Update 11-22-13

Recently I've been able to set aside roughly 30 minutes a day to work on making miniatures and painting.  At this point I've been able to mash more on Frosty.  Previously, I spoke of some treeman arms I could use.  Here they are:

Arms

 

 

I attached these to an updated Frosty frame and will try to move on from there:

 

Right/Back

 

Left/Front

 

 

I'm currently working on designing a prone/stunned marker for him.  I also need to figure out were to put his arms (they aren't fixed yet) so he can fit well on an occupied pitch.  I'm pleased with how he's turning out.  Long way to go.



To Do List 11-18

Well, the time has past on my last list so here's how I did:

To do (11-17):
1.  Highlight test model for DoA:  Done
2.  Plan out/draw "Frosty":  Done
3.  If weather permits, do priming from last list:  weather didn't permit :(

My set-up is closer to completion!  Thanks to some clearance sales I was able to get some improved lighting.  I know have one architect light and two standard desk lamps.  I got bulbs for all three that mimic natural lighting.  I think just a cutting mat and some organization and my area will be complete.

I also got a bit of a head-start on sculpting Frosty which I had only planned on drawing.  Originally I intended to sculpt the entire model from scratch.  The arms proved to be much harder than I assumed, meaning, the hands would be all but impossible for me.  A friend of mine had an old treeman who had fallen into disrepair (someone had dropped him at some point), I will be using parts from him to make Frosty's arms and hands.  Snowmen often have sticks for arms so this should work.  Because of these changes this has moved from a sculpting task to a Sid-like toy mash-up.

To do by 11-25
1.  Strip old treeman model.
2.  Finish sculpting/mashing Frosty
3.  Prime Troll figure to paint as Snow Troll for Jingle Bowl II

Update 11-15-13

I have been able to get quite a bit done this week and this weekend should be a productive one.

I decided my test model for the DoA would be "Big" Otto Denial.  Here he is almost finished, he just needs his bases and some finishing touches (highlights, eyes, cleaning, sealing).

The character that his is based on has some messed up eyes from prison so I'm going to be adding that.  Again, I'm working on my set-up for photos and painting so the pics should improve.

The other project that has gotten some attention is the sculpting of Frosty for Jingle Bowl.  Here are some photos to update what's been done,

Sculpting is crazy hard and I'm starting to regret trying.  But I intend to finish it and see what I can do.

Update 11-14-13

I just wanted to do a quick update on my To Do List from 11-11.  I decided recently to try my extremely inexperienced hand at sculpting.  Why not?  I've never sculpted anything before.  How hard can it be?  Well, I though it would be smart to start with a drawing of the piece I am trying to make.  I'm not an artist so... here if is.

The piece is going to be my rendition of Manny "Frosty" Snow.

 

 

I am trying to sculpt it out of green stuff.  I hope it turns out OK.

To Do List 11-11

Well, the time has past on my last list so here's how I did:This is the breakdown of what I've done.  I still want to improve lighting in my painting area.  I want to improve my set-up but have run into a bit of a time problem.  Set-up thus moves to the new list.

To do:
1.  Prime big guy models.  Nov 8 - built but not primed
2.  Build/Prime Sideline figures for the D.O.A.  Nov 8 - built but not primed
3.  Prime Deathroller pieces.  Nov 8 - not done

Man, I didn't follow my list at all.  I did get quite a bit done but for some reason my wants changed from when I wrote the list to when I had time to work.

To do (11-17):
1.  Highlight test model for DoA.
2.  Plan out/draw "Frosty" (this will be my first attempt at sculpting a model from scratch)
3.  If weather permits, do priming from last list

Update 11-8-13

I've been doing quite a bit of work.  Prepping sideline figs for the Dwarfs of Anarchy, prepping my big guys, setting up my painting area, and starting my test dwarf.  I took a bunch of photos of what I've done and they look like absolute crap.  So I figured I'd just tell you what is going on.

For the DoA I am using some bikes from West Wind Miniatures.  I think they are designed for a game called Roadkill.  I'm using 5 bikes as a representation of the bikes DoA road in on.  A sixth bike will have a rider carrying a chainsaw to represent the team apothecary.  To be used as counters, I have some 25mm bases with parts from mangled bikes, guns, and tools on them.

I have started painting my test model for the DoA.  I chosen to use a black and blue color scheme for the DoA relying heavily on black.  The base colors I've laid down so far are; Citadel Chainmail for the metal pieces, Citadel Ratskin Flesh for the skin, and Vallejo Off White for the eyes.

The three big guys I'm prepping are from Impact! Miniatures.  They are the new Trollcast models for the Middle Kingdom team (not new figures just resin instead of metal).  I assembled them, green stuffed the gaps, and cleaned them.  My intention is for the Ogre to be used with my Michigan State themed human team so I added a plume to the helmet with green stuff but I'm not happy with how it turned out so I'll be working more on it before I post anything here.

Speaking of photos, I don't have my set-up for painting done and I have no idea how to photograph minis.  I have recently read a "How To" by Jim Wapple on photographing miniatures and will be attempting to improve my photography. 

So here are some crappy photos showing my basing so far:

Oh man this pic looks even worse than I thought.



And one bike:

Well...

 

 

It will get better from here, I hope.



To Do List 10-25

This is the breakdown of what I've done.  I still want to improve lighting in my painting area.  I want to improve my set-up but have run into a bit of a time problem.  Set-up thus moves to the new list.

1.  Build a primer board.  Oct 5 - Done
2.  Prime Dwarfs of Anarchy. Oct 24 - Done
3.  Set-up paint area.  Oct 24 - Postponed

Family obligations over the next week and a half will mean the painting stuff takes a break.

The big gaming endeavor for the time being is a Blood Bowl variant, Street Bowl.  Randroid is building a Street Bowl pitch and I'm excited to play on it.  There are many random events in this game and some of them can change your player types.  I have some big guy models from Impact! Miniatures' Middle Kingdom resin team that I want to get ready for the streets.

To do:
1.  Prime big guy models.  Nov 8
2.  Build/Prime Sideline figures for the D.O.A.  Nov 8
3.  Prime Deathroller pieces.  Nov 8