tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57390988402413398822024-02-21T07:30:18.128-05:00Counting RivetsWherein I document the insane detail I lavish on to models that most of the time would only be noticed by me.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger138125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5739098840241339882.post-70650422992671200022022-11-08T20:19:00.005-05:002022-11-08T20:19:48.614-05:00Orcs of the Northern Steppes<p> A friend is creating a skirmish game centred around various small warbands venturing into the realm between worlds for fame, fortune, or other nefarious to noble purposes. That thin excuse was enough for me to justify getting miniatures from a company I am super excited to champion, (<a href="https://yedharomodels.com/gb/" target="_blank">Yedharo Models</a>) because their models are fantastic, the company itself is lovely, and orcs that look distinctive is always a joy.</p><p>I will say if I had one minor complaint it is that the scale between the male models and females is wildly off. a 32mm "Female Champion" is 48mm, while the "Male Champion is a massive 63mm. This leads to them looking wildly out of scale with one another, which makes a mixed-gender crew more bizarre looking. Considering most of the male models don't fit on the default base size for my friend's game, I have a convoluted lore reason why the warband is entirely female.</p><p>Enough talking, pretty model time! No surprise there are lots of conversions, because it's also me...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXNL2AH5_5E1QtFXIhfJMJCSjgVKE7Kz4W8mosKlZfB5UGOmTP3B-ejhrWxK_qe_sz5Ms-0OXwHSHZtxxFTtW780Lq7S52OsHkj-_FKXiApADHMEWF5IC5xOh0JSXoOCMj_jbp9wZpf2ij-h8l0VmjJKzDUj2z-u_g8PGz98I42e42Tgj604zR78t/s1500/Champion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="617" data-original-width="1500" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXNL2AH5_5E1QtFXIhfJMJCSjgVKE7Kz4W8mosKlZfB5UGOmTP3B-ejhrWxK_qe_sz5Ms-0OXwHSHZtxxFTtW780Lq7S52OsHkj-_FKXiApADHMEWF5IC5xOh0JSXoOCMj_jbp9wZpf2ij-h8l0VmjJKzDUj2z-u_g8PGz98I42e42Tgj604zR78t/w640-h263/Champion.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>First up is the Champion. Equipped with a two-handed axe, covered in scars, with the bright fiery red I decided to paint all the orcs with, and somewhat covered in battered orc-steel armour. The green took a lot of experimentation to get feeling right. I didn't want hulk-neon, but I also didn't want to mute the green into yellow. It's a mix of a variety of made-for-war-vehicles greens, browns, and yellows that are almost impossible to do a step-by-step for! The red is a fun mix of Vallejo Mahogany Brown, through light brown, to bleached bone with a few glazes of an orange-y red.<br /><br />The metal itself was a bit of an experiment. Gunmetal washed heavily black, highlighted back up to silver with lots of scratches and chips to make it look well beaten. I debated washing it with either green (like Skyrim) or chromed blue, and in the end settled for a very subtle blue glaze on the first layer only.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPLFwdhJVC8bb-R5Ivg8ufHxWm99lKVMMjVR_uuCtTAMUYRpVFI_jSCLUJ1sxPKaIrU4z6wWK9-fHV9O4b65y4YMpTS6LimtceD6KxNZbwqeeOwGUzQh6cNxMdNsS6m1xXPTJ0IvPeMSYeEKeu_eXF9dZCByhI1n-jtHXVLHcfNLnBqzB7jNE8O1kX/s1500/02-Champion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="606" data-original-width="1500" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPLFwdhJVC8bb-R5Ivg8ufHxWm99lKVMMjVR_uuCtTAMUYRpVFI_jSCLUJ1sxPKaIrU4z6wWK9-fHV9O4b65y4YMpTS6LimtceD6KxNZbwqeeOwGUzQh6cNxMdNsS6m1xXPTJ0IvPeMSYeEKeu_eXF9dZCByhI1n-jtHXVLHcfNLnBqzB7jNE8O1kX/w640-h258/02-Champion.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>It just so happened that I backed their 3d kickstarter and got an STL of the champion as well! Having two of the same would of course be silly, so for variety's sake, I turned one of them into a great-hammer wielder. Same woman, different weapon du jour. Fun question for comments; which is the 3d print and which is their mould?<div><br /></div><div>The hammer itself was a fun conversion. Delicately removed the blade of the axe, and then kludged together a part of the axe with plasticard hammer head. I wanted this thing to look a more reasonable sized war hammer that still evokes something fantasy-orc sized.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0O1-NjgDglQjSYy0YaOfb--hKkOy0TX2z7rPxA99n_IOJgDMnOx2ZJkHaUQq2cCEBKZbLtQnOtdnFue8l1bgZiyVvTdVuKMsJQNvsXhLNbBJ8IjQsKVK5uiy3G1tP61XBSIfYNL8rXwm__r5GYkdYaJcdkDkTGgXgT4aSAbOxAwaaRfKbB_2yovHs/s1500/Archer-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="659" data-original-width="1500" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0O1-NjgDglQjSYy0YaOfb--hKkOy0TX2z7rPxA99n_IOJgDMnOx2ZJkHaUQq2cCEBKZbLtQnOtdnFue8l1bgZiyVvTdVuKMsJQNvsXhLNbBJ8IjQsKVK5uiy3G1tP61XBSIfYNL8rXwm__r5GYkdYaJcdkDkTGgXgT4aSAbOxAwaaRfKbB_2yovHs/w640-h282/Archer-01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh27ejoJG941GN_egHHP0r-JKWF1fmubi-h_qH6Nt8v4LiTg1hZyIcrgBbWKXrW0DE-bDchRrmDxFBFhGa_izhVsloQVJHqHb2_XR2lsg8oW7wDAFNoPgrRT34Y1LIPA5i4GKN2FKckg1rsikKF_4J1vAMksxTy55wGsPV-9AS3QtfMrOM0XwxdKEbg/s1500/Archer-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="651" data-original-width="1500" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh27ejoJG941GN_egHHP0r-JKWF1fmubi-h_qH6Nt8v4LiTg1hZyIcrgBbWKXrW0DE-bDchRrmDxFBFhGa_izhVsloQVJHqHb2_XR2lsg8oW7wDAFNoPgrRT34Y1LIPA5i4GKN2FKckg1rsikKF_4J1vAMksxTy55wGsPV-9AS3QtfMrOM0XwxdKEbg/w640-h278/Archer-02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0wUNrA1UlZeB9s33MVwa0xwKMa2n6i8lLUHhHude9JPnxjfUFosC8AyHCHYOpMMRRb_CsKzoj4jopbXxgU7pvmj3oH3kaeblZgxrbjHF5_y203aLcLEqpkWSWaPzVAewiGnn1MLbl84wlGYK-xcqCJgj6JtFhp9ybZ8MAnVIFt_PorqUB8CKhyc_G/s1500/Archer-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="1500" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0wUNrA1UlZeB9s33MVwa0xwKMa2n6i8lLUHhHude9JPnxjfUFosC8AyHCHYOpMMRRb_CsKzoj4jopbXxgU7pvmj3oH3kaeblZgxrbjHF5_y203aLcLEqpkWSWaPzVAewiGnn1MLbl84wlGYK-xcqCJgj6JtFhp9ybZ8MAnVIFt_PorqUB8CKhyc_G/w640-h238/Archer-03.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><p>Next up: any good war party needs ranged cover! Archers are terrifying, and orc-strength metal bow wielding archers are presumably doubly-so! The physics of a metal bow would be fascinating but here we are! Kudos to Yedharo for doing an astoundingly small, durable, detailed trio of archers. They're 'missing' the trademark orc boots, but hey; they're fleetfoot archers. I did a bright red feather mostly to contrast all that green and brown, but otherwise kept to the same consistent scheme. All the 'leather' bits were highlighted with a hatching-style to imply rough and durable, well-worn leather made to keep up with a lifestyle of jogging across the steppes fighting everything from wolves to raiding parties...</p><p>Also one of many perpetual kudos to Yedharo; the poses on these archers is fantastic. Where they're in a dynamic pose, there's a tactical rock to ensure base adhesion still holds. Even the archer-default shooting model is bracing against a rock, and the dynamism of the other two lends a distinct impression of 'ranger' over the stoic and staid poses of many rank-and-flank archers.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_WcRcn_Sq7YEkwmH64FYJu72Yzlg0ccejD_Q7TmSOrnS3IrkV7SQ-nYhqb4jWhk9r1orW8UM8EGVMl1iUiFurZz7FpXBbV3I4W28T0rruOqK-ljcMDcxplTq4JWkIoLGy7nnBeDPP90I97t3rw0GMpCYEjWh8EC_eTti4MkIBp7KuLQJJEp1iob96/s1500/Axer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="636" data-original-width="1500" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_WcRcn_Sq7YEkwmH64FYJu72Yzlg0ccejD_Q7TmSOrnS3IrkV7SQ-nYhqb4jWhk9r1orW8UM8EGVMl1iUiFurZz7FpXBbV3I4W28T0rruOqK-ljcMDcxplTq4JWkIoLGy7nnBeDPP90I97t3rw0GMpCYEjWh8EC_eTti4MkIBp7KuLQJJEp1iob96/w640-h272/Axer.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_FJu4aeElt1nij-AW-BQcWYJJEwBqVJ5xrzNol-SsA3DmGGce84OX0pxmhupxZTXH_gqZfDKvgHJ8fCbxdowIc1Hzy5KObPbnmDy3ZkSB2-fckoRZHKxmJTD7LrKQ3j02cbCAmPG8WVbHWy5o4MciRtm3iU9jyYPerPahJRDbtMloupQvz77Aj5X/s1500/Greataxe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="1500" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_FJu4aeElt1nij-AW-BQcWYJJEwBqVJ5xrzNol-SsA3DmGGce84OX0pxmhupxZTXH_gqZfDKvgHJ8fCbxdowIc1Hzy5KObPbnmDy3ZkSB2-fckoRZHKxmJTD7LrKQ3j02cbCAmPG8WVbHWy5o4MciRtm3iU9jyYPerPahJRDbtMloupQvz77Aj5X/w640-h248/Greataxe.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Next up is the probably least-converted miniatures short of the archers in my entire force. I also decided narratively that these warrior women have the concept of "Battle Braids" - Noteworthy deeds justify more or wilder hairschemes. The initiates are archers (safely learn combat from a distance) with short, unbraided hair. The champion has her mid-back length ponytail to highlight her prestige. By contrast we have these two. The axe/dagger woman has a half-shaved head and is working on enough length for a braid, displaying her relative 'youth', whereas the great-axe orc has a full and complex set of braids, showing off her experience. </p><p>The Yedharo orcs (male and female... though of course mostly female) have a bit of a battle-bikini problem, so I added a putty half-skirt to the axer as well. It's still open on one side for mobility, but she's swapped the traditional loincloth with a bit more thigh protection on her 'off-side'. It's hard to tell by final highlight, but she also started from a much darker basecoat.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ScPTYryhueDHgAIGgUmfyrV3gU-rXVX0Vnjbobb6hDoy_nVMxYtaFh7YRnJCxAvlkEgJ9X8_Lu_GD1EnxLfkw0nPwTYlSOfe0m_CtqdR11efnxOrSGMzpgjKRS9KlxrsjUmQVINLeWTSzSEeDNqxDNxQqXEhMxBScpOedYAgSyHHLK9oWHAxLs86/s1500/MaceShield.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="668" data-original-width="1500" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ScPTYryhueDHgAIGgUmfyrV3gU-rXVX0Vnjbobb6hDoy_nVMxYtaFh7YRnJCxAvlkEgJ9X8_Lu_GD1EnxLfkw0nPwTYlSOfe0m_CtqdR11efnxOrSGMzpgjKRS9KlxrsjUmQVINLeWTSzSEeDNqxDNxQqXEhMxBScpOedYAgSyHHLK9oWHAxLs86/w640-h286/MaceShield.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKGN_k3TNSDkCHZIdQZWvjup2lIFBLTMG8ZCQN_MXsr5hltyqaySzU3JkS1c29UXjWowM0UO4nhPwbbQHkqX_LiDpo9n3F8oRRWWct_DG3WPJefM0snSa5OHabEy45mPnNi_rxguGDaywUo3n_i3FiuY6AgeHw1xB4ZakTnauQtKwK0D0ZZxp-cbol/s1500/SpearShield.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="738" data-original-width="1500" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKGN_k3TNSDkCHZIdQZWvjup2lIFBLTMG8ZCQN_MXsr5hltyqaySzU3JkS1c29UXjWowM0UO4nhPwbbQHkqX_LiDpo9n3F8oRRWWct_DG3WPJefM0snSa5OHabEy45mPnNi_rxguGDaywUo3n_i3FiuY6AgeHw1xB4ZakTnauQtKwK0D0ZZxp-cbol/w640-h314/SpearShield.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlMcwatTCSHP5G5NXK_hXCXMU3WfZXhhwtMkMNdbmFVhtT4RCw97kC54_9cQ4JAoUbty6kGmNDrrJgc0SSexEPZUkMCmHmn7RlbUvHEvVRfpJDLJNgPufDjZr9ryCYiIZUUHni7mGqyF5CgK9MQ-Zhg5QBYdHEVsIhsSJdtDozWFwTnzPjibbryH_x/s1500/SwordShield.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="649" data-original-width="1500" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlMcwatTCSHP5G5NXK_hXCXMU3WfZXhhwtMkMNdbmFVhtT4RCw97kC54_9cQ4JAoUbty6kGmNDrrJgc0SSexEPZUkMCmHmn7RlbUvHEvVRfpJDLJNgPufDjZr9ryCYiIZUUHni7mGqyF5CgK9MQ-Zhg5QBYdHEVsIhsSJdtDozWFwTnzPjibbryH_x/w640-h276/SwordShield.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Next up is the front-line combatants! The Shield Trio was a fun set of conversions with various degrees of modification. First up is mace-and-shield, who is also a very new warrior lacking her braids. The shield she is equipped with is a mix of plasticard (the base layers of the shield) and green-stuff (the diamond boss and rivets). She is otherwise an un-modified warrior, merely replacing a weapon with a shield. (Strangely, her model doesn't seem to exist on their site anymore!)</div><div><br /></div><div>Second is a spearwoman with that perpetual paperclip spear-haft, with a chunk of axe handle butchered from another model in the vein of two-hander axe from above. She too has a battle skirt rather than loincloth, but also sports some custom-puttied shoulder and thigh armour. I also puttied in a battle braid similar to the Champion's, to highlight her years of experience.</div><div><br /></div><div>Last up is a very traditional sword-and-board lady. Her battle-braids mark her as well as a long-veteran, and she's actually not converted at all! Yedharo made her when I was in the middle of converting the rest, and I had to add her to the crew. Her shield doesn't match the other two, but who knows; different armourer, older/newer shield, or personal/familial preference?</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtJFvPYIrAQupavI0O55QnmOZzqIVip26p_Q8Q1tvxltD6pQSzSRog67WuPk1gJDPRlWfWKlB98Pv81wl1Jk5G1zXgvq7TyajHjsyyYS-UpWWNt0X6Ylx2RDi8FG31hJoJkDx9cOGMtezK5toWTSg5KeJjIcrruFd5pSNxJ-KlP4248mqgelxtqLF/s1500/Banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1500" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtJFvPYIrAQupavI0O55QnmOZzqIVip26p_Q8Q1tvxltD6pQSzSRog67WuPk1gJDPRlWfWKlB98Pv81wl1Jk5G1zXgvq7TyajHjsyyYS-UpWWNt0X6Ylx2RDi8FG31hJoJkDx9cOGMtezK5toWTSg5KeJjIcrruFd5pSNxJ-KlP4248mqgelxtqLF/w640-h328/Banner.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-CVnVVdsyRLNZuIAy3KwhyqFSKCwPOZ9Qx5R6HFRfRWDymfht88_ibmHV-x3kdEpuouqOR0KMOjZ5JAlVRSl76FocCiz7-_45Xygjs39HAPF8NBnuTTiqG73sBag29BxZSv49cBUVfFDK-su--kltgICqAqDeKwoeFwzFB9Ecff4NJWhVHf5hCjg/s1500/Horn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-CVnVVdsyRLNZuIAy3KwhyqFSKCwPOZ9Qx5R6HFRfRWDymfht88_ibmHV-x3kdEpuouqOR0KMOjZ5JAlVRSl76FocCiz7-_45Xygjs39HAPF8NBnuTTiqG73sBag29BxZSv49cBUVfFDK-su--kltgICqAqDeKwoeFwzFB9Ecff4NJWhVHf5hCjg/w640-h320/Horn.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Not technically included in the crew in most battles, but I had the minis and had to use them was the banner bearer and musician. In the concept of the skirmish raiding party, a pair of orcs standing around announcing "HERE WE ARE" doesn't make a ton of sense, but they're so cool! The absolute badassery of the banner-bearer's pose and expression, the pseudo-Warcraft vibe of the banner's shape, and her distinctive two-blade cleaver/machete marks her as an instant too-cool-to-not-paint. The hornblower is a far more 'obvious' pose, but gets kudos for the detail of the horn itself, and also the puffed-out cheeks to clearly indicate she's mid-battle-call.<br /><br />I haven't decided on what symbol or markings to do on the banner. I keep waffling between more Warcraft-style symbolism, First Nations art style, or not-yet-specified "option c". Opinions welcome!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4qILFHMABDPd0f5YUnvTfLf-zu_GRfzdtYICC2KQ6zY7SmLTT4VhOBLovpm9uiIzD3qPTzUrzOGqYp9-L0OCYWFQzZEB8V11QqQsXu2D_lCnt3ya1qegHLjyhZqUz-p4GnDjn0xuSdPkWFJOcTKB_ZvZxgFPuGB6xtCw_ojNovHVEYGVCbsLtXnNi/s1500/Queen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="784" data-original-width="1500" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4qILFHMABDPd0f5YUnvTfLf-zu_GRfzdtYICC2KQ6zY7SmLTT4VhOBLovpm9uiIzD3qPTzUrzOGqYp9-L0OCYWFQzZEB8V11QqQsXu2D_lCnt3ya1qegHLjyhZqUz-p4GnDjn0xuSdPkWFJOcTKB_ZvZxgFPuGB6xtCw_ojNovHVEYGVCbsLtXnNi/w640-h334/Queen.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Nearly-last and OMG Most is the Orc Queen. In my warparty she's the bruiser who's extra-large, extra-armoured, and extra-badass. Rather than being an alternate raid leader, she's the heavy who gets called in when something really needs to die. She is possibly the next-to-most converted mini in the crew. Unfortunately her unconverted model lacks the boots, and has a battle-bikini rather than the back-flap. I had to give her the same boots as the rest of the party, which helps to balance out the armour on the rest of her. I love the pose, the giant greatsword (great-cleaver?) and crown wrought into her helm. It was fun to try to make her boots feel like the rest of them. I find greenstuff by default has too "soft" an edge, so this was at least three layers of putty-dry-slice-putty again. Overall I'm quite pleased with the effect of it matching the rest!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvbx7psMTO6oYGhF5V7JXRfGIJK1I78y4gLDMc3r4Dze-6O__0FWmhl3nf7kfXj0SMxDCRaLW4i0mA0eoJlejESBSIHU9pfhyqwu0406g-qeJcl1R2LtjvkhFoZ-zwnh3pVBtA-Svy_5qqq7vxgmA3WxaXSy4LRhw04lCattTXZd-yYfyEqUprCBI/s1500/Shaman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1500" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvbx7psMTO6oYGhF5V7JXRfGIJK1I78y4gLDMc3r4Dze-6O__0FWmhl3nf7kfXj0SMxDCRaLW4i0mA0eoJlejESBSIHU9pfhyqwu0406g-qeJcl1R2LtjvkhFoZ-zwnh3pVBtA-Svy_5qqq7vxgmA3WxaXSy4LRhw04lCattTXZd-yYfyEqUprCBI/w640-h326/Shaman.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>The ultimate, and hardest-to-photograph mini in my party is the Battle-Sage. This is the most extensively converted mini of the crew. Technically the base model is the greataxe-woman from before! After a haircut and shave, re-pose of her left hand, addition of skirt, pouches, cloak, hood, and staff, she's now nearly unrecognizable. In her hand she brandishes a totem of jade, and on her back is an obsidian dagger. Her staff is made up of a piece from a Sylvaneth druid attached to a paperclip coated in liquid greenstuff to make it look like a sapling pulled from the ground for exactly this purpose. Tied to it for ritual purposes is another jade token, some raven feathers, and rings of precious metals. As the women of this tribe do battle and interact with the other races, so do their Sages lead the parties and ensure the wisdom of the tribe is foremost in all dealings. Being a Battle-Sage she still wears the steppe-defeating boots, battle-bra, and groin armour, but it is augmented in a semi-cloak of the mystic. </div><div><br /></div><div>She was a ton of fun to convert, a challenge to paint, and I have photographed her fully three times, once and most recently after gluing her back together after a nightmare drop in which she severed her thigh and came off her base!</div><div><br /></div><div>I truly can't stress enough how much fun the Yedharo minis line is. They do fantastic Orcs, have expanded to a full and beautiful line of dwarves, and are adding demons (though not nearly enough!) Expect to see more of theirs on this blog eventually and grab what you can of theirs!<br /><p><br /></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5739098840241339882.post-70618175093748395082022-08-26T00:33:00.001-04:002022-08-26T00:33:28.875-04:00Triumphal Return and some Modern Soldiers<p> I have had a terrible time of getting models finished, and even worse at getting them photographed! Either stuff only gets half done, or it's nothing to write a blog post about.</p><p>More frustratingly; recently, I have tried three times so far to photograph the things I HAVE gotten done and am proud of. Each time they're either blurry, too badly colour-imbalanced, or some combination of problems.</p><p>At long last, I have a set I don't hate the colours of!</p><p>As a pre-amble, I am hoping to create a skirmish game that is near-apocalyptic. Too many games or universes that are post-apocalyptic describe an apocalypse decades or centuries ago, which does allow for mutations and sci-fi weaponry, sure, but also glosses over a huge and fascinating period of any apocalypse: What happens when everything first starts to break down? Debatably the Walking Dead has elements of this, but there was a show named Jericho that I think aligns better.</p><p>What happens when resources are just getting scarce enough that you start eyeing your neighbours... Are they hoarding more soup than they need as you go hungry? Perhaps you should grab a bat and go find out...</p><p>Enough intro, on to the pretty pics! I am finally happy to say I have <i>finished </i>some models from <a href="https://hfminis.co.uk/" target="_blank">Hasslefree Miniatures</a>, which is great because I love their stuff, and want to trumpet them as much as possible. My game will eventually feature 8 models, so here's the first team: A group of veteran soldiers, bereft of the military structure they've depended on all these years, using their favourite weapons and trying to cling to a sense of honour and order in an increasingly insane world.</p><p>First up, the leader:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_z6ZdFJU-LtkMiy0s0hcXcWZ5aiZKX4rWUEOF6BSYdfNpbYQgy9ATBRbstbG6Zl7k7JEmSKCJwQEATfUVFIwexU_0k7qiHAcz5om280kxN9vD0naLJMTPbw0BRb5G0frRZ1pe0mVpl7zgZww4_FOLk38zVgRhyady98XtUqYR8cBc2F7OeVpkbMj/s1500/Vet-Hero-Compiled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="1500" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_z6ZdFJU-LtkMiy0s0hcXcWZ5aiZKX4rWUEOF6BSYdfNpbYQgy9ATBRbstbG6Zl7k7JEmSKCJwQEATfUVFIwexU_0k7qiHAcz5om280kxN9vD0naLJMTPbw0BRb5G0frRZ1pe0mVpl7zgZww4_FOLk38zVgRhyady98XtUqYR8cBc2F7OeVpkbMj/w640-h314/Vet-Hero-Compiled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>"Deano", a model with a great Sci-Fi inspiration, wielding a P90. The colour scheme for all these is "generic 80s camo", with a more modern combat boot vibe. It was a lot of fun lightly contrasting the pouches, belts, and combat vests from the fatigues. The bases are, as is my usual, clear acrylic, 1.5mm by 20mm in this case.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUweOfL0mAmETWw0vC4lrMezApz5kUPuZoZJ2yhV0aOzDo41wEYtBnJfAdV2m2uUn5K-AxdF4vaqSxt2j6i5Rpva8OBODK1iDMnvDDKgCDHZsHfFkIIEdk78rUw8msarPksyeREZ8sscW-Jdcb6w4emNSjqbcf9_gOZc8PQBVRinG511rVHsRttZwb/s1500/Vet-Harley-Compiled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="647" data-original-width="1500" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUweOfL0mAmETWw0vC4lrMezApz5kUPuZoZJ2yhV0aOzDo41wEYtBnJfAdV2m2uUn5K-AxdF4vaqSxt2j6i5Rpva8OBODK1iDMnvDDKgCDHZsHfFkIIEdk78rUw8msarPksyeREZ8sscW-Jdcb6w4emNSjqbcf9_gOZc8PQBVRinG511rVHsRttZwb/w640-h276/Vet-Harley-Compiled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Next up is "Harlequin". Equipped with a combat rifle and full tactical gear. Lots of drybrushing went into making their uniforms look dusty, well used, and in need of replacing!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2ULrAEzbQFNwFC9o4hYVShgOQ4J-wSZHbaDS4gI_eCStEeihHHIBhVn4Mmau-5JGmPJM352sETbTuo_adEdpO4ghJ5tR1oo0Wbp7Bl2FDfndnsqY-DoBfEXh86D2B2y7WOygoIRl703RPG_xTNTB4wF1ZeOmwHmq5x22vjQMDHNslu0oyZ1RN4p9/s1500/Vet-Marksman-Compiled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="772" data-original-width="1500" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2ULrAEzbQFNwFC9o4hYVShgOQ4J-wSZHbaDS4gI_eCStEeihHHIBhVn4Mmau-5JGmPJM352sETbTuo_adEdpO4ghJ5tR1oo0Wbp7Bl2FDfndnsqY-DoBfEXh86D2B2y7WOygoIRl703RPG_xTNTB4wF1ZeOmwHmq5x22vjQMDHNslu0oyZ1RN4p9/w640-h330/Vet-Marksman-Compiled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><p>Lugging the marksman rifle is "Demon". Sure he's got no scope but if he's on the table, is he really using a scope with any heavy magnification? These are all using a simplified, table-ready version of my typical skin paintscheme; Vallejo medium flesh tone, washed with light rust, highlighted back up through to "pale flesh". The light rust colour is rouge enough to give a feeling of living, pinkish skin.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxy8Q55g9kIlDyuT_-NITU3ySP7931rIklqQbYUg7zOBgckNs1X-OjuNpyinYjAI3swVmLBDj1eWpiX3zK8AftkgPtwxVn2Yga3eJL3PJH30iDqzu9lfgKxcBAMJZnEv_dm_FrO3J-fYIfaQ-XEbpD93aXmbp0Cgyal0Uts6aqSACorjIR6amA6zZ/s1500/Vet-P90-Compiled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="1500" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxy8Q55g9kIlDyuT_-NITU3ySP7931rIklqQbYUg7zOBgckNs1X-OjuNpyinYjAI3swVmLBDj1eWpiX3zK8AftkgPtwxVn2Yga3eJL3PJH30iDqzu9lfgKxcBAMJZnEv_dm_FrO3J-fYIfaQ-XEbpD93aXmbp0Cgyal0Uts6aqSACorjIR6amA6zZ/w640-h326/Vet-P90-Compiled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Next up is the second P90 wielder (with a scope AND a suppressor! Someone's fancy...) Titled "Joker" by Hasslefree, he will fit the role of backup for either my supplies runner, or with his heavy gear, perhaps support for the squad assault weapon soldier.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifOVFalQFckmcTUOxgKqGDDatfysNuY7YLRDtYl8E46ixqTHYeoU28lwAR1aPFNPSMliNDPGQdBEE903XPAygnwUd4UB4ch6kD49K5E8VdIDIgoORKsAfSP4mAeIpgGKCJt4zft2zvnaNEhEnxhcs6nkgJm50jpiu3KAi6ZAzp-3PRcobadozAC0sR/s1500/Vet-Runner-Compiled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="1500" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifOVFalQFckmcTUOxgKqGDDatfysNuY7YLRDtYl8E46ixqTHYeoU28lwAR1aPFNPSMliNDPGQdBEE903XPAygnwUd4UB4ch6kD49K5E8VdIDIgoORKsAfSP4mAeIpgGKCJt4zft2zvnaNEhEnxhcs6nkgJm50jpiu3KAi6ZAzp-3PRcobadozAC0sR/w640-h336/Vet-Runner-Compiled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Speaking of the runner, this is Pilot Vic; Geared down to just a pistol (and barely a jacket for whatever reason), she is intended to be able to get in, grab supplies, and get out before anyone can tie her into a firefight. I should have converted her with a backpack or satchel bag, but the creases on the fabric of her coat were too cool to paint to risk covering them up!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMF0-XtTufRFHcqo6KsD_fpVPjwKHYWEgkf6XptBh2z0H-gLwyTLLJSfxnkguLuMC-dzp63-3M58EM4bVhhPthgWPHyxna_EJByrSoXDpNQ7Rw3QvLivWQYwJrzZOvIAkYqZ2IZ2aW1h5q76HtYXs0Wz16w1IpTXLHnPT0isBxz3WCFizD2FMG-2mD/s1500/Vet-SAW-Combined.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="1500" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMF0-XtTufRFHcqo6KsD_fpVPjwKHYWEgkf6XptBh2z0H-gLwyTLLJSfxnkguLuMC-dzp63-3M58EM4bVhhPthgWPHyxna_EJByrSoXDpNQ7Rw3QvLivWQYwJrzZOvIAkYqZ2IZ2aW1h5q76HtYXs0Wz16w1IpTXLHnPT0isBxz3WCFizD2FMG-2mD/w640-h252/Vet-SAW-Combined.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Ensuring no one gets too curious, and to make sure his team returns safe, the Squad Assault Weapon is wielded by "Badger". Geared up for a heavy firefight, it's likely he'll only be able to pack out a box of matches or a roll of toilet paper in the way of supplies, but he'll make sure Vic and the rest have time to get the quilted, not just some basic 2-ply!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNvxqhFMDjjkB509u1uFy4-3JeZtPVWAE4HwL-z61Imf2mXQhy-zCiMBYfxIxBpLD-qlN4qyKo57ZNZYH-ncZAKP05MG9ZXTLWA_X1tj58fpPRMQq9mncJqQzCh1_wTb6wliy4xZpzhS3yVNNPSaog7gAGuwsKXVnIkOIXqbWn2feBucgcQIBur9DD/s1500/Vet-Scar-Combined.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="1500" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNvxqhFMDjjkB509u1uFy4-3JeZtPVWAE4HwL-z61Imf2mXQhy-zCiMBYfxIxBpLD-qlN4qyKo57ZNZYH-ncZAKP05MG9ZXTLWA_X1tj58fpPRMQq9mncJqQzCh1_wTb6wliy4xZpzhS3yVNNPSaog7gAGuwsKXVnIkOIXqbWn2feBucgcQIBur9DD/w640-h328/Vet-Scar-Combined.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Our last "main" soldier is the combat-rifle-wielding "Bergil". He's also bringing some severe heat with a backpack-slung RPG, but I haven't decided yet whether that will be in-game legal or just "he has a what?!" visually interesting item. I tried to imitate what I assume is the "arid colour" scheme for the gun, also to bring more of the weapons away from a boring, hard-to-see-detail black of most of them. You can see other examples up the line. Considering what weapon a model is wielding usually matters a bunch in game, there is some merit to the old GW-style super bright and distinctive gun colours, as impractical as they may be.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbGhTwzKtwU_-hq00gTTExAGwzhCfo_LJ750A_qpnUFdXf-rsrBjFGgbhjO2cu2lamSYfE5hNALjs8wxNUDbS1Ahe3nuf_Jzl2eG47OBjEmVJP8fYH6eQ3H4bsEs2OPl09oF90XWngzF70UXFygwdAd68itNnHp6IOP3ecNGZeXQlo-Pe28Jq989f/s1500/Vet-Shotgun-Compiled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="747" data-original-width="1500" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbGhTwzKtwU_-hq00gTTExAGwzhCfo_LJ750A_qpnUFdXf-rsrBjFGgbhjO2cu2lamSYfE5hNALjs8wxNUDbS1Ahe3nuf_Jzl2eG47OBjEmVJP8fYH6eQ3H4bsEs2OPl09oF90XWngzF70UXFygwdAd68itNnHp6IOP3ecNGZeXQlo-Pe28Jq989f/w640-h318/Vet-Shotgun-Compiled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Last up, but first into any breach is "Woody", equipped with every Half Life player's favourite trusty combat shotgun. I always find painting darker skin to be a difficult balance between making it look natural, but also not 'under-highlighted'. I think I did a decent job on him, for all that everything but his arms are entirely covered!</div><div><br /></div><div>Not that I'm brave enough to do a tutorial of it yet (there are far better people for that out there), I find imitating the above steps, but starting with light rust, and washing with Model Air Mahogany gives a lovely rich dark skin tone that doesn't feel like you've painted wood or forgotten a few steps of highlights. I intend to keep experimenting, and once I get confident enough that I can execute each time I'll put up a tutorial!</div><div><br /></div><div>That said, here's my Veteran Squad all ready to go for the as-yet-unnamed skirmish game I totally intend on writing after I finish the rulebook, illustrations, and playtesting for Diesel and Dust...</div><div><p><br /></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5739098840241339882.post-28298042364924776562021-04-21T18:19:00.002-04:002021-04-21T18:19:38.254-04:00When Poor Design Decisions Compound<p>I am a history nerd, and am a magpie when it comes to historical miniature games. Of course I had to get some Blood Red Skies miniatures. I grew up playing games like Hellcats Over the Pacific, and the Aces games, so I may or may not somehow have a bunch of Spitfires, a P-47, an F4F, and a Corsair. I want to address something strange I've noticed as I started to acquire miniatures for this game, and discuss subtle reasons why design (and design iteration) is so important.</p><p>In Blood Red Skies, it is very important whether or not your plane is in an "advantaged" or "disadvantaged" position. The way the game tracks this is by tilting planes nose-up or nose-down to indicate this. A plane with its nose up (climbing) is considered to be "Advantaged", whereas nose down (diving) is "Disadvantaged". Level flight is of course neither. This is the first design oddity; If you're a fan of air combat, especially in WW2, being higher up and able to dive gives a wealth of benefits such as increased speed, reduced effects of bullet drop, etc. Why then is the plane that's at the advantage depicted climbing?</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuPeuHnCUBGoMQaSeeCZjZnNZ_am5wbiVixzX0wLK1WduDmU_Gwv1Ca3FA6ZNWDuVAGXnw0Byg0ofxzQ1sQsQq16BWpUKvh-yicmNQ7uVKGOzZIqAEbvYCbjdiB_jLTLQny6Z5HkwhNjY/s1000/Three-Positions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="367" data-original-width="1000" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuPeuHnCUBGoMQaSeeCZjZnNZ_am5wbiVixzX0wLK1WduDmU_Gwv1Ca3FA6ZNWDuVAGXnw0Byg0ofxzQ1sQsQq16BWpUKvh-yicmNQ7uVKGOzZIqAEbvYCbjdiB_jLTLQny6Z5HkwhNjY/w640-h234/Three-Positions.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left: advantaged. Middle: Neutral. Right: Disadvantaged.</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>Now, that aside, there is of course the issue of it also looking slightly absurd if an advantaged plane fights a disadvantaged plane at close range:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsQ1Ee3eSHbejrvsVEIM_ahFDLAzHcFTVW8B48tbPuqZxMx5y3n6UQd1j9CwwCJjBNaXTaAPcBW1RDZ3-RX2K6pUScQVhvc1fAJRqEmrzwFdf6J7_85aSN1518WFyNLYEkex0Ty1U9dDI/s1000/Missed-Me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsQ1Ee3eSHbejrvsVEIM_ahFDLAzHcFTVW8B48tbPuqZxMx5y3n6UQd1j9CwwCJjBNaXTaAPcBW1RDZ3-RX2K6pUScQVhvc1fAJRqEmrzwFdf6J7_85aSN1518WFyNLYEkex0Ty1U9dDI/w400-h225/Missed-Me.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Missed Me!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>But there's a bigger problem. A waaay bigger problem. Some of the planes are not plastic. Some, are metal. Let's take a look at that?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhum3wnIEQ7mFIzQ0kTpJcxX-Nqgkd6da5ra3XfZBI-07Rb6JwylogP2muFpQ3CEp0xTRUx4sTPnVJivs6_LOJO1Cn4-rjOEMauwQYIA783IAU58BeQPJ5zCRWdCZblr6u-Y0QQmcFCDZ4/s1140/Level-Corsair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1140" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhum3wnIEQ7mFIzQ0kTpJcxX-Nqgkd6da5ra3XfZBI-07Rb6JwylogP2muFpQ3CEp0xTRUx4sTPnVJivs6_LOJO1Cn4-rjOEMauwQYIA783IAU58BeQPJ5zCRWdCZblr6u-Y0QQmcFCDZ4/w351-h400/Level-Corsair.jpg" width="351" /></a></div><br /><p>Looks fine right? Should be fine if we just tilt this thing into "Advantage" position right?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPpmYC442JC53sz9V48NhMeLrul3z-C91qaKRyoGC3Zbfk4yP0_i79GNO8WJdJPc-xgYBA0bWPefbp0zToPUd_9hZD_KuqTU_-PyiYm1mMRVjrEBJ3GQfqpiTH8vxOOX97pfb9H2YrvY/s1000/Drunk-Corsair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="947" data-original-width="1000" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPpmYC442JC53sz9V48NhMeLrul3z-C91qaKRyoGC3Zbfk4yP0_i79GNO8WJdJPc-xgYBA0bWPefbp0zToPUd_9hZD_KuqTU_-PyiYm1mMRVjrEBJ3GQfqpiTH8vxOOX97pfb9H2YrvY/w400-h379/Drunk-Corsair.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Whups! Drunk Corsair time. That's not viable for gameplay at all! So already we have a huge design flaw which either forces the company to only produce plastic miniatures, or have this big flaw in your metal ones. There's a few solutions, but let's see what they went with:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGV_iqyPwCJrUDAPg6RuckNMkprpxqP1pFjuNlj9kKk1IWm4pe19Cmi39gohpwqiUZiEPartGKnEGDWuFTqSP0vHsoDyvixCY69HHiL3Gf70IACVvCmEKgJd_Oi6zQp_ZrtPibbRwYs4/s1001/Corsair-Base-Add.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGV_iqyPwCJrUDAPg6RuckNMkprpxqP1pFjuNlj9kKk1IWm4pe19Cmi39gohpwqiUZiEPartGKnEGDWuFTqSP0vHsoDyvixCY69HHiL3Gf70IACVvCmEKgJd_Oi6zQp_ZrtPibbRwYs4/w400-h400/Corsair-Base-Add.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>If you guessed "Giant additional plastic thing" then congrats! Yep, every metal miniature comes with a larger, clear-plastic 'foot' to keep the plane off the deck. This requires a lot of extra work designing, producing, ensuring packaging fits it properly, and still leaves you with another design problem:<div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGjObnWt-COdP6os0CxrvhSaC6uBMRVdXr5LGrbDDW9L641mD6HYjhgOOv_PUdIx58ymuooON50GYmKiaGXiCQZCMo7Nv5BXaou89eLS8irv2VV4ddR6wGbbYQ5ZiijeA0ZFlt5hFCls/s1000/Stepping-On-Toes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGjObnWt-COdP6os0CxrvhSaC6uBMRVdXr5LGrbDDW9L641mD6HYjhgOOv_PUdIx58ymuooON50GYmKiaGXiCQZCMo7Nv5BXaou89eLS8irv2VV4ddR6wGbbYQ5ZiijeA0ZFlt5hFCls/w640-h360/Stepping-On-Toes.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Shown here with plastic minis for ease)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>I don't yet know how common something like this could be in-game, but what if two planes fly close to one another? If the original flight stand counts as the "area" of a plane rules-wise, does the increased foot count? God Forbid two such hoofed beasts come near one another...</div><div><br /></div><div>But surely there's no other solution right? how to integrate tilting planes in a flying game?<br />Well, for a rare moment allow me to celebrate GW's solution to this problem:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7kWj8JV33c9ofBoy3K2NQTC4jL-nOEijN9HPhOxrzaxUpRhQRWDcByjbHpJ03ysu46XCzpF56XlJzXNJeAMBJuVYO6auREkcmHQjRkdOJTcDkFikXQqFsk-6VatGZzfv97grwMVLQvQ/s1000/Aeronautica-Stand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="938" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7kWj8JV33c9ofBoy3K2NQTC4jL-nOEijN9HPhOxrzaxUpRhQRWDcByjbHpJ03ysu46XCzpF56XlJzXNJeAMBJuVYO6auREkcmHQjRkdOJTcDkFikXQqFsk-6VatGZzfv97grwMVLQvQ/s320/Aeronautica-Stand.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Aeronautica Imperialis uses this fascinating flight peg with a ball top. We can debate if desired whether a base with a bunch of info is logical or not, but that little ball there is fantastic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWS3lwplM80wX5pa1ralg1FpXif2Y8DON4_4gKbDq2QcqJkkW7GUALO5l6SXQ4C-2uNeQNpbsfsLGgQGDUzEUFMmavXid1nDvqQbRPh2PmDbOHJ0dOkjDZlHwyYJB3qiFLjViJhyphenhyphenB7g54/s1000/Aeronautica-Climbing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="970" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWS3lwplM80wX5pa1ralg1FpXif2Y8DON4_4gKbDq2QcqJkkW7GUALO5l6SXQ4C-2uNeQNpbsfsLGgQGDUzEUFMmavXid1nDvqQbRPh2PmDbOHJ0dOkjDZlHwyYJB3qiFLjViJhyphenhyphenB7g54/s320/Aeronautica-Climbing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJ2xanbRXZFQEU8EqBd7-0JdkKdkKu_wXVe1YYt6C8_6d64SuXr23pwBrV3bsDK6cYgId0gSse_ispzXLeXYteBqVpUaPpJMdODY_ElLgxg_SOdNxjmj5tdLiqt0H-Vz5tsiS94mI2GU/s1259/Aeronautica-Point.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1259" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJ2xanbRXZFQEU8EqBd7-0JdkKdkKu_wXVe1YYt6C8_6d64SuXr23pwBrV3bsDK6cYgId0gSse_ispzXLeXYteBqVpUaPpJMdODY_ElLgxg_SOdNxjmj5tdLiqt0H-Vz5tsiS94mI2GU/s320/Aeronautica-Point.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Behold how this simple solution slots into a spot under the plane, allowing it to both climb and dive, as well as bank left or right without great cost to overall centre of mass, balance, or model adjacency.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Also, speaking on production's side, it requires far less of it. The click-base of Blood Red Skies is at least a two part production, pre-assembled at the manufacturer, sent to the user, for further assembly. Also, because the flight stand is pre-assembled it neither ships nor stores flat, but always has that A-frame bend. Lastly, should I break a flight stand for Aeronautica, I can use a spare rod and keep flying with base and plane intact, whereas Blood Red Skies risks a breakage requiring me to buy more (or repair it, since I'm not certain if they're sold separately.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It is a cautionary tale that I am sure has cost loads more money in production and planning than a bit more design iteration time and a cleaner solution would have resulted in.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thus ends the public broadcast, hopefully I'll be back with more cool models and conversions soon!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5739098840241339882.post-85277233950563732842021-01-29T23:46:00.002-05:002021-01-29T23:48:32.930-05:00Pacific Fleet In Full Glory<p> After a long hiatus of never making time for the actual posting part, I have finally managed to sit down and upload finalized, finished, pretty painted pictures of a pacific patrol! (How's THAT for alliteration?)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEbM8sgNyvqcwTDDeyCRs4Wa0JnUvCWuhElxaqU5vnvgwKh8G35rR-3HBLjeGMmD_eUEsJW2VGJ0_OQinXn4a-Nx51DoeLObIkPvbxjj2Z5Y8xHdeYm3ahET_adxtMpBXTiPbHaZRz0lk/s1000/Full-Fleet-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="1000" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEbM8sgNyvqcwTDDeyCRs4Wa0JnUvCWuhElxaqU5vnvgwKh8G35rR-3HBLjeGMmD_eUEsJW2VGJ0_OQinXn4a-Nx51DoeLObIkPvbxjj2Z5Y8xHdeYm3ahET_adxtMpBXTiPbHaZRz0lk/w640-h314/Full-Fleet-02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>With a full range of capital ships, cruisers, destroyers, and even a full sprawl of PT boats, I figure I can cover engagements from small skirmishes right up to full on wars.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNteaFtSpUl2zj1oCDfat5esCOepsMs5ijaJgFsONJgXvzx_DN5Fx69jFAE5YYS1CrH23c7HpZr2lepvspu0Yai7xpOv5HCw4jMTsEhjITyX5Oophbs3btVRgMPKNuSrE4hHpDfQb-vE/s1000/Full-Fleet-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="527" data-original-width="1000" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNteaFtSpUl2zj1oCDfat5esCOepsMs5ijaJgFsONJgXvzx_DN5Fx69jFAE5YYS1CrH23c7HpZr2lepvspu0Yai7xpOv5HCw4jMTsEhjITyX5Oophbs3btVRgMPKNuSrE4hHpDfQb-vE/w640-h338/Full-Fleet-01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Here you can see the full effect of my basing technique. I know the blanket is solid black, but on any dark water board you still get this nice luminous layered depth effect to the water which looks fantastic and realistic!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrid9qmnVPAE2xNiy0sLoAZdizfLl3i2bim2AzzNcyR6FOwwYr7iLbf6s4rgJ_AmW27ot0gCN3HJYt8-porzaC5rNPy7Cxzg35gN6QVreWxlbns1XEhY68RlFaahGRwRsHLywffSr5t3s/s1000/Full-Fleet-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="664" data-original-width="1000" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrid9qmnVPAE2xNiy0sLoAZdizfLl3i2bim2AzzNcyR6FOwwYr7iLbf6s4rgJ_AmW27ot0gCN3HJYt8-porzaC5rNPy7Cxzg35gN6QVreWxlbns1XEhY68RlFaahGRwRsHLywffSr5t3s/w640-h424/Full-Fleet-04.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>A fun thing about this fleet; it's timed to fit anywhere from 1942 to 1944, so sadly there's not a lot of dazzle camo on any of the vessels, though I have tried doing some smaller elements and lines on the destroyers. All the ships feature the nice dark blue which was apparently standard!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQHYwAQ7xIPOuu6DUaPUuuKipD_EogsdQ3iH_F0FEPRggsMMfsFc4v5g_zwEUvICmrQ0X635df8mHX9YChuZ3iHKHD9fnr0_VsaQsVpTaBb2cQR9oYzmNHBQhBNYpXrLQn9PbpMI_Fes/s1000/GHQ-WW2-US-Navy-Fleet-Reid-Custom-bases-various.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="664" data-original-width="1000" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQHYwAQ7xIPOuu6DUaPUuuKipD_EogsdQ3iH_F0FEPRggsMMfsFc4v5g_zwEUvICmrQ0X635df8mHX9YChuZ3iHKHD9fnr0_VsaQsVpTaBb2cQR9oYzmNHBQhBNYpXrLQn9PbpMI_Fes/w640-h424/GHQ-WW2-US-Navy-Fleet-Reid-Custom-bases-various.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>This is probably one of the most accurate colour matches. You can get a good scope of the depth of the water effects. Any ship larger than a PT boat also gets its own unique name! As much as possible I've chosen ships that survived the war, to limit any "but that ship was already sunk by then" issues.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX87g_mQndA9ZQFlg0yNg9faOIYZc7t2AY9TpgprjtT2KSr3JzbMgoZSUNopV0-YJ_U4gzWEuqQUO2CHbXMTwxfoyM-_LsKCFCH1P8mOMc3sUMig-Q2oirfJrgT5hPTb2NMTr-UQs2lhU/s1000/Capital-Ships-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="664" data-original-width="1000" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX87g_mQndA9ZQFlg0yNg9faOIYZc7t2AY9TpgprjtT2KSr3JzbMgoZSUNopV0-YJ_U4gzWEuqQUO2CHbXMTwxfoyM-_LsKCFCH1P8mOMc3sUMig-Q2oirfJrgT5hPTb2NMTr-UQs2lhU/w640-h424/Capital-Ships-01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Let's start with the bigbois! Here are the capital ships lined up for my fleet. From left to right there is the USS COlorado, the USS North Carolina, USS Iowa, then USS Essex (CV-9), USS Enterprise (CV-6), and the USS-Independence. Specifically on the carriers, it was fun painting the worn blue paint where so many planes have rubbed the paint. Also fun was painting a bunch of little tiny dots in straight lines...<div><br />From this angle you can also see the bizarre, and historically accurate, curve to the lines around the tower on the USS Enterprise.</div><div><br /></div><div>Also something I always find remarkable doing scale modelling: Holy heck the sizes of some things. Planes are already large craft. Then the Independence dwarfs a plane, which itself is a pocket carrier compared to the Enterprise, which itself looks like the little brother to the Essex! On the other half, the Colorado is dwarfed by the North Carolina, which itself looks like a stubbier version of the Iowa!</div><div><br />Barely visible at the top is a PT boat, which itself is some 80ft (24m) long. I measured out of curiosity, and that is vaguely the equivalent length of ONE of the Iowa's main deck turrets.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlzQ3-vJRo3FIatkEBinXR4ulK28S0sUORQa9UwOwInHkZH7LsawSzAxcjKph2dPp2iChQnGuwQaXtWUBUAdl7wSb_p9iaVlsBI8mFh7oJ2FofxR_3DUEZazKjGHaUMWUEkQS7EwSlGMw/s1000/Fleet-Scales-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="811" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlzQ3-vJRo3FIatkEBinXR4ulK28S0sUORQa9UwOwInHkZH7LsawSzAxcjKph2dPp2iChQnGuwQaXtWUBUAdl7wSb_p9iaVlsBI8mFh7oJ2FofxR_3DUEZazKjGHaUMWUEkQS7EwSlGMw/w520-h640/Fleet-Scales-02.jpg" width="520" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For real.. the scales are insane.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />On to the cruisers!<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmz8nR9oIBSK848jwAizM2-URvWhlQBMmRUUEtIck-SPKZwkjB4UMonFY0uHRdO8bH_RerJ8gQkzd6935NJICfKZ8-Rlhxwbhe_r4F9hY0JbZ5clASQefQG32Kn6YFEua1ntUxoCH1SUA/s1000/Fleet-Cruisers-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="509" data-original-width="1000" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmz8nR9oIBSK848jwAizM2-URvWhlQBMmRUUEtIck-SPKZwkjB4UMonFY0uHRdO8bH_RerJ8gQkzd6935NJICfKZ8-Rlhxwbhe_r4F9hY0JbZ5clASQefQG32Kn6YFEua1ntUxoCH1SUA/w640-h326/Fleet-Cruisers-01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Since I'm just playing this game with friends, I care nothing for min-maxing or taking advantage of "better" or "worse" ships. Instead, here's a selection of the various cruisers that saw action in the Pacific during WWII. <br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyFBzdTyAZuYuGBivckExGnQCg4PVhSQp4GWVSM2p9DqxOkk3rPYiPcAU5ibUlnBwZZA4qNqaTU2NdmWMN__mxsM8kLDSd5m9QJ4byCah1lbV7sP2k6oahoJAXxwx4MmHIxQlAp_xb-R4/s1000/Fleet-Destroyers-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="1000" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyFBzdTyAZuYuGBivckExGnQCg4PVhSQp4GWVSM2p9DqxOkk3rPYiPcAU5ibUlnBwZZA4qNqaTU2NdmWMN__mxsM8kLDSd5m9QJ4byCah1lbV7sP2k6oahoJAXxwx4MmHIxQlAp_xb-R4/w640-h488/Fleet-Destroyers-01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>On down to the workhorses: the Destroyers! 6 Fletchers up front, backed up by 3 Clemsons. Most people would picture a Fletcher if they thought "Destroyer", but in-game I do enjoy the sheer volume of torpedos a Clemson can unleash.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmrj0t-2z_UiXoojGZDIv3qCx7nx7-iwlgZ5VsoEeXxjaT6NZ7nHLmf_esEcapj-ixdk2mvP5TAR5BcRUYexUa0K3Ys3Ow1roX4x4fhP3cZPQkixLsT33YNSoRAHvShAEsSbFRy3xmd8/s1000/Fleet-Patrols-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="729" data-original-width="1000" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmrj0t-2z_UiXoojGZDIv3qCx7nx7-iwlgZ5VsoEeXxjaT6NZ7nHLmf_esEcapj-ixdk2mvP5TAR5BcRUYexUa0K3Ys3Ow1roX4x4fhP3cZPQkixLsT33YNSoRAHvShAEsSbFRy3xmd8/w640-h466/Fleet-Patrols-01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>And then there's the PT boat patrols. I looked for some time to find the right "number" for a patrol of patrol boats (heh) but could only find units far larger than a single base might justify. I settled on two per base in part to get the most out of my purchase of PT boats, but also because three started to push the base and look too dense.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwyrQLxZ8-xzNw3nOfS38Qu0Gk-GJ6FTELQyQ4ZzzPGvXGcU80PPPeD0VyxH1cWkRZ8tN7JwnoKxtd3jrZNh4fNMQ3b3uzfbtaU6nL4uNe1NSZ7LXH9ymroIAWjCIcPDWskKst1H1QOzg/s1000/PT+Boats+Swarm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="674" data-original-width="1000" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwyrQLxZ8-xzNw3nOfS38Qu0Gk-GJ6FTELQyQ4ZzzPGvXGcU80PPPeD0VyxH1cWkRZ8tN7JwnoKxtd3jrZNh4fNMQ3b3uzfbtaU6nL4uNe1NSZ7LXH9ymroIAWjCIcPDWskKst1H1QOzg/w640-h432/PT+Boats+Swarm.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seriously though: these things are adorably tiny...</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I'm hoping the PT boats will help counter the volume of torpedos the Japanese fleet can put out, and maybe give my opponent some second thoughts about his usual technique of Flank speed into my formation and unleashing torpedo-hell on me.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju5qce3B9epCHYWzjdM417buqqE5lBMYWaHmKHwAxqhtOT8IbtRitwG2FfF2j4dSCDxc3HdwwmzH96t68iSGY4dzbhv57azRt5axP_0m-Twm6qamEXOIJY5XRzTD8hs-TyMLKSDW8RYyY/s1000/Fleet-Scales-Photomerge-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="664" data-original-width="1000" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju5qce3B9epCHYWzjdM417buqqE5lBMYWaHmKHwAxqhtOT8IbtRitwG2FfF2j4dSCDxc3HdwwmzH96t68iSGY4dzbhv57azRt5axP_0m-Twm6qamEXOIJY5XRzTD8hs-TyMLKSDW8RYyY/w640-h424/Fleet-Scales-Photomerge-01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>It bears repeating because it never ceases to shock me. This is a scale-up of the various classes of ships in my fleet and I want to put it in perspective. The tiny boats in the bottom right are the length of a quarter of a football field. A destroyer (two further up) is at least a football field long. Then waaay at the far side is the Essex, which could seemingly run an entire playoff round itself!</div><div><br /></div><div>...wait, what's that as second from the right you ask?</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKDfP-l18rXS5P4qyiAFdOmFx2s9z11ApwjkScePb31LUB8yrlEXqDgNSzd-_ILeL3DlLslPQHXEhsRbpumd_mh1VrZ_NLd7I76XQHVwMfOggEtif7SLCt-R9-CA24YcSXefv6OlF7lRI/s1000/Submarine-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="664" data-original-width="1000" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKDfP-l18rXS5P4qyiAFdOmFx2s9z11ApwjkScePb31LUB8yrlEXqDgNSzd-_ILeL3DlLslPQHXEhsRbpumd_mh1VrZ_NLd7I76XQHVwMfOggEtif7SLCt-R9-CA24YcSXefv6OlF7lRI/w640-h424/Submarine-01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div>Hmm, zooming in it looks like just flat ocean... why, what did you think it was?</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Sadly the finish of this fleet was accomplished during June of 2020, so I haven't had a chance to take to sea with the fully painted, ready-to-go fleet. When we're allowed to get tabletop games in again, I'll try to take action shots!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5739098840241339882.post-24818481275179462912020-06-18T19:33:00.000-04:002020-06-18T19:33:47.752-04:00Basing Victory at Sea with Realistic WavesA short while ago, a friend of mine and I decided to start painting up Pacific fleets for the then-digital-only game Victory at Sea (now Warlord Games has released a ruleset. I haven't tried that ruleset so I can't judge it comparatively!)<br />
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We grabbed a bunch of miniatures from <a href="https://www.ghqmodels.com/store/military-models-wwii-micronauts.html">GHQ</a>, with him taking the Japanese fleet, and I exploring the US fleet. I ordered a selection of destroyers and cruisers that would fit any engagement to start, but of course, being a magpie and rivet counter, that has since expanded to a wide selection including three battleships, three carriers, and a variety of cruisers, destroyers, PT boats, and subs!<br />
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Tackling bases was the interesting challenge I wanted to share with everyone today.<br />
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I wanted to ensure that I got the translucency effect of water on my bases, had ones that would allow me to grab and move the minis without grabbing the delicate 1:2400 ships, and look good in any photos. I was lucky some time back to pick up a product that offers acrylic paints with texture, and the two specific to this are an ultramarine blue and a pale teal (not photographed):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjFl0aW6Yk0dBwsJghzMN1p42LkL8AHnxoKiJnEw2CA4T9S0aBV3_GExqdebRtD5SdrO4rHYlp0mn7mU11UC5KbNCtq6dbM1qm1Rv44S9kvvd2DJ7j-0f_IUc5QWkH-wUdECVWYYxriC4/s1600/Grainpaint-Aqua-Blue-Deep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1419" data-original-width="1600" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjFl0aW6Yk0dBwsJghzMN1p42LkL8AHnxoKiJnEw2CA4T9S0aBV3_GExqdebRtD5SdrO4rHYlp0mn7mU11UC5KbNCtq6dbM1qm1Rv44S9kvvd2DJ7j-0f_IUc5QWkH-wUdECVWYYxriC4/s320/Grainpaint-Aqua-Blue-Deep.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span id="goog_560957336"></span><span id="goog_560957337"></span>It goes on a creepy opaque, but dries a shiny translucent blue, and while it was theoretically purchased for pirate models I'll hopefully eventually get to, it worked handily for this!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-GSxpYN6o5_4_pqMIP9PCNIl01qEe9-lHy1MxMo4Mb3yhi_2Q1tjwcQdM1AeFl__PN-A0WwpULaIPhHB-Zyt46htKK5k5F-ZLnVBpKUFOA0eQofJdZa_nm5xTT6uXz6o1ZpfJV9Jth8/s1600/Victory-At-Sea-Basing-US-Pacific-Fleet-Reid-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="942" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-GSxpYN6o5_4_pqMIP9PCNIl01qEe9-lHy1MxMo4Mb3yhi_2Q1tjwcQdM1AeFl__PN-A0WwpULaIPhHB-Zyt46htKK5k5F-ZLnVBpKUFOA0eQofJdZa_nm5xTT6uXz6o1ZpfJV9Jth8/s640/Victory-At-Sea-Basing-US-Pacific-Fleet-Reid-01.jpg" width="376" /></a></div>
Step 1 was basing them on clear 1.5mm acrylic I laser cut. I stippled some white on the underside of the base, in a scattered shape that would hopefully look like the churn of a bunch of high-powered screws of a war vessel!<br />
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In Step 2 I airbrushed a cone of teal from the aft section of each ship, spreading out and hazing as it went, covering the areas with white painted before.<br />
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Step 3 saw the beginning of application of the Blue Deep. The first application was to add a bow wave, and the borders of the aft chop. This was in the darker blue. I used a medium thickness brush that had started to go, so I didn't mind if anything gunked up on it. The consistency is similar to liquid greenstuff, so a rolling shape allowed me to goop it on, and then tease it into shape later with a wet brush.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDWmWy-ANrzQonaK1qIzIVHLTjruz4X8xy2UZjh2_nkGSJ2O5SOGsA0nn8v_jkzhh__EJkKW3Giq5HmAcNSX1ml5MBJ4bkfhtP2eUQrTEHb6NlDHlsnLQ2MABkxFY4ri6Le7O2t2Vpg_I/s1600/Victory-At-Sea-Basing-US-Pacific-Fleet-Reid-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="977" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDWmWy-ANrzQonaK1qIzIVHLTjruz4X8xy2UZjh2_nkGSJ2O5SOGsA0nn8v_jkzhh__EJkKW3Giq5HmAcNSX1ml5MBJ4bkfhtP2eUQrTEHb6NlDHlsnLQ2MABkxFY4ri6Le7O2t2Vpg_I/s640/Victory-At-Sea-Basing-US-Pacific-Fleet-Reid-02.jpg" width="390" /></a></div>
Step 4 saw the addition of normal wave patterns. I avoided anything too large and distinctive, because I didn't want it to look like the ships were going through intense storm-waves!<br />
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Step 5: You can see here the look of the chop when it dries. At this stage, I added the teal liquid in the aft chop. In thinner coats, it doesn't hold a lot of colour, but does add some refraction to light passing through, helping add depth to the chop underneath.<br />
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Step 6: To fade the colours, I applied a very watered down layer of the darker blue to the edges of chop, and add more depth to the under-teal paint so it would look like water disturbed and filled with billions of bubbles.<br />
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Step 7 (not shown) is to add stipples and trailings of white acrylic to the top of select waves, and to the bow wake, to represent the chop and foam.<br />
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As you can see, the liquid paint wasn't applied so as to be opaque. We'll be playing on water mats anyway, and I'd rather have some of that visible through, so it really makes the ships look like they're cutting through the ocean that's already there!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJNdk_cDyT_lkdXJAUeGHLbnqCd_bWzXVout7ai6DhbxVUMCb0K8ra6X7WweIXBpJVpbfbI8nKlhziaGvPSVuolL54LzFfmSU80QB6ibkFYjpzLY2gXwpDuqezx_KEoO81CTL_8ajQ_I/s1600/GHQ-WW2-US-Navy-Fleet-Reid-Custom-bases-various.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJNdk_cDyT_lkdXJAUeGHLbnqCd_bWzXVout7ai6DhbxVUMCb0K8ra6X7WweIXBpJVpbfbI8nKlhziaGvPSVuolL54LzFfmSU80QB6ibkFYjpzLY2gXwpDuqezx_KEoO81CTL_8ajQ_I/s640/GHQ-WW2-US-Navy-Fleet-Reid-Custom-bases-various.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
And finally, a teaser pic of the finished fleet! More pics to come shortly, but as you can see, even on black it really feels like water and waves with ships cutting through!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5739098840241339882.post-44889987408439727872020-04-24T18:34:00.000-04:002020-04-24T18:34:08.562-04:00Dropzone Commander PHR ForceGood Lord how has it been nearly two years...<br />
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I have been painting in all this time, just not photographing or uploading, as you can see!<br />
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with isolation upon us, modellers are finally tackling back catalogues. In my case, that includes this previously half-finished starter army for the PHR in Dropzone Commander:<br />
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<span id="goog_717448445"></span><span id="goog_717448446"></span>Three Neptune Medium Dropships, an Athena air superiority fighter, four medium walkers, two command walkers, two Junos, and a pair of Taranis rocket launchers.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRxxkvlPFilugxAICUuIhSXoD2qWiUML4lMms6ZxbBopfve_Bxt7Ny3Pr6DCIlIWLcVI1pAdg9-8xn13hvB_G6ShrJDgdrtbbg8LtZwqwISbuY5R6PSEAQ5lqm1FxiPofoKO8G386NumI/s1600/PHR-Dropzone-Commander-Starter-Army-Reid-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRxxkvlPFilugxAICUuIhSXoD2qWiUML4lMms6ZxbBopfve_Bxt7Ny3Pr6DCIlIWLcVI1pAdg9-8xn13hvB_G6ShrJDgdrtbbg8LtZwqwISbuY5R6PSEAQ5lqm1FxiPofoKO8G386NumI/s640/PHR-Dropzone-Commander-Starter-Army-Reid-03.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Everything except the command walkers is magnetized, so arms can be swapped between various walker roles, and the flyers are on their removable pegs to reduce the possibility of damage. Since I re-posed some of the legs, and to support them in battle, I laser cut some bases for the walkers to steady on.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQAFQyJSM92wAwDnLMfZE800pXTHJT1vbAPut7RSvagubO7AYdODYdLX7XH-EOZn3nx5vBfUQWcCg-D6oIwdsPTluTkdWxk9mBaQVWg9MJFuTNVlgLlnu0wW3Slx7wNm5PcXL8y5Ozcg/s1600/PHR-Dropzone-Commander-Camouflage-Reid-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="776" data-original-width="1500" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQAFQyJSM92wAwDnLMfZE800pXTHJT1vbAPut7RSvagubO7AYdODYdLX7XH-EOZn3nx5vBfUQWcCg-D6oIwdsPTluTkdWxk9mBaQVWg9MJFuTNVlgLlnu0wW3Slx7wNm5PcXL8y5Ozcg/s640/PHR-Dropzone-Commander-Camouflage-Reid-01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here you can see the close-up on their camouflage. I am not a fan of the default-bone colour of the official scheme, but was caught by an urban dazzle camouflage in the rulebook. I adapted the colour scheme (blue-grey, with pale-grey and deeper-blue accents) and applied it to mine. The hexes were airbrushed on with laser-etched painters tape providing the mask. Hitting it in different patches like this makes it look like the camo sweeps across the model in reaction to movement or surroundings.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXS2-9TB-vPXLPkjy59NXJr-d_IpsdKjJ9kozpVZ54MrxgMxDtAdvQIA3TUvC4CpdOs3Jymr4P3Ktm02IaVcx7S3pfXMq7j_V21hraFsqDWYkfPX5Ug7fK0Zk5udoIjShAiUToLb6V0ac/s1600/PHR-Athena-Air-Superiority-Fighter-Reid-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="984" data-original-width="1500" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXS2-9TB-vPXLPkjy59NXJr-d_IpsdKjJ9kozpVZ54MrxgMxDtAdvQIA3TUvC4CpdOs3Jymr4P3Ktm02IaVcx7S3pfXMq7j_V21hraFsqDWYkfPX5Ug7fK0Zk5udoIjShAiUToLb6V0ac/s640/PHR-Athena-Air-Superiority-Fighter-Reid-01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />The effect on larger, flatter surfaces like the Athena or the Neptunes (Below) really enhances the organic curves of the PHR and their advanced-tech feel.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_Hijx-hllAfL-fnW1w2AoV6rVeMpc7JI2qzHUHFlbM4Vher2PZdtEJbc-5wb92zm0xU7wKkmwJzU2Qxx5SufnEiYqiFkIm-1PM0Yj2WvvIvgFvIKR9IGqiRM-iFQ6tX8YjUp1VE-tnI/s1600/PHR-Neptune-Dropship-Reid-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="798" data-original-width="1600" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_Hijx-hllAfL-fnW1w2AoV6rVeMpc7JI2qzHUHFlbM4Vher2PZdtEJbc-5wb92zm0xU7wKkmwJzU2Qxx5SufnEiYqiFkIm-1PM0Yj2WvvIvgFvIKR9IGqiRM-iFQ6tX8YjUp1VE-tnI/s640/PHR-Neptune-Dropship-Reid-02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It also allows for Neptunes to be individualized, without illogical big numbers or stripes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLi5robcqVuSMEt4z1rZ75j6jCwYSPCZobUWmPAZ7ayA3Zfm-2XkQXZrkHuAh1FxYv-k8rZo38GTIjjmrd5GcPzZdTMxtpc6cQPjEmK63xlh-f-cwUAk-_JUS7_CCmhK7a91zSd1CK-70/s1600/PHR-Taranis-MLRS-Artillery-Reid-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="1500" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLi5robcqVuSMEt4z1rZ75j6jCwYSPCZobUWmPAZ7ayA3Zfm-2XkQXZrkHuAh1FxYv-k8rZo38GTIjjmrd5GcPzZdTMxtpc6cQPjEmK63xlh-f-cwUAk-_JUS7_CCmhK7a91zSd1CK-70/s640/PHR-Taranis-MLRS-Artillery-Reid-03.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The Taranis launchers are not glued in, so they can appear with weapons exposed, or sealed up in full scuttling beetle mode.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT00V9S7H11s2u5EbpZtC7Hnn__RmkOFRWITY-Z-BlkDxKtmele9EPI9dcxKCChFSJQIiifn-vHuEy5sGeR1xDm1yrW4svoqGv9yCuZ2Ul5JEeSZqmmijEuDekNGFu_ytPgtxM2_Orkqs/s1600/PHR-Dropzone-Commander-Starter-Army-Reid-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="996" data-original-width="1500" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT00V9S7H11s2u5EbpZtC7Hnn__RmkOFRWITY-Z-BlkDxKtmele9EPI9dcxKCChFSJQIiifn-vHuEy5sGeR1xDm1yrW4svoqGv9yCuZ2Ul5JEeSZqmmijEuDekNGFu_ytPgtxM2_Orkqs/s640/PHR-Dropzone-Commander-Starter-Army-Reid-02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Infantry will join the vehicles shortly, but I am clear-basing them as well, and it'll take a bit of extra work fishing them off their bases, painting them, and gluing them down.<br />
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Now I just can't wait for the quarantining to end so I can throw these on a battlefield!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5739098840241339882.post-73434704978542891752018-10-14T18:57:00.002-04:002018-10-14T18:59:06.913-04:00An Irish Scotsman?The most recent Mayacast masterglass requirement was a "Named Character" - So I decided I had to finally paint up McMurrough for my Nomads.<br />
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I had debated how I was going to do his armour for a while, before I decided to go just dark, to call more attention to his kilt and face. The skin (fur?) colours were decided by me wanting him to be red-ish, and still skin-ish. I figured a dark grey almost-black would allow those to stand out more, and would believably be an armour colour he'd have as a default. I figured it'd be odd for him to have white, and equally weird for it to be camouflaged, since he gains no benefit from camouflage.<br />
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The fur was airbrushed with Vallejo Light Rust (71 129) before being washed with sepia, highlighted with Iraqi Sand. The more skin bits of his face, hands, and feet were midtone flesh.<br />
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The symbol on his shoulder is a simplified version of his infinity army profile symbol. The tartan was airbrushed with dark-red to bright-red, having masked off the rest of his fur. After I painted the reds, I struggled a bit with how to make his tartan look like woven fabric. First I did hatch-style highlighting on the red, and then tried it on the bands. I gave up after a few attempts, painted solid bands, and then 'worried' the edges of the bands with the red of the undertone kilt to get the effect. Crossovers between two sections of tartan were done in solid black, hatch-painted to give it a rough-edge vibe.<br />
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The final thin band is fleshtone lightly dotted for the main lines, before being dotted with a bleached bone colour where two lines would meet.<br />
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The rough leather of the backpack and his torso gear was a lot of fun. I painted it with a leather brown, washed heavily with mahogany brown after. I then stippled on corners and edges with a colour roughly equivalent to the old snakebite leather, before again washing with the mahogany brown. After that dried, I painted a very rough and random line of the medium fleshtone, making sure to do at least one round with a fine brush adding scratches and random creases to the leather. My metals were done in the usual way for me. (I think I've done a tutorial. If not I'll do one in a future entry!)<br />
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The sword was my first real attempt at masked airbrush metallics, since it's supposed to be a crazy sci-fi sword. The colours are all Vallejo, from pure black through default blue, a bright cyan and white. I went back and added white scratches, light glints, and worry-marks, since his blade has not been upkept properly! The same colours are on his gauntlet tech, and the sword's hilt.<br />
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I kept his armour markings to a minimum, since he's a mercenary.<br />
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But now to the fun stuff alluded to in the title; I had a hard time picking out a tartan because I couldn't find a Scottish clan named McMurrough: Turns out that's because McMurrough is an Irish family name! That suggests that our boy here has a very interesting history. His first name, "Tearlach" is a Scottish Gaelic version of "Charles", "Dearg" is Gaelic for "Red", and McMurrough is Irish.<br />
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Even his clan slogan, or personal slogan, "Buaidh No Bas" is an Irish/Scottish clan motto for "Victory or Death"!<br />
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So what does that mean? Well, if his last name is Irish, it means he wouldn't have a family/clan tartan. Irish tartans are based on county or region. So in this case, working as he is for Corregidor, he wears a kilt with primarily red, with black and white highlights in honour of his clients/patrons, the Corregidorans!<br />
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I love playing with McMurrough. Win or lose, he's almost guaranteed to do something epic, and the look on an opponent's face if he succeeds, and rampages across half an army alone is worth the effort!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5739098840241339882.post-70731545333800087522018-07-15T21:39:00.001-04:002018-07-15T21:39:45.429-04:00DRUZE!Hey folks,<br />
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This started because of the contest in early 2018 (I'm trying to back-fill all the things I didn't post!)<br />
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An entire Druze force, and I tried to make it not look like any force that already exists. Green is already taken by Ariadna (and to a lesser extent by Haqqislam).<br />
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I thought about what colour is not taken by any army, and brown came to mind. Supported by Red, because that'd look cool. Hilariously I later realized that also makes it look like the Browncoats from Firefly!<br />
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<br />The labeled picture! A link team of 5 to the left with a few proxies (notably the brawler doctor from Bipandra, and Valeria Gromoz as played by the Druze limited hacker. On the right is the Brawler Haris, with a Heavy Rocket Launcher, the Haris leader, and the spec ops as Doctor.<br />
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Back view. The bases are custom-made by me on a laser etcher: I wanted to get a different feel than my typical transparent bases, and especially with how many of the models have very thin connection points, it would make it easier to lock the models in place!<br />
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A cluster-shot of the group, dynamically posed, and finally:<br />
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The glamour shot!<br />
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Hope you like it, next time I try to find more of my "oh yeah, I did take photos of this" stuff!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5739098840241339882.post-15609879634511472782018-07-08T22:08:00.000-04:002018-07-08T22:08:49.425-04:00Long Hiatus and the Critical ConversionHey folks, I know it's been a long time... I started a new job, and ended up where my painting was more industrial than fanciful.<br />
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That said, recently the wonderful folks at the <a href="https://mayacast.com/">Mayacast Podcast</a> did a conversion contest rather than a painting contest. I decided there was one absolutely critical conversion that needed to happen. One model whose conversion wasn't a case of personal challenge or what-if, but an absolutely, only-way-I'd-play-him necessity.<br />
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I give you, Saito Togan:<br />
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He's supposed to be a master ninja, ghost in combat. Not a sumo wrestler.<br />
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Thank God for jewellers saws and greenstuff, because it let me 'fix' him. Underneath that weird pose is an actually good model design, and I hope I have more conveyed his awesome ninja-ness with my conversion.<br />
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Two cuts, just above both knees, let me notice that just with his lower legs removed, you can get a very good pose going. It was great for me, as I originally thought I might have to resculpt the entire upper leg bit. Instead, I ground away at the 'fabric' until I had slots for the calf muscles/armour, pinned the limbs in place where I wanted, and refilled the gaps with putty, imitating the fabric that was there. For the most part, the head is just slightly repositioned, and the arm is pushed out wider (and greenstuffed in the gap) to fit.<br />
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On his back you can see I've moved the scabbard to a more shinobi-logical back draw, as opposed to the default model's samurai hip draw location.<br />
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And finally, for a nice ridiculous shot of him bisecting a guijia in full anime style!<br />
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I'm going to try to post more frequently now. I've been working these last few months on a Skaven army, and while much of it isn't especially fascinating from a paint exploration standpoint, there are a few things that I can draw attention to.<br />
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After that, ghosts!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5739098840241339882.post-4060325318794193252017-10-22T17:38:00.002-04:002017-10-22T17:39:29.370-04:00SAGA is drawing me in...I managed to find and grab some second-hand vikings. I know, a new game, a new set of shinies...<br />
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To be fair, I have been wanting them for some time now for other projects, and I'm sure starting to watch the Vikings show hasn't affected my desires whatsoever!<br />
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To that end though, I discovered that SAGA uses proprietary dice, which are both out of stock in my local store, and crazy expensive when they're not! (Over $3cad per cube).<br />
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I decided I wanted to make my own. Bone stinks (not metaphorically, either), an ivory-looking plastic (no animals harmed!) is only available with a minimum order of $50usd, wood doesn't feel very viking-like, and then I realized there's a way better product: Soapstone!<br />
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Vikings famously left runestones all over, with sagas written on them, laws, signage, etc. I could easily get and carve soapstone into the runes I need, it'd probably be cheaper, definitely be more fun, and allow me to get an initial vibe on how soapstone carving works. As much as I've made models and the like, I've never done carving in any significant way other than some rudimentary whittling.<br />
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Enough talk, on to the pictures!<br />
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For round 1, I marked with a pencil, cut with a basic hand saw, and repeated on each side until I had very rough-hewn cubic shapes. After this, I used a rotary sander to refine the lines a bit, and make it as close to a true cube as I could. At this point it was more about getting a feel for the material than trying to get exact cubes, and in fact I figure any little imperfection ends up feeling even more viking-like!<br />
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Next, I used a stone to mark a stone before grooving it with a stone... Graphite pencil, metal file. I found the recursive tool use funny in an almost punning way. Here you can see the penciled in runes, and the first pass with a carving tool - an old and broken dental pick!<br />
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Next the runes were deepened and shaped with an old broken craft blade. The bottom right two have been given this second pass.<br />
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Here's a shot of all the cubes, with their runes deepened, shaped, and ready for final cleanup!<br />
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Next up came the buffing. My research suggested either using 250-1000 grit sandpaper, or a more complex method involving beeswax and an oven. I may try the latter at some point, depending on how the first set chips, but for now, I wanted to keep as basic as possible. Similar to sandpaper is emery boards or nail files, and I decided to grab one from a drug store with 5 levels of 'granularity' including one so fine it just looks like ultra-dense foam.<br />
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Still wet in this shot, the buffing was done on each side with each of the five levels (I hope I didn't miss any) and then dried in between. Keeping the stones and tools wet keeps dust down, and allows for easy cleaning off of grit so you don't get scratches.</div>
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If ever it felt like I wasn't accomplishing much, I only needed to look in my water bowl to prove I was!</div>
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Finally buffed, cleaned, and test-rolled! The runes, having received no buffing, are distinctive and clear. You can see slight chipping or marking on the very edges from them bumping against one another. I will probably end up rounding off the edges of any future dice I make, but for set no. 1 it should make each gradually accrued chip look more and more thematic!</div>
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With increased confidence I wouldn't damage the tools with my creativity, today I was back to the shop, to cut off two more slices of wood! Using a belt saw gave me absolutely accurate cubes this time around, and were absolutely way faster and easier to get cubes!</div>
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Just to again ease my Mother's mind... Yes I was using a respirator mask, and goggles, and wasn't even pushing the stone through by hand, but with a random block of wood so the material couldn't even slip and cause me to push my fingers into the whirring blade of doom!</div>
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Time for round two of dice engraving! This time it'll be standard D6s as well as more rune dice so I will have two full sets to play with. Stay tuned for more!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5739098840241339882.post-85530793179465082862017-09-12T16:55:00.002-04:002017-09-12T16:56:34.488-04:00Nazdreg CommissionAlas, this one will not be painted by me, but I was recently commissioned to do a conversion of Nazdreg for a friend who plays Bad Moonz. The only problem of course is that almost everyone converts one out of Ghazgkhull, and thus they all end up looking very uniform, and very... Goff.<br />
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We decided to start with the Age of Sigmar Ironjaws Warboss, because the armour would seem more delicately shaped, and more 'teef paid for' than Big-G's very rough but durable gear.<br />
(For those unaware, Ork money is, literally, their teeth. No dumber than bottlecaps!)<br />
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The left arm was chopped at the wrist (or just not assembled really) and replaced with a custom Klaw. In keeping with the 'more teef' idea, and to tie it in with Nazdreg's original model, this version has a Klaw with 5 fingers, rather than Big-G's rather typical 3. I did a square Iron Gob at the client's request, also to differentiate from Big G, and a single stikkbomb launcher, inspired by some old art of Nazdreg.<br />
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The head is off a Flash Git, turned to face the right direction, and hilariously, happens to be a head with no big teeth, almost as though Nazdreg is constantly getting rid of the oversized ones to pay for more flashy gear!<br />
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The right arm saw extensive conversion: Axe removed, replaced with a gun from a Mek, itself modified to be pistol-gripped, with an appropriate Bad Moonz symbol. The forearm is mostly untouched, but the upper arm is a complete putty resculpt from bicep to shoulder, including custom shoulderpad from plasticard and more Flash Gitz bits, as well as bass guitar strings.<br />
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Nazdreg's backside: More flash gitz bitz to make a crude power supply for this huge armour, snaking cables connecting upper and lower torso, and more mechanical gubbinz supporting the leg armour. You can also see the power feed down the right arm.<br />
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And my favourite part: the Klaw! Entirely plasticard and putty, it imitates the shape of any other Orky piece. I may put up some in-progress shots, but it's pretty straightforward: Fist-shaped box, festooned with sharp fingers, backed up by pistons, and rammed full of bizarre and arcane power leads back to the mysterious (fusion?) power source.<br />
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And there you have it! Quick and dirty Ork conversion, still with lots of room for fun and bizarre painting details. All in all I think he makes a nice contrast to Ghazghkull's angry striding, feels very Bad Moonz (Lookit' my Flashy Shoota!) and looks just a little bit fancier than just a regular megaboss! I'll put up painted pictures when I get them from the client, no idea when that'll be!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5739098840241339882.post-19392439083590317882017-06-16T22:12:00.002-04:002017-06-16T22:15:02.903-04:00Adeptus ScientiaI have decided, with the start of 8th, to attempt 40k again. To this end I have purchased an obscene amount of Skitarii and Adeptus Mechanicus models. Here's what I have to work with!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwuqC4P-6vaOy-EfSppTkcCVi5JRVkwVkkQYAgyeLZHPjvV-Xgz1ygO6vYYblYhW03DigT4Z_dRZ4DkPB5qGL9cSUVNrG_gU_XfEEc0ngIu_ZQmNyJG3RtOjujIqbIA8vFZ6LQVDs_N54/s1600/Starter+Force.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwuqC4P-6vaOy-EfSppTkcCVi5JRVkwVkkQYAgyeLZHPjvV-Xgz1ygO6vYYblYhW03DigT4Z_dRZ4DkPB5qGL9cSUVNrG_gU_XfEEc0ngIu_ZQmNyJG3RtOjujIqbIA8vFZ6LQVDs_N54/s640/Starter+Force.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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For the purpose of making something unique, I decided to forego my usual clean 'realistic' painting method, and switch to a "Blanchitsu" rough-paint look. An experiment to be sure, and one that would fit the theme of this army quite well I think. I'm doing a twist on the Dark Mechanicus, and will likely hold to a nice bone/black/red scheme. I was motivated to do up a bit of a "background lore" to the force, which I'm putting below:<br />
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<span data-offset-key="6k7sl-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">--Message Received at Adeptus Mechanicus Forge World of Metalica. Scrubbed of 10 Techno-Viruses, and 2 Data-Mine Parasites. Rendered in plaintext to limit contamination. Title-stamped Maximum Security. Likelihood of Inquisition knowing rated at 23.38% (err +/-4%)--
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The Adeptus Mechanicus is a fractured group of techno-mystics, science-priests, and dogmatic mechanics. Your belief set is so strict, and so limiting, that the true beauty of science, and the true voice of the Machine God, is filtered, distorted, and rendered pathetic. You spend as much time scraping and scrivening, stealing ideas from one another as actually accomplishing anything.</span></div>
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We are the Adeptus Scientia.</span><br />
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We reject these dogmas. We reject this limitation. We will not look through a mirror, darkly, but will look through a perfect crystal, view the universe entirely, and through that, gain power and insight.</span></div>
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We began as an explorator fleet during the Great Crusade. As the rival factions on Mars fought and wrung their hands over the 'right' way to believe, we learned, understood, and incorporated all manner of facets of the Machine God to our knowledge. As the Adeptus Astartes swept through the galaxy, so did we, not destroying but discovering. And when the Warmaster turned his back on his Father, we offered our insights to the Priesthood of Mars, in hopes of preserving and elevating Humanity.
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You condemned us.</span></div>
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You bade us return, so we could face punishment.</span></div>
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When we persisted, you exiled us.</span></div>
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Now you will fear us.</span></div>
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We have continued to learn. We have continued to develop, improve, and incorporate. The daemons that so plague the rest of the imperium are our servants. Technology you fear, we use. Principles you eschew as 'heresy', we have mastered and incorporated. We will not be stopped. We are the true masters of technology. You were unable to track us and find us because our technological abilities so outweigh your own. While you hoard jealously what little remains to you, we have begun to spread the teachings, the understandings, to humanity. We honour the principles of the Great Crusade.</span></div>
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We are the true servants of the Machine God. </span></div>
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--Threat Level Omega. Terminate followers, purge evidence, do not recover tech.--</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5739098840241339882.post-84839455022628915562017-05-24T14:53:00.001-04:002017-05-24T14:54:09.016-04:00Commission PaintingI recently had a request to commission paint a few D&D figures. Having not done one-off figures before, I had to do a pricing figure, and decided to actually display, with models, an idea of what I consider the different painting levels. I won't tell prices here, because it depends a lot on the models chosen, and how well I know the person, but the levels remain fairly consistent.<br />
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I decided to demo on a conversion for a 'Dreg' for Mordheim, since it'd give me skin, clothing, and gear all in one shot.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xJarZHHo0ir8D1kKVCVyu0PzOvWeoDwSmxWhCruXL1QTvohyphenhyphenG6u810pBryy5hI88bTrHU8ovWysBrGxJi8VUOy4BrB0Cpti6u0fCPIm_IMoonQGsnOP85oHpokYXloejFzjYovH32E0/s1600/Table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="920" data-original-width="1000" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xJarZHHo0ir8D1kKVCVyu0PzOvWeoDwSmxWhCruXL1QTvohyphenhyphenG6u810pBryy5hI88bTrHU8ovWysBrGxJi8VUOy4BrB0Cpti6u0fCPIm_IMoonQGsnOP85oHpokYXloejFzjYovH32E0/s400/Table.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
First up is "table quality" - or the type that looks good from a distance, but not necessarily up to close scrutiny. No eyes painted, no great detail on the wooden staff, clothing's fairly roughly highlighted.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCzae9moBBuGg6OIGMLwIYvKryxxS9p1cCzQrhOjMGhucUmulygX6b4gHBxQqCpgh-Ho4JJnOqvU0IJbhSlOyYCBME21NO7S2IKF2vRX47u1oG0aU4dyRPwAMWzqzVSAouPiTU8iQORRE/s1600/Hero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="653" data-original-width="1500" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCzae9moBBuGg6OIGMLwIYvKryxxS9p1cCzQrhOjMGhucUmulygX6b4gHBxQqCpgh-Ho4JJnOqvU0IJbhSlOyYCBME21NO7S2IKF2vRX47u1oG0aU4dyRPwAMWzqzVSAouPiTU8iQORRE/s640/Hero.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Next up is "Hero" quality - typically for the leaders of a squad, or people that'll receive a bit more focus. You can see the metal's been cleaned up, the wood on the weapon gets actual grain, and he has real eyes! Skin usually also gets a few more coats. Basically in "Hero" quality I pick out a few important locations and detail them a bit better, since the eye will gravitate there anyway in all likelihood.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdTHRJvrpZvdtH_1NTVJruoIKi83uUqnTCQx5PLSL-Xe2RLOVXwihFTTCeKyC2eS7KzyjCmro0qNQRuk7kVDWknCCiHJg82oeh55AaXBU4zNPMEdFf-UshyphenhyphenFJWrl2DZ9_zmyrFYmm-Q9g/s1600/General.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="1500" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdTHRJvrpZvdtH_1NTVJruoIKi83uUqnTCQx5PLSL-Xe2RLOVXwihFTTCeKyC2eS7KzyjCmro0qNQRuk7kVDWknCCiHJg82oeh55AaXBU4zNPMEdFf-UshyphenhyphenFJWrl2DZ9_zmyrFYmm-Q9g/s640/General.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Finally there's "General" quality. Not meaning what I generally do, or anything like that, but this is what the General of a force should look like. Everything's detailed fairly well, multiple layers, proper shading, I've added all the detail I can think of to hair or face, including scruff, and in this case, he's clearly holding some pouch of wyrdstone that is making his hand glow.<br />
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There's also what I jokingly refer to "wtf" level, which is most of what you see on this blog. Wtf level means I don't give a price beforehand but a cost-per-hour, and I go to town. This level is exclusively for models I think it'll be worth it for, and will argue 'down' to General quality if I don't think I can do things that'll push the painting over the top. (I do want to be fair after all!)<br />
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So back to that commission:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwgFGUOX_GP4BGJnqeMrlxqMK0ZQuoNWOd-ChU9l9Xax-qKtkwk25SUx2MweBqmqvtckchUzggcgHiPjDgU-JZrkU1VV-eHhfgsAbRArBe4MuARBPL0Jfn06XaV8OrmMhEupUu9e_U3fA/s1600/Commission+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="1500" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwgFGUOX_GP4BGJnqeMrlxqMK0ZQuoNWOd-ChU9l9Xax-qKtkwk25SUx2MweBqmqvtckchUzggcgHiPjDgU-JZrkU1VV-eHhfgsAbRArBe4MuARBPL0Jfn06XaV8OrmMhEupUu9e_U3fA/s640/Commission+Front.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Can you tell who requested which levels?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5739098840241339882.post-21999571524593870652017-04-28T18:40:00.000-04:002017-04-28T18:40:28.604-04:00Camera Woes and Consoles!Hey folks<br />
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I've discovered why a bunch of my photos seemed weirdly blurry in the same spot. Must have cleaned the lens a dozen times thinking it was a smudge before I noticed the lens itself has broken! Something must have hit it from the front. I don't yet know if it's repairable, but it has caused a difficulty in photographing my models in the last while!<br />
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What I will upload now until I can put together the means to photograph more, is a set of consoles I decided to design for our local gaming group.<br />
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Often in tournaments we're playing with either flat bases, or random shrubs and chunks of crystal that roughly fit the size. Infinity is such a visual game it seems depressing to have to use such scraps as objectives, so I decided to make something durable and rough to be our objectives for tournaments, using a laser etcher and trying to keep it as simple as possible to make.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dPkUQVzADLE/WQPBCTXl6LI/AAAAAAAADdM/lLpvsJGfOtAyj53sD6X9Zpowav6z9NDKgCPcB/s1600/upload_-1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dPkUQVzADLE/WQPBCTXl6LI/AAAAAAAADdM/lLpvsJGfOtAyj53sD6X9Zpowav6z9NDKgCPcB/s640/upload_-1" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here's the first test run. After confirming the shapes would work on a clear acrylic, I started printing them on a nice glossy black acrylic so I wouldn't even have to paint the console itself!<br />
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You can see the ease of construction here. There are 6 pieces, all made from 3mm acrylic: Base, deck, riser, two braces, and the screen itself. Everything is tabbed and inserted so there's no shear points, except the screen.<br />
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Speaking of the screen, the symbol is your typical "signal not found" icon from cell phones, as well as a burst of text suggesting why it's not yet connected.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh61IY-z5Uas9q5EAoQx11c5XdTtM_cbIzGH2UObpjv8zYTEjRgHu3c4rNak_yz8hJSxSq3DsXKztwuUCbo5BcRo5Vr7yymmN5-DBTTCbIlPIag4bQMME8NHysx9b2eeWsIdR_YpJSS7I4/s1600/upload_-1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh61IY-z5Uas9q5EAoQx11c5XdTtM_cbIzGH2UObpjv8zYTEjRgHu3c4rNak_yz8hJSxSq3DsXKztwuUCbo5BcRo5Vr7yymmN5-DBTTCbIlPIag4bQMME8NHysx9b2eeWsIdR_YpJSS7I4/s640/upload_-1" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here was another test run, this time testing out screen colours. The popular vote was yellow-green, since it'll stand out so well on a table.<br />
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In theory, the consoles are useable at this point, even unpainted. But of course, I want them to look as distinctive as possible, and easy to use!<br />
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Next up was painting the keyboards and 'mousepads' (holo hand cursor spots) to make them stand out properly. Simple white vallejo acrylic does the trick.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-60r-69AcqZg/WQPCoM_yQZI/AAAAAAAADds/IUpi96FPeoI9OHqssU0UyYhS6A1sPHSdgCPcB/s1600/upload_-1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-60r-69AcqZg/WQPCoM_yQZI/AAAAAAAADds/IUpi96FPeoI9OHqssU0UyYhS6A1sPHSdgCPcB/s640/upload_-1" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here's the shot I sent to my fellow gamers, asking which screens work better. Personally I think the blue is more realistic, but I do agree, the green is more obvious.<br />
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And then, an entire tournament's worth of consoles! Not enough for some of the more ridiculous missions, but certainly enough to get through 6 tables of most missions. Also, durable enough to survive an entire 3-round tournament of play with only two screens popping off!<br />
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More pics soon of other active projects, once I can find a viable camera workaround, or just decide to use my cell for a while...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5739098840241339882.post-17475144856458868052017-02-08T23:35:00.001-05:002017-02-08T23:35:56.255-05:00Ork Buggy 1 Painted**plus or minus a few details on the crew...<br />
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Here's pics of how it's looking painted!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZyPYQ3xZV-7TJDx-zaSLu4ZGtyPKhR-y7kz0czXf3tYGHtnglAoQ9lVPl-HLEM2Mghs6IPBQHulgXU4sr0Ywt7cMljMUW5A870OyceAlELZ0dyVvc5Pp-HKcc6LJLah4RT-7Wf4mHoFQ/s1600/BuggyPaint1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZyPYQ3xZV-7TJDx-zaSLu4ZGtyPKhR-y7kz0czXf3tYGHtnglAoQ9lVPl-HLEM2Mghs6IPBQHulgXU4sr0Ywt7cMljMUW5A870OyceAlELZ0dyVvc5Pp-HKcc6LJLah4RT-7Wf4mHoFQ/s400/BuggyPaint1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
First, after airbrush basecoats, some metalwork, and the first few layers on the Orks themselves. They're Kromlech and Spellcrow heads, a Kromlech driver body, and the Black Reach gunner. The gunner's magnetized to the post, the driver's not glued in at all.<br />
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You can also see the places I added plasticard to hide gaps or joins that didn't quite work.<br />
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This is after much more work on the orks, rust and grime, dags, painted racing arrows, and a painted (orky style) front grill, with splattered paint bits. The tires have also had a bit of a paint job to clean them up.<br />
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A rear view! I've tried to rust up the deckplate realistically, and add metal bits mostly to places that would bear the most roughing up.<br />
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Here you can see how the orky skull paints up with some white, and the look of the one clean-ish section on the buggy: The Ultramarines panel! I figure it's made of some bizarre hybrid material that wouldn't rust with the same speed or severity as the rest of the buggy's random-scrap assembly. Only bits left are final details on the driver and gunner, some dust and grime from driving about (and maybe mud), and then a protective layer or two.<br />
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It's kind of visible once painted, but the fact that the buggy has been made out of wood shows up slightly. I've tried seeing if painting my second buggy with watered down craft glue will limit the amount of tooth, and how much paint it soaks up!<br />
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Next time, buggy number 2 assembled!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5739098840241339882.post-61561193730001813022017-01-22T14:20:00.000-05:002017-01-22T14:20:34.370-05:00An Updated Orc BuggyWith access to a laser etcher comes great desire to create insane things. Right now I'm trying to work on Infinity-related terrain, which of course has to look all sleek and sci-fi. Unfortunately, laser etchers aren't good at doing curved or sleek material, and so to practice building things until I can achieve something like what I want, I've been doing another fun project: Ork buggies!<br />
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The ones sold by GW are very outdated, meh-looking, and overpriced. Many other companies do a version, but they're often solid resin blocks which puts them even more expensive. I wanted to see if I could craft one out of basswood, partly to test my ability to make 3d objects, but also partly in case gorkamorka starts up again!<br />
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After a mis-step with scale, and an outcome that looked more trukk than buggy, I managed this:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proper mad, proper orky!</td></tr>
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<span id="goog_633908039"></span><span id="goog_633908040"></span>The driver's Kromlech, the gunner's from a 40k starter, but otherwise it's all lasercut!There were a few lines that didn't quite match, but again that's why I started with Ork vehicles: if something doesn't quite work, it's because the Orks built it that way, not because I messed up... right?<br />
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I went for a typical looking roadster: tombstone front, enclosed engine until I can work out the V8 look in card, and funky custom wheels that worked way better than I could have hoped.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorry for the blur, pretend they're speed lines!</td></tr>
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I have a weird rule with my Ork vehicles in that they all need to have some element of them that's directly ripped from the Ultramarines. This is because as a child, and fan of the Dark Angels, I was frustrated that all artwork on any Space Marine box was the boys in blue. Also, any painting guides, most prevalent decals... So now, as a small way to claim vengeance, my Orks clearly smashed an Ultramarine force some time back and the meks have been scavenging ever since. (It helps that Orks revere the colour blue as lucky, so there's even lore justification!) Also visible in this angle is the deckplate, and rear ladder of sorts to get up on it.You can see there's a few places where the lines didn't quite gel, but the advantage is then being able to go back and measure and adjust files.<br />
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Also fun was adding a few orky glyphs to the side, to help when I got around to painting this. Here you can really see where some of the lines didn't quite work, including at the front where, if I'd been paying attention, I could have just done a solid piece from nose to behind the driver without any need for separate pieces! Barely visible is the fact that this Ork gunner is magnetized to the firing post, allowing him to be removed in transport and adjusted to fire different directions.<br />
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I like that one of the glyphs the Orks like to use is an arrow, which while I know it's meant to represent speed, really just look like they need a reminder which way it drives!<br />
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On this you can see the driver's step, which is essentially just the plug to make the side plate stay on, expanded slightly to hide its original purpose. Right behind is a plate without that, and I'll have to look for a way to make it make more sense.<br />
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And a final top-down shot of the whole buggy! It's almost identically the same size as the original GW one, except for height. For some reason the hood plates didn't entirely line up, but otherwise I was very happy with the way it turned out, especially with it being my first attempt at something truly a model, and not just tokens or similar!<br />
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Soon, painted pics, and my second attempt at a buggy. Also, Mad Max style cars!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5739098840241339882.post-45062685166121748062017-01-13T17:37:00.005-05:002017-01-13T17:38:05.385-05:00Heroes in a Full ShellHey folks! Happy New Year and happy gaming!<br />
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For the most recent Mayacast contest, the challenge was to produce a TAG. Any TAG (From Infinity) painted to the best of your ability. I decided to paint up my Guijia:<br />
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The idea I have for my Yu Jing is for them to be the Emperor's personal guard (The Jade Guard) - As such, he doesn't want mundane war-tech in his beautifully crafted palace halls, so every heavy infantry or TAG under his personal guard is painted like jade statues.<br />
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Let me tell you; it's tough to get the iridescence of jade right on a flat pewter model...<br />
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This is a primer coat black with airbrush, followed by a carefully layered up "Sick Green" (72.029 Vallejo Game Colour). following this was a bit of a white airbrush of highlight spots and some edge-lining with the same, followed by Light Green (Vallejo 70.942) over the white and to clean up any missed spots in the first run. This switch of greens gives the somewhat varying iridescence. Next comes a layer of gloss varnish, black-lining in the cracks to really pop the highlights, and a few final spots of white lines on high gloss areas.<br />
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As a result of the "Jade Statue" design intent, I played down my usual heavy detailing of warning signs, arrows, stripes and other elements to better suggest the statue trompe l'oeil, and since these would be only the most veteran pilots, they'd already know the warnings!<br />
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I also converted the TAG to be holding the HMG. Considering a Guijia has almost no close combat ability to speak of, there's little purpose to having him only brandish the sword, when the gun (and armour) is so much the reason you take one!<br />
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On this shoulder, you can also see a Chinese-styled design, surrounding a cleaned up (not neon green) Yu Jing logo.<br />
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The opposite shoulder had the Guijia logo, more neat designs, and also shows what few markings there are (For example, the unit number, and a pilot's mark on the small shoulderpad.<br />
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The base was custom-lasered to look like a Chinese carved pattern, all aglow with science fiction tech. The Seraph corpse is treated cleanly, since it may be a wreck, but since it's fresh, it's not going to have rusted or gotten all chipped by wear. The sword was my first attempt airbrushing with tape to cover half, and seemed to work out reasonably well. The hilt is a very impractical gold-leaf design, but hey; only the most flashy for the Emperor of Yu Jing!<br />
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The sword follows much the same pattern as the armour, replacing Prussian Blue (70965) and Light Turquoise (70840) followed by white.<br />
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I'm eager to find out what the next project will be, in the meantime I've been relaxing with Team Yankee conversions and another weird project or two I'll show off soon!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5739098840241339882.post-57170004554966814922016-10-30T23:49:00.001-04:002016-10-30T23:50:50.358-04:00Iguana post more often, really I do!<span id="goog_1299834654"></span><span id="goog_1299834655"></span>Well, it's been a while! I swear I've been painting and all, I just keep forgetting to post or to photograph!<br />
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This is a bit an older post, but I finally re-found the photos for this and have decided to put them online at long last:<br />
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<span id="goog_1299834652">This is my entry from Q2 into the Mayacast Contest, the ever-awesome Infinity Nomad Iguana TAG.</span><span id="goog_1299834653"></span><br />
<br />Starting out, I decided to go with a more Central-American theme with this TAG, having done Africa with the two Geckos. The TAG's pilot is named Yupanki, which is a famous warrior/military leader, and translates roughly to "With Honour". It's been painted to stay consistent with the Geckos in colour scheme, except for that ominous and I'm sure in no way relevant right hand paint!<br />
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You may also notice the TAG is converted! I wasn't a fan of the angry point, so I decided to shift the pose to be a broad-shape shooting stance. With the belt feed HMG, it looked more dramatic that way.<br />
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<span id="goog_1299834652"></span><span id="goog_1299834653"></span>Here you can see a more top-to-bottom pose for the TAG. I have the same safety warnings across the guy as with the Geckos, and while I considered a bunch of integrated black and white striping, I felt the full red just felt more in keeping with how I've been painting my TAGs so far.<br />
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The tail, from behind: this tail was annoying to paint. It's a lot of segments, and I primarily airbrushed it. You can also see the warning labels on the ammo hopper, and in general my non-metallic-metal styled metallic painting. It keeps it shiny IRL, and still has a nice light-to-dark.<br />
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The markings on the side of the leg and the shoulder pads are, in Mayan and Aztec writings, essentially translated are "Death Lizard" (on the shoulderpad in this case) and "Storm Lord/Chief" - I figure this pilot, with the honour of fighting in a full Iguana, has quite a bit of ego to him!<br />
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The colours are personal artistic license, but as with the Geckos, I want to make my TAGs look as much as possible like they've been decorated by crews with a great love for machines, and a bit less a love of military regulation. No idea what I'll do for the Salamander once it gets resculpted!<br />
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Upcoming should be the Van Zant from the most recent contest, as well as (hopefully) some of the other wild things I've been working on. I'll also try to limit the amount of downtime between posts, and actually get my butt back in gear painting and not just assembling and buying!<br />
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As always, happy painting!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5739098840241339882.post-67881567167766227812016-07-25T15:13:00.000-04:002016-07-25T15:13:06.069-04:00Wow it's been a while since I posted... I've been busy painting models for tournaments, and not really getting time to photograph or upload them! I promise they're coming, hopefully by the end of the week depending on how crazy work is.<br />
<br />In the meantime, I picked up some interesting demon models, but I have had no luck finding out where they're from. They're not Games Workshop, but I can't find them. Does anyone know where these are from?<br />
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There's detail that's been damaged or rubbed off of the pewter coloured one, and he's missing a head. I wouldn't mind knowing what it's "supposed" to look like, so I know how I want to convert it. Likewise, the other is missing something from his right hand, which might be a sword.<br />
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In other news, I ended up playing in three Infinity tournaments so far; came 11th of 14 in the first, #1 of four in the second (yay!) - and 2nd in the latest tournament out of some 14!<br />
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It's amazing how all the things you think might work, (the "Math-hammer or List-hammer") in Infinity are maybe good, maybe entirely finicky. Each game so far I've seen something come up that makes me think "Oohh jeez, that models terrifying" or "Wait, so that means this model from my list would... wow, I'm taking one of them!"<br />
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I can't recommend Infinity enough to someone who wants a good tactical game where even when you lose, you had a good time.<br />
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Happy Painting and Gaming everyone!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5739098840241339882.post-26865123485846038662016-05-17T16:43:00.002-04:002016-05-17T16:43:32.594-04:00Basswood Crates Done!A month! How the heck has it been a month already? There's been some painting, but sadly not a lot of stuff that can be photographed and posted. (Or at least, not that I want to...) I've been doing assembly of models for a hoped-for burst of painting, and prepping for my first Infinity tournament by getting a last few models I want painted ready for it.<br />
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That said, I finally managed to paint the crates in a way I wasn't unhappy with the instant I saw them. It takes glosscoat (by me applied by cheap GW 'purity seal') to make sure the paint doesn't soak into the wood. I may end up changing exactly how I work the words/logos into the basswood, but for now I think it works.<br />
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Tadaa! Here they are! The 9Lives is intentionally kind of odd in the green paint, while New Dawn gets two crate colour styles, the Nomad crates are relatively straightforwardly painted (With one to see what it would look like if they weren't variably coloured). Alpha Aerotech is a pale blue that I'm not 100% about, but we'll keep it for the test crates and I'll work out colours I like more in the next round. I do like, and will keep, the variety of colours. It'll help make even a bunch of them across a table not be quite boring. For the most part I also haven't dinged or aged the crates, as I assume they'd be some kind of advanced plastic capable of resisting the stresses of interplanetary travel.<br />
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I'll try to do a 'how to' painting post soon, with the other test set I made. In the meantime, I'll also try to photograph the models I finished up for the contest, which is this weekend! Wish me luck!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5739098840241339882.post-86958272966322450802016-04-19T01:20:00.002-04:002016-04-19T01:20:30.752-04:00Order PoolsAs I get more into this game, something I've found frustrating is the random pile of tokens one has to have to represent their order pool. It can be tough remembering which tokens go where, which have been spent, and keeping them sorted from the plethora of other tokens one needs to play the game.<br />
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I started wondering if there was a way to do a single dial, which would show both the 10 orders by default a part of an order group, and the lieutenant order without needing to be three tall, or be particularly awkward.<br />
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After some trial and error with a 3cm diameter, very plain set of dials, I upscaled and got a bit fancier, and ended up with this:<br />
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These are done with a very dark red translucent, and represented the first print out. With the time I had, and to make sure I could get as much as I wanted from them, I decided to run off a few more!<br />
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As you can see, they have "Order Pool 1" and "Order Pool 2" written on them. I figure if you're going much over two order pools, you're making a heck of a bizarre force or playing a very large game. The intent is to easily have all orders except irregular and impetuous (which are only ever model-based) represented in one easy location. Above you can see the pair of reds, plus a pair of purples, and two sets of black opaque. I'm mostly getting a feel for the different colour options, and whether translucent or opaque works better.<br />
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Here's a painted, magnetized, finished set:<br />
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These are the red ones, though on a black background of course they appear black. The over plate is meant to look like a hacking circle like you could see in Ghost in the Shell or Infinity, with a custom-made typeface, and subtle indicators of both LT order and regular order.<br />
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Here, thanks to a handy tissue, you can see the red showing through. The Lt Order is clear enough so that you can remember yourself if you used it or not. Since you have to announce its use and who on, I'm less concerned about having it super easy to read by an opponent, though it should be fine to read.<br />
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I think I need to modify the spacing of some of the numbers, to make the 10 and 1 not quite as close to one another (it results in a bit of LT Order overlap), and I may make the number window a bit wider. As it is though, I'm very happy with them and it brings a suitably sci-fi feel to the game board, and reduces token clutter!<br />
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Next, I need to design all the other tokens required for regular play...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5739098840241339882.post-9484402821201393702016-03-03T14:59:00.001-05:002016-03-03T14:59:56.147-05:00Infowar Contest EntryAs I work towards completing the next of my quarterly Mayacast painting contests, I figured I ought to upload my previous entry!<br />
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I tried to figure out a pairing that I had not previously done, and didn't want to group-paint with other folks (such as the Mobile Brigada hacker). I of course had just finished painting my Interventors at the time, and so they would not count for the project.<br />
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Then I realized I possessed the only two hackers allowed by Ariadna! Who better to paint up as a pair of hackers than the only two? (Especially since they're both pigtailed redheads, for some reason.)<br />
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Shown here interrupted in their attempt to hack into an Aleph base, the two hackers are intended to be aiming at a target off-diorama.<br />
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I went for a very basic, traditional look on their guns and gear, trying to make it look industrially hard-wearing. Since they're both hackers either mercenary or working for the most tech-limited faction, they wouldn't have fancy delicate comm gear that would smash the first time it was looked at funny.<br />
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Other than that, it was spot colours here and there to accentuate the look of the pair, and a slightly different means of painting the fiery red hair on each, so they didn't entirely look like twins. The base is made from laser-cut acrylic, glued together and lightly airbrushed, with the screen likewise made of fluorescent orange acrylic painted with white.<br />
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You can also see I have painted Isobel MacGregor's pants using the stereotypical "Canadian Plaid" - I will be making my USAriadna models into CANAriadnans, and so this will help fit the theme.<br />
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The hardest part about painting this pair was trying to make Isobel's face look right. The casting of the model has it incredibly flat - like someone squished her face with cling wrap. I had to reference the official paintscheme a few times to make sure I was sectioning off the face right, and ended up doing the equivalent of a makeup job to ensure the face felt right.<br />
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Eventually they'll be plucked off this diorama and based individually for gaming, but for now it makes for an interesting display-case-piece!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5739098840241339882.post-35715959579152898442016-02-22T01:29:00.001-05:002016-02-22T01:30:03.432-05:00Variety, Hacking, and TrendsCB, we need to talk. You make an amazing game, your models are often the best on the market. You are very good at making varied poses for HMGs, missile launchers, TAGs, heavy infantry. Your female models are a bit too 'sexypose' too often, but I understand why...<br />
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...But there's a problem. You don't seem to know what to do with your hackers! With most other categories of soldier in the game, you have a firm grasp of varied poses, and the idea that just because they're for a combat game doesn't mean they need to be in-that-moment shooting. Why, then, do you entirely forget that when it comes to making interesting and varied poses for perhaps the most important models in the game?<br />
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Not certain what I mean? Let's look:<br />
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Look at this: These are all hacker-specific models, produced recently in the timeline of Infinity, that are every one of them AT THIS MOMENT hacking by waving the magic hand. In the most egregious cases, their poses are identical! The fusilier, Morat, Hac Tao, Govad, Ragik, both Interventors, Ghulam... all legs slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, all actively hacking off to the side. For some, like the Nisses, Naga, Dasyus, or Hellcat, they're at least in motion as they hack, but hey, let's compare that to the non-hacking right? Could be a coincidence:<br />
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Hm, whereas we had 18 'hacking' models, of which arguably 11 are in a nearly identical pose, there are 9 photographed (another two unphotographed: Valerya Gromoz and Isobel MacGregor). I include the Ninja in this group because arguably she could be slicing someone, adding some variety. In this group is also the Alguacile, because though he's depicted in pics as hacking at this moment, I would argue the pose doesn't require him to be.<br />
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Otherwise, one firing the gun she was equipped with, one tossing off a sassy salute, three with hand-on-hip basic pose, and two 'other'. The unphotographed pair are kneeling and lifting goggles, and turning to fire at someone for interrupting a hack in progress.<br />
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That's really boring. There are other ways I must assume to depict that a soldier is a hacker besides "See? They hack!" that can fill some more models. The thing that finally made me decide to post about this is this month's releases, which saw a Nisses Hacker in "I WILL GRAB YOUR FACE" hack pose, the Hac Tao in spread stance, AND the Govad in spread stance all in one go. The Hac Tao is HOLDING the big scary sword! Why not have him in an active sword-brandishing pose that also has an 'empty hand' that could be hacking? Make it look like he's reinforcing an attack on an enemy HI (say, a Father Knight) by messing with his armour systems in combat? He's a CC 19, WIP 14, BTS 6 dude, he can probably pull off the split attention!<br />
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Now, there's one model I've not included here because I've complained about her before, but you can look at a <a href="http://therivetcounter.blogspot.ca/2015/12/mobile-brigada.html">previous post</a> on this blog to see an example: The Mobile Brigada hacker is just painful. She's equipped with a combi rifle, a pistol, and a close combat weapon, and is depicted with the pistol? (And for some reason is minus her suit's power plant?)<br />
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Please vary up the poses more. It actually turned me off buying the Hac Tao Hacker this month.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5739098840241339882.post-85332059882144580102016-02-17T14:17:00.002-05:002016-02-17T14:17:48.101-05:00Crates!A friend and I have been trying for a while to create our own set of terrain, tokens, etc. You've likely seen some of the previous posts involving laser-etching things, but here's a new neat discovery.<br />
<br />I wanted to make a personalized USB for my brother, and accidentally discovered basswood. It's a kind of balsa I think, and it is amazing. Acrylic can warp under the laser, cut strangely, and is immensely temperamental when it comes to trying to print anything out consistently. Basswood on the other hand, is consistent, cheap, surprisingly durable, and smells a lot less harmful to breathe in during cutting.<br />
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So I went to town on some ideas. Initially I tested on regular rectangular crates, but after the first run of those, I had to try something more Infinty-fitting. For my first test runs, I mocked up a few different Nomad-style crates: Tunguska Secure Transportation (A well secured crate for important documents); Corregidor armaments (no words, just warnings on the side); and the basic Nomad Shipping and Freight (for all other concerns).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim_-3z89HCcrY3egAvxi59rLFGMYXXljVdej3W1SP1F1Z-jjopV-TKkEpNF2K8EWpClYmE0xAUKZLWdxTbUQo1d6p7ek07eNeARS5b3sGiBWh95TCmJ246bZYbMrCwRoxWw1QrNNbvL8M/s1600/20160110_215352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim_-3z89HCcrY3egAvxi59rLFGMYXXljVdej3W1SP1F1Z-jjopV-TKkEpNF2K8EWpClYmE0xAUKZLWdxTbUQo1d6p7ek07eNeARS5b3sGiBWh95TCmJ246bZYbMrCwRoxWw1QrNNbvL8M/s640/20160110_215352.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
This is what they look like assembled! The pattern is loosely inspired by something I saw another company doing to mitigate the angles, since laser cutters cut mostly at 90 degrees, which means you can't put two angles flush to one another without a lot of post-cut bevel work. This over-under solution still looks like an interesting intentional design, and removes the weird gaps people would have to fill in.<br />
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They're rather sizeable, but I did want to make them big enough where some detail would register. I'll have another post soon about round two, where I fixed up the measurements and started crafting my own corporations, rather than the CB-trademark ones. The nice thing about this design too, is if one doesn't want the pre-etched logos, reversing the end-caps and two of the plates entirely hides them!<br /><br />I'm running through painting tests now, to see how visible the grain is after painting. I can say so far black primer (vallejo surface) works a lot better than white.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5739098840241339882.post-32916548584697182512016-02-05T19:13:00.000-05:002016-02-05T19:13:34.391-05:00Staging an InterventionWith the Create Your Fate contest over, I'm able to return to more just-for-me pursuits, and so I have decided to show off my Interventors!<br />
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These two are the supreme hackers in the Human Sphere. Not necessarily scary combatants, but with a Hacking Device Plus, and Fast Pandas (shown soon) they are able to make any tech-advanced enemy quake.<br />
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They are both dark skinned, a practice I am refining. The one has a bright flame-coloured yellow-orange hair to contrast their mostly black appearance.<br />
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I figure Interventors are about as pure Tunguska as one can get, hence their almost exclusively black outfits. The slinky armour is highlighted a bit heavier to seem perhaps grey, and just to provide some contrast, their shoulderpads and gunbelts are Nomad Red, with white featured on their gloves.<br />
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Their outfits of course scream "TRON", so I had to decorate the one's personality disc glowing blue, and that led the charge for them to glow blue from a few places. This time it's not an ODD or Thermoptic Camo, but perhaps sensors, HUDs, or indicators that they're not meant to rush in to the front line!<br />
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Last but not least, the FastPandas! The photos are slightly oversaturated, but it's really tough to balance the light so their bright white bits and dark black bits both show! I decided to slightly differentiate them, in part by accident, and gave one spats (He's the dapper gent) and both were carefully posed to seem as agressive as a non-combatant plump robo-panda can be!<br />
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That finishes all the models I've had painted recently, leaving only a super-fun project to go before I need to start taking all kinds of new pictures to put up! I've decided that as I paint my newest attempt to win a Mayacast Masterglass, I will set to work converting a PHR force so the mechs feel a bit more appropriately dynamic than just "I am here, I am a mech." Sadly, not much I'll be able to do about their infantry.<br />
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Enjoy!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0