34 - A Different Kind of Hobby Project

I have taken a bit of a hiatus the last few weeks.  I think I got a little hobby burn out.  I did manage finish up a project that I had been thinking about for a while in that time.  I have always wanted to make a nice gaming table.  However room in the old apartment did not really make it feasible. Even with the new house I wanted to keep space in mind too.

The first way I though to help with space was to make the legs removable.   This had two benefits.  One: it is easier for storage.  I can take the legs off and hide it behind a door or couch.  Two:  I could put the table on top of my coffee table when we play board-games (sitting on the couch to play makes it feel more casual to me). 

I made the gaming area 3x3.  I have the old GW Realm of Battle 6x4 table and a fold-able 4x4 foam table if I need something larger.  I am playing mostly Batman and the DCU.  I also want to play some more Malifaux and Tanks!.  All of which play on a 3x3. 

However these games all have a lot of accessories (stat cards, tokens, effects etc) so I wanted a place to put these that is off the gaming area.  So I added a 1x3 section on the end of the table (it also serves as a place to put drinks and snacks).

I put on a few coats of stain and some more coats of varnish.  All that was left was to pick up a gaming mat for it, which I did last week at Lords of War Games and Hobbies. 

Now I just have to find some time to play a game on it.

I am feeling the itch to get some painting done again soon.  Not sure what I will start with.  I have been reading alot of Through the Breach material...maybe something Malifaux...

Kevin

33/100 - Coughing Henry and Dori Walk into a Bar...

I got another two models painted up this week.  After finishing Tiffany last week I was still on a Discworld kick (lets face it, I am always on a Discworld kick), so I started to paint Coughing Henry.  He is the forth and last member of the Canting Crew.  I painted the other three members, Foul Ol'Ron, Arnold Sideways and the Duckman a few years back.  I am going to start on a diorama display box for the crew.  Since I always remember the Canting Crew from the Hogfather book, I am going to do a snowy Anhk-Morpork Hogswatch scene. 

I was also able to finish another Dwarf for my Hobbit project.  This time I went with Dori (not to be confused with the fish).

I have a special project on the go right now.  Hopefully I will have it done by the end of the weekend.  Waiting for things to dry sucks!

Kevin

31/100 - Tiffany Aching

I finished up another model that had been sitting on my painting desk for a few years now, Tiffany Aching from MicroArts Discworld line.  I have been very impressed with these models.  They have so much character.  I would like to paint them all eventually!

Almost twenty years ago I worked part time at a local bookstore.  I was the only male employee and the only person who read science fiction and fantasy.  So I was given that section of the store to care for.  Now back then I had really just started to read as a hobby.  I was mainly reading Dragonlance, R.A Salvatore and some Black Library (GW) stuff.  Mid way through the store's collection sat a few books by an author that I had not read, Terry Pratchett.  In a sea of dark covers depicting warriors and wizards, Pratchett's books always stood out.  The covers were all done by either Josh Kirby or Paul Kidby.  They tended to be very bright with over accentuated cartoony characters (I will always remember the 5th Elephant cover on the shelf).  I picked up a book called Mort and I have been hooked ever since.  No other artist/writer has influenced my life to the extent that Pratchett has.


Originally, I picked up the Wee Free Men because of the cover.  It was a mass of little blue pixies with red hair and wearing kilts.  These were the Nac Mac Feegles.  They are a cross between Braveheart and Fragglerock.  They were kicked out of the fairy world for being drunken and belligerent.  Due to a series of events that do not need explaining at this juncture they have sworn to protect Tiffany. 

Tiffany Aching is the central character to five books, The Wee Free Men, Hat Full of Sky, Wintersmith, I Shall Wear Midnight and the Shepherds Crown (Pratchett's final book before his death).  Tiffany is a young witch.  In the Wee Free Men she is only 9 years old.  She is a young girl that comes from a land that is not known for producing witches.  On the Discworld witches are stereotypical "witchy"; black hats, warts, flying broomsticks etc).  However they are (in most places) respected healers and authority figures, but still a little feared. Over the events of the five books we see Tiffany go from a young child to full witch in her early twenties.  

Over the years my interests changed.  While I still love the Feegles, Tiffany's journey became more captivating to me.  She is a strong young woman.  She asks questions and always wants to learn.  You could argue that her greatest power is how clever she is.  Tiffany does not run away when she is scared.  If she is protecting the ones she loves she will risk her own life and face any challenge.  I really like that Tiffany also does not conform with people just to fit in.  All other witches wear black.  Not Tiffany, she says she will wear black when she is old, but for now (with all that she has seen) she has had enough of darkness (paraphrased from I Shall Wear Midnight).

Tiffany Aching is a great role model for young girls, and also for everyone else.  I started to read the Tiffany books to my daughter.  She is only five months old but I can only hope that some of Tiffany's essence will sink in.  

I only have two Discworld Models left unpainted.  I think one of them is going to get painted next to finish his "crew".  

Kevin