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aku-chan wrote:
You did a great job with the lightsaber glow on those guys

Thx buddy. Lot of fun to do. Speaking of lightsabers...

A fine addition to my collection.

Shatterpoint minis really are a joy to paint.

I have to decide if I'm just entering Grievous or the whole gang.

So much fun with OSL and blending.

Might take some fresh contest photos as these look slightly over exposed in the old dakka super zoom.

Where would he be without his guards?

Freehand on the cloaks. Ugh.

Kraken, droid commander from the TV show.

Enjoyed the base

And big chonky B2s. Will definitely need a better pic of them.
Definitely keen to hear your thoughts, as I say. I am leaning towards just Grievous and the guards, as they're the most interesting.
Also, scrolling back, I realise I also never posted my B1 droids. I'm just going to add them to this month's tally. Surprisingly fun, posable minis.

Roger Roger.
A very productive weekend, all in all.
Graven


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Better pics:

General Grievous and Magnaguards.

Great painting Graven - I also did notice you tried for some OSL effects on the bases and minis. Way to go (and so much better than my sad sad efforts).

Good job on the warring of the stars figures.

I do miss the active interactivity of past years here after disappearing for a bit. Haven't found a substitute for the DDakka P&M posse on Soc'Media though: may get more eyes on something but rarely any discussion, it's all too easy to click a "like" and keep scrolling.

Maybe we're just getting old and can't keep up with the yoof, or the world just keep getting faster and faster to distract the masses with more and more content that means nothing.

I'm heading out to yell at a cloud.

I love those graven. That's really great work!

blockade23 wrote:Great painting Graven - I also did notice you tried for some OSL effects on the bases and minis. Way to go (and so much better than my sad sad efforts).

Thanks so much dude. Don't be so hard on yourself, also, I love the way your colours pop on your iyanden - and I'm certainly not brave enough to tackle tartan!

Dr H wrote:Good job on the warring of the stars figures.

I do miss the active interactivity of past years here after disappearing for a bit. Haven't found a substitute for the DDakka P&M posse on Soc'Media though: may get more eyes on something but rarely any discussion, it's all too easy to click a "like" and keep scrolling.

Maybe we're just getting old and can't keep up with the yoof, or the world just keep getting faster and faster to distract the masses with more and more content that means nothing.

I'm heading out to yell at a cloud.

Very true my friend. Internet ain't what is used to be.

Gitsplitta wrote:I love those graven. That's really great work!

You're too kind my friend.

Playing a lot of board games, lots of cards. It's really proving more satisfying and more time efficient, sadly. But still, I enjoy the hobby side enough to keep at it.

After all the Star wars, I decided to look for a bit of variety. Added a bit of colour to my old world alliance team but... damn they're anything but fun to paint.

So instead I decided to have a rummage and found some scatter:

A good excuse to play with weathering techniques.

These are Wizkids deep cuts Cannons and a Guildball Navigators goal.

I have a pile of Guildball minis, amongst others, that deserve a new lease of life. Assorted Fishermen and Navigators, newly repurposed. I don't really need more fishermen but they fit the Carnevale aesthetic and there's LOTS of other Guild folk I don't have. How fitting to repurpose Guildball into The Guild. And, it's a while since I've done any conversion work. So we shall see. I also have plenty of Star Wars to tackle though - the Luminara set, Padmé set, Spectre and Ewoks. Starting Rebellion era is a mistake, but it wasn't ever my intention - a mate was shifting the Luminara and Padmé sets and gave me the ewoks gratis. It's the circle of nerd life!

Hey ho
Graven

Star wars is all amazing. Really got the vibe of the series.

Cannons! They look fantastic.

Camkierhi wrote:Star wars is all amazing. Really got the vibe of the series.
Cannons! They look fantastic.

Thanks man on all counts. More star wars to come. In the meantime... Behold! The great repurposing!
So now I have...

Whalers! No conversions required. Great sculpts both.

Butchers! These were originally fishing poles that have been cut and carved and gsd.

Poacher and Smuggler! The poacher has a bow (arm carved down) and quiver from a middle earth mini of the month, and a gs mask. The Smuggler has the addition of a gs blunderbuss, the core of which is the paddle that was on the now-poacher.

Animal Handler with Beasts! The official model is a dog handler with 3 dogs, but that hardly seems very nautical to me. An otter with a pirate hook? An oversized murderous gull?

However, there are some being left at fishermen... the two jumpy types I will sub as Barbers Guild in game, I think. Barbers are fast and light where Butchers are slow and strong. And the other one is staying as an extra Fisherman (/woman). I'm not just using Guildball minis, though.

A Mariner! Ditto. The details really sell them as a proper nautical type. I have a reaper pirate lass done as one also and they totally look the part together. The wench is from Reaper and she will make an excellent venetian Citizen or even a Harlot if need be.

I don't want my Rashaar to feel left out. The big fella is perfect as a Beast Handler.

And a bit of scatter.

I am very much in two minds about dakka. I'm not entirely sure I have the desire to post here any more.
On the one hand, it's a great as a receptacle. I have 9500+ images from 15 years of hobbying. Otoh, the community side of it really seems to have died down, which is a great shame. Partly it's the rise of social media, I suppose. Certainly, I think posting will be less frequent.
Hey ho
Graven

I love the cannon - I think I have the same farmer guild ball set from NOVA (I've used some parts for statues, others for scatter). Great job on the weathering.

I'm enjoying my return to Dakka as It helps keep my best stuff in one place. Plus I like seeing peoples feedback and not having to dig through comments on instagram stories.

Nice job repurposing all that Guild Ball stuff!

It would be a shame to see you disappear from Dakka, but there's no denying that the place ain't what it used to be.

I understand completely graven. Dakka certainly isn't what it used to be. I think technology has just moved on and this format isn't as relevant as it used to be. That being said... I've never found it's equal on FB, Discord or whatever.

It would be terrible to see you go, but you should follow your instincts if you have better options.

Those Star Wars models are looking good I need to scrounge some for Stargrave and the random fantasy models for Carnevale are excellent as well.

It's always good to see your steady progress, graven.

blockade23 wrote:I love the cannon - I think I have the same farmer guild ball set from NOVA (I've used some parts for statues, others for scatter). Great job on the weathering.

I'm enjoying my return to Dakka as It helps keep my best stuff in one place. Plus I like seeing peoples feedback and not having to dig through comments on instagram stories.

Thanks man. I don't disagree, and instagram is a nightmare to navigate back through.

aku-chan wrote:Nice job repurposing all that Guild Ball stuff!

It would be a shame to see you disappear from Dakka, but there's no denying that the place ain't what it used to be.

Yeah, maybe I just have to accept that

Gitsplitta wrote:I understand completely graven. Dakka certainly isn't what it used to be. I think technology has just moved on and this format isn't as relevant as it used to be. That being said... I've never found it's equal on FB, Discord or whatever.

It would be terrible to see you go, but you should follow your instincts if you have better options.

You're a loyal friend as always, old chum. I know what you mean about discord etc. We need a new social media platform of our own!

Llamahead wrote:Those Star Wars models are looking good I need to scrounge some for Stargrave and the random fantasy models for Carnevale are ecxcellent as well.

Thanks mate. I love your heretical thoughts

Warboss_Waaazag wrote:It's always good to see your steady progress, graven.

Thanks man. It's nice to hear from folk.

The most recent Moonstone kickstarter, The Shades (undead and puppets) didn't really do much for me... apart from the ks exclusive mermaid Sen'ara

I really enjoyed this, tried to lean into rainbow trout colours

I have a lot of Clone Wars eta to paint for SW but wanted a breather.

So, in the meantime, quite a few ewoks.

Chief chirpa. I have been accessorising with some 3rd Ed gw jungly bits.

Wicket! Although something weird has happened and added some blue pixels that aren't there irl.

Paploo. I added a spare stormtroopers backpack from IA to his base for variety.

Logray. GSW tufts and Stirland mud help complete the bases.

Skirmishers. That's a LOT of browns. The same stormtrooper kindly donated his helmet to one of the bases.

Warriors. Like the Skirmishers, you're supposed to build the two groups the same but... nope.
And a friend


I really enjoyed her, and the gw stump made a good spot for the hat.

Yub Nub! Eecheemawa!
A fun force, looking forward to getting them on the table with all their traps and tricks. That just leaves threepio and artoo from those sets, but I might tackle Spectre or some Jedi next...or given that I'm in a swampy mood, maybe more serpentmen.

Off to Tabletop Scotland this weekend, should be a lot of fun.

Hey ho
Graven

Nice man-eating teddy bears

I'm afraid you must find tiny santa hats for a base of the Ewoks so they can represent the Star Wars Holiday special....

Cap'n Facebeard wrote:Nice man-eating teddy bears

Lol so true. I mean where did they even get those clothes for Leia?!

blockade23 wrote:I'm afraid you must find tiny santa hats for a base of the Ewoks so they can represent the Star Wars Holiday special....

Nooooooooooooooo! hohono?

Had a great time at Tabletop Scotland this weekend. The focus was very much boardgames, though even then there was less for sale than I expected. Didn't get much, some well-priced star wars Legendaries to finish off my set 2 was all really. However, I played a lot of new board games, including the unexpectedly excellent Lego Monkey Palace (lego board games are notoriously crap). Mando Adventures was also good fun.

I also signed up for a painting session, but it wasn't quite what I thought, more beginner level BUT you got a free mini of your choice from a selection of dwarves from a new company, Bifröst. Logically, I should've picked the bagpiper for my Blood Bowl team but in the end I just loved this model:

I have no specific for it whatsoever I'll maybe use it as an rpg character at some point. I'd also taken a couple of minis from the bits box so decided to speed paint all 3.

Again I have no actual use for the steam punk lady but the mask makes her so very Carnevale. She'll also work as a brimstone hero. It was mostly fun just using a half dozen paints and what you could blend. Then, finished them off with Army Painter strong tone. The pickaxe pirate skeleton will go in amongst Shadows of Brimstone as a coffin breaker (nigh indestructible skeletons) with a less old west feel for otherworlds. Threw some grass on the dwarf's base and texture pait on the skelly when I got them home. Mostly, nice to paint things for no reason other than feeling like it.

On the horizon is a lot of Shatterpoint: the crew of The Ghost; Luminara, Barris and Clone Commandos; Padmé and her handmaidens; Threepio and Artoo; and Mace, Wolf and ARF troopers. And then, after that, maybe some Rebellion era stuff. That being said, I still have serpentmen galore to tackle, and some Carnevale too; it's good to take a break between settings, so i shall simply follow my muse
Hey ho
Graven

Alright Rebel scum? Spurred on by the sad passing of James Earl Jones, a bit more star wars. I mean, given his legendary performance as Thulsa Doom, I should really paint some serpentmen, particularly as I have loads to do, but still.

We're doomed! I genuinely never realised one of threepio's legs was silver till I started looking at reference pics for this.

Continuing the Clone saga, with some crispy commandos. Fun to do, which surprised me.

I have Jedi and Padmé 's gang prepped and ready to go, and then I REALLY need to get on with Spectre.

Procrastinating? Moi?

Never

Graven

Procrastination? No, it is creative distraction. I'm working on this other productive thing instead of the productive thing I had planned to do.

I absolutely love the way the Ewoks turned out graven. Stellar work!

Warboss_Waaazag wrote:Procrastination? No, it is creative distraction. I'm working on this other productive thing instead of the productive thing I had planned to do.

Well said

Gitsplitta wrote:I absolutely love the way the Ewoks turned out graven. Stellar work!

You're way too kind, as always, but I'll take it

Yes, yes, I should be starting Spectre. But we've got the commandos, so better have the Jedi, right?

Luminara Unduli. She looks rather more severe than I intended, but I'm still pleased with her. And the padawan...

Bariss Offee. Oh, that cape. That was nightmarish, doing the blue grey ocelot pattern.

But honestly, I'm pretty happy with the result. I also enjoyed doing unusual skin tones on both. I have actually started the crew of the Ghost, or at leats their custom bases I've been making, but nothing worth sharing...yet
Graven

I can't help but read Barista Coffee

 inmygravenimage wrote:

I am very much in two minds about dakka. I'm not entirely sure I have the desire to post here any more.
On the one hand, it's a great as a receptacle. I have 9500+ images from 15 years of hobbying. Otoh, the community side of it really seems to have died down, which is a great shame. Partly it's the rise of social media, I suppose. Certainly, I think posting will be less frequent.

Hey Graven! I have fond memories of the Great Gitsplitta Mantis Warriors thread from back in the day and you were a big part of that. Dakka formed a really big part of the hobby experience back then. I drifted away, but returned to the hobby during Covid (who didn't) and had a similar experience on here. I started a P&M blog for a Necron force, but I stalled after realising it was just me posting into the void. Post after post with no reples. Do you find that the forum experience isn't just about posting to have a progress log, but it's also very much about the replies, the community, the feedback?

I have fond memories of posters from back then; ArbitorIan, KidKyoto, SilverMK2, yourself and Gitz.. The list goes on but I see not so many are still on the forum. I personally don't want to start an insta, or create a YouTube channel for this side of my life. I prefer the more linear, intimate experience a forum gives me. I will subscribe to the thread, but I totally agree with your points. If I can help to inspire your continued posting, I will!

I, too, find myself posting less and less, mostly because I'm not getting any gaming in these days, which has led to a slowdown on the hobby side. I still check in and admire everyone's work, though.

I am enjoying all your Star Wars stuff-- C3PO and R2D2 are spot on-- even though I don't know anything outside of the movies.

Nice work again on the Star Wars stuff!

Cap'n Facebeard wrote:I can't help but read Barista Coffee

Tek wrote:
Hey Graven! I have fond memories of the Great Gitsplitta Mantis Warriors thread from back in the day and you were a big part of that. Dakka formed a really big part of the hobby experience back then. I drifted away, but returned to the hobby during Covid (who didn't) and had a similar experience on here. I started a P&M blog for a Necron force, but I stalled after realising it was just me posting into the void. Post after post with no reples. Do you find that the forum experience isn't just about posting to have a progress log, but it's also very much about the replies, the community, the feedback?

I have fond memories of posters from back then; ArbitorIan, KidKyoto, SilverMK2, yourself and Gitz.. The list goes on but I see not so many are still on the forum. I personally don't want to start an insta, or create a YouTube channel for this side of my life. I prefer the more linear, intimate experience a forum gives me. I will subscribe to the thread, but I totally agree with your points. If I can help to inspire your continued posting, I will!

I agree absolutely about the need for feedback from the community, and it's about a lot more than self-congratulation and affirmation: whereas comments on social media tend to be, by their very nature, brief, they also seem to only operate at the extremes. Nuanced discussion and genuine, constructive feedback are rare. Granted that that's a problem, to an extent, of the Internet generally - to quote another old timer, MeanGreenStompa, Anonymity Breeds Aggression - but it's a shame that even dakka these days is quite quiet and abbreviated. And I freely admit that I'm as guilty of this as any.
Still, a pleasure to hear from you, and thanks for swinging by!

JoshInJapan wrote:I, too, find myself posting less and less, mostly because I'm not getting any gaming in these days, which has led to a slowdown on the hobby side. I still check in and admire everyone's work, though.

I am enjoying all your Star Wars stuff-- C3PO and R2D2 are spot on-- even though I don't know anything outside of the movies.

My hobbying, at least in play terms, is mostly cards and boardgames, though I dread what's going to happen even I that when eldest goes off to university this time next year
Glad you approve of my droids! After Rebels, next is Mace, probably, so you'll get your movie fix. Then back to imperials, probably, but I might tackle the New Hope Detention Block escape set.

aku-chan wrote:Nice work again on the Star Wars stuff!

Thanks! It pleases me to see how popular it is

Now at the start of the summer I foolishly joined the dakka Centrepiece challenge in the hope that it would motivate me to tackle the Wakanda terrain... it did not somehow, they're just not fun. But it's also because I have totally fallen out of love with MCP.
Actually that's not fair. I've NEVER loved the game, just the minis.
However, one of my mates, the YouTuber Northern Invasion Stu (check him out, he's awesome, for MCP and AoS) REALLY hates painting terrain, so I'm doing them for him... which pays for more star wars. so, first of all, the Battle for the Throne:

Now, yes, it's noticeably missing Black Panther and Killmonger - that's because he wants to paint them himself. Fair enough.

Next?

The Kingdom of Wakanda Terrain, starting with the lampposts. Nice enough I guess. Certainly have an afro futurist vibe.

The ancestral tree. Terrible instructions, and a pain to build. But it's certainly a tree.

And the Vibranium transporter. This is a REALLY good kit, with hinged doors and removable vibranium canisters.

This is a scenario piece too, where you can undertake a vibranium heist. I like that (finally) at least some of the terrain has in-game effects.

As for the other wakanda set...

The icons of Bast. Who doesn't like really big cats, after all?

And fonts of Bast. I managed to forget to install the basins so had to do a bit of fiddling to get them to fit, but got there in the end.

And the whole batch. The new owner's son is just getting into mcp, too, and he's working on Wakanda as a faction, so he'll be getting that lot for xmas. A good home indeed!

Right, enough procrastinating, better get on with some star wars
Graven

Wakanda is looking good!

You should be happy with those Jedi... they look seriously good.

Kid_Kyoto wrote:Wakanda is looking good!

Thanks man.

Gitsplitta wrote:You should be happy with those Jedi... they look seriously good.

Generous as always.

A wip update. How improbable.

I am making steady progress on Spectre but the sheer quantity of freehand is really intimidating.



All of zeb's stripes, and the various pad details on sabine, are all freehand. I mean I suppose it's a good challenge? I hate checks, especially that tiny. But objectively, I'm having to raise my game, I suppose.

These will be for this month's dakka contest, Absolute Unit. However, these are where most of the work will be, so it may end up being just the two of them.
Thoughts?
Graven

OMG Sabine is going to be such a challenge / fun paint job (depending on how you view it.

Good luck!

Tek wrote:OMG Sabine is going to be such a challenge / fun paint job (depending on how you view it.

Good luck!

Why not both thanks lol yeah it's traumatic, but... kinda in a good way?!