Sunday, April 25, 2010

Delayed update

Biles


So hello again - this time I hope to finish posting before my PC collapses...

Anyway the passing week was full of big hopes and plans confronted against brutal realiy. As we here say: "I wanted to do it well, it turned out just like always" (or sth similar).

So lets start with the big plan: we were told some time ago the will be some nasty test on Univ (last Friday evening). So as a good student I was taking Univ stuff to my workplace and was trying to master this arcane knowledge - learning at home is hretty hard with all this nice Rackham minis waiting for the paintjob (damn you Alek... ;) ).
I thought I can take week off to prepare for the test - which I did...
At least the first part: taking week off ain't the problem, the problem is using it for sth anything else than hobby stuff!

I spent 3 days in a row playing this damn Civilization on PS3 - the game is much "easier" than it's PC version but it's still lots of fun! At first I didn't like the idea the game universe is MUCH smaller than it was on PC but then again you can finish the game before it starts getting boring.
The game fistracted my attention so much than on Wednesday afternood I decided I MUST do anything else but once again - it definitely wasn't learning!

The Archaon model has been prepared for painting last weekend so I started paitning the guy.
All in all I confirmed that painitng a single man-sized ~28m model takes me about 3 afternoons/evenings: by the Saturday the rider was finished.
As you can see the model was slightly convereted - there are manyArchaon painted so far and I wanted mine to be rather Lord of Nurgle (Ia, Ia, Ia Papa Nurgle!!!) than just Archaon.
Besides I think General of Nurgle has batter chances for finding new owner on Ebay than Archaon - I hope to check it soon!
Picture below is of course wip and as I promised last week - it's clickable!


Archaon


At the beginning of passing week I presented my entry for "Gone Muddin'" painitng challenge to COFC guys and as always I wasn't disappointed: I got constructive feedback so fast that a day after base of my entry was repainted and even more water effect added. I really wasn't 100% sure of making that but after the paint was dry and pics takes - I must say The Forum was right: I like new look much better. I just hope the judges will also appreciate my efforts and bile thralls will be printed in NQ#31 ;)


Biles


What else?
As you saw lasy evening because of technical problems I couldn't post on time - I hope to get new stuff today so there will be no delays in future. Besides I have some important stuff on the disk and would be veeery pissed in case of loosing it.

Speaking of loosing - it turned out there will be no article about making Red Hook's base: I had full photo documentation of making it but why for the fuck's sake should anyone check if all important pics were downloaded from digicam on PC before formating memory card?
At least I learnt something - maybe hard way but apparently there's no better way of learing for me...

Take care - hope to see you next Sunday!

Technical break

Heya,

because of technical problems with my damn PC the blog will be updated tomorrow - time to change the hardware...

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Sunday, muddy Sunday





Heya again from the mud pit!

Once again there was no need to go to Univ for the weekend so once again I had a chance to paint some stuff and this time I managed to paint 5 minis - which is quite an achievement if you ask me!

But let's start with technical updates:
As you can see Labels are back - I decided to mark only post informing about new auctions, contest/commission pieces and tutorials: 2 are almost ready, all I have to do is choose proper pics and FINALLY add the to the blog
Another tech-update is clicking pic will make the open in new window - I was informed that will make blog more reader-friendly.

As for miniatures matter:
Passing week was very lucky for my Champion of Nurgle - he found new home and in fact it's the same buyer who purchased Chaos Sorcerer! Minis were packed and sent to pleasant and sunny land where main meals are pizza and spaghetti :)
And since we're next to shippinng stuff - the mysterious minis provider informed me he likes Mid Nor display base so it also has been shipped - I think he got it last Friday, otherwise minis will surely arrive tomorrow (I hope nothing will be damaged). As for payment I got even more Rackham models and can't wait to paint them!
These sculpts just beg for being placed on some diorama and I'm not gonna fail them!

Speaking of new minis - last week mailman delivered Archaon model - it has already been washed off, pinned and assembled. I did some minor conversions to make it bit original and ibecause t will be painted as Lord of Nurgle. I assume there's a very small chance to see it on Ebay next week but you never know... The base is already done so it's a good start!

I also managed to get some old Death Guard minis - all will be turned into Chaos characters so I think there should be no problem in selling them. Everyone likes Nurgle minis after all!

The last purchase is just cherry on the top of cake:
yesterday I managed to get Realms of Chaos: Slaves to Darkness book!

Slaves to Darkness


That means there's only Lost and Damned left to make collection of my grimoires complete! Really can't wait to get it delivered - it's like Xmas in spring!!!

This time won't be new auction because whole week was dominated by making contest piece for NQ painitng challenge: I started it last Friday.Saturday and yesterday the thing was assembled, varnished and ready to be photographed!
I'm still not sure about final look of the mud but let;s just hope judges will like it. Picture is clickable :)

Brute thrall


Hope to see you next week!


Sunday, April 11, 2010

One another busy week

Heya all!

Another Sunday arrived to it's time to sum up passing 7 days.
And I must say - once again lots was going on in my miniatures hobby!

So we start with technical update once again - and I must assure you there will be more sooner or later.
I've been testing some ideas for new blog's banner (current one is not "clear" enough in my opinion) but none of them was good enough to be used. Any ideas maybe? If so - there's post comment button below the post you know ;)
Another change was my logo: I've been trying to make it myself last weekend but finally gave up - I'm definitely not good at using GIMP or Photoshop...
So I was advised to ask professionals for help and I did it: thanks to Ewa and Kacper from Projektovnia Studio I have nice and shiny new logo! I think sooner or later I'm gonna ask these guys for help in making up new banner and who knows - maybe new layout of the site...

Another good news is I put Dante's Inferno on auction and despite there's still one day for bidding left there are already 2 bidders! The game was just not my taste - I finished it and don't wanna see it again. So I decided to replace it for something more playable: Sid Meier's Civilization. I downloaded demo of the game and like it so far - time to make Elbląg capital city of the world hehehe!

Speaking of auctions I think I managed to solve the problem of lack of Ebay-friendly models on my work station: on Friday I got mounted Archaon for about 50% of retail price: it's chaos, it's heavy armoured and iirc has nice gaming rules so I think it will be good shot. I am also watching some oldschool Death Guard models - I've always wanted to paint them so I think I now may have the occasion. Besides it's also Chaos models they should meen to problems in finding new home.

There's more news related to Ebay: last week I managed to sell Sorcerer of Nurgle but also Champion of Nurgle got the bid! So looks like I finally managed to find perfect models for my painting skills: easy and enjoyable to paint, looking effective and selling well!
I regret there'll be no auction this time but passing week was dominated but something else than auction stuff:

Mid Nors once again!
I am happy because I managed to paint small diorama for my mysterious miniatures provider within a week. The client asked me to base colors on official paintjob. I used these tones on scourge bearer but painted it in the way I like the most - worn and dirty. Unfortunately client hoped to see minis more colorful so the sentinel is clean and shiny almost like Xmas tree.
All you have to do to see close up is clicking the picture below - hope you like it!

Mid Nor diorama

The last hobby news (moreover: very good news!) is I learnt my entry sent for Salty Dog painitng contest organized by No Quarter Magazine qualified and will be pronted in May issue!
I also learnt Eric, who was my contact at NQ, doesn't work there anymore so that was the reason of no replies for materials I've been sending. Fortunately new guy seems to be competent so I hope out cooperation will be going smoothly.
And because I know what is theme of next painting challenge on friday night I started gathering materials and washing off minis so I can prepare something really dirty and muddy. The deadline is May 1st so I think I'll take some days off so I can make it on time...

Take care!

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Happy Easter


Yup - that's corrected: Jesus was crucified once again and once again he ressurected!
He's been doing the same trick every year for almost 2000 years now and somehow people aren't bored yet - that's what I call the miracle!

Fortunately there are also more interesting things to write about that Easter so let's go back to the weekly hobby summary.
First of all - technical changes: as you can notice the blog is constantly changing. Every week I spend some time learning basics of html and this site is good place to test new skills and magical abilities of mine. I have no idea how long will it take to get the final look of the blog but no worries - I'll write about it for sure. What do you think about new avatar by the way?

As for miniatures there was also going on a bit during passing week - no as much as I'd wish but it's still much better that nothing.
So first of all I prepared another display plinth for one of my miniatures - another one with forest theme. I must say some time ago I discovered building bases is for me equally cool as painting minis and now painting figure on plain, flat, boring base is just no fun.
The mini which will be standing on this base is Mid Nor standard bearer - I got the model at the beginning of the year together with rest of zombified dwars goodies. It's already pinned and undercoated so I hope to paint first layer of paint on it soon.

Another scenic base I started creating last week is designed for 2 Mid Nor minis I will be painting for my mysterious figures supplier (hi again Alek ;) ) . The plan was to add some water effect on it but because I have no Andrea artificial water anymore but Vallejo crap only I'm not sure I want to risk using it. As for minis for this project - these are sentinel and scourge bearer from Mid Nor. Painting these minis is just 101% of fun.
When the paintjob is done my collection of models will be supported by Cadwe Agitator, fire support goblin (hope to practise painting osl on this piece), Bacbunzen, Kobalt the Caustic (which will probably be opponent of my Aberration on the diorama) and two cherries on top of the cake: Xherys the Visionary and Akaranseth - the last one will make my collection of Mid Nors nearly complete - nearly...

And to finish theme of Rackham for this week I undercoated Nemesis clone and Dasyatis clone and almost assembled black troll and behemoth troll - the last one will surely be placed in winter scenery - if I find another nice model I also might try to make a bigger diorama. We'll see.
And the absolutely last thing about Rackham was gathering wood for Mid Nor war staff. If there's any painting contest I want these guys be my entry in unit category.

As for other brands od models - last friday I finally started painting the biggest warcaster in Cryx arsenal: Lich Lord Terminus. I was aware of the fact painting it won't be easy but I didn't realize how much until I painted first layer of paint. Hope I can finish it before Xmas...

Now after load of boring stuff the time has come the the big news of the week:
definitely the biggest hobby success was painting Chaos Champion of Nurgle. Paitning it took me about 3 evenings so looks like I am geting faster with every rotting style model painted. Once again the the critical moment Raphael fine detail brush save the paintjob - it's just perfect for painting all tiny things like pupils and sparks of light (thanks Ana and Mahon!).
I like the final effect so much that I'm sure similar colors will be used for Palaquin of Nurgle waiting patiently (and pretty long) for paintjob. It was supposed to be centerpiece of my old "Forces of Evil" project but I think I'll rather make decent base for it only - I was never good at painitng large, time consuming projects because sadly I tend to get bored just after painting a few models. Anyway the champion is done and I think I'll take a few days off work soon to paint the Palaquin - the model is way too cool just to lay in string bag.
So the Champion is finished but I now greedy person so I decided to share it with the world - it's already available on Ebay. Too bad I don't have any more Chaos Marines to paint - such models are always very "Ebay-friendly". Oh well - I think I'll be watching internet auctions more diligently searching for another victim to paint.


Lord of Nurgle


That's all for the first post of April - take care and see ya next Sunday!