Currently on the painting table

On the painting table: Batman Miniature Game!

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Templecon Painting Log Update #4

Computer is buck up and running so I have some WiPs once again. I still haven't finished a minis but we are making progress so I'm hoping all of a sudden I will have a bunch done and start to feel like this is doable. I realize the Cephalyx are all I really "have to" finish but I'd really like to have three playable 50pt lists done. OK on to some photos. First up will be the 'casters I mentioned last week and where they currently stand (seeing as I didn't work on them this week)

First up is Drake MacBain. I tried out some battle damage on some of these new merc minis. Since I decided to basecoat all the armor via the airbrush I felt the paint chipping helped break it up a little and add a little more character.....it also seem to speed up the process a little which every little but helps. As you can see I may have been inspired a little by a wrestler from my youth :) "Whatcha gonna do Brotha when MacBain comes for you?"


Durgen! I did the same battle damage on Durgen as I did on Drake. All I really need to do on this little man is the yellow metals, the eye piece, finish his base and glue him down. 

Last of the casters I worked on was Damiano. Like little Durgen I was feeling the ginger facial hair on the good captain. Damiano is probably the closest to being finished as I need to tighten up his leather sections, highlight the purple and do his sword blade. 

Those where the photos I wanted to show to y'all last week but the computer issues prevented it from happening. Week #4 was a work week for me (never terribly productive) but I did get some work done and as Dory says "just keep swimming, just keep swimming"

To make my cephalyx list even harder to finish I've decided I want to drop one of the monstrosities in favor of a second unit of mind slaver and drudges. Here are the old school metal drudges cleaned and primed. As you can see I didn't assemble the metal cephalyx leader mini as I am trying to obtain a plastic one some how. So far I'm not having great luck getting my hands on one so I may have to use the metal leader.....anyone have a spare they'd like to trade for a metal one ;)

Next I assembled and started to paint a machine wraith. The machine wraith is one of the sweet Cryx minis that can be included in the cephalyx contract. He is a nice little one point filler that if an opponent is light on magic weapons can be great at contesting zones and flags. 

I have been tinkering with my lists and decided I'd like to try Alexia2 in one of them. I assembled and primed four more thrall warriors which gets my total up to 6......should be enough, no? 

I also started on Alexia's horse. I've used a couple different colors drybrushed for highlight and then washed the minis with two different washes. I need to go back and do some purple spot washes here and there and a few other colors to add interest but for such a quick and dirty start I'm pretty pleased. 

Last for today are a couple pirate solos and Mr Carvolo. I had a Rhupert started previously but the feet got snapped of by "It wasn't me". Funny how that guy is responsible for everything.

I love this model. The Doc is so full of character that I had to slap a little extra color on him one evening when I had a spare 15min. 

I didn't take any photos but I cleaned the last night risen needed to get me up to a full 20 for Alexia1. I think the only minis left to be assembled/cleaned are a unit of press gangers and the weapon attachments for the sea dogs. 

One month in the books boys and girls and zero finished mini. Tomorrow it Thanksgiving so Im not sure how much I'll get accomplished over the next few days but maybe I'll bring a couple minis and some paint and try and lay down some color during down times. Have a great thanksgiving all and safe travels wherever you may be heading. 



Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Templecon Painting Log Update #3

Three weeks in the books and still not minis finished.....I did have a productive few days during the week however and nearly finished three warcasters and have started a bunch of other minis. I'd love to show you some WiP photos (cause I am pretty happy with some of the work) but my home computer seems to have crapped the bed and I am banging out this pseudo-update on a break at work. I hope I can get everything sorted out at home and get back on track with photos and completed minis for update #4. Thanks and see y'all soon (fingers crossed)

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Nomad Conversion

In my last Templecon painting log post I showed pictures of a nomad warjack I plan to include in my Captain Damiano list. This warjack had a small conversion so I figured I'd show what I did. I was never a huge fan of the original nomad's arm positioning and had plans to adjust but this just came together and I have to say I prefer this over my previous plans and it was simpler to achieve as well.


I had some spare Stormclad arms sitting around so I decided to see how they fit...the answer was pretty darn well. 

I used a saw to cut the sword blade and hilt off the nomads arms and cut the blade off the stormclad. I did my best to keep these cuts as clean and straight as possible so as to make attaching them to the new arms as easy and smooth as possible. 

I elected to for go adding the butt off the sword handle as I felt this looked good enough as is.

The legs applied to an ancient city ruins base from Dragonforge.

Here he is ready to fight alongside Damiano (more on the good captain later)

Templecon Painting Log Update #2

Week two in the books and still not a single model finished.....great start, eh? Once again despite not finishing any models I did get down to the cave for a couple quick painting sessions. The majority of the work came from one session and with the airbrush and some grey paints. Here are the fruits of those labors:


Durgen was painted with the grey triad I plan to carry over to many of my mercenary models with armor. The model was painted with the airbrush first covering the plates, then at a downward 45 degree angle, then from directly above. The colors were P3 greatcoat grey, VMA USA grey, and VGC stonewall grey. The color was then knocked down a little applying a very light coat of GW Badab black via the airbrush as well.

Whats a dwarf 'caster without the dwarf journeyman warcaster Thor ;) Same grey triad as Durgen.

MacBain! Same grey same application.

Tac to keep Thexus and Durgen (hopefully) safe. Yup same greys.

Started to block in the grey on the galleon. So far just P3 greatcoat grey but need to improve the coverage in a few places before I move on. 



A converted nomad. This model had been started previously with the grey triad but I started to black out some of the model in preparation for the application of metal paint. 


Lastly (but certainly not least) the two unit of drudges for my Cephalyx force had their skin blocked in with the airbrush. This was pretty sloppy but the other colors around the skin are dark and should go on very easy and cover the over spray with little to no issue. 

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Templecon Painting Log Update #1

Week one is in the books and I didn't finish a single model so I guess that would be a "rough start"? I didn't really get a lot of painting time despite it being my week off from work. I didn't finish any models but I did work on a few so lets see where we stand:


We start with Mr Thexus himself. I started the metal sections on Thexus. I was trying out a different metal technique from usual as I was trying to get that dark iron feel from the studio Cephalyx. I followed the PP studio painting guide from the Cephaylx PDF and I have to say I am pretty happy with this metal and plan to work this in to my "regular" metal rotation. I also started putting down the yellow metal sections. These will require another thin coat to improve the coverage and then will receive my typical yellow metal treatment.  

Oh the monstrosities. Two wardens three wreckers. The basecoat was applied with an airbrush. While not photographed I also blacked out the metal sections on one of the monstrosities in preparation for the metals. I plan on using the dark iron formula tested on Thexus for a large portion of the metal on these guys. The skin will be finished like the test bloat thrall (I think)

After playing my game the other day with Les' Durgen I knew he was going to be one of my future go to 'casters so I got my Durgen assembled (he has since been primed....ha)

Whats a dwarf 'caster without an Earthbreaker? I primed the Earthbreak via the airbrush. I am still trying to decide how I am going to paint this monster. 

Last but not least the Galleon was also primed. This guy was primed using can primer which reinforced how much I dislike can primer. The results are fine but the application isn't as smooth and damn does the stuff stink......which make the wife crazy(ier) and you know what they say happy wife happy life so I'll be sticking with the airbrush primer. I am still trying to decide how I am going to paint this monster too.

That concludes the lackluster update for week one. This week is a work week so I do not anticipate great progress but I do need to finish something. I will most likely focus on finishing Thexus or one of the other 'casters I have in the works. 

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Templecon 2015 Painting Challenge Explained

I have been mentioning a painting challenge for sometime now but never really got around to explaining what the actual challenge was about. I figured it is time I should explain.

Those that have been following along with my little journey over the year know I have faction ADD and pretty bad. This year I had another flair up around Lock n Load. When PP spoiled Cephalyx at Templecon 2014 I wasn't interested much at all but once the spoiler started to hit NQ I started to get the itch. Then when my buddy Mickey said he'd ninja for me at LnL it was pretty much all over.

The beginning

Shortly after picking up the Cephalyx box I was texting with my good buddy Jaime aka Northblade about getting a 50pt Cephalyx force painted by Templecon. I am not sure when exactly or how it came up but Jaime said he was in and would paint a new 50pt list and have it ready for Templcon as well and the challenge was on. Me being who I am couldn't leave it at just "OK we'll both paint and see each other there".....no no no. I proposed that we will play a game with our newly painted armies in iron arena and the loser has to buy the first round of drinks and "if" one of us doesn't finish their army they have to buy the first 3 rounds......really no loser here right ;)

I was then chatting with another Canadian buddy and member of Jaime's meta Chadi and he said that he wanted in on the challenge as well. Oh boy oh boy not this changes things. Once again me being me "how about we all play our newly painted lists in Hardcore...OR....we build a second list and play the team tournament together?" This was met with surprising optimism by both Jaime and Chadi so we decided on the team tourney. The deal is one of the 50pt list needs to be fully painted to meet the requirements of the challenge. This second list is what put me into my total merc tailspin and sent me on a spending spree to fill out my mercs. I am going to try and have all of my mercs fully painted for Templecon but the "challenge" minis are the priority. You can see my painting log here: http://nogspaintingcave.blogspot.com/2014/10/templecon-2015-painting-log.html. I am going to try and get updates from the guys as we go along and hope to post their progress but I'm not sure how well that will work ;) I also think I have "inspired" one of my local guys (Nick) to paint up a 50pt Xerxis2 list as well. I guess I should get painting ;)
 

Durgen vs Gaspy2 (battle report)

Hello all. I am going to try out something new today and see if it is something I'd like to do more often on the blog. I found an app which is suppose to help with battle report so I figured I'd give it a go today at the FLGS. I have been wanting to try Durgen out for a while now and almost brought him to the Dark Omen LCQ instead of Ossrum. I met Tim at the store today and he is getting back into Cryx after a couple years away from the dragonfather. I'm pretty sure I haven't used the app optimally so far and this may be a little clunky for a first go so apologies in advance. Any feed back appreciated. Onto the lists for today's game: 

Nog:
Mercinaries: Highborn Covenant
Durgen Madhammer (*6pts)
* Ghordson Earthbreaker (19pts)
Cylena Raefyll & Nyss Hunters (Cylena and 9 Grunts) (10pts)
Herne & Jonne (3pts)
Lady Aiyana & Master Holt (4pts)
Steelhead Halberdiers (Leader and 9 Grunts) (6pts)
Tactical Arcanist Corps (4pts)
Eiryss, Mage Hunter of Ios (3pts)
Master Gunner Dougal MacNaile (2pts)
Reinholdt, Gobber Speculator (1pts)
Taryn di la Rovissi (2pts)
Thor Steinhammer (2pts)

Tim:
Lich Lord Asphyxious (*6pts)
* Helldiver (3pts)
* Helldiver (3pts)
* Nightwretch (4pts)
Bane Knights (Leader and 9 Grunts) (10pts)
Bane Thralls (Leader and 9 Grunts) (8pts)
* Bane Thrall Officer & Standard (3pts)
Bile Thralls (Leader and 5 Grunts) (5pts)
Satyxis Blood Witches (Leader and 9 Grunts) (6pts)
* Satyxis Blood Hag (2pts)
Bane Lord Tartarus (4pts)
Darragh Wrathe (4pts)
Saxon Orrik (2pts)
Warwitch Siren (2pts)

The scenario was randomly generated using the website www.SR20x.com and after randomization came out to be scenario #7 incoming.

Table prior to dice roll for first turn and deployment. There are two obstructions that are tall enough to block line of site to a colossal on a hill, one hill, a linear obstacle, and shallow water. Tim won the roll and elected to go first and I selected the side of the table with the hill.

Tim's deployment. Blood witches to my left and lots of banes on my right.

I decided to deploy my steelheads across from the bane package and the nyss hunters and Herne and Jonne across from the blood witches.

Turn 1 Cryx: Stuff ran, hell divers burrowed, clouds were put up.

Turn 1 Mercs: I poorly planned my deployment with some of the solos due to not playing this list before and forgetting about the clouds. Durgen redlined the earthbreaker and put primed on the steelheads. He then walked forward and did a carpet bomb hoping for some good drifts. I had decent drifts but sub par damage rolls killing one bile thrall and the three bane thralls hit with blast either failed to exceed arm or passed tough checks. The nightwretch too three points of damage. The combination of H&J, Nyss, and Eiryss took half of the unit of blood witches off the table whi then failed their command check. Due to clouds and the obstruction the earthbreaker walked forward and scattered a few rough terrain templates hoping to slow down the thralls if possible. Thor repaired the redline dmg, TAC dropped clouds, and last parts of the army repositioned. 

Turn 2 Cryx: Helldivers popped up and re-burrowed. Vengeance moves and some charges/advances from knights and thralls killed a couple steelheads. Asphyxious cast excarnate on a steelhead which brought back a bile thrall luckily for me not in a great location to threaten too many models. He then cast caustic mist and teleported into his little bunker of cloud and obstruction.  

Turn 2 Mercs: Primed was upkept and redline was allowed to drop. Steelheads charges bane thralls and knights trying to induce freestrikes for multiple kills via primed. Aiyana gave the Nyss magical weapons so they could continue to shoot down the blood witches. Reinhold tmoved into position to reload Durgen who then moved towards the left zone. Durgen took a case cracker *attack on the nightwretch and the reload shot at a bile thrall killing the bile thrall and a warwitch siren with blast dmg. The Nyss killed the remaining blood witches except for the hag and then took a CMA into the nightwretch with the remaining Nyss. After the turn a total of 10 bane knights/thralls (just the right number, for cryx) were dead and the nightwretch was scrapped. (Photo was taken partway into Tim's maintenance phase)

Cryx turn 3: Helldivers popped up as seen in the turn two merc pic. Asphyxious activated, moved up excarnated, and feated back the 10 banes I had killed. The bile thrall purged kill Eiryss clearing a line to Durgen. The helldiver slammed Durgen into the obstruction and then the liberal application of feated banes put the little guy into the ground. 

No es bueno Durgen!

All in all this was a fun game. Despite the loss I have to say I really enjoyed Durgen and plan to make him one of my go to merc 'casters going forward. This wasn't a perfectly played game on either side as we both made positioning mistakes at set up and throughout the game due to rust/lask of experience. On the bottom of two I thought there was an assassination attempt against Gaspy but I elected to skip it due to what I felt was a low probability. Hindsight being 20/20 I probably could have made this work and in looking over the photos I see some other opportunities I missed as well. I was pretty happy with the Durgen list I brought with me but would like to try out press gangers in the spot of the steelheads to get that primed unit stuck in sooner due to advance deploy. Hopefully this first attempt at a battle report wasn't too clunky and you were able to follow along ok. Any feedback greatly appreciated.