The Medieval Week – Monday August 4th

Monday came, and it was just as warm as the day before.

We started the day with a walk through town, and looked at some of the ruins.

As always, the market drew us in. We met an enthusiastic rope-maker and his wife. He showed us his hand built machine. Great fun, as we made our own rope, about 6 meters, with his guidance. Very interesting to see how things were made.

After this the youngest kids had a go at each other with foam weapons. They were enjoying themselves so much that a reporter from one of the local papers interviewed them.

The market is much about just looking at people

Johanna had a go at glassblowing. The result will hang from the ceiling in her room.

The night ended with a tournament. Low light and no flashes allowed, so nothing much to show. About 3000 spectators, jesters, mounted knights and longbowmen. Great show, and something of a must if you’re there.

Mantic PVC – a test

Mantic said that they will use PVC in their Dungeon Saga Kickstarter, the same PVC they used in their Loka game. I got a yellow pawn in a Mantic surprise-box of different figures I bought not too long ago (earlier this year or late last year, if I remember correctly). It went straight into the out-box as I really wasn’t interested in it.

But, as I would like to know more about their PVC, it was time to root it out. Said and done. It was easy to find, as it was made with a very yellow PVC.

Cleaning – no problems here, as long as you use a very sharp scalpel. This mini had no small fiddly parts, I guess those will be more difficult to clean. Spear shafts and bows might be problematic.

Painting – I washed it with detergent and hot water and then base-coated the figure with two coats of Vallejo 919 Foundation White. No problems here – the paint sticks well.

So, I’m satisfied that the PVC is at least okay to work with. I prefer hard plastic, but you can’t get everything.

I don’t know if I’m going to pledge on this kickstarter, but I’m at least confident that the PVC doesn’t suck.

I finished the mini as a statue. Fast J

The Medieval Week – Sunday August 3rd

Every early August, in week 32, the Medieval Week is celebrated in Visby, on the Island of Gotland. It started in 1984, the year I did my military service on that Island… I’ve stayed away from the island since then. Anyway, it was time to re-acquaint myself and the family with Visby.

We left home very early on Sunday 3^rd, in a fierce thunderstorm, to travel with car to Nynäshamn and the ferry. Due to the downpour we had to more or less crawl half the way, and we cleared check-in less than five minutes before it closed – wife and I had to run from the parking lot to have a chance…

3,5 hours cruise, and we arrived in a very hot Visby, it was around 30⁰C. A short walk to our hotel (air-conditioned – hooray!) and after that into medieval times!

The thing with this week is that a lot of the participants dress up in their best medieval dresses. A lot means more than 50% of the attendees. It’s like a gigantic live role-playing game.

We came just in time for the Inaugural Parade.

My wife, dressed in style

The parade ended in the Medieval Marketplace, the heart of the week. You eat, drink, try out things, enjoy whatever is on stage, buy stuff and just look at folks.

The old and the new mayors of the week, on their way to open the week

Regardless of age you can be a kid

A merry-go-round Medieval style.

My daughter ‘jousting’

 My oldest son, Martin, where he should be. He didn’t look so happy when we brought the rotten tomatoes…

The day ended with the Inaugural Party by the sea, outside the walled town.

It ended with flaming arrows shot out to sea…

…and a burning something ended our day

This was an insanely fun first day. More to come!

Tomb Kings Ushabti from Games Workshop

Another one of those models that was half-finished for a long time, at least five years. It just didn’t want to be fully painted. Anyway, I had enough of that, and finally finished it.

Paints used:

Metal – Citadel Chainmail and Vallejo 59 Hammered Copper

Bones – Vallejo game Color Bone White

Skin – Vallejo 912 Tan Yellow

Cloth – 880 Khaki Grey

Handle – 983 Flat Brown

Rotten hand – Formula P3 Thrall Flesh

Leather – 843 Cork Brown, 876 Brown Sand, P3 Bootstrap Leather

Blue Scarabs – Citadel Foundation Necron Abyss highlighted with Mordian Blue

Hair for all those skulls: Coat d’arms Horse Tone Brown/Chestnut/Roan/Grey

Washed with Army Painter Strong Tone

Now I only have a couple of Infinity-figures left, and then I have removed all the half-finished 28mm-figures. 

Female Paladin from Hasslefree vs Ushabti. It's a big beast!