The Bat Signal! Crime is afoot!

What Batman crew would be complete without their very own Bat signal. I found this one at a book store. It was one of those small boxes that are always by the cash on the turning tower (and cost as much as a book). There is not much cost savings compared to the MDF one from Knight Models...however this one turns on!  

I will wait to use it in game to decide if I really like it or not. At the start of the game, the signal is OFF. When a Batman crew is beside the signal they can switch it on. For each turn that the signal is OFF, the opponent gets 1 victory point. However for each turn it is ON, the Batman crew gets 4 victory points!  

What I like about this objective is that the model does not need to sit by the signal to control it and earn victory points. You spend a turn to flip it on, then Bat-claw away to face-punch some goons.  

I played two games of BMG this week. First game I played Batman, Robin and Batwoman against my buddy Jimmy's Two Face crew. The second game I used my Joker crew versus Jay's (Lords of Wargames and Hobbies) Batman, Robin and Batgirl. Both games ran very similarly. Two Face and Joker crews were able to get a hold of multiple objects and rack up a lot of victory points early on, while the Bat-family ran around giving the thugs the beat down (except for Robin who became a casualty in both games).

I think that the Batman crews really need some cheap law enforcement henchmen to be competitive. You need someone that can sit on an objective while Batman runs around K.O.'ing people. Plus the cheap cops come with "Arrest" which will get a few extra points and stop people from recovering later.

Covering Fire!

I  was able to finish up my second Joker Crew Henchmen for the BMG.  I went with the asault rifle because he preformed so amazingly in his first game.  He was able to take out a few people (including putting 9 blood damage on one guy in a single round of shooting).

The problem with the playing cards on the base of the first Henchmen was that they where all face up.  It did not look like a natural scattering of cards.  So I added some red and blue card backs.

The crew is starting to come together.

Kevin

"Stories of imagination tend to upset those without one."  Terry Pratchett 

Batwoman and Joker Crew

I got some work done on two of my Batman (BMG) crews this week.  First off I finished up painting Batwoman.  She will be interesting to play in a game.  Her stats sit between a traditional leader and that of a Sidekick.  I am planing on using her in a 300pt gang with Arkham City (AC) Batman and AC Robin.  I imagine it will not be very competitive.  It will be hard to sit on and control objectives like ammo crates with only three models on the table (I guess I will have to depend on some good old fashion face punching).

I also painted some sewer markers (which my buddy Brad made for me) and a new objective counter, Ammo Crate.

With the Bat-crew completed (for now), I started work on my Joker gang.  I started with the cheep knife wielding clown to figure out a painting scheme.  This Joker henchmen has so much character, I really enjoyed painting him.

The plastic bases that come with BMG models are really nice.  I do have one problem though.  With the game taking place in Gotham city, everything tends to be concrete grey.  The bland base tend to wash out the model.  This usually is not a problem with other games,  add some grass or dirt here and there to add some colour (Gotham does not strike me as a place with nice lawns).  I found some playing card prints online, re-sized them and printed them on card stock.  I then cut them out and glued a few scattered to the base to break up the grey.  Plus the playing cards have a certain Joker feel.

Assault Riffle Henchmen and Car Door Henchmen up next.

Kevin

"He’d been wrong, there was a light at the end of the tunnel, and it was a flamethrower" Terry Pratchett

I Swear I was Working!

For all of January I was working frantically on my Stormraven. All my hobby time was dedicated to it. I got a lot accomplished (pics will come). However when it came time to putty and fill gaps in the ship, I hit a brick wall.

Lucky for me the guys at Lords of War Games and Hobbies gave me the perfect distraction. They asked me to run a Batman (BMG) game at their one year celebration. Of course I said yes. So I went to work on some markers for the big day.

The basic idea was a hero/villain beat down game. Everyone bring one model and we fight it out. I wanted to add a little something extra to catch the BMG feel. I added in two mini objectives as a way for the less "punchy" characters to earn points - riddles and loot counters.

Around Christmas I had picked up a few sets of lamp posts for a ceramic village. I figured that they would be a good size for BMG. I liked that the lights turn on and off, and wanted to keep that, so I disguised the battery pack as a military weapons crate (medium obstacle in game terms).

I was able to give them a try against Jimmy's very nicely painted Two Face Crew. Batman and Robin did not win the day, but it was very dramatic nonetheless. It is hard to secure objectives when you only have two models. Can't wait for a rematch.

I also kept busy over the last few weeks with a new hobby. Helen taught me how to use her sewing machine, and now I can make custom bow ties. I have a few done already. Here is my first one (of course it was going to be dinosaurs). So if you are in need of some unique neck wear, give me a shout!

Kevin

It’s not worth doing something unless you were doing something that someone, somewhere, would much rather you weren’t doing - Terry Pratchett

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