2 Weeks of Congress

Ok, so, what I've been up to:

Priming with gesso
A week ago (or so) I primed a few of my trolls in white and started painting one of my impalers. I had watched a video that made glazing seem like the easy way to go in my paint scheme. I was wrong. I started with a base coat too dark and tried to highlight from there as if I was using a layering technique. Epic fail.

So I soaked the impaler in Simple Green. (that stuff is amazing!)

This time I thought I might try gesso to prime. Another fail. I had watched a video on priming with gesso where the guy mixed his gesso with water and matte medium, he was very careful about measuring, I, was not. One chunky primed impaler later and he's back in the simple green bath. Lat night I gave him a fresh prime of straight gesso, liking at him this morning I think I'm gonna stick with spray primer, i have spots that are well primed then others where I can see bare metal through the gesso. I may try some paint on primer in the future.

In the process of reading the PP painting forums I read a comment by Meg Sales(?) staying that the PP studio uses a technique called 2 brush blending to paint their models. Of course I was interested, I checked youtube for tutorials on the process and came across a guy named Brant Benoit. He made it seem simple enough, heck I can do that!  Then offer on handcannon online I was reading some articles by a guy named "ghool", I dropped him an email asking a question then realized they were one in the same. 

Brant has given.me some sound advice and I really appreciate his taking the time to respond to my dumb-ass questions. Here's a link to Brant's youtube channel and his articles over on Hand Cannon Online.

In terms of painting and modeling: 2 Steps forward...3 steps back...

Non-Gaming

As far as gaming, I haven't been able to get in any games this past week and not today due to a busy life, running a half marathon Saturday morning and all. Hopefully next Friday I'll get out of the house for a game or two. I was able to buy a set of casino dice, they showed up the other day and are damned sexy.

Also, the Red Sox are in the world series, go Sox!

Simple Green, Simply Awesome

I've been contemplating changing my priming to white, particular for my warlocks. I went out and picked up a bottle of simple green and put my primed and basecoated models in it and let them soak overnight.
I tentatively pulled them out of the simple green this morning and the paint was just falling off them.
I got the following models stopped and ready for a new white primer.

Borka &Kenny
Axer
Impalers x2
Madrak

If they dry and the weather is right I should be able to get them primed today!

In other news

I worked on my modeling again this morning. I greenstuffed some gaps in Horthol, Calandra, my Fennblade officer & drummer, Jarl.

I've come to the conclusion that I hate greenstuff and that I'm terrible with it for filling gaps.  Ask me to model pustules and boils onto a Nurgle rhino for 40K and I'm all about it, ask me to create weld-lines on a looted Lemann Russ for 40K (again) and I've got you covered.  Ask me to cover the gap on a yak's ass on a Long Rider and I'm fucked.

Priming

So I'm waaaay behind on my painting. So sue me.

Anyways. I played a lot of Orks in 40k and WHFB back in the days and so I was used to a lot of black primer. I'm very comfortable with black, it hides my mistakes well.

But I'm curious now. I see a lot of gray primered models and white primered models. Anyone out there (hopefully troll players) prime in anything other than black? Can you drop me a link to your work so I can see how it comes out on other people's models.

Thanks guys!

Life Interjects Without Prior Warning

Ok, this Saturday is tourney #3 for Warmachine/Hordes @ Sunshine Adventure Gaming.

I signed up. I fucked around, I checked out some stuff. Apparently this weekend is the final weekend for the local Renaissance Festival. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed it two years ago and the year prior to that (the shit I am, I put it off so long last year we literally pulled into the parking lot as the caravan pulled out). I want to go this year and feel bad about spoiling last year so I am taking my wife on Saturday.

This now leaves my play group shy one player. I feel guilty (as I should I gave them my word I would be there, butas the post title says, Life Interjected).

I will be playing at League Night this Thursday (with my Grissel Evo III list and a Grim list of which I am getting more and more comfortable with). I've finageled with the wife to allow me another gaming night because I'm missing the tourney and she agreed, so I'm trying to get in a night to play against Gabe and Cary to sharpen me a bit more.

I've got three League weeks left to eke out some sort of standing (other than on the ground), maybe I could get in some league games instead of going to Gabe's?

The next league looks like it will be the MKII Beta Test league and me without a Warmachine Army. Unless Gabe wants to forego the MKII Beta I don't think I'll be able to play in that league, maybe I can get together with the other Hordes players (mental note: Stephan - Skorne, Cesar - Circle, Mario - Legion, Ashe - Circle) on league nights and get in some games.

On Modeling

I've been slacking this week with my modeling, although in my defense my wife and I went to our karate class every night and i've got the bruises and sore neck to prove it. Not to mention my training game on Monday with my local PG.

Anyhoo, I've got two models coming today @ my LGS, Sunshine Adventure Gaming. I've got the Trollkin Hero in all his top-knot glory as well as a Stone Scribe Chronicler.
I think they will be built tonight and possibly decorative-basing done.

Then I will begin my Greenstuff work. I've got some ginormous gaps to fill with Greenstuff. Particularly, I'm concerned about my Earthborn Dire Troll, I need to strengthen those joins as I didn't pin his fat-ass.
Some others of note are my Longriders, thank Dhunia that the gaps are in the yak-fur and easy to hide. Pyre Troll #2 - in his wrists. Dire Troll Mauler - especially his headspikes, will have to be careful to blend it well onto the model.

After Greenstuffing (hopefully a short process) I can add sand to the bases then prime them! Woot!

If i have time after basing and priming, I may be able to finish the models I started forever ago, my two Impalers, Axer, Madrak, Kenny and Borka.

I need to slow down on my purchases or I'll never get these guys painted

In other news I want to pick up a Dire Troll Blitzer and Alten Ashley.

Storage Issues

Ok, as you can see to the right I did a bunch of modeling this weekend and am at an impasse as to how to store it. here's the problem.

I have an Army Transport that I bought for my 40K orks. all the foam for it is picked to fit my orks. So I *could* buy more foam for my Trollbloods at $10 per tray (prolly about $40 to cover all my hordes stuff). My other options are to continue to use my Army Transport but buy some Battle Foam (prolly 2 trays @ $25 each) for $50. The final option is to buy some rare earth magnets from KJ Magnets, superglue them to the bottom of each model and buy a metal toolbox to store and carry them in ($20-$30 for the transport, $10 for the magnets).

Current Army Transport with Pluck n Pick Foam
Pro's:
+Somewhat cheaper
+Faster than the other options

Con's:
-Pluck n Pick is a PITA
-Cleaning up after a game is longer

Current Army Transport with BattleFoam
Pro's:
+Fit more models per tray
+Better protection of models
+Able to have multiple heights of models

Con's:
-Expensive ($25/tray)
-Have to wait for them, I have to trace all my models, fax them, then wait for the quote in response (I think they can fit on two trays, but a third would be $75)

Magnets & Toolbox:
Pro's:
+*Super* easy set up/break down

Con's:
-Possible that magnets are too strong and i break models
-Possible that magnets are too weak and i break models
-Another damn box in the apartment

Revising Grim List

I posted my list on PP's forums to get some feedback on it. The most interesting point that was made was that, as there is only one beast on the list, meaning that if he dies or is full fury or frenzied, I have -zero- damage transfers available to me.
From that nugget, I went ahead and added the normal "Grim auto-include" beast, an Impaler.
Had to drop some to get him in. Which led to a tough decision so I posed the question on Guru Dojo where a Troll-vet (Not Dice) responded and gave me a good piece of advice: Drop the Krielstone Bearer.

This is the list at the moment:
489/500

Grim Angus
Earthborn Dire Troll
Troll Impaler
Trollkin Champions
Trollkin Hero
Fell Caller
Stone Scribe Chronicler
Swamp Gobber Bellows Crew

Not Dice also let me know that Concealment and Screening bonuses stack, which means that if I stick Grim in some woods behind the EBDT using the EBDT's ARM stat, he's at 19 DEF, 18 ARM.

I'm looking forward to getting this together and playing Gabe with it next week (hopefully).

Purchases: I've ordered some more models from Sunshine, some will come in this Friday (1/23/09) some next Friday (1/30/09):

• 1/23/09


• Pyre Troll x2


• Stone Scribe Elder


• Swamp Gobber Bellows Crew


• 1/30/09


• Trollkin Hero


• Stone Scribe Chronicler

In other news, Friday will be a building model night. I've got the following to build:

• Krielstone Bearer & Stone Scribes (full unit)


• Hoarluk Doomshaper


• Trollkin Longriders x2


• Pyre Troll x2


• Stone Scribe Elder


• Swamp Gobber Bellows Crew

2 Weeks

Ok, so I haven't posted in two weeks. Bad sign.

Holidays have been busy, from Christmas parties to holiday shopping. I was supposed to get a game in this past monday, but no luck. Next monday may be shot as well due to the New Year holiday.

Anyways, today being December 26th, I have failed my own goal set to buid paint and bast my Borka & company. But they are further along than before. I plan on working on them once I greenstuff the models I built recently (Earthborn, Trollkin Longriders, Trollkin Champions, Fell Caller) so I am not as worried about them falling apart (especially the Earthborn's skirt and his *GINORMOUS* gaps.)

Failed Painting Challenge

I have a painting challenge at the Traitor Legion forums to have Borka, Kenny, and the Troll starter box painted and based by Christmas.
I have the blue trolls mostly painted but I do not have Madrak Ironhide painted.

In other news though, I have modeled the following:
Grim Angus
Earthborn Dire Troll
Dire Troll Mauler
Winter Troll
Fell Caller
Trollkin Champions
Trollkin Longriders

Bases are very cinematic with lots of cork and wood chips to simulate rocks and boulders. Pictures forthcoming.

Didn't get a game in last night, but I *did* get some modeling in...

I now have:
Earthborn Dire Troll - built and attached to his base. Added some chunks of wood chip for additional rocks scattered. Needs ballast and priming
Winter Troll - built and attached to a wood chip base, needs ballast and also some weight on the base to keep him from falling backwards.
Trollkin Longriders (x3) - built, based on wood chip base with other debris.

My biggest issue right now is that I know that I scored the joins to give more grip but I didn't pin *anything*. I'm afraid the models are going to fall to pieces.
I will be greenstuffing almost all of them.

The following greenstuff work needs to be performed:

• Earthborn Dire Troll - greenstuff *every* join. He's a big muther of a model, and needs the support but also he's got monsterous gaps in his chest and waist.
  
• Dire Troll Mauler - the back join as well as where his mohawk joins and both arms.
  
• Winter Troll - with his pose I want to get his arms GS'd but mostly his waist has a big gap that needs filling.
  
• Trollkin Longriders - the yaks all ended up with gaps in their joins. the two longriders (non-kithkar) need to have their weapon arms solidified. shields should gat a bit as well.

Other Modeling
Grim Angus needs a "harpoon" for his left hand gun
2" template for Tether. I have the jeweler's chain and just need a 2" diameter plastic and a small (1/16", 3/32") round dowel, also something to look like a manacle.

Got some modeling done this Saturday @ the War & Pieces Bizaar Bazaar.

Grim Angus - built a base from a wood chip, still needs ballast in the empty areas.
Winter Troll - built and on a wood-chip base. Still needs ballast and greenstuff work.
Dire Troll Mauler - built, greenstuff work is needed
Earthborn Dire Troll - built, MAJOR greenstuff work is needed. I think the rule with metal models (not just PP) the bigger the model, the bigger the gaps.
I also built the yaks for my Trollkin Longriders.

I the past my thought was if I build the models and paint them as I build them I would have a whole army painted. However I think the impetus to build comes from playing. If I don't have an army to play with I don't play and thus I don't build and paint. So I look like I'm building and getting prepped to paint, once I have my stuff built I will assembly-line paint them.
I think this means I'm not going to finish my painting challenge by Christmas...

Rematches

I've got a rematch against a Khador player I played last week. Hopefully to the same result :)
If we can get it over and done with quick enough I may be able to pull out another game and get my rematch against the Cygnar player.

Going to be playing my Grim list I played last week. it seems to be a nice toolbox ready for almost any issues.

• Grim can cast Cross Country to avoid rough terrain issues.
  
• He can snipe from 13-17 inches with Headhunter (+ Far Strike).
  
• He can control movement of particularly fast models with Tether.
  
• He can knock down with Mancatcher.
  
• Can "pull" models across rough terrain/woods with Pathfinder
  
• Axer adds 2" to charges and is pretty much a heavy warbeast himself
  
• Earthborn Dire Troll can slingshot with Headhunter and Axer
  
• Also doubles as a nice piece of meat to shield Grim
  
• Impaler adds animus to Grim as necessary
  
• Slams at will
  
• Can handle his own in hand-to-hand combat.

in short I really like this list :)

I modeled Grim the other night, also received all my order from Joel. I need to set up a base for him and drill holes for pins in his feet.
Earthborn should be my next project so I can fill this list out. Then on to the units...

Update, I got my paints from Joel on Friday ($3 per pot). Yesterday, the wife wasn't feeling 100% so she took it easy while I painted.

Here are pix of painted bases, and preliminary skin. I think I'm going to wash it to help blend the colors more.


Borka and Kenny

Impaler #1 (#2 looks the same)

Axer
Sorry about the shitty pix

Madrak is still primed black, haven't worked on his skin tones yet, was more concerned with the blues I will be painting from now on...

Impasse

Progress since last post:
Painted the bases.

What's holding me up?
1.) I asked Israel to order me some basing materials (because of course he didn't have any). As of Monday night they hadn't been ordered yet.
2.) The paints I want to use i either don't have or are dried out. I'm waiting till I get paid Friday to go to Joel's to stock up.

At this point I think I want to start in on the other models I have in my possession: Grim Angus (I have a cool conversion idea for him I stole from DakkaDakka.com) and 2 Dire Troll Maulers, but I worry that this would distract me from the goal I have set.

Optimus Primed

Ok, so where do I stand?

Borka Kegslayer - Primed
Pyg Keg Carrier - Primed
Madrak Ironhide - Primed
Troll Axer - Primed
Troll Impaler #1 - Primed
Troll Impaler #2 - Primed
Bases for all models - Primed

Looks like I'm ready for paint! (psychologically, this is the hardest part for me)

I will be following the tutorial on Brushthralls.com for my models.

Pictures attached:

A little progress this weekend.
I drilled holes for foot pins in all models for their scenic bases.
I finished basing the scenic bases.
I drilled holes in the bases to accept the pins

Tomorrow I will prime.

Pix, as promised

Corked bases:



Madrak, done:




Axer, done (axe to be painted seperately and attached post-paint):



Impalers, done (quivers to be painted seperately and attached post-paint):

Progress

Got a lot done watching the news tonight...

Madrak has had his gaps greenstuffed
Impaler #1 has had his gaps greenstuffed
Impaler #2 has had his gaps greenstuffed
Axer has had his gaps greenstuffed
All four bases have had cork applied.

Tomorrow night I will prime Borka and set pins in all four models above for their feet.
I will add ballast to the four bases.

Pictures tomorrow.

oh, and I voted for the first African American president.

Madrak & Co.

I got a little more modeling done tonight.

Madrak is complete.
Impaler #1 is complete*
Impaler #2 is complete*
Axer is complete*

Borka's base has been primed.

*Axer and Impalers are having their axe and quivers (respectively) attached after paint.

Tomorrow night should allow for green stuff work to fill gaps and add to some shock absorption.