through suggestions on The Cult of Crafting discord "Cav-uary" was born.

As part of Cav-uary I have been working on my mounted ECW Dragoons, Robert Devereux (Earl of Essex) & Lord Minimus.

Dragoons.

With the Dragoons I made a bit of a faux par; what is meant to be done is the mounted Dragoons are meant to match the dismounted Dragoons - they are one and the same after all. However I worked on my dismounted Dragoons a long time ago, didn't reference them (or this Blog - which is ironic) and just set about painting my mounted Dragoons.

The paints used were from the Vallejo game colour range, unless stated otherwise.

I started by undercoating them all in grey.

I used the following process, which was consistent on all of them

• The coats were paint with GW Contrast Blood Angel Red, washed with dark brown wash, highlighted with Blood Red (72.010)
• The musket stock was painted with Scorched Brown (72.045)
• The musket barrel, trigger and lock was painted with Vallejo Model colour Gunmetal grey (70.863)
• Flesh was painted with Tan (72.066), then Dwarf skin(72.041) -depending how it looked I sometimes used a a light brown wash or black wash
• The collar was painted with AP Warpaint Matt White - washed with black
• Any Sash was painted with GW Wild Rider Red, washed with black then highlighted with Orange Fire (72.008) - this is the colour of Earl of Essex
• Sword hilt for the average troop was painted with Gunmetal grey (70.863)
• Command sword hilt was painted with Brassy Brass (72,058) washed in black then painted with Glorious Gold (72.056)
• Bedrolls were painted Sombre Grey (72.048) then washed in black
• Hats painted with Model Color Black (70.950)

Leather items:

• Straps, powder poches, bags: Beasty Brown (72.043), then Leather Brown (72.040)
• Reins, Boots, sword sheath and attached strap: Scorched Brown (72.045)

Trousers

• Ultramarine Blue (72.022), washed in black, highlighted/drybrushed with Magic Blue (72.021)

Hair - variation of:

• Scorched Brown
• Beasty Brown
• Leather Brown
• Plague Brown (72.039)
• Cold Grey (72.050)

Lanterns

• Metal: Tamiya Color Dark Iron XF-84
• Glass: Ultramarine Blue (72.022) 

Horses - I really don't enjoy painting horses "on mass" so kept this simple

Undercoated grey, washed black, drybrush with Cold Grey (72.050) then drybrushed with Stonewall Grey (72.049) then drybrushed with AP Warpaint Matt White.

Hooves: Model Color Black (70.950)

Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex

Undercoated Grey

Armour: Tamiya Color Dark Iron XF-84

Flesh: Tan (72.066), then Dwarf skin(72.041)

Hair: Model Color Black (70.950), drybrushed with Cold Grey

Sash: GW Wild Rider Red, washed with black then highlighted with Orange Fire (72.008)

Sword Sheath: Scorched Brown

Sword Hilt: Brassy Brass (72,058) washed in black then painted with Glorious Gold (72.056)

Hat: Model Color Black (70.950)

Feather: Cold grey, washed black, drybrush with Stonewall Grey

Horse: Scorched Brown, then drybrushed with Beasty Brown, Hair and Hooves: Model Color Black (70.950)

Reins:  Beasty Brown (72.043), then Leather Brown (72.040)

Saddle: GW Wild Rider Red, washed with black then highlighted with Orange Fire (72.008), with the trim painted Brassy Brass (72,058) then Glorious Gold (72.056)

Just waiting for a circular base to arrive then I can change his base and create a base suitable for a leader 

Lord Minimus

Undercoat White, washed everything black

Clothes: Model Color Black (70.950), with White trim

Hair: Plague Brown (72.039)

Skin: AP Speed paint Peachy Flesh (Not convinced by AP speed paints, they don't work as well as GW contrast IMO)

Pistols: Scorched Brown, Gunmetal grey metal parts

Monkey: Scorched Brown all over light brush of Beasty Brown, AP Warpaint Matt White face area and stomach, then Model Color Black (70.950) across eyes and mouth.

Reins: GW Contrast Blood Angel Red

Saddle: GW Contrast Blood Angel Red, trim and raised arears were painted Brassy Brass (72,058) then Glorious Gold (72.056)

Just waiting for a circular base to arrive then I can change his base and create a base suitable for a leader