Mithril Miniature MZ630 Duinhir Painting Competition. Entries to be submitted by Feb 16th.

Mithril Miniatures wants to invite you to paint our latest MZ figure, Duinhir of Morthond, and tell us how you did it, and as a reward the best entry gets five free releases (figures that are released after closing date).
The conditions are pretty simple:

• No digital text of any kind including watermarks. 
• No digital backgrounds, if you put a background in, make it a real one.
• No other figures are to be in the photo.
• Figure cannot be altered physically in any way, or obscured in some fashion.
• Photo must be jpeg format, highest quality possible.  Over 1200 pixel size.
• MZ630 must be photographed clearly and in focus.
• Take at least six supportive photos to show progress in painting figure.
• Write some supportive text (in English) for each photo or overall to explain your thought process in approaching this figure.
• Video submission (via youtube link) is allowed but must supplement other requirements, not replace them.
• Final entry date is midnight February 15th 2017 GMT.
• Only one entry can win.
• Entries submitted by email, info at mithril dot ie, with subject line "MZ630 Painting Competition Entry".

The winning entry will be used in advertisements for Mithril. Credit will be given to the artist on the website. The homepage of Mithril will link to an article all about the winning entry and this competition, giving the title "master painter" to the artist. They will win the next consecutive five MZ figures released by Mithril Miniatures for free, postage included.

Video on Mithril LOTR painting competition: Beregond fighting Troll at the Black Gate

Mithril Miniatures released a new vignette called Beregond fighting Troll at the Black Gate in March 2012.
Our collectors often love to paint up their collectables and submit gallery photos, and we encourage this.
So we started a competition to see who could paint up this new vignette the 'best', at least from the viewpoint of our two judges, Lars Edman (Mithril founder) and Chris Tubb (Mithril's sculptor).

The rules were fairly standard, avoid digital painting, text and modifications that would change the appearance of the vignette. It was allowed to make a diorama, and some entries took full advantage of that option but it was in no way a requirement.

We should have a list of the winners next week.
I made a little video of the entries on my YT channel. Check it out and post a comment about the entries. They did great work,  considering they did not have a huge window of opportunity to paint the vignette (max of 2 months).

Mithril LOTR White Council Painting Competition Announced.

Mithril Miniatures ran a painting competition from November to the end of February, to paint the latest box set LOTR release, The White Council.
We received 5 excellent entries, all noteworthy in skill and effort and originality.
However there can only be on 'winner', so our judges, Lars and Chris, came to the decision that Christoph Linscheidt's excellent diorama should win.

To see more information and photos go here. http://www.mithril.ie/painting_competition_2011/index.html

"I would like to start by saying how difficult it is to judge this competition. I can see the huge amounts of work and imagination that have gone into all these pieces and can only hope that I have done justice to all this by spending a very long time studying and comparing the photographs.

Although it might sound somewhat of a cliché it was indeed very difficult to choose between all the entries and select one as the winner. I am sure that an argument could be made for any of the entries to have been selected as winner and of course there is a subjective element involved in the decision.

The marbled floor effect achieved by Yves Boussin was a beautifully executed piece of work and the globe which held David Daines' vignette was a brilliant concept, and conveyed instantly the idea of the world's fate being decided at the meeting. David's faces are also superbly done, and Saruman conveys just the right amount of pique and irascibility.

Nikolai Egold's Galadriel is a near perfect rendering of what I conceived when designing this figure, and Elrond's costume is painstakingly patterned.

Nino Luk's colour scheme is subtle and pleasing especially the contrast between Gandalf, well travelled and weary and the finery of Saruman who he confronts across the table.

Christoph Linscheidt's vignette is subtle and his colour palette which is predominantly greys and blues conjures up exactly the right atmosphere. The colour scheme alone tells me that this is Middle-earth." by Chris Tubb, Mithril's Sculptor.

Interested in painting the White Council yourself?
http://www.mithril.ie/Boxed%20Sets/index.html

New Karoliner Moulds released February 2011

Prince August has released 4 new moulds for the Swedish Karoliner army.

These include 4 pikemen and 2 cavalry plus some battlefield accessories.

Each mould is designed to cast up to 500 times per hole.

Prince August has also provided an excellent video on the casting and painting of these pikemen to reintroduce you to this range.

If you like your battle early gunpowder and swords and pikes then this will suit you down to the ground.

Mithril Miniatures video review by Friday Afternoon Figures.

http://www.miniwargaming.com/content/friday-afternoon-figures-mithril-miniatures

I discovered this little gem via google. I wish they had contacted me directly.
Still it was a good review and from a outside perspective.
Apart from thinking we are in the U.K. its fairly accurate.

Painting Metallics Smoothly - guide by Gavin Doran.

"I usually get metallic paints painted on smoothly, but parts of Celeborn's armour (Battle Of Mirkwood series on Mithril) are tricky, even when following all the rules I am aware of: the metallic paint layer came out a bit gritty in spots. The primer layer was smooth, so this was not the problem.
Before I paint the metal colour parts of a model I first shake the pot of metallic paint well for at least 20 seconds, ensure a reasonable consistency (no tackiness or wateriness), then shake again before using.

Then I ensure there are no obvious specks of grit in the paint by spreading it out thinly on a palette to test it.

Then I draw the brush backwards along the palette while twisting the brush to get a reasonably thin layer of paint on the brush the whole way round until the layer of paint on the palette is dead flat but not sparse.

Then I barely skim the surface of the model, using the tip of the brush only, as best I can. To avoid grittiness and unevenness, at least on the tricky areas, I find it necessary to take my time and barely cover the model, flattening down any accidental unevenness.

I find it easier to skim the model at a slight angle, holding the brush slightly towards the model in the direction I am painting, rather than skimming at a right angle.

I paint in straight lines in the same direction in each section, with a slight overlap between strokes.

I paint long cylindrical armour plates from end to end to avoid a build-up of paint on the other side of the limb. I paint these plates in the less awkward direction.

I don't restroke sticky paint until dry so as not to get a rough coating, though I find a little restroking of a stroke of paint immediately is ok if I have missed a significant area or if I have accidentally applied a little too much paint from pressing down the brush a bit much.
I have greatly improved my metal paint finish on my tricky models, such as this Celeborn, using these principles to the best of my ability, though some spots on him were still a bit gritty to a lesser extent than before. Lightly skimming these areas with paint greatly flattened them; and a careful even rub of a rubber helped where the grit was more isolated.

Both techniques seemed adequate because I had already done a reasonable job. It seems that there is a tendency to press the brush a little too hard on the awkward areas and apply a little more paint than can be applied on smoothly, despite trying hard. I suppose it helps when painting large areas of Rohir helmets to paint from side to side and away from the side of the helmet at the end of each stroke to get a smooth finish. " by G. Doran.

50% off Acrylic Paints for November 2009

Time to start planning for those long winter evenings. You have dozens of miniatures embrassingly sitting around in the buff. Time to give them a glorious new coat of paint and showcase your skills at the same time.

Now is the time, now is your opportunity as Prince August has cut the majority of their huge range of Model Color paints by a massive fifty percent for the rest of November.

All selected paints are just 1.15 each.

Family Fun Day in Cork a huge success.

• Did you attend?
• Did your kids enjoy the free painting and casting workshops?
• Are there still traces of face paint on your childs face?
• Did you take some wacky photos beside our new mural or with our fantastic cutouts (Orcs, Hobbits, Female warriors and Elven archers.).
• Did you talk with the Roman Legionaries and WW2 Soldier re-enactors that had attended the event?

We hope that the answers to these questions are all positive ones and that the massive crowd of children that swarmed through our little factory had bucket loads of fun.

I made a flicker photostream of most of the photos I took on the day.

If you missed it then shame on you, you lost out on a great day. But you can still visit the visitor centre any day of the week and cast and paint miniatures to your heart's content.

http://www.toysoldierfactory.ie

Upcoming Gaming Events.

UPCOMING EVENTS:
Lionel will be available to demonstrate how to cast toy soldiers and answer any casting related questions at any events listed in these comments.

If you plan on going to any of these events, and wish to order from us, we can bring your order to the event so you can save on the postage. Email Prince August today.
http://www.princeaugust.ie/