Basic Basing. Vallejo Grey Pumice.

In the past I took a pretty simple approach to basing.

1. Attach miniature to base
2. Place glue on base.
3. Dunk in sand
4. Let dry
5. Coat in watered down glue.
6. Let dry.
7. Paint
8. Drybrush
9. Add some green maybe.

Pretty simple, still I knew and have seen a few people talk about pumice on various youtube videos.  I was ordering some paint on line and I thought what the heck.

1) Apply Vallejo pumice to base.

2) Wait to dry. Paint and Dry brush.

In general this product is an AWESOME way to add texture to your base.  The simplest and easiest I have tried.  I would definitely recommend this product for you figures.

 

 

Cave Troll - WIP - Finished

In testing the new airbrush primer(71.097), which after use I note is actually gunship grey from the Vallejo Air Colors lines, I ended up painting my Troll model a pretty dark grey, much darker than I had anticipated.



A quick look online and I came across this note on Vallejo's website:

7.5. Is your Model Air color 71.097 the same product as the new primers?

No, this is simply a grey color, created years ago in the Model Air Line. We are changing the name to Base Grey precisely in order to avoid misunderstanding.



So buyer beware when ordering online eh?



I decided to roll with it as I had been considering a cave troll anyhow.

In the above image the troll has been painted with 71.097 and then given a black wash, followed by re-highlighting with the 71.097 grey.

Still coming back into this 28mm hobby, but so far I am pretty happy with how this guy is coming out.






updated post with completed troll.

Workspace Upgrade - Initial ideas

One of the things that allows more productivity is a nice workspace.  I know from experience that having a clean and organized space not only allows you to find and use your supplies better but also just makes you more likely to want to spend time there.

 

In the areas in my house that I see this play out the most are:

 

Kitchen: Clean and dishes put away etc.  Much more likely to want to actually cook vs eating crappy take out.

Drawing: When the table is clean, not cluttered and my tools are close, I am much more likely to use the space.

Jewelry: I have a lot to get done.  I haven't worked on anything in a long time.  Partially due to being busy, but partially simply because it's a total mess right now.

Model area:  Again total gong show right now and that has made me less likely to want to be in it.

 

As this blog is about the war gaming hobby, as you can imagine we are going to be looking at my model space.

 

As you can see there is a slight semblance of order, but really it's a mess with everything everywhere.

I thought I would start this with a list of things I would like to do to make things better.

 

• Paint storage.
• Paintbrush area.
• Terrain bits storage area.
• Figure storage area.
  

These are all my first initial thoughts and will take some time to get organized and move forward with.  I am hoping with a basic idea I can approach the problem in smaller steps and accomplish my goal.

 

Song of Blades and Heros.

The store is planning on having some painting days in January and February and then our actual first games after that.  Several people were more gung-ho and met a few times to play a few games.  This is the second meeting and the first one I could make it to.  We had 5 people show up in the end and so played a 4-way with our fifth member acting as a ref as he had already played one of the games.

As we are still new, not everyone had figures or had painted figures, but we had enough to go around.  The following photos are from my perspective as the Orcs.  On my right was a group of elves and on my left a group of rat men.  Kitty corner from me was a band of goblins lead by two minotaurs.  The game's goal was to get into the tower, get a crate and exit the board.  

Our initial layout moving into the game.  Orcs are set and read to do some killing.

The Orcs and Elves advance but a failed quality roll leaves my troll behind.

Elves move up to the tower building as my Orcs attempt to re-form their unit.  The rats move up against the low wall.

The first elves enter the building and set up a firing position so that the remaining elves can get the treasure.

Orcs move into the doorway as the first minotaur comes around the corner to harass the remaining elves that have no climbed into the building.

The elves continue to move up and into the tower.  The rats use this opportunity to come scurrying out of the ruined building and attack the Orcs.  In a bloody battle several rats are killed including a rank and file swordsorc getting lucky and killing their rat ogre.  One of the minotaurs enters the ground floor of the building.

The elves continue to climb up and grab the treasure mostly un harassed while the Orcs and rats fight a bloody battle outside the building.

Finally after an intense battle the Orcs cause the rats to flee in panic, but it is all too late as the elves make it out of the building with the treasure and can not be stopped before reaching the table edge.

More Bones.

I am primarily into Science Fiction but do stray towards Fantasy a little now and again. 

Recently the big local games store started a "Skirmish Gaming Club" that planned on initially using A Song of Blades and Heroes as it's initial rule set.  I like a lot about the rules and this seemed like a great way to get in some games without needed many figures.

For my first warband I chose orcs.  I have almost always played humans in wargames, so I thought I would try something a little different for me.  I also didn't want boring green orcs......

I picked up a bunch of Reaper Bones models.  I haven't painted bones before and in fact I haven't painted anything above 15mm since I was maybe 20.

I got the first 3 rank and file orcs painted up on the weekend and thought I would share the initial paint jobs, even though the bases still need finishing.

I have a few more of this size to do with bows and then 3 larger hero orcs plus a troll and a goblin.  Should be a fun band once they are finished.

To be continued.......

The Growing Storm

I didn't get a lot of painting done this weekend, but I did get my Orc Chieftan painted up.

Still using Reaper bones models.  The following is my process.

1) Glue model to base.  In this case I am using slightly larger than 1" fender washers.  These add weight to the light models and can be secured for travel using a magnetic sheet.

2) Add 2 part putty to even out base.

3) Wash figure and give it a quick scrub with soap and toothbrush.

4) Hot glue base to a craft paint bottle, giving me something to hold.

5) Prime figure using air brush

6) Now on to painting.  I am using a #2 brush.


7) Base colors

8) Localized washes.  Skin tones, black lines, browns.

9) Highlights on skin.

10) Army painter soft tone across model.

11) Final highlights and dry brushing

12) Eyes.

MORE NOT SCIFI! MORE NOT 15MM! Orcs again!

We are Orcs.  Do not judge our motivations.  Perhaps you are the evil ones?

Got some more models painted up....  Three basic archers to go with the three basic swordsorcs.

Also thought I would share the current iteration of my Song of Blades and Heros unit cards.  One of my standard Orc warriors.  Stats are just fillers.  Points cost in the upper left, Combat of 3 and a Quality of 4+.  I can never remember what occurs on the even/odd rolls so I included a quick reference on the bottom to remind me.

 This card is a 3x5" word document.  But I will normally print them out to a .PDF and then print them on a multiple pages on a sheet and then print on card stock.