Damn hot summer

It's really hot here!

in fact the weather in Poland is almost always fucked: 

we get short, ultra hot and damp summer and long damn cold and windy winters. True Chaos wastes in the middle of Europe...

This damn weather makes paints dry slower and matt spray varnish becomes satin!

But despite all of these obstacles I managed to find enough power and  inner discipline to sit at the desk and paint. Few weeks ago really nice lady from US contacted me asking about painting 2 models for her wedding cake!

Since she and her fiance are Dungeons and Dragons players I was asked to paint their RPG characters: battle mage and elf scout. None of the models is my "type" of models but it was nice change to paint pair of elves after whole this zombie and Necromunda flood. The commission has just been accepted so tomorrow morning models are starting the long over the Big Pond to their new home in California.

Another comission I've undertaken some few weeks back is the Galleon: mecenary warjack from Privateer Press. As for PP stardards the models is REALLY big but it's still nothing compared to these goddamn garden gnomes I painted at the beginning of the year. Nothing can be painted to these terrorists...

The client has cool vision of the final effect he wants to get which coresponds really smoothly with my idea for painting such a beast: weathering, mud, rust, mud, chipped paint, mud. And some additional mud here and there. The guy likes my Gone Muddin' entry so it's nice opportunity to practice this effect on a large scale piece.

I got the model more-less assembled but it suffered some damages during the transport so I had to re-pin it properly. It wasn't big problem since the model is 95% resin made and this material is no match for my Dremel multitool (I still consider it one of the best hobby purchases ever). So at this stage you can see assembled model standing on one of the bases - I am preparing another one (the big gus has magnets under it's feet). I am waiting for some materials from the client before I slap some paint on the model: it's main color will be purple... Yeah, you read it correctly.

I can try to imagine it but want to see something painted the way client likes before I mix the paint. Until that - Galleon w.i.p. shot:

I'll try to take decent pic of the base itself before sending model back - maybe guys from Secret Weapons will find it useful.

And the last thing - not much hobby related but it's a very useful gadget:
few weeks back I replaced a pc mouse with trackball. Wasn't sure about this device (not much people use this gizmo) but I am definitely satisfied. It's surely recommended if you feel pain in wrist caused my mouse using. I think I will bring it to the office as well - it's also space saver when too much papers appear from nowhere and refuse to go away ^^

Take care! 

One fucking garden gnome down

It's been a while since the previous post so it's high time for some hobby summary.

Surprisingly there was pretty lot going on so without any more unnecessary bullcrap...

Few weeks ago I spotted Undead Legionaires blister on internet auction: 

didn't think twice and 3 days later postman delivered 2 zombies to my place =D

I know these are really ugly sculpts yet since Warzone is no more I felt it's my solemn duty to save that part of hobby history.

For the same reason some I got 2 more abominations from Warzone range: nepharite of Algeroth and Ragathol (special character). 

The nepharite was one of first models I saw in Mutant Chronicles zine and surely one of models which lured me into endless labyrinth of the hobby. I'l really like to give it paintjob similar to the Paul Bonner's artwork below but we'll see: there're still many models to be painted before I can start playing with this one.

And as you can see reality is damn ugly compared to the amazing artworks =D

As for other new toys since the last post I've been testing the Dremel toy and I must say I can already see it was one of the best hobby purchases I've made in years.

Sure I've been dealing with pinning using hand drill (or whatever it's named) but new tool makes things so much faster! Especially when it comes to assembling large, metal models. As for the test I decided to pimp one of my plague zombies:

it's probably the 3th or 4th copy or the sculpt I have so the decision was made to modify it. My first thought was to make some kind or standard bearer for Necromunda (for missions with special winning conditions, scenarios or whatever) but after the job was done I found better destiny for that lil' bastard.

The pic was taken just to show the pins I managed to put into model - all using new power drill. Right arm was repositioned because I got model with broken limb - all in all I should be satisfied, because I could give it slightly more dynamic look.

And since we're next to Necromunda I also managed to prepare 2 more models to be added to plague gang: another plague zombie (what a surprise...) and second scaly.

Small conversions were made just to give the models bit of personal touch: zombie got new melee weapon (also pinned with Dremel tool) and scaly got shoulder pad - it should contrast nicely with greenish flesh.

Now the big news:
one of garden gnomes I got for painting seems to be finished: there are some minor jobs to be done after the client consulted with his co-workers but 25% or this fucking nightmare seems to be behind me.
If I can give you any advice about painting such a monstrocity here it is: DO NOT.
The size of that mammoth works absolutely demotivating, model takes lots of time to properly prepare, pin and assemble not mentioning lots of time, paint and varnish to finish the task.
The only thing I hope for is the next models will be painted fast due the experience I got while struggling with this cocker.
Anyway here it is - pic is really poor but the t-shirt was the only background available for such a caliber of model. I will try to write short review of it on CofC sooner or later.

Another big news is the fact I finally started some works on one my fav models ever: old zombie dragon (which is cool despite horrible rider model...).
Well to be frank proper works are made on the base but still I am really happy there's a chance that block of lead might be moved from the unpainted pile to much better place: display cabinet.

I also used some old models to keep the project in Oldhammer mood: wight, skeleton and zombie standard bearer. There are some paper banners planned yet I haven't decided yet which ones - old Warhammer Armybooks offer so many to choose from.
Hope you like current stage of works - the next update will contain dragon for sure. Big thanks to Skrit for providing wight model (Cheers matey! Good luck with miniatures business!)

I think some clarification is required: I am vegetarian so I didn't kill any poor crab just to put it's corpse in the display cabinet. The one used has been found dead on Spanish beach  (it was nothing but empty carapace to be honest) so adding swamp creature was no moral problem.

And the very last thing: small technical announcement:
since my appraisal site is being risen up I decided to finally finish the whole Plinth Country mess: tutorials have been already moved to proper blog section and the gallery to my Picasa album. It's already linked to the button in the right panel.
Not sure it's better than Photobucket but pica can be umploaded much faster and it seems to be more user friendly.
I also moved there some pics already stored at Chest of Colors gallery section and if I find old hard disc drive - some more will follow.

That's it for now - hope the nest time the second garden gnome will be painted =]

Zombies, zombies, zombies....

Howdy ho!

Believe or not there's more Demi spam!

I myself can actually barely believe it considering pathetic small amount time I can spend on the hobby...

Anyway the first thing is the fact I managed to re-take and replace pics of Barry, the bolter massacrator, which have been published in the previous post.

If you remember the old pics they were really poor, if you don't: well just consider yourself lucky guy ^^

While I was taking that photo I also managed to take some shots of latest plague zombie (which turned out to be 16th model painted in 2012 anno Cthulhi).
If you know the original model you can see this one has been slightly modified: gun holster on right hip has been replaced with water container from placcy IG model and the bone club in right hand was replaced with fuel canister.
There are 2 reasons for this:
- it's the second same sculpt in the gang so I wanted them to differ a bit

- I got it on Ebay together with some other models and apparently previous owner "borrowed" club and holster.

The pics are pretty grainy which was caused by using zoom while taking them. Next time I will try to take them from a distance - similar to the family postcard.

   
Last Tuesday the Dremel multi-tool was delivered.
Good news is there was a promotion: I got free LEGO set so looks like my kid will get a nice present when he stops trying to eat everything he can put into his gaping mouth ^^


But there's also bad news:
while I was getting the tool there was an information there are all drills and pieces I needed (to assemble the big models).
Unfortunately when I opened the box it turned out that was just a Dremel propaganda ><
So I had to visit local power tools dealer to get the missing part. Can you imagine this small thingy costed nearly 20% of the whole Dremel set?!?!?
It is equally fucked up to ordering single bits from Forge World...
Oh well - it's an investment after all so now there's not turning back.

And something funny for the end:
about last weekend I read I won WD subscription limited dwarf model on masterminis.net bloggy (thanks Zaphod!). All I had to do was adding that log to the watched list ^^
Looks like I know who will become leader of my small Mordheim warband.

That's all for now - the next updade should appear when the big models are assembled.

Laterz!

Daddy got some big toys!

Hey again,

Once again I am quite surprised about hobby activities  here:
few months back I was unable to get few hours to paint a single model and now new stuff is coming out every week!

So what is it this time?
For starters I managed to finish the little gift model  (still have no idea about the manufacturer). Painting such a small bugger was interesting experience but I'm afraid that's it for me: I definitely prefer 25/28 mm scale stuff.
As you can see some tuft was used on the base - I am really glad I got this material, so there'll be lots of it used on the next project*
I know it doesn't look spectacular but remember it's pretty tiny thing. Too bad I didn't take a photo of coin or sth in background to show the scale - the model is on the way now so maybe the recipient will do that.

An update without anything about Necromunda is wasted update so this time it's something else then another zombie.
Last week I borrowed a few of my opponent's gangers, chose one I liked the best and decided to slap some paint on it. The guy doesn't paint at all and I am going seriously sick and tired of playing against barely undercoated models - especially now, when I can field 100% painted Scavvies and Goliaths.
The ganger below (Barry) was painted using some colors tested recently:
1. to fit the photo - background
2. to fit colors I want to paint the battlefield with.
Single Van Saar model doesn't make Scavvies take their stuff and leave the Underhive (even ganger using fucking bolter...) so I hope to paint few of his buddies shortly.

And now something big.
Something REALLY big. It's not only bit but there are 4 of these! O_o
Yesterday I went to post office to pick up the parcel. I was expecting to recieve painting commission models.
Then I saw the box my fitst thought was: OMFG, the guys probably wants me to paint the vacuum cleaner ^^  Just check the size - little thing in the white circle is Barry.


Inside there was no vacuum but 4 smaller boxes...


And inside them there were such toys:
 

The plan for coming days is cleaning the model and assembling it somehow. Looks like I am forced to get Dremel multi-tool after all. Since it was made using 3D programming the parts should fit well. I cannot imagine correcting any mistakes on such a monster.

These models will surely consume lots of time so don't expect new zombie-spam from me shortly. Unless I decide to share pics of assembled that is.

'Till the next time!

*next not Necromunda related project that is ^^