Deadcember

 ... or a belated Spooktober.

I've finally gotten around to both making another post and finishing some minis. I intended to finish these skellies for October but that turned into November and then a post never materialised. The miniatures themselves were finished in late 2020 with my previous skellies but awaited suitable shields.

Skeleton Elite Guard afaik

These were purchased from Black Tree Designs a few years back and are now sadly OOP. I was under the impression that they're ex-Harlequin and sculpted by Kev Adams but I'm now not so sure. They're nowhere to be found on the Lost Minis Wiki and I don't fancy prising my two unpainted ones off their bases to confirm some particulars.

With regards to painting; same scheme as the previous lot with a mix of metallics and contrast. The right most one in the above picture has his scale mail painted as tarnished bronze, which happens to be close in colour to the green I've used. Oh well 🤷

The left individual in the above picture has red hair; I was inspired by the Osterby Man to do so. The shields themselves are 3D prints from ebay. Unfortunately they were covered in artefacts but seeing as they are modelled damaged anyway, I wasn't overly fussed. On another unfortunate note, the Wyldwood brown contrast I used has come had almost black and I will perhaps give them a re-touch in the future.

Doormat to Good Enough in Less Than a Day

On a whim, I recently purchased a Rogue Trader inspired Techmarine fan sculpt from ye_alchemist on ebay, sculpted by James Sheriff. The model is 32mm and is somewhere in between more recent firstborn and primaris marines in size, whilst retaining 80's design cues.

A size comparison of Astartes

Many more motivated and productive hobbyists tally what they've completed against what they've bought, so with that in mind I decided to complete the model in under a day. This plan was almost scuppered by the fact that the model doesn't come with a backpack and the modern ones I have in abundance don't fit due to the increased size of the 'jet' vents meshing with the pauldrons. 

On the excellent Rogue Heresy blog (which inspired me to buy it and furthermore has a much nicer paint job), they appear to have used a metal RT era backpack, which is a tad prohibitive for me. Luckily, I had some Spellcrow Space Knights backpacks to hand, which fit nicely.

It's a nice sculpt all in all; I particularly like his dinky hammer which is no doubt used in all manner of percussive rituals. The only details that are a little off are the lack of detail on his boots and the design of the bolt pistol, both no doubt due to 'certain' reasons. It acted as a useful model to try out a scheme for a specialist; the bare metal legs and torso of a standard marine replaced with that callings sacred colour, in this case martian red for a techmarine.

 As the title implies, I painted him to a 'good enough' standard; one of the things I like about space marines is that they can look good with even a simple paint job. Eventually I will add more details, such as finishing the dial on his watch and adding markings. On the battlefield, I may field him as a Rapier Carrier crew, if I can acquire one cheaply that is.

He was such fun to work on that he's inspired me to carry on work with the rest of my marines and I shall hopefully have a whopping 20 more done by months end. 🤞

Skitarii Advent

 At long last I have completed a squad of dubious legality for my Forgeworld Velchans Prime. They've been sitting around at a nigh finished state for months and I've finally completed them, barring unit markings/transfers and highlighting.

Skitarii Rangers

For the scheme I was inspired somewhat by the German M1910 uniform as depicted in Youjo Senki. It doesn't quite translate onto skitarii uniforms but I hope to replicate the dark green with red trim elsewhere across the force. I'm using Lupercal Green as I had a pot to spare, which is a happy coincidence 😏.

I say the squad is of dubious legality as the weapon loadout is no longer doable in 9th edition as well as the fact that there are a few third party heads in there. They're cultist gas mask heads from Anvil Industry. In the lore, or at least my interpretation of it, skitarii are furnished with a hodge-podge of whatever bionics and equipment the techpriests have to hand. I therefore wanted to try and add a bit of variety and alas, these heads were the only ones that I could find that looked similar. Not sure I entirely like them with hindsight but they add interest nonetheless. 

On a side tangent, my plans for the skitarii vanguard were even more grandiose; different heads, bodies and legs entirely! I'm not really a fan of the two squads from one kit design ethos GW have developed, especially when it came to my latent idea of what skitarii should look like. Ultimately, I couldn't find anything to my liking and it was yet another form of procrastination so I eventually settled for the bog standard look, which I do like in fairness. In an ideal world, I'd 3D sculpt compatible parts to give variety but that's a bit of a pipe dream.

Back on topic, this is my first time using Valhallan Blizzard and I must say I'm quite impressed. It's consistency somewhat reminds me of marshmallow Fluff spread and it can be applied quite realistically. I also used some old school flock rather than faff around with tufts and such. Hopefully it will go some way towards tying my army together visually with those of my Imperial allies.

With regards to the photo, I've seen something similar where people use book spreads as backdrops, in this case the creepy inside cover of a 9th edition codex. I have skimped out by using painting newspaper though rather than a faux ground surface. The photo is unfocussed and requires a bit more jiggery-pokery.

Terrain Musings

For the terrain that I intend to make, I want to take inspiration from aspects of the British landscape. In particular, what I have in mind is areas like the Brecon Beacons and similar remote and rugged landscapes, as well as old historic sites and ruins. These were a major fixture of my childhood holidays and I guess they've left an indelible mark on my imagination.

To that end, here is a sample of pictures I snapped on some recent excursions highlighting hedgerows, forests and the like. Both are a fixture of wargames terrain that I want to nail down with a realistic look. Pan scourer hedges and model railway trees have a certain charm, but I'm not painting my bases goblin green 😁

I imagine this was once a dry stone wall that has been left to collapse and later replaced with wire fencing, which has also seen better days. The stunted, shrub like trees also add to that wild and dilapidated feel. A 1" mound studded with stones and surmounted by a rickety fence and wiry trees would make some fine boundaries and chest high cover for miniatures.

A weathered and spindly hedge. You wonder how long these same features have existed in the landscape. Since enclosure acts at least perhaps? This looks like it would be fun to make out of twists of wire.

A wind blasted and decrepit shrub/tree, with bare ground beneath were animals take shelter. Such terraces and hillocks could also provide cover for miniatures. 

A tree perched by a boundary ditch; not sure if it was pollarded in the past or the off-shoot trunks are just a feature of that species. Trees aren't necessarily just a single straight trunk, something to bear in mind if you want a tad more variety.

A soft and springy layer of moss and lichen from a conifer plantation. Not even a century old and the area is covered in abundant growth. Building up the bases with small pants and flock can really create a vibrant look. 

A gentle, rocky stream. Usually, water terrain pieces are built with crossings in mind, to form chokepoints. With a shallow stream like this however, you could cross wherever. Double your movement to cross carefully or move normally but risk slipping (unless you're fleet-footed of course).

Ancient oaks from Croft Castle. Their chaotic trunks and many textures look like a fun modelling project. Perhaps a shrine has grown up around them or a beastie has made it their home. Historically, such features have also been important local meeting places.

I'm not sure if I have a certain type of landscape in mind; moorland perhaps, or if I'm really combining several different biomes. This only covers the natural features of course. I will cover my thoughts on ruined structures at a later date.

SPHESS MAHREENS!

Unsurprisingly, I have some space marines in my collection. My homebrew chapter is an Imperial Fists successor called the Abominators. I shall have to do a lore dump at some point, once I've condensed all my various ideas into something cogent. 

Space marines comprise a sizeable part of my plastic pile of shame; mostly firstborn as I want to go wild kitbashing them out of the various armour marks. I probably have enough to field a nearly full strength company but won't paint them as such. In reality, companies are rarely fielded en masse but are usually deployed across different warzones, aided by contingents from the support companies. The primaris that I do have will mostly be from said support companies, placed their when Cawl's reinforcements made contact, their firstborn colleagues rotated to the battleline companies.

Intercessors with a Lieutenant

Most of my primaris marines are from Dark Imperium and Shadowspear sets, with the above from the former. There is some kitbashing on the lieutenant and the sergeants but I wished I'd waited and combined the push fit intercessors with the multi-part kit, just for a tad more variety.

Lieutenant in the centre, Sergeants on the left & right

The two on the left were painted with a white undercoat, which led to a washed out finish. I tried out two washes, Athonian Camoshade and Biel-Tan Green respectively.  I think the Camoshade came out best so I might look into washing the other models armour the same.

Intercessors

They're enjoyable to paint and thus made a good test bed for my scheme. It came into being due to two factors: I like green and I like painting metallics. I was partly inspired by Darren Latham's Silver Skulls as well, from which I took the Leadbelcher and Nuln oil for the armour, as well as some ideas for markings. The green is Skarsnik Green and I think the paleness contrasts well with the metalics. Weapon casings are naturally the classic red from older editions.

Intercessor

I've painted them to my Good Enough™ standard but will eventually paint on the company markings, which will be on one of the knee pads and for primaris, the circular detail on their backpack. I should also really drill the barrels, although this feels me with dread as lining the drill up perfectly is finicky. I have also just realised, as I write, that I forgot to add snow. My friends have standardised their basing schemes to tie our disparate armies together and that includes snow. Curses! A task for another day.

I will be away for the next three weeks without access to minis and computer both so I won't be posting anything hobby related. I might post a ramble or some photos of my time in Wales but I won't make any promises 😄

Dead but not Forgotten ...

Two whole weeks since my last post! In fairness, last week was somewhat hectic but I can't make the same excuse for this week, alas! Anyway, on to the task at hand:

Northstar Shadow Knight, Diehard Wolf Familiar & Heartbreaker Skeleton Champion

An eclectic selection of undeads this time, hopefully unified somewhat by the basing. The flowers and tufts are from Warpainter Scenics; the individual 'blobs', for want of a better term, are slightly too big for 25mm bases so I've ended up halving them and gluing 'em down as semi-circles. Not sure if it makes the base too busy but its a faff portioning them further. 

ROSD07 - Shadow Knight

Rather chuffed with this one as I followed an excellent tutorial from Gardens of Hecate on painting GW's spooky ghosts (n.b. I used all Citadel paints). This is my first real attempt at highlighting and whilst it's unrefined in many places, it's Good Enough™. I have a copy of Rangers of Shadowdeep, the range he's from, and should really get round to playing it. 

 

ROSD07 - Shadow Knight

I painted it sometime last year but have only just based it on mdf, during which I'd forgotten whether or not I wash Agrellan Badland with Agrax Earthshade. Evidently I do not as it's come out darker than usual. At least I don't use impenetrable jargon to name things, ehh 😉

Diehard Miniatures Wolf Familiar

A kickstarter miniature this one. Not much to say about this undead doggo. I slapped the Skeleton Horde on perhaps but I like my skeletons to look freshly exhumed. I've kept the integral base as it's nice and round but it has made basing interesting. He's basically sitting in the shrub I've artfully obscured in the above pic; I like to think he still has the oblivious attitude some dogs exhibit even in the next life.

Heartbreaker Skeleton Champion

A nice, classic miniature here from Phil Lewis. Look at the size of that there Claymore! I enjoyed painting up the armour (metallics have always been a favourite) and the many dinks it's taken before the occupants demise. 

Citadel Skeletons and Dodgy Light Boxes

I'd wanted to finish off more skellingtons today but was distracted from the task by watching The Last Samurai. Luckily, I have two fit (mostly) to show off:

ME 72 Dead Man of Dunharrow & C17 Armoured Swordsman

Both of these date to the mid 80's and are both therefore older than I. When I was at Uni, I went through a phase of buying old lead that took my fancy. I'd always been a little smitten with the Dead Man; one of my favourite sculpts from the original LOTR range. The C17 lad less so.

Usually when I go figure hunting on ebay, I will look at what other items the seller has to offer, to make the most out of the usually pricey P&P. I think in this case, I had my heart set on another skeleton, possible a scythe wielder if memory serves. Inevitably I lost that bid but won this fellow. Having painted him, he has grown on me.

ME 72 Dead Man of Dunharrow & C17 Armoured Swordsman

I painted both of these towards the end of 2020; sadly part of a miniscule effort on my part in what was a "perfect" year for painting, horrible though it was. I was rather chuffed with them at the time, being my biggest output in more than a decade of inactivity, but with hindsight, they're a tad messy. I applied a lot of GW technical paints: Ryza Rust, Nihilakh Oxide and Typhus Corrosion to give them an appropriate sense of decay.

C17 Armoured Swordsman

The bone is Skeleton Horde Contrast with a liberal helping of Agrax Earthshade (which is better than the overrated Nuln Oil if any one was to ask). The shields are painted Army Painter Scaly Hide. Choosing a green similar to the verdigris effect you're using was perhaps not the best move but I really like that particular shade. Back in the day it was Snot Green. Is this indicative of my maturity I wonder? 😜

The models could really do with some highlights, a technique that has filled me with dread for 20 years (well, for as long as I even knew there was more to painting than gleefully slapping it on anyway). The bases could do with more colour; I like the idea of contrasting the shambling dead with vibrant spring/summer flowers rather than the more common autumnal and winter themes. Luckily I have a bunch, which will soon decorate the bases of their compatriots when I next post.

On another note, I used a shoddy £7.99 Light Box off of eBay; I think the results speak for themselves. I like the backdrop dioramas some hobbyists use so I'll try and rustle something up, probably some nice ruins, as well as a better light.

Hello there!

Welcome to my small corner of the internet.

This is the second attempt I've made at starting up a personal blog and will, fingers crossed, last longer than the two or so posts I made on the first abortive run. I'll mainly be using this space to chronicle my tabletop wargamming hobbying, with a view to actually motivating me into tackling the proverbial lead mountain and perhaps getting a tad more satisfaction out of the whole shebang. I might also stray into other interests, for which I beg your patience and in some cases, forgiveness 😅

I first got into The Hobby™ in about 2001. Or at least I think so, going by the White Dwarfs I own. It also, very conveniently, means I've been dallying with all this malarkey for two decades now. Most of those years have been spent collecting Warhammer Fantasy and 40k, but in the last decade I've diverged into other manufacturers and rule sets. I'm sure this is an experience shared by many in the hobby; veering violently or gradually away from GW into gentler pastures where the grass isn't required to be Citadel branded. My main focuses have been picking and choosing any and all fantasy and sci-fi sculpts that tickle my fancy, with an aim to assembling small warbands. I've also made a point of buying up miniature agnostic rulesets, as well as some dedicated ones, to go alongside. 

Hopefully I'll actually get around to trying out the stack of rules I've complied.

Yeah...

Apart from one test game of Frostgrave, I've never actually played anything outside of GW's offerings. To make matters worse, since 8th edition 40k dropped, I've fooled myself into buying not one but four 40k armies.

Oh dear.

That's on top of all the other stuff that languishes in a scattered selection of various storage methods. I'm infamous with my friends for my pile of shame and buying things just to shove them in a box.

Well, there's no time like the present, is there?

"This is but a taste of what Procrastination has to offer!"

So, at the very least I'll have something to show for all the cash I've splashed; at most, I hope that you dear reader will have gleaned something interesting from my ramblings.

Bonne soiree,

Togidubnus