I’ve been Liebstered…

My friend Laffe of The Figure Fanatic Liebstered me the other day. Liebstered? - you say.

Well, it’s sort of a chain-letter for blogs, where you show your appreciation of other peoples blogs, and it’s been around for a while, and it has evolved, or mutated…

I got it the first time around, and nominated Laffe then, and I guess it is pay-back time now J.

How about that mutation? – I hear you ask.

Last time it was just the above, now you have to answer a lot of questions too… I’ve seen different iteration in the different blogs – it seems to be mutating fast!

From Laffe I got 10 truths and 11 questions to answer. But the lazy bastard I am, I cut that down to the 11 only. I don’t want bore you to death.

The 10 questions from Laffe:

Why did you start blogging?

Laffe showed me his. Blog! Thomas (Learning by doing) showed me his. Nice concept. Started, mostly to collect all those notes on what colors I had used in one place. It grew from that. Now it’s a lot of being part of a community, and getting friends I have never met.

If you could change one thing about the wargaming hobby, what would it be?

I would like a well-known game company to realize they are a part of a hobby, and not The Hobby.

What is best in life?

Life…

Do you want to live forever?

Forever is a long time, so probably not. But having reached, and probably passed, mid-term, life do seem a bit too short.

Fame or fortune?

Fortune. You can always give a part of that away, but you’re stuck with fame…

What is your worst habit?

I’m a Kickstarteraholic… or something. I’ve fallen for too many lately. I’m hopefully a recovering one, or I won’t find places to hide all the stuff…

One activity you want to do but never got round to it?

To write that book…. But, hey, I just resigned so I could do that!

Star Trek or Star Wars?

Easy! Wars. I’ve never been a trekkie.

If you had to buy from just one miniature company from now on, which would it be?

Haha, fooled the system! I have a ton of figures from Kickstarters coming (see above), and they are already bought: I will survive. But I would probably select Hasslefree. Lovely figures from one of the most talented sculptors out there.

Favorite holiday destination?

Our summer-place in the Stockholm Archipelago. Nothing beats it. Nothing.

What’s your favorite book/film character, and why?

Takeshi Kovacs from the books by Richard Morgan. Mean, ruthless and dangerous. Great books.

I just listened to a podcast on death (The Infinite Monkey Cage, 24 June 2013). (Strangely enough the discussion boiled down to sex. Get as much as possible as fast as possible. To reproduce, off course…) The essence was that everything must die, sooner or later.

I think that is what is going to happen to this branch of the Liebster award. One of the things is to send it to 5-10 blogs with less than 200 followers. Or just one or two.

There are so many good blogs out there, and giving it to just a couple is rather hard.

Instead I recommend you to check ‘My blog list’ on the right margin of this blog. There you’ll find a lot of blogs I appreciate. It’s a great way of finding something new.

If you have a blog of your own this is a great way of letting others find the gems you have found. See it a service to the community (and update the list on your blog now and then, it doesn’t do that by itself).

Also, you can give a shout-out to your new followers, see below.

Welcome follower Warlord Paul with The Black Hole. I like his mission statement. The last sentence is this: “Wargamers of the world, the time for excuses is past, it is time to have incredible fun.” Sort of sums it up – check out his blog!

Adventurers’ campsite from Otherworld and some similar stuff

Another useful kit from Otherworld Miniatures - ACC5 Adventurers’ Campsite. It’s a bit pricey (£14) but rather useful. The tent is resin, and the rest metal.

I’ll skip the paints this time, except for the flames.

First time I tried to paint flames, and it turned out ok, I guess.

First a coat of Vallejo 948 Golden Yellow. I then mixed 948 with Citadel Foundation Macharius Solar Orange, and painted the raised areas progressively darker. Also darker the higher up you came.  Finally drybrushed black on the top of the flames.

I'll try a bit of white in the hottest areas next time.

When I was at it, I rummaged through my collection of unpainted stuff and found a campfire from Renedra and their tent sets, and a fire pot from Reaper and included in the pack “Vaaron, Fire Sorcerer” (02561). Finished those too.

GW giant – finished at last

I bought the Games Workshop giant a long time ago. I guess it was before we had moved to this house, or maybe just when we had moved, so it is 8+ years ago.

I built it, and waited. Green stuffed it, and waited. Painted his head… and waited. Club and hands… and waited. Pieces of cloth… etc

It been on my painting table on and off for years, and I just couldn’t get the enthusiasm needed for it. Couldn’t love it, and couldn’t really sell it off.

I moved it from storage two weeks ago… and waited. But I finally decided to finish it once and for all. A couple of evenings work, and it’s finally, finally, finished!

Paints used… forget it! I have no idea.

The tree is a sprig of heather.

I’m sipping a small glass of single malt, Strathisla, 12 years old. Life is good. One foe is vanquished.
This is a day for celebration!

The final Wild West figures from Black Scorpion

They are finally done! All my Black Scorpion Wild West minis are painted and ready for a game or three of Dead Man’s Hand. Unbelievable – I’ve finished a painting project!

From the Cowgirls 2 set. I considered making her a pair of decent pants with green stuff, but it was too much work. She should have had that from the beginning…

Paints used:

Coat – Vallejo 912 Tan Yellow

Hat – 981 Orange Brown

Blouse – Citadel Blood Red

Hair – 940 Saddle Brown

Shorts and boots – Citadel Foundation Calthan Brown

Also from the Cowgirls 2 set.She would also have gained with a pair of pants.

Blouse – 885 Pastel Green

Boots – 872 Chocolate Brown

Hat – 912 Tan Yellow with band 856 Ochre Brown

Shorts – 871 Leather Brown

Hair – Coat d’arms 223 Horse Tone Chestnut

Armbands – Vallejo Game Color 56 Glorious Gold

From the Tombstone 3 pack. A real gentleman… blasting someone to smithereens…

Hair - Coat d’arms 223 Horse Tone Chestnut

Vest – 981 Orange Brown

Jacket – Citadel Vomit Brown

Hat – Citadel Foundation Tausept Ochre

Shoes – 984 Flat Brown

Pants – black drybrushed with 872 Chocolate Brown

All minis were washed with Army Painter Strong Tone or Dark Tone on dark browns. A new layer of paint here and there to get clearer finish/highlight and more well defined shadows.

Here they are, the whole bunch from the last batch.

A microature – 28mm hedgehog

This hedgehog comes from Reaper’s Familiar Pack VIII, and it is without doubt the tiniest 28mm miniature I have ever painted – well, not a miniature, but a microature.

Base colour is Vallejo 872 Chocolate Brown, drybrushed with Citadel Foundation Dheneb Stone and nose and eyes black.

He's ready to take on all foes.

Urgh, a rat with spines….

The postman didn’t ring at all…

..and certainly not twice. But there was a slip in the postbox. Something to pick up at the local grocery shop/post office.

I had my suspicions…

 I got a sack! What the…!

Inside, a heavy box. Very well packaged.

Oooooh, suspicions true

More than 2,3 kg and 1000 pages of history!

This is the prize from the latest competition at Miniature Wargames. I answered the tricky questions and got lucky in the draw.

What a prize! This isn’t something I will read cover to cover, but as a work of reference it is invaluable. I love books, and this is something I can love a looooong time. Lovely.

Short informative texts on most every conflict there ever were. From Haik vs Nimrod 2492 BCE to Syria now.

Good maps

A great thank you to Casemate, which supplied the book, Henry Hyde and Miniature Wargames, a great magazine. Extra good, as this is my second prize this last year.

Welcome follower Captain LOL with blogs Figurine Passion and Comix, Horror and Movies. Two fantastic blogs mainly dealing with large scale miniatures. Absolutely gorgeous large scale miniatures. Well worth a visit!

Another bunch of Black Scorpion Wild West figures

Another four figures, only three to go and I’m finished with all my Wild West minis for this time. They come from Black Scorpion and their Tombstone range and are made of resin.

This time I used rubberized horsehair as bushes. The two bases to the right looks okay, the other two… well… I bought a big roll of the stuff, so I can confidently base another 152 734 figures, give or take a few.

A sheriff from the single figure blister called… Sheriff.

Paints used:

Coat – 994 Dark Grey

Hat – Black with band 836 London Grey

Vest – 871 Leather Brown

Pants – Citadel Foundation Dheneb Stone

Hair – Coat d’arms 223 Horse Tone Chestnut

Another man with a badge, this time from the Tombstone 3 pack.

Boots – P3 Bootstrap Leather

Hat – Black with band 836 London Grey

Shirt – 988 Khaki

Vest – P3 Gun Corps Brown

Pants - Black

This hippie-dude is from the same pack as above.

Coat – P3 Bootstrap Leather

Boots – 984 Flat Brown

Hat – 843 Cork Brown with black band

Pants – 884 Stone Grey

Shirt – 988 Khaki

A gunslinger from the Tombstone 2 pack

Boots – Formula P3 Bootstrap Leather

Coat - 823 Luftwaffe Camo Green, inside 912 Tan Yellow

Hat – 836 London Grey

Handkerchief – Coat d’arms 240 Unbleached Wool

Pants – 884 Stone Grey

Vest – Citadel Foundation Dheneb Stone

All minis washed with Army Painter Strong Tone and Dark Tone. The latter primarily on greens, greys and dark browns.

A very warm welcome to follower Paul Waechter who has a blog of his own, Dog of War. It’s a new blog about miniatures, boardgames, history and more, and it looks very promising. Keep up the good job, Paul! I’m following.

Even more Wild West from Black Scorpion

 

Nearly ready with the Wild West Figures. After these there are just two batches left.

This feels unnatural… a project nearing completion. Must be a one-off…

Tombstone 3 pack

Paints used:

Vest – Citadel Foundation Khemri Brown

Trousers – Vallejo 983 Flat Earth

Shirt – 883 Pastel Green

Gunbelt – Formula P3 Bootstrap Leather

Shoes – 872 Chocolate Brown

Hat – 912 Tan Yellow with band 856 Ochre Brown

Army Painter Strong Tone wash over everything

From the Tombstone 2 pack

Trousers – 898 Sky Grey

Vest – 872 Chocolate Brown

Boots – P3 Bootstrap Leather

Shirt – 883 Silver Grey

Tie – 922 U.S.A. Uniform

Hat – Black with band 836 London Grey

Dark Tone wash on vest, Strong Tone over the rest

Also from the Tombstone 2 pack

Shirt – 993 White Grey

Trousers – 836 London Grey

Boots – 984 Flat Earth

Dark Tone on trousers, Strong Tone on browns

Tombstone 3

Coat – 872 Chocolate Brown

Boots – P3 Bootstrap Leather

Trousers – 870 Medium Sea Grey

Hat – 912 Tan Yellow with band 843 Cork Brown

Shirt – 820 Off White

Handkerchief – Coat d’arms 240 Unbleached Wool

Dark Tone on coat, Strong Tone on the rest

Paint Table Saturday, May 3

A long time since the last look at my paint table.

So what’s happening there now?

Wild West – the final figures are on the painting table. Four of them just need to be based, the rest are close to fully painted. A project nearing completion! Well, completion…next for the Wild West are some buildings and fences, and Shadows of Brimstone will hit me early autumn, hopefully.

Winter War – A couple of primed Russians and a bunch to be prepared and primed. As soon as the wild west figures are finished these will get most of my attention. Hopefully.

Fantasy – a couple of different minis. These get a bit of paint now and then. Filler models when I’m tired of WW (Wild West or Winter War). I spy the GW giant… it will see paint… sometime this year.

For more paint tables go to Sofie’s Paint Blog!

Flesh Golem from WotC

This is another mini from the Castle Ravenloft boardgame, this time one of the major adversaries – the flesh golem.

This guy is huge!

Paints used:

Flesh – Citadel Rotting Flesh

Scars – Vallejo 835 Salmon Rose and the deep were filled in with 944 Old Rose

Stitches – P3 Bootstrap Leather

Lips – Citadel Dwarf Flesh

Metal – Vallejo 863 Gunmetal Grey

Pants – Citadel Foundation Khemri Brown

Belt – 843 Cork Brown

Everything got a wash of Army Painter Strong Tone