Blood Angel Stormraven...in Progress

New year, new...old...old army.  I have not worked on a 40k army for years.  However I have had this project sitting on my shelf for a long time.  I started it shortly after I stopped working for Games Workshop.  They had just released a new Blood Angels rule book.  I wanted to add something to my completed 3rd Company.

The book had the rules for the Stormraven (I think this was the first time it appeared).  It reminded me of a mini-Thunderhawk.  At the time no model had been released.  I had always wanted a Thunderhawk from Forgeworld (but not the grand to pay for it).  I decided to challenge myself (hobby wise) and scratch build my own.

I asked for some help from my friend Brad (my converting guru).  He found some Thunderhawk templates online.  We re-sized them and started to cut some plastic card.  I got the frame built and Brad designed the flight stand (base and attach point on the ship).  We put some metal sheets inside the wings so we could make all weapons magnetic.   This is how the model stayed on my self for half a decade.  

 My first project of the year, I decided, was to finish the Stormraven.  With the frame done, I just had to do the details.

I finished up the rear hatch first.  For the rivets I drilled a hole then glued a bobby pin inside.  I added a couple extra sheets to the sides and cut the recess out for the doors.  I used some Razorback platting for the vents.

 

The model is far from complete.  I still have to clean up the plates, add some more trim and a lot more details.  It is progressing.  (I also have to find 2 more missiles to replace the ones I lost during multiple moves).  

More will be forthcoming over the next few weeks.  I do not think this is going to be a quick project.  

Kevin

"I’ll be more enthusiastic about encouraging thinking outside the box when there’s evidence of any thinking going on inside it."  Terry Pratchett

The last of 2015 Models

I spent a few days of my Christmas break working on two last Christmas presents (or early birthday presents). I did not think I would get them all done, but I got into a painting groove for few nights where everything just worked out perfectly. On the morning of the 31st I applied the dull coat to both projects.

I've painted a Flames of War model for a friend for the past 3 years. He is usually vague on what he wants (he does not play the game but likes the models). He usually says something like "I want a tank", or "Can you paint me a plane?". This year he was silent, so I figured he did not want one. I was wrong. He mentioned it just a few days before Christmas, so I had to think of something fast. In the past, I had painted him a German Panther, a British half-track and an American Lightning. So this year I went with something a little smaller. I had a Toccoa Sargent from the Band of Brother upgrade. I added some long grass and a piece of rolled up wire as barbed wire.



I have a policy when buying gifts for my nephews. Gifts should have something to do with Dinosaurs or Batman. I figured this policy should also extend to friends. I wanted a dramatic Batman model for this gift. I debated between Frank Miller's Batman and Arkham Knight Batman. I decided to go with the former. I ended up repainting this model when I was half done. I had highlighted the cowl and Batcape, then applied a wash to mute the colour a bit. It was horrible. So I put another episode of the original animated Batman on, put my head down and started from the beginning. I was much happier with the second attempt. This was also part 2 of the gift, along with the Toccoa Sargent.

My buddy Brad really likes the classic "Bowler Hat" Riddler. I had never painted anything for him before (as he is a fellow hobbyist and quite a skilled converter himself). I had also not painted a bright green model since...never actually. I just had to give it a try. I did not have any hopes of finishing this by New Years, however I was wrong. Everything seemed to flow smoothly with it. In the end, I felt like it was one of the best models I have ever painted.

The other bonus of painting two friends' Batman models is, we can now all play the game...

 - Kevin

PS: I was also able to get in a 100-points a side, 4 player, everyone vs everyone game of X-wing

"It is often said that before you die your life passes before your eyes. It is in fact true. It's called living" Terry Prachett

Happy Hogswatch Everyone!

For the last three years, at least, I have read Terry Pratchett's "Hogfather" every December. This year however I wanted to share it with Helen. We have been reading a few pages every night for the last month. With 30 more pages to go, we should be done in time for Hogswatch!

So, to coincide with enjoying the Hogfather again, I wanted to make a little Hogswatch display box. If you are familiar with my blog you'll know that a few years ago I painted up the Hogfather miniature from Micro Art Studios. I had picked up Elf Albert at the same time, but never got him completed. This year I would right that wrong.

I used a baseball display box for the diorama, and balsa wood with planks carved in it for the floor. The tree was re-purposed warhammer terrain. I used some beads I had lying around from an old necklace for the ornaments. The backdrop is just a fireplace picture I found.  All in all it came together fairly quickly. I would like to redo the backdrop and format it to fit properly though.

Hobbies this Week, in review:
 - Elf Albert (I am very happy with the 5 o'clock shadow)
 - Built a few models to be secret late Christmas presents (which I will have a mad rush to paint)
 - made my self dizzy playing Star Wars Battlefront

Space Marines, Batman, and X-wing in the near future!

Kevin

"You can't give her that!' she screamed. 'It's not safe!'
IT'S A SWORD, said the Hogfather.  THEY'RE NOT MEANT TO BE SAFE.
'She's a child!' shouted Crumley.
IT'S EDUCATIONAL.
'What if she cuts herself?'
THT WILL BE AN IMPORTANT LESSON."
 - Terry Pratchett, Hogfather

Same Bat-Time

Batclaw to the top of the building followed by a Batarang to drop the thug

I was able to get in part of a game of Batman this week at Lords of War Games and Hobbies. My dynamic duo went against Chris and his very nicely painted Joker Crew led by Harley Quinn. Despite being able to play only 3-4 rounds, the game has me hooked!

The game is very dynamic. There is a lot of atmosphere and it really captures the feel of Batman (especially the Arkham video games). The Action Point system will take a bit to get used to. You have to plan out your character's whole turn before you activate them. There were a couple of times I wish I had placed my action counters more strategically.

My big takeaway from this first game: know all of your characters traits, items and specials.  There are some awesome combos if you plan it out.

This week, in review:
 - Started painting Batwoman
 - Started to build and paint a Discworld Christmas display box (pics next week...hopefully)
 - Started to paint Discworld Elf Albert
 - Built a unit of 10 Blood Angel Space Marines (I can now blend in when painting at LoWH)

Until next time, same Bat-channel
Kevin

“Don't wish, Miss Tick had said. Do things.” - Terry Pratchett

na na na na na na na na BATMAN!

It has been a productive week for painting.  I managed to complete my Arkham City Batman and Arkham City Robin models for the Batman miniature game.  They where a blast to paint.  They are simple and have alot of character that captures the personality.  I am hoping to get my first game in later this week.

Hobby this week in review:
-Painted Batman and Robin
- Started Batwoman
- working on some Batman Counters
- Played a few rounds of "Letters to Santa" (Christmas version on the Love Letter Card game)
- Completed "the Gutter" level and "The Rotten" boss in Dark Souls 2 (with some help from a few friends)

I think next I will be working on a holiday painting project for myself.  A few years ago I posted about finishing up the Hogfather Discworld model.  I have had his trusty manservant Albert dressed as an elf sitting by the painting station for a while.  No better time then the present.

However with all the excitement over the new pre-heresy marines from GW, and talking about the game with the guys at Lords of Wargames and Hobbies...maybe you will see some new Blood Angels soon...

Kevin

"Death in person did not turn up upon the cessation of every life.  It was not necessary.  Governments govern, but prime ministers and presidents do not personally turn up in people's homes and tell them how to run their lives, because of the mortal danger this would presents. There are laws instead."  "The Hogfather" by Terry Pratchett

So We Begin....Again...

Sadly, I have had another prolonged hobby break.  I can't believe it has been a few months since my last post. Sometimes life gets in the way of living.

I want to make a habit of making new posts more regularly. I find when I give myself a deadline (like getting a model finished for the next blog post) I get more accomplished. So, taking a page from the "Hobby Night in Canada" podcast, I think I will do a weekly post about what hobby stuff I got up to during the previous week.  This may be new painted models, works in progress, terrain, or games.  

This week's Hobby, in review:

I have had some of Knight Models - Batman the Miniature Game figures sitting on my painting tray for a while.  One of the reasons I had not started to work on them was due to the gaps in the figures that needed to be puttied.  Knight Models make some beautiful figures, but they can also be a pain to put together.  My modeling skills are quite rusty (I have not used green stuff for many years).  

I dropped into The lords of War Games and Hobby and Jay let me try out some of GWs liquid Green Stuff.  It was awesome.  It is great for filling in the little lines around joins.  For larger gaps regular putty is still better (with maybe a thin coat of the liquid stuff to smooth it out?).  So I have spent the week getting Batman and the Joker crew ready to prime.  

While the green stuff and glue was drying I started work on another little project.  It is no secret that I love Christmas.  Helen and I have started our own ornament collection.  I even have a small 2 foot Nightmare Before Christmas tree.  Hallmark and the Disney store both produce collector ornaments every year.  

The Disney store put out a Jack Skellington Santa Claus ornament.  It is one of the worst repainted figures I have ever seen.  It was riddled with paint overlapping other paint.  So I decided to repaint it.  

Here is the original

And here is the repaint:

Next week...Batman...

Kevin

Thoughts From Places - Day Eleven: There and Back Again

Home sweet home.  For some reason the last two hour drive home seemed to take forever!

I am glad to be home but I am also a little sad that it is over already.   It seemed to fly by in a blink of an eye.  Time very well spent though.

Thank you to everyone who has followed this blog over the last week or so.  I enjoyed sharing this journey with all of you.  This blog will return to its "hobby" theme now.

However, stay tuned to my new blog "Greenhorn Stories".  I really enjoyed writing every night.  I am going to continue to do it.  I will update this new blog with some rough short stories I penned.

I am feeling a little drained tonight, so it is time to sit in my recliner with a nice whisky, reflect, and watch the  Blue Jays.

I save my "Royal Route" whisky to toast to a successful trip

I will leave you with something I heard on a podcast once,  "Be an explorer and not a tourist".


Kevin and Helen