Clearing the Decks

Before Zomtober gets into full swing, a few pics of the completed Dispater miniature from Fractured Dimensions are in order. It would be poor form not to give the devil his due, after all.

Idle Hands do the Devil's Work

My attention's been elsewhere lately and any semblance of miniature-painting productivity has flown right out the window. I took steps towards overcoming my inertia by pressing forward today with FD's Dispater. A clean sculpt by Ian Mountain that offers the triple challenge of NMM, object source lighting, and freehand in one 28mm package.

The WIP pics show the mini after the application of washes for shading. Further progress has been made since.

The Cat's Pajamas

Business Cat approves.

Leaving behind two figures of speech and resorting to a third, it's time to lay my cards on the table. I'm painting for MortalArrow LLC, the new distributor of Fractured Dimensions miniatures. Mike at Mortal Arrow has been hard at work behind the scenes and the online store should go live shortly.

Also involved are artists Bobby Penafiel and Lloyd Metcalf. Bobby did the concept art for FD's IMotOP Kickstarter and has recently immortalized your humble author in pen and ink. (OK, my humility is an open question. What can I say?)

Consider my ego stroked.

I have no inside info on this point but a perusal of Bobby's DeviantArt page seems to offer clues to future FD releases. That's right campers... future releases. Fractured Dimensions has resumed product development. A couple new Paul Muller greens are on display on Mortal Arrow's FB page. Sweet.

Paul Muller can do no wrong.

As for yours truly, a personal matter has been demanding my attention, resulting in limited progress on the painting front. Ideally, as the situation improves, I'll get my ass in gear and paint some stuff. Towards that end, FD's Dispater has received some initial attention.

Ian Mountain's no slouch either.

PTS X: Sidetracked

It's Paint Table Saturday and an update on the painting of Fractured Dimensions' bodak should follow. For that to happen it would of course be necessary first to do some actual painting.

Funny how that works.

Instead, I found myself scrapping the base I was prepared to use and constructing something more to my liking. Having done this I prepped yet another mini and built a similar base for it.

Lots of pictures to follow in an effort to illustrate my hobby-meanderings:

The original base

Problem: Hem of robe not supported

The robe continues to defy gravity

L: old model, R: new and improved

Mini on new base

Base from rear

Robe now properly supported

The last of three base inserts

Sawing off top layer

After sawing

Some cork

Top section added

Red oxide paste and some grit

FD's Dispater has a new home

Rear view

PTS IX: They Call me Schultz

It's time for another action-packed installment of Paint Table Saturday, campers. The paint table part and explanation of the Hogan's Heroes reference will follow shortly. First, some old business requires attention.

The Helping Hand Challenge, a year long undertaking initiated by Chris at Duke of the Blood Keep, joined by Ant Master at Deviant Designs Deeds and myself, is over. My final offering wasn't quite done when presented. That has been put right:

 

Little different from last time, I know. Just the face, base, and some touch-ups.

I painted nine of the intended twelve minis plus two that sneaked in uninvited. Whether or not that's a respectable performance is a matter best left to future miniature-painting historians. For now, I present the HHC class of 2014/15:

On to new business. Two perribos (a type of devil) from Fractured Dimensions are next in the paint queue. They're pictured below along with a couple possible skin-tones. After this test I'm leaning towards the greyish-pink. Regardless, their faces/heads may end up a different, pale color as a nod to the evil clown vibe these guys have goin' on.

Zomtober is only a few months away. (Hmm. That came out of left field. Where's he going with this? Let's read on.)

Between now and then I intend to focus almost exclusively on Fractured Dimensions miniatures, principally those from the IMotOP Kickstarter. There is a reason for this. I may not elaborate further.

To quote the good sergeant, "I know nothing. Nothing!".

All Good Things

The final entry in the Helping Hand Challenge has arrived. I'm happy to say that for once my entry has been submitted on time. I'm less happy that a little work remains before he's truly finished.

My misadventures in NMM continue. I'm pleased with the helm and shield. The sword... maybe not so much.

Be sure to check out the work of the other participants at Duke of the Blood Keep and Deviant Designs Deeds.

These Little Lights of Mine

March is nearly here and I'm scurrying to avoid a post-less February. To that end, I present my latest contributions to the Helping Hand Challenge: the lantern-bearer and linkboy.

This month should feature the dwarf from OW's Henchmen and Hirelings box set but I'm running a bit behind, I fear. The linkboy was "finished" last year but I was somewhat displeased with the result. With the lantern-bearer on the paint table, it seemed a good time to have a go at some OSL on both minis.

Glazing with Vallejo Clear Orange and Fluorescent Orange was used for the OSL. A good amount of the underlying colors were also added to these glazes to keep the effect from being too harsh.

The Flourescent Orange is pretty intense. Use judiciously.

I'm pleased with how things turned out, although the linkboy's left sleeve should probably be a bit darker.

The attentions of Chris over at Duke of the Blood Keep have understandably been elsewhere this month. To see the dwarf in all his glory be sure to check out Ant Master's efforts at Deviant Designs Deeds.

PTS VII: Lantern Bearer

The lantern-bearer is next up for The Helping Hand Challenge. Ideally the mini would be finished today but it's still very much a work in progress.

Things were delayed somewhat by the need to catch up on the previous two months' subjects and my choice to modify the miniature a bit.

To see the work of the Challenge's more punctual participants, Check out Duke of the Blood Keep and Deviant Designs Deeds.

Some WIP pics:

Mini shimmed to stand slightly higher than base. Cork added.

Glack gesso on cork. Mini flush with base after sand is added.

Grey primer, black wash, drybrushed grey then white.

Arm position altered.

Lantern modified to hang vertically.

Deep recesses painted black.

I had to work today and tomorrow's a national holiday so this is turning into a lost weekend on the painting front. I shall press forward next week.

In closing: GO HAWKS!!

Playing Catch-Up

I'm still participating in The Helping Hand Challenge... though one would be forgiven for thinking otherwise based on recent performance. After a promising start I drove straight into the ditch, it seems. This sorry state of affairs ends here and now. I didn't produce the semi-obligatory New-Year's post complete with targets for 2015 but, if I had, getting back on the beam as far as the challenge is concerned would have been hobby-resolution #1.

With this in mind, and without further ado, I present the pack-bearer and the squire (which should have been November and December's contributions respectively).

The pack-bearer's pack was painted separately and attached afterwards. The face received a five o'clock shadow but no additional color in the cheeks or nose. Hopefully this gives him a slightly ashen look.

By contrast, the squire received no five o'clock but a lot of color in the cheeks and nose in an attempt to present a healthy, well-groomed subject. The sculpt has prominent cheek-bones, a high forehead, and equally high hair. I tried to accentuate these features through shading and highlights.

The other two challenge participants used blue and red on their tabards so I thought it only fitting to go with the remaining primary color, yellow.

Speaking of the other participants, be sure to check out their most recent efforts at Duke of the Blood Keep and Deviant Designs Deeds.