Paint a Polka Dot Hoss

Let's get it up and paint one of these fluffy polka dot hosses I so cherish. I'll show you how to paint the riderless one in the two pictures below. Miniatures are Artizan-Berbers, 25mm. I used this technique in 15mm too, click the "Parthian" Label to have a look.I use a pointy size 3 brush ("rotmarder"-hair). Click on the pictures for a bigger image.

Step 1: Over the sprayed-on white primer paint the fury parts with a very dark Red-Brown (mix Chaos Black with a swaller of Blood Red. Keep the paint not too watery, it should let the white shine through a bit so one still can perceive the redish-grenadine hue.

Step 2: Apply the first VERY watery layer of egg-white over all fury parts (Bleached Bone + Skull White) and let it dry. If too much paint gatheres in crevaces, suck it up with a dry brush.

Step 3: Apply a second VERY watery layer just like highlighting. But don't wash over the whole horse, that was step 2. Keep in mind: The back, behind, and neck should end up very light while the lower parts of the legs stay dark. The horse to the right has 2 layers, the one to the left has 1 layer.

Step 4: A third watery layer (Horse to the left). Remain confident, even if the horse starts too look REALLY bad! The last layer of dots will help blend the sometimes revolting contrast you create at this step.

Step 5: A last, fourth layer of egg-white. Remember: alsways let the former layer dry before you start a new one. Really let the back, neck and behind shine with this last layer.

Step 6: Apply egg-white polka dots, densley over back, behind and back of neck. The paint should be less watery, so the dots stand out a bit. If contrast is too mush, add more water.

Step 7: paint the hooves, saddle, reigns, hair... finished!

Warriors of Ifriqiyah: Spearmen I

As part of my "Warriors of Ifriqiyah" project: Speartroops for a Fanatic Berber army or Early muslims from north Africa & Sicily. Artizan.

Berber Archers

Another old picture. The Berber Bows fighting alongside christian Knights in a mediaval Sicilian army (again...).

Manfreds Last Stand

February 26th 1266 The Battle of Benevento. Manfred, the last swabian King of Siciliy, fights Carl of Anjou. The King dies with most of his army: a large contingent of saracene missiletroops and 200-300 muslim light cavalry, 1200 still loyal german knights and 1000 lombard and tuscan mounted. Manfred is shown starting the battle, the saracenes (in front) charging the french battleline while some lombard foot secure a flank.

Muslim Shield Designs

On the Workbench

Another Cavalry Element for Medieval-Muslim-Morph-Armies, unfinished.

Warriors of Ifriqiyah: The Qadi and his Men

Warriors of Ifriqiyah: The Wild Berber Horsemen 2

Some more Cavalry pieces, all Artizan Berbers.

Warriors of Ifriqiyah: The Wild Berber Horsemen 1

I finally finished the Early Muslim North Africa/Sicily DBA Army in 25mm. Here's a teaser for upcoming pictures: The Wild Berber Horsemen! (Artizan figures, shields from Crusader-Miniatures)

And details of some shield designs (Artizan and Crusader Miniatures):

The Sicilian Army 13th Century

Miniatures from: Crusader-Miniatures, Artizan, Black Tree. The Knights look a bit dated - Still them good ole Normans...BUT: I ordered the right models for this period from Mirliton...but that's another paint-job...will it ever end? By the way, these pictures make for great desktop-backdrops.

The Assassins ~1140

Some Assassins as DBA-auxilia-troops, fighting together with the christian army of Antiochia against Nur-ed-Din and the Sultan of Konya (Artizan miniatures).

Sicilian Berber Bows

These are the Berber Bows (8Cb) from my IV/5c army. 25mm (Artizan miniatures). Frederico II crushed muslim opposition in Sicily and deported them to the town of Lucera, mainland Italy. In the following decades the muslim contingents were the most loyal troops of the Hohenstaufen as Kings of Sicily. They even were entrusted with guarding the emperors treasury within the strong fortifications of Lucera. The muslim comunity lived there untill destroyed by the Anjou in 1300.

Below, the same but on a former, larger base 90x90mm.

Sicilian Berber Light Horse

These are the Sicilian Berber Light Horse from Agrigent. 25mm. Artizan miniatures.