There Was An Easier Way

What's up social distanced virus fighters?  Here is the update on what I have been doing for a week and a half.....

I started my Magma Giant and I was 80% done when I looked at it and went.... naaaah.  This is awful.  Truth be told, it wasn't, but in the process of painting it, I learned so much that the earlier work didn't stand up to the later work.  So I put the mini in a tub of soylent green, er I mean simple green, and voila!  I can start over.  I put about 20 hours into it, but this next time around I know it will be much quicker and it will look more like the vision I had in my head.  I found several easier ways to make the lava effects without as much paint or hassle.  So- to be continued.

After my debacle, I was a bit demoralized.  I decided to pep myself up and watch a few painting videos on youtube.  I really connected with two youtubers and they got me off my ass and back to painting quick.  If you get a chance, you should check them out.  They are Squidmar Miniatures and Miniac. 

On that note I am adding a new section to the bottom of my posts called, "The Thing I Learned This Week".  This week's lesson came from watching some of the videos on youtube.

I did complete three sets of miniatures on Tuesday and Wednesday.  The first is a sculpt from Reaper miniatures.  It came in a wild west set that I purchased a few years ago.  The thing I like most about my work was how the jacket and vest look.  I like the detail on the pocket chain as well. I am not happy that I missed an obvious mold line on the back of the hat.  grrr

Next up is the Gate to Another World.  I have six of them, and this was the practice model.  The stones came out fantastic, but I still want to work on the mystical lettering.  I want it to shimmer even more.  I have used some different paints, and will keep on trying until I get the right effect.  In the photo, I put some models which I completed a few years back. One is from the wild west set- the Bandida- and the others are two stranglers from Shadows of Brimstone. 

Last up are three gun turrets from the Brimstone set Derelict Ship.  I used glow effects and some minimal highlighting.  I went around and around on the red "eye" in the sensor.  I tried all different colors, but red was the most striking.  It is hard to tell, but it sparkles when the light hits it.  I wanted a cylon feel to the whole thing.

And there you have it.  Today I will be picking up my airbrush and attempting again to tackle the beast that is the Magma Giant. 

THE THING I LEARNED THIS WEEK-  Don't paint everything as if it was display quality.  I really have to take that to heart.  I second guess myself all the time and then end up giving up because I am tired of spending so much time on each miniature.  Tabletop quality is fine for most minis I paint.  period.  rob are you listening?  put the brush down and step away from the table.

 Until next post- stay safe and healthy!
Rob

New Project - Magma Giant

I started building and painting the Magma Giant for Shadows of Brimstone.  The model was easy enough to build.  The pieces fit well, with only a few gaps.  But due to the lava nature of the model, it wasn't necessary to fill all of them.  They will just become pools where magma coalesces.  The painting is a challenge.  I primed it using my air brush in red primer.  This made it easier, on one hand, to get that lava feel.  But there will be a ton of dry brushing with black to make the parts where the magma has turned to rock.  I've completed one hand and the three plates that cover parts of the body.  Now to paint the main model and then assemble all of it.  The white lines are white primer where yellow will go to flesh out the rivers of hot molten magma.  I like the sound of that.  I am sure I could have used my airbrush to do the whole model.  That was my first thought, but I need more brush work and air brush skills (especially in thinning paint so as to not clog up the airbrush).  It is taking a long time, but I really am enjoying it.  I'm sure I will repaint parts of it once it is all together.  I know there had to be an easier way!

Album Of The Week and Black Fang Done!

 Up this week for the album of the week (ish) is a classic from Clannad.  Clannad is an Irish group that gained fame and popularity in the 80's.  They started as a traditional Irish music group.  Their name means "family" in Gaelic.  They are the brothers and sisters of another Irish superstar - Enya.  While not the first album to integrate their traditional celtic sound with modern popular music, that would be Magical Ring with the mega hit "Harry's Game", it was the first to gain my attention.  Check out the duet with Bono on "In A Lifetime".  I love this album.


BLACK FANG COMPLETED

Also, the Black Fang Tribe are finally done.  The Black Fang Tribe live in the canyons of Brimstone and in the Blasted Wastes.  They consume darkstone for mystical powers and this has mutated them and driven them mad.  Their tell-tale characteristics are white eyes full of void energy and darkstone stained lips.  I am really happy with the cohesion of the unit as a whole.  I worked hard on the feathers and the darkstone feel of the amulets, axes, and mouths.  They still look like little boys who ate too much blueberry pie, but I am happy overall.  I added a few details to the bases with skulls and rocks.  Next up is a character miniature and the Magma Giant.  It had been so long since I painted, my skills got rusty but with the shutdown of schools I have at least two straight weeks to practice.  There has to be an easier way...

Prezcon and Shadows

I went to a convention this past weekend called Prezcon.  Prezcon is a boardgaming convention that has the Winter National Tournaments for several well known games including Settlers of Catan.  I just go for the open gaming.  My buddies AJ, Dan, and Alan went also.  We played a ton of games and I did get to put Shadows of Brimstone on the table.
So here's the problem... there is so much stuff with Shadows that it is easy to get overwhelmed in detail.  I just brought some of the miniatures and sets, but I see now that I still brought too much.  I think the game just does not lend itself to travel.  We had fun, but it was not the "Wow!" experience I was hoping to convey.  The mini's did look kickin', so I was happy with that.
I am almost finished with the Black Fang Tribe and I will get some pics up soon of them.  I am experimenting with some custom bases using Green Stuff World's Textured Rolling Pins.  I am really jazzed to try them out.
On the right, I am playing some of my favorite albums from Spotify.  I like a variety of genres so check it out. You might find a hidden gem to add to your collection!  Last week was a concept Album by Ayreon.  It tells of a doomed world and the rebirth of an entire race.  Ayreon is the brain child of Arjen Lucassen.  He is an incredibly talented musician and well respected in the metal/progressive rock community.  This week features Mandalla by Kitaro.  This is classified as New Age- but it is so much more than that.  Kitaro is from Japan, and his music has won awards for the past thirty years.  I hope you enjoy!
Rob