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!

One fucking garden gnome down

It's been a while since the previous post so it's high time for some hobby summary.

Surprisingly there was pretty lot going on so without any more unnecessary bullcrap...

Few weeks ago I spotted Undead Legionaires blister on internet auction: 

didn't think twice and 3 days later postman delivered 2 zombies to my place =D

I know these are really ugly sculpts yet since Warzone is no more I felt it's my solemn duty to save that part of hobby history.

For the same reason some I got 2 more abominations from Warzone range: nepharite of Algeroth and Ragathol (special character). 

The nepharite was one of first models I saw in Mutant Chronicles zine and surely one of models which lured me into endless labyrinth of the hobby. I'l really like to give it paintjob similar to the Paul Bonner's artwork below but we'll see: there're still many models to be painted before I can start playing with this one.

And as you can see reality is damn ugly compared to the amazing artworks =D

As for other new toys since the last post I've been testing the Dremel toy and I must say I can already see it was one of the best hobby purchases I've made in years.

Sure I've been dealing with pinning using hand drill (or whatever it's named) but new tool makes things so much faster! Especially when it comes to assembling large, metal models. As for the test I decided to pimp one of my plague zombies:

it's probably the 3th or 4th copy or the sculpt I have so the decision was made to modify it. My first thought was to make some kind or standard bearer for Necromunda (for missions with special winning conditions, scenarios or whatever) but after the job was done I found better destiny for that lil' bastard.

The pic was taken just to show the pins I managed to put into model - all using new power drill. Right arm was repositioned because I got model with broken limb - all in all I should be satisfied, because I could give it slightly more dynamic look.

And since we're next to Necromunda I also managed to prepare 2 more models to be added to plague gang: another plague zombie (what a surprise...) and second scaly.

Small conversions were made just to give the models bit of personal touch: zombie got new melee weapon (also pinned with Dremel tool) and scaly got shoulder pad - it should contrast nicely with greenish flesh.

Now the big news:
one of garden gnomes I got for painting seems to be finished: there are some minor jobs to be done after the client consulted with his co-workers but 25% or this fucking nightmare seems to be behind me.
If I can give you any advice about painting such a monstrocity here it is: DO NOT.
The size of that mammoth works absolutely demotivating, model takes lots of time to properly prepare, pin and assemble not mentioning lots of time, paint and varnish to finish the task.
The only thing I hope for is the next models will be painted fast due the experience I got while struggling with this cocker.
Anyway here it is - pic is really poor but the t-shirt was the only background available for such a caliber of model. I will try to write short review of it on CofC sooner or later.

Another big news is the fact I finally started some works on one my fav models ever: old zombie dragon (which is cool despite horrible rider model...).
Well to be frank proper works are made on the base but still I am really happy there's a chance that block of lead might be moved from the unpainted pile to much better place: display cabinet.

I also used some old models to keep the project in Oldhammer mood: wight, skeleton and zombie standard bearer. There are some paper banners planned yet I haven't decided yet which ones - old Warhammer Armybooks offer so many to choose from.
Hope you like current stage of works - the next update will contain dragon for sure. Big thanks to Skrit for providing wight model (Cheers matey! Good luck with miniatures business!)

I think some clarification is required: I am vegetarian so I didn't kill any poor crab just to put it's corpse in the display cabinet. The one used has been found dead on Spanish beach  (it was nothing but empty carapace to be honest) so adding swamp creature was no moral problem.

And the very last thing: small technical announcement:
since my appraisal site is being risen up I decided to finally finish the whole Plinth Country mess: tutorials have been already moved to proper blog section and the gallery to my Picasa album. It's already linked to the button in the right panel.
Not sure it's better than Photobucket but pica can be umploaded much faster and it seems to be more user friendly.
I also moved there some pics already stored at Chest of Colors gallery section and if I find old hard disc drive - some more will follow.

That's it for now - hope the nest time the second garden gnome will be painted =]

The bunker is not empty yet

That's right:

not only it's not empty, but there are still some rotting bastards coming out!
Just like before a plague zombie came out searching for some fresh brains.





It surely came out for lured by fresh corpse aroma but also by small painting contest organized by Tuffskull on his bloggy: Paintmaster 2012.
I don't think it's  typical contest entry - especially it's just another member of my gang, but I like the sculpt so much and also the way it turned out I just couldn't resist using it for anything more than cannon fodder during game.

I already mentioned photo station has been moved into new spot which result you can see here - especially on the last photo: it's way too much light on the model =/
I regret I haven't noticed it earlier but what the hell - all what matters is the model look nice behind the glass, together with rest of the gangers.

One of the pics has been added to the WH40K gallery so if I manage to keep this speed all of my models should get there in about 50 years ^^

Speaking of Necromunda - because I had a day off for donating blood and recently we hired babysitter I was able to sneak out to gaming room in the middle of the day (!) to work a bit on the game table in peace and quiet.
So far the only thing done is base layer of styrofoam but I already have the idea for the next (and the last) module so finally I can use all remaining bits, throw away unused junk and clean the fucking mess in the gaming cellar! There's not a chance to see the table finished yet this year yet I'll do my best - it's one of the things I promised to myself after passing the exam. Here's current stage of works:



What else?
While painting the scaly (actually while waiting for washes to dry) I picked another model to be painted next. This little fucker is sth quite special:
- it's the only model I have in 10mm scale (I guess it's 10mm that is) 
- I got it from great buddy of mine - mahon
- it will become a gift for someone even more special: my bro =]

As for the jar thing - all guests on my brother's wedding got souvenirs: some olive oil and some olives in small jars (3 years of living in Spain has finally blasted his mind).
I thought it will be nice surprise to prepare a model dedicated to the wedding  so decision was made to make a small diorama which could be placed in the jar. And it turned out the archer was the only model suitable for the job. Don't think painting can take more than 2 evenings but I will do my best to give this model some character - we'll see.




Heavy support for my gang has arrived: ~145 credits worth scaly armed with spear gun.
I am very happy the model is finished and even more happy I cannot field more than 2 of these. Even though I love most of original Necromunda line scalies are fucking awful models... But colors used should make them blend into the gang pretty fine and using originals instead of really big troll-based model is quite game-wise ^^

The spear gun is also strange device: in theory it can act really nasty but takes lots of time to reload, costs lots of credits and scaly is not the best sniper material. But is has the potential: I remember only one situation of piercing 3 models with a single shot and since then scaly spreads aura of terror among models keeping too close together on the battlefield =D
Anyway here it is - not as nice as I was hoping for but more than enough for the campaign:




And the last thing: actually the cherry on the rotting cake ^^
Since the scaly makes nearly half of the gang painted the way I want (more-less) I dragged the models to the gaming bunker and you can see the result below.

After a few shots I chose the most sharp yet using some GIMP  was necessary. I am afraid when all the models are ready I will have to buy crate of beers, pack the models and visit mahon for the photo session. Scavvies deserve everything the best =]



Cheers!