Beer & Painting on a Friday Night

Back to the Paint Bench

Back from the most recent work trip and managed to finish off the Thornspitter for Goblin Jousting. Nothing technical but a relaxing way to start the weekend. 

Not tonight's beer, but a very nice way to pass an evening.

Rob

One all in the Conker Cup

Pixies take One back

The second tournament played was in the bone theatre, were game came won by either beating the opposing team or by one player capturing three skulls. The game played much smoother as we were both more familiar with the rules. We have been playing with it an extra point of damage caused on a successful strike. As suggested in the rulebook to bring the game to a fast a furious conclusion. 

Only one rider (my pixie - Pop) was knocked out before Snap (who proved surprisingly agile) managed to get three skulls and win the game.  

Player of the Match - Snap

With Three skulls to win the game. 

I can now finally use the 'Tree of Evil' freebie from Alternative Armies for the thornspitter arena.  

Spinning Up a New Project

As work progresses on the next Ork scrap dread, I was thinking that that they needed some opponents for some classic RT WH40K games. While space marines are the obvious choice, I did have a RT Imperial guard army when the first plastic IG kit came out  (really need to dig out the Old WD Imperial Guard army lists - WD109 I think). And I have plenty of WA minis (including a box of Cannon Fodder) that will make great IG proxies. In fact the basic cannon fodder minis are a dead ringer for the penal squads from the old army list. 

This first command squad is a mix of WA Cannon Fodder, some 20 year old upgrade kits for EM4's troopers and some random plastic troopers that I got as a freebie at Salute. Really happy with the medic who is weighed down with all manner of kit.

As this is another Cheaphammer project (i.e. minimal new minis), still need to work out how to do the commissars as there aren't many obvious choices from the minis in the 'opportunity' pile. So, I might just have to buy a couple of commissars 😶.

Rob 

Sometimes I Just Paint Stuff

There Wasn't Really a Plan

When I sat down for a painting session this afternoon, I didn't have any idea what I was going to paint. There are plenty of logical choices such as Slann which have been waiting their turn. But instead I ended up painting the Easter Alternia. I know not even the right session! But anyway that what I wanted to paint, so I did. 

Although she could bolster the ranks of my Slaaneshi warband. 

Rob 

Not A Goblin

No Really - Actually It's Dragon Newt

After painting up the goblin horde it was time for something different. The fantastic Dragon Newt from Alternative Armies from their Asgard range. Like the giant frogs, bought during their sale for a very reasonable price. He will join the Slann army as a monstrous host (or something). 

Rob 

What is the Opposite of Grimdark?

The Giant Rainbow Frogs of Lustria!

Finished off the last two giant frogs. I am particularly pleased with the orange one. Which is one of those colours I struggle to get a really bright colour. They were great fun to paint  and I may need to  get a couple more to make a hunting pack for Slann animal handlers. 

Once I painted a red, green and blue ones, I sort of had paint the other ones to complete the colour spectrum. 

'Slann trappers find their prize, the Giant Rainbow frog. 

Considered a real delicacy by Slann nobles.' 

One in every colour!

'Poachers hunt the giant Rainbow frogs for 

their hallucinogenic poison glands.'

Rob 

Very Vintage Half Troll Champion

 Asgard Troll

Quick change of pace from normal, given the vintage sculpt (it is a recast by Alternative Armies from  their excellent Asgard range), I decided to go back to my 'traditional' methods of painting, which is to wash, highlight and wash again. All be it with modern paints. 

Using a mixture of Citadel shades and contrast paints. It was a quick mini to paint and overall I am happy with the effect. If I was painting him again I would probably try and make the skin even paler. 

He seems to fit in very well with the Oathmark goblins and so will make a suitable unit leader. 

All the scenic materials were applied directly to the base. So, I didn't have to paint the base which was of course much quicker. It looks ok, so I may do that again. 

Rob

Slann Animal Handlers

 Lustrian Giant Pond Frog

So, while technically Slann can't have giant frogs as animals in WFB 3rd Ed. It seems a bit of a daft omission.  They are listed in the 3rd Ed. rules  and in the army book but only as part of a monstrous host. But this feels like it fits the army, so I am including it. 

Anyway Alternative Armies were having a sale and the recast Vintage Asgard miniatures giant frogs seemed a good fit. Another three to paint which makes a nice little unit. 

Lustrian Giant Pond Frog - (Giant lacum Rana lustrian)

'The giant Lustrian poison frog is the preferred choice for Slann animal handlers because of its aggressive nature and highly potent skin toxin.  Which makes them very difficult to engage in  close combat. And whatever you do don't let them lick you!'

Rob

An Elf's Best Friend (4pts)

 Sometimes I like to Paint Easy Stuff

I think the title says it all.  First of the wolf hounds from Alternative Armies for the elven animal handler. 

The AA Wolf hound alongside the
Bad Squiddo Swedish Vallhund

Rob

Wild Elves March Onwards (43pts)

 The Wood Elf Army Grows

After a unexpected couple of free hours this afternoon. I managed to finish off the next four wood elves bringing the total to ten plus a tree man (Greater forest spirit). 

The standard bearer surrounded by her Spearguard

The Winter Thorns Archers

Alternative Armies, Citadel*, Grenadier (EM4), Celtos (Brigade) & Marauder?

*One of the classic Skarloc wood elf archers. A few more to follow.  

The Alternative Armies figure really standards out as a bit different. Sculpted in a very different (alternative?) style but still a nice figure. From their dungeon adventurers range. 

I think the elf on the right is an old Marauder figure and probably one of my favourite sculpts from this current lot. With some nice little details such as carvings on the front of the bow and glove for bow string hand. 

I am an amateur archer and so a padded glove is definitely needed for holding the bow string. And with the longbows carried by these elves the bow string would be cutting deep into the fingers whilst drawing the bow to full draw. 

Skirmish against Vordak 

Rob 

Where's Bombur?

 The Company Grows

I have managed to find a bit of pace with these dwarves and now I might actually finish Thorin's company. The latest two done were Fili and Kili. I did go a bit off script on the colour schemes, but I am happy with the final look. 

I had originally planned to paint them in their little groups and Bifur& Bofur have been my favourites so far. But Bombur had other plans (So Fili & Kill jumped the queue) and I just couldn't get the beard right and this is his most distinctive feature. So, after several attempts at salvaging the paint job he went in the IPA. 

Bifur, Bofur & ?

Fili & Kili

The Company of Thorin Oakenshield  so far...

Regular readers of my blog will know that I have struggled to get a satisfactory finished look for these dwarves, and it has taken me until about halfway through the set before I have been ok with the look of the completed figures.  But now I am starting to get the right finished look, I am starting to look at the early figures and thinking. That maybe I should go back and do a bit of touching up on the first three or four. So, Gloin was the first have a 30-minute 'improvement' session. 

Found Him!

Something a Bit Different

It's nice to paint up something that looks like an interesting to paint rather than just to complete a squad or fill in that missing gap in the collection. And this figure definitely slotted into this role. I have no real plans for her except that she was fun to paint.

Napoleonic Alternia

Rob 

Horses Or Ponies?

ME-21 Boromir - Part 2

My latest Boromir has arrived, the mounted version of the ME-21 Boromir. And the thing that struck me first is just how small the horse (or pony!) he is riding. It really does look like they ran out of horses when Boromir went looking for a mount. 

I wonder if this is Citadel trying to save money by making a smaller model or did they just forget to scale up their horses when scaled up their 25mm to 28mm figures? 

Boromir alongside a 90's Grenadier mounted barbarian

Call of the Wild

When I ordered the wolfhounds from Alternative Armies, I also took the opportunity to pick up a few of their other figures that I fancied. Among them was the druidess, I didn't realise she was a resin figure until she turned up (It does clearly say she is a resin figure on the website, I just didn't read it). It doesn't really matter but it was a surprise to see the grey resin alongside the other shiny metal figures. 

I haven't any great plans for her but I do quite like their Seasons of Celebration range  and I quite like the idea of any army of evil snowmen. Ironic in the middle of a heatwave!

Rob 

Boromir of Gondor (Again)

Captain of the White Tower

I have been looking for this version of Boromir for some time  and my previous Oldhammer Boromir (Boromir of Gondor) was bought as part of my attempt to put together an Oldhammer fellowship. As I am not very keen on all of the the actual Oldhammer fellowship figures in the set. I think they were done by different sculptors working in very different styles. 

So had stopped looking for this version of Boromir after I got the previous one and then came across him on unrelated search at a reasonable price.  Work on the Thistlewood goblins also continues. 

Clan of the Cave Bear

Finished off the first of the hunters. The cave bear was a Poundshop special (Cave Bear). Which at first I thought was a bit big. However a quick search online uncovered the North American short-faced bear.   Which is an extinct bear genus that inhabited North America from  ~2.5 Mya until 10,000 years ago (So present in the time of modern humans). Considered to be one of the largest known terrestrial mammalian carnivorans that has ever existed. Rangier and longer legged than any bear today, it was about five feet at the shoulders when walking and stood as tall as 12 feet on its hind legs. It was thought it could run at up to 40 mph. So even running away would be a problem!

Rob