Bye-bye Mr Game Table

Hey,

About 2 weeks ago I moved to the new place. Time in between was spent to adjust the place, get some furniture (like upgrading miniature display cabinet...), get the paperwork done etc.

Lots of things I really hate yet necessary to begin anew.

While I was unpacking first part of miniatures last Saturday I got some pics of my modular game table. I've almost forgotten about that thing!

In June (or so) I realised I was lacking space in the gaming spot - the space was consumed by 10 post-apo modules, 24"x24" each, which were laying unused for way too long.

I still have lots of memories related to this thing: mostly about building it but lots and lots of gaming took place on it: mostly Necromunda and (old) Warzone.

The table has been useless for like 3 years now, mostly because of Bolt Action, but also we found separate terrain pieces more comfortable to store and use than pre-made modules.

I had no heart to simply throw it away but a while back it turned out some local guys play sci-fi stuff on regular schedule, so decision was made they will adopt my monster-baby. I asked them to take some pics after installing table in the club and that's what I got on Saturday. 

Fare well Mr Game table, you will be missed!

Below:

Pic I took while packing the thing to the car. 

I told the guy he's gonna take 2 rides to deliver all parts ^^

Below:

The table is fully operational in new place. 

Some more real estates on the battlefield

Hey again,

Looks like our Bolt Action battlefield is more-less complete:

I think at this stage we have all terrain features we need - thank to invaluable support from Black Grom Studio. Sure, there are things I'd still like to add (river, bridge, small bits to make the scene more "alive") or modify (woods, hedges, roads) but it's nothing urgent.

So the last hdf constructions added onto the field of glory are tiny huts: nice, useful, quick & easy to assemble. Assembling the bits takes some white glue, as for finishing walls and roofs - the walkthrough was posted bit earlier.

That's it for now. Must say it was cool thing to work on terrain pieces intead of miniatures (for a change). Lesson learnt: it takes much less time than it might appear to prepare nice looking bits of terrain for the battlefield, all you need is simply start.

The dirty piccies:

Building are still on the hobby desk assembled, weathered and heavily sealed (these are gaming pieces after all). Models for scale purpose:

And current battlefield including new buildings. Looking forward to face Nazi paras there and give them lesson of US democracy!
 

Warzone 4.0 - test game

Hey all fans of old lead!

The holiday is finally over so I am back to the office which should provide some spare time between browsing papers for updating the bloggy.

So without unnecessary babbling - here are some facts about what's been happening recently in my hobby.

First of all is something I forgot to mention about recently (probably because I was totally overwhelmed by gaming table). Driven by nostalgy for old times, games and models I managed to get some Warzone books from Noble Knight Games store. 

We don't use first edition rules but there's lots of reference materials like photos of painted models and fluff inside. Whole thing combined with quite low price (like $4,50 for a rule book) was too mesmerising for me not to fill the e-cart.

And about week after placing the order I found set of second edition Warzone books on local auction. Once again the price was totally acceptable for me even though we've never played using these rules. Some really great models were released for WZ#2 so it's great to have them gathered in one place.

On my book-shelf =]

What else?
Ah yes, last Saturday there was Warzone game in the cellar!
That was pretty significant event: it was the very first game played on new modular battlefield and also the first WZ game since ages, really cannot recall when exactly we played before but I think that was somewhere about first edition era? Probably.

As for that test game - it was kinda odd. We were both looking for some fast, furious and exciting match but in the end the game was like: both sides advance, both sides cover behind terrain features, there's a fire exchange and that's it.
My first thought was it was just disappointing but then I thought it was just a test game, my opponent didn't read the rulebook and most important: we both fielded forces based on cheap, large units. All models started game on plain area of the table so what else could they do instead of looking for best shooting positions possible?
I think game has the potential. Hope to discover it during the next game.

I managed to take some shots from the game - it's nothing jaw-dropping but:
1. it's a proof the game actually happened
2. it's another attempt to practice taking combat pictures (all in all I am satisfied but I'd also like to give tripod a try). The next time I will try to enchance photos with some GIMP manipulation - they are a bit too dark but using flash gives even worse results.

And the very last thng for this post.

After finishing the most cocky nepharite in the Mutant Chronicles universe I started digging in the lead piles looking for something suitable for painting. There were some serious candidates but the final choice was made with small help of guys from Prodos Games official Warzone forum.

The choice is Ezoghoul.
I remember when I got the model it was huge pain in the ass for me to assemble it anyhow: during those dark, medieval times my only assembling material was super glue. Correct: no hobby drill, no green stuff... Probably that was the reason the model was fielded only very few times and after one or two painting attempts it ended up in on of the junk boxes.
It's sword arm was brokem, the back "blades" (I still have no idea what that fuck is that part) were lost so it's furure was painted in quite dark and depressive colors.

Until I moved out.
I remember while packing junk boxes I found missing parts and since I've already had Dremel super-duper-drill I decided to give the pony of Algeroth a chance.
Good old metal model!
Pinning it together took me like 5 minutes only. The only additions are gun barrel (borrowed from EE melta gun) and round, 60 mm base. It's mostly for gaming purposes but also I might add some other human size model on it when the paintjob is done. There's lots of deaders staggering around my place aimlessly so they should appreciate company of big comrade.

As for the dude on the left it's also one of the old farts I'd like to see painted in the display case some day: Cybertronic's Eradicator Deathdroid (yup, also old Warzone range). The model has just been stored in the box for a long time but I finally decided to assemble it - aparently it takes benefit from good mood caused by recent Warzone match.
It's a second hand mini therefore it's slightly not complete: it had no right arm. I got this piece re-casted but I don't like it too much so I think I will use some placcy parts and add heavy machine gun instead of the flamer.

The game table is done!

More less, but definitely much more than less finished and ready for gaming.

But let's keep that cherry for the dessert.

First thing to be mentioned in the post is Chaos dragon - project which I've been working on for quite a long time. Funny thing but exactly like in case of the Zombie dragon painting small models and terrain building was fun, painting the big beast is just huge pain in the ass. I have absolutely no heart for painting this dragon which is kinda sad - it's one of my favorite EE models from the 90's.

So far only basic flesh tones were airbrushed as well some bone pieces were basecoated - it's going into Slaanesh style with no doubt. The beast was standing alone on work-base for some time so I decided to put in on the display plinth already: first to make it feel less sad, along and pissed and second - I was hoping this would give me hobby engine enough steam to finish painting.
I was wrong.
But since the end is so near it's just the matter of time to see the model painted. Hope you like the work in progress picture. 

But since the last post I managed to finish something.

Something rather big (compared to humans in that scale), fat and ugly. Fuckin' ugly!

Nepharite of Demnogonis from old Warzone range.

Again there's short story related to this old junk.

I got it few years back long after our Warzone gaming group fell apart but while we were still into game that model was rather hard to get for me. Despite model is damn ugly I've always wanted to see it in my glass case painted so here it is.

And scale shot with 3 plague zombies from Necromunda. Power of Demnogonis is so strong the Nepharite can control deaders (and 'uuuge worms) from different game systems.

As for the painting - before I examined model carefully I was suggested by official paintjob the guy wears no trousers - it's legs were painted same color as arms, head and belly. So while I was painting and realised there should be trousers I decided not to repaint flesh tone already painted but instead added one more nasty detail of the model so there's no doubt about the clothes.
Nor about the sex.

Click  - if you dare! =P

And the last thing for now - game table.
Last weeks I was coming to the gaming spot often before starting the job and late nights to finally paint the modular monster.
The base works are finished so there are just details to be added (small terrain fearures, posters etc) but it's already finished enough for gaming purposes.
It took quite a long time to assemble that battlefield but I took some wip photos which should be enough for separate post. I am kinda glad my short vacation is over so I will have plenty of spare time in the office to write that thing.

Cheers!

Time travellers

This time it's retro style post: 

two travellers crossed time and space to materialize painted in my glass case.

The first one is Mishima samurai from Warzone game.

This specific model is one of those with which the game started here. After we dropped gaming Warzone the toy was just getting dust badly painted in my buddy's attic. I got it like three years ago, washed the paint off and put into very long line for painting.

And the last weekend I finally managed to get my very first original Mishima model painted.

Because I have lots of heart for those old toys I decided to keep color scheme as close to original as I could provide. Don't think there's a big chance to play full scale Warzone (old or new) match here so some of these veterans will serve as mecenaries / independent characters or Necromunda gangers replacement.

The other one is nearly same age sculpt (1995 or 1996) but I got is few day ago together with Capitol army book: dark huntsman from Algeroth's team of evil doers. 

I remember when we were still into the game the model was somehow unavailable (too bad, because that unit had really nasty special rules) so it's really cool to add it to my collection painted. As for the paintjob there was no official photo so I had some ideas to choose from:

1. Basic idea was to paint it classic badass colors - that means black rags with some red pieces (Algeroth after all).  But then I realised I don't want a ninja armed with assault rifle in the team: too more black - too boring.
2. Another concept was to paint the uniform ordinary military colors but to show it's evil origin I wanted to give the flesh unnatural tone: like extremly unhealthy pale, demonic red or deep black - like D'n'D dark elves.
3. The final thing was to paint him looking like a pro: dark huntsman is skilled assassin after all so the decision was made to just give the model Capitol styled uniform (perfect for my gaming board) and fine shape kratach assault rifle. I can still attach silencer to the weapon to make whole piece fit original fluff better. I am also thinking about applying some war paint on the face - in the rulebook there was pic of heretic with simple red pattern along eye line. Pretty simple which usually means - pretty effective.

I am glad I got it and that it's finished - it took me a single, long afternoon which is quite achievement considering my pathetic painting efficiency this year. 

And last one too. 

And 2012...

Pictures were taken using the trusty post-apo background but also using section from the gaming board. The modules still require finishing (details, pigments, stuff like that) but after like 2 years* since I dropped first set of battlefield junk into the cellar the project is nearly done. Cannot wait to bring it to the very end and never come back to the matter. There's lots of hobby things I learnt during the work and I am sure I could built it better and faster if I ever had to to it again. Nevermind: here's Algeroth's finest killer:

And the last thing for now.

It's not news anymore but it's something seriously fucked my fragile world:
Rik Mayall died.

When I read the news my first thought was the guy was just making some sick fuc*ing joke but he wasn't. Don't get me wrong: I don't like public moaning about passed celebrities (of giving FB "likes" under information someone has just kicked the bucket, that's just sick!) but it turned out Rik Mayall was the very first actor who's demise really touched me.

I remember when I saw Bottom series on local tv (when I was like 15-16 years old?).
I was totally shocked and just sunked into bad english humor within seconds. I still cannot believe that local station decided to launch Bottom.

I also remember my daily routine from few years back when I was launching 1-2 Bottom episodes just after coming back from work. Having meal while watching these two degenerates was priceless.
There was much more Rik in the tv shows: Young ones, Black adder, New statesman... It's great lots of these are easy to get. The memory for the great actor will be preserved.

Farewell Richard Richard!
Try not to piss god off with too many dirty jokes!

See you soon!

*or probably even more

Something wicked is coming through the swamp...

Hey,

It's been a very long way but the end is near...

Last week the beast has been attached to its plinth, the edges were secured with masking tape ready for artifical water so below it's the last work in progress shot from painitng the oldie zombie dragon.
I'm not writing more about the model because the next post (when whole resin is dry) will be 100% dedicated to that project but you can see more-less the final result. Whole piece has been sprayed with matt varnish to set pigments used for some shading and for base but I think it will be also sealed with super matt Revell varnish.
There's never enough of protection plus taking photo of matt object (especially the banners) should be easter and more effective. We'll see...

Anything more?

Hell yeah! Also last week I got a day off work for blood donation. After the fluid of life* was pumped out from my veins system I had some free time which was just enough to get into gaming spot and put the first layer of paint on the gaming table.
It's finally happening! The colors are appearing! The vision of playing games using PAINTED miniatures and PAINTED table is materializing!

I was bit worried because it was my very first attempt of painitng such a thing, but I am quite satisfied of the result after paint dried. I think I will add another layer to make the structure more battle damage proof - I used heavily diluted water based paint mixed with lots of white glue. The next step is drybrushing some mild sand color to make whole area look more less like nice ash wastes with a touch of rust. 

And the last thing for this update.
Last but not dreaming... Hmmm... Dead but not least? Hmmm... Last but not least?

CTHULHU FFS!!!

Last Thursday I took a visit to the tattoo parlour from where Great Cthulhu has risen about 3 years ago. Getting inked is a pleasant thing but it's also quite addictive (God... errr... let's say Great Ancient Ones know why actually) so some time ago I decided to pull the sleeve down from right arm to just above the wrist.
After ~3,5 hrs of work here's more-less the current state of the picture. For now it's just a nightgaunt and the well teaser, some more will be revealed after the next visit to the parlour. Again I took some photos while the tattoo was applied so after whole piece is done (hopefully about March) I should have enough material for another article.

I just hope with this sleeve the lust for ink will be totally fulfilled...

Laters!

*which in my case is formaldehyde

Huge rack this time...

But first: the ship has arrived!
Actually - the Galleon! And soon it will sail through dangerous Big Pond, full of sea monsters straight to it's US (master and) commander!

Aaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!!!

I am very glad to have it already painted.
Not that working on the model was sort of nightmare or something (it was really nice change to do something hobby related finally), but accidentally while the commission work started - I was also moving to the new spot. 

But after whole the mess the model is ready and all I have to do is provide box durable enough to protect this baby against dirty and malicious minds of post office workers.

The very original color scheme was my client's idea: 

model is part of battle force based on Tramar theme (whatever it means - sadly I know very little about Iron Kingdoms fluff) which is also reason of "banners" hanging on the colossal's torso. 

The guy also asked for 2 removable bases: ship deck and battlefield themed. Some strong magnets and thick pin solved problem of standing the Galleon. Hope you like what you see - pics are average but I cannot remember I've ever taken decent photo of such a large toy.

The big guy is not blocking my painting desk anymore so I can finally start another painting commission. Some time ago I got a proposal of painting really nice model from Reaper's range: Eando Kline, the Pathfinder.
The model below was painted by Derek (you can see the proper topic on Reaper's forum here) and I was asked to base my paintjob on the Derek's work.
I will be surely very challenging task but hope see the mini painted with no further delays.There're still some of my Scavvies waiting to be painted after all!

At this stage model has been filed and undercoated. I've also decided to give the mini display plinth with socket to insert the round base. It's not much work more but I want to compensate the whole delay thing

But hobby life is not limited only to painting commissions and wargaming. There are other things as well.
Things like experiments.
About 3 weeks ago I went to fusing classes. I saw examples of such stuff during some recent appraisal work and there's just lots of possibilities to try. For starters I made 2 kinda-plates (whatever it is - doesn't work as eating plate for sure ^^) but the plan was also to give a try to some jewelry and some more useful things: like containers for dices, gaming tokens and the rest of these little gaming stuff.
Sadly after the first classes it turned out I won't have any chance to find enough time to go there regularly so all I got is the thing below. I left the other one in the class room - they sell fused glass products so who knows, maybe someone found a role to be filled by my "plate".

And last but definitely not least: the promised huge rack. Probably the very first rack posted on the bloggy!
It took me long time to get the rack into the the gaming room but it's there already and it's not leaving the place.No freakin' way!
Ladies and gentlemen... Well... Let's make it just: Gentlemen: I am presenting...

<ta-dam, ta-dam, ta-dam...>

THE HUGE RACK (clicky)

Nice, eh? ^^

After taking some of the shit stored in the gaming spot (stored there about 1,5 year ago) to the new home I discovered some unused wood. These planks were part of garden house roof or something.
8 of these were nailed together, cut to proper size so now we can we can play wargames on 72" x 72" size battlefield - 3 x 3 modules.
Maybe now I can finish these damn modules and then paint it...

Till the next time!

Excavation continues

Yeah, I am still at the damn excavation site trying to take back my precious stuff from the Horrible-Post-Moving-Mess-Beast. The bitch refuses any kind of cooperation but day after day, week after week some more of the things appear so I guess having my camp fully put up it's just the matter of time.

Hopefully: you know all these pulp movies with an archeological twist - it's always nice and easy until something get's fucked ^^

Speaking of which:
while moving shit from bags and boxes to the new office I discovered some old CDs buried under pile of pencils and papers. Before destroying them something inside told me to check the contents which turned out to be really smart move.
Among tons of useless crap I found some really old hobby pics - according to the date these are at least 10 years old! Sadly I do not know who took the pictures (who do I owe a beer that is), I am very happy I got them.
It's amazing a compact disk can be actually readable for so long. Verbatim FTW \o/

The first one is probably the only photo of my old Vampire counts army.
It was taken during a local Warhammer Fantasy 2250 pts tourney (one of a very few ever organized ever...) and it was the first tournament I participated in.
And the last:
I knew very well my army wasn't assembled for power gaming and I actually didn't care getting ass kicked but the attitude of some guys playing like it's fight for the last glass of water in the desert was just pathetic.
Anyway the army was sold piece by piece in the following years (thanks Mahon!) and the only thing left are the pics below.

 

And here it's the photo taken just after the first have: Vampires were confronting Tomb Kings. Stupid look of my face say just everything about the result ^^

  

And another pic from that day - these were Von Carsteins.

I remember that day I really liked the way models were painted and converted...

 

And  two more very funny photos:

this time it's part of my old Dark Legion army (good old Warzone). If I remember correctly these were painted when I was in high school and yeah, that time I was damn proud of the models. Paint from all miniatures from the photo have been removed long time ago and some of them have even been repainted. Check the gallery if you are interested.

 

And the last horrible, cell phone taken photo for this log (not sure anyone can bear more than that). Shot last night - very early work in progress shot of "the rack" for game table. 

So far we play games on battlefield made of 2 x 2 modules but since I built 10 modules (for the variety) I thought it would be cool to be able to assemble bigger gaming space. There's still lots of work ahead but there are many photos of different stages of this monster. When it's done I hope to assemble it into the article or something - who knows, such stuff might turn out useful. 

 

 

Cheers!