Category Archives: Monthly Painting Round-Ups

July-August 2018 YDT Painting Goal Reflections.

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Only a month and a half late! I’d planned to write up this more than a month ago, but life kept conspiring to prevent me from laying all of the 382 models I’ve finished this year out for a photo. This is everything I’ve gotten painted this year up until the beginning of August. Except for those two little wall segments. I’ll illustrate the entire reflective post with more shots of the year-to-date painting, because I didn’t get all of those bloody models out just to take a single photograph! Clicky for big ones, but the focus on individual models isn’t great…

Now more than halfway through the year’s Monthly round-ups, once again it’s a good time to look again at my year’s painting goals as listed during January and reflect on how I’ve been going with them:

1. Paint and finish some 2+1 marine forces/bump up existing small groups to this as a minimum.
Black Templars, Celestial Lions, Fallen Angels and Deathwatch, though I have another one on the go right now, and plans (oh dear, the plans) for several more. I’d also count finishing my 2006 Ork force in there.

I… haven’t done a damn thing on any of the Marine forces since March, when I had managed to get some stuff done. I did at least get my 2006 Ork force completed. Which reminds me, I wanted to take an army showcase shot of them but the light and/or focus has been crap every time I’ve tried…

2. Reinforce the existing 40k armies. Specifically, both Minotaurs and Iron Warriors need some proper reinforcements.

Well, I’ve painted some Cybertronic models that kinda-sorta fit in as Iron Warriors Auxillaries, but I need to get onto these as well. Hopefully the coming month (September) can see something for each?

3. Sort out the stuff that’s painted but needs reorganisation to be playable in 8th edition. I’m very much thinking of my Imperial Guard here.

No movement here. Yet. I’ve been spending much of my recent time working on making some space, but there’s still too much crap here that hasn’t been helped by clearing out my mum’s stuff to help my dad out. At this point I’m kinda thinking that this won’t happen at all this year as my time is being used to try and get models finished.

4. Finish more of the stuff I started but never finished. There’s a unit of Elves just waiting on three models to be done to be completed. There’s a unit of DUST Gorillas, a unit of Undead, some Mordor Uruks, Arbites, Savage Orcs… It’s bloody exhausting to think about how many started-but-abandoned units I still have.

Well, here is probably the biggest thing that I’ve managed to do, as I’ve made pretty good progress on a lot of the old outstanding half-painted models and units I’ve accumulated. Out of the named models there, I’ve gotten the Gorillas done, the Undead, the Mordor Uruks. Nothing on the Arbites or Savage Orcs yet – Just a shame there are so, SO many more of them to go.

5. Complete all of my metal Dwarf Slayer models.

Nope, nope, nope. I guess it’s possible, but I’d have to have a dedicated “Slayer Month”. I should be able to get some more done, at least…

6. Complete all of my metal Viking models.

I’ve done a few of them and have a few more on the desk that I dip in and out of, but haven’t actually managed to finish any more units of them since the three I completed back in April, though I’ve in the process of trying to complete another small group of them literally this past few days. (Varnish accident set me right back!) I can’t see them all getting done without “Viking Month”, and I can’t see them keeping my interest as the only thing to work on for an entire month.

7. Get a Nurgle Daemon army up and running.

This one still counts as a success for the year, though I haven’t added to them as much as I wanted to since March. Still need to get the last of the metals assembled, let alone painted. I did clean the flash off them last week, finally, though I’m yet to glue them together…

8. Get a Grey Knights army up and running.

Ain’t nothing happening here yet. I’d still like to, but perhaps getting a Kill-Team painted is a more realistic goal for 2018 at this stage.

9. Get a second Chaos Legion force up and running.

Ain’t nothing happening here, either! Once again, a Kill-Team is the more achievable outcome.

10. Skirmish forces & small miniature boardgame models updated/ready to play. Necromunda, Shadespire, Blood Bowl, Gorechosen, SAGA (aside from Vikings)

Sweet fuck-all done here since March as well for the named game skirmish forces. I’ve churned out a decent number of models for Shadows of Brimstone, and an increasing few for Imperial Assault. I’d like to update my old-school Cawdor, so maybe that can be a target for next month’s Neglected Models? I’d really like to get onto the Shadespire Warbands, though, as they’re quite small and the models are lovely and it’ll give me an excuse to actually paint some newer models instead of simply buying them and hoarding them.

11. Two small opposed forces for Bolt Action.

Still ain’t nothing happening here yet. I don’t think the 15mm Flames of War tanks count, but they’ll work for FoW, Tanks! and Tank War (BA)… As Imperial Assault is showing me so well, if I had an actual opponent for BA, I’m sure I’d automagically gravitate to getting shit done in a reasonably efficient manner.

12. Then there are unfinished terrain pieces, projects like the Graveyard and the Mighty Fortress, and scatter scenery, and…

This has been a successful category when it comes to scatter terrain, with a ton of hedges and other small bits of scatter and dressing scenery items done – mostly from boardgame sets, but they’ll work okay across many genres. Still working on some other stuff, but as with so much else, it’s often slow going. I’ve got several larger projects that just keep stalling out. I need some time off work to knuckle down and get them finished! Maybe in September…?

If I can keep up the 30-31-models per month minimum, that should be another 150 models for this year, so with that being around the 530 mark, I should really be aiming for 600+. I’m sure that with my Terrain Crates from Mantic’s Kickstarter having arrived recently, filled with little bits of scatter terrain, I should be able to make up the numbers. It’ll be a hard year to top at this rate, though!

The Jewel of July 2018 – Community Round-Up

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Ellen’s Idoneth Deepkin Eidolon

Kicking off this month – The Jewel of July we have:

Ellen, from Lavender Miniature Painting and Tabletop Gaming with a miniature that is so large that it barely qualifies as such, and is also more Turquoise than Lavender, but we’ll forgive that. We have the Eidolon of Mathlann – Aspect of the Sea model from Games Workshop’s new Idoneth Deepkin (Deep Sea Elves) range for Age of Sigmar.

 

Ann’s Yellow-Moldy Poxbringer

Ann from Ann’s Immaterium completed this nasty looking Poxbringer which features quite a lot of colourful and shiny maladies, including a new one – the rather disgusting looking Yellow Mold on it’s pointy-arm. There’s some nice close-up shots on Ann’s blog. Make sure you’ve just finished a full, meaty meal before checking it out. 🙂

 

Alexis West’s Keeper of Secrets

Cascadian Grimdark‘s Alexis West aka Westrider completed a pretty bloody impressive conversion of a Keeper of Secrets, known as Danglethrust Sinhammer. I spy a Verminlord in there as well as a number of other parts. Alexis also proves that it’s not all that difficult to “jump the fence” and participate in a WordPress-based hobby challenge, even when your own blog is on Blogspot! 🙂

 

Marouda’s Fimbrethil, Entwife.

Marouda, who (rarely) posts here on Azazel’s Bitz Box completed her first model in over a decade – Fimbrethil, Entwife by Mithril Miniatures. Hopefully she continues to put paint to brush.

 

 

Krakendoom Cool’s “Horny Toad” Nurgle Helbrute.

Krakendoomcool‘s Krakendoom Cool created a Nurgle Helbrute “Horny Toad” based on the trailer for the 40k PC game Inquisitor: Martyr and with Emeralds as his Jewel inspiration. Using the Boxed Helbrute as a base, along with any number of additional parts (including the venerable Space Crusade Assault Cannons). A pretty nasty piece of work!

 

Pandora’s Bitz Box’ Norris Thing/Possessed Marine.

Krakendoomcool‘s brother-in-arms on the same blog, Pandora’s Bitz Box came up with two models this month. First up is the Norris Thing/Possessed Marine, inspired by John Carpenter’s classic horror film

Pandora’s Bitz Box’ Imperial Assault AT-ST.

Pandora’s Bitz Box‘ second submission is a rather impressive model in a very different way – the AT-ST from Star Wars: Imperial Assault.

 

Warbringer’s Magni Warbringer, Techmarine of the Salamanders.

Warbringer, contributor on the Krakendoomcool blog completed this Salamanders Techmarine homage to …himself! And a pretty sweet job he’s done on it, too – especially when you see the work that went into creating the model before brush met paint.

 

Mark Morin’s Cavalry Squad of Power Armoured Frinx, riding Glyptodons. Because OF COURSE they are.

Mark A Morin completed a project with a long tail. Figuratively more than literally, though you probably don’t want to be swatted by one of these – it’s a squad of Power Armoured Frinx on Glyptodons. One of these models  would have been well enough for July, but, well, you know Mark by now…

 

Alex’s Kal Jericho and Scabs

Alex of Leadbaloony finished a few figures that fit the Jewel of July categories this month. Hero(?) of the Underhive, Kal Jericho and his offsider, Skab. He’s done a great job on these classics of the original Necromunda.

 

The Imperfect Modeller’s Indiana Jones Diorama.

The Imperfect Modeller came up with not one, but three dioramas this month. Pretty insane. The first is a Reaper model nominally called “Jack Harrison”, but we know who it really is – Indiana Jones! In this model, it looks very much like Dr. Jones is negotiating the jungle on the way into the temple in the opening scenes from Raiders…

TIM’s Kelainen Darkmantle, Evil Wizard.

TIM also dipped his toe into the genre of fantasy, beginning with another Reaper model – Kelainen Darkmantle, Evil Wizard. I’m not sure if that bottle contains something magical, something really malodorous or is about to be used as a magic grenade. Perhaps all three?

TIM’s “Fantasy Island”

TIM’s third submission for the month (I know they didn’t go up in this order!) is the aptly named “Fantasy Island“. An amazing looking piece that also features a Nienna, a Reaper Elf ranger near the waterfall’s edge. This piece conjures up images of much fantasy art through the years, but personally reminds me of Nagrand, in World of Warcraft – as it is very reminiscent of that particular lovely looking place where I spent quite some time back in the day. TIM has used quite a few new and advanced techniques to create this masterpiece – but you’ll have to visit his blog to see how he did it!

 

Backtothehammer’s Garagrim Ironfist…

..and his Wood Elven Waystalker

Backtothehammer has completed more than one submission this month – firstly, Garagrim Ironfist, son of Ungrim Ironfist and then in the same post, his second Wood Elf Waystalker, making the left and right hand of Haldrin Stormlight. The twin deaths.

 

Thomas’ Aramis the Skullstalker.

Thomas of the High Times on the Eastern Fringe has created a truly awful thing. Aramis and Skullstalker. You really need to visit (and fully read) the post to appreciate it in full. I’ll say no more here.

 

Cousin Nalesk’s submission for the month.

Cousin Nalesk from Elucubrationsursidees completed this figure, the Christmas figurine from 2006 by Freebooter Miniatures, featuring some lovely NMM on the cloak’s embroidery. This served as his contribution for Jewel of July as well as his entry to the Competition celebrating the 1,000,000th visit to The Temple of Morikun blog.

 

Caseyrog’s Chaos Minotaur for BloodBowl.

Caseyrog from Wyrd Stones and Tackle Zones completed this Forge World BloodBowl Minotaur.

Mr.White’s Terrorgheist and Ghoul King.

Mr.White, also from Wyrd Stones and Tackle Zones completed a Terrorgheist for July. He’s done some great conversion work incorporating Stormcast armour and shields to represent their particular delusion.

Jason’s Volturnos, High King of the Deep.

Finally, Jason from Wyrd Stones and Tackle Zones painted up Volturnos, High King of the Deep, for his Idoneth Deepkin army, giving us a second Sea Elf for the month’s contributions. I particularly love the transitions he’s used here on the Seahorse’s scales and underside.

 

Wudugast’s Skaven Warp-Lighting Cannon.

Wudugast from Convert or Die has turned out a rather impressive Jewel for the month. A Skaven Warp-Lighting Cannon! His ever-growing horde of WHFB Skaven now have another (centre)piece of heavy artillery to smite their foes with.

 

Sfjy’s Knight Castellan, in all its imposing glory.

Speaking of Heavy Artillery, Sfjy of Sigmund Freud is Judging You has completed the largest model yet for the month: An immense Knight Castellan. Sfjy painted the panels using the Greenstuffworld Chameleon paints, achieving those really nice, varied metallic tones on the model’s carapace. If only my challenges could motivate my own self to paint something this impressive!

 

Just Needs Varnish’s custom Panzerjäger V Ausfuhrung A Kobra.

Just Needs Varnish from his eponymous blog built and painted a custom prototype WWII Panzer. Called the Panzerjäger V Ausfuhrung A Kobra (Tank Destroyer Type 5 Mark A Cobra), he based it on a spare Panther hull, some Marder bits, and of course – plasticard.

Just Needs Varnish’s Brummbär.

JNV also turned out another pretty cool model in July, this Brummbär that has had the skirts added from another kit. but seemed adamant that it wasn’t special enough to be considered a Jewel. I personally disagree (and I’m sure most if not all readers here would, also) – and if I’d painted it, I’d certainly be counting it. So in line with JNV’s request, it’s not officially a Jewel, it’s just visiting this post.

 

Krautscientist’s The Hound, Enkidu Lance, XII Legion 4th Assault Company.

Krautscientist from the Eternal Hunt completed an extensive conversion of a Knight Armiger, turning it renegade and creating The Hound, Enkidu Lance, XII Legion 4th Assault Company. Aside from the arms being modular, the carapace is also removable, showing the pilot inside along with his detailed console. Very cool, indeed!

 

Argent Badger’s Carrion Emissary.

Argent Badger of The Bovine Overlord completed this Carrion Emissary from Malifaux – part of the Resurrectionist Crews. I don’t know much (anything) about Malifaux, but I know a cool model when I see it – and this one certainly qualifies.

Argent Badger’s Anna Lovelace.

Argent Badger also showed off Anna Lovelace, also from Malifaux. An interesting combination of elements – steampunk, anime-bookish and also with a vicious-looking bladed tonfa. Quite the interesting contrast between the delicate pink of her top and the militaristic Battleship grey of the armoured bell-skirt.

 

EJ Henries’ Night Lord Renegade

EJ Henries of Malefic Design completed this converted Night Lord Renegade, armed with a (Deathshroud?) Power Scythe. Quite a nice build that I’m inspired to rip off be inspired by one day…

 

Imperial Rebel Ork’s Bruiser and Bully.

Imperial Rebel Ork has submitted Bruiser and Bully, a pair of characters from his immense SkyRaiders project, more specifically from the Junkers faction. If you’d like to know more, and which one is Bruiser and which one is Bully, them I’m afraid you’ll have to click the link and let IRO explain..

 

Redboarwiiingers’ Blood Bowl Ogre.

Redboarwiiingers from his self-titled blog painted up this cool-looking Blood Bowl Ogre for his human team. I only happened to see the post today (Mid-August) so it’s a good example of why I need those links!

 

Finally, my own contributions, which can be seen in slightly more detail via their individual posts over the last month, or collected in yesterday’s post.

*Obviously, I’m pretty much guaranteed to have accidentally missed someone despite my best efforts, so if that’s you, please know it was unintentional – just reply to this post with a link to your model post and I’ll edit you in quicksmart.