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I'm gunna vote Snickrot and venomthrope. Though if you want to play with the carapace, the guards the one to go with!

I'm the first one to admit that I'm still pretty much a total newb when it comes to Games Workshop and the love / hate relationship that lots of people around the world have with them. My knowledge of the rules for Warhammer and 40k are lacking and I don't have the ability to know what people mean by early editions of the game (Although I do own Rogue Trader) & in all fairness my involvement with the hobby is focused around just that, the hobby aspect of the game and the painting side of that. My lack of long-term experience with GW just makes the miniatures I want to buy all the more Ironic...

Even with my relatively short term of engagement with GW, and my narrow focus, I know there are things I don't like about them, the Finecast Fiasco being forefront of my grievance, but also the cost of the Hobby to those of us who live in New Zealand (Or Hobbit-land if your Geography is lacking). This all being said I still have to admit that Games Workshop are very clued in with knowing what to do in order to part me with my money. First off this week was the Games Day Miniature.



This was the tipping point for me to go to the Oz Gamesday in October this year. I'd been debating about whether to go for awhile now, and lets face it I'm a sucker for a good looking miniature... Then was the coup-de-grace upon me. I didnt even know about this one, I was just mucking around on the GW website when I stumbled across it, and managed to shell myself out of another $64.



Both miniatures look disturbingly similiar in pose... and they are finecast. Yet I possess an almost unnatural need to purchase them... As Barney Gumble said; "Don't cry for me... I'm already dead..."

Oh, I really like the beakie... but $54 for a single marine?? That's nuts!

Cikey that is steep, but even where I am the commander box again with only one model is $38.00 a bit silly eh!

Oh I wish you hadn't posted that Vent I want that Fist badly now.

And that is just an insane price for a single mini - you guys really getted gakked on price-wise.

Gitsplitta wrote:Oh, I really like the beakie... but $54 for a single marine?? That's nuts!

Its why Im not getting it ;c
My Fist's could use the awesome model, but $33 + S/H on one model...

It's over $30, shipping is free. I ordered one,and require one of the gd models too.

Forgot about the free shipping...

Wallet, what should I do?

Battle Brother Lucifer wrote:Forgot about the free shipping...

Wallet, what should I do?

The way I looked at it; I figured that the Games Day Mini comes with a trip to Australia, so why not. For the 25th Anniversary figure; screw it... In for a penny, in for a pound...

In for a pound, in for £21....

Still a pretty model, though....

I might get it, maybe

I like the banner and its a cool model. Shame it doesnt have the wierd wrist mounted flamer thing that the artwork had...

As part of my resolution to paint more this year, and as I'm waiting on an orc to come in, I'm starting to paint other things than miniatures. Today is Scenery. I find the concept of me painting scenery to amusing, as I've never actually played a game, and currently don't have to many plans to do so in the immediate future. None-the-less I'm painting some bunker scenery which I've had floating around for awhile. For the most part these will be done with my airbrush. The rough nature of the scenery means that drybrushing is really the only other option. There's a bunch of connecting tunnels and such, which I haven't started, just figured I'd use the bunker as my Test Mini.




Breakdown:

1) I primed the Bunker with Uniform Grey undercoat from Army Painter. I'm actually quite excited to able to use Army Painter stuff. We've got a new company in New Zealand called 'Slave to Painting' which has actually taken the bold step of filling in all the paperwork for customs approval to bring in the paint. They're also doing a whole bunch of other things which means they'll pretty much be my go-to place for paints, bases and other stuff from now on. Quite surprised that no one has tried this before... I hope they do well. Being able to undercoat in colors appeals to me greatly...
2) I then airbrushed whole thing with Burnt Sienna Hue from Golden Artist paints. Then Raw Sienna Hue from the top down. I then added some Titanium White to the mix and did the very top. Then the Transparent Shading Gray around the base.
3) Filled in the gaps with black ink to make it look like the walls are plated. Looking at it now I think that a dark brown ink would of been better. But Black is OK.
4) Started on the details:
- The power lines going in opposite directions is just the colors I use for gems. For the Green: Dark Angel > Goblin > Scorpion > Yellow > White. For the Red: Scab > Gore > Blood Angel > Blazing Orange > Yellow > White.
- Door Outings. Straight Black and Dark Sun Yellow Bright yellow mix then weathering.
- The sci-fi writing is just Darksun and Flesh tone mixed together.
- Guiding lights: Just quick puffs with the Airbrush. They need a touch up with some wash in places.

Still to do:
1) The door. All the little bits and pieces need some work. Buttons and what not. Bit of rust and more weathering
2) the chimney thing. Dunno what I'm gonna do here. I'm thinking of making it a power connection to a gun emplacement on the roof.
3) The rest of them!!

Those are really cool vent. Never seen anything like them. Nice job on the painting. Wish my attempts at painting terrain were as good.

Gitsplitta wrote:Those are really cool vent. Never seen anything like them. Nice job on the painting. Wish my attempts at painting terrain were as good.

Thanks Gits. I'd never seen anything like them either. I actually bought them when I was 14 at a swap meet over here in New Zealand. That's nearly 20 years, and loooooong before I knew what table top gaming was (I just thought they looked cool). They've been sitting around for ages. They're not quite scale for 40k, I think they're 28mm.

Are they too big or too small? They look great anyway.

Gitsplitta wrote:Are they too big or too small? They look great anyway.

Just a touch to small. I'll take some shots with minis as comparison tomorrow

They'd be perfect for 40k dwarves. Oh how I wish they'd bring them back!

40k is 28mm...
They look very tau, I think they would make some great terrain.

whalemusic360 wrote:40k is 28mm...
They look very tau, I think they would make some great terrain.

40k is 28mm?! I thought it was 35mm. I hang my head in shame... Well either way they're a little small for a Space Marine... Which means they look correct in scale to them

I think the writing looks Tau. But the doors seem very human to me. I think they'll look good when they're all finished

I'd agree about the doors. Maybe some human converts?

My vote is tall squats.

Yep, the doors were made for tall squats. That sounds about right.

(Post with images over at my blog. If you've got a blog then friend me!)

That 'Crazy' thing you do...

So recently I was talking to a long term friend who came over for a coffee. She’d interrupted me from painting but I’m always happy to stop for coffee (All Hail Coffee!). Anyway, it was during our chat that she asked me, quite out of the blue, “Why do you paint those crazy things?” It was an innocently asked question, there was no malice behind it, she was an outsider looking in without understanding, but as a good friend she was interested in why I do what I do...

It also got me thinking: why do I paint miniatures for a game I don’t play? For that matter why does anyone paint them, even if they do play the game? I considered giving the standard answer to a question which requires thought “Don’t know, just do”, but I realised this was an opportunity for me, a relative beginner to the hobby, to look a little deeper into the reasons and told her I’d get back to her. Which probably just bugged her, but that’s another story all-together. So bear with me as I get a touch philosophical.

a) For the Love of the Game.
I figured I’d start with the most basic reason, please note I said basic; not simple, because doing what we love encompasses a lot, and while basic in theory is quite hard to explain.

“For the love of the game” is the concept that we do something, often difficult and potentially unrewarding for reasons outside of gain. What this means when we talk about painting is that we paint because we must, we paint because we love the hobby. The value of painting is intrinsic to the hobby. But does this answer the question of why we paint? Well yes and no. Mostly no. Dammit! So much for an easy answer.

From a personal standpoint I fell in love with the universe in which Warhammer 40k exists. There was a sense of darkness and brutality, coupled with strength of will which appealed to me at the time. The painting started as a secondary concern of this love, and the desire to be a part of the universe. This love persists, although changed somewhat, and is probably the reason I collect miniatures to paint despite never actually playing a game of 40k in over five years of being in the hobby, and the monetary shock of engaging in the hobby.

Simply put engaging in the hobby means painting something, whether you do as little as possible or you aspire to make a master-class army if you’re part of the hobby you paint, but is this enough? Beyond the intrinsic value of painting for its own sake there are a whole host of other reasons, some sound in mind, others not so sound (See Downright crazy), but at the end of the day they’re all valid reasons, so let’s have a look.

b) Dice Gods
Let’s jump right into a crazy one, but a crazy one which I do believe in. (What? I never said I was sane! Don’t look at me like that…)

Play the game for any length of time, or hang out with those who do, and inevitably you’ll hear the phrase ‘Dice-Gods’. The oft-annoying, seldom loved beings of fickle fate who control the fortune and, and continued existence of your army. The concept of the ‘Dice-Gods’ is usually an amusing one to those who don’t play, usually spouses, partners, friends or flatmates, but any gamer will tell you they exist and it’s even money they’ll have a story when the ’Dice-Gods’ either cursed or blessed them.

I am no different. I won’t bore you with the details, but the thing about the ‘Dice-Gods’ is that they love a fully painted army. This isn’t to say you gain their favour without end, but during battles between the painted and unpainted the dice will often love the painted force more than the unpainted… Coincidence? I think not…

c) An Army to call your Own
When you paint a miniature you make it yours. The finished miniature reflects your skill, your time spent, and your investment. It’s yours. This is magnified in scope when you paint a unit or an army. When you’re done they belong together, and it shows. An unpainted miniature, unit or army shows the lack of concern you have for your force; No life, no finish. This doesn’t mean you have to be able to paint like a super-star. Just to your abilities.

We all paint things differently. This is based on the level of our skill, the paints used, the techniques known, our experience, what we’re painting and even our desire to improve all go into blend. This means if we sat down four of us to paint a Blood Angel Terminator Captain we’d all end up with a different look and feel. Indeed at the end the only thing similar might be the colour red and don’t even get me started on the different types of red a blood angel can be!

For a lot of people, painting is the most horrible part of the hobby. It’s time consuming, usually done solo, so there’s no social interaction, often results in frustration yet it’s the time when you connect with what you’re painting. It’s only when we mix our labour with a miniature, when we put brush to figure that a connection happens, and this connection is important.

If you think I’m wrong go get one of your painted miniatures. Put it on your desk, look at it for a few seconds, and think about the time you invested in it. Ok, now smash it… I imagine even reading that was hard. Let alone actually doing it. (Anyone who actually just smashed one of their painted miniatures needs to stop breathing now)

d) Personal Improvement
The desire to improve is a valid reason to paint something. We’re touching back on intrinsic value here, but the concept of self-improvement is important to address. Some days a desire to improve is the only reason I can think of to pick up a brush. Whether you’re like me and paint a single miniature at a time or you’re a batch painting dip-master the desire to improve upon the paintjobs that came before is something we should all have.

Getting better at something you like is never a waste of time, regardless of the type of painter you are. A batch painter might aim to improve the speed at which they work while maintaining a level throughout their army. A single miniature painter might have a goal regarding specific techniques they want to perfect.

When I first started I wanted to get some squads together quickly and tried a few techniques towards that end. I was not happy with the outcome and after a few online discussions I got some advice which I still use today: “Be fast at painting or be good at painting”. Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t think the two are exclusive to each other, I’ve seen amazing stuff in hours what would take me days. But for me, I can’t have it both ways and I usually fail when I try. But that’s what personal improvement is for; to get better.

e) But is it Art?
Part of the desire to improve and be one of those amazing painters is the question of whether what we paint could ever be considered art. As I primarily paint rather than play I took a look at Art as a reason to paint.

Some people, usually artists, argue that as for the most part all we do is paint things other people have designed and sculpted, in mass no less, then all we can ever hope to achieve is an atheistically pleasing miniature, but it is something devoid of actual ‘art’ or even artistic intent.

Personally I don’t buy the argument. I understand it, but I do not buy it. Also I don’t believe all painted miniatures can be called art. But I believe the possibility for it to be art is within all miniatures it depends on the painter. Bottom line; if a crushed can made from marble is art then a golden daemon winning entry is also art.

So at the end of the day art is a reason to paint. If you can paint well enough to enter into Golden Daemon and not be laughed at then you’re an artist whose medium of choice are miniatures. If I ever get good to enter a Golden Daemon competition I’ll have accomplished one of my goals in life. If I don’t well I’m going to try my damned best, and at the end of the day that’s all you can do.

f) Being paid to paint?
This is tricky one. If you are good enough to get continual work painting miniatures for money then I guess it’s a valid reason to paint them. However no-one starts out good enough to accept commissions to paint. Most commission team members are long time hobbyists who have put in a lot of time and effort to perfect their skills, both in time management and their abilities. It’s a kind of catch 22. It is a valid reason to paint, but only if you’re good enough, and if you’re good enough to accept commissions then you know the reasons to paint and have likely explored them all yourself at one time or another…

--
I’m sure there are other reasons to paint out there, ones I’ve completely over-looked, but for me personally all my motivations to paint are basically wrapped up in what I’ve written about here. Except being paid to paint. I don’t know if I could ever accept commissions for painting, just seems wrong. I hope this answers the questions for my friend…

Why do we paint? Quite a big question, isn't it

I've got a big portfolio project coming up for school, and I've chosen to paint an army and present it to the class. Even if I (Who knows but that, on the lower frequencies, I speak for you?) have no idea why I paint, I know full well that this hobby is a big enough part of my life to warrant a presentation about it. You bring up excellent points here, and I agree with most of them, though I feel that they're just the tip of the iceberg. Your six reasons seem to me to be more of explanations, rather than ends unto themselves. One can paint miniatures with art in mind, and explain it as such, but it seems like it flows forth from some deeper well, for me at least.

"why do I paint these crazy things?" I don't think I could really put it to words, but something about painting seems to resonate. I like doing it, so I do it.

Anyways, that's my two cents, or rather more, I guess. A fascinating post. You've given me a lot to think about.

Very insightful and thoughtful vent. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Coming from the perspective of someone who only paints what I can legally field... I often am jealous of the freedom of those who don't play. Having a reason to paint is a good motivator... it's also a good jailer.

You should change the title to philosophy- the vent way

also it is very insightful

Thanks guys. There's nothing too mind-blowing in there I know, but as Prime12357 says; it's just the tip of the iceberg

That finecast crimson fist you posted must be sold out... can't find it on GW's web site anywhere.

Yes, sold out in like a week. I ordered 3, 2 for scalping purposes...

Which reminds me, if you know anyone going with you to GD that doesnt want the mini, I am looking for one (for me, not scalping) and would be happy to buy or trade for him.

Damn. Well, at least that stops me from deciding if I really want to pay that for a single marine

My thinking was if I buy 3 at $33 each, and then later sell 2 at $50 each mine was free. See if that works out for me or not.