France -Paris day 05 - Louvre Egyptian area

France - Paris day 05 - Louvre introduction

The Louvre is big. By big I mean really big. By really big I mean humongous.  Get the idea? In the above picture, see the building on the left and the smaller looking structure extending into the park. That's not only not small and not only part of the Louvre but there is another extension just like it on the right side. Just over 60, 000 square meters.

Originally built as a fortress in the 1200's, and as a palace until 1682 when the king left for Versailles and a French Academy moved in to look after the art and sculpture. The museum then opened to the public on and off until today when it is one of the largest and most popular museums in the world.

Because it was a palace, look around the objects presented once in a while and you will be rewarded. There are fantastic views outside and the rooms and ceilings are worthy of the house of kings and emperors.

If you feel museum fatigue, just go to another section to refresh yourself.  If you have a Paris museum pass, you can come and go as you like. For a secret was in with the pass, when in the courtyard with the pyramid,  face North and take the right pedestrian walkway. There is a security checkpoint for staff, groups and pass holders.

For the purpose of this blog, I will be posting on each section separately. Do not do the museum in one day unless you are only doing two sections. The museum is split into the following sections: Egyptian Antiquities; Near Eastern Antiquities; Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities; Islamic Art; Sculpture; Decorative Arts; Paintings; Prints and Drawings. There are sub sections in the Louvre for some of these sections that take up a lot of room; sculpure, decorative art, and paintings for instance. Take your time and see it over two or more days. Photos are permitted but flashes are not. They damage the art and sculpture.

France - Paris day 03 - Cluny Museum

This Abbott's Townhome, or hotel, was built Iin the 1300's and converted to a Museum for the gothic past of France in 1843.

 This statue was part of a crypt and they have been removed for a better display.

The stained glass has been displayed wonderfully at eye level and backlit for proper enjoyment.

This is the ceiling of the chapel and reminded my wife and I of the buildings of Rivendell.

Here are the buried heads from Notre Dame, I posted about earlier.

They have incredible works of devotional art. This is quite the world class medieval museum.

The unicorn and the lady tapestries are one of the main draws for visitors and scolars.

This a book on learning medieval combat from the 1300's.

There was a class of extremely talented students of art, drawing statuary.

Sword Knights and UA

The Sword Knights are a cheap unit to provide a solid defense to your line. Add one or two warjacks with reach weapons (Lancer, Thorn or Centurion) and they get a +2 and and additional die damage boost they when in melee range of a friendly jack. This makes them very deadly in a charge against heavily armored foes and hit high DEF models on an average roll. Some have suggested taking these models with Alixia Ciannor for easy zombies for her squad but I haven't painted them...yet.

Here's what the box cover versions look like.

 The sergeant.

 The Unit Attachment (Officer and Standard bearer).

 

I primed them with Krylon black, then brushed P3 Ironhull Grey then drybrushed P3 Cold Steel onto them. Next was P3 Cygnar Blue on the shield, brestplate, sholder shields, plume and tabard. Then on the same items I drybrushed P3 Cygnar Blue Highlight then lighter still with 50/50 mix of P3 Cygnar Blue Highlight and P3 Frostbite. The bronze parts were either painted with a mix of GW Dwarf Bronze and GW Runelord Brass. The swan on the shield and chestplate was painted with P3 Gold. The belt and scabbard was painted with P3 Bootstrap Leather then drybrushed with P3 Rucksack Tan. Then it was washed with GW Devlan Mud.

Point Defense and Communications Satellites

My next models in the world of Firestorm Armada are the Point Defense and Communications Satellites. They come in a pack of three PD sats and 4 comm sats. These miniatures make for nice scenery, even if you don't use rules for them. The models came as they were so no assembly required.

Above is the Comm Sat.

I used P3 Bastion Grey thickly drybrushed on the model then drybrushed with P3 Cold Steel. The guns on the PD models were painted with GW Blood Red. The comm arrays and little detail on the PD satellites  were painted with GW Dwarf Bronze. The domes on the comm sats were painted first with P3 Arcane Blue then lightly brushed with P3 Menoth White Highlight. The top tip of the PD sats were painted with P3 Cygnar Yellow.

Above is the PD sat.

 My cat Squeak wanted to see what the fuss was about. Cats don't make good terrain.

 The group of three PD sats.

 Four comm sats.

After some petting, the giant cat space monster was appeased. The planet was saved!

Speculo Killer

Here is the Speculo Killer, a Shasvasti infiltrator that assumes the identity of an enemy soldier and reveals herself at the opportune time. Also part of the 300 point Combined Army group that Corvus Belli recommends for starting players.

Here's what the studio painted her as.

She came in the Shasvastil Expeditionary Force boxed set.

Primed Krylon white.

I started with GW Goblin Green, then drybrushed GW Skorpion Green. Finally on the raised portions I lightly brushed on GW Knarloc Green.

The P3 Coal Black on the armor, P3 Cold steel both applied and drybrushed on various areas. Then P3 Hammerfall Khaki on the side temples. Then lightly drybrushed P3 Cryx Bane Highlight on the armor. The monofilament sword was painted with P3 Cygnar Yellow and drybrushed with P3 Menoth White Highlight. Finally on the forehead ridge I used GW Thraka Green.

The armor was washed in GW Devlan Mud and the body was washed in GW Gryphon Sepia. The base was based the same as my other Combined Army models.

And the back. Next will be the last model of the 300 pt list, the Morat Rasyat with Spitfire.

Noctifier with Combi Rifle

The Noctifier is a sneaky model, as all Shasvasti are, and can camouflage themselves to gain the upper hand on their enemy.

 

 I started with a primed Krylon white model. The base was included with the blister and looks very nice. I then used P3 Ironhull Grey, drybrushed P3 Bastion Grey and a lighter drybrush of P3 Cryx Bane Highlight.

Then it was onto an even lighter drybrushing of GW Fortress Grey, a little GW Deneb Stone and for the cape GW Knarlok Green.

Then I applied GW Goblin Green and GW Skorpion Green to the cloak and armor, P3 Coal Black and P3 Cold Steel to the gun.

Finally a little P3 Menoth White highlight on the teeth and nails with a little GW Devlan Mud wash over everything.

For basing I used the same as my Combined Army starter.

Gottacon 2013 Sunday

Sorry i'm late with the post. Had to work overnight last night.

Sunday morning started well. I encountered a fellow who was demoing Firestorm Armada and brought my own ships to play. No need! In fact (I wish I took pictures before he left) they were Star Blazers models on interesting stands. For those of you unfamiliar to Star Blazers...

...cool huh! I grew up with this series in my teenage years and was drawn to the continuing rather than episodic storyline. Anyways I played a game with him and his son while I had a  young fellow on my side. They controlled Terrans, represented by Earth Force, and we were Sorylians represented by the Gamilons. He's recently into the Firestorm Armada rules but I was impressed by how his young son liked the game. Always good when a gamer can get their children involved.

After that it was the Malifaux Sunday tournament...

 My first game was against a fellow who had a Neverborn Dreamer force. His pastel paint scheme was nicely done and stood out on the table. His alternate sculpt Teddy was quite cute.

 He used the nightmares and bad dreams to make his forces very mobile. I just couldn't get around the table fast enough. I could have put a sacrificial model towards him and the executioner close behind to charge him, alas. A learning lesson.

 On my break between games, I saw this army for Warhammer Fantasy that was modded up to the nines. A Spartan themed Dark Elf army!

 I don't know what he used but as reader of ancient history, this made my jaw drop. He had calvary and winged warriors as well.

 Just awesome!

My other two Malifaux games were against another Dreamer player, whom I did much better against but he still won by the shared scheme "Treasure hunt". He popped a Teddy that I couldn't stop in turn 1 and he took off with the chest to his own side. It was the only model of his left at the end. That is one of the things I like about Malifaux, that you have to play to the scheme and objectives.

The last game was against the lady who played Ramos yesterday, with a slightly tweeked list. I had my Perdita and Santiago left and she had her master Ramos but again I lost by objectives. I'm getting better though. Even though I played six games and lost them all, I still had fun and learned lots. I also demoed the game to two of my gaming friends and they were quite interested in picking up some models.

 Here was a nice terrain feature that is the size and type that I wish to build. It would be good for Malifaux and Warmachine in particular.

 Another great looking model.

 Fences made from cardstock and such.

Another nice building.

That was Gottacon 2013! I'll be back again next year, this time trying out some board games hopefully.