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Gitsplitta wrote:Ultraman looks kinda like Superman... with a Vienna All-Beef Hotdog symbol on his chest.

I know, right? I wish I'd gsd it a bit so that the inside of the U forms an arrow.

Paradigm wrote:Top work, both on UM and across the year as a whole. Inspiring level of productivity!

Thanks buddy. You're quite the inspiration yourself!

youwashock wrote:You're unstoppable. Awesome work.

incorrigible, certainly. ta!

First day of holidays. With no Wi-Fi, hot water and limited accesst to kitchen - but needing to stay home whilst new hot water tank was fitted - played a big epic game of xwing with the boys. Rebels (Ghost, Phantom, B-Wing - younger boy) and Scum (Mist Hunter, Hound's Tooth, protectorate star fighter - older boy) try to intercept a long imperial Gozanti transport and whilst avoiding its TIE fighter squadron.
Great fun, with some fancy flying from the kids

And then eventually blowing up their old dad and splitting the spoils

Much fun!

Tomorrow, movies and board games. Happy days

Model #185.

Nobody likes a braggart, Graven.

Unless they've painted up a bunch of cool minis and done other stuff that has made for excellent thread viewing, of course.

Keep up the good work and Merry Christmas to you, Mrs. Graven and the gravenlings.

Adding: I just checked. I managed to paint all of 8 minis this year

You had me nervous for a minute there!
Meanwhile...




Painted and ready for signs and tags, then weathering.
Channukah donut anyone?

Yes! Donut shoppe looks fab, good to see your kids enjoy ganging up on poor old dad. I tried to get my kids when they were younger interested into miniature gaming and painting but no luck. They all do enjoy board games and of course video games. Have a great holiday Graven.

Love the donut hut so far and great work this year

I'm planning on getting some more games of x-wing over the holidays especially as I got to see The Last Jedi tonight (which i thought was excellent)

That's a lovely donut shop! 185 models, you say? *Slinks away, realizing I barely painted 10 or so*

Great showing for the year. Impressive.

Good work on the shop.

Ruglud wrote:Love the donut hut so far and great work this year

I'm planning on getting some more games of x-wing over the holidays especially as I got to see The Last Jedi tonight (which i thought was excellent)

Cheers! Yeah, I really enjoyed it, beautiful filmmaking, though Canto Bight was too long and there's a couple of irksome bits.

Taking the wife and boys to see it later. Looking forward to watching the background
Xwing still such fun as a game. Eldest got a proper storage bag for his scum for Xmas too...

CommissarKhaine wrote:That's a lovely donut shop! 185 models, you say? *Slinks away, realizing I barely painted 10 or so*

I was just in the zone, especially the last few months.

Dr H wrote:Great showing for the year. Impressive.

Good work on the shop.

Cheers bud. Next for that is neon signage.

Well, that was a merry Xmas indeed! Hope yours, or whatever you celebrate, was good as can be.
Been off dakka for a few days because of the time of the season. Much consumed on the day itself, of food and wine and rounded off with Dr Who Xmas special and whiskey (maccallan gold from the wife).
Family great, kids great (although right now it's just after half 6 and I've been up since half 3 with tiny :/, who's now asleep on me...), and a fine haul of nerd loot was had:

DC Rivals card game from one of my nerd brothers (not pictured).
Gotham scatter - billboards and street furniture from Metropolis
3 sets of MDF letters, and a beautiful inlaid wooden Batman deck box from erithromycin
Safety behind bars, the prison expansion for Walking Dead from the kids (good choice there boys, much more interesting than Hershel's farm)
Kylo Ren's Upsilon shuttle from the wife (well trained)
Rebel transport (from empire) from the parents (finally trained)

Pretty darn good Not an insurmountable quantity of painting, either

Still slightly frustrated in that I'm waiting for stuff from km. I know I shouldn't be grumpy when it's free stuff but it's meant I've not been able to run my Xmas contests or articles. Grr.

Saw the section of the wife's family we're talking to yesterday, ate a lot of pie. Eldest Nephew (turning 20) is back into GW (admech) now he's at uni and had a good jaw about paint On his model shelf, also found an exorcist vindicator I made him about 6 years ago nice to see it again.

Anyhoo, on with some new and revisited projects.
Current to do list:

12x Rift markers for DCU (6 for me, 6 for a mate) - though I'm a 30mm base short, not that urgent, just mildly irritating.
4x HQ marker bases for DCU - testing my circle cutter to make toppers. 2 for me, 2 for same mate
Kitbash John Stewart Green Lantern: Cyclops's body and Diggle's head, plus an M16 with scratch scope. Mostly cos I found bits and am too tight to buy a Hal Jordan mini (body was a trade for doing the above markers). Gs around neck and of logo will be a bugger however.
AK Harley Quinn with commemorative sewer base
Xwing Dashboards - going to give them a starfield look, recycling wrapping paper
Double batman dashboard

Plus from Xmas
Survivors and Walkers from prison expansion
Neon signs for donut shop
New Xwing repaints
New scatter


Busy busy

Later chaps,
Graven

Quick test of MDF letters:


I think I love these things.

Great idea with the letters

Cheers! I think I'm going to leave the R and V as not working

Got my KM delivery:



Feliz Navidad indeed!

That is a lot of stuff! Wow!

Should keep you busy for a week or so.

So, out of curiosity: how many batmans (batmen?) have you painted by now?

Paradigm wrote:That is a lot of stuff! Wow!

It is, but not all mine no Etrigan though

youwashock wrote:Should keep you busy for a week or so.

2018 a-go-go!

CommissarKhaine wrote:So, out of curiosity: how many batmans (batmen?) have you painted by now?

Hmmmmmmm...

Arkham City
Arkham Knight
Rebirth
Dark Knight
Batpod
Adam West
Dawn of Justice
Dark Knight Returns

Plus I now have Arkham Asylum, Knightfall and Flashpoint. Don't own Arkham Origins, modern age or Animated. Tragic, eh?

Here's what will be the prize pool for the giveaway:

5 starters, 2 sets of buildings tokens objectives street furniture dice, Deathstroke and a print rule book.
Not shabby.

i hope you had a merry time with the family!
the family is hopefully all up and well? and your lil missus is developing with top speed too?...i am soooo out of touch shamefully....
but at least hobby wise you fixed this with your report...
i loved your 2017 overview...man...what productivity...and at what a splendid level too....

and of course there is already enough stuff to keep us all waiting, wanting and wooo-ing for the next half year at least...

best wishes all around from here!

cheers, vik

 Viktor von Domm wrote:
i hope you had a merry time with the family!
the family is hopefully all up and well? and your lil missus is developing with top speed too?...i am soooo out of touch shamefully....
but at least hobby wise you fixed this with your report...
i loved your 2017 overview...man...what productivity...and at what a splendid level too....

and of course there is already enough stuff to keep us all waiting, wanting and wooo-ing for the next half year at least...

best wishes all around from here!

cheers, vik

Hey buddy! Thrilled to hear from you, glad you're not in a ditch somewhere. Yeah, she's a menace, nearly 2! Boys are lovely, bit mouthy, but such is life.
Yeah, lots of toys for the year ahead!
Best wishes to you and yours buddy.

Looks like you had a very Merry Christmas indeed, between all the loot and some adult beverages looks like you are set to ring in the new year. Looking forward to all the new projects, should keep you busy till... mid March I reckon.

 inmygravenimage wrote:
You had me nervous for a minute there!

Excellent. My attempt at internet humor succeeded.

The 2nd 'R' can be a 'Я'. That would be a nice touch. D I E THЯU. Those letters look very useful.

Congrat's on the nice hobby haul. However, the clock is ticking away. Soon it'll be 2019. To work good sir.

Yorkright wrote: Looks like you had a very Merry Christmas indeed, between all the loot and some adult beverages looks like you are set to ring in the new year. Looking forward to all the new projects, should keep you busy till... mid March I reckon.

I suspect 2018 will be slower. This year will not have an empty shelf of shame any time soon

Red Harvest wrote:

 inmygravenimage wrote:
You had me nervous for a minute there!

Excellent. My attempt at internet humor succeeded.

The 2nd 'R' can be a 'Я'. That would be a nice touch. D I E THЯU. Those letters look very useful.

Congrat's on the nice hobby haul. However, the clock is ticking away. Soon it'll be 2019. To work good sir.

The horror! 2018 will not have enough hours in the day! I suspect I will be doing a lot of cleanup and building in January.
the MDF letters are really interesting. I'm going to have to paint them just so they're done this year actually they're a job for 3rd January, once I'm back from visiting my folks and consuming my body weight in meat and alcohol.
Anyway, just to say my contest for 2nd edition BMG is up
https://bigcomicpage.com/2017/12/29/gravens-new-year-giveaway-starters-orders/comment-page-1/#comment
Crazy amount of stuff to be won, 5 starters, 2 sets of Set of Buildings, Set of objectives, lampposts, sewers and Dice, and a Print rulebook. Have at it!

Well, first and foremost, happy new year!

Right gang.
2017 has been a fantastic year for us. Started with a knock to my confidence professionally, but bounced back and can honestly say things have never been better. Wife now dissertation/MSc done and now lab manager, kids all fantastic and ever more entertaining, and I'm one of the heads of media education nationally - plus done more geek painting, comic reading and varied writing than ever before. Busy year in a crazy world, but truly hopeful for 2018! So. Happy New Year and all that jazz!

But anyway, annual nerd goals:

To finish from 2017 -
Donut Store (PIP)
John Stewart conversion (WIP)
AK Harley (WIP)
Owlman, Superwoman, Johnny Quick, Power Ring (4, u/b)
Motherbox objectives (4, PIP)
HQ objectives (4, WIP)
Rift markers (12, WIP)
Bat computers (1 WIP, 1 u/b, 1 only in my brain)
X-Wing Dashboards with extensions (2, u/b, primed)
Batman Double Dashboard (1, primed)

2018
Twd Prisoners (4)
Twd walkers (2)
2e Joker Crew (4)
2e Bat Crew (4)
2e Sirens crew (4)
2e Blackgate prisoners (4)
Parliament of Owls (4)
Grodd Crew (4)
Constantine
Enchantress
Zatanna
Flashpoint Batman
Knightfall Batman
Reverse Flash (comic)
Arkham Militia set 2 (2)
Batgirl Rebirth
AK Red Hood
Nightwing Rebirth
Red Son Superman
Kylo Ren's shuttle
Rebel Transport
Red 6 X-Wing
(45)

Hmmmmmmm. That's quite a lot. Should keep me busy... in January
Best for the year ahead,
Graven

So very glad things are shaping up so well for you my friend. All I can say is that it's good be along for the ride! Many happy returns to your fine family as well!

Some interesting goals, looking forward to all the stuff appearing here over time!

Arkham City
Arkham Knight
Rebirth
Dark Knight
Batpod
Adam West
Dawn of Justice
Dark Knight Returns

Do you have a group pic? I know you've painted a few differently, just curious to see the overall effect.

Hey its the 3rd already, you finished that lot yet!

Looking forward to following you this year.

Gitsplitta wrote:So very glad things are shaping up so well for you my friend. All I can say is that it's good be along for the ride! Many happy returns to your fine family as well!

Thanks kindly sir. Likewise great seeing you in action.

CommissarKhaine wrote:Some interesting goals, looking forward to all the stuff appearing here over time!

Arkham City
Arkham Knight
Rebirth
Dark Knight
Batpod
Adam West
Dawn of Justice
Dark Knight Returns

Do you have a group pic? I know you've painted a few differently, just curious to see the overall effect.

Lol no not as such. Tell you what, when I've done the new 2ed Arkham Asylum Batman, Flashpoint and Knightfall bats I'll do a group pic of them all, ok? Looks like I might even be an Arkham Origins bats also which is great as I don't own one and is a limited model (PITA to get hold of). So he'll be there too :S

Camkierhi wrote:Hey its the 3rd already, you finished that lot yet!

Looking forward to following you this year.

shaddup already Looking forward to seeing your crusty goodness also

Back to school, after NY at parents', so not much done. Ironically, holidays are not good nerd-time for me...
Anyway, I'd better get a move on!
Big Joe Kerr's Donut DrIvE THRU is done, I reckon




And an earlier pic with mini sign for scatter:

I could weather / tag it further but I'm happy enough with it for now. Plus I'm out of coloured printer ink I'm a little bit over-excited about all the other stuff in hand so kinda want to see the back of this. Shocking, I know.

Stuff without pics:
- The horde of batlings also means that I'm keen to get my various objectives done for DCU. So the 12 rifts (6 for me, 6 for a mate) are now built, along with 4 HQ bases (40mm, 2 each). Annoyinginly, my circle cutter only goes down to 45mm Oh, and some 40mm water markers for destroyed fire hydrants, entirely necessary when your kid likes using Aquaman (water teleportation).

- Working on John Stewart. My original idea, to use Cyclops's arm (having finally sourced one!) cradling an M16, just looked wrong, so I'm back to making one from gs. This is wayyyyyyyyyyy out of my comfort zone. Still, 2018, new skills and that. I've been wanting to try sculpting my own stuff on armatures for a while. I *have* figured out how to make the GL symbol though, using tiny secret weapon brass etch letters (an "O" and two "I"s)

I'm not necessarily doing my 2017 stuff first as such, but I do want things out of the way. Equally, I need to get all the new resins soaped and scrubbed so that they can be built and primed.

I also need to give my whole nerd space an overhaul, it's getting a bit ridiculous. New storage, specifically for DCU, required. I think the pace of new BMG will slow down with the resin reissues of metals, so there's not going to be much new stuff for me for a bit there (I hope, perversely!) after next month - Etrigan, Amazons, Darkseid, Parademons, Steppenwolf and new GCPD set. There's so little old BMG stuff I don't own for my gangs that that case, at least, shouldn't overrun for a while I also need to move my expanding walking dead collection into a slightly bigger case (don't open - dead inside) Ah, the practicalities of nerd life.

Onwards, if not upwards,
Graven.

That's a lovely piece of terrain you got there! I can why you're willing to move on, it'll be a nice addition to the gaming table.

Lol no not as such. Tell you what, when I've done the new 2ed Arkham Asylum Batman, Flashpoint and Knightfall bats I'll do a group pic of them all, ok? Looks like I might even be an Arkham Origins bats also which is great as I don't own one and is a limited model (PITA to get hold of). So he'll be there too :S

Sounds good to me, thanks

Donut looks good enough to eat, really a great piece Graven you did good man. Will need some pics when you do your next bat rep, close ups of the heroes battling over the donut shop is a must.

That donut shop will look splendid on the table. Very good work. And it does not need more weathering/tags/etc. It is great as is.

CommissarKhaine wrote:That's a lovely piece of terrain you got there! I can why you're willing to move on, it'll be a nice addition to the gaming table.

Lol no not as such. Tell you what, when I've done the new 2ed Arkham Asylum Batman, Flashpoint and Knightfall bats I'll do a group pic of them all, ok? Looks like I might even be an Arkham Origins bats also which is great as I don't own one and is a limited model (PITA to get hold of). So he'll be there too :S

Sounds good to me, thanks

Cheers ! And soon, there will be Batmen. Indeed, it has begun!

Yorkright wrote: Donut looks good enough to eat, really a great piece Graven you did good man. Will need some pics when you do your next bat rep, close ups of the heroes battling over the donut shop is a must.

totally. thanks mate. I have the smaller donut just so it can be thrown

Red Harvest wrote:That donut shop will look splendid on the table. Very good work. And it does not need more weathering/tags/etc. It is great as is.

Glad you agree. I think it's there too.



So, started cleanup of the resins. Man, they are crisp. Minimal mold lines, easy flash. 20 minis or so done in about half an hour. Once I've done the rest I'll post a pic. My only fear is that they remind me somewhat of "FINE"cast in terms of feel, but I've not got any issues with bubbling, miscasting etc. We shall see.

Meanwhile... First finished mini of 2018!




Okay, started in 2017, but still
And a close up in at attempt to show the light spotting in the yellow and the brightness of the chest



And first objectives of 2018 also: motherbox markers -

BOOM!
The best thing is that they're easy to see as Activated (flipped up) and who controls them (facing player in question). They aren't on 30mm bases, but the are the right size, and it's not like there is a tournament scene for DCUMG anyway. Other objectives are in for priming. For all that I love BMG, the time efficiency and downright fun of DCU make it more appealing just now.

One other bit of news: off the back of my blog, I've got an actual paid magazine gig, for Initiative Magazine!
Monthly piece, pays peanuts, but still, it's toy money and paid for writing about something I love. Got a couple of articles and a great interview lined up so pretty excited, and all that jazz.

So, merrily we roll along,
Graven

Love all the new paint work graven and very excited about your writing gig! Great things have small beginnings!