*Cough* *Cough*

Sorry, I haven't been posting much. I was sick for a week. I pretty much slept through New Years. Since then I've been recovering and catching up on some missed work. A LOT of work. Swamped really. You'd think I'd do some painting while I was sick at home. Nope.

I saw that GW released more new Skaven goodies- 2 weapon teams, 2 special characters, a 2-in-1 box kit, and the Abomination. All pretty good although I'd imagine the Warplightning Cannon/Plagueclaw Catapult kit and the Abom are the most useful of this wave. The 2 weapon teams, the warp-grinder and doom flayer, while both are really nice sculpts seem like they are least used of all the weapon teams. The special characters, Ikit and Tretch, are also nice figs but how often do we really use special characters? Still, all nice and I'd buy them all if I could but I'd probably just buy the Abomination and maybe the WLC/PCC soon after. Right now, though, even before the models, the thing to get I think is the Skaven Heraldry book. I'm surprised the Skaven got this before the usual suspects like High Elves, Orcs, and Dwarves. I need to grab a copy before they go out of print.

I recently picked up a ticket to go to Adepticon this year. I went two years ago and loved the swag. Almost worth price of admission. Should be really cool. This may sound lame but I didn't sign up for any tournaments. I was never big on tournaments and lugging around my army from table to table. I did sign up for a couple of seminars though which will hopefully help my painting. :)

I think I'll also attend Gamesday this year and actually consider entering Golden Demon. Zoiks! Yes I know, I don't what is coming over me. I have an idea as to what to do and it's a bit ambitious... especially for me. I better not break under the stress! I guess I should start soon then. Win or lose at least I'll get the Skaven Gamesday mini.

Anyway, in the following days or so I should be back to normal with the usual updates. Laters!

Hello 2011!!!

Out with the old...

... in with the new!

I think this represents the current clanrat mini better. What do you think?

2010 Recap

The year is almost over. It's time to reflect as 2011 draws near. 2010 for me started late. I was on a bit of a 'hobby hibernation' for a good 6+ months. The break actually did me some good as I noticed I've been painting differently. Whether if it's for the better or not is for you to decide. :)

Definitely not legal

It was around May when I began painting again. It started off fairly good, fininshing a unit of 23 plague monks. Then throughout the rest of the year I worked on a bunch of single minis. Many were small insignificant minis like the dwarf slayer, Mordheim Eshin sorcerer, and even a Reaper CAV mech. But a couple were fairly large single Skaven minis. The doomwheel was the first 'big project' that involved some conversion. I wanted to update the old model by using some of the current bitz. I thought it was a good idea at the time and didn't think it would take too long to put it together. I was so wrong. I wasn't entirely happy with the way I executed it. As a result, I got very indecisive and hesitant. But in the end I think it still came out pretty good. The other big project- the Verminlord- however had no conversion and plenty of planning. It took a long time to finish it, mostly because of the 13 rats on the base, but I think it's my best model to date. I'm pretty happy with it. I did have 2 color schemes in mind at the time though. And I do have an extra VL (well 2 extra to be exact). I didn't glue the VL to it's base just in case something stupid like this happens. So maybe in the future I can paint up that other color scheme.
Later that same month I unexpectedly won a logo contest that I almost didn't enter. I submitted my logo literally 2 hours before the deadline. Now I got an IG battleforce on my shelf collecting dust... just waiting to be made. Waiting....

The IoB High Elf mage weekend project was a surprise. It was definitely an impulse moment. It was a good excuse to try out the new IoB minis for the first time. Plus, I didn't think I was even going to go through with it. But, I really wanted to enter the contest so the motivation alone helped me finish in the nick of time. Surprisingly it was a fun, learning experience and I think I did quite well- toot toot! Too bad I didn't win. Not even a single vote. Haha!

I ended the year finishing up a unit of Globadiers. A last minute thing. I thought I was done with the unit when I came across an old edition Globadier tucked away in a bitz box. The Gutter Runners should have been the last unit of the year but with the holidays and work I just couldn't get around to it. These will have to be first on the list for 2011.

All in all, I think 2010 was pretty productive. Despite starting late in the year I learned and accomplished a lot. I didn't paint a whole lot like last year (2009 Adepticon) but I think there was more quality this time around. Next year I hope to maybe work on more rank and file units instead of the single minis... or maybe an abomination conversion!!! Until next year!

Ho-hum

Sorry, I haven't been doing much on the hobby front. Been too busy with other things. Mainly work and holiday stuff, but mostly work.

I have been working on a new avatar for my forum accounts though. Just doodling right now. I've been wanting to change it for a long time (hakomike might remember). I've been dragging my feet to work on something and all of sudden an entire year passes by! So from now until the end of the month I vow to make a new sprite for the new year so look for it soon!

Happy Holidays!

Skaven Update #27

Finished my Globadier mini champion.

And here he is with the group.

I haven't made much progress with my gutter runners. I've been distracted with other things like playing some Fallout Tactics on the pc and finally catching up on The Walking Dead show. Man this show rocks! Hopefully I can do better this weekend.

I got an unexpected number of views on my photobucket account from an Italian Warhammer forum called forumgwtilea. Over the weekend it got some 1300 views and then another 1300 just yesterday alone. I normally get some 15 views a day- more if I actually post something. WTF is going on here?! Are they trashing my stuff or what? Anybody know Italian?

Weekend Project: IoB High Elf Mage DONE!!!

Well I wasn't able to finish on Sunday like I planned. A bit ambitious I guess. But it's 99% done and I think I'm fine with that.

I had the hardest time figuring out how to paint the globe on the staff. I redid the freaking thing like 4 times and just settled with what I have now. I was so frustrated that I didn't even do the back side. Ugh, I know that'll gnaw at me for a while. The next hardest were the gems although they came out surprisingly well, better than I anticipated. I was really dreading them. Overall it was a pretty fun experience. I learned a lot: skin tones, painting new colors like blues and whites, and gems. I even tried glazing- fancy! Damn these elves. I can definitely use this when I start my Empire army... whenever that'll be.

Anyway, hope you like and now back to my rats!

Weekend Project: IoB High Elf Mage

Thought I'd show you what I've been able to do so far.

First impressions of the mini are pretty good. The model is very detailed but very delicate. I accidentally broke off one of the swirly things underneath the mage while I was painting. Had a hard time deciding what color scheme I should go with so I went with the standard blue and white look. Also had problems with a couple of the GW paints. My Sunburst Yellow and Shining Gold weren't coating evenly. I shook the bottles pretty well and my brush is clean and neat(not worn out). I'm guessing it might be the paint so I'll pick up new pots tomorrow. Until next time!