Panzerblade and other Relics

Continuing with my bad habit of posting old projects, here is a baneblade with my first attempts at weathering!

This model was a learning experience both in painting and assembly.  I'd never attempted something of such size and complexity.  At first I'd wanted to wire it with LEDs complete with fiber optics, but this was soon abandoned as I was still very new to electronics.  As for the mud and weathering, its not very secure to the model and I've found that over the last two years some of it has flaked off from use.  I do love the finished product as it serves as a reminder of where I was and how far I've come in this hobby.

I came into possession of a Dark Vengeance box as part of a bits trade and decided to sell off the models, but I couldn't help painting the Helbrute.

Pink, the color of fear!

I've just about run out of old things to post about (I can't track down the older commissions), which is just as well because I feel I really need to move forward here.  Still working on Farrow army for Warmachine and hopefully I'll have something to show off very soon.

Man, I really need to light something, maybe I'll buy an Imperial Knight...

Past Commissions and General Lack of Progress=Monday

So I haven't painted anything in about three days and that makes me sad.  My workbench is spread with a ton of projects, but when its 85 and humid on the street it can be hard to get motivated.  So I dug out some photos of past commissions because I need to feel like I did something today besides drink lemonade and complain.

The Archangel from Privateer Press.  This guy might look awesome, but do not be fooled!  Those wings are made of resin, the frigidity, bubble filled kind.  A huge pain in the butt!  I suppose he turned out all right and now he has a permanent place at the local hobby shop.  Hey, can't blame me for getting in good with the store owner!

Also that cluster of crystals totally lights up, battery hidden by the tree stump.

The same client also had me paint the Battle Engine for Everblight.  This guy was a lot less hassle and I'm a sucker for H.P. Lovecraft, so as you can imagine I love this.

On a side note, I'm planning on starting Battle Reports on the Disturbing Denizens channel as early as next week.  Check it out below!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeYkt8UHec6F9Lbrly29gHg

Lit

Right from the start I knew I didn't want to just paint minis, I wanted to light them as well.  I knew nothing about electronics, circuits and such, I'd never soldered in my life.  So naturally I did the smart thing and took a red LED from Radio Shack and wired it directly to a 9 volt battery.  It was glorious!  For a second or two.  After that bulb fizzled into a shard of carbon I made the logical next step.

After some home schooling I had a much better idea of what I was doing.  I started off with very simple circuits, a single LED, switch, battery and resistor and had some good results.  I suppose what I mean is the bulb didn't explode.  I got obsessed for about a month, lighting two of my commissions.

For the second picture two LEDs involved.  I think the diorama was the forth project I lit and by then I'd learned about parallel circuits.  Wiring in this matter is preferred because all LEDs draw the same current from the power source, which allows you to better calculate the resistor needed as well as ensures a long lifespan for the lights themselves.

There is quite a wealth of info online by people more knowledgeable them myself:

http://www.hobbyfanatics.com/index.php?/topic/23444-matxs-guide-to-led-mods/

http://chowfookcheong.com/Electronics/Lighting.htm

Also for folks looking for something less daunting:

http://poweredplay.net/

Its been nearly two years since I've lit up a model and I'm really getting the itch.  No clue what it should be, I've drifted away from 40k where most of the large plastic models live, which are well suited for this sort of thing.  I have X-Wing and Armada from Fantasy Flight Games, might have to give that a shot.

Pork

My obsession with pork related products seems to have spread to war gaming.  Dissatisfied with the amount of cracklin, lard, bacon and ham present in most miniatures, I discovered to my delight that Privateer Press shared my obsession.  My Farrow army was quickly obtained.

I feel I have to pause here and make a quick plug for Warmachine.  That game has some great rules.  Very well written for tournament play.  I was a chess player growing up and the idea of "kill that warcaster" brings back some nice memories.  It also makes for some nail biting games.  If you're into the "one wrong move you die" idea, give Warmachine a go!

Back to the Farrow!  So of course I wanted to paint them blue with green hair.  Why?  I have no idea.  I perhaps had a morsel of under cooked sausage.  We'll say they're fond of hair dye, punk pigs, you know, check those Mohawks!

And Pink flowers, yeah, that will strike terror in the hearts of my enemies!  Cue Black Sabbath for image spam.

Also in the group is a Gun Boar that needs special mention.  I really wanted him to be in the act of firing his weapon, but was worried storage would become an issue so...

Magnets are amazing and I've managed to avoid ruining my tablet so far so big plus there.  For those interested the smoke trail was made with Woodland Scenic clump foliage fixed to a section of wire and dipped in PVA thinned with a bit of water.  Once dry it was sprayed black and then grey and lastly white, working in every shrinking areas towards the thinnest section.

I decided I needed to make some markers for flags and objectives and have finished three of four at the time of this posting.

I'm working on the second objective marker and might make zone markers as well, some kind of swampy looking terrain of appropriate size and flatness.

In closing I've got a bunch more pigs waiting for paint and with the new Meat Thresher battle engine coming out (its freaking sweet) I'll be quite busy.