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Monday, July 22, 2019

Celts from Crusader

The steady stream of warbands emerging from the workbench continues.  This time, a surprise.  A dozen Celts scramble off the painting desk but no more BTD Celts.  Having exhausted the stockpile of BTD Celts, attention turns now to Crusader Miniatures figures. 
First, these Crusader figures are superbly sculpted.  Secondly, I ordered a medium-sized boxful of these figures from NorthStar Miniatures during a recent Bargain Sale.  Several of the Celtic collections were deeply discounted so perfect time to strike.  I filled my cart on this offer.  During the first six months of 2019, I managed to add one warband to the collection each month.  With a pile of Crusader lead in-house, perhaps that rate can be maintained until fall?

With Telamon as an immediate goal for all of the Celts, I need to soon stop and take an assessment on how this steady progress is driving toward this objective.  If the cavalry contest is excluded, there may be enough BMUs to produce at least a bathtubbed version of the battle soon.  I really should see where I stand with respect to progress made and effort remaining.

50 comments:

  1. I rather like those poses by Crusader, they seem to be a visually good halfway house between the extreme dynamic poses of the Warlord figures and more pedestrian sculpts. There doesn’t seem to be a repeat sculpt with several of them are within the norms of a classic pose. all.

    There is a lot of interest within the stand when one looks beyond the lovely shields - a sort of ability to visually enjoy the unit twice.

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    1. I like the Crusader sculpts a lot. Very crisp and clean. Glad to see that you enjoy the results!

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  2. Great looking celts, Jonathan! I’ve been using Crusader for my project. Sculpting is really nice, but there is some shortage of varity of poses I suppose. And they a bit smaller to modern 28mm scale.

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    1. Thanks, Dmitry!

      To my eye, the Crusader Celts match up very well against (what I consider) large Black Tree Design figures. I see no noticeable difference in size between the two manufacturers.

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  3. Lovely looking bunch of Celts! They look great!
    Best Iain

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  4. That is a great looking group Jonathan. I really like the blue you have used on the shields.

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  5. Lovely work once again and I really like the not too dynamic poses of the figures.

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    1. Thank you, Steve! The Crusader Celts are really nicely sculpted.

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  6. A wonderfully iconic rendering of what comes to mind when imagining "Celts" on the table--superbly rendered! Did you hand paint the shields or are those transfers?

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    1. Thank you, Ed! The shieldwork is hand-painted. Transfers would look much more striking but the simplicity of my attempts works for me.

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  7. Love these. Celts always look great when done well, and these illustrate that perfectly.

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  8. lovely looking Celts Jonathon. I’ve used Crusader figs for my El CID and SYW armies and really like them. Plus North Star often has deals on the range, like the one you took advantage of.

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    1. Peter, Crusader figures are a favorite of mine too. Some of my Reconquista figures are Crusader and I love them!

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  9. I love the colour and fierceness of these Celts, and the chap with the duck on a stick, I wouldn't want him made at me. Very well done.

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    1. They are a fearsome lot, aren't they? "Duck on a Stick" is a good one! I wonder what their battle cry is?

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  10. Very nice work, I do like the Crusader Miniatures stuff.

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  11. More lovely Gauls Jonathan. That must be quite a horde of them you have accumulated by now.

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    1. Thank you, Lawrence! Yeah, I am getting quite a horde of Gauls gathering at the border.

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  12. I have never been disappointed with Mark Sims' sculpts. Your paint job looks great too!

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  13. Very nice work Jonathon. The Crusader sculpts are lovely figures and you have done a superb job with painting them up.

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  14. nice work Jonathan, love the shields, Crusader remain some of my favourite figures 🙂

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  15. Your mix of the poses is looking very good and these Gauls are terrifying.

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  16. Great job. Celts look fun to paint because they’re so manly and barbaric. 😀

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    1. Thanks, Stew! Celts are fun to paint. I have one more in work now.

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  17. Great looking unit Jonathan - that’s some really beautiful brushwork!

    Am I the only one to be reminded of Comrade Stalin by the chap with the duck on a stick? (with apologies to the Padre! 😄)

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    1. You are very kind, Mike!

      I am unfamiliar with your reference to Stalin. Please enlighten me!

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    2. Nothing really, I just happened to come across a picture of Stalin yesterday and the physical resemblance is striking. 😊

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  18. Lovely Jonathan, Crusader do some great ranges. Yes they can be a little stiff but they are well sculpted. Well done.

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    1. Thanks, Robbie! I find the Crusader SYW figures stiff but the Celts and El Cid figures seem suitably dynamic to me.

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  19. Great looking Celts, Jonathan. The Crusader figures are really nice - sturdy and paint up very nicely.

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    1. Much appreciated, Dean! The figures are certainly sturdy and paint well.

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  20. A handsome horde of hirsute heroes!
    I don't believe I have any Crusader figures in my collection...

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    1. Fine alliteration, Peter! As for Crusader figures, try them. You will be sure to like them.

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