More Vikings - Gripping Beast Hird Command

Here's the next batch of Vikings finished, apart from finishing off the bases and adding flags. This time I got both the Hirdmen command groups from Gripping Beast and I will mix in half the Crusader 2-handed axe figures and some plastic Hirdmen to make two 18 man strong units. All I need to do to achieve that is one sprue of the plastics and I should have enough to put a reasonable amount of points on the table (as well as a Jarl or King, of course). I would quite like some more archers, too, and some Thralls. Oh, and Ulfhednar. And berserkers. And....!

So here's the first command group (which is also listed as Command One on the GB web site). This is my favourite group of the two as I think the sculpts are just a bit more characterful. I didn't actually intend to put so much blue together as I painted both groups mixed together and I didn't think about what figures would go into what unit, but I suppose it doesn't really matter. I didn't quite get the light right for these pics, either, but they'll just have to do.

I just noticed that I didn't paint the standard bearer's brooch!

And here's the second group. As I alluded to already, I don't think this group is quite as good. The poses are actually quite good, it's just they're not quite as interesting in my opinion and the sculpting on the standard bearer is a little incongruous with the rest. Don't get me wrong, they're still cracking figures, but if I could only have one, I would go with the first.

As with the rest of the Vikings apart from the archers, the bases still need fully decorated, but I'll just blitz through them all in one sitting when all units are ready.