Dwarf Slayer

One more old fart crossed off!

I am really glad it's not haunting me anymore, 'cause it spent last 3-4 years in washing liquid plus I really do not like the model ^^

As for the model itself - I got it second hand long time ago, and the plan was to paint it for gaming buddy. But after first painting attempt I realised I really, really do not like the sculpt so model ended up on the very bottom of Pile Ov Shame. It's spent several years in the hole, when I decided to wash it off off and give it another chance. I still didn't like the sculpt at all, so it spent few more years washing off instead of getting painted.

Until now.

It pisses me off there are still some miniatures waiting for Cthulhu knows what in the washing jar, so decision was made to save them all: one by one, starting with the piece I don't like the most ^^ Back days it was meant for souvenir, so it was painted as one - for the same buddy actually. He was Warhammer Game Master when we were still into RPG and was big fan of dwarves. Miniature's pose makes it kinda silly looking standing on ground level, among other rank and file models, but it's really cool leaping down. Decent material for display piece. So here it is: one more down, too many more to go:

And the scale shot - Mid Nor Scourge Bearer about to be decimated:

July brings many changes

Hey again!

Last week was busy. And I mean it - there were LOTS of things to do (not many of them were related to the hobby though) but somehow I managed to make it more-less safely to the Sunday.
So let's start!

Probably the biggest event was the fact I finished studies: final exam was on the previous Saturday but it was last Friday then I was defending my thesis. All I have to do now is waiting for the diplima. And of course start real estate valuation practice in October.
As I suspected it was strange feeling to go to univ for the last time. As I told to examiner professor I didn't think I might even think about missing that - but it's happening.
During last year I learnt lots of interested things and lecturers did all they could to make whole that law-shit as interesing as possible.
To thank them for everything I brought one of minis rebased on decorative plinth to exam - prof was pretty surprised when she discovered zombie model in a box ^^
But I suppose it was one of the most original gifts she ever recieved.
Text on plaque says: "For the first successful year of studies"

But there was also something going on in painting field.
I finally started painting lord of chaos. It will be similar to champions painted before - apparently these colors lure Ebay biders to my auction.
And as bonus model will be provided with 2 bases: square 50 mm for gaming and scenic plinth for glass case. Here's the wip:

Another success for assembling and posting basing tutorial #2: it was intended for Miniature Madness Magazine but since the zine wasn't eventually born I was left with some pics so I added new text and voila. Hope you like it and find it useful.

And finally: 3 days ago I finally managed to get Plinth Country operational!
Thanks to priceless help of my bro site is working (more-less fine) so maybe this will be good way to fund my hobby bills. At the moment there are only resin plinths available but I want to add wooden to the offer as well. If you visit the site and spot any bugs - just let me know :)
The tutorial was even posted on the main site of Heresy Forums :]

As you noticed I want use only models I painted so I decided to re-base some minis from my collection. I started with Hydra warriors - these deminiacs look much better on new bases and I think they are a bit more happy ;)

Till the next time!!! :)

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!

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!

It was a good week for hobby

Hey again!

I am glad to announce that passing week in contrast to the previous one was very successful for my hobby!
Of course it could always be better (much better) if I only could remove such silly obstacles like wasting 8h of life every day in the office but don't think it will happen this life...

So let's start:
I began the week with preparing molds for casting. Thanks to the fact yesterday I had to go to Univ for the one day (the boss didn't need to know it was only one day instead of whole weekend this time hehehe) I got 3 day off work so I was able to pour the rubber into molds to see what happens.
I am pretty satisfied with containters I constructed for molding - no leaking, proper size etc but unfortunately everything couldn't be so perfect:
during molding I realised a single big bucket of silicone isn't enough - I still need at least half of bucket more.
Second thing - it turned out the rubber wasn't mixed enough so 2,5 of 7 molds are ruined. All in all I will have to get more silicone anyway but I really hate wasting money and that stuff ain't cheap. On the other hand - learning hard way is the best way to learn anything so now I know fucking well what should I avoid and what can I do better.

Last Monday I also went to photographers meeting: I took lots of pics on pendrive to share and get some useful tips / constructive advices but it turned out some fuckhead screwed up and laptop wasn't at place so all we could do was some theory.
Yet is was still ok because I learnt some stuff I wouldn't make up myself. Let's hope next time all gear will be delivered so I can learn much more.
Another achievement at this matter was getting more photo-tips from Mahon and Radovan (Dark Tower) - I printed some backgrounds I got from DT (too bad it was lasterjet instead of inkjet though) so minis I present this time were photographed under new conditions.

So the model on the top of this post is scavvy boss from my beloved Necromunda gang. It was painted a few years ago so it's nothing jawdropping but I really love this sculpt, I had tons of fun playing campaingns in the Underhive and it's good example of using one of new backgrounds.

You can compare it with artifical background used for the last hydra warrior I have: it's nice bit you can clearly see it's not natural. Speaking of Mid Nors - I am so glad I finished the last one.!!! Models are really nice and lot of fun to paint but apparently 3 zombie-goat-dwarfs in a row were too much for me. There now based and happy necro-family standing in my glasscase. I like the way models turned out on pic but don't like yellowish hue on the background - it's fault ot the damn laserjet.

And since we're next to Rackham range - last Wednesday I took 2 aberrations to the office and pinned these sweet models. One of them (aberration prime if I remember it's name correctly) was even undercoated. Today I wanna cast some bases so I also hope to build one for this Dirz nightmare.

As for the rest of the week - I started painitng Chaos Lord for Ebay (as I wrote - rubber ain't cheap) - it's heavy converted model so I hope some Nurle collector will adopt this piece - auction will start on Thursday.

I also got some old Mishima models from Warzone range - I always wanted to paint some of them and now when Dark Legion can use corrupted samurais - I want to paint them even more!!! The only problem is converting them into Dark Legionaires but I already have some ideas.

And the last thng this time - I sold CoD: Modern Warfare and got Dante's inferno for almost same price! Hope to start oblitering hellish minions tomorrow!

That's it for now - take care and see ya next Sunday!!!

Hey again,

So we already have March but I really hoped to start new month with some sort of a blast instead of solid dose of boredom...

There are many reasons why my hobby-kung-fu was so weak last week:
First of all the Univ - I have to go there 4 weekends in a row so it takes pretty lot of time which I could spend in much more hobby-productive way (and speaking of it - yesterday I passed civil law test ^^).
Another reason is I started some tests with silicon and resin. Last Monday I built some boxes for molds and hopefully soon I will solve the problem of lacking display plinths. I deeply hope to achieve some success because materials I had to purchase costed lots of money so screwing is not an option... Can't wait to see any results - all preparations take so long...

And speaking of money - there are still severaly days until my auction for CoD:World at war ends and if I manage to sell it (3 watchers so far) - I think I will get Dante's inferno PS3 game - I've been playing it's facebook version at work (I must say it's one of a few reasons I'm still alive - recent days in the office are deadly boring) so now it's time to kill some demons in HD 42" screen hehehe.

Despite passing week was all in all hobby failure I managed to use a few drops of paint: I started painitng the last Hydra warrior (also hoped to finish it last week...). The model is very early wip so I didn't bother taking pics but I took wip shot of group display base for my Mid nors.
As you can see all bases are ready and only one of them misses the model.

Pics are crappy therefore tomorrow evening I'm taking some sample photos and hope to get some useful advices on photographers' meeting (fingers crossed).

Last week arrived I ordered some time ago - I bought it to help pass time while waiting for the classes. It's Elephants on acid by Alex Boese. That's right: dosing LSD to elephant is just one tiny example reader will find for human stupidity.

Looks like it's the end of summary. In a few minutes I'll prepare my airbrush and paint base colors on chaos lord and sorcerer (from a few posts ago), highlight Lich Lord Terminus and hopefully work on hydra warrior so wish me luck!

demi

Hello - for the last time in the shortest month of a year!

Last week there was not much going on in my hobby area. The reason of it was the fact I had to go to Univ for the weekend (Friday - Sunday) so the best time for painting was used for sth else...
Worseluck I'll have to go to Univ for the next 3 weekends in a row so March will be sad month for all my unpainted minis (especially Rackham beauties...).
On the other hand I think I should put worseluck in quotes because I must say I enjoy these studies. I've never thought I will say that after 5 ghastly years of studying law but things I learn now (valuation) are damn interesting!

I know not everyone has to be fan of estimating value of properties so let's go back to the main topic:

Definitely the greatest achievement of last days was finishing the second Hydra Warrior - pics were taken today and as always are nothing special (if I don't screw the mini with my painting I will do it with the pic taken...) but I think they are still better that average pics I manage to tak:.
This time I changed my stupid habit of using ton of varnish on each model and changed the color of background.
There's still one Hydra Warrior left to paint (it's base and group base are already prepared) so I hope to see the final effect pleasant to the eye - if someone likes zombies and overdone bases.

And speaking about taking pictures - last Monday I went to meeting of local professional photographers. I hope to get some help and useful tips how to take really fine pics of miniatures.
Who knows - maybe I can even convice them to take pics for me? :p
I don't even dare to expect Mahon's quality of photographs but it really pissess me off when I spend lots of time painting piece of lead and cannot properly show whole the effort to the public.

I said it before and I still claim the hobby isn't limited to miniatures only. Last week I got Call of Duty: World at war PS3 game. I was expecting a lot from this but after 15 mins in front of the screen I realised it was missed investment:
compared to Medal of Honor: Airborne the game is just fucking boring. Graphic is much better and there's no doubt about it but gameplay is just plane and no fun. I prefer shooting italian blackshirts than japanese regular army. I will try to finish it this week but I'm quite sure it will be put on internet auction within few days.

About the auctions - in about 12h auction for my Zombie Wolfen ends - so far no bids but 5 watchers. If I can't manage to get rid of it this time I think the model will become a gift or sth like that. Selling it cheap is no business but selling it cheaper is just stupid.

The last thing related to hobby happened today afternoon. When I came back and checked my mailbox I found email from one of guys from Wargamer's forum (polish forum about wargaming especialy about such not enough promoted in Poland, SADLY, games like Warzone- my hobby adventure started with Warzone btw, Chronopia, FoW and many others).
I was asked to be a judge in the coming Warzone painting contest. I agreed almost immediately (despite the fact I won't be ale to participate) - I've never been judging anything and it might be good fun! We'll see.

That's it for now - take care!

Mid Nor adventure continues

Hey again!

Another week is passing so it's high time for some summarizing.
So first and probably the most important thing this week - I finished the first of 3 hydra warriors I have. I also finished display base for these wicked zombie-dwarfs and I hope to start painting warrior #2 today evening.
I said is before but have to say this again - can't remember when was the last time I was having so much fun painting minis before I got my Rackham delivery!

Speaking of Rackham stuff - yesterday I took some minis and washed them off. Some of them were half-assembled so I had to remove all superglue, modelling putty etc. There was some work with that but now models are waiting in string bags until I finish hydra warriors so I can start something much bigger like one of aberrations or one of trolls I have :)

But the world doesn't spin around french miniatures only. Last week FINALLY models ordered from goddamn Cytadela arrived. So yesterday I drilled, pinned, assembled and undercoated Rhulic Highshields. They will stay like this until I learn what is the theme of next NQ painting challenge - I'd like to use these dudes and one of plinths I got recently.
Tomorrow I'll try to contact with NQ team to check if they approved articles I wrote some time ago. I'd also like to know if photos of Red Hook are fine enough or do they want me to take new ones - the deadline is 01.03.2010.

In the parcel from Cytadela there was also plastic Chaos Lord from Warhammer 40000. I used this set + bits I have in the mysterious box to build lord and sorcerer. Both models have been assembled and undercoated today so I hope to start works on new servants of Nurgle as soon as possible - such minis are rather Ebay-friendly.

We all know the hobby is not only painting miniatures.
Last tuesday I finally visited Tat Studio to finish Great Cthulhu on my arm! After 4 painful hours the picture was nearly done... Nearly because the tissue didn't heal enough since previous needleplay so tattooist didn't want to risk screwing it by adding colors.
I will go there in month or two to finish whole thing but now my favorite Great Ancient One looks like this, this or this. At the moment it looks better (it's been 5 days since I got it) but the skin is still healing up.
On Friday the picture was presented in my workplace - I accidently forgot to wear long sleeve in the office. Funny thing - nobody told me absolutely anything about that. Actually all co-workers were pretty silent that day hehehe... ^^

So what else?
My zombie wolfen didn't find new home on Ebay and because I'm not going to use it for anything and because it totally doesn't fit my glass case I recided to put it on Ebay again. I dropped the price so I hope this time someone will take the miniature to new home.

The last thing for this post - because I finished Call of Duty: Airborne I ordered CoD: World at War and hope to see it in my PS3 tomorrow. We'll see if my rifle is enough to stop horrible banzai-charge of Japanese soliders.

That's all for now - see you next Sunday!

February belongs to Mid Nor!

Heya again!

Once again lots was going on in my hobby so without useless babbling - here's the weekly summary!

Last monday I contected with friend of mine about making some nice plinths for miniatures. The guy works with wood (bloody professional) so it wasn't anything difficult for him.
So after I brought him 150cm long piece of wood he turned it into several dozens of plinths - different shapes and sizes! Really can't wait to start mounting painted minis on these!

What else? At the beginning of passing week the mailman delivered yet another box of Rackham goodies for me!!!
This time there were models from orcs, goblins, undead and alchemists armies plus some extra goodies (like chaos creatures from Ilyad Games and really old zombie model (which manufacturer's I didn't manage to establish yet). Thanks Cthulhu I got another glass case for minis recently to keep these masterpieces!

Another surprising news for me was the fact I saw Death Guard squad painted at the beginning of this blog in CMON Top Last 7 Days! It was on the 10th place but who cares ^^ That only confirms my theory: if you want to make a career and big money on minis - paint Space Marines and Chaos Marines! Don't need anything more.
And speaking of earning money I'm still waiting for Chaos Lord ordered almost 2 weeks ago - it's probably the last time I am placing order in Cytadela.

Last week I also finished 2 minis: the first one is Red Hook painted for NQ. Taking quality photos was a pain in the ass - especially close ups. I'm afraid I like it much more in the flesh than on the screen or my pc. Pictures were sent to the magazine and I'm still waiting for the reply if these are fine enough for printing or not. I'm also waiting for email from Eric (Privateer Press team) about preparing another article for No Quarter.

The second mini painted a few days ago is Scourge Bearer from Nid Nor. Fuck me if that wasn't one of the most enjoyable models I had a pleasure to paint in my whole life!!!
The sculpt was nicely detailed and easy to work with but when I was basing the piece and suddenly realised whole "story" enclosed in this piece of metal - that just made my day!!!
It took me 2 evenings to spot the ragdoll ain't just some kind of rabbid doll but wears rabbit mask with breathing holes just like in Hannibal Lecter's mask!
Moreover models aren't just having a nice walk but the doll is conducting the zombie dwarf and is catting his halberd because dwarf has chained arms! So much details in such a tiny miniatures!

Yesterday I started preparing 4 Rackham minis for painting. I managed to assemble and prime 3 Hydra Warriors and moreover I made wooden base for these minis. It was also test of new drill I got for making ~25mm round sockets - perfect for display and contest miniatures.
The 4th model is Janos the Banished from Acheron deaders. It's arm was probably the smallest surface I had to pin during my long adventure with the hobby. Let's just hope I can give this model painting it deserves...

That's it for now - till the next Sunday!