I have been working hard the last few weekends on getting the "hobby room" cleared of all the junk that's in there and now its got close enough to usable that I can prepare all the new stuff to go in it!
Now my wife has kindly given up the teeny tiny bit of space that she wanted in the room over to the rest of my junk and also gave me some ideas for how to organise it.
So I have ordered up a new corner desk which should be delivered in a few weeks; a lovely pine thing from our friends at Argos :-) The princely sum of £120 seemed ok compared to some of the awful tat I was finding elsewhere.
A quick trawl of the interwebs has found me a daylight lamp on a adjustable armature so that should sort out the lighting issue I had last week.
I have been looking at a firm called burnt in designs who amongst other things make some great paint stations and they might be the answer to how to store all this new paint.
Sunday 22 February 2015
028 OMG Paint is expensive!
Well I bit the bullet and topped up my paint collection, read "replaced dried up old paint". This stuff got expensive, or at least the GW stuff has. I just splashed £100 on new paint for a particular project I have in mind and I think that that is just going to be the tip of the iceberg!
I think I will have to look at other ranges if this is going to be the standard; I had looked at Vallejo but have been reluctant to start into a new paint range that I don't know, even with all the good things I have heard about them.... Maybe I will have to rethink that.
£2.40 for a small pot of paint (10ml) seems somewhat excessive to me. Thats the best part of double the last time I bought any. Vallejo are 17ml I think so better value but.. well, we will see.
I will be updating my painting in a bit, those usual real life things get in the way don't they?
I think I will have to look at other ranges if this is going to be the standard; I had looked at Vallejo but have been reluctant to start into a new paint range that I don't know, even with all the good things I have heard about them.... Maybe I will have to rethink that.
£2.40 for a small pot of paint (10ml) seems somewhat excessive to me. Thats the best part of double the last time I bought any. Vallejo are 17ml I think so better value but.. well, we will see.
I will be updating my painting in a bit, those usual real life things get in the way don't they?
Friday 20 February 2015
027 Rumours abound
I am reading a lot of rumours at the moment about changes that GW are planning for their Fantasy range and its got me thinking about a few things.
First off I have never played WFB and don't even own a rule book but that to an aside I am a big fan of the fluff. I like the imagery and feel of the world that they created; OK there are a few things that I would like to see be more dark and menacing than the current nearly comic nature (thinking orcs and goblins and Ogres) but otherwise its a cool genre.
Now some of these changes see to have been driven by GWs economic position at the moment (Bad) and as such it sounds like that a lot of the changes will lead to a reduction in the range that they produce. Now for me just getting back into painting and modelling this is not good news! While I don't expect to suddenly want to play WFB and then find new rules are no good I do worry that the range of miniatures is going to decline.
This leaves me with a dilemma with regards to certain of the different races in WFB and whether I should snap up some models now, potentially before they are gone. I am a big fan of the undead, I was a massive fan of the skaven but they have taken a turn down comic book street and that's jarring with me at the moment. Empire, Bretonnia, Elves all have potential. But if a chunk of that goes....?
What to do, what to do? hmmmm
First off I have never played WFB and don't even own a rule book but that to an aside I am a big fan of the fluff. I like the imagery and feel of the world that they created; OK there are a few things that I would like to see be more dark and menacing than the current nearly comic nature (thinking orcs and goblins and Ogres) but otherwise its a cool genre.
Now some of these changes see to have been driven by GWs economic position at the moment (Bad) and as such it sounds like that a lot of the changes will lead to a reduction in the range that they produce. Now for me just getting back into painting and modelling this is not good news! While I don't expect to suddenly want to play WFB and then find new rules are no good I do worry that the range of miniatures is going to decline.
This leaves me with a dilemma with regards to certain of the different races in WFB and whether I should snap up some models now, potentially before they are gone. I am a big fan of the undead, I was a massive fan of the skaven but they have taken a turn down comic book street and that's jarring with me at the moment. Empire, Bretonnia, Elves all have potential. But if a chunk of that goes....?
What to do, what to do? hmmmm
Saturday 14 February 2015
026 The Benefit of Alcoholism
Who would have thought that the bottle of red wine from Friday night would prove so useful for painting? :-)
Finally got round to my first bit of painting for years, admittedly only base coats but felt good all the same!
You can see here that I have learnt from past experience and am now putting my miniatures on temp hand holders (corks) to make it easier to control and tilt and oh my I wish I had done it way back when. This is sooo much easier to control.
A few things I have noticed while getting these two base coated, the first of which I am already started to think was the case; my lighting is woefully inadequate. Now it was becoming obvious from how difficult it was to see the detail in photos but when trying to paint? Clear as day, or not as the case may be. that its actually quite dark at my desk! So more light needs to be sourced.
Second was that the more recent paints seem to be much thinner than I remember, I really didn't need to thin them as much as I expected which was quite a surprise. This may just be a failing of memory but otherwise it does seem like the paints are more fluid.
I also tested out my Masters Brush Cleaner and was amazed at how much crap this stuff pulls out of the bristles.
Finally got round to my first bit of painting for years, admittedly only base coats but felt good all the same!
You can see here that I have learnt from past experience and am now putting my miniatures on temp hand holders (corks) to make it easier to control and tilt and oh my I wish I had done it way back when. This is sooo much easier to control.
A few things I have noticed while getting these two base coated, the first of which I am already started to think was the case; my lighting is woefully inadequate. Now it was becoming obvious from how difficult it was to see the detail in photos but when trying to paint? Clear as day, or not as the case may be. that its actually quite dark at my desk! So more light needs to be sourced.
Second was that the more recent paints seem to be much thinner than I remember, I really didn't need to thin them as much as I expected which was quite a surprise. This may just be a failing of memory but otherwise it does seem like the paints are more fluid.
I also tested out my Masters Brush Cleaner and was amazed at how much crap this stuff pulls out of the bristles.
025 Spetznatz any one?
These Veteran Guardsman were a little bit different form my usual style for vets in that they are meant to be more of an elite unit than a battle hardened adhoc unit like most of my others seemed to be.
The camo smocks don't come out too well on the camera but you can see some of the cool little additions like thermal scopes and extra packs and kit.
I cant for the life of me remember where the packs came from and they may even be a WW2 model kit, but they fit together with the models well I think.
The camo smocks don't come out too well on the camera but you can see some of the cool little additions like thermal scopes and extra packs and kit.
I cant for the life of me remember where the packs came from and they may even be a WW2 model kit, but they fit together with the models well I think.
024 A Beastman by any other name?
Why he is an Abhuman obviously!
The idea behind these guys was to be a squad of Abhumans for my Imperial guard so you'll notice alongside the spears, axes and swords are lasguns, stubguns and other little additions!
Looking at these guys always makes me sad to remember that GW no longer supports its massive catalogue of Bitz and all of these lovely little pistols and gear are long gone...
The bigger Gors were intended for a command squad or as squad leaders but didnt get beyond these three. Again you can see autorifles and stubguns from the bits catalogue but the main guy there has a chainsword and plasma pistol curtesy of some chaos marines if I recall correctly.
The other idea I had for them was as part of a Radical Inquisitors Warband and I think they would fit quite well.
The idea behind these guys was to be a squad of Abhumans for my Imperial guard so you'll notice alongside the spears, axes and swords are lasguns, stubguns and other little additions!
Looking at these guys always makes me sad to remember that GW no longer supports its massive catalogue of Bitz and all of these lovely little pistols and gear are long gone...
The bigger Gors were intended for a command squad or as squad leaders but didnt get beyond these three. Again you can see autorifles and stubguns from the bits catalogue but the main guy there has a chainsword and plasma pistol curtesy of some chaos marines if I recall correctly.
The other idea I had for them was as part of a Radical Inquisitors Warband and I think they would fit quite well.
023 Spears at the ready! More old School Empire
Another delve into the dank depths of my old model collection has found more of the empire troops that I dabbled with late on before shutting down operations.
These spearmen are great little models, so simple but so characterful.
I particularly like the shield motif and I am worried that those are probably not available anymore now that these models have been replaced by the "state troops"
The Greatswords unit and the Reiksguard suffered the ignoble fate of being guys I was working on when the apathy for GW and painting in general hit so you can see they didnt really get beyond a test model or two.
Still they are cool models and still in production today although in the case of the Greatswords in Finecast rather than metal,
Finishing off these guys is on the list :-)
These spearmen are great little models, so simple but so characterful.
I particularly like the shield motif and I am worried that those are probably not available anymore now that these models have been replaced by the "state troops"
The Greatswords unit and the Reiksguard suffered the ignoble fate of being guys I was working on when the apathy for GW and painting in general hit so you can see they didnt really get beyond a test model or two.
Still they are cool models and still in production today although in the case of the Greatswords in Finecast rather than metal,
Finishing off these guys is on the list :-)
022 Commisariat Reunion
Another blast from the past here in the form of some very old Imperial Guard Commissars.
Now these guys are a rare example of my early attempts at basing of my models and looking back I can see what I think many people have come to agree over the years... Goblin Green does not make for a good base!
The colour has totally taken over the rest of the (admittedly not brilliantly painted) models.
Now you can see that these guys are old by the style of their laspistols if nothing else; anyone see that bulky a las these days?
I think these guys will join the ranks of the "in need of a new paint job" and might even be one of the first testers for paint stripping. Although I do wonder how it will effect the base.
Now these guys are a rare example of my early attempts at basing of my models and looking back I can see what I think many people have come to agree over the years... Goblin Green does not make for a good base!
The colour has totally taken over the rest of the (admittedly not brilliantly painted) models.
Now you can see that these guys are old by the style of their laspistols if nothing else; anyone see that bulky a las these days?
I think these guys will join the ranks of the "in need of a new paint job" and might even be one of the first testers for paint stripping. Although I do wonder how it will effect the base.
Friday 13 February 2015
021 Real Life in the way
So been quiet for a weekend or so with real life and some long travelling to get done but don't fear the fun will continue and the paint will fly!
I have raided my old storage spaces in the mean time and fished out a whole variety of old models and blister packs from back in the day so hopefully they will for the basis of some more testing of my painting and no doubt will be much butchered for conversion works :-)
I have been much debating the direction I want to talk and had somewhat of an epiphany with what to collect and what to paint. I have not really got much drive to game so I am looking now to collect and paint what I like the look of rather than collecting a particularly army or style.
I also want to look at broadening my brand experience with getting into some none GW models.
I have raided my old storage spaces in the mean time and fished out a whole variety of old models and blister packs from back in the day so hopefully they will for the basis of some more testing of my painting and no doubt will be much butchered for conversion works :-)
I have been much debating the direction I want to talk and had somewhat of an epiphany with what to collect and what to paint. I have not really got much drive to game so I am looking now to collect and paint what I like the look of rather than collecting a particularly army or style.
I also want to look at broadening my brand experience with getting into some none GW models.
Sunday 1 February 2015
020 Tool Update
So a few more bits of kit have arrived, one you had a sneak peak of last post :-)
Collapsible waster pot seemed like a great space saving idea.... I have not tested it out long term yet but I do still have visions of the thing collapsing on itself mid flow!
Now this one I wish I had purchased years ago, a sprue cutter. This is so so simple and easy at cutting minis out of their sprues without any fuss or effort. I grabbed this one for just a couple of quid on Amazon and its great.
I have yet to put these into use so far but these sculpting tools were dirt cheap and even if they dont last long they should be able to do some good work on my base sculpting before they bite the bullet.
The little tool roll they are in was an even cheaper purchase courtesy of Amazon and our new Chinese overlords. Took a while to get here but hey :-)
Collapsible waster pot seemed like a great space saving idea.... I have not tested it out long term yet but I do still have visions of the thing collapsing on itself mid flow!
Now this one I wish I had purchased years ago, a sprue cutter. This is so so simple and easy at cutting minis out of their sprues without any fuss or effort. I grabbed this one for just a couple of quid on Amazon and its great.
The little tool roll they are in was an even cheaper purchase courtesy of Amazon and our new Chinese overlords. Took a while to get here but hey :-)
019 95th Advance! - A little bit of progress
So I managed to get a little bit of progress started this weekend with popping open my box of 1800 British line infantry and piecing together some of the 95th Rifles.
These casts are so good the mould lines are few and far between; you can see me here cleaning off the tiny amount that the riflemen had.
You can also see some of the clutter of my work station! A new little addition to my kit can be seen there in the form of a collapsible water pot. I have yet to put it too the test and am still a little worried that it will collapse when full of water!
All of the minis are multi part although perhaps not with the range of position options that other kits have they do have a massive range of options. Different kit, heads, coat tails et al. You have options for parts that represent uniforms on the Peninsular Campaign or the battle of Waterloo. For example Bicorne officers hats in the Peninsular Campaign replaced with the shako of Waterloo.
The rifle men themselves are simple little sets and these are where I will be starting. Nice easy build and nice easy colours. Suits me just fine!
These casts are so good the mould lines are few and far between; you can see me here cleaning off the tiny amount that the riflemen had.
You can also see some of the clutter of my work station! A new little addition to my kit can be seen there in the form of a collapsible water pot. I have yet to put it too the test and am still a little worried that it will collapse when full of water!
All of the minis are multi part although perhaps not with the range of position options that other kits have they do have a massive range of options. Different kit, heads, coat tails et al. You have options for parts that represent uniforms on the Peninsular Campaign or the battle of Waterloo. For example Bicorne officers hats in the Peninsular Campaign replaced with the shako of Waterloo.
The rifle men themselves are simple little sets and these are where I will be starting. Nice easy build and nice easy colours. Suits me just fine!
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