The 3rd Witch?

 My Offering for All Hallows Eve

So, to go alongside the third witch from the Bad Squiddo set, I made a little camp site for her. After a root about the bits box, I came up with a number of items for the witch's campsite. The caudrons were made from green stuff by pushing a ball of green stuff onto the end of a pen and shaped into the cauldron shape. Once hard, the feet were added. The pen was given a light coat of Vaseline, to aid the removal the green stuff.  The first one had a wonky lip, so ended up as the damaged cauldron in the background. I also am quite pleased how the green lighting effect came out. 

Hubble, bubble, boil & trouble. 

She's always watching you....

Standard lighting

Low level green light

A Third Witch but Not the Third Witch

Now there are three witches in the set from Bad Squiddo but the Granny & Nanny need a junior witch to give helpful instructions to (boss about), so I still need to find a junior witch to complete Granny's Lancre coven.  Anyway, the third witch looks much better a lone witch for the moment. 

Ok, sometime later

Yes, they are that battered because I have had them, a long time. Now, I have worked my way through the complete Witches saga (See Mr P's Witches). 

Three witches NOT the three witches!
Clear, GOOD.

And Finally...

Rob 

The Likely Orks Come Good?

 First Squad of Orks Finished (in 25 years*)

Charge!

The familiar 'Dakka Dakka' of the bolt guns could be 'eard followed by whine of stub guns as the 'umans returned fire. Both Bullet and Chopper were pinned by a dug in 'eavy stubber  and Spud was busy fighting the 'umans round the back of the village. So, Buzz and Moonie decided the only proper ork tactic was to charge 'eadlong into the village and show these 'umans who is the boss. 

The Likely Orks

This finishes my Orks in Orktober mini project. I still have another five to do and fancy scratch building a classic inspired ork dreadnought. But that will have to wait. The Zenithal  technique quite suits these figures and certainly speeds up the painting process. 

Moonie & Buzz

*The last squad of orks finished was in the nineties and was the original Rogue Trader boxed set. 

The Witching Hour Approaches

As Halloween approaches, I need to do at least one themed figure. And it is an excellent opportunity to finish off the 3rd witch from the Bad Squiddo pack. 

The evil eye

Tartan keeps a witch warm. 

Rob 

Time for Nanny

 Not Sure if I have Finished Her?

This is one those perennial painting questions. When to stop. Especially if you think you may make a worse job second time around. It is possible to just over do it. So I will take a bit of time before deciding if to add some more paint. 

This is turning into the month of the witches, so I may just paint up the third one from the pack. 

Not decided if I want to do more on the face. 

In their clearing above the forest the witches spoke thus 'I'm babysitting on Tuesday,' said the one with no hat but a thatch of white curls so thick she might have been wearing a helmet. ' Our Jason's youngest. I can manage Friday. Hurry up with the tea, luv, I'm that patched'

Nanny's first words - Wyrd Sisters

Nanny Ogg sat back. There were thirty-two of crowing age (Cockerels), she knew. She knew because she'd worked it out last night - tonight- and had give Jason his instructions. She had fifteen grown-up children and innumerable grandchildren ad great-grandchildren, and they'd had most of the evening to get into position. It should be enough. 

Nanny proving that she is just as cunning as Granny and an equal partner in the coven. 

Also did a quick job on five skeletons.
To finish the Thistlewood skeleton unit. 

Interesting to compare them to the classic citadel skeletons/

Rob

Zenithal & Bloomers

Carrying On with Stuff

Having put the first washes on Nanny last night. I was able to start work on the detailing. I have just started the third of the Witches Novels - Witches Abroad. Both witches clearly are wearing red and white bloomers in Josh Kirby's cover painting. And whilst I can't see Granny approving of such frivolity, I think the red and white bloomers will suit Nanny to a tee. Although I have had to paint them vertically so they can be seen. 

Nanny always did like to show off.

Josh Kirby's excellent cover for Witches abroad. 

In the absence of a white spray can, I decided to try drybrushing with white done only from top to bottom. It looks ok. 

Now with added whiteness

White has improved this one as well 

Rob 

Granny's Ready To Do Some Magic

 Sunday Night Session

Nice little session to finish off painting Granny this evening. Now I can start on Nanny Ogg who will have a bit more colour. 

'So can you fix my broom?'

Rob 

Granny's Headology's Lessions

 I Shall  Wear Midnight

Work progresses on Granny Weatherwax, since she needs to wear black this gives little room for colours. However, there is just enough detail to stop the black from completely overwhelming the model. A really great sculpt 

Granny's Headology Lessons

Now I am about half way through Wyrd Sisters so these pointers from Granny come from the first book, Equal Rites, 

'Do you Know how wizards like to be buried?' asked the Smith

Granny  said 'Reluctantly'

'I have probably got some milk and biscuits at home'

'Its a Witch's hat because you wear it. But you're a witch because you wear the hat. Um' said Esk

'So- ' prompted Granny

'So people see you coming in the hat and the cloak and they know you're a witch and that's why your magic works' said Esk

'That's Right' said Granny 'Its Headology' 

'Didn't I say to you that if you use magic you would go through the world like a knife goes through water'

'They all look constipated. I never met a wizard who was regular' 

Not the sort of Nonsense that Granny would put up with!

Bloody Handed Annie

Also working on the next troll or is that Spriggan for my warband.  As predicted, the sprites are still having a bad day. 

Rob

Beachhead 2022 - Star Wars, Titans and Winter Raids

A Grand Day Out Beside the Seaside

It was the first time I have been to the Beachhead show and I enjoyed it. It certainly isn't anything big like Salute. In fact it fitted inside one medium size sports hall but had a great selection of traders and a nice selection of display and participation games. The tournament hall was full all day but there was still a fair amount of people buzzing around the show hall without feeling crowded. 

It is relatively close to me (Bournemouth) and I will go back again.  As well as playing the Woods there were a number of other participation games. I managed to miss a fun looking game based on Aliens and I didn't even get a picture! There many other great looking games but I didn't manage to photography everything. 

This Star Wars games caught my eye, always got a bit of a soft spot for snow speeders (or is that forest speeders in this setting) versus AT-ATs. 

One of the other impressive displays was a whole horde of WH40K sized titans battling it out. Looked like part of the Horus Heresy. I counted over forty titans all of which were well painted. I don't like to think how much this lot cost. 

At the other end of the spectrum was this winter Dark Ages raid. Which I rather liked. The scenery was just great. 

Also an interesting looking American Civil War battle, this is not an era that I generally have much interest in (aside from a collection of Britain's figures from my childhood when it was the greys versus the blues) but this looked great. 

The weather was pretty filthy all day but we didn't need to go outside so it was fine for us. 

Some of the spoils of the day, I got a number of nice show bargains which always is welcome. Had some very interesting and useful discussions about paints with Mark from M&C Model Painting who was at the show  with a very large paint shop. Ended up picking a number of different brands to try at good prices. So will keep you all posted. 

Some of the swag

I settled on a the Wizened Witches set for Mr Pratchett's witches - Granny & Nanny from Bad Squiddo. Two of the witches in the set bear a striking resemblance to the vision of them in my head for these characters. Still need to get Magrat though.  

Rob 

Mr P's Witches

 Time for Some Equal Rites

I have been a long time fan of Terry Patchett  since I first read the Colour of Magic back in the 80s. In particular I have always liked the Witches, Granny and Nanny. But I have never read all of  Terry's Witches books or in the correct order. So this year is time to correct this serious failing.

You haven't read all of the Witches novels?

A number of helpful people have already sorted out the order  of Mr P.'s witches books. With six books listed in order below.  

Published 1987

Published 1988

Published 1991

Published 1992

Published 1995

Published 1998

I believe all of the covers were painted by Josh Kirby. 

On to the Figures

This reading has inspired a little side project. I had always planned to add a little coven of witches with scenery to the Fae but moved onto the next project(s) before getting round to it. 

But reading Mr. P witches has reminded me to get my own set of Witches and I have started trawling around the internet looking for some suitable figures. There were some official figures at one stage but I remember the costs were quite high. I also half remember a number of figures I quite liked but can't find at the moment. 

Anyway my first finds were a very nice range of witches from Midlam Miniatures  and the first  potential candidates for Granny & Nanny.  Because witches always come in threes, Granny & Nanny will also need a junior witch to boss about.  I already have a cat familiar from Reaper who can be used as Greebo. 

Pictures from Midlam's website

Rob