Six of the Best - Sessions 4 & 5

 Session 4 - Assembly

Wasn't impressed by the Reikland Fleshshade over the enchanted blue on the test model. It just looked dirty but could be used in small sections will give a nice rusted look in parts. 

So before doing any washes, It was time to put the figure together so that the washes flow in the right way when the model is put together. As I didn't have a picture of the finished figure to hand it did take a few minutes to work how to fit the model together as the head didn't seem to fit when the chest guard was fitted. But after a few choice words it all went together. 

It is also about this stage that I tend to lose a bit of interest (See the last post on Dori the Dwarf)and figures can sit on the paint bench for a bit because they can look a bit flat. But press on as hopefully it will start to come alive in the couple of sessions!

Session 5 - Washes

A quick session having decided to mix some of my own washes. I added a drop of washing up liquid to each of the diluted washes to help them flow. I deliberately let some bleeding occur between the washes to give a 'used' rather than a neat factory finish. Particularly around the weapon as O don't want it to look quite clean. 

Rob 

Dori the Dwarf

 Finished One at Last...

Dori has been sitting on the paint bench for the last couple of months. I haven't quite managed to motivate myself to finish him as I wasn't particularly happy with the finish on Oin.  They don't seem to have enough detailing for my taste, on these Hobbit figures. I am definitely not happy with the definition seen after applying washes. So have ended up adding a second wash and highlight to Dori to give him  a bit more definition.  And he seems much better for it.

I always intended this to be a side project but 3 months without any progress is a bit slow even for me. Anyway I have started prepping both Nori & Ori to be painted next.

Another grey colour scheme  for Nori but he will need to look different to Oin.

My least favourite character from the film  and the 'token' comedy dwarf which Peter Jackson seems a bit too keen on. I just don't get why one of the other dwarves wouldn't give him a sword or something! Especially when you think he is one of the dwarves that accompanies Balin to Moria. 

Rob 

Lone Wolf Gourgaz

 Close Up Shots

Rob 

Six of the Best - Session 3

 First Stab at the Base Coats Plus a Dwarf

Finished the first round of base colours on the Necron and managed to use all five of the base colours. I am debating whether to use the Reikland Fleshshade over the whole model or make up some washes for the grey/blue colours. Before I decide, I am going to do a test wash on spare model to decide if the shading looks good enough. I have found that the Citadel shades give a very precise shading over the painted area. Whereas the classic homemade washes made by watering down normal paints don’t always give a very even or satisfactory finish. Adding a little bit of washing up liquid can help but the truth is that the modern shades are just much better. 

His colour scheme does look a bit like an Ultramarine but I plan to add a lot more red so this should change a bit later. 

Finally Started Dori

After a couple of months quietly sitting on the paint bench. I finally started Dori. I took a quick picture to look at the detailing and realised I it was accidently a nicely staged picture.

Look behind you!

Rob 

Six of the Best - Sessions 1 & 2

 Undercoating & Base Colours

I have decided to treat this project Random Christmas Project a.k.a. Six of the Best a bit differently in that, I will post as I go along instead of a summary at the end and also I will keep track of how long it actually takes. I usually get to the end of painting a figure  but without any real idea how long I have spent. I was particularly interested to know how much longer I had spent of the halfling ranger captain (my entry to the Golden Gobbo) compared to the other halfling rangers. So this time I will keep a record. 

Session 1 - Prep & Undercoating

Ready for Undercoating

First decision before getting onto the painting was to build the figure and then paint it or paint it (mostly) on the sprue before building it. While  the skeletal design meant there could be parts difficult to paint once assembled, I am not really familiar with the figure so it will be more difficult to visualise the finished model whilst still on the sprue. Obviously, there will also be some attachment points to tidy up after removing from the sprue if left on during painting.  However, a childhood of making model aeroplanes etc. decided it. The Necron would stay on the sprue until I am at least done painting the main parts of the model.

I did, however, remove some of the attachment points to minimise this bit of work later. So next step on to the grey primer.

Session 2 - Starting the Base Colours

First go at the base colours

First point, I  have decided that I will use all the six colours (without any black or white) at least once on the model.  Second point, I now realise as I start painting, all of my colours are either bright (blue and red) or light (grey, cream [deck tan] and shining gold) which hardly fit the grim dark universe of WH40K.  I have decided not to go down the metallic colouring scheme, as a bright gold Necron doesn't really appeal. 

As I didn't (don't) really have a finished design in mind, I settled on one feature - the skeletal frame of the Necron. I wanted the skeletal bits to be a darker colour, so used the light grey mixed with black to get a mid-grey. Now the problem with mixing colours is that if you have to use them more than once, then you have to try and recreate the same colour. I used to have lots of problems with this in the past with units of all slightly different shades of the 'same' colour.  Which has led me to buy colours when I need to be consistent. Still rules are rules, so I don't really have any other choice but mixing on this occasion.

I haven't used Tamiya paints before and didn't really pay much attention when I bought this one. But as soon as I opened I realised it wasn't your normal acrylic paint. It has a strong solvent whiff. So I stopped and read the label, it is both flammable and an irritant. So I will treating this one with a bit more care than normal. 

After the mid-grey, the cream on the weapon and the blue armour plates seemed pretty obvious. I know I will have to make washes for these colours and also do touch ups. But overall I quite pleased with the start. He looks a bit more 'bright' future cyberpunk but could come in handy for a few games of Stargrave or Five Parsecs from Home. 

Rob 

Wargames Bingo Part 4

 Halfling Knights, Finishing Off Figures & Chrimbo Duels

I continue to work my way through the Wargaming bingo card and now I am having think about what projects are need to complete the remaining squares. Which is an interesting way to drive some unusual projects. I got a scenery kit at Salute which I plan to do to finish another square. 

No.13 - Break out a game or army you have not played in over a year, Play it and paint at least one new model for your force.

Now this is a technical choice, as I haven't played any games for over a year prior to the Fantasy Warrior's game last month. So technically any figure would count against this square. However, I haven't played Fantasy Warriors for at least a couple of years prior to Lockdown. So I think this follows both the letter and the spirit of the request.

My unit of revenants have been missing a standard bearer for dome time and this is a Bob Naismith sculpt done for Grenadier (via Fornlorn Hope). This figure seems to respond very well to a bit dry brushing after the washes. Making a quick and fun job of completing this figure.    

14. Paint a new version of one of your old character models. (Maybe the same sculpt, an updated sculpt or a newly converted version)

Before Repainting!

During Repainting

I have posted this figure before Halfling Knight and as seems to be the case at the moment, this figure is the one that inspired me to (re)create my current halfling army. The halfling army like the undead and Chaos armies which were all started as a mini-project to paint one or two figures. 

I had a unit of five halfling knights, so have painted this model at least six times now and may paint another of the remaining halfling knights with a bit of light modification. Sadly I don't have all five knights now and don't have any pictures of the original paint jobs. 

and After

No.15 Make a diorama (Simply placing a unit or army on a display board does not count)

Barbarians vs Fighting Men

Undead vs. Halflings

Now I have just completed  three small dioramas (third one with pictures to follow) as Christmas presents. So this completes this bingo square. The theme of the dioramas is Fantasy Warrior duels. So not surprisingly the figures are all old Grenadier figures by Mark Copplestone and Bob Naismith. 

The undead giant is still available for just over £4 which seems an absolute bargain from Fornlorn Hope. 

Rob 

Lone Wolf Nidnuks & Emerald Prince

Only One Lone Wolf Figure left & the Emerald Prince

Easy Prey?

So I have nearly painted all of the figures in my Lone Wolf collection. Only one Giak left to paint. Whilst I will keep an eye out for the remaining figures. The prices are usually beyond what I am prepared to pay so my collection is almost finished for now My Lone Wolf collection Picture.  Anyway the two Nidnuks have now been been finished. These Nidnuks  are small mouse men who act as scavengers in the Lone Wolf world. 

The figures are really small, only about 10mm high. So time for the small brushes!

Gary Chalk has done a couple of pictures (One shown below) of them for the Lone Wolf books. Which nicely capture the spirit of the characters. I am not sure that these sculpts quite meet the high standards of the drawings. Fortunately other figures in the range do a much better capturing the spirit of the books and Gary Chalk's illustrations. 

Nidnuk Chieftain by Gary Chalk

Finishing off Some Fae

After my Fantasy Warriors game, last month. I was inspired to finally get round to finishing off one my Fae units, The Wild Hunt. The Wild Hunt was missing the leader of the hunt - The Emerald Prince. In the game, the Wild Hunt couldn't finish off the Grateful Dead A Finely Balanced Encounter and fight lasted nearly all game. So I think the leader of the hunt would have helped tip the balance in favour of the Wild Hunt. This just leaves the sprite unit from my original Fae army plan. Maybe I might get them finished before Christmas...

I chose a classic Mark Copplestone wood elf warchief  from Grenadier (via Fornlorn Hope). As with all of the elves in the Fae army. I have avoid going for 'normal' flesh colours, so as the name suggested I went all in with the colour green. Which was an interesting change to stick to a smaller range of colours. He looks a bit darker in the photos than in 'real' life but overall I think he fits the bill. However, I would of liked a couple of extra different greens. So I could do with a wider range of paints. It is always more exciting to buy figures but a few more paints is a must over the next few months.

Rob  

More Defenders of the Three Shires

 Regulars from the Dancing Wolf

Finished off the militia unit with the Dancing Wolf banner. Which is the name of their local pub! So there are the repainted units. 

The whole army so far with both old and new elements. Despite Clive the Wyvern's early exit at the last battle. He is now firmly ensconced in the Halfling army. 

Just when I think I am finished. I find something else to add. I saw these dogs from Bad Squiddo at Salute and immediately thought of shepherd dogs. So these handlers will have to be converted. I also thinking about adding a small baggage train because they are halflings after all. 

Rob 

Random Christmas Project

 Six of the Best

Whilst browsing the internet, I came across this painting challenge on The Totally Random “6 Paints” Hobby Challenge | Heresy & Heroes (heresyandheroes.com)

Basically, the challenge is to paint one random figure with six random paints over Christmas. Now I am just coming to the end of a couple small projects and thought this would be a fun challenge to do over Christmas. 

1. The Figure

The Figure with trusty random number generators. 

So I dipped into figures and stuff box and came out with a Necron Immortal which a friend gave me as part of one those how to play WH40K magazines. I have painted many WH40K figures in the nineties but never a Necron as they didn't exist in the 1st edition rules. 

Now according to the Games Workshop website he should look something like the one below. But given my paint selection this one probably will not!

2. The Paints

Now I randomly selected two new paints on a trip to Hobby Craft today by start/stopping the timer on my phone and choosing the paint which corresponds to the number equal to the hundredth's of second score on the timer.

This gave me a grey from Revel and Deck Tan (Not even sure what Deck Tan is?) from Tamiya. 

Next up was the one metallic colour (maximum of one allowed) which rolled up Shinning Gold on the dice from my current selection of paints. Ironically, I also got this one from an earlier starter WH40K magazine.

A maximum of one shade is also allowed which rolled up Reikland Fleshshade. 

Leaving me with a Humbrol bright red and an old Citadel Enchanted blue from the 'normal' colours in my collection.  Now the enchanted blue is getting a bit dry and may have to replaced by a similar modern colour.  But I will see how I get on first. 

Now white and black can be used to lighten/darker these six colours but cannot be used on their own. I think you will a agree, definitely a random six paints. 

3. The Rules

The 6 Colours Random Mini Hobby Challenge Rules:

1. Select the mini at random. Use whatever method you wish to make the choice random and not yours or anyone else’s.
2. Ensure it is a single mini. If your chosen method produces a result that is too expensive, something you have painted before, or you really hate the mini, you can use a single mulligan to change to a different randomly selected mini.
3. Use any method to randomly select 6 paints. Exclude technical and contrast paints from the challenge, and there is a hard limit of one metallic paint and/or one shade/wash paint.
4. You are allowed to take a black and a white paint, but you may not use these on their own or unmixed on the mini – they must always be combined with at least one other colour.
5. You can mix your paints however you like with each other and/or with black and white.
6. You may pre-base your mini, but you can only use your six random paints and black and white paints to paint the base. 
7. There’s no official time limit, but try to complete your mini within 2 weeks (just so you never forget which paints you used!)

4. The Challenge

Now I have started to think about paint schemes. Now the obvious choice would be to go for a gold based colour scheme but the point of the challenge is to try different things. So I might go for a red/blue colour scheme making him look more Bladerunner than dark millennium. 

That's it for now on this one, I will start painting over Christmas. Trying to keep to the 2 week target when I start. 

Rob 

First Salute Buy Finished

 Tomb of Balin

The problem with going to a show like Salute is coming away with a load of new (& shiny) stuff which can push itself to the front of the painting queue. I am trying to feed in it slowly so that I can finish some of the projects I already started. 

However this choice was quick and easy one to get started, a small Sarcophagus from Blotz, MDF Terrain and Accessories. Which as soon as I saw it,  thought of the tomb of Balin.  Now I have played various  games  set in Balin's tomb but didn't have the key feature! At £3 this did seem a must have purchase, although not one my pre-Salute shopping list. But that is the beauty of going to shows is you get to see stuff that you don't expect. 

The rise in the number and quality of MDF terrain in the last couple of years has been a pleasant surprise and I did pick up a number of good looking MDF kits. 

There is one dwarf in Moria who still lives!

As expected this didn't take long to make and paint. Just a standard grey undercoat followed by various washes (Nuln Oil, Agrax Earthshade and Colia Greenshade) and bit of light grey dry brushing. 

A fun little to start reducing my Salute hoard.

Rob 

Chaos Beastmen Attack Village

 A.K.A. The Wheel of Time - Episode One

Just watched the first episode of the new Wheel of Time TV series by Amazon. Without giving away too many spoilers there is an attack on a village by group of Trollocs (I can only assume they were going for an amalgamation of Troll and Orc but ended up with something far worse! or maybe the writer was just taking the piss). However, I haven't read the books so I don't know what the official description of Trolloc  in the books is but in the TV series they are real dead-ringers for Chaos beastmen from Warhammer. 

I did try and find a picture of them from the show but couldn't so you will just have to watch it if you want to see what i am talking about.

Definitely NOT Trollocs!

Now I am not entirely sold on this series but if you want to see what chaos beastmen would look like attacking an isolated village then this is a pretty good place to start. Plus, the magic attacks were good as well. 

Rob 

Fantasy Warriors - The Post Lockdown Version

 I Played a Game!

I finally managed to get a game in and it was a game of Fantasy Warriors. It was really an opportunity to get all of my lockdown painting a table, have a catch up with some friends  and roll some dice. 

We didn't worry too much about working out a balanced games as I wanted to get all of my lockdown painted figures on a table at once. So we had Fae and Halflings  (Derek & I) vs. Undead and Chaos (Steve & Jason). I had to write up some army lists for the Fae and the Chaos armies as they are not featured in Fantasy Warriors. 

When we used to regularly play Fantasy Warriors we had started writing updates and potential rules changes for a v2.0 (As were all part of the Grenadier display team back in he 90s).  The main change on the day was using 2D6 instead of 1D6 for the amended  reaction tables. Using a single D6 means that any score is equally likely (1-6!) but using the total of 2D6 means that numbers around the middle (6-8) are much more likely than a 2 or 12. Meaning an extreme roll is possible on 2D6, however, most of the time a result inline with expectation occurs. So if you are doing well it is unlikely your guys are going to do something stupid. Also by keeping the modifiers from the rule book remain the same, they have a smaller influence on the overall outcome.

Whilst I remembered all of the figures , I did forget the counters (Fantasy Warrior's uses counters to indicate orders, reactions and ammo etc.) so we had to use our limited drawing skills.

Fantasy Warriors has a number of fun features which affect the course of the entire game. One of those is the time dial. The Fantasy Warriors uses of time of day in the game. The day is divided into 12 periods, six day and six night periods. The time of the battle can affect your force's morale and and shooting. It will probably be no surprise to find that armies like goblins and undead favour night whereas my halflings favour day.  So as a sign of things to come we managed to roll the first turn of night for the start of the battle. 

Whilst looking for a picture of a time dial, I did come across a website where someone had made on Katie the Wargamer: September 2015

One Up & One Down

The spectral wolves of the Wilde Hunt crashed into Grateful Dead skeletons on the far flank. This turned out to  be the most balanced fight of the game. The first units to engage and still battling it out  at the end. Blue Maeve the Fae hero did help out in the first couple of turns but she was called by her queen to help defeat the Nurgle Battleleader Fester in the centre of the battlefield.

They Got Crushed

At the other end of the scale was the halfling rangers against the troll chieftain and his two heavies. Not surprisingly it didn't end well for the halflings.  The halflings were suffering from bloodlust (the Fantasy Warriors version of frenzy). But it didn't help them.

The Battle

The Chaos right flank

Facing the Chaos were the Halflings including Clive the Wyvern

The Fae right flank ready to advance

Both sides advance

The Forest Spirits face off against the troll warband

Unlike other wargames, large creatures/heroes do not have multiple wounds. Instead they have a saving throw and once you fail the saving throw the creature or hero is removed. This means there is always jeopardy putting these large creatures into battle as they can die on the first turn. Unfortunately for me I couldn't make a saving throw for the entire game and so my large creatures and heroes died! I don't think I have ever managed to roll so many double ones in an entire game. 

We decided that we would randomise some of the units for this game and the chaos cultists at the front turned out to be elite. I think this example and the one above give you a good idea of the luck I had on this game. 

In the end the halflings were crushed and the Fae couldn't get their best units into combat quickly enough. So the day belonged the Chaos and Undead horde. However, we all managed a good fun game and a return to rolling some dice.

Rob 

Salute in a Day

 A Day Out in London

Most of my Salute Hoard 

A friend and I managed to get to Salute yesterday for the first time in about four years. And a great time as had by all. Obviously there were some differences  from normal years but they were not all bad - Salute 2022 is now less than 6 months away!  Salute is normally the same weekend as the London marathon, so there are normally lots of fit types wandering about getting registered however  this year as it was in November, the other main event at the Excel centre was ' Destination Star Trek' so there were many people dressed in Star Trek costumes and a randomly, a couple of people from  the film Aliens.  Sadly I wasn't able to get any photographs but some were extremely well done. 

The event looked well attended and was spread out over a much bigger area, so we were able to wander around without bumping into people.  Most of the traders listed on the map were present but there did seem to be a couple of last minute cancelations. However we found more than enough traders and games to keep us entertained for the whole day. 

My biggest gripe of the day was that in the conference hall, the lights had been turned down so it was dim and a bit straining on the eyes after a few hours. I have no idea why as the all the sections outside the conference hall were well lit. 

Managed to get some bargains and show specials including good selection of paints for £1 and the set of fine detail brushes for a fiver. I particularly impressed by a number of companies doing laser cut MDF scenery for good prices which seems to have expanded greatly in the couple of years that we have missed Salute. I picked a Rohan style watch tower for £7.50 from Blotz which I thought was a  cracking price. Plus stocked up on MDF laser cut movement trays and bases. 

Salute 2020 - Battle of Britain

Spitfire & Hurricane Displays

The theme this year was Battle of Britain anniversary (1940-2020) and there were full size replicas of a Spitfire and Hurricane in the display hall.  The Salute mini is sculpted just for the show and there is a short article on its design and commissioning in the Salute magazine. In keeping with the theme it is a  1940's  school boy holding a model plane. As usual it well sculpted but I just can't see me painting it as doesn't fit in with any collection I have.

The Salute 2020 Mini from the magazine

Random Oldhammer

On a random Oldhammer note, I picked a very attractive A5 flyer advertising a display of John Blanche's work at Foundry Miniatures. Its a long way up from the south coast, so it is extremely unlikely that I will be attending but Flyer alone is work displaying. 

The Pictures

A few of the pictures that I took on the day. 

Oakbound's Excellent Trolls -
Which I got and are now waiting for Christmas!
I only just noticed the gruesome remains on some of the troll's bases

Oakbound Elves

Oakbound - Pixie Riders

Fenris Games - New Kickstarter

More Fenris Games

Northumbrian Tin Solder

Northumbrian Tin Solder

Rob