Topic: Pandemonium Multi-PLog (update: out)

[ZeroTwentythree]

I previously had been using some slate that fell off a roof onto a sidewalk near my old office. Still have a little left, but thought I needed more so when I saw this stuff for cheap, I thought I would try it out. Gives a similar look to the slate. I'm trying to stay away from anything that might decompose, dry out, or get moldy, so I'm avoiding bark, lichen, moss, etc. I've used most of it in the past, though.



Slow going, but I did just a few more skeletons. The photo makes them look a bit darker, but they look like they fit with the previous skeletons in real life.

[ZeroTwentythree]

One more for tonight.... a progress shot of the hills. I've got plastic on the table because I'm using it as a work surface. Should have taken it off for the pics so I could see how they look on the actual table surface.

[steveb]

a good shot of spray silicone keeps things from drying out, getting moldy, or decomposing, especially lichen it stays soft and pliable for a long time after spraying with silicone.  another option is to immerse your biodegradable materials in a mixture of flower preservation mix and it will keep for virtually (gamer wise) ever.   I agree thaat some things are more trouble than they are worth in the long run.  steveb

[GamesPoet]

I like how the hills are turning out.

[ZeroTwentythree]

a good shot of spray silicone keeps things from drying out, getting moldy, or decomposing, especially lichen it stays soft and pliable for a long time after spraying with silicone.  another option is to immerse your biodegradable materials in a mixture of flower preservation mix and it will keep for virtually (gamer wise) ever.   I agree thaat some things are more trouble than they are worth in the long run.  steveb

Good tips, thanks. Silicone like the stuff you spray on shoes? (Or tents?)

[steveb]

yes those both work well, I prefer the shoe spray,   there is also the stuff they dry flowers in, it has a silicone base and is in powder form, just immerse item in it for a day or two and it replaces/substitues for moisture.  steveb

[ZeroTwentythree]

A not terribly clear photo of two of the terrain pieces on the board, with figures for scale.



I am currently working on the little rock formations and a few other bits, and testing out some matte varnish on the big round hill set. If the varnish works, then the hills in the pic and the rest of the table top will get a coat or two. (I have also started painting some figures I owe other people.)

When I set up for the pic above, I wanted to put up a backdrop. So now I am thinking about what I can put together for a better movable backdrop (including how to get it up to the table height from the floor.

Also, although I have not noticed any sagging, I am starting to wonder if I should put another shelf unit for support under the middle of the tabletop -- either perpendicular or parallel to the ones on the end -- either might work OK.

[ZeroTwentythree]

Did a test batch of small bits of tall grass. I figure I can use these, and others, to loosely define an area of terrain, or just add scenic background and have no effect on the game. Scattered along river banks, for example. They were made with the green stained bristles from one of the cheap paint brushes I used on the table top.

[GamesPoet]

Yes!  They look great!

[Gankom]

They look fantastic. I like the idea of using them to just mark out a rough boundary for something like a swamp for marsh.

[ZeroTwentythree]

A very quick paint job on one of the current Citadel plastic chaos knights. I had this single knight left over from other projects & figured I could use him as a leader of some sort. Stuck with the usual color palette.





Also, a little behind the scenes photo from when I was painting the horns on his head. I used a few layered washes and hung him (and his magnetic base) upside-down from my light (which is steel.)



Speaking of my light, I finally replaced the two fluorescent lamps in it. They were probably older than I am. I got the same lamps as I had, but the new ones are so nice and bright!



I keep a "wanted" list of miniatures and related items. My budget is extremely small, and I'm trying not to outpace painting too much, so items are only slowly removed from the list. I've recently started feeling nostalgic and have decided that I really need to have two pieces of the past that I honestly can't afford. Unless I find some hidden bargain or manage to arrange some sort of swap for figures or painting services, I'm not sure I will be able to cross these off my list any time in the foreseeable future.

The first is the old Regiments of Renown Nightmare Legion. I had this (painted!) when I was younger and bought minis without much concern for focusing on large armies. I eventually sold or traded it away. But now I am dying to get a set for my current project!





The other item isn't actually miniatures. Long, long, loooong ago I worked in a store and we had a (sealed) copy of Ratspike. I should have bought it. I didn't. I've been thinking about it lately, and would really like to get it.

[arjunstc]

Ah, didn't realise you on TMP. Love the Chaos Knight.

[Shadespyre]

Nice Knight.

Tell us about the ship sketches stuck on your light. Another project? Coincidentally, I keep all my small magnets stuck to the steel arm of my anglepoise lamp. I hadn't thought of sticking miniatures or notes to it though!

All John Blanche books are highly collectible and thus pricey - something to treat yourself to as a birthday present perhaps. But Nightmare Legion models come up on UK eBay all the time, and you can pick them up for fair prices if they aren't in the original box.

[ZeroTwentythree]

Ah, didn't realise you on TMP. Love the Chaos Knight.

THanks. I haven't been to TMP in years. Not sure I remember my password. Was something posted recently?

Tell us about the ship sketches stuck on your light. Another project?

I had started a series of paintings in the theme of local (I'm in Cleveland, Ohio) "mythology." They were a bit like traditional mythology but given regional flavor. I only finished two of them (and some sketches) before becoming a parent virtually killed my art career. One of the two I did was "The Lake Erie Mermaid" which actually has a Warhammer connection! The original idea came from my Marienburg BSB! There was more to it, but instead of holding a sword and bag of gold, this one held a fish skeleton and a shipping vessel. When I was composing the painting, I wanted to see how the ship would look at different sizes, so I sketched them on individual pieces of paper to find the size that looked best. I still have the painting (the other sold, despite the fact that both of them only hung publicly for a very brief time) and it's hanging in our home.

All John Blanche books are highly collectible and thus pricey - something to treat yourself to as a birthday present perhaps. But Nightmare Legion models come up on UK eBay all the time, and you can pick them up for fair prices if they aren't in the original box.

The Blanche/Miller book seems priced along the lines of other OOP art books I've drooled over. Better than some, in fact. Same with the Nightmare Legion. I've been keeping an eye out on eBay, and it seems that the lower price for a full unit is around $150-$200. If I remember correctly, there were 24 figures in the unit. So again, it seems in line with other OOP figures. It might not have been a huge issue in better times (though I'm still not inclined to pay a lot for most figures...) but out of reach for me now.


I've been considering selling off some other part of my collection to raise funds, but I've already regretted so many much of what I've sold (and I don't have a huge collection left anyway) I'm not sure I can bring myself to do that.

[ZeroTwentythree]

Mail day! Thank you Ral Partha Europe!

I can't seem to take a clear photo with my phone for days now, so it's a bit blury, but the Meier dragon and two skeletal ogres arrived. I'm dying to start on these right away, but have some other things to work on first. I am also thinking about taking a shot at sculpting the ogres a couple of friends before I paint them. Not saying that I will be successful... but I think I'd like to take a shot at it. 

The ogres are a little bigger than the old Golgfags I'm using with the Undeadish, but I'm OK with that. Scale is all over the place in this project, and it still looks OK. The dragon is the perfect size for me. In fact, it's close to the same size as The Caller's mount that I previously painted up. I will post some better pics with other figures for scale at some point.

Also of note, the dragon is in four parts, and they key into each other really well. They need t a bit of filing to get them to fit, but once that's done I shouldn't need to pin the pieces. Very well sculpted. But I suppose that's to be expected. Tom Meier has always been one of the best.

[Shadespyre]

Nice purchases! Must admit I didn't know they still made that dragon - mine is an old, second hand one, pinned in numerous places because it arrived in more pieces than Tom Meier ever intended... sculpting your own ogre skellies would be impressive, I'd love to see you try that.

Interesting story about the ship sketches, thanks for sharing that, perhaps it illustrates (pun intended) the difference between us guys who paint miniatures and proper artists like yourself. I'd love to have art-that-I'd-made hanging on my wall. Maybe in future you'll have more time for such projects again?

[ZeroTwentythree]

It will be a challenge if I attempt that sculpting, but I feel like I'd like to take a shot at it. Unfortunately, it may take a long time to get to it, and I don't know how long I can resist painting those two from RPE. But I'd like to keep them bare metal for reference.

I just put the dragon together, and it took a bit more work (and will require some filler) than I had anticipated to get the pieces to fit.

I also stumbled upon one last, and very small, dragon from my old collection. Old enough that I had painted it with enamels! It's a Grenadier figure, and I think it was called a young forest dragon or something along those lines. Smaller than the Meier dragons. I'll get a pic sometime soon.


I finally put some varnish on the table, and to celebrate, I set some terrain and many of the recent figures out on the table. The Undeadish are on the march, coming down from the foothills. A small cottage is in their path...

[Syphon]

023, can you tell me more about that thar Regiment of Renown? This is not Richter's crew, right?

[ZeroTwentythree]

Nope, it was an older RoR. Betrayed Tilean mercenaries. The fluff & old stats from the box reprinted here: http://www.solegends.com/citrr/rrd02nightmare.htm

[Syphon]

Nope, it was an older RoR. Betrayed Tilean mercenaries. The fluff & old stats from the box reprinted here: http://www.solegends.com/citrr/rrd02nightmare.htm

Geez, even the older throwaway regiments are better...Thanks

[ZeroTwentythree]

 4 oldschool dragons prepped & primed.

[steveb]

those are great old dragons, cannot wait to see them painted, steveb

[Shadespyre]

Happy happy happy! 

[ZeroTwentythree]

I painted up the Undead Dragon in similar colors to the rest of the Undead(ish.) I've got mixed feelings about the results. I think I may end up putting a little more (brush)work into it. I'm trying to find a balance between wanting to add detail, but keeping the simple character and palette of the rest of the Undead. Maybe I should hold off and put that effort into one or two of the living dragons first, and then take another look and see how I feel about this one?

He/she needs a name. For the moment I'm referring to him/her as "Calgon the Black" until I think of something more appropriate.

[Darknight]

Mavis.