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hey guys!
So I finally took the leap and started my very own P&M blog. Well it's sort of a blog, but hopefully not a "look-at-what-I-did-I'm-cool" log. I mainly want to progress as a painter and modeler so please tell me how I'm doing!. Post whatever you want, I'm open to it! And don't just be nice "oh that is a good start"; Tell me where to go from there! I hope that this blog can continue to be a living blog for a while!

Obligatory workspace photographs:



On to the models:
First of all, I have an Imperial Guard Army. They are the "22nd Combined Rapid Response Regiment." All I have is some very old fluff (read: 2-3 years old) so there isn't much story as of now.

The original 22nd was just Cadian Shock Troops, but now consist of men from over 25 different home worlds. The 22nd were formed in 993.M41. Their forming was unofficial and even to this day most officials do not even know it exists. They were to be a secret force under the command of Senior officer Bayliss. Their job was to respond to any threat as quickly as possible, assess the situation, and then call for appropriate reinforcements. The soldiers selected for the 22nd were pulled from their regiments over time, eventually forming the entire regiment. A whole squad of men, now the ‘Red Bloods’ was caused to disappear on their home forge world so they could all join the 22nd . Other squads have been collected from various regiments and in many different ways. Some soldiers resist joining because they have heard stories of the dangerous missions the on which the 22nd is sent. Only once in the history of the 22nd has a squad come back from a full scale engagement completely intact.

That is a brief intro to the Guard, hopefully more fluff will follow as the army is completed further. I also have a project going on another site where people are signing up for characters and writing fluff about them, so there will be fluff from there eventually. I am trying to get my guard painted up to a good tabletop standard with enough unique models to keep it interesting. They are going to be Hybrid guard, giving me the best of both playstyles. So as of now, a full army pic: (This is all the models that I have that are assembled)

Shotgun vets prototype: I'd love some comments on how this is looking.

The guard will be my most worked on army, as they require less painting work and they are my main gaming force.

Second of all, I am beginning a Blood Angels army, painted as my successor chapter, the Angels Exterminatus. This army is concentrated on being well painted/converted, so it will take a while to build. But that's how I want it done.
Sanguinary Guard: These are about 70% done, except for wings, shoulder pads and the banner.

Assault Marines: These are the first three prototypes, though I am considering stripping them and going for a brighter scheme.

WIP Box: This is a horribly painted lot I got in an auction, so I am in the middle of restoring them.

Third of all, I am starting an Inquisitor Warband. I am not sure what codex i will use them under, but I am certainly looking into getting into INQ28. All I have at this point are rough torso shots, and Lord Commissar who will eventually become my inquisitor (read: conversion!).


So, there you have it, my introduction. I'll try to make a picture update every day, and I'm happy to reply to comments any time so ask questions! Check out my gallery for alternate shots and to zoom for close ups!

Thanks!

UG

UPDATE: 7/12/11
So, today's update comes early!
I got some things done yesterday after moving plants.
First up, I have two completed shotgun vets.

They were pretty simple to do, pretty much fully done except base rims and maybe some gloss on the goggles

I also put together a neat little Vet Sergeant conversion. He was going to be used as a Colonel Straken, but he was demoted .

He is also a test for my catachan/cadian hybrid models, which I am making to create more diversity in the ranks.

I also had the hot glue gun running, and had some spare cardboard. I decided to make some WIP trays to hold my projects.


The trays have spots for bases which prevents them from falling over. There is also a plastic 'bin' in each which holds the bits for each. If ever I'm doing a commission, I can also put an index card in there with instructions in case I forget. I'm not sure whether they could use some paint or if that is just a luxury.

That's it for today, folks. Comments on anything you want!

UG

UPDATE 7/13
hey Guys! Another picture update for whoever is interested.
First are my shotgun veterans (again) with progress so far. Most have been completely assembled, and just details and such remain.


This is a quick scoped lasgun I whipped up. I think it definitely gives the model a lot more flavor.


Here is a detail shot of the Sanguinary Guard Banner. It is still in rough shape, but I'm making progress.


Another quick modelling job, just a damaged dozer blade for CCS chimera.


I also just wanted to talk about paint quickly. I am a long time user of GW paints, and I am very happy with them. However, their price just keeps going up and it's not really worth it to buy simple whites, blacks and metals any more. So I am right now working on finding a new brand. I am trying out VGC Gunmetal for all my metals now, and I am impressed. The color is great for a base, and the dropper bottle is cool. There is some wasted paint, but It is much better than spilling paint on myself. The paint is also a lot thinner, which has positives and negatives. I'd love suggestions on what you guys find to work, as I'm looking for a good black paint to use for hand priming/general black use.

I found some old fluff in one of my notebooks, I'll see if I can type that up for you guys tomorrow. Hope you enjoyed this update, comment and let me know what you think!

UG

Love the Fluff to your regiment - reminds me of a certain 'secret' regiment based on a 'unused' airfeild near Hereford - also rarerly known as the 22n Regiment of Foot.....

Your Gaurd looks different in a pretty good way with blue their blue armour - Me like your blog - keep it coming

@Optio Thanks man! I started out painting the guard in a standard green-khaki scheme, but the blue-white became my scheme because it was different.
UPDATE 7/14

Hey Guys, here's your daily update.

First, I have a weathered Chimera for you to see. I decided to paint a chimera white one day, and white looks so much better weathered.

The sides are done, and the top and tracks are most of the way there. The rear door, turret and weapons are still in the pipeline (primed).

Second, I've been working on two displays for my miniatures. Only one is really done, which was made of scrap wood and stone backing. This really accents the miniatures, and makes for dramatic photographs when lit from above.


And Finally, I've been working on the Fellowship. I got these for free at Games Day, and now they are finally getting done for the mother, since she is in the hospital. I have another hobbit somewhere, and am planning on getting a Gandalf and Gollum to complete them. A Moria board is also in the works to display them in a scene form.

I understand Gimli is not fully on, he is being painted first before gluing.

So that's it for today, hope you enjoyed. Let me know what you think in a comment below!

UG

The Chimera is certainly getting there - keep em cumming

UPDATE 7/15
Another day, another picture update!
First of all, more work on the LOTR figures and display base. I want to put the fellowship battling in the background with Frodo front and center. This is still pretty rough.


Second, I have two metal plasma gunners. The first is the stock pose, the other I tried to change up with creative basing. Did it work?


Third, I mashed up a fun double barrel gun. With a bit of blocky plasticard on the bottom, I think it will look better. What do you think?


And finally, my second display case, sans plastic in the front.


That's it for today, hope to get painting done in between my 3 various jobs!

UG

The sprue under his foot needs 'Girderising' more, otherwise its a very intresting pose/ conversion - aye I also agree with the plasticard.

UPDATE 7/16
Hey again Guys!

Today's picture update isn't very big, but I have done alot. I went down to my FLGS today to paint, and I worked on my veterans with their extensive paint selection.
First, here is an overview of the veterans squad as they stand now (w/out one guy).

Here is a close up of the free hand I'm doing on the shoulder pads. The squad numbers go from 210 and up.

Finally, I have my veteran sergeant whose face is really well painted. The pictures just don't do it justice, but you can at least take a look. It does look great from the table top.


I picked up some VGC Negro Black to try out after my success with the gunmetal. I also got some Citadel grass for my bases to complement my dead foliage.

This weekend looks to be busy, but the painting will go on. I'm also looking at picking up more furniture for my painting area tomorrow, and putting up ads locally for commission painting.

I'd love your input on the stuff discussed and shown here, leave a comment below.

UG

UPDATE 7/17
hey Guys! here's your update for today.
I don't have a lot of pics, but I do have stuff to tell.

Here is a regular-converted picture of my melta gunners.


That's it. I know, sue me. I spent much of the day clearing out my grandmother's house, and managed to find some drawers, and spinning work area and some shelves. I also trash-picked a new book case to hold my papers/magazines/books. Hopefully I can get some stuff done tonight, but with deadlines I might not. Meh.

Let me know what you guys think in a comment below.

UG

The trouble with painting (ethnic groups to be politically correct) is that it can be hard to make them look relistic. Yours does however where he is such a dark natural skin colour, his face doesnt stand out enough. Just to give you something to ponder about...

UPDATE 7/19
Oh darn. Missed a day.
Hey guys! Sorry about yesterday, I was busy and sick. I was able to set up a commission painting business with a friend, and we already have our first offer, so hopefully we can get a deal going. Not much for show today, however.
Just wanted to show off my Leman Russ Executioner. This is my favorite tank, and the one I spent the most time painting.

Since this picture I started doing OSL on the plasma, hopefully that will look good. I plan to have another update for you guys later today, so see you later.
Let me know what you think of this plasma tank in the comments!

UG

Mesa think dat look good....very pretty

UPDATE 7/19 PART 2
I promised, and so I deliver.
Hey Guys, what's going on? Today's second picture update is coming around the mountain, so hold onto your helmets.
First, I have another rough WIP on the unique gun guy. The plasticard is starting to come together.


Second, i made a good amount of progress on my chimera turret today, almost all colors are layed down.


And finally, here be Crazy Harry!
Courtesy of IGMB member Julian Sharps:

Specialist "Crazy" Harry Sapper is what one might consider an unfortunate soul, but he wouldn't know it. Terminally insane, Crazy Harry is known throughout the 21st CRRR for his penchant (indeed, compulsion) for blowing things up with liberal application of explosives. In fact, the only reason the commissar lets him live is because he is extremely good at what he does.

During basic training, Crazy Harry was accidentally shot in the head during a live-fire exercise. By some miracle, he managed to survive, but the experience crippled his ability to socialize, all but destroyed his attention span and completely removed his ability to feel fear or concern for his fellow guardsmen's safety. It was shortly after he was released that his tendency to make things explode made itself apparent when the entire motor pool went up in flames one night (miraculously only destroying the garage and staff cars), and the only way he escaped the firing squad was because the Command Sergeant Major was impressed with how he managed to do so without being detected.

Crazy Harry does not sleep. Any time not eating or fighting is spent either staring soullessly off into space or making more and more sophisticated bombs from whatever he finds lying around. When he does decide to build a bomb, he works single-mindedly on it until it is completed, rambling inanely to himself as he does so. However, he has difficulty remembering how to make his better bombs, and so every time he makes one he has to start all over.

Appearance wise, Crazy Harry does not wear a helmet, and has long, disheveled black hair that sticks out at odd angles all over unless covered by a skull cap, and he has the look of a fanatic or madman in his eyes when he has the chance to blow something up. It is difficult to convince him to wear boots, and he always wears a wide, maniacal grin on his face. He is usually kept chained up in a tent or shed, with his hands and feet shackled together, but when the fighting starts an unfortunate guardsman is given the less-than-pleasant task of unchaining him, so he wears thick chains around his hands, feet and neck at all times unless in battle. Otherwise, he looks just like every other man in his squad.

Oh yes! A crazy demo man. Complete with crazy eyes.

That's it for today, folks. Let me know what you think of Crazy Harry in the comments below. (Let's see if I can get someone besides Optio to comment!)

UG

My lips are sealed for today

UPDATE 7/20/11
What's up dakkadakka?! I bring to your attention yet another update from my busy life.
First, I started metal work on a chimera. I plan to do hazard stripes on the dozer blade, any tips?


Second, I wanted to show you all my master of the fleet He is a neat little conversion, and fits the job well. I'm thinking to give him blues and metals on the armor and accessories, thoughts?


That's it for pics, so the picture only of you can skip this little musing.
My friend and I have long wanted to paint figures on commission from others. If you don't know what that is, it's basically someone paying you to paint/base/assemble the miniatures. However, time and skill had us limited. But at this point, it is apparent to us that we both have what it takes to do this work. We are starting locally and on eBay until we gain experience and start turning profits. We started a blog today, which you can visit herehttp://edcommissions.blogspot.com/. The blog doesn't have much of anything yet, but I'll be uploading a client order sheet and starting a little gallery soon. We are picking up our first commission this weekend, so that should be exciting. What I'd really like is tips and hints for starting out in the commission world. I have experience on ebay, but not in dealing with folks over painting. if you could check out the client sheet as well (when it's up) let me know what could be clearer, and what could be added.
Thanks for reading the rambling!

What do you think of the stuff in this post? Let me know in the comments below!

UG

UPDATE 7/21
I'm back, with more pictures!
Today's work has been on my weathered CCS chimera. I'm starting to think of it as a to-hell-and-back chimera, with all the dirty weathering. I'm planning to add more sand and debris to the tracks, and to somewhat paint the inside.
General overview:

Ramp detail:

Open ramp, and bullet hole:

I know, I didn't assemble the ramp the way they want you to, but I thought it looked bad. Meh.

That's it for today, hope you guys enjoyed!

UG www.edcommissions.blogspot.com

That is seriusly effective weathering - look forward to the finished artice!

Out of curiosity what was you first commision for?

Optio wrote:That is seriusly effective weathering - look forward to the finished artice!

Out of curiosity what was you first commision for?

I've got a brettonian army to paint up, not exactly sure of all the details yet.

UPDATE 7/22
Here comes the update train!

Hey dakkadakkka! I bring before another update, again focusing on my Chimera. This has been a 3 month on and off weathering experiment, and I'm pleased with the results.


I treated this model as an experiment, something to get me to try new things. I had never been big on weathering before, just bits of battle damage here and there.


White is really the ideal color to weather, as it is easily tarnished. At least so I discovered.


The tank commander again came out really well, showing that I paint much better faces when they're in a tank.


I was also really happy with ho the flamer turned out, I'm starting to get a good idea of where mixed washes fit in now.


All this weathering left my workspace in disarray, with so many different colors being sponged/drybrushed on.

I'm planning to paint up a really dirty and weathered CCS to go in this chimera, that should be fun.

That's really it for today, hope you enjoyed! Let me know what you think of this tank!

UG http://www.edcommissions.blogspot.com

UPDATE 7/25
oops. Guess I was busy...
Hey guys,what's up? This weekend was busy, and I just did'nt have time to post here. Ah well, here we go.

First, I re-organized my desk space. I won't post up all the pics, but check them out in my gallery!
[url=http://www.dakkadakka.com/gallery/251144-New%
20workspace.html][/url]

I picked up some Micro Arts Tech bases this weekend. They look very nice, but required a good cleaning to be in good working and smelling order.

I did a bit of modifying, but for the most part they are battle-ready. Great product, hope to have painted pics up soon.

I did some work on the Plasma CCS who will ride in my HaB Chimera.



Some grenade launcher shoulder pad freehand.


And finally, more vets work.


That's it for now, I'm working on some painting tutorials (mostly a video exercise). Hopefully more vets and weathering will be coming soon!

UG www.edcommissions.blogspot.com

Smelling order...errr?

UPDATE 7/27

I'm back (again)

@Optio: When I pulled the bases out of the plastic, they had a rank smell. I washed the up pretty quickly after that.

So today's picture update:

First, I've been working on converting slotta bases to regular bases. Simply used clay, I'm filling the gap.


Next is Commander Dante. Great model, hoping to paint him up with my sanguinary guard. Also thinking about a tutorial for this model.....


Some microarts WIP bases:


My new basing mix made from sand, cheap flock and a powdery substance like sand except smaller.


What will it be? (Hint: saw Captain America yesterday)


That's it for today, let me know what you think in the comments below!

UG

While I think Captain America would look awesome... I am leaning more towards CAPTAIN IMPERIUM

keep up the good word unlucky

UPDATE 7/28

What's up guys? It's time for thy picture update!
First I have some custom made bases for your viewing pleasure. I am possibly looking to sell these in the future, though these are prototypes. They are for Captain America's Eldar Hunter squad. (more on that later)
WIP:

And part painted:

These look pretty nice when drybrushed with a few lighter colors and given a custom wash.

I also have some work done on Captain America, though he is straying away from the comic character except for the shield.


He'll be leading the Eldar Hunters. why Eldar? Because I have 2 guardians and some bits that I'm never going to use. Ha.

We hope to have our first EDCommissions video live in a few days, I'll post when that comes through.

Let me know what you think in the comments. Also, let me know what you guys would like to see a tutorial on so we can start putting content on our site.

UG

UPDATE 8/5

Hey guys, its been a while!
First, I wanted to plug Home Depot Quick Color Flat Black spray paint. It's 97c and it works great. Here's a Dante primed.


I finished base #1 of 10 for my Eldar Slayers vet squad....but those have taken a bit of a backseat to my work for ED Wargaming....


And my big purchase...ZE VALKYRIE




The pics speak for themselves.

In other news, I launched my first video via ED Wargaming earlier today, so check it out: http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/388064.page
More info on that on our blog.

That's it for today, hope you enjoyed! Let me know what you think of the valk in the comments below.

UG

Keep up the work its interesting.