Merry Christmas!

I know the greeting is two dys late but I wanted to pass it on.

The past week saw the completion of basecoats on my TNT raiders warband.  I would like to do some highlighting to make them standout a bit more from each other.

I decided this troll will go with my human/chaos pact team.  I made a purple glaze to make his face more interesting.  I put the glaze on then dabbed of the excess while still wet.  I also based his noses and spikes and teeth with a gray, I don't know how I'll finish them yet.

I finished up adding colors and a wash on some rubble and barricades for TNT.  I'm debating whether or not to make bases to combine them on.

I also started Neave from my Stormcast army.  Her lore specifies what she wears, so I'm giving her the classic gold and blue scheme.  I made a mix of one part VMC Black, 2 parts VMC Flat Brown, and 2 parts VMC Gold for her basecoat.  I then washed it with Citadel Reikland Fleshshade.  It looks darker and dirtier than I expected.

I got a hot-wire table as a gift this year.  Mucho terrain stuff to come.  I'm excited!

I also received an airbrush, now to get a compressor and figure out how to use it.

TNT Weekend

I didn't have anytime to do hobbying during the week this week.  But as for the weekend, I wanted to get some stuff done.

I was debating what to get some work done on, and I decided I should do some finishing work on my TNT Raiders.

I figure I should work on finishing stuff up for the time being.  I have a feeling I'll be getting some new stuff to work on terrain at Christmas time this year so I'll want to use that when/if I get it.

I have too many ideas in my head and not enough skill or time.  But here is what I got done this weekend.

Basecoats solidified on cars, started silver accents

Fuzzy pic but did jacket and jeans

Added color to the piles and some barriers

I hope to get more time this week to paint.  I want to finish up my raiders and a lot of this TNT stuff soon.  Like I said before I think my interest will turn to terrain soon. 

This Is Not a Test - Well... Actually

I've spent the last, I don't know how long, working on Blood Bowl stuff.  We're a week removed from Chaos Cup 2017 and I've turned my attention to a game I've never played before.  I've watched a couple videos on the game and I'm very intrigued.  I went on a painting spree to get some stuff playable so I can get some practice games in.  Randroid is going to show me the game and that motivated me to get a lot of painting and prep done.

This is the idea I had:

This is The Walking Dead - Scenery Boaster:

Paint thrown on things:

Painted up 8 guys.  They're just basecoated and shaded.  I will be highlighting them and adding stuff to their bases.  The barriers and rubble piles were primed then painted with a dark brown.  Then I dry-brushed some light brown just to make stuff standout. There are a lot of details that need to be picked out but it's usable.  I just threw some color on the cars too (they're not close to being finished).  The trucks are just primed.

I have a few more scenery pieces that aren't built yet but I'll get to them soon.  We are fast approaching "no priming time" here in Michigan, so I'll be doing a lot of building and priming for a while.

Chaos Cup Legacy Display Base, part 2

I'm very excited.  For multiple reasons.  The display base has turned out pretty well.  I drew up some chicken scratch drawings of how I wanted the base to look.  All-in-all the main features worked out. There was only one feature I wanted to add but it didn't work out.  My goal, with the base, was to add a little atmosphere but not take away from the team.

I added a black and brown wash to the "seems" in the floor and a black rim around the base.

The outside of the block walls needed some weathering.  I've never done any weathering so this was a learning experience and it was fun to see how it came out.

I connected the wall to the base and matte varnished the whole thing.  Here it is with a random figure for size reference.

Okay, here it is.

Chaos Cup Legacy Display Base, part 1

As stated many times previous, I won the Chaos Cup 2015 Legacy Team which was Chaos Dwarfs. This year I volunteered to organize the team.  This year's team is Vampires.  I got slightly less involvement than I expected but there still time to prove that thought wrong. As of today 13 to 14 people have pledged  donations of some type.  The team will have all 6 vampires, 8 plus thralls, (hopefully) some stars or sideline figures, a pitch and a display base.

When I started this gig I stated I would show the display board by 8/22, today.  Now it's not finished but it is far enough along to include a photo just so you can see how it's coming along.

The bottom of the base is an 8" x 8" piece of craft wood.  I covered it with some epoxy putty and added texturing to it with a rock from outside my house.  I used a clay-shaper to mark in the outlines of the "flagstone" flooring.  I then primed the floor and gave it a black base-coat. I use black, grey, and white paints in many mixes to dry-brush the "flagstone".  I built a wall section into the corner to give the base some height. The walls are 8x2 prong building blocks that were covered in filler to take away some of their distinctive features.  The wall was primed and dry-brushed in the same way as the floor.  I made a wash out of some burnt umber acrylic paint ant water.  I slapped that on and then used a cloth to dab it off.

I plan to do more to it before it's done and I will post the final product here too.

Terrain Update 7/23/15

I finally made myself get more work done on my terrain pieces.  One of the things that has made it so hard is my lack of game play lately.  It seems timing never works out.

Last evening I did some spray painting on my projects.  I put a black base coat on a wall section and then sprayed over it with a grey "stone" spray.  I think I laid on the stone a bit thick but I have an idea I'll try to bring out the "mortar."

Trial of Stone Spray

I was happy-ish with the look so I moved on to spray the wall tower that I had taped up.  I went much lighter with the amount of spray I put on it.

You can see in the picture that some of the paper on the foam board is peeling up.  I didn't notice this. Then I went to work on the next thing and when I turned around to check the tower...

... it looked like this.

So, that was a huge fail and now I need to come-up with a new tower idea.  We'll see what I think of.

Luckily the paint on my other ruins had turned out okay.  I used a different paint on the three story building than I had used in the past because I liked the darker brown color.

I had to lighten the photo a lot... I'm a terrible photographer.

I prepared my elevation pieces for spraying and if my wall isn't damaged by the propellant I'll paint those soon.

On the model front, I bought some dog models to make some hounds for my warband.  I love the idea of the dogs in a Witch Hunter warband, I just never had models for them and now I do.  Maybe someday I'll get to play them... maybe.

7/24/15. Painted a few more things with stone, nothing interesting enough for pics.  I'll update when there is something more interesting.

Terrain Update 7/14/15

Getting closer.  I've been able to find a little bit of free time to do some terrain stuff.  I found time in roughly fifteen minute segments to get some stuff done so it's going slowly but surely.  We havent played in what seems like forever so I guess I have time.

I've been finishing up filler on brick-like structures so I can prep them for painting, which I should be doing soon.  I'll be going camping for bit so I probably wont get any more work done on this stuff for a bit.

I'm happier now with how the wall is looking.

Filler around the sides to give a grout-like feel

I've almost finished masking off the tower piece to get some paint on it.  (I though I had finished but I noticed in the pic I missed part.)

Missed a spot on the right, oops

I got some grit and rubble down on the three story ruin so I can spray it soon and get one step closer to finishing up the buildings.

Added Rubble

I also took those crappy cardboard bases from the gallows, stocks, the well, and the fruit stand.  I'm watching and reading some tutorials to help me come up with ideas for much better bases on these items.  I do feel mdf is the front runner.  Hopefully I'll make up my mind shortly.

I also need to turn my attention to Chaos Cup 2015 soon.  I'm still leaning toward playing an all new team but I got out my Dwarfs of Anarchy to show a friend the other day and now they are a possibility.  

Terrain Update 7/8/15

Holiday weekends mean extra time off... to do chores.  I failed at getting much done over the weekend.  That combined with camera problems (I forgot to use it) made for a low production terrain weekend.  It's been pretty hot the last few days here but was able to get some hobby done.

Roughed out the base for my water tower.

Attached base to water tub

Glued together some barrels for use in rubble piles. (no pic)

Gave a stone look to the first floor of my "tavern."  I'll give the upper floors a stucco look with some filler before painting.

Stone look on first floor

I already had some city walls cut however I thought I could do them better so I made some changes on that front.  I didn't want to waste the foam, so I used filler to go over the walls.  After it drys I'll give it a grayish brick look.

Filler being added to "channels"

I reinforced my city wall towers and have prepped them for painting.  I will be using a "stone" spray-paint over this.  Then I'll remove the tape and hopefully I'll get a block look.

Sloppy horizontal lines

Sloppy vertical

I put a "stone" floor on my town square thingy.

I would like to get some mdf board to make simple bases for my rubble piles.  I want to re-base my gallows, stocks, fruit stand, and well.

I know I said previously I need to finish up what I already have started but I found some pvc pipe I can cut up to use for statue bases.  Later, I mean, I'll do that after I finish all this other stuff.

Terrain Update 7/2/15

I didn't have much time to work on stuff last night but I used the time I had pretty efficiently.  I was able to finish laying out and gluing down the field stone look on an elevation section.  I am looking forward to seeing how this project finishes up.

Flagstone laid out and glued down.

The next step is to sand the cardboard edges to look warn and smooth.  Then I'll put grit in the gaps and it should be ready to paint.  The sides of the section will have a brick pattern carved into it.  I haven't decide exactly how to do it but I think it may involve spackle.

I should have a bit of time over this holiday weekend to get some more done.  Now that I'm getting more of this terrain stuff done, I want to play even more.  Fingers crossed I can find some time and someone to play against.

On another topic, Chaos Cup 2015 is in September and I've got tons of roster thoughts running through my head.  Pre-registration began yesterday and there is a bonus to paying and turning in your roster early.  Play is a ways off but I want to get registered soon.

Nose, meet Grindstone

I haven’t posted hobby stuff in a long, long time.  That’s not just because I’ve been lazy, I just haven’t had the time.  I’ve had a couple opportunities to play but no one else has been able to play at those times.  I’ve also been sick for some of the time and busy for the rest.  I’ve taken my newly diagnosed diabetic cat to the vet many times and that’s contributed to the lack of free time as well.  My wife and I had a garage sale this past weekend and now I can get some stuff done.

On the terrain tip I realized I need to finish up what I have instead of starting anything new.  I used some brown and black spray paint I had laying around the garage to give a base color to some ruins, fencing and wood stuff.

Spray pained base color/primer.

I found a tutorial for using thick cardboard to make up a flagstone look.  I’ve started to make some risers take on that look.  I also added some height to the edges of one elevation change.

My first attempt at a flagstone pattern.

Wood glue for adhesion and water to aid with curling.

I decided one of the elevation changes should have some walls built up.  I'll add some ropes to it to use as rope and hooks.  I like the options it will give.

Built-up about 1/2 inch with some scrap foam blocks.

I will finish up these buildings first then the flagstone.  After this I’ll finish work on the water tower, town walls and watch towers.  This should catch me up on what I’ve started and then I’ll do more.  My goal is to have this stuff finished up by August 1.

Now onto some miniatures.  I need to finish up the witch hunters that are almost done.  After that I will finish up the skaven warband my friend is using.  After that I’m going to show some love to some Blood Bowl teams for a bit.  The next tournament that I’ll be attending is Chaos Cup 2015 in early September.  I think I’ll be playing a different team than I’ve played in the past so I need to get that going.  Also I am painting up a hobgoblin for the CC legacy team, so I need to get going on that.  My goal is to have these things done by September 1.  The Blood Bowl team and player must be done by September 1.

In order to keep up with my non-specific posting goals, I should be posting quite a bit.  I hope to get in plenty of play too.  A friend wants to show me the Star Wars game also so hopefully I can learn that soon too.

This all sounds like a lot to do this summer but I think it’s doable.

Update 4/14/15: Mordheim/Board

Last night a buddy and I broke in the new table and in true Furry fashion, I forgot to take photos.  One of these days I'll actually remember.   I do have a few more photos to look at of the table and a random set up.  I left the door open so there's too much sunlight coming in but oh well.  Hopefully soon the whole group can get together and we can get a campaign going.

Here are some more pics:

Finished up the supports

Sample set-up

Sample set-up

Sample set-up

Now I need to get this terrain finished up so I can justify building more.  I also need to do some work on the miniatures.  Where will I find the time?

Update 4/10/15: Mordheim/Board

It's been so long since I've posted anything.  I've played some games in the meantime but hobby time has been scarce.  I have done some stuff but haven't taken pictures of it so I didn't feel like posting any of it would be worthwhile.  I've added more texture to a few building and did some "brick work" on some foam but that's about it.

My most recent project is setting up an area at my house to play games in.  Thanks to a friend of mine, I think I finally will have a multi-use table-top  It's about 73" by 44" so it should work for multiple games.  I found a Home Depot Gift Card laying around so I got some spray paint to give it a textured gravely look.  Since the majority of game play for me is Mordheim, it should make a good city-like base.  I guess if I ever get into a fantasy-type game it would make a good rocky ground too.

I started by spraying it a really patchy brown and then added some black splotches.  After that I added some texture paint to it which was a cloudy-clear paint with grit in it.  I finished it off with some gray-black-white speckled texture paint.  For the base of the table I used some steel shelving units I have.  They should provide a small amount of storage too.

Dirty underbelly

Added texture comes out cloudy but dried clear

Looks patchy so I added more "stone" later.  Not Pictured

I haven't fully decided on where to put the board.  Next week I will have a more completed look and I'll add some terrain to get more of an idea what it looks like.

Update 3/5/15: Mordheim

We are close to starting our Mordheim campaign.  We're all getting in a couple games to build up our Warbands a little bit.  I've played two build-up games so far and have been soundly defeated in both.  I don't really know what to do yet and combine that with my terrible rolling and you've got an uphill battle on your hands... or my hands... I'm not good at words. 

I've also been starting more terrain projects.  That's problematic since I haven't finished a single piece.  I need to finish the building of one more wall piece and then I've promised myself I won't start anything else until I finish my current stuff.    Rubble, grit, and paint.  Here are the advancements I've made to this point.

Added bases to these

Tavern front 90%

Tavern left 90%

Tavern right 90%

Extras

Extras in use (Tavern inside needs work)

Extras in use

Wall with one Corner piece (one to come)

The Wall

I've got these to finish up and some models to paint.  Geez, I got a lot to do.  Hopefully with my next set of pictures you will see a little less black, blue, and raw wood.  There should be paint,grit, or texture in the way.  Maybe even all three!