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This is the blog where I post miniatures that I've been painting, both Work in Progress and finished products.

While the blog is named after my love of little men, there may be female miniatures posted from time to time as well. I plan on including miniatures from a diverse range of manufacturers and game systems, including miniatures for Flames of War, Hordes, Battletech, Urban War, and maybe even Games Workshop.

Don't forget to rock the vote in the Dakka Gallery!

I'll start off with some Blighted Nyss Swordsmen I've been working on this week.








Comments and criticism on everything is welcome and encouraged! Thanks a lot everyone, and I hope you enjoy!

I like the skin colour.Nice work thus far,what are you thinking of for the bases?

That armor is fantastic! It's kinda out there but is really well done. This will be a log to follow for sure.

I love the techniques that Lorek has taught unto you. Just remember: the student can never be the
master.

Baiter.

Thanks for the kind words guys. While I'll strive to do my best, I'd settle for second place behind Lorek anyday. (anybody would, even our dear Tortoise).

As far as the basing goes, I actually bought one of those fancy Gale Force Nine basing kits. I'll be using the Parched Pasture kit, so that should give you a basic idea of how I'm hoping they'll turn out.

Basically, with these guys I wanted to stretch my creative muscles a bit more, and try to get a bit outside of my comfort zone. For the last few years, I've been painting a lot of historical stuff. When working on historicals, I like to do a decent bit of research to make sure my colors are historically accurate, and I already know exactly what I'm trying to achieve when I start. While that's cool and I really enjoy doing that, I wanted to sort of start to cut myself loose from that whole process with these guys.

I had a very basic idea with where I wanted to go with these guys (I knew that I wanted to use that shade of green), and then I just started painting. I like the way it ended up, although I have a sixth Swordsman who I painted first who's armor is black with green edging, instead of brown with green edging. I think I like the brown better, it gives them a bit more color diversity, and a bit more depth.

I'm not sure yet, but I might hit the flesh with one more highlight, to lighten it up a bit. I think that might help it pop a bit more, against the dark armor. What do you guys think?

I'm going to try to have these guys finished by next week, maybe even this weekend if I have time. I'm going to try to use this blog to help keep me motivated, and I'd like to clear out a bit more of my backlog this year. I'm hoping to have a new update soon!

I like were you are going with the bases.On the skin tone,I think a brighter highlight would be nice.It will as you say make the skin stand out.

I finished these guys up tonight, giving the skin and hair a final highlight, painting the little spikes coming out of their skin and spine, and highlighting their blades.

I just finished basing them a couple minutes ago. As long as it's decently bright outside, I'll take pictures and post them tomorrow. All that's left is a bit of varnishing!

Here's the update I promised! Sorry I didn't get the pictures taken and posted yesterday. Here are the finished pics!

I didn't realize how sloppy the blades looked until I uploaded the pictures, so that was a little disappointing. Other than that, I'm relatively happy with how they turned out, especially considering how fast I painted them up. I think I might do the basing a little bit differently next time too. I'll use the same basing kit, I might just switch up the way I apply the materials.

I haven't varnished them yet, so I may tidy up the blades before I spray them, but other than that, these guys are done. Your thoughts?

All comments and criticism is greatly appreciated, as always!

All in all they look good.I agree that the sword edges(or would I call them highlights?)need to be cleaned up a bit,but I will say that at tabletop level(I mean from a player perspective when you are looking at them while standing over them) you won't really notice them.

Thanks! Yeah, looking at the photos of the blades annoyed me so much, I just went and tried to clean them up a bit. It's definitely not noticeable at tabletop level, but the photos make it look like crap. Hopefully they won't look as bad if I photograph them again. Does anyone have any good advice on doing metal highlights, for blades and such, that doesn't take forever and doesn't look crappy?

Perhaps if you feel up to it try some NMM.This is really the only tutorial I could find on short notice(it maybe a bit more about painting the armour but I am sure the skills could be transfered) :

http://www.warhammer-empire.com/theforum/index.php?topic=10116.0

In the world of metal midget manlove, they probably look fine as they are on the tabletop.

Shredders are up next. Consider this a down payment.



I'm probably going to highlight the horns and spines on the back with a lighter blue. Do you guys think that would go alright with the skin and the green scales?

Thanks in advance for any comments and criticism, and please vote on my stuff, especially the finished stuff!

I do like the green!

I never know what to do with the spines...

Thanks! I'm liking the green too, the more I use it. I wanted to do something a bit different than the official scheme and I think the green was a step in the right direction.

I did some highlights on the scales and spines and horns. What I did with the spines and horns was partially influenced by your Shredders, Malfred. I hope you don't mind my attempt at partially referencing your style.

Does anyone have any input? This guy is basically done, I just need to base him and maybe do some touch-ups, unless you guys see anything that really sticks out to you.



Finished pics should be coming soon!

I think the green is turning out to be a good choice for this army.

I lik e the scheme a lot the green contrasts nicely
also that model looks a bit like a squig.

typhus wrote:I lik e the scheme a lot the green contrasts nicely
also that model looks a bit like a squig.

They're called Shredders. They're made from the blood of the Legion of Everblight
warlocks.

Dear Internets,

The sauce is drying on platoon of Afrika Korps Panzergrenadiers as I post this. I just need to base them and hit them with some varnish and then it'll be time for photos! I'm working on them in an attempt to beef up my Mid-War North Africa 21. Panzerdivision army for Flames of War. I'm also planning on adding three Marder Is so I can try my hand at alternately running them as a Grenadierkompanie from 334. Infanteriedivision. I've got a platoon of 105s that need painting as well, but let's not get too hasty. Write back soon!

Love,
Hordini

P.S. - Here's a link to my currently finished Afrika Korps miniatures.