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I like the helmets too, but you can always paint their faces all bruised and beaten and put the helmets on the base as damaged bits.

Ah, sorry, meant no helmets! Had a migraine all day, brain still a bit fried!

That's a lot of Potter...

I vote helmets.

Theophony wrote:I like the helmets too, but you can always paint their faces all bruised and beaten and put the helmets on the base as damaged bits.

I like the helmets, but I wonder whether I need the bare heads to make it obvious who they are.

Paradigm wrote:Ah, sorry, meant no helmets! Had a migraine all day, brain still a bit fried!

That makes more sense lol

youwashock wrote:That's a lot of Potter...

I vote helmets.

Indeed, and noted!

Busy night. More blocking in done on Tom Riddle, Cho, some of Bane's Mercs (bit gutted promo Bane didn't come today, but he's en route), Colin Creavy and a bit on Hermione, Ginny and Luna. The approach, whilst dull, does mean that the pace picks up: 8 models finished -
Remus Lupin

Painted with English WW1 uniform and Luftwaffe Green. Surely an illegal combination?

Sirius Black

I reckon he only has really dated, 70s crushed velvet trousers.

Filch

Still struggling to find a good mini for Mrs Norris.

Tonks

Really pleased with her stonewashed grey jeans

Peter Pettigrew

I lost his hand, so I improvised

Mad-Eye Moody

Love the sculpt.

And Dobby

Although his vest is less yellow.

Plus The Riddler.

So chuffed with this guy - now I just need his DCU card.

Felthius and co got some more orange and more white

Next, green!

And remember, vote early, vote often... Or something
Graven

All looking good! You're not wrong about Sirius's trousers, painted mine in a very similar way (Sirius, that is, not trousers )!

Like the strong green on Riddler a lot, and yeah, wish KM would put the DCU cards up as well as the BMG ones, I have loads of stuff that could pull double duty and I'm not buying them again!

They all look great, my favs of the Potters are Moody and Tonks. Riddler looks like he just stepped off the comic book page. Of course more playthings for Papa Nurgle always makes me happy.

Which house was Riddler in, again? Sirius, Moody, and Tonks are my faves of this bunch. You are right about Moody. Fantastic sculpt.

Paradigm wrote:All looking good! You're not wrong about Sirius's trousers, painted mine in a very similar way (Sirius, that is, not trousers )!

Like the strong green on Riddler a lot, and yeah, wish KM would put the DCU cards up as well as the BMG ones, I have loads of stuff that could pull double duty and I'm not buying them again!

Ah velour, a manly fabric. As for cards, we're going to collate all the DCU cards over on the FB group, just haven't got round to it yet.

Yorkright wrote: They all look great, my favs of the Potters are Moody and Tonks. Riddler looks like he just stepped off the comic book page. Of course more playthings for Papa Nurgle always makes me happy.

Huzzah for Papa! Thanks, I wanted to go really bright and brash for Riddler: very much my DCU look.

youwashock wrote:Which house was Riddler in, again? Sirius, Moody, and Tonks are my faves of this bunch. You are right about Moody. Fantastic sculpt.

Well Ravenclaw's motto is Wit beyond Measure, isn't it? However, Slytherin is green - and Slytherin love the rules, in a Lawful Evil kind of way, which is so very Riddler. Moody is possibly my favourite HP sculpt.

I'm not going to get anything geeky done this weekend. I have my brother in law's stag today (Curry, VR super car racing, brewery tour, dinner in said brewery, more beer), and baking the wedding cake with the wife Sunday, definitely not with a hangover.

In the meantime, though, I started my Brokkr with the Illegal trait:

Deadzone Brokkr with GS pads. "Illegal" is an experience upgrade in Dreadball league play where you sneak weapons on to the pitch. Subtle, huh?

And started Eko'o, an MVP who is in no way a test for Man-Bat

Not sure what colour to go for his armour. Maybe dark purply blue, with some orange accents?


Slow and steady wins the race. Or at least obliterates the opposition

And, the other matter. 10 years a dakkanaut. Blimey.
Thanks to this amazing, supportive community, I'm a better builder and a less mediocre painter
So I thought I'd share a few of my favourite models from over the years tomorrow?

Till then,
Graven

Happy DakkaDakka Birthday

Don’t get too schlosched. The cake won’t absorb enough to sober you up.

The potter people are looking spot on. The Man-bat wannabe will look stunning in purple and orange.

You are crazy prolific graven... wow. Makes my fingers hurt just looking at all your output.

Graven's shelf of shame: 10th dakkaversary, a retrospective pic dump!

Theophony wrote:Happy DakkaDakka Birthday

Don’t get too schlosched. The cake won’t absorb enough to sober you up.

The potter people are looking spot on. The Man-bat wannabe will look stunning in purple and orange.

Thanks mate. Yeah, it was good. Not too inebriated. Great food, good beer, tolerable company

Gitsplitta wrote:You are crazy prolific graven... wow. Makes my fingers hurt just looking at all your output.

Crazy, certainly a quantity over quality.


So 10th Bloggiversary!
Well now.
My return to gaming proper all started with erithromycin suggesting I build a tank. I'd been faffing about with papercraft buildings with him and metropolis for Heroclix and Urban War but mostly, we rpg'd together.
So one thing led to another, and a lot of foamcore later...

Which became the centrepiece of a semi-successful Imperial Guard project.
I started by getting back into GW, as so many of us do. Don't worry, I'm not going to revisit everything but along the way a lot of fun was had. Mentor Legion, Sisters, Grey Knights, the usual hobby ADHD. Here's some personal favourites, in no real order:









I do like tanks


I went through a phase of hating gw flying bases.




But it wasn't all gw.

X-Wing was a saviour at a very difficult time: having got back into gaming, and painting, I ended up with crippling cramps and spasms in my right hand.

Repainting X-Wing, gradually, helped me get back. I've never quite recovered the level of control I was at, but good enough. It's slightly depressing to know that, at some point, the muscles will likely reach the point where they'll simply detach from my hand and render it useless (nasty, nasty condition) but that's a long way off. For now, pain and painting are manageable - Papa bless triangular barrelled brushes.

What would dakka be without its amazing community contests? The League of Extraordinary Riveters in particular have always pushed, challenged and excited.

Pringles tube and Giant lollipop

Ice cream tub and printer cartridges


And a blank cd box

Probably still one of the things I'm most proud of.

I do really enjoy working on scenery. I go through phases with it but there's been some fun projects over time.






I'd forgotten about this, experiment with paper and pva for peeling paint and rust. I'll be using that again for !







There's a theme...





I'm known round here for being a DC addict. Shamelessly so, in fact.









There came a point where hobby grew into something more, as I started blogging about being a geek dad over at bigcomicpage.com . This also acted as a legitimate funding stream to pay for my hobby. a big part of that was still DC, but other games have crept in over time.




























Not pulled anything from the last month or so, that seems excessive

Although it's not just DC. I like supers.


Mantic Games have always been really supportive of my blogging efforts. This is still one of my favourites of their walking dead sculpts


More recently, Dreadball, their sci-fi murder sport, has really become my game of choice. It's perfect with the kids who, as they've got older, are keen to play (my work here is complete!)




I've also been enjoying the sheer madness of modifying tiny toy cars.


And now, the circle is complete. Well, sort of, as just over a year ago all my geek friends got together for my 40th to bring me back to my true love












So there you go, a whistle stop tour of the decade chez Graven.
Hope you've enjoyed this, I have to say it was fun to go back through the old galleries and pick out stuff.
As I say perhaps too often - onwards!

Graven

Nice retrospective. Tons of cool stuff from over the years!

What a truly epic retrospective, quite the hobby journey you've been on. Inspiring enthusiasm and boundless creativity all across that collection, and I still reckon your urban terrain is some of the most atmospheric, varied and evocative out there. It's been a pleasure to follow along the last couple of years, though my wallet might disagree (*looks at DCUMG collection that is at least in part inspired by your work!* )

Here's to another decade!

Nice retrospective, congrats on the ten years! Hadn't realized we'd more or less started a blog at the same time...

A great review to look at Graven, thanks for taking the time to put it together to take a look at. I can't believe that baneblade is mostly foamcore and I remember that asteroid space station really standing out to me in one of the old LoER contest threads I read.

Happy Anniversary! Awesome look at your old stuff.

Great retrospective! Any more shots of your Not Avenger?

I have only been around a few years on Dakka, too see such a great collection of work is inspiring Graven. Happy Anniversary looking forward to see what you do in the coming years or decades.

Nevelon wrote:Nice retrospective. Tons of cool stuff from over the years!

Many thanks! Advantages of edited highlights

Paradigm wrote:What a truly epic retrospective, quite the hobby journey you've been on. Inspiring enthusiasm and boundless creativity all across that collection, and I still reckon your urban terrain is some of the most atmospheric, varied and evocative out there. It's been a pleasure to follow along the last couple of years, though my wallet might disagree (*looks at DCUMG collection that is at least in part inspired by your work!* )

Here's to another decade!

Thanks Para. Your painting continue to inspire and vaguely intimidate!

CommissarKhaine wrote:Nice retrospective, congrats on the ten years! Hadn't realized we'd more or less started a blog at the same time...

I know, right? Great minds think alike... And fools seldom differ

Syro_ wrote:A great review to look at Graven, thanks for taking the time to put it together to take a look at. I can't believe that baneblade is mostly foamcore and I remember that asteroid space station really standing out to me in one of the old LoER contest threads I read.

I do enjoy making stuff from random rubbish. The baneblade wheels are smoothie lids. I have some of the excellent MEdge sprues, I need to modify some cardboard soon.

youwashock wrote:Happy Anniversary! Awesome look at your old stuff.

Cheers buddy!

Kid_Kyoto wrote:Great retrospective! Any more shots of your Not Avenger?

Thanks! Magnetron? Sure:

I love the fig. Weirdly not fond of his hero twin, just a dull pose.

And with Punchline as they plan to take down Blue Scarab (who also doubles up as Black Canary for me). I've got a full Hero and the rest of a Villain team coming from the Supers Unlimited KS so expect more in the new year.

Yorkright wrote: I have only been around a few years on Dakka, too see such a great collection of work is inspiring Graven. Happy Anniversary looking forward to see what you do in the coming years or decades.

That's most kind of you chum!

Well, off we go again. Bit of Dreadball, working through MVPs

Thunder Chris. Quick job.


And Eko'o

Inexplicably a Guard. I suspect there is an FAQ required.

Look! A Dreadball glove! Clearly not a Guard. Tsk. That base is going to need a repaint

And The Veteran, a repeatedly rebuilt man

Grizzled and scuffed.
Model #300 this year. Not shabby.


Started a couple of other MVPs, captains etc, nothing to show yet though.

I have also painted a LOT of other grey. Working on the school uniform for the Hogwarts brigade: Hermione, Cho, Ginny, Luna, Tom Riddle, Colin Creavy, all got grey followed by nuln wash. Mind numbing but necessary. I was on a conference call at the time so at least the time was well spent they're actually getting close to done so expect them later this week, all things being equal.

Dc wise, I've decided I hate the 70s Starfire pornstar costume so will, despite having started the painting, be green stuffing her a new outfit. Bah. Serves me right for selling the last one I did. I've also started painting Eradicator in his rebirth look, which will be a challenge, as you'll see.

Thanks again for the support and kind words
Graven

Good work on all the many. Nice round-up, good show.

Fantastic stuff, graven. So much stuff done.

Thanks but I was actually thinking of this dude:



Looks like the Dark Angel fighter, some Valk engines and an extra set of wings?

Just scrolled through your retrospective, some really amazing stuff! Especially liked the Blanchitsu-style minis and the Jean-Paul Valley Batman!

Dr H wrote:Good work on all the many. Nice round-up, good show.

Cheers chief!

Warboss_Waaazag wrote:Fantastic stuff, graven. So much stuff done.

Much stuff! All the stuff!

Kid_Kyoto wrote:Thanks but I was actually thinking of this dude:

Looks like the Dark Angel fighter, some Valk engines and an extra set of wings?

Ah! It's in this gallery
https://www.dakkadakka.com/gallery/images-22619-29758_Ordo%20Hereticus.html
It's a converted corvus with many other bits, yes.

Viterbi wrote:Just scrolled through your retrospective, some really amazing stuff! Especially liked the Blanchitsu-style minis and the Jean-Paul Valley Batman!

Thanks! Long time since I've tackled that style of geedub to be fair. JPV is a great fig. Here's hoping for a new version in game.

Got on with Eradicator. I made a rod for my own back by going with this colour scheme

I don't know if I got the crackling energy fists right. It's comic accurate but I wonder if I'd've been better going with them black with yellow lighting on top.

I like the Cape though.

VJ royal purple wet blended up to crimson.

Hank Henshaw's (Cyborg Superman) will be done similarly, though over a black primer. Also, resculpting his chest to be a Yellow Lantern logo will be a beeatch. I may just fill it with GS and then paint on the new insignia.

Nice to get another one done. I mean I could've finished half a dozen Hogwarts pupils in the same time but still

Hey ho
Graven

Looking good! I think the energy hands work, they definitely look like an energy effect rather than just being yellow gloves thanks to fade, and matching the shade to the visor sells the effect.

Have you painted your Sinestro? If not, could you perhaps press-mould the corps insignia from him for Henshaw? Possibly far too involved, but I'd not wanting to sculpt it from scratch!

Happy Anniversary! You've had a busy 10 years!

Love Riddler (I'm a big Riddler fan) and that is a sweet shabby brown suit on Lupus.

Glowy hands and eyes Good! I like that cloak, may have to try that effect of starting out deep purple and work it up to red.

Energy hands work for me. Very nice use of the comic book scheme, though I can imagine it being a pain in the butt!

Paradigm wrote:Looking good! I think the energy hands work, they definitely look like an energy effect rather than just being yellow gloves thanks to fade, and matching the shade to the visor sells the effect.

Have you painted your Sinestro? If not, could you perhaps press-mould the corps insignia from him for Henshaw? Possibly far too involved, but I'd not wanting to sculpt it from scratch!

Cool, cheers. I have painted mine, I asked Compel as I know he had an unpainted one but he reckons it's too tiny. I might simply draw the logo with a micron pen. Or I could just risk vaseline over my painted one and give it a go, I guess.

aku-chan wrote:Happy Anniversary! You've had a busy 10 years!
Love Riddler (I'm a big Riddler fan) and that is a sweet shabby brown suit on Lupus.

Many thanks. I much prefer this new model to the previous comic and Arkham versions. And thanks, that was the aim

Yorkright wrote: Glowy hands and eyes Good! I like that cloak, may have to try that effect of starting out deep purple and work it up to red.

It's actually pretty easy. Give it a shot and show us how it goes!

It's cake time again, wedding cake no less. Oh, the unimaginable hell. Who knew I'd be looking forward to Xmas as being LESS stressful?!

Anyway, have a pair of Ravenclaws:


Luna and Cho. The blue should possibly be darker, may hit it with some nightshade. Tom Riddle and Colin Creavy are nearly there too. I'm not sure I care if these are perfect - I just want them done.

I was looking back over my 2017 retrospective, where I did 180 models. I'd aimed in 2018 to double that, and hit over 400. I don't think I'll hit those heights, but having topped 300 now this year, the idea of averaging a model a day certainly has appeal. I'm not going to be bound to it - that's 62 models in the next month - but I'll have a stab.

New edition of BMG is coming out - Back to Gotham.

£130/$170
A lot of the money - but a lot of money. This may be the end of BMG for me. Depends if the game is actually fast enough to play now.
Ah well, there's always DCU,
Graven

Third edition so quick after second (at least that’s how it feels), the larger bases and not being able to substitute models (that’s the wrong Batman for those rules ) really hurts the game for new players.

Really like the latest work. Commenting more on Facebook now than here......there are people to blame ....none of them here .