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So many wonderful toys!

Theophony wrote:Good start on Dredd.

Doctors really know how to drink. I’ve seen the aftermath of Doctor parties first hand.

LOL I bet you have. Dredd's coming along, I was a bit wary of the brighter colour palette I'm using but I think it's working.

shasolenzabi wrote:So many wonderful toys!

TOO many wonderful toys

A pretty chill weekend, not a huge amount done between work and alcohol
I made some further progress on the big Drokker. Then I got fed up and cut his base off.

And here's a whole new batch of them, using the MEdge sprue 2

The Street judge at the back won't get removed from his handy step, just some nice rubble. I don't mind *some* of them being on the awful ovals - there's half a dozen where the ovals are just too well superglued onto the bases to be extracted - I'll just milliput/rubble/scatter terrain around them.

I did, however, get the chance to play D&D with my sons. We'd bought my eldest the Stranger Things D&D intro set for his birthday, much to his delight. I'd heard mixed reviews about it, but thought we'd give it a go, with him running and me and #2 playing.
The Good: Good mix of pre-gen characters, we took the half-Orc Ranger and Wood Elf Cleric. Intro rulebook covers all the basic mechanics. Good maps and range of encounters in the adventure. The Demogorgon minis are fun, too. My son enjoyed running it and they're both keen to play again.
The Bad: Lots of passing of rulebook back and forth, especially to cover spells. Given, though, that the character sheets are double-sided, a quick ref on the back would have made much more sense than the random guff that's there. More generally, there's not actually much guidance on *running* the game (as in Now Read This To the Players), though I could help with that. Also, the whole process of "finding" the final boss is needlessly convoluted, to the point that even the 9 year old pointed out, "Why couldn't we just go to there in the first place?"
The Ugly: the final encounter (#spoileralert) is to all intents unwinnable. Whilst there are a couple of encounters that feel dangerous - swarm of skeletons, bad news for 3rd level characters, and the Demogorgon is properly terrifiying - we *just* survived through judicious use of items and healing. However, when you have a final creature that, with a single average roll on its first attack will kill 2 PCs outright, and no sense of how to plan or outwit it, you're doomed. Yes, the big boss should be terrifying, but having now looked back over the adventure there's really no way to realistically beat it - at least as introductory game for new players. My younger son was really upset that this had ended this way and the older was frustrated that the scenario just fizzled out.

Still, it was broadly successful, because he then used the last of his Xmas money to buy the PHB off amazon I just think it's a shame that they couldn't make a better product overall that capitalised on the TV show.

Oldest also got some more work on the Caprica Centurions done:

4 stage metal drybrushes (gunmetal, oily steel, chainmail, mithril). They're already looking better than the ones he did last year, so it'll be interesting to see how the team look all together.

Hey ho, this week will mostly involve a lot of rebasing,
Graven

The shading on Dredd really helps tone him down and bring him into the darker universe I see him come from.

I saw the stranger things starter box, but figured it was just typical cash grab. Never thought they would put too much into it.

The metal guys are looking good.

Nice use of the Medge terrain sprue .

 Theophony wrote:
The shading on Dredd really helps tone him down and bring him into the darker universe I see him come from.

I saw the stranger things starter box, but figured it was just typical cash grab. Never thought they would put too much into it.

The metal guys are looking good.

Nice use of the Medge terrain sprue .

Cheers on all fronts mate. Boy did a good job on them.

It is a bit of grab but it did the job. Some decent-ish content.

The MEdge stuff is so handy!

Did a little proof of concept, because as you may remember I LOATHE flight stands.



Yeah, reckon that works. More MEdge bits to make a rooftop to cover it I think.

It’s not a bird, it’s not a plane, who the is that? (Seriously, what figure is that?)

Love how Dredd is turning out.

Geez I don’t check in for a bit and you have all these minis started or finished! Congrats on getting 365 finished for the year.
Thanks for the gift too, khorne will be pleased. :-)

 Theophony wrote:
It’s not a bird, it’s not a plane, who the is that? (Seriously, what figure is that?)

It is the Homer Blint, Bat Glider mini from the Denizens of Mega City One pack.

Graven..Da Machine. Your output is remarkable.

Bat glider. An essential and efficient way to traverse Gotham!

Theophony wrote:It’s not a bird, it’s not a plane, who the is that? (Seriously, what figure is that?)

CptJake wrote:
It is the Homer Blint, Bat Glider mini from the Denizens of Mega City One pack.

Yeah lol, I know. Homer Blint, he's a justice dept informant who discovers his wife is a serial killer, and ends up helping her.

youwashock wrote:Love how Dredd is turning out.

Cheers mate. More to come

Yorkright wrote: Geez I don’t check in for a bit and you have all these minis started or finished! Congrats on getting 365 finished for the year.
Thanks for the gift too, khorne will be pleased. :-)

You're most and more than welcome The 365 paint challenge is this metamorphosing into something slighty different, which is a 365 hobby challenge (needs a #hashtag); I'm also documenting this on instagram.

Solar_lion wrote:Graven..Da Machine. Your output is remarkable.

Bat glider. An essential and efficient way to traverse Gotham!

Very wise indeed!

Today's efforts:

So I've attached the clip to the base, threaded through the mesh and attached accordingly. This will probably get a panel or fan or something also, to give a sense of a rooftop, and then get primed up with the others.

Speaking of which...

He's getting there. Might add some colour to the base, bit of yellow or something.

And the rest of this batch

All going to look much better, I reckon.

Tomorrow's job: highlight Dredd, get him on his base

Picked up the Ground Assets for Aeronautica today. Yay, more stuff
Graven

Great to see the MEdge terrain sprues getting some love, Graven. I'm intrigued by the Judge Dredd stuff...I've pledged not to buy any games or minis (or Kickstarters) in 2020....so I'm restraining myself for now....same goes for Aeronautica...I love the models, the theme, and the scale (I've got the Forgeworld game and a few resin squadrons...Tau, Imperial..still unpainted!)...but I spent a ton of money on Titanicus and still have only just 'mostly' built a few of the models...haven't played a game yet!

I'm trying to focus on stuff I've got and had sitting untouched for far too long...so I'll enjoy these minis vicariously through your plog for now!

Fango wrote:Great to see the MEdge terrain sprues getting some love, Graven. I'm intrigued by the Judge Dredd stuff...I've pledged not to buy any games or minis (or Kickstarters) in 2020....so I'm restraining myself for now....same goes for Aeronautica...I love the models, the theme, and the scale (I've got the Forgeworld game and a few resin squadrons...Tau, Imperial..still unpainted!)...but I spent a ton of money on Titanicus and still have only just 'mostly' built a few of the models...haven't played a game yet!

I'm trying to focus on stuff I've got and had sitting untouched for far too long...so I'll enjoy these minis vicariously through your plog for now!

Cheers! I need to get at least one MEdge-y building done also for the Big Meg. Aeronautica needs the boost of some more releases. Whilst I like it in its own right, it's not at all clear that you either need the Rynn's world book or card decks pretty much from the get-go to have all the units. I got the book, but actually the cards would've been more useful.

Well, I think I'm ready to call big Joe done:

Many highlights, plus done a bit of yellow for contrast on the base.

Trying to catch a comic aesthetic, the big brash colours of the Megazine and the McMahon era. Although I started mid 80s, it wasn't till I was about 12 I regularly bought 2000AD, and remember the Megazine starting. I read a LOT of Dredd in the 90s...

Blint has jumped up the paint queue, as I'm quite taken with the experiment.

Chest filled and base primed.

But I've got some nurglings on the go also, using various left-over nurglings to make a fresh set of 3:

Hanging off the base front-right is a test fig, he's not attached or anything. The solitary nurgling primed green is from Mortarion, he's going on the middle base (drunken nurgling sports party, or something).

A little a day,
Graven

Drunken nurgling sports party .

Big Joe is looking great with the highlights.

Theophony wrote:Drunken nurgling sports party .

Big Joe is looking great with the highlights.

Nurglings ALWAYS remind me of football fans (and I use that in the American sense of the sport). I might give them a couple of gs pennants / scarves also. I'm not a sports fan of any type, but I might try to get some sort of reference in there. They are really just for fun.

Thanks about JD. I've made a rod for my own back doing the striped buckle though

Right, where was I?
Well, last night I had an hour and half to myself, and was feeling pretty wound up, so decided to chill with a good beer (I've switched my monthly Brewdog shareholder beer subscription to be more focused, so last night it was Dogma, a Heather Honey ale, 7.2%, - exceedingly impressed)

First, got my set of Nurglings done:

They were a lot of fun, in the end.

Oops, shoddy pic. Blame the beer

And the big job, Homer Blint with his bat-glider:

And a better view of the secret flight stand

And of the glider wings

So much wet blending.

Talking of tests, I had an absolute blast with this lovely lady:

East Meg agent (or spy for any game, really). Fantastic fig, really love it.

Very, very thin black wash over the pale grey primer, with thinned tan and white for highlights.

But these were also a test for this:

And especially this

Yes, I have started this beast of a model. The grey of the suit is next, so now I may start taking it back with thinned black and build up to sharper highlights. I'm liking the very soft dark grey-blue, and how well it highlights (eg along the front line of the boots). Also I think that brown was a good choice for the bats.

Weekend is likely to be proper crazy - celebrating my brother-in-law's birthday tomorrow, and my mum's Sunday - but we'll see, might try to get started on the Street Gang for JD. Expect lots of lime green and/or the other Denizens of MC1 - Oola Blint, Homer's killer missus, Footsie and Karl Raider (vigilante ex-judge).
I was thinking I was taking things slow, but I've actually averaged a model a day already this year how did I do that? I'm not trying to necessarily maintain this pace, but it's quite encouraging.
I figured out what the multi-coloured Ork Air Waagh plan was: The Rain-Boom Waagh-riors, each painted a different colour and then heavily weathered. Sounds like a job for the kids

Later,
Graven

Great start on the Batman centerpiece. Brown bats are very appropriate and will help focus the sight on the main man.

Skittles Orks taste the Rain-Boom!

Theophony wrote:Great start on the Batman centerpiece. Brown bats are very appropriate and will help focus the sight on the main man.

Skittles Orks taste the Rain-Boom!

Cheers and dat's da idea!

Had a bit of time so got a bit more done on multibats:

Just building up the greys atm,

The Angel of Death (nope, not a 40k thing) done: Oola, Homer's wife

Tricky model to photograph. Damn hat.

Fun with comic book highlights

Meet the Blints!


A totally self-serving reminder for y'all to check out insta.graven over on Instagram, where I'm attempting to document #365challenge. Shameless plug :thumbup:

Best
graven

Wonderful to look in and rummage through so much great work. Been lurking, thought I better show signs of life.

Sheesh I don’t check in and again you have painted more than I do in a month. It’s all looking good Grave especially that Batman.

That Bat. Magnificent.

Nice work! Those Dredd minis look a lot better than the store pictures implied, I may have to get myself a set of Dark Judges.

Camkierhi wrote:Wonderful to look in and rummage through so much great work. Been lurking, thought I better show signs of life.

Most kind old chum. Lurk away, though lovely to hear from you.

Yorkright wrote: Sheesh I don’t check in and again you have painted more than I do in a month. It’s all looking good Grave especially that Batman.

Quiet you. You're plugging away at lovely stuff there is to be no hobby guilt here

youwashock wrote:That Bat. Magnificent.

You're exceedingly generous. See what you think of the finished article below.

aku-chan wrote:Nice work! Those Dredd minis look a lot better than the store pictures implied, I may have to get myself a set of Dark Judges.

They are remarkably good sculpts, and for all the material is a bit weird it holds the detail well. They've not yet done a full set of Dark Judges, just original appearance of Death in the Arch-villains.

A lot more on multibats. Belt, knee hole filled. Got bored, decided to try to finish him off.

More on the Cape.

Yeah, calling it done.

Started on the blocking in on the other judges.

Yes, the ancient Hershey fig looks TINY!
Working on the last 2 denizens, a rogue judge and futsie:

And blocking in the gangers too.

I reckon Keith Richards is my gang boss

Bases for Aeronautica into prime; planes next!
Onwards, if not upwards,
Graven

Bat and the bats came out stunningly. Liking the highlights. Very dynamic pose requires a stunning paint job. Very nice.

Love your work on Cthulhu Batman! All that hard work you've spent improving your painting, experimenting and pushing yourself is really paying off. I agree with you on the spy figure... really good sculpt and you've done a fantastic job with it! Keep it going Graven! You set the standard!

Batman came out great. Like the lighter tones on him instead of all the dark gritty.

Oh the humanity! That Judge on the bike went into reverse and plowed over the other judges. Who will protect Mega City now?

Ancient Heresy Judge will be fine once he get Primarisarized like the other Judges.

Yeah, Hershey looks like she is about one base too short. I have had an old Dredd for years, with no idea what to do with him because he is so tiny. Maybe paint him up one day and let him hang out with the 25 mm western guys so he doesn't get scared. I also have the Foundry version, which is a lot more modern in size.

Batman rules! Great work!

Solar_lion wrote:Bat and the bats came out stunningly. Liking the highlights. Very dynamic pose requires a stunning paint job. Very nice.

Many thanks indeed.

Gitsplitta wrote:Love your work on Cthulhu Batman! All that hard work you've spent improving your painting, experimenting and pushing yourself is really paying off. I agree with you on the spy figure... really good sculpt and you've done a fantastic job with it! Keep it going Graven! You set the standard!

I feel like I'm trying to get back to the standard I was a couple of years ago. Long journey, not there yet. However, I appreciate the kind words. Yeah, the spy is a cracker.

Theophony wrote:Batman came out great. Like the lighter tones on him instead of all the dark gritty.

Oh the humanity! That Judge on the bike went into reverse and plowed over the other judges. Who will protect Mega City now?

Ancient Heresy Judge will be fine once he get Primarisarized like the other Judges.

thanks re the bat. There will no doubt be a Hershey resculpt or two, given she's Chief Judge now.

youwashock wrote:Yeah, Hershey looks like she is about one base too short. I have had an old Dredd for years, with no idea what to do with him because he is so tiny. Maybe paint him up one day and let him hang out with the 25 mm western guys so he doesn't get scared. I also have the Foundry version, which is a lot more modern in size.

Batman rules! Great work!

I'm sure I could find a home for a Dredd or two thanks again.

Many thanks indeed one and all. Starting to get the quality, as well as quantity, back.

What have I been up to? Well not an enormous amount, really. Work is super busy. Marking papers, trying not to get fired... the usual.

So. Prepping up Aeronautica Imperialis, all the planes are built and primed light grey for both sides, and the bases black.

I've done the orky bits to go over the AI logo (single toof for dakkajets, two teef for fighter bommaz and, eventually, grot bommaz). I've also built the ground assets. I'm so sick of tiny tiny rockets...

I'm going to have to paint something now

Anon
Graven

Centerpiece batman turned out sweet.

How does the Aeronautica play? I have a copy of the old rules somewhere. Never got around to trying it.

It's a nice wee game. The old version is a straight reskin of Wings of War/Glory. This has a different, though similar, maneuver mechanic. Good fun, proper beer and pretzels, still some balance issues to work out though.

Oh, I did not realize that. The classic WWI fighter plane game for me was always Dawn Patrol/Fight in The Skies. It's been so long though I have completely forgotten how to play it.