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^ lost in rollover chief!
Thanks, I really enjoyed doing the Thestral.

'lo,
Plodding along as work winds down, finally. Father's Day weekend was very busy with kid stuff, not much hobby done. But June is a strangely quiet month.
Still, a couple more MCU models whilst I steadily work on my Moonstone stuff. Speaking of which, the amount of release agent they use on their resin is a real pain. I've been caught out a couple of times, having to strip and reprime. Not as bad, however, as the previous generation of KM resin which rubbery AND oily. Ugh.

Anyway, something similar yet different: The Hulk!

As I've painted one before, I decided to take a different tack and lean into a more comic aesthetic. May not have been entirely successful, but an interesting experiment nonetheless.

So much gap filling Busied up the base a bit too. Bottle detail is a reference to the Edward Norton Hulk movie. And, continuing with the Avengers...

The bow string was added with a paperclip.

Talking of SHIELD, my original plan for this month's was dakka painting challenge was MCU Grunts (Shield/Hood)... so maybe it will be them after all:

Gravity-defying sculpts. Surprisingly easy to build.
On we go
Graven

Those HP minis look amazing, what a great gift!

Those new Moonstone minis look fun.

And as much as I love the Shield agents I loath the rope coming out of nothing. But still excited to see them painted.

Happy B-Day Graven.

Models are looking Smashing

Viterbi wrote:Those HP minis look amazing, what a great gift!
Those new Moonstone minis look fun.
And as much as I love the Shield agents I loath the rope coming out of nothing. But still excited to see them painted.

The rope is very divisive. Me, I quite like it. But I know there's more hate than love out there for it.
Moonstone minis are lovely but the level of detail is nuts and I'm reaching a point where I'm just done with resin other than what I print myself. Life's too short.
The HP gifts, I'm reliably informed, are now in pride of place.

Theophony wrote:Happy B-Day Graven.
Models are looking Smashing

Thanks man I appreciate both sentiments. Birthday was pretty... crappy tbh, at least the day itself. Not end of the world but just a bit rubbish. End of term but childcare fell through so couldn't hang out with colleagues for lunch and despite elder spawn's best efforts (he's a brilliant kid, baked a cake, made dinner) other 2 kids were hellish, dog got into nerd cave and destroyed a pile of bases, scatter and civilian minis, wife was feeling under the weather so crashed out by 9... Yeah. Not great. I mean I got awesome, thoughtful loot and I know it sounds ungrateful but we kinda have this rule about birthdays being really important in our house and, honestly, it all just went to crud.

BUT!
Saturday was amazing. Birthday 2.0.
I got some painting done ... Possibly by having a little strop and insisting on having Saturday morning to myself.
And played games with the kids (penguin peril, ticket to ride, love letter infinity gauntlet) had brilliant food (scottish-italian), drank wonderful booze (beer and wine, Italian, whisky, both Speyside and Islay single malts), and ended watching Top Gun and McCartney's Glasto set (class). Then Sunday had a hangover, a lie in, made eggs, threw a joint of pork in the slow cooker, played Dune Imperium then went to see Maverick. Bloody great.

Anyway, in terms of painting decided to take a bash at getting through my Moonstone backlog, partly for this month's dakka contest but also just got the urge. So, starting with some Leshavult, the faerie tale creatures and their ilk.

Tubbs the faun. I don't really play fauns as a (sub)faction but there are some fun minis.

Cute model, just the right side of Chibi for my taste.

And The Beast.

He's a beauty... As it were.

And I've sorted out my entry for this month's painting contest, The Underdogs:

Quack the Alchemist, Kauffman the Merchant, Old Cadders (with his onions), Tabby the Librarian and Agatha, Tavern Frau.

And some detail shots

Quack, deranged alchemist


Old Cadders

Always love the idea of the old soldier returning to the field (but love his onions also!)


Kauffman the Merchant:

He might be my favourite tbh.


Tabby the Librarian

Years of doing purity seals proved their worth:

You need to appreciate Tabby's wee minion also.


I also painted up Gertrude, Faerie Hunter. However, she didn't quite fit the theme as she's less an underdog taking up arms and more an opportunistic murderess.



And finally on a whim painted another excellent alien for Core Space


What's next? Well, birthday was deliberately Miniature-free as I have such a backlog but I think some more core space, amongst other things, and there's enforcers, a couple of bits still for Marvel... So, plenty to keep me busy but as we rock into July there will be mostly board gaming to be done with the spawn. Hard life, eh?
Graven

Well, sorry the Birthday 1.0 was a let down, but sounds like there was a decent rebound.

I concur on the Top Gun: Maverick, Not a huge Cruz fan, but he was great and the story was centered around him, but not focused on him.

So many models....

Theophony wrote:Well, sorry the Birthday 1.0 was a let down, but sounds like there was a decent rebound.

I concur on the Top Gun: Maverick, Not a huge Cruz fan, but he was great and the story was centered around him, but not focused on him.

Yeah the movie was a lot better than I anticipated, and not completely predictable. And on balance it was an excellent Birthday Weekender, so I'll take that.

Gitsplitta wrote:So many models....

... so little time?
How about something inspired by the flyboys, then?

It's a big bugger.

There's frankly more freehand here than I'm entirely comfortable with.

I think the logo could do with a bit of tidying still. I'm pleased with the numbers (D-11, which doesn't stand for anything, was just what I was prepared to freehand) and very happy with the windows, which were inspired by the dome on Dr H's excellent Robbie the Robot.

The red accents have cropped a few times over the years and appear in toy lines; I think it breaks up the wall of black (well, and very dark grey).

And of course the scale shot, with the assembled Avengers. Speaking of assembly it was... Ok. Done some GS filling, not all, as you can probably see. But for a static piece of terrain, I'll live.

Rounding out June, a little bit more Moonstone, in the form of the mighty Fritz.

I love his classic landschneckt vibe combined with the generally crazy moonstone aesthetic.

He's just great, and a total killing machine in game (assuming he's not drunk, which is a great scenario). This takes me to just over a mini a day, which frankly I didn't expect to achieve this month. Still, nice to get to, and takes me to 270 for the year at the halfway mark. I'm pushing on through my backlog, though I'm aware that the new Hellboy KS is going to turn up soon and then I'm SCREWED Need to break the back of my core space crews. I find I've no urge to start DC stuff, weirdly... Maybe it's just the quality of the marvel minis. But I'm determined to get some serious board and card gaming over the next fortnight, as we have a lot to work through. We've started Lotr LCG, as that was a birthday gift, enjoyable straight out of the gate but it's a big sprawling mess of content to explore. We're also playing Infinity Gauntlet Love Letter, which is maddening (like, impossible to beat) but very good, Takenoko (grow bamboo, look after panda) and Bagh-chal, the ancient Tibetan asymmetric game of Tigers and Goats. We're off on our hols soon, it's going to be weird not painting, or indeed posting, much. Hopefully get a good rest though.
Hey ho
Graven

Wow, I think you did a fantastic job on the window graven. I'm very impressed. Nice job all-round.

Nice work on all the Moonstone stuff, but that Quinjet is awesome! Particularly that fantastic bit of SENMM on the windscreen.

Also super jealous of your output once again! I only managed a pair of minis last month

The windows on the Quinjet are, indeed, fantastic. I also love Fritz's 5 o'clock shadow.

Gitsplitta wrote:Wow, I think you did a fantastic job on the window graven. I'm very impressed. Nice job all-round.

Thanks buddy, I followed Dr H's advice to the letter.

aku-chan wrote:Nice work on all the Moonstone stuff, but that Quinjet is awesome! Particularly that fantastic bit of SENMM on the windscreen.
Also super jealous of your output once again! I only managed a pair of minis last month

All output is good output. Whatever keeps you sane (well, ish). Hadn't heard SENMM before but now I've looked it up, many thanks! It has a very 80s album cover vibe

JoshInJapan wrote:The windows on the Quinjet are, indeed, fantastic. I also love Fritz's 5 o'clock shadow.

Thanks! He's been at Agatha's ale again I wasn't going to mention that I'd tried to do that as wasn't sure it looked like it was even there but now I feel very reassured

So I'll be starting July with the month's dakka contest, We Are Legion, and more Enforcers!

Defender squad, kitbashed from left over bits, along with the promo sergeant. They're currently primed, and I'm off to Mantic in a couple of weeks so may get even more. Huzzah !
There's also 3 heavy enforcers, 1 of whom is also a kitbash. As the rule of 5 is lifted currently a mix of grey and black priming.

No other progress to speak of, playing lots of board / card games. As well as a range of old favourites, such as Fluxx and Marvel Mayhem, we tried out Batman: Everybody Lies. This story-driven deduction game places you in the heart of Gotham, trying to solve a series of mysteries and presenting Commissioner Gordon with enough evidence to crack cases legitimately.

I love the way Everybody Lies makes you assemble a comic, feeling like a cross between an Escape Room and Cluedo. However, it's very wordy - there's a lot of reading, which does make it feel like a story but interferes with the pace as a multiplayer. It would actually almost be better as a solo game, but again this is also a weakness: you really want to be playing as Batman, not one of the assorted minor characters - Catwoman (who functions as Batman to all intents and purposes) Vicki Vale, Harvey Bullock, or Warren Spacey (could they have picked a more obscure character?) I think on balance I preferred Unlock as an IP / app driven experience. I love the Animated art style but that just reinforces that you should be the Dark Knight Detective. The app (well, interactive html) doesn't really add anything that couldn't be done through cards, and this could have all been condensed into more panel-style play to make something more unique. As it is, it's a slightly uncomfortable mishmash.
Going to play some Escape the Dark Sector next I think, now we've got all the expansions.
Graven

All looking exciting and awesome.

Camkierhi wrote:All looking exciting and awesome.

Thanks man. Much appreciated.

Having a few weeks off dakka, or more accurately off P&M. Partly, simply being away - good week and a half at the other end of the country. Then, a road trip with my boys to Mantic - awesome, private tour and everything, proper Wizard behind the curtain stuff - and Warhammer World which was likewise glorious. Then work being done on the house, so man cupboard entirely out of action.

But, also, a choice. Not feeling hobby pressure generally good. Dakka is a self imposed pressure, sometimes, but still a pressure nonetheless, as is Insta. So instead, I've stepped back, playing a lot of board and card games, and generally chilling. I'll be back soon, but there's no rush.

Best
Graven

Wonderful to hear graven, enjoy!

Gitsplitta wrote:Wonderful to hear graven, enjoy!

Thanks my friend.

So, a little update. Head is a little messy but generally better.

I decided to bash through the remaining Enforcers for this month's dakka contest, We are legion. So. Heavy Squad:

Assault Specialist (the gun) and Sgt Howlett, Enforcer promo character:

Ooh. Metal. Old school lol. Both very good in game, both oop.

Howlett adds 2 black command dice to your pool, hence the shoulder logos.
And kitbash Defender squad.

I'm so happy with these as they are literally built out of leftover scrap and got the Mantic seal of approval too

And as a group.

As quick and dirty paint jobs, they do fine.

Onto other things, started on my Garbage Truck for MCP:

More windshield fun

Coming along.

Starting to get back into the groove. But not going to feel pressured.

Graven

Wow graven, you are becoming the window master!

Amazing windshield, but I would have a word with the driver, keeping them so sparkly clean, but not caring for the rest of the truck

Nice work on the Enforcers. Very business-like colors. I have a soft spot for the old restic ones-- I picked up the Army deal when it was first released, and I find their details crisper than the newer plastics.

Love the truck. Nice job on your back end.

Gitsplitta wrote:Wow graven, you are becoming the window master!

Thanks buddy. Debated adding a swinging spider in the reflection... Probably a bad idea Maybe in the next one

Viterbi wrote:Amazing windshield, but I would have a word with the driver, keeping them so sparkly clean, but not caring for the rest of the truck

I enjoy the ironic contrast

JoshInJapan wrote:Nice work on the Enforcers. Very business-like colors. I have a soft spot for the old restic ones-- I picked up the Army deal when it was first released, and I find their details crisper than the newer plastics.

Thanks man, yeah, my plan was very much gear the scheme towards practical urban/Deadzone warfare. I know what you mean generally about the older sculpts: I picked up the Monocycles and resin Captain at Mantic too, so they'll be fun. I'm really looking forward to getting my force on the table again. Couple of weeks of holidays left with the kids, and Firefight, MCP and Moonstone are all on the agenda.

Camkierhi wrote:Love the truck. Nice job on your back end.

filth! * Thanks mate.

And so, with that, finished off the Garbage Truck:

I am very pleased with how this has turned out.

I really do like the contrast of the shiny window and crusty filth and scrapes.


And also did the tanker

Does bug me that you only get one flatbed. Need to get one or print one of something. Hmm.


Next, more MCP I think: Supergiant and Black Swan (the OTHER daughters of Thanos) are likely candidates. Good to be getting back in the habit
Graven

That's phenomenal work on the weathering of the chewed up truck. Tanker looks fantastic too. I think the idea of doing reflections of the superheroes in the windows is a fantastic idea!

That freehand

Gitsplitta wrote:That's phenomenal work on the weathering of the chewed up truck. Tanker looks fantastic too. I think the idea of doing reflections of the superheroes in the windows is a fantastic idea!

Troublemaker many thanks. Texture paints are useful for things other than basing, it turns out.

Kid_Kyoto wrote:That freehand

High praise indeed, and much appreciated. I guess I've spent too long looking at old Heavy Metal album covers
So, more MCP, as I try to clear the backlog before the next wave hits. First up, the OTHER daughters of Thanos:

Supergiant and Black Swan.

I like the Supergiant model more, on balance, and went for the hooded cape variant.

You know me. Love a cape.

I am not totally sold on the pose for Black Swan.

Still, enjoyed doing her. And I SUPPOSE as I've finished the Black Order, I really should tackle the big guy...

It was, on balance, inevitable.

Still working on my NMM technique.

Throne with its own base insert.

With his TRUE daughters.

Black order Group shot. Feels like good progress. Nick Fury, SHIELD agents, Daredevil, Elektra and The Hand all in the WIP pile at various stages, aiming for them to be done over the next few days.

Got some other games in too: a delightful print and play The Mariana Trench (dive your sub, collect undersea creatures, perform research), Cascadia (tile building game of natural environments and animals of the Pacific Northwest - really excellent, won Spiel Der jahres) and My Little Scythe (Scythe, but cute... And maybe even better).
Decided to offload my copy of Descent. It's only hit the table once, and there's many things I'd prefer to paint and/or play. Just going to give it to a mate who needs a boost.
Onwards!
Graven

Your skills are really improving graven. That's great to see!

Thanos looks appropriately awesome, love the muted blue Black Order grouo shot looks great too. Is Supergiant really tall, or is it just a trick of the perspective?

Gitsplitta wrote:Your skills are really improving graven. That's great to see!

Most kind chum.

Paradigm wrote:Thanos looks appropriately awesome, love the muted blue Black Order grouo shot looks great too. Is Supergiant really tall, or is it just a trick of the perspective?

Cheers pal. She's pretty big, but in a floaty way.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Serves me right for not posting an obligatory scale shot

So... I changed my mind.

Legions of The Hand and SHIELD! I took the notion to do them. I was definitely inspired by some of the ways folk interpreted this month's painting contest to tackle it a different way, so these will be my entry, rather than the enforcers.

Hand Ninjas. Hi-ya, and so on.

Maria Hill and SHIELD agents. I know there's a lot of hate for the rope to nowhere but I'm a fan.

Nick and the Agents. Grunts are great!

Love a Cape

And... Ninjas!

I'm actually more sold on the Hand as a faction than SHIELD.

Defying gravity


I added a spare Nelson and Murdock sign from my second apartment block kit to the base.

Amazing sculpt.

So there we go. Not a massive amount of output for July, but plenty nonetheless.
Also tried out My Little Scythe - cute, might actually prefer to the full game - and Azul Summer Pavillion, which on balance is probably the best iteration of the game, more middle weight and less brutal than Queen's Garden whilst as accessible as the original.
Next, core space! Steadily trundling through the backlog
Only two weeks of holiday left but still time to get some more games on
Graven

Nice work graven.

Gitsplitta wrote:Nice work graven.

Your unwavering support is as always appreciated old son.

Turns out... I wasn't quite done for the month.

Enforcer Arbiter-pattern gunship for Firefight, Warpath et al.

It's a cracking kit, and I decided to lean into a stealth bomber vibe with the scheme whilst still having bits of colour to match the rest of my Enforcers.

I usually hate flight stands but the totally clear base is a big improvement to the gw style. As you can see from the GCPS Commander, it's a big ol'
Beast.

And, a little bit of Mantic scatter that I rescued from Mantic's carpark

So, that takes me to 24 for July, and nearly 300 for the year... That's more like it
Graven