27 January 2024: In Her Majesty's Name

Pretty warm day today. Took a short break to work more on the Scotland Yard company for IHMN. Wanted to create cobblestone effect for the base. Started off with the Doctor Watson figurine which looked like so:

Not quite I intended. But by the fourth figure, I had started to head in the right direction. Still some ways to go before it's perfect, but for now it's decent enough. 

Group photo. Still final detailing on the figures to complete this group. 

Once done, just the Thule Society left to go. I think. Cheers.

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8 January 2024 - Makeover Project - IHMN & Harbour set battle board progress report

The Black Dragon Tong

Reapplied the black dragon emblem to the Madam's fan before tackling the remainder of the company. Once done, I worked on their bases. Trying for a different basing design for the individual companies. Just a thought that I'm running with for now. Repainted Yeti. Realised the repainting and detailing is not the reason for redoing the IHMN companies is going to be the different bases for each compnay. For The Black Dragon Tong I am looking at doing indoor tiling for their bases.

Scotland Yard

With this lot now done, I began work on Bow Street boys in blue. Like The Black Dragon Tong, this company only needs finer detailing. And as with the Tong, all new work will be focused on the bases. Went with the city cobblestone look. 

Looks rough as it's the first time I've done this. 

WW2 Island battle board

Did some more quick calcs using the 1/700 scale as basis. Going with modular battle boards which will represent (roughly) 1/2 mile long by 1/4 mile deep. One section will therefore measure 1.2m by 0.6m. Going to place two boards side by side as shown in graphic sketch below. Considering adding a capital ship to make the scenario more "appealing" but won't make a final call until the boards are built. Other option is to place the two destroyers already painted up. 

Cheers.

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8 January 2024 - Makeover Project - IHMN - Progress report

 

Yesterday I started late in the studio. This flu is lingering still refusing to play fair. Did COVID tests to be sure, of course. No COVID. Started mid-afternoon and kept at it till tea time. Finished off the Servants of Ra hopefully leaving them in a slightly better state of display than before. Worked too much on the mummy before realising this and stopping myself. I can always return to its finer detailing at another time. Worked also on the bases: darkened the ground with wash and then a mix of paint for highlighting, and repainted the base sides. Have to remember to seal the finished pieces so prevent bits falling off, paint flaking, grubby fingers wearing away from constant handling, etc.

With this second group done, I then made a start on The Black Dragon Tong. Have to say this group seems much easier to paint than the previous company. All that's required is a bit of paint touch up and the bases finished off.

Worked on skin tone and clothing detail. Noticed that several had Chinese "lettering" (their identity?) either on the front of their jackets or emblazoned large on the back. In the process of working on Madam with wash I inadvertently erased the black dragon from her fan. Not a problem. Hope to finish this later on today and then move on to Scotland Yard.

Cheers.

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6 January 2024 - Makeover Project - IHMN progress report

Lord Curr's company finished today. Still another day to go with the Servants of Ra - mostly minor detailing work on the four individual figures. Not a good photo but at least the cultists are done.

Looking ahead, the next two companies to get the treatment are...

...the famous Scotland Yard. The front four are (left to right) Detective Chief Inspector, Sergeant, Consulting Detective (aka Sherlock Holmes), and the Good Doctor (Watson, I presume). Behind these four are three Special Branch detectives toting carbines. And behind them, in blue, are the Constables with their all-Electric truncheons. As with every company set thus far. all have their base coats applied. Just the detailing and basing left to go.

Also pulled out is the Black Dragon Tong set. Added the dragon on Madam's fan today and began detailing the rest of her attire. Missing the Yeti from this set which I've "recruited" for the Badgers & Burrows game.

Using my still-reliable and still-fluid Vallejo 72 paint set for this detailing work. It's fun at the moment relearning techniques such as highlighting. Hoping to start fully on these two "new" companies tomorrow. Or thereabouts. Cheers.

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5 January 2024 - Makeover Project - IHMN - Servants of Ra progress report

Work-in-progress Report

Took yesterday off to sleep off this flu. Helped a little. Went into studio today and resumed painting on both IHMN companies. Just the face detailing on Lord Curr's company of Incorrigibles left to do and they're done. 

Spent the bulk of the time however working on the Servants of Ra. 

Above shows where I'm at for now. The individual identities - the front four - will take the most time because of the detail of the individual models; I have made a start but more to do. 

The rest of the company - the red robed cultist followers - were given a bright red layering over their scarlet base coat. Will darken it slightly with a mid tone between the bright and dull red used so far. Then give a light brown wash.

The figure on left in the image above shows the latest development - brighter red robes, black cords and sleeve turnbacks improves the look of the figure as opposed to the one on the right that hasn't been "improved".

As I was about to pack up I noticed the Ra symbol upon closer inspection of the box art. Quickly replicated it then packed up. Another day or so on this compnay before I move on to the next company which is yet to be determined. Expect it will be The Society of Thule with its zombies. Cheers.

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6 hours and 20 minutes later...

So I went online out of curiosity to see whether IHMN still exists, and, if so, what progress have they made since the game was first released back in 2013. Well...

• there is now an IHMN 2nd edition. Released 2021.
• there is also a Dark Ages "Viking" skirmish variant centred on Northern Europe - Blood Eagle. Now there is supposedly a Blood Eagles 2 that expands from the original covering the periods between 794 AD to 1200 AD (thereabouts). And it introduces the religion of Islam to the mix of heady spiritual improvements. 
• the two regional supplements still exist. 
• loads more companies. I counted another 21 "new" companies (writer's creations) and 4 "player" lists. There is, and has always existed, a means to create one's own company if so inclined.
• there is a Gothic version, an expansion on the original IHMN ruleset. Vampires, Werewolves, Ghouls, and so forth. All the good stuff.
• The original boxed sets offered when first released no longer exist. The sets have been broken into small groups or as individuals, and they have been renamed. But I will stay with my original companies although I will state the Lady Felicity Curr was born Felicity Prudence Fiddlebottom of the Longshanks Fiddlebottoms. 
• The writers have also created a mythical Japanese medieval skirmish game called Daisho. Know absolutely nothing about it but I do love the colourful look of samurais and their retainers. May invest in a few minis down the track and try them out. 

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3 January - Hobby - Makeover Project - IHMN

More work done on the companies of IHMN. Still bothered by this virulent flu.

Lord Curr's company

More touch-up painting done with brightening colours on clothing, items and skin tones. Some detailing to go and a final light wash to finish off. Bases now flocked. Still another day to go.

Servants of Ra

Started on this company with some detailing and basing. A few more days to go with this lot.

Other companies

Bought six sets when first involved. All are painted to a basic level, i.e., can game without too much stretch of the imagination. Aim will be to paint to tabletop standard (whatever that is) and based. No original painting involved; simply copying Kevin Dallimore's excellent example with some little variations.

Cheers.

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2 January 2024 - In Her Majesty's Name - Lord Curr's Company

Got into In Her Majesty's Name when it first came out many years ago. While clearing my display cabinet, I happened across several IHMN boxes. All have been painted but need touch-ups. So, started with Lord Curr's Company.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just need to flock the base and apply a wash and these will be ready for the planned campaign (later this year). Next up for touch-up will be this lot...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Servants of Ra including cultists, femme fatale, mummified priest, mad professor, and the leader bearing an ancient symbol of power. Got another 4 (or 5) painted boxes to go.

 

Cheers.

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