Long Overdue: Update

First post of 2017, Folks... I know, its a bit overdue...

Late last year, I was able to finally put the last touches on the Forest Goblin Spider Riders and deliver them to Karl. They turned out really well and he was pleased. I took quite some time to complete them, but I think they turned out awesome...

Gaming: DBA & HoTT Wednesday Night

I invited Blake to a last minute game night and after a bit of postponing-rescheduling, we actually found ourselves sitting at a table rolling dice. We started off playing some 15mm DBA and then played a game of 28mm Hordes of the Things. I only managed to take some pictures of the DBA game in its first few bounds, but never got any later pics taken (perhaps due to the euphoria of actually playing, I guess).

Blake's Early Bedouin Camel (Cav), including the General stand in the middle. A variety of manufacturers.

The first skirmish on the flank - the Samurai Ashigaru (Aux) charge up the steep hill to dislodge the Bedouin tribesmen (Aux). The Samurai are from Alec's 10mm Pendraken army.

The Bedouin Camel join the fray, led by the army General, but are, in turn, met by the Samurai (Cav), led by their General. 

Though the tribesmen held the hill for several bounds and all the mounted pushed and shoved, the Camel's lowered combat score against mounted eventually worked to the Samurai's favor, and the Bedouin would withdraw from their losses. 

In the 28mm game, by Bug Army took on one of Blake's Empire armies, the Maybe Middenheim army. This Empire army is verrrrry shooty - lots of archer and crossbow Shooters, plus two cannon Artillery. I allowed the cannon to scare my 2 Behemoths into uselessness, and managed to forget (yet again) that Artillery quick kill Heroes (my Bug Hero was also my General). That was my first stand and gave him the win, but we kept playing, me with a -2 to my commands. Nothing ever worked for me and Blake's skillful use of his crossbowmen stand meant that by the time I found the courage to send the Behemoths to try to save my game, it was all over for me, 12 AP lost (incl Gen) to 2AP. 

We really enjoyed throwing some dice and having to look up rules again since, due to both of our busy schedules, we hadn't played in a long while. Looking forward to another Spontaneous Game Night soon!

Reviving Old Minis: Warmaster Bretonnian General

Another mini I recovered from old computer files, painted for Mark's Warmaster army.

Reviving Old Minis

Haven't painted in a while but cleaning some old computer files I came across images of my GW High Elves. These are part of the second 24AP of my Hordes of the Things High Elf army.

Elven Spear - counts as Spear in HotT

Reaper Multi-Bolt Thrower - counts as Artillery in HotT

Lion Warriors - counts as Warband in HotT

Lion Warriors detail shot of their pelts on their backs

Distractions: Bretonnian and la République

Been cranking on the Spider Riders trying to finish up the 10, and finding little side jobs to work on at the same time. Aside from the Super Dungeon Explore treasure chests, I put a Bretonnian standard bearer on my work bench and dusted off some Spartan Games ships from Dystopian Wars.

Bretonnian standard bearer started a couple years ago. Back on the workbench with a couple coats of shading ink. 

A batch of Republique of France ships from Dystopian Wars. 

COMPLETE: (!!!) Super Dungeon Explore Treasure Chests

Finished off 2 more SDE treasure chests - including a 4-eyed Mimic - and varnished some I had finished in the past. Got another 2 on the workbench.

I've also completed two more of Karl's Spider Riders so only seven more to go! Woo woo!

COMPLETE: (!!!) Axles & Alloys Gun Buggy

I've finished another model! Another vehicle for Axles & Alloys!

Gun Buggy

Gun Buggy started off as a Hot Wheels "Enforcer" model and as it is one of a few Hot Wheels that come equipped with weapons, one on each side, I didn't need to add any. I did however, add lots of other stuff which I posted about previously.

After priming, I started painting and weathering, starting with brown washes on the wheels, the underside and the bumpers. When the browns settled into the ribs of the tires it just made them look rusty along with the rusty parts instead of mud, so I fixed the tires with Devlan Brown ink and black washes. Elsewhere, I worked the rusty parts up to a layer of orange washes in the bumpers and under the rear fenders, as well as on the wheel spikes. Once I was pleased with the rust, I went back and added steel and mithril highlights to those parts. 

Rust on the bumpers and under the rear fenders. 

I wasn't quite sure what color Gun Buggy would be, eventually deciding on a green as a contrast to Red Racer. I stippled the green on, using Vallejo Intermediate Green, and highlighting that by adding a bit of yellow to the green. I then stippled dark gray on the edges that would see the most damage and wear, followed by a stippled highlight of a lighter gray.

The air intake that I added got some detailed lines with a sharp pencil by free handing in vertical stripes. It then got a crown of mithril silver and the top was painted Intermediate green also.  For added splashes of color, I painted the spotlights on the roof, one yellow and one silver, outlined in black.

Detail showing the rusty wheel spikes and the air intake, as well as the underside. 

Gun Buggy based to match Red Racer.

In Axle & Alloys, vehicles can be equipped with drop weapons such as spike droppers, oil sprayers, minelayers and napalm sprayers. The sprayer mechanism I added could be for oil or napalm, in a convenient refillable canister. For a further splash of color, I painted the canister in bright yellow, inspired by Monsters, Inc and the fact their yellow canisters are tough enough to hold the potent energy found in children's laughter...  mine should be able to contain napalm, I figure...

Rear detail showing dropper apparatus, all set to spray napalm or oil to thwart would-be threats trailing behind. 

For the glass end of the fuel canister, I attempted a painting technique to hint at the fuel inside. It was more difficult to pull off because of the metal framework, but I think it gives a convincing idea that there is a noxious liquid inside. And it was another opportunity to add a bit of color.

Top detail showing a good look at the noxious fuel level in the rear dropper.

Gun Buggy could benefit from some lettering or symbols painted on, and I've considered dusting it overall with some detailing powders to further weather it, but am very happy with it to this point. Let me know what you think.

Forest Goblin Spider Rider Update: Leader COMPLETE!

Forest Gobin Spider Rider Leader commission for Karl is complete. I like the way it looks but will probably add more varied green flock to the base once I complete the unit for a more "lush" jungly look...

First of 10 Forest Goblin Spider Riders complete!

Axles & Alloys Update: Gun Buggy Primed

Gun buggy primed with base colors on the front window and on the base.

Axels & Alloys: Gun Buggy Update

The original HW model.

Gun buggy started off as a Hot Wheels Enforcer, with molded-on guns already in place but it looked a little fragile for combat, so this became a big conversion project to customize it and make it look able to absorb more punishment. First I added a front bumper to absorb contact to the front, using cardstock, an expired plastic credit card, and the green plug-stick thang that Starbuck's sticks in your lid so you don't spill your scalding hot coffee on yourself.

Detail showing the bumper, as well as the sprayer device, detailed next.

Enforcer came with a detail on the rear of the storage compartment area that already looked like a sprayer attachment, so I searched for some sort of fuel container-looking bit to put in the storage compartment in the back. Not sure what the bit is as I dug it out of Tabletop Games' bitz box but it's definitely some sort of GW40k plastic. I added a cardstock strap as a fastening device. At this point, the piece that came on the model just wasn't "enough" of a sprayer, so I took some plastic tube scrap and stretched one end of it with a ball point pen to give it a bit of a flare and then superglued it onto the model. The plan is to paint the glass end of the fuel container to look as though it is half full of some caustic liquid, ready to be delivered out the device for any pursuers... (yes, glass... I know its not the most bullet-resistant material known to post-apocalypse man but it'll give me the chance to try my hand at painting a new technique)

Detail of the dropper device off the back, including the nozzle.

As mentioned in a recent post, I had planned on adding fenders front and back because Enforcer's wheels look so big and vulnerable, but in the planning for the front I realized any sort of front fenders would block the guns so I scrapped that idea. I did however, come up with a deflector pattern for the rear wheels to give them some respectable protection from the rear. Cut from credit card plastic and army cards from Arcane Legions, they are a bit too roughly cut to my liking but not enough to tear out and redo. I also added a tube bumper and attachments along with other detailing.

Rear detail showing the deflectors and the tube bumper. 

Next, I added the wheel spikes. I drilled holes in each wheel and added short lengths of wire cut from a paper clip.

A good look at the wheel spikes and the rear details.

The original Enforcer is designed with an open slot in the hood that needed some sort of detail added to it. I had seen someone else's conversion online adding an air intake to their model so I decided thats what Enforcer needed too. The end of an ink container and a short piece of coffee stirrer and there ya' go... 

Enforcer becomes Gun Buggy. A good overall shot showing the various conversions added to it. 

Next I will base it like Red Racer and prime everything black all at once.

Axles & Alloys Update: Sanctioned Car Warrior Now Enforcer

So this one I'm pretty stoked about. The Sanctioned Car Warrior I started so long ago is now to a finished enough stage that I feel good posting it finally. I'm very happy how this turned out.

Shiny shiny, just sprayed with varnish. Oooooo nice!

This is actually just a re-paint as I took the original model and glued the wheels and turret in place and did not modify it any further. Once I started painting it up, I noticed the various panels and, influenced by other police models on the various Facebook pages I subscribe to (here and here), decided this would make a cool police-looking vehicle if painted black and white. I added some splashes of color by painting headlamps and tail lights in, and painted just a hint of the brakes in the wheels (noticing I need a bit of touchup once photographed!).

The next step for this one is to try to source some police decals or rummage around for my old Letraset letters (as long as I can revive them LOL) to add some markings to it. After that, I will base it same as Red Racer and weather it. It's very clean looking now, straight from the factory, and I want to add some chipped paint and dust and grime to it.

If you don't care to go back and see the original post, I am showing the Hot Wheels model that I started with here, called "Turbo Turret":

The original Hot Wheels model, Turbo Turret, with the decals removed. 

SHARING: Peeling Dried Glue off Your Hands

Who would've known all those years ago when we played with Elmer's glue, putting a big gob of it in your hand and letting it dry, peeling it up with some amount of morbid fascination, that it could be put to such awesome use... The old Citadel Spined Dragon is a beauty of a sculpt, one of my all-time favorites, full of character, but the most remarkable thing about it was they just sculpted the spines of its wings to allow you to either leave them the way they came (it is a "spined dragon" after all) or come up with a way to add some convincing, realistically thin wing membranes. Several examples have been done throughout the years (since '86 IIRC), but this one is probably the MOST creative and I just had to share it... enjoy:

Great Spined Dragon - Diorama

COMPLETE: (!!!) Red Racer for Axles & Alloys

Wow ... it's been a loooooooong time since I completed anything to -- COMPLETION. I feel particularly good about this one since it involved a bit of conversion and not just painting and basing. Glued to a 1.5"x3" Litko Aero wooden base, layer of sand glued on top, painted base of Hippo Gray and washed with Devlan Mud and black, then dry brushed lighter gray. Couple of spots of bright green flock for color contrasts with the red.

Red Racer all complete and shown in its final glory below!! Woot!!

Edit: Ok Tony was nice enough to visit this post and expected a little more than just the same car with basing, so I am also posting another WIP I have begun. Calling this one Gun Buggy for the moment ... I have also nearly completed the Sanctioned Car Warrior, however there has been a bit of a twist but I can't show y'all just yet... Anywayz heres Gun Buggy WIP...

Based on Hot Wheels Enforcer. Removed the decals (mostly) with Naphtha; glued wheels and guns in place. Added a GW bit to the device on the back and added a cardstock strap for a dropper device (oil, napalm). Toying with the idea of fenders and big bumpers front and back.

More Spider Rider progress

More work done on the gobbos, one done (the "Chieftain") and base colors started on 6 others...

Folk art craft paint colors for the goblin skin with white eye highlights and orange-ish lips; base black spider with red patterning and ivory joints and Vallejo Emerald eyes; folk art colors for the feathers; and a metallic for the scepter skull. Base is painted with Territorial Beige washed with Devlan Mud and highlighted with Territorial Beige again, and then detailed (off-white rocks and black and red little spiderlings). Some sort of grass and/or flocking to come on the base. Three more spider riders not shown to be started same way...

Forest Goblin Spider Rider progress

Got some work done on Karl's Spider Riders...

...it's a start... 8 more aside from these 2...

Red Racer Update - Axles & Alloys

Managed to put some downtime to work on painting. Got the Red Racer all painted up now, ready for basing...

For comparison's sake, this is the original model which I posted in an earlier blog; you can visit that post to see the steps taken to get to this point.