Khador Widowmaker Work in Progress

Trying to make this a regular thing then – ie blogging something on a Sunday regardless of how much I’ve done hobbywise. In fact, I’ve not done a great deal of painting this week, but today I did get the brushes to the Widowmaker. C’est la:

I’m planning to use true metallics on the gun and a few small other places (buckles ‘n buttons) and for now I’ve just base-coated those areas in sandy brown and mid grey. I find painting metals a bit frustrating as the gold/bronze paints I have tend to smear and not give good coverage. I definitely need to practice the metallics and will probably be attempting something along the lines of the Bogusz’s Stupnicki’s tutorial on Miniature Mentor.

Anyway, I’m really enjoying painting the Widowmaker Kaptain. Better get started on the base I think.

Max on Sundays

As I mentioned last time around, I’ve been in a fairly quiet phase here on the blog. So in an effort to turn things around I’m going to try committing to a weekly blog post – probably on sundays – in an effort to build up momentum, both in terms of blogging and also painting as well.

Easiest thing for me to start with is to highlight the projects I am currently working on.

First up is one of those minis that I’ve always had a soft spot for: the Khador WIdowmaker Captain, by Privateer Press.

She’s quite an old sculpt but there’s something about it that’s always made me want to paint her. So, deciding to just paint for fun, she seemed a natural choice. Really enjoying progress so far.

The other two projects I have on the go at the moment are a small band of Eden Matriarchy fighters for Eden, and a couple of Dreadball teams. Here’s the colour test I did for my first Dreadball Void Siren. She’ll do the job I think.

And here’s an Orx guard underway.

You know what, in all my years of painting I don’t think I’ve ever painted an orc. Weird.

Both teams are assembled and have had first basecoat sprays. The minis are actually on the small side compared to the 32mm scale stuff I have been accustomed to and the resin/plastic material is a bit of a paint to clean up. So I’ve decided to just do very little prep work and paint them as boardgame pieces – mould lines ‘n all.

Sarissa Terrain – All Done!

So it seems I’m in a quiet phase here on the blog agin. Sorry about that.

A partial excuse is the fact that these past few months I’ve been head-down working on the Salute entry and all this Sarissa Terrain for the local gaming club.

Well the good news is that I have finally completed the terrain and it was delivered just in time for an Infinity demo session this evening.

Funnily enough this was the first time I’d actually seen it all laid out in one place – very nicely set off by a brand new set of gaming boards (courtesy of Tom) and a club move to a new venue with windows for real natural daylight!

Anyway here is that terrain set up for the demo games:

I say it’s all complete but there are a couple of extra handrails and ladders I can add at a later date but I’m not going to bust my chops over it.

Have to say it’ll be nice to get back on with my own projects now.

I’ve decided that for the rest of the year I’m just going to paint for the fun of it. Not aiming for any competitions or anything, just pick up a mini that takes my fancy and get it done to a standard I’m happy to put in the cabinet or field on the tabletop.

Come to think of it I’ve always wanted to tackle that old favourite Privateer Press Khador Widowmaker Captain model, and I’ve never done a snow base before…

More Sarissa Terrain

Now with Salute out of the way I’ve got back to finishing off the Sarissa Precision terrain I’ve been working on for the Cross Gaming Club. I’ve definitely taken longer than I should have to finish it (sorry guys!) but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now.

Here’s the latest batch complete – two large modules (a factory and a large hab module) and a bunch of gantry/walkways:

Both of the large modules have removable roofs and there are some wall sections inside to make for some interesting tactical in game situations. I’ll probably take some close-up pics before I take them down to the club and also plan to get a shot of the complete set when it’s all done. Looking forward to seeing how they all look laid out together.

Next up I will be finishing off a load of ladders and some barriers for the roofs and gantries. I have kept the barriers separate as they’re really quite flimsy and wouldn’t last long if permanently attached. I’m also considering glueing some panel sheets to them so that they can provide a bit of cover in games of Infinity.

I’ve promised to get the whole lot done for an Infinity demo night planned for May 28th.

I better pull my finger out!

Edit – oops, I forgot a title for the post. Sloppy, Max!

After the Carnival

Salute was yesterday and before I do a full rundown of the day I wanted to post pics of Lindo Guapo who I managed to get finished just in time to enter him into the painting competition. I was brushes down at 11pm on friday!

Anyway, here he is:

Pretty pleased with how he came out and felt like I pushed myself with the freehand patterning everywhere (a brave move to start on that cloak on Thursday night!)

Sad to say he didn’t place. The fantasy single miniature category had some extremely high standard entries, but at least he made it through to the final round of judging. I was proud to see him in the cabinet and he’ll look good in my display cabinet at home.

Sadly Tilly didn’t make the cut in the sci-fi single category. Aw, poor Tilly – she’s a favourite.

Foldaway Mini Gaming Table

Although my attention is very much focused on getting my Salute mini finished this weekend (like that’s going to happen!), I’ve been meaning to make a post about the awesome game table my Dad built for me and delivered recently.

He’s a cabinet maker by trade and so I asked him if he might be able to craft some sort of small modular gaming table frame so I could play small skirmish games on it, yet fold it away when it’s not in use.

After some discussions on a suitable design, here’s what he built me:

Pictures aren’t great I’m afraid but I think you can get the idea. The first pic is the frame itself, and now in the second you can see it with four 12″ mdf boards laid out on it.

It’s about coffee table height so I think it’ll be perfectly playable from the sofa. Nice.

Coincidentally, Secret Weapon Miniatures have just announced a Kickstarter for a series of moulded 12″ base plates. How timely. They’re pretty pricey and I wouldn’t need 16 of them (the entry level) but if they sell them individually then they could be perfect for my upcoming post apocalyptic Eden board.

Anyway, how lucky am I? Thanks Dad!

Ratcheting up the Pressure

The Salute countdown clock is ticking rather loudly and urgently at the moment with just over a week to go. Eek.

As Mrs Von D would put it, I’m “ratcheting up the pressure”!

I have a mostly free weekend though so I feel like I’ll be able to dedicate a decent enough amount of time to get Lindo Guapo finished.

Significantly I have built his base, which was a a big unknown before.

As you can see, I’m going for a Mediterranean style archway what will probably be in warm terracotta type tones with white stone detailing.

I’ve had to overcome a couple of obstacles. Firstly I have had to sculpt an extension to the wall that the mini himself is standing on so that it reaches the back arch. Bit of plasticard and putty used there (I’m still overcoming my fear of green stuff!)

Then I had to put a raised section at the front of the base as, for some unknown reason, his standing foot is too high if the wall is upright. I’ve put together a tiled section out of a couple of thin plasticard plates with a bit of tiling scored with my trusty scribing tool. I’m thinking I’ll do some sort of freehand design down there but glazed back to be quite subtle.

One bit I’m pleased with is the roof tiling. It’s made of a couple of strips of metal from a tomato puree tube that I bent back and forth over a row of cocktail sticks glued to a piece of card. It’s surprisingly effective and hopefully will paint up nicely.

For Guapo himself, I’ve reworked the face a bit more to give him a slightly more masculine air and a tanned complexion. I’ve also smoothed the cloak a bit more and pushed the contrast around the face and blue areas.

Now I need to get serious. I don’t want it to be a 3am finish the night before.