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"Or I swear by my pretty floral voxcaster, I will end you!"

Great work as always.

I like her current look, though until that water effect goes down it's gonna remind me of the water from The Abyss

Cool little ears on the hat. Hopefully that water will settle a bit more from her legs though.
As to that dino-rider you may have a bit of a wait there I'm afraid. I don't feel I could do the dino justice with my current paint skills, so I'm leaving her for a while yet, just couldn't resist getting her when I saw her, especially as it's a limited edition - Although I've been thinking another one might be cool to make a little diorame with

Good work on the bobble hat it is a nice little bit of sculpting. I like the female model you've ordered, she is very pretty, hope that dont sound weird lol.

Perkustin wrote:Good work on the bobble hat it is a nice little bit of sculpting. I like the female model you've ordered, she is very pretty, hope that dont sound weird lol.

It does, but we've all been that weird at some point

Let's face it, she's hot, but she's also NOT REAL and we're all nerds...

Scarp - totally awesome dude! Loving the tote bag, it's looking great and keep up the good work - what's next?

Got to repeat myself. I like the new addition, good conversion, solid painting, great style. Still I can't help myself about that lack of "gritty dark endless war" feeling. Seeing the new one and the boss together my immediate association was "cool boarders gone militant".

Except for her nasty habit I really like her (smoking in a sewer would be a really bad idea with methane gas pockets). Having the two models working together is great idea. Paint job is cool....flowery back pack ace....oh and cute little ears on the hat.

I know being a man I will never understand women* but hats with ears WTF?! fashion . Actually funny story... Here in Preston lots of girls have had their hair coloured red (I assume it has something to do with Rhianna) ....I was walking past top shop just before Christmas and saw this girl wearing a santa hat. As I got closer I realised she was just wearing a white fluffy head band with her red hair in a high pony tail. Oh how it made me giggle.

*its ok to not understand women to quote one of my exes "I don't blame men for being useless when it comes to understanding women. Women don't even understand themselves!" Ah she was a genius.

Scarper the dogs are currently in quarantine aka the sixth drawer of my bits box. The scavvies really are on hold until I have painted 1 Archon, 6 Trueborn, 1 Space Marine for the Dakka conclave and completed my secret project (which is going well, they actually have some paint on them). I reckon April will see the dogs rise their ugly heads.

Peter

@Chibi - Thanks a lot! And I know, right? If only she'd seen all those videos in school...

@Zefig - Thanks for the wonderful compliment - that's a really, really nice thing to say The backpack is indeed pretty flowery! I thought it would add a touch of personality to what was looking like a pretty standard outfit.

@Mohaniker - Thank you for the kind words! I'm planning on making a few more gangs at the moment - all of them have different roles in the campaign I'm planning. Without giving too much away, you can expect to see some Van Saars and some Scavvies pretty soon, as well as a pretty brutal group of Orlocks. I thought I might make them at the same time, so I can give myself a little variety! Not til the Jackals are done, though, of course. And I'm sure they'll pick up a few new members as I go anyway

I'll see if I can get a group shot up in 2 model's time - that will be the Jackals ostensibly complete!

Again, thanks for the kind words about the characters. The AdMech are awesome - so much conversion potential there! I'd love to see what you get up to - you will be posting a PLog, right?

@Briancj - Thank you! And that made me chuckle out loud in the library, where people are now giving me strange looks. So thanks for that too

@Lord Kaesar II - Thanks a lot. And honestly, the base will work out - the water effect is just a bit of a bitch to work with. I'll get pics up as soon as she's done.

@monkeytroll - Thanks! It's actually the rest of the water level that I need to bring up. Stuff is insanely frustrating, as it all seems to be looking perfect right up until it sets hard, and it's about a 1/4 the depth it was. Still, progress pics will be appearing, probably on Monday
The limited edition bit always gets me too - what would happen if it sold out?! I think you're underselling yourself though, your painting is really very good!

@Perkustin - Thanks so much! And don't worry, I won't judge

@Cpt Roderick - Hahaha, I know what you mean. Thanks so much for the compliments! Next up is probably Murdock, the gang leader. I posted up greens for him a while ago, but he's sat on my painting desk looking sad for months now. After that, Blind is the last of the Jackals still to paint (right up until someone gets killed or injured, of course! ). I got some of that fluff you were after to come first though!

@Baiyuan - Thank you! And I do appreciate what you're saying. Coop and RiffRaff are among the 'lighter' gang members - civilian scavengers doing what they can to survive. Murdock is more of a professional, so hopefully you'll like him a little better!
Also, I keep meaning to comment on your blog, but not really having the time - I'll get something up there this evening some time, promise!

@PDH - Thanks so much! I'm glad you like the little details.
As for the smoking, that genuinely did cross my mind. But then I remembered that the guy she spends all her time hanging out with is carrying a home made flamer, so I figured fire safety probably wasn't first and foremost on their minds
THe santa hat girl sounds hilarious - I told that story to my flatmate when I first read it, and he properly cracked up. It's certainly an interesting look! Maybe it was intentional?!
And can't wait for April - great to hear your eyes are sorting themselves


thanks so much for all the comments everyone! Fluff update to come, but after all that, I better put it in a new post. Don't want to break the Dakka servers!

Riggs moved through the shattered entranceway, following the glow of the fire. He could hear them talking - low and cautious, still unsure of themselves. He smiled. It would be good to get some new company. The dog growled, leaning into the rope around her neck as the campfire came into view. Riggs bent down, pulled her in and patted her side as her hackles rose.

"Easy, Cass. Calm down, girl. They're friends, ok? No one's trying to kill me today."

The strangers by the campfire turned towards him, the male half rising. His hand was at the holster hanging off his belt. The girl spoke first.

"Uhh... hey. You okay, man? We're new. Murdock's cleared us, so... no need for the dog, alright?"

Riggs laughed, raising his arms in what he hoped was a disarming gesture. "She's not that bad, honest - just talks a big game. She'll be fine once she's used to you." He tied her off against a door frame and patted her muzzle once more. "You mind if I join you?"

The man sitting opposite the fire still hadn't lowered his hand. The girl turned to him, and he nodded, sitting back where he had been. He smiled, and appeared to relax. Riggs pulled a bottle optimistically labelled "Wildsnake" from his bag and offered it to his new companions. The girl took it and drank deep before spluttering a few times and passing it back.

"Not the best, huh? Got it in Jento - should have been warning enough, I guess." He took a sup of the spirit and passed it on to the man opposite him. In the light of the fire, the thick gouges in the newcomer's arms were thrown into relief. "Name's Levin Grigg, though the folks round here tend to call me Riggs." He sighed. "Guess two syllables was a little much to ask. The girl growling at you on then end of that rope is Cass. I know the welcome Murdock gives to strangers can be... a little less than friendly, so I figured I'd stop by and say hi. What're your names?"

"Coop." It was the man who had spoken first. He was tall and heavy set, but probably no more than 20 years. Fresh cuts lined his features, and fresh bruises covered much of his face. His nose was set at an awkward angle - a look that seemed recently acquired, based on the crusted blood underneath it. Riggs could make out the profile of a penal collar beneath the man's coat - an interesting one, no doubt. "My friend here is Riff Raff." He paused for second, and grinned a smile with more than a little wince in it as he extended his hand. "Nice to meet you."

"Riff Raff?" The girl laughed. She was about Riggs' age, with dark eyes and bright green hair cropped short to her head. Slung at her side was a heavy backpack, filled with what looked like computer equipment.

"It kinda stuck! I grew up in Haverbrook, you know?" Riggs looked blank. "Haverbrook! Oh, come on. Big, fancy, posh oppressive arsehole community, couple miles outside the hive? Lots of trees? Back when there were still trees, that is. You'll know it if you see it." She paused for a second. "You know what a tree is, right?" Riggs smiled wanly, took the proffered bottle from Coop.

"So it's an ironic thing?"

"Sort of. fething hated that place, ran away the second the factories blew up. I like it - kinda burning out my roots, y'know? Guess my family got evacced though, so maybe I shoulda stayed." She laughed.

Riggs thought for a second. "So how did you guys end up in Rukob?"

"Series of coincidences, I guess." RiffRaff grinned. "Coop, me and Twitch - have you met Twitch? You'd uh... You'd remember if you had." She giggled. "We were working as guards for this donkey-cave guilder, going place to place. Nothing too serious, just -"

Coop, who had been valiantly swigging at the bottle, cut her off with a smile. "Aw, come on Riff. He wasn't that bad. For a guilder." RiffRaff glared at him.

"He was a solid gold prick. He ripped off everyone he met."

"He was a guilder."

"He charged more for drugs if people were sick!"

"He was a guilder."

"He mixed sumpwater in the liquor!"

"He was a guilder."

"He shot that trader in Saltash!"

"The one who tried to stab him?"

"When he ripped him off!"

"Like a guilder!" Coop broke into a playful smile, which was apparently a little too wide as he grunted and rubbed bruised jaw. He turned to Riggs. "Carson was an underhanded, backstabbing con artist, but that just meant that he was good at his job. With us though, he was a good guy. We sat shotgun on his caravan between settlements. Easy money, apart from the odd raider or underhive moron. Between us though, they didn't really have a chance."

"So what happened?" Riggs took another swig of the 'wildsnake' Coop had passed him, gagging a little as the aftertaste hit him. It really was foul stuff.

"Well," RiffRaff muttered. "like he said, we covered his ass between settlements. If Carson wants to shoot his mouth off to every guy in every drinking hole in Skillett, we can't be there to stop the guy who... well, shot his mouth off, I guess." Coop laughed and put his arm around her shoulder, but stopped when she threw him a look. "Turned out he messed with some local hired gun, a real badass apparently. And apparently he wasn't in the mood for Carson's gak talk." A look of sadness spread momentarily across her face, before her features quickly hardened. "Either way, we found ourselves between employments." She passed a bacc-stick to Coop, lighting her own off the campfire. "You want one?" Riggs shook his head."Eh, your loss, they're good."

Riggs smiled, patting his shirt sleeve. "Got my own. From uphive." RiffRaff looked briefly impressed, but pulled it into a good natured sneer, rocking her head from side to side. "So how'd you find yourself here? Skillet's what, like, 10, 15 miles East?"

"Business venture." Coop replied. "Whatever we think of Carson," a glance to RiffRaff,"he went out owing us a fair few creds in backpay. He also left behind a fair few crates of spirits, munitions and condensor parts that he was no longer using. We heard of a trader who didn't ask many questions out at this end, but unfortunately didn't quite make it all the way here. The guide we hired was the same guy who gave us the tip, and said he knew the fastest way from Skillet to Rukob - yeah, yeah, I can see in your face that you know where this is going. It was stupid as hell, I know." Riggs raised his hands and shook his head, trying to repress a grin. "There were 20-odd armed men - thugs hired by the local guild interest - waiting for us in a pass about 5 miles out. We did what any sane people would do in that situation - gave em everything." He paused for a moment. "Twitch was raging, practically frothing at the mouth. Couldn't stand the idea that we weren't going to fight them. We managed to calm him down before he shot anyone though, or I'm guessing we wouldn't be here." He spat in the fire and watched it hiss. "Still, I'd love to meet that 'guide' again. Just the once." RiffRaff cracked her knuckles.

"They let us live, which was an unexpected courtesy. Took everything, of course, but let us go. Not before their boss had given me a "lesson about trade rights" though." RiffRaff put her hand on his shoulder, but he shrugged it off and smiled at her. "We made it though. It's almost hard to hate them, they did it so well."

The dog had been whimpering for a few minutes now. Riggs pulled another bottle from his pack, set it on the rubble he'd been sitting on.
"That's one hell of a way in. Look, I need to move, or Cass here'll never forgive me." He gestured at the bottle. "That's yours, if you think you can stomach it. Sounds like you guys could use it." He untied the dog from the post, pushing her back as she licked his face. He stood upright, turned again to the two newcomers. "Welcome to the Jackals, guys. It's been a pleasure."

If you got through all that, kudos to you. There's a Riggs style introduction to the two of em still to come, this is just a little flavour. I wouldn't believe their story, either Please please please comment if you like it, or if you don't. I'd love ANY input you might have.

Scarp

Well ... ilike it , Its cool to read the history of guys we have been watching you create, it adds a level of realism to your models. But what i like most is the easy conversations your guys have, you seem to be able to create atmospehere of old west style frontiersmen, trying to keep a semblance of honur and dignity, without losing their tough guy front, and all around things around are trying to drag them down. I think it will be be sad to see them go , if they ever do

Quite a good read. I like it!

Yeah, nice bit of fluff, naturalistic chat and a glimpse at the characters.

Read all the way through and liked it a lot. I like a good campfire chat in an postapocaliyptic setting. Nice and credible introduction of the characters.

I also don't think their story feels too much like made up, thats what the underhive is all about, bad gak happening. Those who live to tell the tale will always be telling a story nobody would believe, if it wasn't for the other few hundrets of people who would have told a totally normal story, but couldn't since it ended with their own totallly normal deaths. Life is cheap down hive.

One thing I always find very exciting about those bondfire chats is to create some kind of vague threat. It is that split between unknown dangers in every shadow and a perfectly normal conversation, that I love about such scenes. For example Riggs could drop a line as a subtle warning about something. Do you know face-eaters? They would be perfect, nobody could really enjoy his booze, when he knows that there have been unusually many cases of face-eater attacks in the area. On the other hand you can't risk looking for them either, cause thats when they get you. Tension!

I really liked it, but I had trouble here and there being able to tell who was talking. After a few rereads of certain lines I could figure it out. The story itself is very good, and I find it believeable!

I like your writing. I'm ashamed I haven't read your fluff until now.

@neil101 - Thanks a lot! I'm a big fan of your fluff, so that means a lot I've always enjoyed trying to recreate conversations with dialect and slang, the way people actually speak. I'm still working at it, but I'm glad you like the work so far

@The Good Green - Thank you!

@Monkeytroll - Cheers

@Baiyuan - Thanks a lot for the compliment, and the tips as well! I could definitely have slipped in some more foreshadowing, I'll work on it on the next one. The back story of Riff and Coop actually relates to the main campaign plot a little (not the current bit, some things I haven't revealed yet!), so hopefully I can drama it up a bit with Rigg's intro to them. Thanks again!

@Sageheart - Thank you so much I'll work on making the dialogue a little clearer for next time.

@samwellfrm - Thanks! And no need for shame, there's a ton of fluff out there on Dakka, I'm surprised anyone bothers reading mine at all


New update for today's a little lame, but here you go:

Some shots of Riff Raff's base, now that it's all settled down a little. The lighting is incredibly hard to get right, as it's either pitch black or reflecting. Still, hopefully you can see enough to get an idea.



And finally, here's, as requested a crappy WIP shot of the complete team. What, you wanted a good picture? Pssh, I'm saving that for the finished article! Feel free to click and zoom etc., it's a pretty big photo.


And as always, thanks so much for your comments so far, and please don't hesitate to let me know what you think!

Scarp

RiffRaff's base looks pretty cool now. I'm a bit tired and can't be bothered going back through the blog right now, but have I just forgotten that shotgun guy, or is he new to us?


edit : My bad, that's Murdok isn't it said I was a bit tired

It is! Easily forgettable though - he was the first guy to get made, and will probably be the last to get painted

A familiar occurence

You're welcome. Writing a campaign is just so much fun. I'll take some time to put the core of our campaign online soon. I know exactly what you mean by "I haven't revealed yet", always big fun to keep people guessing. Really looking forward to yours too.
Great work, keep going, I'm holding the line...

Scarper! Scarper! Scarper! We (i.e. me) want more remnants!

nice to see the group shot! you planning any diaroma stuff?

Aw, thanks guys, I really appreciate the continued interest! Sorry for the mini lag - I had exams then a big project deadline at uni, and this latest guy has been a nightmare, which has been kinda demotivational.

Seriously. Cocked up his face at a late stage 3 or 4 times, dropped him and ruined a ton of GS work, not happy in general with the paintjob, couln't even get a good frigging photo. One of my first GS jobs, so the sculpting himself isn't great either. Here he is, anyway. Not finished, but I really don't want to look at him anymore.





Looking forward to my next guy, anyway As always, any input appreciated, and I can imagine there are a fair few potential improvements for this guy...

It looks brilliant to me, you could always go onto some other models then as the time passes and the hate subsides return to it.

Yeah uni work sucks, not compatible with hobby time!

Keep it up dude, looking forward to seeing more!

Aw, thanks Mohaniker! I think I'll probably be happy to work on him again in a day or two - was having a bit of a frustrating time with some uni work (project deadlines and all that...), and my usually relaxing modelling seemed to be going wrong at every possible moment. When I messed up a little on the final layer of camo on his cloak I almost stamped on him...

One more Jackal to paint up before I've completed their roster to date. I'm sure some will die / need some injury modelling, and you can never have too many gangers, but a new gang might reach the fore for a little while

I'd still love any comments anyone might have on Murdock, but hopefully I can get Blind finished up today or tomorrow.

Great groupshot scarper , the new guy fits in real nice , cool shotty as well. i know what you mean about cant standing to look at a mini you have worked on a lot . but for us who have just seen him , its all good. Keep up the Uni work as well fella good job , what year are you in?

As usual Scarper: coherent, convincing, creative. I like him. The paintjob is decent, not the best in town, but then again whose paintjobs are...

One part I would suggest to improve (when you're back on track) is the camo on his arms, looks a bit crude to me. His face turned out really convincing, I'm confident you could improve the camo, if you found it worth the while.

About "ENRAGE"-miniatures: You might remember me talking about that plasmapistol ganger on my blog, that I first dropped and later lost parts of. Well he has been in my cabinet untouched for weeks, mocking me with his 90% finished status.

In the end it's down to two possible solutions: a) Finish him! b) Melt him!
The later I'd consider extreme and extremely unproductive (yet maybe also extremely satisfying). Do it like me, forget him for a while and when he floats up to the surface of your mind again, finish him off quick (which I, smartass, still need to do to be honest).

@neil101 - Thanks a lot, that's really kind to say. I know he's not terrible at the moment, it's just that I know in my head all the bits that could have gone better. It's pretty stupid, and I'm sure I'll get over it in a little while I'm in 4th year doing medicine at the mo, and just starting the busiest section of the year, so hobby time's taken a bit of a hit. Trying to keep it up when I can though!

@Baiyuan - Thanks so much for the honest commentary, I really appreciate it. I'll work on the camo on his arms when I return to him - it was never really finished, but I figured I'd come back to it when I was in a better mood Thanks especially for the compliments on the face as well, it took a lot of attempts. I will definitely return to him, just need to give it a day or two.

Today's update is rather a non-update I'm afraid. I'm heading home for a funeral in a few days, and haven't had anything like the time I'd like to paint or model, so I thought I'd throw out all the character ideas I've been having, to give a bit of a flavour for the gang. I don't anticipate being able to do much painting or modelling over the next week or so either, so I'll write up the rest of these instead when I get spare moments. I'm also going to write up some short blurbs for the other factions in the campaign - a scavvy gang, a mysterious inquisitor and her retinue, and the much alluded to QA. These have all been proxies up til now, so it'll be a glimpse into future models as well! Apologies that there's not much new here, but I though someone might be interested, and I'm trying to keep my mind occupied


Murdock



Leader of this Jackal cell. Claims to have been a sergeant in the PDF, but carries equipment that should never have fallen into his hands. Has spent many years on the scavenger teams, training new recruits in the Remnants. He tells people that it’s because he upset a high ranking officer, but others have suggested that he hates the compound, is fighting to his death to reunite with a family killed in the rebellion, or simply that he enjoys the work. All such suggestions result in scorn, and hard labour. Brusque and unfriendly, but will go out of his way to protect those under him. Trinkets and gifts have also been found in people's packs after visiting a trading post, though Murdock denies any knowledge of this.

Farrell



Medic and plasma gunner. Found in the wastes a mile outside of Rukob, bleeding badly from embedded buckshot and a (clumsily stitched) stab wound to the stomach. He was carrying an infant girl, unharmed, but with a strange symmetrical birthmark on her back. Both were carried back to Pinepoint, an (ironically named) Remnant settlement. His wounds were infected, and the fever almost killed him as he raved about mutants and monsters. As he recovered, he first asked about the girl, then about others who may have come after him, names like Eli and Clara. The medical staff became concerned that he may have a bounty on his head. Many of the Remnants don’t trust him, and from his strange arrival to his refusal to explain where he came from, he hasn’t helped himself. The plasma weapon he carries is also a rare find, unusual to see outside the slaver camps to the North. Leaving the girl in the safety of the camp, he joined a Jackal team to pay back the kindness he was given, believing that his skill with medicae and especially work with bionics (again, an unusual skill in the underhive) would be invaluable. He regularly writes in a small book, which Twitch stole to show to the others, believing that he was a spy. Whilst he did write of what he was doing, the book was filled with letters to a woman, none of which it appeared had actually been sent. Murdock spoke to him about it, but saw no reason for concern. He is friendly and jovial when spoken to, but a little quiet, with a tendency to stare into space and tune out of conversations.

Skragg



Gunner and inventor. Apparently mute, but able to build technology from scrap, Murdock considers Skragg an idiot savant. Many of the others in the team think his silence is not a result of lack of intelligence. Further story incoming, but I don’t want to spoil the bit I already wrote for him!

Crow



Before finding the Remnants, Crow scavenged the rocky and mountainous wastes outside the hive with her brother. After serving as a construction worker in the compound, Crow volunteered to join a Jackal team to rediscover the adventure and excitement of living rough. She may or may not regret her decision. Agile and sure-footed, Crow tends to stay high above the ground, shooting from vantage points wherever possible. She is good humoured and friendly, though with rather a dark sense of humour. She rarely takes off her rebreather, citing the case of her brother, who left their camp and shot himself after he realised that his laboured breathing was slowing him down. She is still angry with him for taking the decision without her.

Ferret



Joined the Remnants after being caught attempting to steal food from the Pinepoint stores with her teenage son. Both agreed to serve in Jackal teams and eventually join defensive patrols if it meant access to the compound. Ferret is very fast, and a good shot, but has been injured several times whilst in the 21st Jackals. Keen to return to base, Ferret rarely socialises, but will scavenge during her own time, hoping to find some archeotech valuable enough to merit transport back to Pinepoint.

Riggs

[

Friendly and affable, Riggs was born inside the Remnant compound. Initially charged with sump-farming and looking after the animals, he joined a Jackal team as soon as he could, and acts as a friendly second-in-command to Murdock. Despite his friendly demeanour, Riggs has a natural gift for negotiation and persuasion, and often accompanies Murdock to trading posts or to form treaties with rival groups. He tends to know a lot of residents in the settlements they regularly visit, and takes care of the dogs, Loki and Cass.



There's more to come, but that's all for today. Please let me know if anyone sound to cheesy or cliched, or if you like anyone!

p.s. also, so this isn't a total non-update, heres a minor repose I did on one of the studio McVey line. I wanted him to use his gun as little as possible, so I took it out of his hand, and put it on his hip. The pose is supposed to be a "Stay there, I'll be back" kind of thing as he runs to deal with a different wounded. Hope you like!

Hey nice update.

I like the background of the gang and I'm looking forward to hear about the others......oooooo scavvies

Murdoch looks good....though he doesn't scream leader to me, maybe when he gets his base. The arm camo needs a little work but I really like the cloak.

but carries equipment that should never have fallen into his hands.

what would that be?

The Mcvey model looks spot on for a friendly hold it their pose.

Peter

I can't wait to hear Scragg's story.