'nids part 336 - Modern Synthesist's Tyranid Barricade - Base, Prime and Basecoat

Afternoon #WarHamFam and #WarhammerCommunity I've been #PaintingWarhammer, you may or may not recall a year or so ago that Mr Pink, aka The Modern Synthesist sent me a gift. I was so inspired by his Tyranid Barricades back in the day I took a leap of faith and sculpted my own, with no prior experience. Following that I made Tyranid Bastion, Capillary Towers that would form a Skyshield Landing Pad and eventually my Tyranid Void Shield Generator.

My inspiration by him was something he wanted to reward and so he sent me this resin cast of one of his barricade as well as a couple of his original sculpts. I revered these items, but the cast felt like it should be more. It wasn't enough to remain in the slightly dodgy black primer it was languishing it. It deserved to be taken into the Hive Fleet and become part of my own army. I mentioned this to Mr Pink and he was perfectly happy to take it further, it was mine to do with as I wished.

It took a while to both build the confidence to do this and find a spot, but with the Halflings done why not just throw in some Tyranid. So I'd added sand to the base, to match my army and then primed it Red Oxide... That's when I discovered the original  Black Primer was even worse than it's finish portrayed. I don't know it was an enamel primer, but it reacted badly with the Halfords primer and blistered and puckered like fingers that had been in the bath too long.

This quick side project was rapidly deteriorating. So I swiftly decided to strip the worst of the effected areas with acetone free nail varnish remover and then primed it again as you see here. I then Red Planet BASEd the edges.

Bahama Blue Craft Acrylic on the chitin plates, you can see it's still wet!

Bonewhite on the inside and I picked out some of the guitar wire ripping in Khorne Red.

A sepia wash, followed by an Army Painter Strong Tone Wash to give the blue depth.

And on the inside too. I think this was just an evening's work and I'm already onto highlights - good progress.

Here's my Great Big Big Build Base BLESSED VERDIGRIS Stamp of Approval.

#BloodBowl - Halfling Team - TO DONE!

Afternoon #WarHamFam and #WarhammerCommunity I've been #PaintingWarhammer on my #Halfling #BloodBowl team. This has been a labour of love - aside from that Blood Bowl tournament we don't play. I think all my mates have painted up teams but they've never warmed to the game, sadly. 

I understand somewhat as it's formulaic. But, compared to the way the goalposts are constantly being shifted in 40k and its overwhelming complexity, something formulaic and dependable should be right up our alley!

Nevermind, these guys had some flowers and flock added to their bases, alongside the obligatory white pitch markings.

Here you can compare the original test model at the front right with the rest and just notice the slightly lighter pink on his vest. I also used my first Contrast paint on these. Iyanden Yellow was used on the shoulder pads - to add both a glaze and shade on the lower edges. It helped round them out, they were looking a little flat otherwise.

The coins were quite fun to do, particularly the BB logo side. It was almost my first non-metallic metals for me.

The  team logo was fun because of the extra 'ham' than the obverse. I got to play around with the effect with lighter pinks and washes to create some marbling.

I'm so glad I went back into the helmeted Hefty's shoulder pads. I had wanted variety in the crackling markings but diagonals just made the most sense across the lot. Our eyes are predisposed to see straight lines and a vertical/horizontal grid was exposing any flaws. The diagonals here are actually quite varied in their positioning, but thankfully it's harder to notice because it's at an angle.

The Ferret, Weasel and Squirrel were quite daunting and I delayed painting them as long as I could but the end results are much better than I expected. I've seen other hobbyists since, which look almost real, but I'm still happy with these little critter. I do need to make an Akhorne at some point from the spare squirrel head I have.

I also added a little splat of Tamiya Clear Red X-27 blood on t hat Hefty's nose bandage and the knuckles of some of the Hopefuls - like they've just punched someone to a pulp - definitely hopeful, perhaps even wishful!

The pasty came out so well and the flowers add just that little touch of extra detail on the bases.

I do love the helmeted Hefty, I just think the sponge was an element too far. That's the sort of thing you can add on, whereas a plain helmet would have been a little more generic. It would have been nice to have had a second one in this style - my only criticism.

As mentioned previously I've got to get some Kurnoth Hunters to get to make up as Treemen. When I do that I'll take I'll take individual 4 planar shots of each model, so you get to see the full effeorts. There'll be two Treemen in this team and I may save the third for an eventual Wood Elf team - I just love painting these teams. That said, the Orc team is NOT progressing at all.

One day though I'll get over that first orcish obstacle and get that test model complete. But for now I have a small treat for myself before I get back to my Ravenwing

So, here's my Great Big BLESSED VERDIGRIS Stamps of Approval! 

#BloodBowl - Halfling Team - Pre-season training pics

Afternoon #WarHamFam and #WarhammerCommunity I've been #PaintingWarhammer on my #Halfling #BloodBowl team. This is the Porkbelly Stuffers before they go off to their stadium - 'Surf n'Turf Moar'. These are essentially finished, except for adding grass and flowers to the bases [I also picked out some bonewhite stones, as is my signature]. Granted, a huge jump from my last pics but it's been a labour of love and I just kept plugging away, not worrying about pics.

I think everyone should have a go at painting these models, so much character. I know I've been more adventurous and explored quite a bit more skintone techniques than normal.

That said Warhammer Community tweeted a post about sharing your 'Fling teams and the standard was insane. I was perfectly happy with mine but did feel as though I wish I could have pushed them more.

But I know I was already achieving diminishing returns in the effort I was putting in. 

However clumsy and 'not quite right' some of my painting achieved there were odd paint strokes, blobs and washes that lifted them to a place I was delighted with.

A strange contradiction, but most of my finished minis hold some element of imperfection I'm willing to overlook.

The marker pieces came out particularly well, which is something I'd avoided for most of the project, for fear of mucking them up.

The sausages in particular are so juicy. My mate Liam says gloss varnish has no place in miniature painting. He says everything can be achieve with highlights, which is true. But, I defy anyone to claim that the gloss varnish on those sausages make them as close to a banger as possible. The steam too was a happy accident, just thinned white paint over the red oxide primer base. Extra coats on the thicker areas - it just works.

The full team alongside one of the original 2nd Edition players I painted way back in the day.

There are still some elements of the original I couldn't replicate or surpass, but certain newer efforts are so much better. I'd been disappointed at some of the pork cracking slicing I'd started on some of the earlier test models and repainted them all as diamonds. I also chose not to add the cloves in the centres, but darker at the intersections. It's either cloves or shadows.

I had struggled to find any examples of halfling's of colour to add diversity to my team. A little patience and we have Lenny Henry as a hobbit! I didn't quite stretch myself with variations in the skintone around the face, but I liked the definition straight off the brush and didn't want to lose that.

This guy is one of my favourites though - the shaved head was particularly successful, compared to previous efforts.

I had intended this one to be full-on Gordon Ramsey, with the blonde hair and everything. But, I ended up doing red hair. Although the pupils don't quite match I was so pleased with the red wash on his face for that flushed/freshly punched effect.

Although, the original test model still rates as one of the best of the bunch- with his navel hair and swollen knuckles. The pink is a little paler than the rest of the team - too much highlighting. But it's not that noticeable as a group.

I'll be back with the TO DONE! pics next. There are still some Kurnoth Hunters to buy, build convert and paint to fill out the team. But not for a while yet.

Necrons - Big Build TO DONE!

Afternoon #WarHamFam and #WarhammerCommunity I've been building Necrons - SAY WHAT?! Yep Necrons. You are correct I don't play Necrons but I had these from the Imperium magazine and my youngest son had said he wanted to try and learn to paint, after his GCSEs were done. I'd already considered letting him loose on some of my Death Guard - you literally can't go wrong. But then I remembered I had these and if we went with the classic silver look it might be a simple starting point.

I've also got some Genestealers and a few other bits and bobs he can practice on but it'll be quite the challenge to see if I can impart some skills when previously I've failed so badly at sharing this passion. The balance will be in deciding when to advise and when to let him go on his own, and hope the results are something that he'll be happy with.

 I get a Great Big Big Build BLESSED VERDIGRIS Stamp of Approval.

Middle Earth Moria Goblin Blackshields - Moar TO DONE!

Afternoon #WarHamFam and #WarhammerCommunity I've been #PaintingWarhammer on my Middle Earth Moria Goblin Blackshields. Otty had built me one and that very evening 2 more got promoted. He then built another 2 and I'd actually got these ready for the night we ended up playing the Balin's Tomb scenario. It only took 2 nights to paint though - they're super easy.

One has a spear and shield.

Milliput Warg cloaks.

Only limited highlights, mainly just washes straight over the base colours.

Here they are next to the first Blackshield on the left and 2 standard Moria goblins to compare size.

And a more front on view to illustrate the difference. It's no bother really but if any more do get promoted I may look to have a go at kitbashing some of the standard goblins, just to see what they'd be like. I did a hooded one, which has since had it's spear replaced by an axe so it can be a Prowler, but it'd be cool to try some fur. We'll have to see.

So, here's my Great Big BLESSED VERDIGRIS Big Build Base Stamp of Approval!

And here's my Great Big BLESSED VERDIGRIS Minor Stamp of Approval!