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!".

Axe me no Questions, I'll Tell You no Lies

In my last post, I claimed that the Otherworld halfling's NMM plate mail was pretty far along. That was pretty far from the truth as it turned out.

The armor was my most extensive attempt at NMM to date. What can I say? It took longer than expected. I did enjoy the process though and hopefully learned a few things along the way.

The NMM tutorial from James Wappel's Painting Pyramid Kickstarter proved invaluable. Chock full of great info. I would've been lost without it.

Colors used on the armor.

I've been lagging behind in the Helping Hand Challenge and so it may seem rash to have added the halfling and badger to the roster. I have no regrets. They were already prepped and based. It seemed like their time.

When he was first prepared, the badger was intended for an outdoor setting with ample ground cover and what-not. As part of the HHC he wound up instead as a grey miniature on a stark grey base. I tried to warm up the greys used on the fur as a contrast to the cool grey base.

The Dwarf Mercenary was very straightforward. The stripes on the pants were a late addition.

PTS VIII: Of Fiends and Henchmen

 Just a quick post showing what's currently on the table.

The three primed figures are part of the Helping Hand Challenge. They should be made a priority so I'll have something to submit this month. The other three are from Fractured Dimensions IMotOP Kickstarter.

The mini on the left (with the hammer) is billed by FD as a bodak but to my eye it makes a great death knight (a marshal, as opposed to arcane, lich with demonic ties) from the old Fiend Folio. (It does comes with an alternate head which in fairness is far more bodaky.)

Plodding Right Along

The travel brochure made no mention of this.

Limited progress is progress nonetheless. In that spirit I post many pictures and a few words on what currently occupies my paint-table. (The short version: lots of basing, experimenting with new materials, very little paint.)

New toys: mica flake gel & red oxide paste

Minis attached to bits of cork

Red oxide paste used to conceal tabs and texture cork

2nd mini from the right is not attached & will be painted separately

Grit, gesso, green stuff, & first use of mica flakes (fungal growths?)

And then there were five: guy on the right is a double from my KS rewards

A mouth full of metal

Mouth gouged out & a newly sculpted tongue

The view from the flip side

Testing to see if 25mm base will result in a top-heavy miniature

Extra ballast in the form of fishing sinkers

Mica flakes as leaf-litter and the return of the cockatrice

Left leg is shorter than the right, hence the Captain Morgan stance

More nearly forgotten minis resurface

For more info in using mica flake gel see James Wappel Miniature Painting and 28mm Victorian Warfare. I'm very pleased with the material so far but will reserve final judgement until I actually see what it looks like painted.

Speaking of which, it's time to get some paint on these guys. Peace.

PTS IV: Up to my Old Tricks Again

Table? Check. Saturday? Check. Paint? Negatory.

What I "should" currently be working on are an Otherworld Miniatures' halfling fighter and his anthropomorphized badger sidekick (a 15mm mini from Splintered Light). They're based and ready for paint... have been for a while.

Are we ever gettin' a coat of paint, or what?

Instead, I find myself distracted by a couple shiny new geegaws with Fiend Folio Project written all over them. The first is a cerepod from Otherworld which conveniently looks just like Russ Nicholson's FF grell illustration. Eleven parts, all of which need to be pinned. (That's 20 holes that need to be drilled by my reckoning.) This might take a while.

Caution: carpel tunnel syndrome ahead

The second is a new release from Fenris. A little conversion work will be involved. A gold star goes to the first person to correctly identify the FF monster I'm shooting for based on the picture below.

A sword. A lovecraftesque mummy. A base with spiders.