Byzantine Dioramas by Jack Ladd

One of my favorite aspects of Impetus is the creativity you can show on the bases. My friend Jack Ladd is a great modeller, and is always thinking about how he can use figures he finds out and about in the army he is currently modelling.  Another example of Jack's creative use of figures and materials can be seen in the Irish diorama featured in one of my earlier blog posts - "Who will you send against me now!"

Jack's Byzantine army has a hard contingent of Varagians.  One day Jack saw a group of crows for sale as part of a fantasy line at the Source, a local game store in Roseville, Minnesota.  He thought he could incorporate it in his Byzantine Varaginians --  here is the result.

ODIN!!!!!

I regret I didn't get shots from more angles.  There is a decayed body beneath the flight of crows, the varagians next to the crows are looking at them, and the officer is facing them, and appealing to the god Odin.

Another diorama Jack made as part of the army is of the leader, George Maniakes - Strategos.  George is pictured in the act of charging a Syrian foe, caught at the moment his stallion is bowling over the Syrian's mare.

This piece is outstanding.  The more you study it, the more you see.  I'm confident we'll see more of Jack's dioramas in for future armies.

Jarl Asbjorn

I did Jarl Asbjorn back in the '80's.  I was active in the local figure society, the Minnesota Miniature Figure Society, and did quite a few collector figures at the time.

I believe the figure is a Post Militaire Series 66 viking.   I did the shore and rock carving with balsa and Durham Rock-Hard putty, and the water is a two-part resin product.  I can't remember much more about making the water -- looking at it now I believe the waves are clear sealer, like you would use on a sink.

Anyway, without further ado . . .

It was fun photographing the Jarl, and I am sure I will share other of my past collector figure pieces from time to time. 

Who will you send against me now? -- Irish dark age camp

I have all next week off!  My intention is to finish painting the Irish portion of my Irish Impetus dark age army, and get it based up.  I shall certainly make good progress on that.

I wanted to share a camp diorama my good friend Jack Ladd did for me back in July.  Jack and I were going over figures I had in my basement, and Jack developed an idea he insisted he run with.  The basis of the setting is a fine bear by Trent Miniatures, a hero from the Crusader Irish line, and a handler, archer, and standard bearer by Gripping Beast.

Views of the front and side show the Irish/Viking area above, and show the Irish view of the hero and "tamed" bear.

The suprise Jack envisioned and created is the enemy archer.

I hope you enjoy.  I will share pictures of how I intend to organize my army soon.