RONIN Skirmish Wargaming in the Age of the THE KORYU BUNTAI & THE SEVEN SAMURAI

PAINTING THE KORYU BUNTAI INSPIRATION The Koryu Buntai box set gives you the perfect starter Although I didn’t have any illustrations for Koryu army to begin playing Ronin. This set is a particular Buntai the as such, I took inspiration for the colours favourite of mine. I think Steve Saleh has reached for their clothes from the film Seven Samurai. It is new heights with the subtle modelling of the samurai true that this is a black and white film but luckily for clothes, and they all have very characterful faces. me I was pointed to a place on the web that had Also the fact that they are not in armour, gives a great sketches of the clothes from the movie in colour and opportunity to go to town on those outfits and make these were invaluable as guidance on painting the every one an individual character. models. I spent a long time studying the designs and trying to figure out how best to represent each design Below. Koryu Buntai Initiate with on a tiny model! Where there was no illustration I referred to my collection of historical samurai books, all the while trying to keep my colour palate for them very much Japanese in style.

UNDERCOATING It is worth going over any model carefully just to make sure there are no sprue, flash or mould lines, clean any off with a sharp scalpel and a fine file. Undercoating is essential as it provides a consistent surface on which to apply the next coats of paint, and it shows up the detail on a model much more clearly than shiny bare metal. For the undercoat I used Humbrol enamel matt black. I usually undercoat in oil based paint as I find they give better coverage on the bare metal.

THE PAINT I used Army Painter War Paints to paint Koryu Buntai, mixing up colours to suit my style and preferences. The Mega Paint Set provides an adequate range of colours for almost all needs, but you will always need to mix colours to get the desired results, however I have tried to work out colour combinations to reduce mixing if possible.

1 PAINTING FLESH The figure painting follows my well known method of 1. AP-WP1122 - Fur Brown working from dark to light shaded up from a black 2. AP-WP1127 - Tanned Flesh mixed with undercoat. This three or more colour painting method AP-WP1121 - Desert Yellow uses successive tones of colour (shade, middle and light) which are added to the model in layers, working 3. plus AP-WP1102 - Matt White up from dark to light. This creates a bold three- 4. plus AP-WP1102 - Matt White dimensional effect of shadows and highlights, the layers of colour giving greater depth and subtlety to 5. plus a tiny bit of AP-WP1104 - Pure Red (for the model. For the facial detail and for the eyes I used the lips) an Insane Detail brush. For the rest of the model I used a Warpaints Detail brush. , LEGGINGS & MOST SASHES THE SAME COLOURS Even though the models are all highly individual, there White were colours that were the same on all the models, 1. AP-WP1102 - Matt White mixed with which I have listed below in this preamble. I did most AP-WP1117 - Ash Grey and of these colours first and all together, to try and speed AP-WP1108 - Necrotic Flesh up the painting process a bit. 2. plus AP-WP1102 - Matt White EYES & FLESH 3. plus more AP-WP1102 - Matt White The flesh and eyes on all this Buntai are in the 4. pure AP-WP1102 - Matt White same colours. I wanted the Koryu Buntai to have a noticeably different skin tone from Europeans so planned my painting accordingly, the skin tone is MOST slightly exaggerated but I think it needs to be so that it is noticeable, on such a tiny model on the tabletop. Mid-brown 1. AP-WP1123 - Leather Brown EYES 2. AP-WP1123 - Leather Brown mixed with AP- 1. Whites are AP-WP1102 - Matt White WP1125 - Skeleton Bone 2. The irises are pure 3. plus more AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone AP-WP1124 - Oak Brown 4. and lastly more AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone Below. Painting the flesh.

2 Above. Painting the flesh. I wanted the Koryu Buntai to have a noticeably different skin tone from Europeans so planned my painting accordingly, the skin tone is slightly exaggerated but I think it needs to be so that it is noticeable, on such a tiny model on the tabletop.

MOST HAIR, SCABBARDS & Steel PATTERNS 1. AP-WP1131 - Gun Metal The black was done at the end after all the other non- 2. AP-WP1130 - Plate Mail Metal metallic colours. 3. AP-WP1129 - Shining Silver Black 4. AP-WP1136 - Dark Tone Ink 1. AP-WP1101 - Matt Black mixed with AP- WP1125 - Skeleton Bone WEAPON GUARDS & POMMELS Done after the steel. 2. plus AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone 3. plus more AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone Brass 4. and lastly more AP-WP1125 - Skeleton 1. AP-WP1133 - Weapon Bronze Bone 2. AP-WP1132 - Greedy Gold WEAPON BLADES, GUARDS & 3. AP-WP1132 - Greedy Gold mixed with Foundry PP044C - Burning Gold POMMELS Done after the black. 4. Foundry PP044C - Burning Gold

3 THE MODELS PATTERN I will list all the colours (even those listed above) Which I took to be stylised arrows and flights in red. with each model, in case you are going to paint each On the white kimono, I first painted the arrow shafts Samurai individually, rather than batch paint the same in the base red. I then joined them up in a sort of colours over the whole set. zigzag pattern to represent arrow the flights. Then I highlighted the whole design. Lastly I added the small SAMURAI ONE black and green design elements over that. Senior student with Nodachi He is quite a simple Red model with his massive Nodachi sword. 1. AP-WP1105 - Dragon Red 2. plus AP-WP1102 - Matt White KIMONO 3. plus more AP-WP1102 - Matt White White 4. plus more AP-WP1102 - Matt White 1. AP-WP1102 - Matt White mixed With small patterns in black (as above) and green with AP-WP1117 - Ash Grey and (same as on Uwa- below) AP-WP1121 - Desert Yellow 2. plus AP-WP1102 - Matt White UWA-OBI (sash) 3. plus more AP- Green WP1102 - Matt 1. AP-WP1112 - Angel Green White 2. AP-WP1112 - Angel Green 4. pure AP-WP1102 - plus AP-WP1109 - Goblin Green Matt White 3. plus AP-WP1102 - Matt White 4. plus more AP-WP1102 - Matt White

WARAJI (sandals), BELT CORD & SWORD GRIP Red 1. AP-WP1124 - Oak Brown plus AP-WP1105 - Dragon Red 2. AP-WP1105 - Dragon Red 3. AP-WP1104 - Pure Red 4. AP-WP1104 - Pure Red plus AP-WP1106 - Lava Orange BAGS Brown 1. AP-WP1123 - Leather Brown 2. AP-WP1123 - Leather Brown mixed with AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone 3. plus more AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone 4. and lastly more AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone Yellow 1. AP-WP1121 - Desert Yellow mixed with AP-WP1124 - Oak Brown 2. AP-WP1121 - Desert Yellow 3. plus AP-WP1107 - Daemonic Yellow and AP-WP1102 - Matt White 4. plus more AP-WP1102 - Matt White

4 WEAPON BLADE Steel 1. AP-WP1131 - Gun Metal 2. AP-WP1130 - Plate Mail Metal 3. AP-WP1129 - Shining Silver 4. AP-WP1136 - Dark Tone Ink

WEAPON GUARD AND POMMEL Brass 1. AP-WP1133 - Weapon Bronze 2. AP-WP1132 - Greedy Gold 3. AP-WP1132 - Greedy Gold mixed with Foundry PP044C - Burning Gold 4. Foundry PP044C - Burning Gold

5 Red small circles 1. AP-WP1104 - Pure Red 2. AP-WP1104 - Pure Red plus AP-WP1102 - Matt White

Tiny black dots 1. AP-WP1101 - Matt Black

KOBAKAMA (tight trousers) 1. AP-WP1127 - Tanned Flesh plus AP-WP1104 - Pure Red plus AP-WP1102 - Matt White 2. plus AP-WP1102 - Matt White 3. plus more AP-WP1102 - Matt White 4. plus even more AP-WP1102 - Matt White

KOBAKAMA PATTERN I started this pattern by marking a circle of dots to be the centre of the flower, and then I painted in all of the petals for that flower. When I had done one flower I marked out the next one, far away enough from the first so the petals didn’t overlap. I repeated this process till the trousers were full of flowers. Don’t worry if the petals are a bit wobbly, that just adds to the ascetic asymmetric Japanese look.

Black flowers SAMURAI TWO 1. AP-WP1101 - Matt Black mixed Quite complex patterns on this samurai but worth the with AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone effort I think. 2. plus AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone

SHITAGI (shirt) 1. AP-WP1102 - Matt White mixed with AP- WP1117 - Ash Grey and AP-AP-WP1121 - Desert Yellow 2. plus AP-WP1102 - Matt White 3. plus more AP-WP1102 - Matt White 4. pure AP-WP1102 - Matt White

SHITAGI PATTERN I painted the shirt white first, and then I marked on where the small circles were going to be with a soft pencil, very lightly. Then I painted the small circles in using only the main colour and one highlight. Then I dotted in the very tiny dots in black.

Green small circles 1. AP-WP1109 - Goblin Green 2. AP-WP1109 - Goblin Green plus AP-WP1102 - Matt White

6 SAYA (scabbard) 1. AP-WP1101 - Matt Black mixed with AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone 2. plus AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone 3. plus more AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone 4. and lastly more AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone

ALL METALWORK 1. AP-WP1131 - Gun Metal 2. AP-WP1130 - Plate Mail Metal 3. AP-WP1129 - Shining Silver 4. AP-WP1136 - Dark Tone Ink UWA-OBI (sash) & (socks) 1. AP-WP1102 - Matt White mixed with AP-WP1117 - Ash Grey and AP-WP1108 - Necrotic Flesh 2. plus AP-WP1102 - Matt White 3. plus more AP-WP1102 - Matt White 4. pure AP-WP1102 - Matt White

WARAJI (sandals) & HAIR BAND Which can be all straw rope, or wood with material straps (for posh ones). 1. AP-WP1123 - Leather Brown 2. AP-WP1123 - Leather Brown mixed with AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone 3. plus more AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone 4. and lastly more AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone

7 SAMURAI THREE His clothes are definitely the most complex of all of them, and has by far the longest description. However, they are broken down into smaller sections so can be tackled in manageable quantities.

HAKAMA (big trousers) His trousers are white fading into green. I did the white first to about half way up the trousers leg. 1. AP-WP1102 - Matt White mixed with AP-WP1117 - Ash Grey and AP-AP-WP1121 - Desert Yellow 2. plus AP-WP1102 - Matt White 3. plus more AP-WP1102 - Matt White 4. pure AP-WP1102 - Matt White I the painted the top half in green making sure that it overlapped the white slightly. 1. AP-WP1111 - Greenskin 2. plus AP-WP1109 - Goblin Green 3. plus AP-WP1109 - Goblin Green 4. pure AP-WP1109 - Goblin Green

BLENDING SHITAGI (shirt) The tricky part was to blend between the two colours The shirt is dark red to get a soft fade between them. I did this by using by thinning the Goblin Green down with water to a 1. AP-WP1105 - Dragon Red wash and then painting this on at the junction of the plus AP-WP1124 - Oak Brown colours. It took several coats to achieve a satisfactory 2. AP-WP1105 - Dragon Red result. I also did the sword grip in the green while I had it mixed up. 3. AP-WP1105 - Dragon Red plus AP-WP1104 - Pure Red 4. above plus AP-WP1106 - Lava Orange

SHITAGI PATTERN The pattern is in pure white, three dots with three lines below. I did all the dots first to get the position right, then when back and did the lines below the dots. 1. pure AP-WP1102 - Matt White

JINBAORI (short coat) This has a very complicated pattern. Firstly I painted the bottom band of the coat in white. Then I painted the yellow band and then the black. Finally I added the designs.

White band 1. AP-WP1102 - Matt White mixed with AP-WP1117 - Ash Grey and AP-AP-WP1121 - Desert Yellow 2. plus AP-WP1102 - Matt White 3. plus more AP-WP1102 - Matt White 4. pure AP-WP1102 - Matt White

8 WARAJI (sandals) 1. AP-WP1123 - Leather Brown 2. AP-WP1123 - Leather Brown mixed with AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone 3. plus more AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone 4. and lastly more AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone

SAYA (scabbard) 1. AP-WP1101 - Matt Black mixed with AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone 2. plus AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone 3. plus more AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone 4. and lastly more AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone

KATANA BLADE Steel Yellow band 1. AP-WP1131 - Gun Metal 1. AP-WP1121 - Desert Yellow mixed with 2. AP-WP1130 - Plate Mail Metal AP-WP1124 - Oak Brown 3. AP-WP1129 - Shining Silver 2. AP-WP1121 - Desert Yellow 4. AP-WP1136 - Dark Tone Ink 3. plus AP-WP1102 - Matt White 4. plus more AP-WP1102 - Matt White KATANA GUARD & POMMEL

Black band Brass 1. AP-WP1101 - Matt Black mixed with 1. AP-WP1133 - Weapon Bronze AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone 2. AP-WP1132 - Greedy Gold 2. plus AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone 3. AP-WP1132 - Greedy Gold mixed with 3. plus more AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone Foundry PP044C - Burning Gold 4. and lastly more AP-WP1125 - Skeleton 4. Foundry PP044C - Burning Gold Bone The black designs on the yellow band were painted on in pure AP-WP1101 - Matt Black, just some blobs in roughly the right shape. The design on the white band was more complicated. Firstly I painted on a sort of diamond crosshatch pattern in black across the white; I then painted in four tiny circles of white in each diamond to make the pattern. Fiddly and time consuming, but effective I hope. 1. AP-WP1101 - Matt Black 2. AP-WP1102 - Matt White

UWA-OBI (sash) & TABI (socks) 1. AP-WP1102 - Matt White mixed with AP- WP1117 - Ash Grey and AP-WP1108 - Necrotic Flesh 2. plus AP-WP1102 - Matt White 3. plus more AP-WP1102 - Matt White 4. pure AP-WP1102 - Matt White

9 SAMURAI FOUR A superb characterful model, representing the oldest member the party, with very appealing colour combinations.

UNDERSHIRT & TABI (socks) & KIAHAN (gaiters) 1. AP-WP1102 - Matt White mixed with AP-WP1117 - Ash Grey and AP-WP1108 - Necrotic Flesh 2. plus AP-WP1102 - Matt White 3. plus more AP-WP1102 - Matt White 4. pure AP-WP1102 - Matt White

PATTERN ON THE KIAHAN Groups of four tiny dots in turquoise. 1. AP-WP1114 - Crystal Blue mixed with AP-WP1111 - Greenskin plus AP-WP1102 - Matt White 2. plus more AP-WP1102 - Matt White

KOBAKAMA (small trousers) 1. AP-WP1121 - Desert Yellow mixed with AP-WP1124 - Oak Brown 2. AP-WP1121 - Desert Yellow 3. plus AP-WP1102 - Matt White STRIPES ON THE KOBAKAMA 4. plus more AP-WP1102 - Matt White Dull Green 1. AP-WP1124 - Oak Brown plus AP-WP1110 - Army Green 2. plus AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone 3. plus more AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone 4. plus even more AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone

JINBAORI (short coat) & SHITAGI (shirt) At this point I also painted the green bits of his JINBAORI and SHITAGI. Then I painted the rest of his JINBAORI and SHITAGI in a contrasting ivory colour, including a small circular motif on the JINBAORI.

Ivory 1. AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone mixed with AP-WP1124 - Oak Brown 2. pure AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone 3. AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone plus AP-WP1102 - Matt White 4. plus AP-WP1102 - Matt White

10 METALWORK 1. AP-WP1131 - Gun Metal 2. AP-WP1130 - Plate Mail Metal 3. AP-WP1129 - Shining Silver 4. AP-WP1136 - Dark Tone Ink

HAIR 1. AP-WP1118 - Uniform Grey 2. plus AP-WP1102 - Matt White 3. plus AP-WP1102 - Matt White 4. plus more AP-WP1102 - Matt White

WARAJI (sandals) & UWA-OBI (sash) & Sword grip 1. AP-WP1123 - Leather Brown 2. AP-WP1123 - Leather Brown mixed with AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone 3. plus more AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone 4. and lastly more AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone

TABI (socks) 1. AP-WP1102 - Matt White mixed with AP-WP1117 - Ash Grey and AP-WP1108 - Necrotic Flesh 2. plus AP-WP1102 - Matt White 3. plus more AP-WP1102 - Matt White 4. pure AP-WP1102 - Matt White

11 JINBAORI (short coat) & SHITAGI (shirt) Both of these pieces of are mostly turquoise with a contrasting tan band at the top of the JINBAORI.

Turquoise 1. AP-WP1114 - Crystal Blue mixed with AP-WP1111 - Greenskin 2. plus AP-WP1102 - Matt White 3. plus more AP-WP1102 - Matt White 4. plus more AP-WP1102 - Matt White

Tan 1. AP-WP1121 - Desert Yellow plus AP-WP1106 - Lava Orange plus AP-WP1123 - Leather Brown SAMURAI FIVE 2. plus AP-WP1102 - Matt White Possibly my favourite of them all, with a wonderful 3. plus more AP-WP1102 - Matt White face and a classic samurai pose. 4. plus more AP-WP1102 - Matt White The patterns on the tan band are four dots in (big trousers) AP-WP1102 - Matt White. 1. AP-WP1121 - Desert Yellow mixed with AP-WP1124 - Oak Brown 2. plus AP-WP1121 - Desert Yellow with AP-WP1107 - Daemonic Yellow 3. plus AP-WP1102 - Matt White 4. plus more AP-WP1102 - Matt White The patterns on the HAKAMA are groups of six dots in AP-WP1101 - Matt Black. I painted the centre dot in for all of them first, and then grouped the five dots around it.

UWA-OBI (sash) & TABI (socks) & KIAHAN (gaiters) 1. AP-WP1102 - Matt White mixed with AP-WP1117 - Ash Grey and AP-WP1108 - Necrotic Flesh 2. plus AP-WP1102 - Matt White 3. plus more AP-WP1102 - Matt White 4. pure AP-WP1102 - Matt White At this point I also painted in the white border on the JINBAORI (short coat) in the same white as the above. This also has a pattern of random very tiny black dots. 12 KATANA BLADE Steel 1. AP-WP1131 - Gun Metal 2. AP-WP1130 - Plate Mail Metal 3. AP-WP1129 - Shining Silver 4. AP-WP1136 - Dark Tone Ink

KATANA GUARD & POMMEL Brass 1. AP-WP1133 - Weapon Bronze 2. AP-WP1132 - Greedy Gold 3. AP-WP1132 - Greedy Gold mixed with Foundry PP044C - Burning Gold 4. Foundry PP044C - Burning Gold

WARAJI (sandals) & UWA-OBI (sash) & sword grip 1. AP-WP1123 - Leather Brown 2. AP-WP1123 - Leather Brown mixed with AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone 3. plus more AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone 4. and lastly more AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone

SAYA (scabbard) 1. AP-WP1101 - Matt Black mixed with AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone 2. plus AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone 3. plus more AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone 4. and lastly more AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone

13 SAMURAI SIX Another superbly posed model depicting a senior student with katana.

HAKAMA (big trousers) 1. AP-WP1121 - Desert Yellow mixed with AP-WP1124 - Oak Brown 2. plus AP-WP1102 - Matt White 3. plus more AP-WP1102 - Matt White 4. plus even more AP-WP1102 - Matt White The design on the HAKAMA is in AP-WP1101 - Matt Black.

SHITAGI (shirt) His blue shirt has small pairs of white lines as a pattern. As with the trousers they are very asymmetrical so you can get away with a degree of fudging the pattern as you go around the shirt.

Blue 1. AP-WP1115 - Ultramarine Blue 2. plus AP-WP1102 - Matt White 3. plus more AP-WP1102 - Matt White 4. plus even more AP-WP1102 - Matt White The design on the SHITAGI is in AP-WP1102 - Matt White. UNDERSHIRT, HAIR BAND, UWA-OBI (sash) & TABI (socks) 1. AP-WP1102 - Matt White mixed with AP-WP1117 - Ash Grey and AP-WP1108 - Necrotic Flesh 2. plus AP-WP1102 - Matt White 3. plus more AP-WP1102 - Matt White 4. pure AP-WP1102 - Matt White

METALWORK 1. AP-WP1131 - Gun Metal 2. AP-WP1130 - Plate Mail Metal 3. AP-WP1129 - Shining Silver 4. AP-WP1136 - Dark Tone Ink

SAYA (scabbard) 1. AP-WP1101 - Matt Black mixed with AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone 2. plus AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone 3. plus more AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone 4. and lastly more AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone

14 KATANA GRIP 1. AP-WP1105 - Dragon Red 2. plus AP-WP1102 - Matt White 3. plus more AP-WP1102 - Matt White 4. plus more AP-WP1102 - Matt White

15 SAMURAI SEVEN Another classic samurai in just his quite plain kimono.

KIMONO 1. AP-WP1121 - Desert Yellow mixed with AP-WP1106 - Lava Orange and AP-WP1123 - Leather Brown. 2. plus AP-WP1121 - Desert Yellow 3. plus more AP-WP1121 - Desert Yellow 4. lastly pure AP-WP1121 - Desert Yellow

KIMONO PATTERN 1. AP-WP1101 - Matt Black mixed

TABI (socks) & KIAHAN (gaiters) 1. AP-WP1102 - Matt White mixed with AP-WP1117 - Ash Grey and AP-WP1108 - Necrotic Flesh 2. plus AP-WP1102 - Matt White

3. plus more AP-WP1102 - Matt White 4. pure AP-WP1102 - Matt White

PATTERN ON KIAHAN Patterns of three spots in light blue. 1. AP-WP1113 - Electric Blue plus AP-WP1102 - Matt White

UWA-OBI (sash) 1. AP-WP1124 - Oak Brown plus AP-WP1105 - Dragon Red 2. AP-WP1105 - Dragon Red 3. AP-WP1104 - Pure Red 4. AP-WP1104 - Pure Red plus AP-WP1106 - Lava Orange

SAYA (scabbard) 1. AP-WP1101 - Matt Black mixed with AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone 2. plus AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone 3. plus more AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone

16 4. and lastly more AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone

WARAJI (sandals) 1. AP-WP1123 - Leather Brown 2. AP-WP1123 - Leather Brown mixed with AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone 3. plus more AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone 4. and lastly more AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone

KATANA BLADE Steel 1. AP-WP1131 - Gun Metal 2. AP-WP1130 - Plate Mail Metal 3. AP-WP1129 - Shining Silver 4. AP-WP1136 - Dark Tone Ink

KATANA GUARD & POMMEL Brass 1. AP-WP1133 - Weapon Bronze 2. AP-WP1132 - Greedy Gold 3. AP-WP1132 - Greedy Gold mixed with Foundry PP044C - Burning Gold 4. Foundry PP044C - Burning Gold

17 KIMONO His long Kimono is very plain, and is all one garment despite having different colour top and bottom halves.

Dark grey - top half 1. AP-WP1101 - Matt Black mixed with AP-WP1102 - Matt White 2. plus AP-WP1102 - Matt White 3. plus more AP-WP1102 - Matt White 4. plus even more AP-WP1102 - Matt White

Brown - bottom half 1. AP-WP1123 - Leather Brown mixed with AP-WP1101 - Matt Black 2. AP-WP1123 - Leather Brown 3. plus AP-WP1102 - Matt White 4. plus more AP-WP1102 - Matt White

UNDERSHIRT & UWA-OBI (sash) 1. AP-WP1102 - Matt White mixed with AP-WP1117 - Ash Grey and AP-WP1108 - Necrotic Flesh 2. plus AP-WP1102 - Matt White 3. plus more AP-WP1102 - Matt White SAMURAI EIGHT 4. pure AP-WP1102 - Matt White Looking a bit more like a Ronin this lone Samurai definitely has wolf like qualities. METALWORK 1. AP-WP1131 - Gun Metal 2. AP-WP1130 - Plate Mail Metal 3. AP-WP1129 - Shining Silver 4. AP-WP1136 - Dark Tone Ink

SAYA (scabbard) 1. AP-WP1101 - Matt Black mixed with AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone 2. plus AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone 3. plus more AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone 4. plus more AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone

18 SHITAGI (shirt) and sword grips 1. AP-WP1102 - Matt White mixed with AP-WP1117 - Ash Grey and AP-AP-WP1121 - Desert Yellow 2. plus AP-WP1102 - Matt White 3. plus more AP-WP1102 - Matt White 4. pure AP-WP1102 - Matt White

SAYA (scabbards) and eye patch 1. AP-WP1101 - Matt Black mixed with AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone 2. plus AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone 3. plus more AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone 4. plus more AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone

WARAJI (sandals) 1. AP-WP1123 - Leather Brown 2. AP-WP1123 - Leather Brown mixed with AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone 3. plus more AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone 4. and lastly more AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone SAMURAI NINE Sensei (teacher) with katana (a curved, slender, single-edged blade with a circular or squared guard and long grip to accommodate two hands) and (shorter sword, being worn together with the katana was an official sign that the wearer was a samurai).

HAIR 1. AP-WP1118 - Uniform Grey 2. plus AP-WP1102 - Matt White 3. plus AP-WP1102 - Matt White 4. plus more AP-WP1102 - Matt White

HAKAMA (big trousers) 1. AP-WP1119 - Wolf Grey mixed with AP-WP1101 - Matt Black 2. AP-WP1119 - Wolf Grey 3. plus AP-WP1102 - Matt White 4. plus more AP-WP1102 - Matt White

JINBAORI (short coat) 1. AP-WP1124 - Oak Brown 2. AP-WP1124 - Oak Brown plus AP-WP1121 - Desert Yellow 3. plus AP-WP1121 - Desert Yellow 4. plus AP-WP1102 - Matt White

19 pool, especially between legs. You don’t need a very thick coat of varnish.

Matt Then they were given two coats of Anti-Shine Matt Varnish. Be even more careful when painting on the matt varnish. When applying the matt, brush it out well from any nooks and crannies where it is likely to collect and pool.

BASING The bases are 25mm round plastic skirmish bases from Renedra. I used superglue to stick the models in place, blowing over them with a cold hairdryer to prevent the glue whitening off onto the models. When positioning the models I made sure the model looked right on the base. I them filled in-between the models bases with household filler and then left that overnight togo hard. I then glued on some horticultural sand with PVA glue, (4Ground PVA). When the sand was dried hard I painted the whole base with 1. AP-WP1123 - Leather Brown. 2. I then dry-brushed on AP-WP1121 - Desert Yellow quite heavily. 3. Then I dry-brushed on a layer of KATANA & WAKIZASHI BLADES AP-WP1125 - Skeleton Bone. 4. And finally a light dry-brush of Steel AP-WP1102 - Matt White. 1. AP-WP1131 - Gun Metal 2. AP-WP1130 - Plate Mail Metal FLORA I then added some flora, tufts of The Army Painter - 3. AP-WP1129 - Shining Silver Battlefields AP-BF4127 - Swamp Tuft andAP-BF4129 4. AP-WP1136 - Dark Tone Ink - Jungle Tuft secured in place with superglue.

KATANA & WAKIZASHI GUARDS & POMMELS Brass 1. AP-WP1133 - Weapon Bronze 2. AP-WP1132 - Greedy Gold 3. AP-WP1132 - Greedy Gold mixed with Foundry PP044C - Burning Gold 4. Foundry PP044C - Burning Gold

VARNISHING Make sure all the paint on the model is thoroughly dry before commencing varnishing.

Gloss The models were then given a coat of Humbrol polyurethane gloss varnish and set aside for 24 hours to dry completely. Be careful not to let the varnish

20 21