goblinpaladin's Gnomes - a February update (200 points)

This project is being kindly sponsored by Old School Miniatures.

This month was easier. Some rains came, the fires were extinguished, and the smoke haze finally dissipiated. Plus, I started a new job at [REDACTED], working on [REDACTED]. Still have time for the gnomeject (project), don't worry!

Looking good so far? Y/N

I finished off the two regiments of Armbrust Gnomen and the Guarden Gnomes, including a banner for the latter. That makes for:

• 10 Armbrust Gnomen. 80 points
• 8 Guarden Gnomen with light armour + standard bearer + musician. 120 points

• Total: 200 points

Let's start with the regiments raised from the Guild of Furriers and Skinners.

first rank! loose!

is this my good angle

 As with last month, these were done in a range of greens and browns. This brings across a sense of part-time soldiers mustering with their own clothing. I like the idea that gnome hats possibly indicate their wearer's profession (but I also like painting them with red hats, so ignore that).

♪ you put your left hand in / you put your right hand out ♫ ♪

♪ ♫ that's what it's all about ♪

With the peaked cap-style of some sculpts, the colours give a bit of a Second World War feeling, but please look past that to the gnarled beards and adorable crossbows of these fierce fantasy warriors.

Elite city guard march under the banner of the golden acorn

The professional Guarden Gnomen were easier and quicker to paint, but I had to figure out that standard. I haven't dealt with a painted banner since around 1998 - and I'm pretty sure I did a terrible job back then.

a flagtilla of flags

Luckily an artist named Aaron Howdle had created a pile of banners for Old School Miniatures, so I could just nick some of those. I asked my partner to colour them for me, basing the colours on a combination of old Swiss Federation flags, a working knowledge of heraldry, and 'the olive branches should be green, right'.

the bronze stag isn't heraldic. it's to donk you on the head, longshanks

I think he turned out okay. If anyone has some tips to spruce it up, I'm all ears - as long as the advice isn't 'oh, just freehand it, it's not that hard'. Keep that sort of thing to yourself, fancy guy.

the gaps are there for a reason, honest

These sculpts are a lot of fun to paint. I love their weird long faces.

chop chop

Befitting their status as professional soldiery and veterans (elite +3!), several greybeards are sprinkled amidst the younger folk. A lot of gnome and dwarf paint schemes lean into the long, grey beard look, but I wanted the gnomes to come across as younger, at least most of the time.

L-R: fox rider, Citadel ghoul, heroine, halberdier, Citadel champion, crossbowgnome

On last month's post, Andrea cleverly asked for a scale comparison. The gnomes are Old School Miniatures. The ghoul is a Gary Morley sculpt for Citadel from the mid-90s, while the elf champion is a Jes Goodwin Citadel sculpt from the late-80s. This should give you some idea of scale.

two banners

comin' hard (for your ankles)

Coming up next month: A squadron of Gnomen-an-Armen, possibly aristocrats of the chivalric Order of the Red Fur, as well as my under-strength spearmen regiment.