S.T.A.L.K.E.R. #2

This time there'll be no dong-swinging - we're back on Earth. Postapocalyptic Earth... 🤖

Last year after reading Michał Gołkowski's "Stalker" novel decision was made to paint a model from post-apocalyptic range. I had only 2 pieces like that so just before winter the first of Stalkers left my painting station. 

That one was placed in winer scenery, but since there's summer just ahead I thought it might be good idea to finish whole post-apo line in my possession (short line of 2 models...🥺). 

Just like before I had lots of fun working on this rad-dude. 1/35 scale brings lost of cool details and such models are just great display pieces. Which reminds me - I think I might place small display case into my office, in order to make it look less like a mortuary and to distract attention of any clients which might stagger into my trap... Errr... Office that is...

That's it for now. Thank you Michał for bringing rad-zone to our homes 😁

And the group shot of rad-brothers:

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.

Oldhammer Weekend fever has went away. Must admit first thing painted after the event would be something Undead related, but surprisingly - something else was found on the bottom of the Pile of Shame. Funny thing speaking of this actually:

every time I take a look into the Pile I am wondering whether or not I can paint it before I die, or which models will be left untouched even by undercoat mist. Pretty creepy 💀

Back to the point.

Model I chose is larce scale (1/35?) post-apo inspired character. The moment I took a look on the sculpt and I had that S.T.A.L.K.E.R. sign glowing with sick green light in my mind. Sculpt itself is fragile and very detailed - it's one of those sculpts which are just fun to work with from the very beginning.

It's not gaming model, so I gave it fancy display base. I like when miniature tells some story: 

I imagine it patrolling perilous wastes after nuclear war. Or something. 
Like "Fallout" but during winter.
Nuclear winter...

Scavvies never enough

Yo back!

Glad to be able to write something with no delay so here's the spam:

While I was painting Irusk (the client was very happy with the the paintjob) I also started converting one of  my scavvies - somehow I got this model doubled. I am not satisfied with the painted version and also think it's quite poor sculpt (even for scavvies range) so the decision was made to modify it slightly to:

1. make it finally like-able

2. provide nasty heavy support to the gang

I was trying to turn scatter gun into sth more useful so I cut off the barrel and replaced it with placcy flamer bit, hung fuel container on the back made of ork shoota and voila.

The head is taken from MaxMini mutations set, and the mod was replacing it's right leg with piece of lead pipe (taken from plague zombie model). Hope to see it painted shortly!

Another Necromunda-related thing is small group of ghouls I got from Eastern Barbarian by LAF community (cheers dude!). After I proxied them in the  field I just had to add the to the force: toughness 4 combined with fear is just must have, not mentioning these are the leader's followers therefore - these fuckers cost me not a single credit hehehehehe...

Anyway here they are - it's probably the final version of painting.

I took some photos while painting the group so there's a chance to update the tutorial section of the blog finally.

Another reason last week was quite fine for the hobby is the postman  finally brought me Mini Exchange model - this time Lemartes painted one of eldars for me. I really like the model and it fits the display case really well.
Can't wait for the next event - there are still members of the forum who's paintjobs I want to see among my toys.

And finally:

The goddamn gnomes were delivered successfuly to mahon and he managed to take the official pictures using the background! Yup, mahon managed to find background 'uuuge enough =D

To see the big pics you have to see Chest of Colors site but if you want bit shrinked shots - enjoy.

Till the next time!

Better late then never

Yup, I guess that's truth. 

Especially when it comes to posting old stuff while new minis are being painted. But first of all - little explanation for this big posting gap. Since I got involved in painting the garden gnomes... eee... Firefall mmorpg models (note: these are models, but definitely NOT miniatures) I was trying to concentrate on the job to send back the toys to client as soon as possible. I tried to avoid any distractions like painting own stuff and also decided to keep all the news on hold until the models are done. Blogging can be distractive after all.

So the first and big (double big!) news is - the gnomes have been painted!

I feel embarassed it took me so much time to get them done but once again life issues have put the hobby aside. As you remember, or not, initially I got 4 models to paint but because shit got way too thick here I asked the CofC team for a little help. Moreover shortly after my desperate post Benathai agreed to take 2 of the models so my mission became possible to execute again. 

So here they are: I had no idea how to take fine pics, hope mahon will get any. I also have no idea how to send them safely for photo session, not mentioning 'uuuge trip over the Pond.

I'd like to say painting these learnt me something: 

do not take a commission if you are not sure about model's size. I'd like to but cannot say that for sure since it was another large scale experience after painitng Mezoghoul. Both were painful...

As for something more pleasant and proper scale while I was waiting for thick layers of paint on the gnomes to dry I started painitng banners for zombie dragon display piece.

Since it is oldschool project there was no other choice than using paper banners. The banners were based on ones from Orcs and Goblins armybook 5th ed. Painitng them was just fun and pretty nostalgic - I remember painitng standard bearers in old times when I used to think Warhammer Fantasy Battle is actually cool game ^^

Below you can see some unused, test banners and the final versions. I am more than sure they will look much better carried by plague zombie and wight lord when the whole piece is done.

We're talking about greenskins which leads me to little shopping did yet last year.

There were some strange days on January during which I got strongly interested in playing fantasy skirmish again. That was probably caused by old farts RPG talking here...

Anyway I 've always wanted to play Mordheim or Warheim (unofficial thing based on EE thing) and always wanted to lead greenskins to battle. 5th edition period sculpts are just essence of Warhammer for me.

I've already  had several metal night goblins but to build playable and more important: nice looking warband I was in need of bit support. I decided to get some big 'uns as leaders and troll as heavy support. Evilbay is full of greenskins so I quite easily found what I wanted: the command group of 4 tough bastards. And thank to  manatic from the Frothers I got the heavy hitter, in exchange for my old Hydralisk miniature.

As you can imagine just after I got the models they all ended up in string bags waiting for Tsathoggua knows what. This whole miniature buying is some fucking madness...

What else, what else...

Miniature exchange of course!

Once again Namaless did great job and 6th edition of the CofC community play launched. I really love these events - it is great motivator to paint something especially knowing that sooner or later you will get a model from another painter. The piece I chose for Grish (my ME victim hehehe) was one of Escher juves. The model is nice sculpt and it was also used to test hair color for my new gang and clothes colors for my buddie's Goliaths. If you want to see more works - just visit the Chest of Colors forum.

The model is standing on one of wooden bases I still have since the Plinth Country disaster. The store's site has finally vanished from the webspace but in exchange something else was spawned.

Several posts ago I wrote about  fucked up exam I managed to pass - the site is one of consequences ^^

If you ever decide to get a real estate somewhere in my region (central north Poland) it might be good idea to ask a real estate valuer for the opinion - more details available here. Sadly there's no English version of the site.

Where were we... Ah yes, miniatures!

My gallery was updated with 3 brand new photos of really fine quality. Which leads us to obvious conclusion pics weren't taken by my (thanks mahon ^^). There are photos of old works I decided to Ebay-off (Cryx bloat trall and sea witch) but there's also new piece: epic version of Commander Irusk, from Khador range. The client wanted me to paint the model dirty and battleworn so I hope the guy is happy with the paintjob. It was such a refresh to paint something dirty after the whole Firefall thing. Really wouldn't mind to paint a warjack this fashion.

And last but not least (of painted models of course) is small update for my Scavvies.

I wanted to get the second scaly done for a long time and it's finally ready to obliterate each and everyone who dares to cross Scavvy territory. I wonder who and why would like to invade sump anyway... 

Let's be frank - scaly sculpts are pretty poor, sure they have some oldschool character but these are just nothing special at best. So the decision was made to convert the model a bit to hide some of it's uglyness. As for the changes - it's a guardian so it was chained to the ground by caring gang leader. The shoulder pads come from placcy terminator set and pieces of wooded barrel. The helmet was taken from 40K ork. 

All in all it's nothing spectacular but:

- it adds bit more character to the gang

- I didn't make it look worse =P

The second one is just another plague zombie - it's lead pipe was broken so I chose the weapon from placcy zombies box. Colors were already used on certain gangers but since there are several more Scavvies waiting for painting / repainting I thought some practice might be good idea. Really can't wait to see whole the gang painted.

This year started nicely (at least: the hobby matter) because I managed to get Dieter Helsnicht model - one of models I considered very cool years back, when I was still info WFB, and which make me smile only nowdays. I remember the manticore was my very first auction purchase (LONG time ago) but it was sold without necromancer. I was trying to use it as mount for chaos lords but eventually drybrushed model ended up on the pile of shame.

When I saw the rider for sth about 1,5 quid - I just couldn't resist so the set is complete once again. I am really curious what the final effect will be - such a model can be solid choice for another oldschool display project.

And the last cool thing for this long post - Namaless was probably doing some "spring cleaning" in the hobby stuff because I got small gift from him: in the parcel there was orc - thing and old Heartbreaker models catalog. Thanks a lot man, you definitely know how to turn rotting zombie into happy rotting zombie! Homebrew is waiting for you =)

As the cherry on the cake: 2012 summary chart.

I've been tracking down the hobby activity since 2011 and the only conclusion for nowis: it's is getting worse.

As for 2012 there are several reasons: my exam thing, moving out, garden gnomes which paralyzed November and December. But my Necromunda opponent is equaly to blame - studies he started take lots of precious time which could be used for wargaming.

 That seems to be all for now - there are materials for next post coming slowly so hope it will be launched in reasonable term.

Cheers!

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 ^^