What's on my palette?

Bless me #Warhammer Community for I have sinned, it's been over 2 months since my last confession! Lots of progress both on my previous priorities and numerous other projects but I have been focused on my remaining Leviathan Tyranids, trying to get them done before the end of the hobby season.

My current priorities are:

1. Leviathan Termagants x20 [actually 21]
2. Leviathan Barbgaunts x5
3. Leviathan Von Ryan's Leapers x3
4. Leviathan Neurogaunts x11

I've also got 3 Genestealers progressing alongside that will go on the base of one of my Cerastus Knights. Recent posts about progress and concerns about completing them in time  have been alleviated but still a challenge. After the second set of chitin highlights progress has been swift. So much so that the next update will probably be their TO DONE! showcase. However, those second highlights felt like the exact opposite than the previous slog of turquoise and bone. Truly I felt at one with the process. Not only productive but permanently satisfied with what I was doing and willing to extend my efforts to get stuff done. Usually I'd take a break as soon as it got hard but I was willing to persevere and it never felt like a slog. That zen feeling was wonderful.

All that is left now are 

• the final set of black highlights
• base detailing - bone chips and odd bits of modelled debris and alien growths
• base rims
• varnish - matt
• flocking, if any
• varnish - gloss and Tamiya Clear Red X-27

Eminently doable. However, my son will be moving away in a week or so, which means we have limited time left to watch TV shows together. Many shows will not get the shared viewing I'd hoped for. We missed out on Shogun, although we did regrettably catch up with Rings of Power. I mean we enjoyed complaining about it and keeping track of how many times they said the name Celebrimbor in any given episode. But otherwise it was a huge disappointment. Anyway, I will drop any paint task in front of me if it means spending time with him while we still can.

Further tasks identified are now clearly for next season

• Adeptus Titanicus Warlord Titan 1
• Adeptus Titanicus Warlord Titan 2
• Adeptus Titanicus Questoris Knights x3
• Adeptus Titanicus terrain - this is a second lot of AT terrain 
• Cerastus Knight Acheron
• Cerastus Knight Castigator

The Cerastus Knights will be after the Warlords, I suspect that'll be November December. But I have done some minor bits and bobs on them inbetween painting. In particular the Adeptus Titanicus terrain is being built and I'm slowly 'pimping' them with cardboard and coffee stirrer detailing. They'll be cool when ready to prime so I can show what I've done. I've also got some Crisis Protocol terrain that I was volunteered to paint by the guys. It's Guardians of the Galaxy, but I'm going to paint it in my rebel barricade style for Star Wars Legion. The guys have a New York set up for their battles so it's somewhat redundant otherwise

Lots to do, but some [welcome] distractions. I'm feeling productive but looking to have a bit of a break after the end of this season. Just a little disappointed the blog has been sacrificed a bit to allow me to get the hobby done. Fingers crossed I find some time to share some of our many games we've played recently, my dice have been on fire! 🎲🔥

'nids part 380 - Leviathan Tyranids - Chitin highlights 1

Afternoon #Warhammer Community I've been #PaintingWarhammer on the remains of my Leviathan box set Tyranids. Chitin highlights and I am starting to doubt this is doable by the end of the hobby season. With these done there are 61 steps left to do, 4 of which are the second set of highlights and as part 1 took me 6 days to do I suspect a similar timeframe for part 1. 

That leave me with about 20-23 days to do the remaining 57 steps. 

That's more than 2 things being ticked off a night, with no nights off and that just doesn't seem achievable.

I could be wrong. There's 4 steps to the red [on the 4 different units] and they could be done in one or two sessions.  

16 things to do in such a short time would change the dynamic significantly.

However, I've listed the black highlights as three step and I know it's actually 4 so there are still obstacles to overcome.

I really need to get the next turquoise highlights out of the way and then I'll have a better idea.

It's still doable, and I don't think I'm going to give in just yet, but we'll have to see.

I do have some holiday time at the moment, so who knows I may get some morning sessions in.

So, a quick push to get the next lot of highlights.

But these are definitely starting to look a bit cooler, now they have more detail on.

I just want to be done with 'nids for a while so I can get my Cerastus back on track and my Warlord Titans ready for #DreadTober

Belated 10th Anniversary of the birth of the Man Cave

Afternoon #WarHamFam and #WarhammerCommunity I've had my man cave for 10 years now, it was originally installed on 27th July 2015. I just missed the anniversary even though I knew I had to finish this post.

Although I 'promised' a new coat of paint this year that's going to be put on hold until 2026 I think. Instead I do plan to paint the roof. I found a leak I in the ceiling earlier this year. Although it has not leaked again since I'm worried what is happening. Now, a rubber roof might be the sensible choice, but it was over £100 and I was going to have to fit it myself. The adverts say it's easy and can be done in an hour. But for the same effort and £30 I can 'paint' it with Cromapol. It's an acrylic resin with fibreglass fibres in it. It's really thick, you have to use a trowel to apply it, but I have to do my outbuilding roof as well so having two tins means I will have plenty spare. I'm thinking it will definitely make it waterproof. My only concern is how it'll handle heat expansion. But, if it doesn't work I can do the rubber roof next year.

I've had a blog post in draft for years that I finally felt I could repurpose to cover this anniversary, so forgive me if it seems rambling [but when isn't my blog?]:

I think it's well documented that the 'hobby' can be an amazing source of good for the mental health of many people. Overall the calm reflective time we each spend painting toy soldiers or the social aspect of gaming with friends both old and newly discovered can really help people. It's a vehicle for interaction that some might otherwise struggle with, a shared experience and background that is a perfect conversation starter. Painting can help soothe a troubled mind and the joy of completing a model or even just getting an eye right for once, creates a wonderful sense of satisfaction. To be part of such a community, and on the whole it is supportive [although it has toxic elements like any group], is a blessing; and Games Workshop being the largest company deserves a lot of credit for helping to spread that well-being.

However, I have an obsessive personality, bordering on addiction. Thankfully it doesn't stretch to the substances that cause genuine damage to your life but when I become interested in something I'm all in. I've had a number of extreme passions in my life, Citadel miniatures possibly being my first, my favourite band - Pitchshifter second, and thirdly when I was practicing kendo. Thankfully there wasn't much of an overlap in these obsessions - I went to uni, so I couldn't game but discovered kendo. I came home and stopped kendo but had more freedom to see Pitchshifter in their prime. I started kendo again and then had to stop, rediscovering the hobby to fill the void and then Pitchshifter went on hiatus.

Now I am all in on the hobby. For a decade and a half I've been building, painting, gaming, blogging and thinking about the hobby almost constantly. It is all-consuming. As my passion grew it took over our back-room until I had to move out into the man-cave. But it had caused significant friction leading up to that point and spending around £1200+ on a hobby shed seemed an extreme length to go to, to further my toy soldier obsession. Of course I rationalised the cost with the fact we would end up with a proper dining room, but that took another 2 years to get done! I also figured a Warlord Titan cost about the same and this was definitely a better investment.

So, with a dedicated home to paint in and slightly more organised approach the man cave was a fine purchase. Add in lockdown and home working and it would become absolutely invaluable. According to Solid Sheds, they have a lifespan of 15 years, so I have something of a 'ticking clock' going to try to stave off the inevitable. It definitely deserves a tidy up, if not a repaint. Here's to keeping it going!

'nids part 379 - Leviathan Tyranids - Washes and bone 1

Afternoon #Warhammer Community I've been #PaintingWarhammer on the remains of my Leviathan box set Tyranids. Here are the shade washes. You could probably achieve this with a Contrast nowadays, without the previous base colour. That would have saved me 16 minutes per Termagant (5 hours and 20 minutes). But I am compelled by the process.

The Vallejo dipping washes I use occasionally leave a similar dusty residue that Seraphim Sepia does. So I mixed in some water and Army Painter Quickshade Wash Medium.

I think this solved the issue and actually created a nice finish, particularly on the blue areas.

It's less of an issue at this stage as a lot of these areas are painted over anyway.

But it's good to have solved an issue that can occur when I'd prefer it not to.

Now the hard yards. It was around 9 minutes each to do the bone highlights on the Termagants.

3 hours to get these done and once again my skill with the brush is being called into question. I do wish I had better control, or showed any signs of improvement.

But I think subconsciously I've just become more comfortable with 'good enough'.

That said the Neurogaunts only take about 5 minutes each (55 mins for the 11 figures)

Back to the Barbgaunts and we already know this is a 15 minute job. 

In fact according to my records I know that it'll take me 6 hours and 20 minutes to get the bone and turquoise highlights done.

 I still have the reds, black, any details like teeth, eyes, glow FX, bases and then varnishes on top

It's helpful, but also daunting. Despite the time estimate, which is clearly doable before the end of the hobby season, I have 68 elements to do to get all of the Tyranids done.

But I only have 36 days to do it [not including nights when I can't paint] and I can't imagine ticking off nearly 2 elements a session.

So what seemed like a shoe-in - remember when I thought I'd be able to paint the Kill Team Typhon box as well?

I'm now beginning to doubt I'll get them done in time. Particularly as I have some other non-hobby projects to do before the end of the month.

Well, we'll just have to have our fingers crossed 🤞, hope for the best 🙏 and crack on where we can 🖌

Von Ryan's Leapers have got 4 hours 12 on the clock to go too! 😫

#MESBG Middle Earth Goblin Town Terrain - TO DONE! 🟤

Afternoon #Warhammer Community I've been #PaintingWarhammer on my Middle Earth Goblin Town goblins and terrain they're all TO DONE! More specifically the display board, made from a cheap cork pin-board.

But I thought I'd put them all together to showcase what I achieved.

I may not have initially got quite the euphoria from finishing these like I did their inspiration - the poxwalkers.

But seeing them like this I was really satisfied with the result - 'finished not perfect'.

I'm not quite sure how I appear to expect so much more from myself while also reaching a level of acceptance that this is as good as I get.

It's like zen self-awareness coupled with self-flagellation. 

I may yet add some tufts to these at some point, just for a bit of extra details. 

But everything that worried me when observing them close-up in isolation seems to have been resolved now I see them in context with each other. 

The green bits on the Goblin Town platforms are less noticeable with all the Goblins on top of it.

And seeing all the Goblins together it feels like such a significant undertaking any individual reservations don't seem so important any more.

Now, with all the MESBG minis out of the way it's time to get back to my Leviathan Tyranids. 40 more models to batch paint in one final push for the end of the season.

Another Great Big Wooden Stamp of Approval.

Obligatory Warhammer World pictures and painting competition

Afternoon #Warhammer Community I've still got loads of posts to try and cover but not enough time to do it. A little round up of our jaunt to Warhammer World the other week. Legally obliged to do the Rhino tank shot, thanks to the random passer-by who immediately offered to take the photo for us. Not sure why I look so awkward.

The new legal obligation selfie with Titus.

The Midweek MESBG best painted miniature competition. The Silver Birch Ent was something else. An amazing conversion, resin pour and the detail in the Birch bark was insane. Naturally I'd have preferred autumnal colours, but it got my vote and went onto win. The other Ent was pretty good too. 

As was Matt from Sprues and Brews' Beechbone.

The Troll was awesome too.

As was the Cave Drake [?]

Ben's Hill Tribe Chieftain on the right.

Is this Wulf?

Otty's King's of Men cavalry conversion and my King of Goblins - the battle of the 2 Kings

And they had a number of little scenes built on box frames that I thought looked really cool. Here's Thranduil.

I nice little Epic diorama.

Death Guard.

Imperial Navy Breachers.

Belisarius Cawl. One day I'll get to make and paint mine, so many other projects to finish off first though.

Some Emperor's Children chaos marines.

Trolls.

Blood Bowl Undead, I love these and would one day want to paint the team, but there's no real reason to do them, which is a shame.

Ah the mythical Kill Team Typhon and Tyranid Terrain.

Closest I may ever get to owning it - their loss. I suspect it'll come out eventually, all separated but I'll have little interest at that point.

The Hormagaunts look quite cool though. I can't imagine me getting any. The Termagants are sapping my hobby mojo as it is and I don't see a reason to get anymore gaunts.

And the Mechanicus side, which I wasn't as much a fan of but they would have been nice to add to my unbuilt AdMech army. 😂

A couple of extra pics of us with the Rhino from our kind photographer.

Thank you.

Progress has been slow on the hobby front. With the soul-sapping Termagants finished their first bone highlights, 2nd highlights are starting next. The weather has been hot, so painting in the shed was not something to look forward to. Instead I've been watching Rings of Power with my son [which deserves a post in its own right], who is moving to Sheffield soon. Hobby will take a back seat while I can be with him. I had expected to get the Tyranids done by the end of the season, but we'll just have to see now with other priorities.