I Have a Plan... Sort Of 8/10/15

Ok, ok, it has been forever since I've done any hobby stuff.  My ideas and motivation for terrain and Mordheim stuff have ground to a halt and with them went hobby stuff entirely.  I haven't played a game of anything in almost two months.

I have Chaos Cup coming up in early September and had a small burst of motivation stem from that. An idea I really like has popped into my head for a new BB team.  The chance of me getting it done in time for CC15 is very slim.  I've signed up for Chaos Cup with an existing team of mine and a generic roster just to get myself registered. At the very least I'll play them.

I decided to do a test model for the team.  (This is the easiest thing to do since I don't have models for any other player.)  Once again, as is my custom, I'm going over my ability level, trying to put what is in my head down to the model.  My experience level with what I want to do is very low.  Here are some stages of my test model.  It all looks quite sloppy but I'm learning as I go.

I started with a miniature from Impact! from the Pharaohs of Something-or-other.  Obviously, he was painted previously so I sort-of cleaned him up.  I used a file to remove or lessen some of the original sculpt's features.  I got bored of this step so I moved on without completing it.  That's a theme so far with this mini.

I moved on to making him a green stuff tie and collar.  I tried making them off of the model and transferring the on.  That didn't work for me at all.  Finally I used small balls of green stuff and built up some basic shapes right on him.  Before this step looked good I got bored and moved on to the next step.

Then I made the small balls of GS into strips and made him some suspenders.  Staying true to my previous work on the model I stopped before this step was done.

There is still a lot of clean-up work to do one him; more filing, cleaning up the GS, and giving him a coffee mug to hold in his hand.  Before I did any of this I made a very rudimentary bitmap drawing of him.  I think when I finish the model I'll post a picture of that to see how the actual model works against what's in my head.

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.

In the Meantime 6/2/15

Another Monday has passed and we weren't able to get the large group together for some Mordheim action so a couple of us played our little side game instead.  We've played two of the side scenarios in the past and the score was Skaven 1, Witch Hunters 1 but in the most recent game three members of the WH band died.   So we were a bit short handed.  In the post game searching roles we did find an elf ranger, so there was that.

The scenario was a chance encounter (or something like that).  The Skaven deployed first and went first.

Skaven turn one saw them move forward and fire a steady barrage of slings toward the Witch Hunters.  Eight projectiles missed their targets, one knocked out-of-action a zealot with a bow, and one glorious stone did a wow.  The skaven needed a 7+ to hit the elf ranger; the rolls came down as 6, 4 (needed to hit), 4 to wound, and 4 to stun.  I didn't even get to use my new toy!

Turn one for the WH saw the ranger roll over, some hiding, and my lone crossbow shot stunning a night runner.

Skaven turn two sent a black skaven in to finish off the ranger.  Also my lone remaining shooting warrior was stunned by a stone.

In turn two for the WH's we passed our route test and proceeded to do a whole lot of nothing.

Turn three for the skaven saw more sling fire take out the crossbowmen and a flagellant was charged and taken out.

Turn three for the WH's didn't happen as we voluntarily routed.

Rolling for injuries at the end saw the flagellant die and the crossbow carrying witch hunter go stupid.  So needless to say I will be restarting that warband.

Unfortunately there are no pictures of this slaughter because my phone ran out of memory.