Monday, October 31, 2016

Big boys like thick bushes


Yup, they definitely do:
thick, tall, providing proper cover against enemy soliders.
Since the last post I've still been waiting for Artizan US infantry and decided to spend that time to prepare battlefield for WW2 themed game.
A while back I gave a try to wire based tees but the result wasn't exactly was I was hoping for (here's for anyone interested). But I learnt the lesson and managed to bring up some more vegetation: set of trees, piece of hedge and single bush.

Making that is nothing innovative, the best thing I've learnt is preparing own sponge for the vegetation: grinding it, painting and so (quite a lot of this stuff goes for vegetation so it's nice to have self made, cheap alternative). As you  can see on the first pic the scale is scaled for 28mm scale gaming: base is solid, there's lot's of space to move minis around the trees, all's been sealed with spray varnish so neither sand or sponge falls off.

Below you can see final result - as mentioned before it's made for gaming so there's no trash on the ground. All in all it turned out the hardest part was finding proper wire for the trunks.


And here - US paras preparing death trap for zee nazis:



Before first tree was wired I tried new sponge on smaller obstacles - result is just fine for gaming purposes. And making it is easy as fuck, I mean apart from waiting for PVA  glue to dry making that takes easy evening, having beer and watching The Stain.
The big plan is to prepare several long lines of hedges so make roads in occupied France really deadly.


Yet tonight I've managed to boost monthly painting statistics by finishing 3 more Warzone necromutants.
Just like the last time I wanted to get the best result within the shortest time. New necro-trio is ok for gaming but as always when I am trying to paint moer than a single model the quality suffers. But they fit rest of the team nevertheless. 6 or 7 more and I am done with this unit.



And speaking about good old Warzone - we're finally managed to play another match: Dark Legion vs Capitol. Once again 1st edition rules were brought on the battlefield and again we tested updated cost of units and equipment my buddy (and one true foe) prepared.

Playing this game is always fun - brings back the memories. This was unique because the special guest star I brought: biogiant himself. I must say this fat bastard was fielded only because I wanted to see it in action at least once before placing the model behind protective glass od display cabinet.
I mean, come on! It's pretty tough and has 5 wounds but with such massive posture it's a bullet magnet from shooter standing at almost any place of the battlefield. It's damn slow and his shotgun is just crap. I didn't expect it to survive longer than 2 turns but it not only survived the match but also did some killing!
2 Capitol's free marines were cut down in close combat and one more taken out from shooting. So apparently I owe some apology to tekrons who brought it to existence.

I managed to take some pics from the game - I had to place biogiant on the bunker because there was no other free space in my deployment zone for almosty 4" round base.
I hope mercurian maculator will be much better candidate for big beast in my army ^^

\m/

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Warzone Necromutants


Yo,

Summer's gone and I am still painting Warzone stuff.
It's slightly against the established practice but I am still waiting for some stuff for Bolt Action (Artizan's infantry) and painting oldie Warzone models is quick, easy and pleasant. It's also kinda rewarding:
- for my army because it's now bit less unpainted,
- for the sculptor - not many models from the golden age of Warzone is being painted nowdays (sadly),
- and of course - for models themselves: show them bit care and attention and you can almost see smile on that stupid faces. Almost. Because servants of Dark Apostles are badass evildoers who never smile (malicious grining doesn't count).

Anyway after dealing with biogiant I wanted to prepare my force for coming game.
I've always liked necromutants: fluff is ok, official artwork is just sweet (Paul Bonner, right?) and sculpts are quite funny. I got squad of those at very early stage of my hobby and only once got them all painted - 4 models at that time.
Recently I got missing models from the old line (including centurions and flamer operators) and thought it would be nice to see them all finished at same standard. Too bad no matter how much heart I have the them it's nothing but medicore (at best) infantry. Still -  in the field I prefer to see swarm of those instead of that slobbering and babbling idiot - biogiant.

As menioned above painting is easy - sculpts are not very demanding, finishing a single piece for gaming standard takes like 3 easy evenings and they are good material to test some painting solutions and color combos.
The idea is to give them all desert camo (fitting the game table) contrasting against dark metal parts and necrotic flesh.
That's it. And below - the first set of Algeroth's stormtroopers: 


Still some necro-monkeys waiting for paintjob:

And something quite different - Mishima's Amaterasu.
The model was painted for friend and I got only general instruction about colors to be used (personally the only green color I tolerate is rotting or mutated tissue).

The model comes from the second edition of the game (probably) - it was new quality of sculpts. New models were better detailed, more proportional, much more eyecatching.
And it was not much something that dragged me into the hobby back days. I don't know why, but I had more fun painting the oldie samurai (who obviously turned to the dark side) than new fashion piece.
Hope you like her anyway - apparently Ms Amaterasu is going to prepare 3 necro-steaks in about a moment...


That's it for now - cheers!

Saturday, October 1, 2016

Warzone Biogiant + US paratroopers


Hey again,

It's been a while since the last post but this time I had serious reason: 
since February I've been preparing for the exam which was last on Saturday 24.09.2016 - and I passed it!!!
I still cannot believe my head can be used for anything more than wearing bike helmet. 
And hair.
Lots of minis wanted me to slap some paint on them this year so since there's bit spare time I'll try to make my pile ov shame bit lighter. So for starters 3 models which I've been woring on since the last spamming.

First one is huge and totally useless support for my Dark Legion army:
Algeroth's very own biogiant.
During golden age of Warzone I didn't like this model enough to purchase it. Frankly - don't think many gamers did. But I got it recently from friend who is running Mishima and this big guy was part of some large bundle of second hand model. Or something. Important thing is biogiant was no use for him.

Model came painted but required new colors. I am far from praising my paintjob, but original colors were basecoat at best. Most of spikes were missing too so I had to sculpt some.
I was trying to keep close to the artwork so there's dark armour and clothes contrasting with pale flesh (also now I see more necrotic tone whould be better).
Even though painting is simple this model took lots of time and effort - like some fucking energetic vampire. Which makes me even more happy to see it away from painting station.

As for testing new things I was trying to add static grass with an applicator. Results are not as spectacular as doing it on flat sheet of pcv but I still might use if for basing my Bolt Action troopers.

Too bad fielding this piece is just waste of points:
it's so huge it can be targeted from almost any point of battlefield and for that cost I can get a nepharite pimped with necrobionics and some spells. Oh well. So - the piccies:






And the scale shot for those unfamiliar to old Warzone range:


I wrote there are 3 new models. Lucky for me remaining ones were not as time, paint and life force consuming: Bolt Action US paratrooper.

These two are my very first painted infantry models from BA. My first impression about sculpts wasn't too optimistic, but all in all I must admit these models definitely have some charm and character.
And they keep the scale to the vehicles!

Color scheme was based on what I saw on the box, but I do not care much about recreating original uniforms, weather they were carrying olive backpacks and black helmets or not. I like them as they are so hope to finish rest of the squad similar way. Hope you like them: 


And one more scale shot. My invading force is growing like well fed yeast!
(Which reminds me - there's new photo album dedicated to Bolt Action miniatures - check the right panel).


That's it for now.
There's lots of minis I'd love to see painted fast but after hard struggle with biogiant - cannot decide which will be first. I should probably make some poll about it.

Ok, see ya next time!