Random Miniature Monday

She is one of my favorite 'lock in my faction. Here she is the dark mother herself, the queen of the dice, the fat bottomed girl, Mrs Calandra herself.

I don't think I have post her before but if I did sorry. This was my first real attempt at painting a gem. I like the result as a first attempt but I am not 100% happy with it. I haven't put her on the table in a bit 'cuase she can be a little frustrating to play against the way she effs with your dice but I do love to player her.

Random Miniature Monday

I noticed I have taken the last two weeks off posting pics for RMM so I wanted to corrected that injustice. This week I selected a Woldwatcher from the Circle. When I started buying hordes stuff I was trollblood right from the get go however I was always a little taken by the construct aspect of the Circle. Then in NQ #19 Ron Kruzie did a painting article on the Woldwarden which was done through nearly 100% drybrushing and washes.....I could get into that. Once I started to play the game some I realized that an all wold army lead by Baldur could be pretty solid so this once again spurred my desire to do a "small" Wold force. When the forces books came out it was all over. I picked up enough minis to do a Baldur theme force. This Woldwatcher was the test piece for the army and first mini completed. I never completed the army but have had a desire to get back to circle some with the additions of the fulcrum, gallows groves, Ghetorix, and the impending Woldwrath.

Random Miniature Monday

As promised the other day this weeks RMM is a Khador mini. Here is a Berserker I painted in, I believe, early 2010 when I was getting back into a Khador kick. This mini is painted in the colors of the 5th Border Legion. Ever since I picked up escalation all those years ago this has been my scheme of choice. I really like how this guy turned out but the photos are a little washed out. I need to improve my photography skills. This model was inspired by the works of two individuals both of whom have had an impact on my hobbying.

The first and largest inspiration was Tom Schadle of minivault fame. Tom is an amazing painter who's works I stumbled across years ago on his now dead webpage (his work can bee seen on his facebook just google minivault and his facebook will come up) and was inspired. He is way better than I ever hope to be having racked up multiple awards (both GW/PP) and now he actually paints some minis for PP and Wyrd. My Khador 5th Border Legion green is actually taken from his recipe book just not executed anywhere close to as well. One of these days when I get the balls I will try and add battle damage too but I always have such a hard time adding effects (damage/osl/lenses/gems) in fear that I will destroy the mini I just spent all that time on.

The second person that had an influence on this mini was Rob Hawkins formerly of PP staff. It was during the second staff challengee seen in NQ 28. This issue featured the start of Rob's extreme sculpt Butcher force. The queue I took from this was the addition of the skulls on the Butchers waist. My plan was to do a Butcher force where skulls were dangling off every 'jack and on at least one member of every units. I have a pile of bitz from PP for future projects (from Drago/eButcher). Rob's works can bee seen here: http://robhawkinshobby.blogspot.com/ You can see the Butcher I was referring to on the Khador tab.

Rob also had a really big impact on me (and my wallet) during the first staff challenge seen in NQs 17-20. Even though this was a MKI article his progression/building of his Cryx force put me on a major Cryx buying spree. I really love what he did with his Egregore and wanted one like it since I saw it. It isn't anything over the top just a really nice addition/conversion. Expect to see more about Mr. Hawkins in the not too distant future :)

Random Miniature Monday

This week I selected my slag troll for RMM. I don't rememeber when this gentleman was painted but somewhere in the nature of 2 years ago sounds right. I painted him in grey skin tones to match my pyre troll vs the blues of all the other trolls. My intention is to have all elemental trolls grey and have some accents to signify the element. That was really easy with the pyre not so much with the slag so I just did the metal and called it a day. I don't field this mini as much as I would like but he has been pretty solid for me on the table when I do field him.

I was able to play two games Saturday with the Calandra list I posted the other day. The first game I played against Luke playing Circle and an eKaya lists. As best I can remember his list was as follows:

Kaya the Moonhunter & Laris (*3pts)
* Gorax (4pts)
* Megalith (11pts)
* Pureblood Warpwolf (9pts)
* Pureblood Warpwolf (9pts)
Shifting Stones (2pts)
* Stone keeper (1pts)
Swamp Gobber Bellows Crew (Leader and 1 Grunt) (1pts)
Tharn Bloodweavers (Leader and 5 Grunts) (5pts)
Dahlia Hallyr & Skarath (9pts)
Druid Wilder (2pts)
The game was fun but took a long time. We played one of the center scenarios so it never really came into play. I was in pretty solid control but he kept muzzling Mulg keeping him from doing anything which really slowed things down. The spell on the lesser warlock was also a bear to deal with keeping my gators from charging. I ended up winning due to winning the battle of attrition.

Game two I played against Scudo playing gators. Scudo and I always have fun games that are really close and usually come down to one maybe two key moments. He was playing his new love....gators:

Maelok, the Dreadbound (*6pts)
* Bull Snapper (3pts)
* Bull Snapper (3pts)
* Ironback Spitter (8pts)
Bog Trog Ambushers (Leader and 9 Grunts) (8pts)
Gatormen Posse (Leader and 4 Grunts) (9pts)
Gatormen Posse (Leader and 4 Grunts) (9pts)
Swamp Gobber Bellows Crew (Leader and 1 Grunt) (1pts)
Croak Hunter (2pts)
Croak Hunter (2pts)
Croak Hunter (2pts)
Thrullg (3pts)
Thrullg (3pts)
Totem Hunter (3pts)
After we both lost large portions of our armies I ended up winning by killing Maelok with, of all things, two charging gators. Maelok was pretty beaten by a bomber who he failed to kill the turn before by 4 points (one miss due to starcrossed). However I think the highlight of the game took place on the final turn. I had a fell caller hero with two boxes left engaged by a swamp gobber, I said hell I will take the free strike and walk over to kill Maelok.....the gobber killed my fell call!?! Serious!?! Despite winning both games I am not sure I am really feeling this list right now and that it needs to be tweaked. Seeing as I will not have time to do any tweaking I feel like I might be dropping this list from Conquest Toronto contention and looking at different options.

I have to head back to work tonight for the first time in three weeks so I am fearful this week will see minimal progress on anything. I need to do some assembly work that is for sure and I need to do a mini for the 'scrum challenge (most likely Lug) but other than that we will see what happens.

Random Miniature Monday

Hopefully this works...I am writing this Sunday evening and tying to time it out for Monday am....we will see.

This week we are going back to my beloved Trollbloods. This weeks mini is an Axer which was from the battle box (my every first troll purchase). When I bought the box the axe head was broken off. After going through the front desk and multiple email I never recieved my replacement part. This frustration almost kept me from painting them and learning to play......glad I changed my mind. I eventually bought the part through the store and I think he was painted up week one of the escalation league mention multiple times aleady.

I love this model both on the table and the sculpt itself. Infact looking at the new plastic one makes me sad. I might have to grab another metal on just to have around in case. I forgot he had a head swap until I just put him up. The head is from the bouncer and I used his stock head on the second impaler in the box set. Once again I used my cork rock base.

Random Miniature Monday

This week I selected a mini from an entirely different faction. This is a bloat thrall I painted some time in '08 I think? I like the look of the mini and picked him up to go with my Cryx arm. A large inspiration for my Cryx army was by Rob Hawkins' army in NQs 17-20 painted in the staff challenge (with Matt, Ron, and Quinton). When I picked up the model I was disgusted with the gaps and put him aside. He was actually assembled for me on commission by Dan "Youngwolf7" of Brushthralls fame. I asked him to take the goo out of the barrel and other than that he is a stock mini. This mini was one of my first attempts at photographing my minis (in fact might have been the first). I need to get some better pics of him at some point but wanted to go a different direction with today's RMM.

Random Miniature Monday

Random miniature Monday is back after missing a week due to Templecon. This week I am posting my Pyre Troll. This gentleman was the very last mini I painted in PG_theblklotus' escalation league. He was an add on which I didn't plan on painting for the league but just came together that last week. I guess it was a good thing as he won best painted single mini for the league and scored me a nice gift certificate to Comix Zone (one of our FLGS).

After being off from work for 3 weeks I have to go back tonight :( Even though it is an on week for me I hope to get some stuff accomplished this week. I have to get a 'scrum mini done for sure....leaning towards a skinner I think. I would also like to make some progress towards this months PtT from Lost Hemisphere. This months target is a character 'jack/'beat or one of the new league models. Seeing as I am not up for a conversion at this time and Rok isn't available I thought I would be skipping this months target. It was at this time I saw my unpainted Scrapjack and decided to give him a go for this month. He will be painted up in my 5th Border Legion scheme and I think I am going to attempt battle damage on this guy in the hopes of carrying it over to the entire Khador force (been getting the urge to fight for the Motherland again). On top of all this I want to try and finish up Les' Carver and get it back to him.....Lots to try and accomplish. If I can get my 'scrum mini and maybe one other done I will be happy.

Random Miniature Monday

Since yesterday had some whelp wips I figured I'd post my first set of whelps in this instalment of RMM. I don't remember when these fellows were painted but I am pretty sure it was during the aforementioned escalation league from ~2 years ago. These guys were done in my typical troll scheme.

Random Miniature Monday

Happy Monday all. Well tonight starts my week on at work again so not too happy I suppose. Today's RMM I bring you a new faction for RMM. This is a test shredder I painted up I'd say about a year ago. I was inspired by Todd "DeadDogg" Arrington's GnG article from NQ. I don't have the issue in front of me at the moment but he painted a Neph Soilder and they called them the Black Frost Spawns. I was really taken with the scheme and thought I'd give it a go. I am not DD by any stretch of the imagination so mine doesn't compare to his but I was happy with the result. In fact, I was so happy at the time that I bought nearly 100pts of Legion to do in the same scheme. Guess what???? I never worked on any of theme. There is my FADD showing up again. Now that I have the airbrush for priming and basecoating I think the Legion will be hitting the painting table in mid/late '12 (once I get my troll stuff done)

Random Miniature Monday

This week for random miniature Monday I am posting my Dire Troll Mauler Extreme. This mini was sent off for assembly and subsequent conversion. My original intention was for the mini to me stock but to my surprise it was converted. The conversion was done by retired Brushthrall Dan "Young Wolf 7" Smith. His project log can be found here. Dan did a bunch of assembly work for me for a bit until he went back to school and stopped picking up work. I was following his wips one day and saw what my DTMX was becoming and was excited and a little scared. Despite the fact that the DTMX is so big I build a large cork base with a slant in it so that the front arm was raise and allowed a little easier game play (little is the key word). I painted this guy up about two years ago as (if you have been following RMM you are going to be shocked) part of PG_Blklotus' escalation league.

I have been tempted to go back and bring the highlights up a bit more but seeing as I have so much more to get done first that will be a long way off if it ever happens.

I am having a hard time keeping my eyes open so I don't for see much painting going on today unless I have issues sleeping tonight and work in the wee hours. C+C always welcome and hope to have some good wip pics later in the week.

Random Miniature Monday/Target Missed?

Happy New Years all. Back again for another RMM....and unlike last week it is actually Monday. Today's mini I painted a little before Wrath came out. I was in a Khador kick and I wanted to throw him in with the Iron Fang Pikeman I picked up. Well the Khador stuff never got finished but Ragman did.

I always enjoy painting purple yet don't seem to use it that often. I was happy how he came out. Part of me wants to try and do a glow effect from his eyes but I usually chicken out with doing effects on finished models as I don't want to mess them up. He needs to have a little grass put on the base but I have been putting off grass on all my minis for the time being and plan on doing a large batch at once. I am also looking into picking up some of those pre-made grass tufts to try out.

So I put target missed? in the title 'cause I am apparently an idiot. I check out Lost Hemisphere on a daily basis to see what Gday and the guys have going on. I always look forward to the Paint the Target days as I like to see what Gday does for a caption up on my submission. Today was PtT day and as I was scrolling down I notice my 'swarm and snapper were not there.....what gives? I know I sent him my submission. Sure it was last minute but that hasn't been an issue in the past....hell I even had my time stamp which he likes to comment on. I went to my email account looked at the sent fold and there it was my email....oops never attached the photo (I'm an idiot). Well at least I got some stuff finished. This month the target is to paint a model with a magic ability. Since I need to paint up my alt Madrak and have done nothing on eBloodsong there are two perfect candidates right there. I expect I will be doing Maddy first seeing as I want him for a Templecon list.

I also decided I am going to try and do the painting challenge over at Trollblood Scrum. I will be doing Trolls/Minions (if that is allowed) as if I decide to batch a troll unit I can instead do a single minion model for that weeks submission. I also figure this will be a good way for me to finally paint up them Fennblades while killing 12 weeks worth of submissions.

Random Miniature....Tuesday?

I just realized Monday came and went and I forgot to throw up a finished mini from the past. Truth be told yesterday was kind of a waste of a day as the entire household was under the weather and didn't really do much at all. Looking at my done folders I picked this "Monday's" miniature.

Here is a Lanyssa Ryssyll I did a few years back as part of PG_theblklotus' escalation league. Looking back I think that 6 week league produced more finished minis for me than any other period. I am pleased, for the most part, with how she came out. I like the purple and grey of her clothing best. I might try and go back and finish the eye more appropriately as I have a little more practice with eye now and they usually make a big difference.

Even though it is a week off I don't see myself getting much more work done in the next few days. I might try and finish up bull snapper #2 but that would be the most I can see getting done. I am going to take a finished photo of the boneswarm and send it off to Lost Hemisphere for the Dec PtT. I did go the cheap way by using him but a finished mini is a finished mini I suppose. Most likely this will be last post of 2011 so have a safe and happy New Years and see y'all in 2012.

Random Miniature Monday

Wow the week off went fast. Here were are another Monday and time for another miniature from the done shelf. Today I selected a bull snapper from the Blindwater Congregation.

This mini was my test piece for my Blindwater army. This mini was speed painted to try and find fast(er) way to paint an army versus how I paint my trolls. I kind of stumbled across the green on this mini when I was doing the back spikes and liked it. The mini make heavy use of drybrushing/washes. I typically do not use drybrushing but I was happy with the speed and overall results so I decided this is how I would my Blindwater army. When I get back to working on my gators it should allow me to bang through the troops and beast in a relatively fast manner. This process should also be aided now that I can do my basecoating with the airbrush. I have a bunch of troll stuff I want to get done first but hope to get back to gators in the not too distant future. The only thing I need to do is add the static grass but I am going to do that on the entire army as a whole when it is completed.