17 - Fistfull of Script

With all my Adepticon projects done I had an open workbench for painting projects and excitement to start something new.  There are a bunch of models that I want to work on, but I thought I would start with painting up some models to represent the player characters in my Through the Breach campaign that I have been running.

I leaned heavily on the western tropes in the introductory session, and Malifaux definitely has a weird west feel to it.  I was trying to figure out what models to use.  Most of what I have lying around are too generic fantasy or to sci-fi.

I then remembered that a friend gave me some old western models a while ago when I was giving Warhammer Wild West a try.  I went through those and found a few that would work well.

I was looking for 2 models with long arms (rifles or shotguns) and one with a pistol.  I was hoping to get a katana on the one with the pistol but did not have one on hand (it can always be added later).

The models are nice a simple, they painted up fairly quickly.

In addition to painting the models I worked on a different project.  I made a small portable airbrush spray-booth.  I used some plywood, a small ventilation/cooling fan, and a furnace filter.  It feels like it has some decent airflow through the filter, I am looking forward to giving it a try.

Kevin

9 - Back on the Horse

It has been another long break from the blog, and painting for the mater.  I have had a difficult time since October sitting down to paint.  Call it painters block if you will.  After I finished up my Justice League Dark last fall, I started to work on my first ever large size bust.  This was supposed to be Christmas present for a friend.  It was a new medium, and I was trying out some new techniques and styles.  Some parts I really liked and seemed to click, while others were frustrating.  It took a lot longer then I expected and I burned out a little trying to get it done (which I still have yet to do, as soon as I am back from Adepticon!).

That is the thing with trying out something new.  You may not be great at it right away.  It will take some trial and error.  But most importantly, you have to give yourself time to practice it.  I tend to get discouraged if I don't get something quickly (especially if I feel that I don't understand the concepts).  I am trying to relax a bit more, and let myself make errors.  Finish the model and move on to the next and keep trying and experimenting. 

The other hurtle I experienced was the sleep regression of my daughter.  I love my daughter, and our bedtime routine.  We cuddle and read some books, then sing some songs.  But when we changed her bed from a crib to a toddler bed, bedtime became a bit of a struggle.  Some nights bedtime would take and hour and half.  By the end of it, I was physically and emotionally drained.  I could not fathom picking up a brush during those times.  Which in itself was depressing, because I always painted to relax.  But then combining this with the above mentioned self loathing at my skill level, it did not create a good creative environment. 

Luckily, my daughters sleep routine is much better.  I have also made a conscience effort to not be as hard on myself (Hobby wise at least).  So it has been a productive couple weeks, as I rush to get things ready for Adepticon. 

I made a new dicebox/display board for my crew for the Batman tournament.  I also made another box for my Malifaux Death Marshals for the Henchman Hardcore.

Last up was to paint some Marvel models.  I did a quick "one sitting" paint up of Black Widow.  I really like her in the game, but I really do not like this model.  But it was simple and a good entry point to start.

I then wanted to try something new.  I set up my airbrush and painted up Ironman.  I did a basecoat of Scale75 Black metal and then did a zenithal highlight with Heavy metal.  Afterwards I sprayed Citadel Spiritstone Red over the whole model to give it the candy red look.  I then picked out some silver and gold and tried to paint the glowing effect.  This felt good.  I was trying new things, it was not perfect (the candy red coat is really streaky and I still don't like how I paint gold), but I powered through and I am very happy with the results.  I think I have learned new things for the next time I try the glowing effect or the candy red too.

I also finished painting the Winter Soldier.  This was a great example of just pushing though and finishing a model.  I was not liking how he was turning out as I was painting him.  I was try out some Citadel contrast paints over a white/black zenithal.  The model was looking very flat and plain (he is a soldier, he is mostly, grey, black and metal).  But once I painted the face/hair and the arm, I started to get excited about it again.  I got a second wind, fixed up a few things, added some more details.  It is one of my favorite things I have painted in a while now. 

Up next is Vison and some more of the Avengers!     

Kevin

Week Three done: Harley Quinn Ronin

I finished up my week three model last night: a single Ronin. It should be an interesting model to add to my force.  She is the same soulstone cost as my Torakage and has a very similar stat line.  However with "Hard to Kill" and "Stand Ground" she will have more survivability than the softer Torakage. She is also good on offence with a average range attack and a close combat attack that ignores armour (plus "Flurry").  She will typically be used as an objective blocker as apposed to an objective scorer (which with the Torakage superior movement fits that role better).

This model really reminds me of Harley Quinn from Batman Arkham City game. So I wanted to try something new and painted her after Harley.  I figured the Ronin (theme-wise and game-wise) would be a hired sword and would not necessarily need to be wearing the baby blue of my ten thunders.  I did want to incorporate it a bit though, so the sword hilts and the hair ties it in subtly.

I tried two different techniques for doing the diamond pattern on the stockings.  I read online to use a filed sharp retractable pencil to draw the lines.  This did not work for me, I had a hard time getting the lines to show up and keep them straight on the curved legs.  So I ended up going with good old free hand.

To tie it in with Harley Quinn I went with a white face makeup and bright red lips.  Also I tried to put in some running black mascara.

I really liked the challenge of painting the diamond pattern.  I think I might try painting a plaid pattern on the next one...

 Kevin

Week Three: Shang and 1 Ronin

Week three is underway.  I was able to finish up Shang (Misaki's fire spirit dog thing) late last week.  That finished off the "Ten Thunders" box.  Now all that is left to paint this week is a single Ronin.  But I am going to try painting some patterns on her, so it might take me a while.

I managed to play a great "marathon" game against Jay Friday night.  The game went on for 7 turns.  I am starting to understand what my little ninjas can do.  The strategy for the game was Reckoning.  This is a hard mission for smaller games (we both only had 5 models, so there is a maximum of 2 achievable points each).  I used my "smoke and shadows" upgrade to bury and move badly bloodied models away from immediate harm, and thus keeping points away from Jay.  The smoke markers also played a great role by blocking line of sight from my models to his guns (like Lazarus).  I did learn a valuable lesson by the end, when facing Lazarus, spread out!  In one round of shooting, Misaki and Ototo were both almost brought down.

I am really enjoying playing this Malifaux league at Lords of War Games and Hobbies.  The focus is really on having fun.  I like that you don't get more points for winning, but for silly in-game actions (like letting your opponent blindly choose a card from your hand for you to cheat with, or playing a round with your hand open etc).  It is all about the experience and not the final outcome.

Looking forward to week 3.

Kevin

Ten Thunders Leader - Misaki

I finished up my week two model for the Malifaux league.  I was planning on painting two Ronin for the second week, but by the end of the weekend I had nothing built or primed.  So I decided to save them for week three and paint up Misaki who was waiting and ready to go.

I painted the energy/water/fire effect from her spin kick similar to the way I painted the energy burst from Ototo's tetsubo.  I added a few more layers and reversed the colour order.

Looking forward to another game Friday night!

Time to work on a small display base for the gang...

Kevin

Ototo: Little Brother

Well...at 930 last Thursday night I put the finishing touches on week one's 20ss Malifaux gang.  I was cutting it close but I finished Ototo.  The angles on this model where a pain to get at, lots of nooks and crannies that are very difficult to get into after it has been assembled.

I might go back and do some more work on the flames/energy flare on the base, but for now it is table ready.

In my first game of the league, Ototo did not even swing his Massive Tetsubo once.  I focused more on the objectives (for me "cursed object" and "distract").  In fact I only made one attack flip the entire game!  I lost the game to Stan and his Swampy themed Neverborns, but it was close, 9-10!

I am almost done week two's model, Misaki.

Kevin

The Last Torakage

I am desperately trying to get my 20 stone gang painted up for the Malifaux league at The Lords or War Gaming and Hobby this week.  It is going to be a close call.  Here is one of the two models I needed to get done.  The last Torakage. 

I also managed to finished two of the 50mm smokes markers for the "Smoke and Shadows" upgrade.  I will do a "how to guide" when I make the next two.

I will find out tomorrow if I am able to finish Ototo in time...

Kevin

Malifaux!...Also I Am Back!

It's been a while since I've written a post.  It has also been a while since I've done any regular gaming (not to mention painting).  I did start to play Star Trek Attack Wing with my brother recently, which has been a lot of fun (battle report to come?). Other than that I have been absent from my hobby.

So a few weeks ago I dropped by my friend Jordan's Games Workshop store to meet up with another old friend, Josh.  To my surprise (and enjoyment) two more of my old gaming buddies whom I hadn't seen in years were also there (Ian and Curran).  I suddenly found myself feeling very nostalgic.  Good friends, playing a fun game...in a GW store.  I got the warhammer itch...a few days later my Blood Angel Second Company saw its first rays of light in many years.

Later that night we all went over to check out a new hobby store "Lords of War Games and Hobbies" in Oakville.  A great looking store with some very nice tables to play, and even more GW memories.  The store is run by former GW alumni Jason and Chris.  Through some sly (pun?) talk from the both of them, I left with the rule book and starter gang for a new game (for me that is).  Malifaux.

I picked up the Ten Thunders box with Misaki.  Some very incredible designed models.  My only issue was the lack of instructions (both in the box and online).  However after some research I found that the individual pieces are numbered on the sprue (A1, A2, E1, E3 etc).  At that point they went together smoothly.

I wanted to try a new colour scheme for Misaki's crew.  I am trying to expand my style and colour choices.  I decided to go with a baby blue for the main colour and beige for the secondary.  I also wanted to put a hit of pink into it.  The colour selection was inspired from The Legend of the Five Rings - The Crane Clan (even though the models look more like Clan Scorpions - I refuse to paint another red army after the aforementioned Blood Angels).

Here is the test model.  I tried to go for a pink lotus flower on the mask above the eye and another on the cloth.  I like the colour but I am not happy about the design.  I think I might try a top view
flower next time.  Any suggestions?

(I am also trying to decide which backdrop works better for taking pictures.  White or blue?)

Kevin