Moon Clan (Chaos beastmen) #4

Another bunch of beastmen got just finished so apparently Chaos Children warband project is nearly done. The gang is only dozen or so models, but must admit I've slowly started getting sick after painting Chaos only stuff. Looking forward for some change on painting desk. Olive green change...

The last trio are champion (beastlord), standard bearer and school bully - minotaur. I had lots of fun working on them: painting paper banner brings lots of memories. I still prefer paper banners over plastic or icons on stick. It's light so small model can carry pretty large standard without falling off. Bad Moon ain't new idea - 10 years ago I used it on the first zombie dragon project. Sure it should be greenskins' stuff but at the same time it's Warhammer Fantasy, and when it comes to worshipping evil forces - Chaos is not picky.

New models were painted using the same color palette as rest of the group so they all look nice marching together. They still need basing and display base but since it requires lots of pva glue - it also requires lots of time for drying and therefore it gets dedicated post. There's never enough Chaos spam after all... 😁

Minotaur sculpt got pretty aggressive, assaulting pose so for postcard purpose it got worthy opponent - Skaven rat ogre, trying to block falling axe with it's steam-powered, corrupted claw. And because poor rat-man is outnumbered it's assisted by mysterious Raze from Dark Age range. I know it's not Warhammer but who the hell knows what those twisted engineers from Clan Moulder have been working on recently: there might be rat-head under that mask as well... 

For some mysterious reason photos turned out to be kinda overburnt - no idea why: models for matt varnish as always, I used same set of lamps and tested background (pic of Moon Clan #2 were much better). My guess is the Horned Rat got pissed I dared to use rat ogre as sparring partner for minotaur. No matter what the reason is I might dig out light box trying to get as good photo conditions as possible. Ok, back to basing work to get this thing off the list:

Raze (Dark Age)

I've just came back from Khemri and because some Cryx models are still getting ready in paint stripper spa, decision was made to rescue something else from the very bottom of paint stripper container.

What you see below is Raze from Dark Age range. From what I can see I got it almost 10 years ago but somehow never managed to make any use of this model. Must say I got Dark Age materials + some models just because of Brom's artworks. These is really coor but also really weird sh!t, so that's probably the reason I painted only 2 minis from the range so far.

The fact game rules aren't anything special also could have something to do...

It's my 3rd attempt to paint this models and I'm really glad I can finally see it painted and sealed. Had some ideas how to paint it but once again I feel just best using natural tones. I am still considering adding some blood on the piece. Not sure is the "pizza cutter" the best place for it - it's rotating blade so my guess is if such a weapon hits the flesh - the blood should cover just like everywhere, and I am rather satisfied of the paintwork... 😁

The model is pretty unique both by design and size - probably that's because I couldn't find any use for it on gaming table. Looking at it compared to other models, it could proxy Chaos Dreadnought with ease. It's makes Skaven rat ogre look like a kid, not even mentiotning human size miniatures (on the pic - Warzone Cybertronic chasseur hero). 

Really happy to see it crossed off the shame list. Time to wash off sth more ordinary...

Blood Bowl rat ogre

Eeek! Eeek! 🐭

As mentioned after finishing ogre mercenary clubber I was considering starting Blood Bowl team and there's quite a big chance it's going to be Skaven team. Although I've played the game only once, I deeply believe I can play any game as long as I like the models. 

And those stinky, eeking, sneaky creatures are just so damn cool...

But before purchasing any new model (skaven or any other) I decided to paint a test piece just to see what can I achieve to support the Blood Bowl league. Few years back I got pair of placcy rat ogres. These were supposed to be base for some sci-fi conversion, but it turned out I hated these plastic crap so much they both landed on the top of Pile of Shame. 

Until last week, when one of these has been excavated...

Not sure this one's going to become a player, but I am sure I wanted to test some colors planned for the team. Skaven are pretty dirty (and stinky...) creatures so to provide some contrast I picked white for clohing and yellow for armour. That should look pretty effective worn by gray-ish creature standing on green grass.

At first I wanted tu use static grass applicator - haven't tried adding static grass on normal size base yet, but it turned out it got broken during last moving. Started digging in the hobby box and found some old modelling flock. It's really old - I guess I got it like 10-15 years ago? 

It's nothing like static grass, but looks just fine as Blood Bowl field.

Add green base edge to this and we're back into 90's again! 🥳

I am pretty pleased about this test piece. Apart the fact generally I hate plastic models I could use is for gaming. Looking at the pics and model in th flesh there's something missing. Some strong, focal point. I was thinking about some fresh blood on the claw or on bandages (or on both) or maybe some reddish dirt around bandages. 

I'll think about it - there's no need to be hasty while painting miniatures.

Skaven saboteurs and more!

Heya,

Easter time is finally gone so we can all come back to everyday routine.

Fortunately last weekend wasn't totally dominated by Easter crap, there was also something going on in the hobby matter. First of all my small Full Thrust fleet got painted reinforcements since the previous post:

the second Ural class destroyer and Kunitsa class frigate have left the assembly line in the mother star base. I still cannot get used to painting these models but I also cannot wait to see just few more painted and photographed on black (deep space that is) backround.

I was trying to keep the same color choice, there are just minor differences: for instance while painitng the second model (flying coffin on the right) I didn’t use airbrush for base colors – it’s barely noticed and most of the paint was corrected with brush anyway. I also painted strong shadows around the windows (or lights or whatever it is) which looks very fine hovering a meter above – these are gaming models after all. I also tried to increase contrast by applying stronger highlights on reds and highlighting grey to pure white. Again – these tinies are gaming models and strong contrast is the key when it comes to painting such toys.

New models were sealed only with semi-matt spray varnish but I might consider using glossy varnish first for a protection, and then matt or semi-matt varnish for a good look.

 

It would be too nice and easy if I didn't find anything to bitch about, this time it's casting quality. All in all I am satisfied with what came from GZG. I was aware small metal models would probably require some cleaning and filing but in case of small units it was really no problem.

The problem appeared when I examined Pobyeda class battlecruiser model. Mold that cast came from was heavily used or just damaged so there is some "overcast" to be removed and probably resculpted. Which is pain in the ass because the toy is metal... 

I'll take a pic when I start painting the model so you can see what do I mean. I contacted the seller and was told there will be new molds and some models will be resculpted. Hope the next time I decide to place the order I will get no reason to complain.

As for now - I think I will try to mask the screwed cast with greenstuff and paint is as some battle damage or cosmic infestation - there are alien fleets in Full Thrust after all!

Which reminds me! Last week we also had the very first Full Thrust game!

It was big breath of fresh, deep space air... or vacuum. It was cool to play the game with no terrain features on the table. Rules are easy to master so I think this game has big potential. I just have to convince my opponent to purchase opposing starter fleet.

Let's come back on Earth, to the Old World.
The base for the Chaos dragon is nearly done, at least it's underground part: the very last of Skaven saboteurs was painted, sealed, armed, fed with drugs and launched against doom-seeking dwarf warrior.
Painting these furry bastards was ton of fun, models are full of character and painiting each one of them takes only about 2 evenings. It was so much fun I am considering (again...) starting small Mordheim warband: either Skaven or Chaos (like beastmen led by evil sorcerer). These should look pretty cool standing in sewer or dungeon themed display base. Keeping fingers crossed for it.
Pics below are way too bright but I had to point there direct light to catch any details, but I think when the project is done I'll have to ask someone* to perform some photo-fu on these minis...

And the last for now: while I was adding the Full Thrust game to the summary chart it turned out I reached nice number of 100 models painted since the summary started.
Sure I painted much, much more minis since I got hooked (I am guessing it's about 500 pieces but it's just a shot sadly) but it's nice to see my hobby thing is still rolling, sometimes slower - sometimes faster. For the next birthday I will probably wish myself reaching 200 figures painted and chart confirmed!

Cheers!

*Yes mahon, that's you ^^