Superglue and Sand

Huzzah!  I assembled some models!  Look!

There's Tyrant Xerxis, Aptimus Marketh, a minimum unit of Beast Handlers and a Master Tormentor.   Xerxis was a pain.  several of his parts are very close and don't give much wiggle room for getting pins in, etc.  The model is awesome though.  

Painting:

The two Cyclops Savages are done and count for a total of 10pts for March.  Yay!  My 10pts for April will be the rest of the battlebox: pMorghoul and the Titan Gladiator.

I'll be sticking with the standard scheme - but I'm not 100% sure about how I'll do the Gladiator's skin.  I'm thinking a nice grey with lots of brown washes for the scars and wrinkles.  Suggestions?

Converting:

The Blackhide Wrastler will be on the dissection table.  I've been instructed to follow this tutorial, but since this is the Genteel Collective of Gator Folk, we won't be stopping there.  This guy is also getting a top hat and french cuffs (at the very least).

Lastly, the Snotling Pump Wagons are under way.  I've tested a theory on manufacturing wheels, and I'll have a post about it once I've followed a wheel through to completion.  

Wonderful things are coming.  Stay Tuned!

Twins!

So, except for a few minor details (which you never realize you missed until you take pictures), these two are done except for basing.  Tell me what you think!

Master Plan Part Deux

Xerxis is only half the equation.  The 50 pt tournament is a 2-list, Divide and Conquer type event.  So I need a second list.  I'm a pretty bad player already, so adding more warlocks is not a good idea.  Plus, I like Skorne's beasts, so pMorghoul is a good choice.  Since I have a slow grow type list progression for Xerxis, I won't do one for Morghoul.  Instead, I have a basic 50 pt list.

Master Tormentor Morghoul (*7pts)
* Cyclops Brute (5pts)
* Cyclops Savage (5pts)
* Cyclops Savage (5pts)
* Bronzeback Titan (10pts)
* Titan Gladiator (8pts)
Cataphract Cetrati (Leader and 5 Grunts) (11pts)
* Tyrant Vorkesh (3pts)
Paingiver Beast Handlers (Leader and 5 Grunts) (3pts)
Venators Reivers (Leader and 5 Grunts) (5pts)
* Venators Reiver Officer & Standard (2pts)

Here's a run down of the list...

The Master Plan...

We're deep into March, and for Blob's Park in September, I'd like to have a painted 50pt army.  That gives me about 6 months to make it happen.  

I've learned that for every task, you should have two things: a statement of work (what you need to do) and a deadline (when it needs to be done by).

We have a deadline, so we're halfway there.

All that's left is the hard part...

I need lists!  I then need to break the lists into 10pt chunks so I can portion out the painting load.

For starters, I already own the following models:  Morghoul & Xerxis, 2x Savage, Gladiator, Razorworm, min Pain Givers, an Agonizer and Aptimus Marketh.  This gives me a fairly solid 15 pt starting place.

Xerxis +5

 - Cyclops Savage 5

 - Cyclops Savage 5

 - Titan Gladiator 8

Beast Handlers 2

Skorne Savage WIP

Well, today was my day off, so I spent most of it juggling laundry, an EVE trial account, and this...

I made a glaze with Liquitex Matte Medium and Blood red.  I put down about 3 layers to get close to pure Blood Red.  I then highlighted the edges of the leg armor, upper back armor and helmet with pure Blood Red. The Darker red enameled armor is a base of Boltgun Metal, then 2 layers of Dwarf Bronze.  I then used Ogryn Flesh wash to darken the edges of the enameled areas.  They all got a healthy Baal Red wash to achieve the effect.

I still need to paint his undergarmets (pants, shirt, gloves) as well as pick an accent color for his sash.  There's no depth to his weapon either - the color variations in the photos is completely natural.  It looks pretty bland in person.  Lastly, the base needs attention, but I'll do them all at once.

Suggestions for what to put on the back banner?

100th Post

Wahoo!  Triple digits!

To celebrate, I'm giving something away to one of my loyal followers!  

First, I did some research into how to be 100% sure I was randomly selecting a winner.  I stumbled upon www.random.org, a group that uses atmospheric noise as a source for it's algorithms.  Exciting, eh?

I took a list of all my followers, and after dropping the few that I know wouldn't want a miniature (my mom, wife and a friend who doesn't game) and I plugged it into random.org's list sequence randomizer thingy.  But since when is one ever good enough?  So I made 9 more lists, giving me 10.  Here's a link to the google doc with the lists: link. (Let me know if that link doesn't work)

Now that I have a sufficient amount of randomness, it's time to randomly pick the random list for the random winner!

A self portrait

Wow, it's been a week since I last posted!  I feel terrible!  I've been swamped with stuff this past week, so at least I have a good excuse reason.  We had to get the apartment ready for visitors!  That took a while since we have way too much shit.  Once the unpacking and sorting was done, we had visitors.  Since the office (computers and hobby area) is also the spare room, I didn't have any time to work on anything.  Bad for the blog, good for my sanity.

Speaking of sanity, here's what's coming up in the next few months:

• Finish painting Cygnar Battlebox
• Skorne Army painted up to 50 pts
• Gatorman conversions (a commission currently in the works)
• Retribution Conversions
• More trainboats and flying saucers (Yay Naval games!)
• Tutorials
• Brass Rodding (Iron Fang Pikeman style)
• Press Molding (with Instant Mold)
• Jeweler's Saw Basics
• ... your suggestions?

Despite my current slacking off, I do have news!  

Supplies, Skorne and ... Spaceships?

I typically allow myself about $20 a week to invest in my models.  Three weeks ago it was the Blazing Sun Frigates.  The week after that I picked up the Battleship.  Last week, I picked up Lord Tyrant Xerxis.  He's not put together yet though, sorry.  Maybe next time?

Mr. Clean ain't got nothin'...

I bring this up because this week, as much as I want mechanics for my pStryker Theme Force, I bought some hobby supplies instead.  Primarily, I was happy to find Master's Brush Cleaner.  

As I understand it, this stuff is amazing.  Here's a Youtube video explaining how to use it.  When I get a chance, I'm planning on spending some much needed time with my brushes and this stuff.  It will be good.

But wait, there's more!

A surprise, an upgrade and an update

Firstly, Burb1996 had his prize drawing.  Since Burb got his 40 followers in less than 48 hours, he's giving away an Extreme Scuplt!  He cut out everyone's name, put them in a hat and had his son pick out a name.  The little dude's my new best friend, because he pulled my name out of the hat!

On it's way is an Extreme Juggernaut.  Why?  Because it's the base for an Extremoth.  I'm super excited!!  You should be to, because if you're reading this, you're likely a fan of conversions - and that one's killer!

Next, I need some input.  I snagged some lights from Home Depot on the cheap.  They aren't terribly bright, so I think I'll need some new bulbs for them.  I did take some pictures though, so let me know which you like better.  

New lights

Old lights

Oh, and what do you think of the addition of some Naval Camouflage?

And now... the results of last time's dilema:  What faction to commit to?

Overwhelmingly, you all wanted to see Skorne!  Of the six of you that posted your thoughts, five wanted Skorne.  Good enough for me!  Skorne it is.

I was able to get primer on my Skorne Battle Box, a Cyclops Brute and Razorworm.  That gives me a nice 15 pt Tooth and Claw list to learn with:

Points: 15
Master Tormentor Morghoul (*7pts)
* Cyclops Brute (5pts)
* Cyclops Savage (5pts)
* Razorworm (4pts)
* Titan Gladiator (8pts)


I also picked up Xerxis last week at the LGS, so I'll need to assemble him.

I haven't found a 35pt list I'm happy with, so I'm open to suggestions.  I like the idea of a brick, but I also think a combined forces type army could be fun.  Show me some lists!

I'd post more, but I kinda want to get painting!  I'll have pictures of some Skorne next time, I promise!

Faction A.D.D.

Yes, it's a very serious problem.  Every time I see a cool painting thread, or hear about an epic battle, I want to play that army.  For instance, despite the fact I have six factions already, threads like this and this make me want to pick up some constructs...  They look so foreboding and ominous when done in darker colors.  I do need another Hordes army to offset my Warmachine army count...    No!  I must not give in!

What I really need though, is help from you!  There's a big event in September, over at Blob's Park and it's going to be a 35 or 50 pt event.  Possibly both  Its looking like there will be door prizes for everyone, and bonus goodies for a tournament winner, a fully painted raffle, and other awards.

So, with this as incentive, and September as a goal, I need to choose a faction for, basically, the rest of the year...

Of Trainboats and Angry Elves

So I didn't have pictures last time, but I sure do now!  First, I have a test model for my Blazing Sun TRAINBOATS!

What do you think?  There isn't much in the way of highlights, but I kind of like that.  It feels more industrial, which fits a Dystopian future.

I also was able to get quite a bit of Retribution stuff done.