Eyesight to the Blind

So, inspired by a comment on my last post I decided to put my 3 easy steps to painting eyes on here. Like all my painting it is a very simple process, but quick and comes up with some pretty decent results.

So, starting out. Finish everything else first. I once did the eyes before the wash on the skin and, well Rockbottom got redeye.

Step 1, paint black on. This doesn't want to be just in the actual eye, around it slightly too
 as this gives it some definition. Don't go mad though, otherwise you get a panda.

Step 2, Put the white in. This does want to be just in the eye. Leaving just a bit of black around the edge. If you go over don't sweat. Touching up is easy.

This next part is honestly the part that I see most people do wrong and end up with crazy boggle eyes. Don't paint the pupils as dots. Just don't. First off you will never get them to be looking in the same direction and secondly, it doesn't even look natural even should you manage it. Instead paint a line, from the top bit of black right down to the bottom. It is easier to get them in the right place and it looks more natural.



Now I don't claim to be an expert and doing something like this is pretty odd for me as a pretty slapdash painter. But hopefully it'll help at least one person out there.

Ghetorix painted

Ghetorix is ready for the table! The Totem Hunter is also nearly done, as I was putting paint on him between drying on Ghetorix. Would be nice to have them both finished for Monday gaming as I threw together a list with them both in as a slight bit of motivation.

In other news I now have myself an airbrush, going to start playing with that soon but need some paint thinner before I can start.

Work plan

Right, trying to get back into painting a bit more at the moment. I am not going to place any deadlines on myself because it is now under 2 weeks till the due date of my little baby girl. So everything can be thrown out the window in a moments notice.

Anyway, 5 painting goals I would like to achieve

1, Ghetorix
2, Totem Hunter
3, Wolves of Orboros
4, Tharn Ravagers
5, Dahlia and Skareth (sp?)

These are all pieces long neglected (aside from Ghetorix, but he needs paint. Being as awesome as he is) and generally get used occationally but tend to make up fewer lists than other models so constantly get pushed back on the painting list. I'm putting them on top. Lets get them done.

Tharn-tastic

Not a great deal happening so here are a few photos of work I have been doing. My Tharn have been decided on being all ginger, which is going to be amusing when I get around to Ghetorix. Kromac was done a while ago but the bloodtrackers were finished this morning. The Warpwolves are another recent finish.

Next up is Kromacs beast form and the unit of Ravagers.

Other news is a bit slim. I missed last weeks gaming for a fishing trip with a workmate. I have come up with a few dirty tricks with Mohsar which I want to drop in my next game with him. I was going to get onto Vassal soon and play a 'dojo' first turn on there to see how well it actually works as the theory is sound but I wanted to be sure of ranges before I try it in a real game.

Stormwall

I finished this a while ago but forgot to put up a completed shot, I feel my methods (read: cheats) don't really scale up as well as I had hoped. Still I am not dissapointed with him. The Stormpods are all done too and I'll get them up when I finish the Stormguard for Nemo. Not much else has really been happening though, I have made a good start on the Commandos and Stormguard but am not really rushing to get them finished.

At the moment games seem to be drying out a bit as the club I attend has started playing more Warhammer. I am currently teaching someone who wants to pick up Cryx but hasn't really decided on which Warcaster yet so is borrowing the Deneghra I own and using a few mercs to top it off till he settles. All in all life is slow here at Forest Mans.

Job Done - Gorax Repose

Managed to get this far in the time I set myself in this challange, I am fairly happy with the results the pose is not exactly what I was wanting but to have the arms any lower than that would have required rebuilding most of the biceps too and I really didn't want to be doing that. I decided on a fleshy torso as opposed to building up a shadowhorn style belt, mostly because I felt that flesh would be easier.

Hug a Gorax! Managed to find time to paint him up too. This was outside the time I set, but only took a short time due to the limited colour pallet used. Now it is painted most of the sculpting work on him has blended in nicely.

The Gorax from behind, as you can see I took pains remove or cover all the ropes that bound him down.

Anyway I didn't quite make time with this challange but am quite happy with the results. My Gorax is nice and unique and no longer an utterly ridiculious pose. I am also more happy with the paint job this time round.

Quick job

Right, so yesterday I set myself the challange of getting the Woldwarden I had converted painted before dinnertime today. I managed it, easily. I took a break to make a sausage and egg sandwich and a second break to have a mess about on the Playstation. Which ended up bein over an hour. Yet here I am at 12noon and my work is complete.

Check it. I may have to start coming up with even more insane challanges for myself. The paintwork took just over an hour and a half, coupled with the repose taking just over an hour I am going to say this took about 3 hours work.

2 Projects, 2 Days.

Hello again, I am back! The power cable for my laptop decided to pack in and I have only just managed to get out and pick up a new one. What with Work and the Family my time is pretty limited.

Anyway for pretty much the same reason I only had a couple of days in the past two weeks for painting and modeling. I also had 2 things I really wanted to get done. The first was a reposing of the clasic Nomad and a repaint as I got it second hand and was never happy with it, it needed to be mine. So I got out the powersaw and got busy.

The nomad after his repose, the whole shoulder joint needed sawing through and moving forward then rebuilding, the elbow needed sawing through and moving to the front so it bends and is no longer stuck right out. Then I needed to move him on his base and clean up the silly amout of superglue used by his original owner. I used some greenstuff to fill over the hole where he was stood originally.

Then the repaint. I went for a nice simple green, black and bronze. All told from the start with the saw right through to the last of the paint I took untill about 6 hours. I had to leave it for a few hours to let the green stuff cure but I didn't have a great deal of time and got painting before it was fully set. Because I am impatient.

Thursday I had a day off again, so I set about painting up my Magnus battlebox. I have ownd this fr a while. I mean it was discontinued years ago...

Anyway, I got cracking. This one took a little longer and I spent a few hours last night finishing it all off. I started with the Renegad, threw some paint on the Talon, then got Magnus started.

The Mangler needed a few coats to get the green constant and while each of them dried I finished up the other 'jacks and Magnus. But then the day ran out on me and I had only got the lights and Magnus finished.

The Mangler still needed the Bronze and wash, that I did last night. It took me just over two days and I got finished 2 heavies, 2 lights and a 'caster.

Not too shabby.

Submitted Lists

So, I tried to get Nemo2 up and running. I failed and couldn't get him to twig for me. I really want to have a list with the old boy up and running but it won't be for Leeds this Sunday, unfortunatly I can't seem to keep him safe during the scenarios. Every game I have played I have built up the momentum and then watched as my opponent sidestepped the Stormwall and killed him. It'll take more games and many tweaks untill I am comfortable with him. So, last minute and I only have one list. I have had to fall back on an old faithful, the queen of all Cygnar. eHaley. Yeah sorry, I chickened out.

I did have to sneak a Stormwall into her list. I aint paying for one only to leave it at home for the years first tournament of the year, Thankfully that was easy, I usually have a Stormclad and Defender. Switch. eEyriss is in the Sloan list so she became 3 Stormsmiths, as is Gorman who became Arlan Strangeways. 

eHaley +5pts
Squire -2pts
Thorn -8pts
Stormwall -19pts

Stormblades and UA -8pts
Gun Mages and UA -8pts

Stormsmiths x3 -3pts
Captian Arlan Strangeways -2pts
Journeyman Warcaster -3pts
Rhupert Carvolo -2pts

To put this in comparison and to be complete the Sloan list is below, this thankfully had testing to the point that I was comfortable with.

Kara Sloan -6pt
Avenger -9pts
Defender -9pts

Gun Mages with UA -8pts
Long Gunners, max with UA -12pts
Boomhowler and Co, max -9pts

Journeyman Warcaster -3pts
Reinholdt -1pt
Gorman di Wulfe -2pts
eEyriss -3pts

On the painting front I have been pretty busy, the sloan list is 100% painted now. The eHaley list has the stormblades needing finishing (about 40% through), the Stormsmiths (about 20% through) and the Stormwall needs finishing (who is about 45%).

For this event I have painted, Kara Sloan, Long Gunners and UA, Boomhowler and Co, Arlan Strangeways, Reinholdt and eEyriss. Oh, lets not forget Viktor Pendrake, who was dropped from the Sloan list in one of the early tweaks, Nemo2 who no longer gets a list and Thunderhead. His techno-pet. At least you got painted guys.

Nemo and Thunderhead are some of my favorite minis, been enjoying painting them and the practise games where they were getting slapped about. Quick sneaky glimpse of Stormwall there too. His upper half is done mostly, it's his legs need the paint then onto washes. Getting there but still so much work needs doing.

Quick pair of boomhowler shots, he still needs eyes but thats a 2 second job. Anyway thats all folks, I have another practise game tomorrow hopefully so will give the eHaley list a quick whirl but I know her well enough to know that the list should work well enough. Just a bit upset I couldn't find Nemo.

Painting mans

So, having got my phone back from Samsung I have a camera again. I also have a day off work. So here's the latest batch of minis painted to the highest quality standard...ok I can't say that with a straight face. Here we go.

Longgunners, you have no idea how long I have put these guys off. Kara is in there too and yes, that is Thunderhead in the background. He's getting done between eEyriss and Arlan Strangeways as the next up to bat.

Close up of Kara, she ended up looking like an over zealous drag queen. But you know, fits the fluff I suppose?

These next two are of Cryx, now no I havent turned over to them. These minis are not mine, I haven't painted them and don't really intend to play them. (never tell her this though, she painted them for me...) My other half is much better with a brush then me.

Now if only I was good enough with lighting and such when taking pictures to make these look as good as they do. She has gotten through the Cryx battlebox and Asphyxious. Not sure what she wants to do next but I have her leafing through the Forces of Cryx book to pick something.

And Finally, a bit of commision work done. I cleaned, assembled and filled. She painted.

Not sure what it actually is, it is from the Banebeasts range. We called him Frank. (Also, again super glare in the background. Really means you can't see the highlights on his scales. I need photo lessons o_O)

The Bad Seeds

I said there would be photos, I present the Bad Seeds!

Magnus himself, I um'd and ah'd  about the cloak colour as he was far too blue and the armour didnt really stand out as anything different. In the end I mixed a tiny amout of silver in with it and now it really pops as 'the same colour only shiney'

 

The solos, Kell and Orin. Kell was straightforward but the left hand on Orin was missing, thankfully I think the one I made up for him, while only 5 tiny sausages stuck together, does a decent job of looking like a hand...ish.

 

The Rangers, pulling double duty with my actual Cygnar army were a purchase I have been meaning to make for a while now. I have proxied them often but never found them in the shop. When I saw them I had to snap them up. Rangers rock.

Put alongside the Trenchers and the Defender I already have done this forms the backbone of my 35pts Bad Seeds list.

http://forestmans.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/good-intentions.html

So, thems the models. Heres the list:

Magnus the Warlord +6pts

Renegade -6pts

Nomad -6pts

Defender -9pts

Rangers -5pts

Trencher Infantry (Max w/UA) -13pts

Kell Bailoch -FREE!

Orin Midwinter -2pts

Mostly a list for fun, I love Magnus and love Trenchers. Being able to take Rangers just tops off the list as 'freaking cool'

Anyway I have two games lined up for the list come Monday, I'll try and remember to get a battlereport together so we can all laugh at how bad I am with eMagnus.

On a roll

Since picking up eMagnus and the unit of Rangers on Saturday I have been a busy little boy.

I have painted:
eMagnus
Orin Midwinter (as well as sculpting him a new left hand, I got him second hand and that was missing)
Kell Bailoch
The Ranger unit.

Been a good few days for getting things done, just waiting for some good light to get a few photos to put up. 

Good Intentions

I did finish that defender the day after the last post...I swear it. I have just been bloody busy and not had time to blog at the moment. Or get much else done really, here we go anyway.

The Master Gunner was also finished so I am really getting close, I just have the Trencher Infantry and Finn to paint before I get hold of the Commandos.

But wait, as I was going to work one day the girlfriend asked if she might have a crack at the Infantry. Seeing no time at anypoint for me to sit down for practically a month I agreed. She delivered. Producing a unit that meets my (very low) standards and in fact is much better than I would have done had I done them myself.

So yeah, just Finn left till I need to pick up the last unit. Unfortunatly I dropped him while painting him and he kinda broke. So I'm intending on picking up some superglue soon to get him fixed.

Thorn and Haley

Not much of a post today, I finished Thorn yesterday and got the snap today. I finished Haley a while ago but it didn't feel right having a picture of Thorn without her.

The Defender is nearly there now and Finn is exactly the same as the post he featured in last. The Trencher Infantry and Master Gunner have been based in Bootstrap Leather and are ready for the other colours to go on. Once all them are done I then look into getting my hands on a box of Trencher Commandos to complete the list off.

I have a plan, do I have the drive to see it through? I have a day off work tomorrow, hopefully we can see at least a finished Defender, which will put me at all the 'jacks for the list done and dusted.

Presenting, the Avenger!

Seriously, I know even I was doubting I'd get the guy done what with my track record at being massivly distracted by everything else that passes me by. But here we are, the Avenger!

I really should learn to doctor my photos or at least get a decent lamp. There we go though. He's ready to hit the table, though he does need his base cleaning off. I have also made a start on the Defender and Thorn (GASP!) but a game over vassal against Loftybloke put an end to that and I tidied it all up.

Yes obviously I took the gravediggers though it was only a quick 35pts game so wasn't the full list. I took:

Major Haley, Thorn, Avenger (bonded), Commandos (min), Infantry (max), Chain Gun, Master Gunner and Finn.

Against:

Bloody Barnabas, Snapper, Spitter, Wrastler, 2x Posse (max) and Thrullg.

I took first and moved everyone up. Haley dived into her trench to hide from the Spitter, his turn was similar but with barnabas putting down swamp pits and Gators cramming into them.  His spitter did manage a cheaky shot that melted a commando on the deviation. He survived the boosted blast but died to the corrosion.

Second turn Haley kept all her focus. Thorn advanced on the posse's who were side by side in swamp pits. Haley channeled timb bomb twice through him and due to a lucky deviation and some crafty targetting managed to catch all the posse with the spell, meaning they were all -2spd next turn. She then popped her feat. the commandos moved off to the left to hunt themselves a flanking thrullg and bagged it with a couple of grenades. The infantry moved up and waited for the Gators to be forced out of their swamps by popping smoke. With the Avenger right behind them.

His turn was both posse's crawling forward, the spitter hitting Thorn for a few damage but nothing serious and melting a pair of Trenchers who were covering him with smoke. the Wrastler advancing and waiting, the Snapper spiney growthing the Wrastlerand barney putting Iron Flesh on the unit of gators most central and then hiding behind them.

Third turn they were out of the swamps, time to pounce! Shame that 10 heavy infantry just don't fall down to gunfire quite as easily as you'd need them to. The avenger got 2 focus. Temporal acceleration and the Master gunner used artillerist on him to get to RAT8 with the aim. He then pumped two boosted to hit rounds into the iron fleshed posse and knocked them all down. Between that, Finn gunning them (rolled and got 3 shots!) Haleys hand cannon and 8 trencher infantry shooting them (all this with zero misses) I managed to kill 3 of them...whooo! The commandos failed to kill any of the other posse over the left but got on down to 1hp with a grenade. Not looking good.

Barnabas retaliated by charging a Trencher, Feating catching my whole army, killing the trencher and getting a free spell into Haley (who's trench is no good when your KD, Def20 would have been handy) boosting damage for 6 to her. Burned fury to cast it again and again did 6 damage. Hurting Haley thinks she is safe, oh no. The Wrastler advanced up and used it's animus Rise to get one of the Posse I failed to kill on it's feet. He had an easy line though to Haley (whom hadn't fallen back thinking the KD gators would have been shot to ribbons and thusly have been no threat, plus I'd forgotton about Rise) she got attacked by an angry Gator.

This is why Gators are my biggest fear...right above brain aneurysms.

 Anyway, bloody fun game, Barnabas is a pain in the backside 'lock for Cygnar. Not impossible but denying our shooting means we're in a lot of trouble. That and Gators being tough as old nails makes for a hard day.  Lofty did offer to switch 'locks out. But that would hardly have been fair.

Onto the good news, I've been passing ideas back and forth with Loftybloke and he is going to be making me a pair of nice looking trench templates so that he can attack Haley in them in style in future games. He should be documenting his process over at his Blog.

Gravediggin'

Now it might come as a shock, but I love Trenchers. Far too much if I'm honest. Now the release of the Avenger kit (something I have been very excited about) has given me a reason to invest in the Master Gunner solo (the Avenger's RAT being ridiculiously low and requiring a direct hit to do it's delightful KD).

Now I have Trenchers out the wazoo, I still don't own any commandos but they are next on the list of things to buy, even if that might be a long time because of the impromptu Stormwall. Anyway to prevent from rambling I am very, very close to having enough Trencher stuff to run a 50pts 'Trencher' list. Looking over the theme forces I saw the one that appealed to me...namely Haley2. I mean, you can't get more 'Trencher' than 'jacks with guns, 'jacks with magic hats (this is how one describes an arc node to a 6yr old by the way), Trencher units and Trencher solos...all the Trenchers all the time.

So, a quick look at the list.

Major Haley +5pts
-Thorn -8pts
-Avenger -9pts
-Defender -9pts

Trencher Infantry (leader and 9 grunts) -10pts
-Officer and Sharpshooter -3pts
-Grenadier -5pts
Trencher Commandos (leader and 5 grunts) -6pts

Trencher Master Gunner -2pts
Captian Maxwell Finn -3pts

This comes out at 50pts, quite a nice looking list (if like me you get a bit too excited about digging in the mud) but I can hear you crying out...why? What do you gain from this madness? Well imaginary voice I'll tell you. I gain several benifits to help offset the incrediably limited selection of models.

-First off I can redeploy one Trencher Model or unit. Not a really massive benifit but means I gain a bit of tactical leeway. Nice, not amazing.
-Secondly I gain +1 to the Starting Roll. This to me is where it gets good. First turn can be a huge boon to a control caster like Haley. Get up there are stall the arse off the other guy and you start scoring first. Totally worth it.
-Thirdly I gain a trench template for each unit of Trencher Infantry/Trencher Commandos once I have 2 units of the aformentioned units. Basically I get two trench templates. Now this was at first a real 'why?' moment for me. they only get to be placed at 20" and alongside the +2" deploy bonus the Trencher Infantry are stood at the other side of it and usually dug in anyway due to cautious advance. So why the blue hell would I want trench templates...let me tell you with an anecdote. Haley got shot in the face. (great anecdote right?) But if she stands herself in...hmmm say a trench template for cover and say...hmmm has a spell that increases defence against shooting. Yes Def22 against shooting is nice in a list that has a unit that usually doesn't block LOS and another that has Stealth naturally. My trench templates have affectionatly been named 'Haleys Grave' and I usually place them around where she is going to be wanting to stand during the game.
-Forthly is the +2" of deployment. With a list that naturally has a lot of Advanced Deployment and has +1 to start with the 'Caster at the helm being very much into control. it makes for another nice bonus.

Ah but I can hear you again imaginary voice. Yes I do have to give up a few Haley staples. Namely the Squire, Stormclad and Gun Mages.
-The Squire hurts, I won't deny it at all. That thing is golden for increasing the control area on such a powerful feat. The extra point of focus and spell re-roll were gravy on some already deliciously chunky chips. It's been painful not having this in the lists. But I have made more friends without it. Swings and roundabouts I suppose.
-The Gun Mages I'm not feeling quite as badly as I thought I might. They provided a lot of anti-stealth and pushback/KD. The sheer amount of AOE fire a grenadier and Avenger (temporally accelerated too if I'm feeling cheeky) that is more accurate or more indiscriminate depending on the mood of the Master Gunner, can deal with most of the Stealth units out there. The KD effects on the Avenger have helped with the stall game too. All round I'm not really missing them too much.
-The Stormclad, loosing this hurt. The 'jack bullet is a tried and tested method of killing casters. I am curently using the Avenger (notice a theme here...) as the bonded warjack to offset his usually slow speed. He does work alright as a 'jack bullet too if I'm honest. Though seeing as so far people have been surprised when the 'jack that has been thumping out 2 KD AOE's a turn suddenly packs that in as a bad job and comes screaming in swinging what is a surprisingly powerful sword. The killer is actually the lack of Squire...Temporal Acceleration and Telekenisis come out at 5/8 focus. leaving only 3 to allocate to the 'jack going in. Because yes it is usually the bonded 'jack going for it. As a side note I am aware that the Stormclad is available through the theme force as shooting lightning is legitimate 'ranged attack' and so he counts. But without making use of that accumulator and the list leaning more on the ranged attacks he is very much a goose amoung the swans (be dum tish!).

Anyway, those of you who have braved the wall of text shall be rewardeth!

'

Great reward eh? Bet you're loving it.

'Thumper' here is the Trencher Infantrys trusted grenadier warjack. Having been running about the battlefield as bare metal for as long as I can remember he finally got himself a lick of paint so he can look stylish as he drops explosion after explosion down into the enemy ranks. Being the quintessential Trencher warjack he got first spot on my get the 'jacks done agenda. Next up (should be, I mean seriously has anyone out there ever seen me stick to something?) the Avenger.

Minion Madness

Well, I told you all I was going to be a busy bunny and I damn well aim to please (mostly myself...whoooo!).

I managed to get two heavies painted for the Thornfall Alliance. Enough gassing, more pictures.

An early WIP of Brine, which has been entitled Bling Pig. I thought him to be a little bit garish so this got toned down...a lot.

Rorch and Brine, ready for the tabletop. As you can see Bling Pig didn't last too long.

The Warhog, I was having a lot of trouble with his wounds and got a bit over excited when they worked out...totally not claiming credit for this one though.

Lord Carvers battlegroup. Yes I know it's small, I know I'm missing out on those amazing battlegroup wide spells. But I'm poor, it is a sad fact I have to live with.

The reason I aint claiming credit for the sores on the Warhog. My girlfriend got involved and put them on for me, she is a gem.

Who apparently likes using her hand as a pallet...bloody artists.


Whoop, last night was a sit down and get things done night. We had a few beers (yes this is not just viral advertising for red stripe...the delicious refreshing jamaican beer) and got some beasts painted.

Today saw Carvers first table game (vassal doesn't count) and it was 15pts against legion, Absylonia, a Scythean and a Carnevian. I took Lord Carver, a Gun Boar, a Warhog and a full unit of Brigands. I basically drip fed his 'beasts quagmired Brigands and then charged Absylonia with Lord Carver. A quick application of the Hand of God along with Carver feating and Brigands giving her the -2def hug. It was lights out.

Admittedly I was a bit disappointed. I have 35pts of Farrow together now but that was all the other guy had and I was pressed for time.