Something painful straight from Innsmouth

This time it something like blast from the past.
The reason I decided to drag this corpse out the closet* is nostalgy for the unfinished project.
Once again.

I thought since I managed to finish oldie zombie dragon at the beginning of the year and chaos dragon recently maybe I could mark another project off the shameful list.

And as always there's a story standing behind the thing.
Few years back (hard to believe it was so long time ago) I spotted something uber-cool on Lead Adventures forum: it was Grimm's Innsmouth based baming board made for Tactica event. When I saw it I was just fu*king pressed into the chair, it was just awesome!
And I deeply hope it still is.

In fact seeing that piece is one of 2 reasons for me to visit Germany.
The second is seeing Nosferatu: symphony of horror black and white (!!!) gaming board built by Vikotnik for later Tactica. Another chair-pressing thing. Come and see:

 

I am not going to spoil everything so you can see whole thread dedicated to the Grimm's project here. Definitely worthy clicking!
So after recovering from coma after looking into Great Ancient One's eyes I knew I want such thing at my place. I also knew there's no space for full scale project and there's no one here to play such game. But I still wanted it so the only acceptable option was to build small piece of Innsmouth, big enough to tell a story yet small enough to fit the display case.

There were several options but all in all I chose fragment of Innsmouth docks.
There's always something going on in the docks, especially in Innsmouth!
I did some planning job, gathered required materials and shortly after the main construction was done. The story behind was something like: deep one priest and his minions are reclaiming Cthulhu idol statue (more than sure magical) when suddenly priest's one true foe - the detective supported by a policeman or two are stepping in!
Deadly fight to thE death is just about to start aaaaand... CUT!
This is what you should see.

I had some good time building that terrain piece, 3-4 years back it was really cool challenge. There was a plan to add some spicy bits like a skeleton wearing "concrete shoes" with arms tied in the back (now barely visible) and some others later.
That time I was experimenting a bit with artifical water. What I learnt already was this: decent water ain't cheap. Which was a problem because I needed quite a lot of the stuff to sink the dock properly.
Guided by still unknowk hellish force I went to trusty store with... chemicals for home etc.

You can open a beer and bring some popcorn because the funny part is coming.

That stupid bitch... the lady behind the counter was always quite helpful and was always selling me proper stuff when I wanted to paint some furniture, some wall or clean the pipes.
I was quite surprised she said there's transparent resin available, and it was damn cheap compared to Andrea's stuff. I thought it's probably because it's polish product, the price factor has just turned off any reasonable thinking.

I opened the jar and still remember I wanted to test it on something less valuable but according to the note the resin was getting hard after ~48 (iirc) and I didn't want to wait so long. What could actually go wrong?

I built boards around the docks using really solid plastic - it was 5mm thick, just perfect to prefect resin from leaking out. All gaps were sealed, resin was mixed and poured.

After a while I decided to move it into some safer place (I had 4 cats at home that time) but it turned out that thick plastic is just fu*king hot! Really - it was SO hot I barely dropped the piece! That moment I knew things went just wrong direction - there was styrofoam and other fragile materials used...

About days later I dismantled placcy boards and you can see below what I got: it some bits were melted, resin was cracked, didn't turn out transparent and all because it was resing for fixing car body!!! That day I put the project away, it's been just gathering dust for past years but now I think I am mentally ready to give it another chance.

I want to:
1. clean it so you can see original colors
2. cut off the base with the damn resin shit
3. re-base it: it will be 2"-3" lower but it will be easier to store and I won't need so much proper resin
4. finally paint dedicated models - since the accident I just lost any desire for painting Cthulhu themed minis

So here's the current stage, hope to share pics of the renovated piece yet this year.

Ia, ia Cthulhu fhtagn!!! 

*Bottom shelf of the display case, let's be frank about it

Egrimm van Horstmann - finished! (let's say...)

"When Egrimm van Horstmann was ordained as Grand Magister of the Order of Light he was acclaimed as the youngest and most gifted wizard to rule over a magical order. As he knelt down and swore allegiance to the Emperor, no-one guessed that his loyalty had already been given over to another, far more sinister master.

As an Apprentice Chanter of the ritual bound Order of Light Wizards he served under Master Chanter Alric, the Saviour of Apesto, who taught him many of the order's ancient secrets. But all the time he served the Order of Light, Horstmann prayed to the gods of Chaos for the power to defeat his peers. His progress was rapid. By day he studied Light Magic, and by night he pored over ancient manuscripts devoted to the lore of the Chaos gods. Daemons of Tzeentch whispered their timeless secrets into his sleeping mind and Egrimm's evil powers waxed strong..."

So it looks like I can finally cross another painting goals off my short list:  

one of my favorite models ever is now considered painted therefore it's sealed and placed in the comfy glass sarcophagus.

All in all I am very happy to know I won't have to fu*k with it anymore but just like in case of my beloved zombie dragon I know I should've spent some more time on finishing the beast. It's the thing I hate the most in such models: they have tons of character, they were sculpted the way I like the most (~5th ed Warhammer) but they are also nightmare to finish properly:

- assembling is pain in the ass

- manipulating is pain in the ass

- there's lots of surface to paint so waiting for the result is (for a change) - pain in the ass.

Apparently I am just way too lazy git to give such models paintjobs they truly deserve nevertheless I felt stings of remorse painting the dragon the fast, just to take it away from the desk. There was much more fun painting marauders, the sorcerer and minis fighing in the tunnel below. And this is another reason to bitch about:
once again I was trying to make model tell the story. The idea was to show ye corrupted Olde Worlde where mighty servants of Chaos march proudly through Empire of men, and even very guts of Earth are being consumed by chaotic ratmen.

Now watching at the piece I think I should've probably dropped the tunnel idea, even tho I had some fun making it the dragon is just too tall now. Oh well, at least I tested sculpting mushrooms and spinning spiderwebs - these should be more than useful on the next big (dark and necro...) thing I am planning.

So with no more babbling:
here's the official, minblowing paintjob...

Here's the sarcophagus...
 

And here's the piece itself.
Oh yeah, taking the pics was also pain in the ass! ;)
Hope you like it!

 

First try on 15mm scale stuff

This time it's something quick. And delayed on purpose.

First - I finally decided to give a try to 15mm scale minis. Some time ago I got some scavengers and mutants from Khurasan Miniatures but sadl they have just been stored in the sarcofago. Until now.
The reason for digging them out were latest posts on Tales from far point bloggy:
the guy started sculpting stuff based on classic Warzone game! And since I am suffering from serious Warzone fever I simply could not resist!

So there was no other choice for me but trying to paint at least some of 15mm tinies from the junk pile. I had no special bases for the minis so human sized ones were put on small washers (?) while super mutants on standard 25mm round bases. Looking at the pic below I am seriously considering getting some 20mm round bases though...

I took the pic with Warzone nepharite of Algeroth for the scale purposes.
When I placed models next to each other I realised what the charm of small scale gaming really is:
1.you can carry whole battlegroup in the pocket,
2.standard size battlefields provide way more space for manoeuvres,
3.large creatures from other games grow now into huge monstrocities!

And now the reason of the delay: zombie!

But this one is bit special (well every zombie is special for me in some way): the model was sent to Vikotnik in exchange for some goodies I got a while back. I waited with publishing until the model reached the destination.

It was a nice change to paint a classic piece from Necromunda range. 2 models like this are already members of my Scavvy gang so didn't need much another the very same sculpt.
The zombie has been very slightly modified: right arm was repositioned so I could add a banner, I also added bit cloth on it to hide the cut.

Paintjob has been sealed with solid layer of matt Revell varnish, so it should arrive safe and sound. That is of course some frenzy driven postman decides to stomp on the parcel or something... I mentioned it before - Revell makes really brill sealer but it just ruins any metallics. I gotta find some other stuff for metal parts - satin varnish should do the trick.

Till the next time!

This time it's something wet and nasty...

But before you get some miniature-pr0n here's something much less juicy: Capitol hero.
This ugly... eee... I meant classic piece of sculpt was painted as another member of the Doom Troopers team I'd like to see sometimes in the glass case.
I tested different camo colors here and it's acceptable for my rotten taste. There's no punisher blade on the back because I fu**ing lost is somewhere: I had just a single blade, got it primed and the next day it was gone. Main suspect is one of my cats but since there's no evidence so far...
I will find that piece or find some replacement shortly.

It was nice to cross that model off the 'uuge-junk-pile list, and it's always pleasure to see Warzone model painted. After I find the missing piece model will be sent to one of guys we started the whole Warzone deal here. The old chap was once wargamer and RPG player and now he's a monk =|

And no - nothing cool like monk from Diablo game. Oh well...

Now it's tome for something nasty and for adult wargamers only!
That's right, tell the kids to watch tv, play football or just get out ^^

I felt bit weird while starting painting the Carronande.
I know some old Warzone models look silly or funny but this one is just one big, fucking disaster. The only bits I like are original crewmen - they are now part of another undead legionnaires squad.
The cannon spent many years in the junk bucket since our Warzone group fell apart so I feel even bigger satisfaction it's finally painted. No matter how ugly it is. As you can see I replaced original wheels with resin ones. Despite my whole tolerance for ugly... eee... CLASSIC (gotta remember about it) minis I just couldn't stand the original parts.

At first I wanted to paint is similar to original artwork (dirty browns) but since the obvious reference to penis of Algeroth I decided to use more organic choice of colors. So here it is - ready to bombard mortal armies with pure semen of Evil.

And since there's never enough hobby pr0n here's another something.
Wet and nasty something which should probably come from Ilian (Warzone speaking) but which actually came from Navarro - if you ever had anything in common with Tyranids you should hear about the guy.

Some time ago I was trying to build a drop pod for my pretorian stalkers - according to some unofficial rules we use these guys can start the game deployed behind enemy lines. Since my sculpting-fu is really weak I asked Navarro for some advices about creating alien tissue - there was a cool article about it on Chest of Colors by the way.
So after exchanging some emails he offered to send me his drop pod, which was Santa visiting me in the summer!

What I got was a cast of pod sculpted for Secret Weapons. And it even came painted!
Check this and feed your eyes.
Thank you Nav, thanks a lot!

Till the next time!

Warzone Ezoghoul finished

Hey again,

Not much surprise this time - the title has spoiled content of the post: old Warzone Ezoghoul has been marked as painted and placed into the glass case among other Dark Legion's slaves. It's great to see this ugly bastard finished at last!

But first I'd like to share little (and ~18 years old) surprise I got last afternoon.

Old buddy of mine came back from the wedding travel just like 2-3 days ago and dropped in my place with something to take the curse* off the gaming table. At least that's what he texted me. He appeared with Angel of Death model - open top Brotherhood vehicle.

I never was the fan of the model, probably because I was Dark Legion player only (despite the fact I have still unpainted army of Brotherhood). But when I opened the box, put the clumsy pieces together I changed my mind: this thing kinda sums up style of most early Warzone sculpts. It fits really well junk I've been painting recently and should look fucking fine on the battlefield if painted in original colors. 
So here it is, another piece of wargaming history. Should probably be stored in some sort of museum, but it found new home among other old timers in my collection.

Now we're getting on the topic!

Painting Ezoghoul also created the occasion to finish some undead legionnaires. 

These guys were quite unique: they were released in 1999 while original legionnaires are from 1996, they seem to be better sculpted and Cthulhu knows why - there were only 3 models in blister instead of 4 as usually. I'd prefer to see them standing on separate bases but in the end the decision was made to base them together with pony of Algeroth:

I painted them with bright tones (contrasting nicely with Ezoghoul) and besides they are slightly smaller than other deaders so Ezoghoul looks even bigger.

Nice and pleasant work: these two is just some flesh and a gun, so finishing each of corpses takes ~2 easy evenings, with a cold beer in the True Detective in the back (got to find myself other series to play during painting, any suggestions? Sth creepy? Dark future?)

And here's mister superstar.

If I haven't mentioned it before: I am very glad to see it painted after the thing was saved from the junk-tomb. It's a bloody miracle during years of hibernation and 3 movings no parts are missing and the only damage is the barrel (I screwed it with my unskilled, early drilling and therefore replaced with placcy meltagun's) and sword's crossguard.

I was trying to paint it similar to original artwork - with natural colors (if we can say anything in this monster is natural). After taking the pics I can clearly see the highlights should be much stronger - it's necessary if you use heavy supermatt varnish. But I like the final effect a lot - hightlighted properly or not and not going to change it.

On first pics the beast is standing alone but later you can see it with undead handlers / pooptakers (Algeroth likes to have his grass clean). We have planned the game for tomorrow night so we will see if Ezoghoul is anything more than just bullet magnet :)

Seeya!

*oh yes, curses actually work, haven't realised how to dispel them yet though.