AHPC VI - Bertok the Barbarian

Hi All,

As promised, here's a look at the Reaper "Bertok the Barbarian" I painted up for the challenge.

I'm still liking how his skin came out. Unusual for me as I usually find something not to like.

Returning home this evening, so I'll be able to do some comparison and glamour shots.

Thanks for looking.

Post Christmas, pre New Year update

Hi All,

Well the year is winding down and so is my holiday trip. In anticipation of being on the move again I've curtailed painting for now and chosen to do some long overdue page updates.

You can see what may be my final entry of 2015 on the Painting Challenge blog here. I'll probably post the pictures here as well tomorrow.

I've also updated the Figures/Models completed page and the Painting Challenge page. I realized while doing this that I neglected to take glamour shots of the stuff I was working on during the Summer for Oldhammer Weekend USA. When I get a minute to breath and can get my photo stuff set up at home I'll rectify that.

I'm also trying to decide if I want to change that page to a photo gallery or just link to the appropriate post. Any thoughts from followers?

The games played page need to get sorted, and lets not mention the projects page. It's in need of a complete overhaul.

We did manage to bodge together a gladiator game using Munera Sine Missione, Exagoni Libero, which is actually an older version of Munera Sine Missione. I totally misinterpreted quite a bit of the rules. A combination of careless reading and scrolling back and forth on the computer. But we had a back and forth bash up and the boy had fun. So mission accomplished.

I'll try and do a re-enactment photo session and perhaps we'll get in another game.

Thanks for looking.

2nd post of the AHPC VI - Little Goblins

Hi All,

You can read the post on the challenge blog here.

The green paint I use was having some pigment issues, so it was a struggle get an even not chalky layer on them.

I thought I had painted the spear wielders before, but didn't notice their hats at first.

I phoned it in on the fur bikini briefs but like how the colored loin clothes came out in general.

I need to update my painting challenge log. I have 76 points on the board right now and should have another 5 on the way.

We went to see the new Star Wars movie last night and we all enjoyed it very much. If you're a fan of the series I don't think you will be disappointed. It left me wanting to see the next one.

We're in that post Christmas lull, we'll see if I can get anything else finished before Monday.

First post of the Challenge - 1/72 Gladiators

Hi All,

Finally got in my first submission to the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge VI, here. I'll show you the same pictures on the blog, but I do recommend checking it out for all the other submissions. The themed rounds are especially good. I haven't decided if I'mm gong to participate in those yet or not.

Anyway, here's the Gladiators.

As I tagged in the labels, these are a mix of Italeri, Pegasus and Orion figures. Each set has it's strengths and weaknesses. The main issue with the Orion is the amount of flash and the rubbery plastic that is hard to trim cleanly.

I mixed in a lot of bronze and brass with the silver metallics, to keep it interesting. I also used the Reaper Dark and Golden skin triads in addition to my standby, Tanned skin.

These lads and lady (and bear) gave me 36 points. I'm trying to be a tad more consistent this year, we'll see how that goes.

Just a look behind the scenes. I didn't bring a variety of backgrounds with me so I thought I'd try using my tablet as the background. I probably should have wiped the finger prints off the screen.

I should be posting another batch of figures to the challenge later today.

Re-repair of Mr. UHF Antenna Staff

Since my post to he Analogue Hobbies Painting challenge hasn't gone through yet I'll show you my latest repair of Mr. UHF Antenna Staff.

The latest break had really compromised the white metal so that I was having an issue fitting things back together. I also didn't care for the glue selection so I had to go to the super market to find my preferred glue (Loctite Super Glue Gel). I had hoped to also find some plastic coffee stirrers to use as a sleeve to join the bits together, but no luck.

I ended up cutting a piece off a ball point pen ink tube. It was too large so I ended up cutting wedges from the ring and gluing them on.

I managed to somehow apply them and not glue my fingers together, but it was a major pain in the ass. It's gone from being a fairly slick repair to a total cluster pretty fast. Perhaps he knows an Ork with an ARC welder who did a quick repair for him out in the wasteland.

I hope to get some primer on him later today and maybe start painting him tomorrow.

I need to find something to wedge in my transport box to keep the figures immobilized.

Back to painting.

Paint Table Saturday 111 - Calm before the Storm

Hi All,

As promised, here's a picture of the figures I brought on holiday with me for the start of the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge.

Mostly 20mm (1/72) but a few 28mm. Unfortunately the baggage handlers ween't too gentle and my packing did not hold them immobile this time. The Colony 87 guy (UHF Antenna Staff guy) had his staff head broken again. I'm now in a position where the white metal is fairly compromised and the glue here is crap. I may not paint him so that I can figure out some kind of tubing and putty fix for it.

Just need to prime all the unprimed ones (by hand, sigh) and touch up the ones that have been shoddily primed.

Thanks for looking.

On the road again

Hi All,

Sorry to have been silent for so long. Year end stuff, packing and volunteering at school have all taken up a lot of time.

I've been prepping like mad for the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge, but have not finished as much as I would like. Certainly not all 1000 points worth, but I have about 291 points worth of stuff to get me started for the challenge on Sunday.

Sorry,  my phone has been rotating pictures in a weird way of late. Here you see my usual Sterlite container for transporting paint and minis.

I'll try to post with figures for Paint Table Saturday tomorrow when I get set up.

I'dalso like to welcome da Gobbo Grotto to the blog. I don't see a blog for you, if you have one let me know and I'll link to it. Love your name.

That's all for now.

Space Staff repair, Krakatoans funded and welcome.

Hi All,

Still flailing about, falling further behind. I know, same old story.

As you can see I used blue tack to hold everything in place while the glue set. I then decided that I needed to trim the pin on the top, and promptly snapped the whole thing back off.

And here he is back together again.  Looks pretty good from the front.

A hair wonky from the side, but hey, the guy is using some kind of Sci-Fi UHF aerial as a walking stick.

This is also my new interpretation of the 40K base work I'm trying to achieve. It needs a second layer of PVA over the grit and gravel. Instead of clean steel paneling or wires, my idea is to have moon rock and dust. Sort of Space 1999 inspired.

I also wanted to say thanks to all of the other people who backed the Dragon Bait Indiegogo. I have no idea if my postings swayed anyone, but the thing went from 60% to over 100% funded in the last couple of days. Doesn't really bring me any added benefit, but I'm glad they hit their goals.

I'd lastly like to welcome Bill of Dice, Doubloons, and Random Musings. Bill is a fellow challenger this year annd has an interesting blog. I've only read a couple of posts, but he has a D&D game with a Dwarf utilizing a Cosmic Cannon. I really want to ask him what that's all about.

Back to the Salt Mines.

Preparation AHPC

Hi All,

  Once a year a condition arises that calls for treatment with lead, plastic, paints and varnish. It usually comes about in late December but clears up by late March. Side effects may include blurred vision, solvent induced hallucinations, and the potential for being hit by sandbags. If these symptoms persist longer than 90 days, please consult your doctor.

  Ok, silliness aside, I've been preparing for the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge. As per usual, I have waited till the last minute to do the bulk of my prep work. So the usual holiday frenzy has heightened my sense of panic about the challenge.

  I like to keep my work leading up to the challenge close to the vest, so to speak. Not because I think anyone will gain an advantage, but because I like to debut the pieces fully painted and follow Curt's rule of first shot at the pictures.

  Suffice it to say I'll have a healthy dose of my usual 20mm (1/72) and Fantasy 28mm. I've also amassed some Sci-Fi 28mm of late. I had a few when I, foolishly, signed on for the Sc-Fi side duel. I've since acquired some more because I was worried I didn't have enough models to even compete.

  Anyway here are a few shots of my ongoing repair of a Colony 87 figure.

So my idea was to essentially pin the top of the staff back on but I decided that it might be sturdier if I put a spacer around the pin using aluminum tubing.

Above shows how the pin and tube fit together.

Aside from showing you my manicure, this is meant to show you how I drilled the staff ends to accept the pin.

I've since glued the pin and spacer on, but didn't have time to take a picture. Five hours to get the boy to do his homework took it out of me. His ADHD is getting to be a serious issue. Happy Holidays to one and all. I'm supposed to be playing out another Talomir battle. I'll add it to the list.

Some links about Weathering powders

Hi All,

I was thinking about ways to up my game for the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge and found this interesting link. The From the Warp articles are what interested me most. I seem to have a penchant for finding blogs that have been abandoned.

Anyway I think there are a really good series of articles on using weathering powders for the novice (me). What I came away with is that weathering powders probably aren't what I want right now. The methods for sealing them on the miniatures ruin the effects. At least as I see it. So I'll be trying to do the effects with paint of the pan pastels I already have.

A lot of prep going on for the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge in 16 days. I need to get cracking.

Vermember entry, Diehard Kickstarter and Dragon Bait Indiegogo

Hi All,

A lot of stuff going on, I'll try to keep it to three topics only.

Vermember:

Over on The Bazaar of Crooked Wonders we had a Skaven painting challenge. I painted three.

I had originally thought I would do the Rat Ogre on the left then morphed it into the handler and other Rat Ogre as well.

As the month wore on, and little progress was being made, I thought about not finishing the second two. But it always seemed like there was time to add a color or layer while things were drying on the first one.

I found out this morning that I could only pick one as my entry, so I picked "Old Sword Hand". I felt like his colors just came out better overall. The first Rat Ogre seemed to have all the browns, tans and ochres just kind of run together. Even his eye doesn't look as red in the picture as it does in real life. Maybe I chose the wrong White balance. It also appears that the OSL and verdigris on the brassy bits was nearly obliterated by the final grunge wash. Again it's slightly more obvious on the actual model, but maybe I need to be a little more bold with OSL.

Thanks for looking at these.

Diehard Kickstarter:

Just under two days left. The Chaos sorcerer and Hill Giant (?) have been released. At the start of the campaign I was really hoping for Son of Slomm, but it looks like he may have to wait for Diehard II the Wrath of Slomm.

Pinched from RoC80's here.

Dragon Bait Indiegogo:

Some more cool figures. "I know Sean, blah, blah, blah buy more miniatures." But they are pretty cool and they've added a sculpt of a Witch for the Krakatoans which can be seen on Blue's blog here.

Off to do chores, paint that blasted banner, prep miniatures, and try to figure what else I need to order to get ready for the challenge.