A Revitalization

So my brother-in-law over at PlasticCrack guessed (mostly) right on the teaser post I made the other day.  Had he not, I was going to post a new teaser showing some of the pastel shading I did last night after working later than anticipated and never making it down to the painting desk, but I'll add a more complete image showing the work I've got done on the Mauler (Bomber to come from next kit buy).

Not quite revelatory enough???

 As with the Warpwolf work I've got done (which I realize I probably never posted...), I've really come to love the combination of the airbrush and the pastel pigments on these relatively large, fleshy models.

As I thought about getting back into Warmachine/Hordes (I refuse to refer to the system as WarmaHordes; sorry), I realize that I kinda ran out of steam on the game system when I started looking at painting a bunch of infantry models in order to build out the force(s) for eAsphyxious and pBaldur casters I picked.  As a result, I thought hard about what appealed to me about the game:  Large, steam-driven machines fighting huge, enraged monsters. 

Having come to that conclusion, I put an order in for the premier 'jack caster for Cryx.  While the model looks neat, her abilities look amazing for a 'jack list and it's quite exciting to think I can run a list that, while possibly not as "purely" competitive, is likely very fun and at least highly capable.  I figure that I might just add the Trollblood version of Mortenebra, since I like the model and love the fluff.

The biggest shame of this is that I've got a bunch of Circle stuff that I'd like to see painted, but a combination of lots o' brown © and an existing skaven WFB army make that option extremely un-exciting.  In time, they'll likely see the light of day.

I'll get some more work done on the troll tonight and post up ASAP.

Warmachine Expansion

I've just about finished my original 15 points of Cryx and am pretty happy with what I've got thus far; I've just got to finish the last little bit of painting on the Skarlock.

In light of that, and after playing a few games, I purchased the next logical expansion: Bane Thralls and Bane Lord Tartarus.  I've built Tartarus and the first two Thralls, and I'm really looking forward to moving ahead toward the 25 point mark.  I'll be posting a whole army photo as soon as I'm done the skarlock, but you may get a better look, sooner, over at Plastic Crack when the scheduled battle reports are posted.  Anyway, a teaser of the Bane Thralls to come...

Metal, But Nice...

Asphyxious Done

I recently hurried myself along and finished my Epic Asphyxious efforts.  The result:

Snazzy!

I'm pretty pleased with the result and he has played in his first game now (a loss to Khador!).  I am extremely pleased with the way that the Warmachine rule set plays on the tabletop and am anticipating quite a few games within the next couple of weeks.  I also picked up the Hordes rulebook to peruse in an effort to make up my mind on a faction within that framework.

At any rate, I've got to spend some time figuring out whether I want to go with Bane Thralls or Bane Knights.  They've both got their advantages, but the Thralls seem a bit stronger overall. Weigh in within the comment section if you've got an opinion.

Cryx Slayer, Pre-Base

I went ahead and tried an experiment using some home-made pigments to create rust on my Slayer last night and was so pleased, I decided to finish the whole darn thing.  This broke from the plan, which was to finish Asphyxious and then start really going at the Skarlock, but I had momentum and rode it. 

As with the bonejacks, the Slayer still needs a base, but I also spent some time getting the GS down on the bases so I can do a swampy looking thing, similar to the first bonejack I showed on here some time ago.  At any rate, here's a look at the Slayer:

Front View, Looking Mean

Rear View, Looking...Away

Necrotite Furnace

Perspective View

One thing you'll notice in comparing to my previous Deathripper is that the furnace glow is more "contained".  I thought about the geometry of the model, and it just didn't make sense for the glow to be that pronounced.  I didn't highlight the "gold" this time either; I thought it looked more weathered, but still metallic, in its current state.

Hopefully the rust effects are noticeable, since that's what really got me so excited about that effort.  I can detail how I "created" the pigment at some point, but I may have a better way soon; I need to experiment.

Warmachine Progress

I spent some more time last night with my airbrush and Cryx models.  I am really starting to learn to love the airbrush for all sorts of painting.  There are obvious benefits, but there's also a huge downside, which is time spent on maintenance.  I think the time gained back by the ease with which you can create those smooth gradients makes up for it, but the maintenance phase seems worse than it really is, likely because it's not time spent painting.

At any rate, I snapped a quick pic after a little work re-shading some of the helljack, as well as working on (and ultimately finishing) Asphyxious' base.  The picture is a bit de-saturated, but I'll soon be taking a "mission accomplished" picture.  Closing in on game time!

This is crying out for some saturation!

Adjusted to be more "true to form"

Primed for Battle

I've spent some time getting all of the metal stuff pinned together properly, and primed.  I highly recommend a little trick suggested to me by my father (a chemist):  "Weld" the metal parts together with super glue.  The process is as follows:

1)  Put a drop of super glue in place.
2)  Hold the stupidly heavy, ill-fitting metal part in place
3)  Use an old paint brush (or stick, or finger, or...) to place a drop of water onto the junction of the parts.

This catalyzes the "drying" reaction of the superglue and helps create a super strong, weld-like join.  As an added benefit, it also helps to fill in ugly gaps in the metal.


Anyway, tonight will see the first real painting progress on the awesome Lich Lord Asphyxious model, and possibly some airbrushing love for the Slayer.  This is what my painting tray looks like:

I wish Asphyxious were bigger...

Skarlock and Asphyxious Pre-Prime

I picked up my skarlock and Asphyxious models yesterday from the FLGS and was minorly surprised to see that I was to be taking home Lich Lord Asphyxious instead of the intended Iron Lich Asphyxious .  I wasn't totally caught off guard, and the fault lies with me for not clearly specifying the PIP number, but I am happy with the model nonetheless

I have a noticeable lack of infantry in the army still (at 15 points), so eAsphyxious (I will not refer to him as "eGaspy") will get to enjoy a totally useless feat, but when I've got some Bane Knights or Bane Thralls...

Anyway, I built Asphyxious last night and that particular process served to remind me how much I hate working with multi-part metal kits.  I built the skarlock today at lunch and snapped a quick pic of him. 

Dashboard Lightbox

 
I'll prime both when I get home tonight, and then get cracking on making magic with these fine fellows; I've got a tentative first game tomorrow night and they'll not likely be finished, but a decent approximation of it.  I also need to spend some time making the Battlegroup Slayer look less like a black blob.  I'll be posting a follow up tonight or early tomorrow.

First Cryx Jack

I finished the first of the bonejacks from the Cryx Battlegroup I bought a while back.  It took a long time for what the end result is, but I went through a few iterations, including an attempt at chipped paint and weathering that scrapped the whole effort once.   The other two light warjacks are done, though their bases are still not in the works.

Ta-da...

I think I'm OK with most of what I produced on this model, but I learned some things and there are definitely areas that could do with some improvement.  The attempt to base the model wasn't as convincing as I would really have hoped, though that may ultimately end up being a forgotten experiment.  The glow from the necrotite furnace is strong, but I think I'm pretty much OK with the effect; it helps to offset the otherwise monotone generic Cryx scheme. 

I would like to acquire some pigments to use for rust effects as I just can't seem to find a way to make Vermin brown wash look dusty enough, and the bone could possibly use some more work, but I think it's a decent first (and second and third) hack at Cryx.

Anyway, I've posted two other views of the same model below.  I just now realized that I didn't put the static grass on the base, so that may help the land part look more organic, so when I post a picture of the whole battlegroup, I'll make sure I've got the grass in place.  At any rate, feel free to let me know what you think in the comments.  I should be receiving my Asphyxious and Skarlock from my FLGS this week, so the 15 point battles will commence shortly!

Repeat of above

Some "reeds"

My typical view

Prelude to November 2012: Cryx Warcaster Poll Showdown

So of course the title is absurd; I wouldn't share my politics here (in person though...).  Take a gander at the fine fellows below and weigh in on the poll.  Something to keep in mind is that I refuse to fully embrace a female Warcaster (sorry ladies) and I'm interested to hear why you will have picked who you support in the comments.  I'm new to this game system and relatively incapable of making a sound choice based on the game mechanics.

EDIT:
The poll widget looks terrible and I can't figure out how to add it directly to the post right now.  Comments will count as votes! 

Venethrax

Asphyxious

Goreshade

Terminus

Warmachine Surprise!

So I surprised everyone, including myself, by making a faction choice for Warmachine not even alluded to in my previous list. 

Chicken 'Jack

I'd been looking around at the various faction models, and almost equally importantly, how they played on the table top, and I was impressed by the description of Cryx as having "all of the tools to beat the enemy assuming you're not trying to beat them at their own game". This description captured my imagination, and the previous front-runner, Protectorate of Menoth, being described as "synergy based, so tending toward blocking up" made me envision a big white blob of models on the table - very exciting stuff...

I've got my work cut out for me as I figure out the game system and then how to win at it: My brother-in-law, and primary wargaming opponent received a gift in a shiny red package:

Shiny (mostly?) Red Package...

I'm pretty excited about the new game system, and while still a GW model devotee, spent some serious time poring over my other purchases:

I love buying "stuff"!

I'm pretty excited to start into modeling the other 2 'jacks from the Cryx battlegroup; I built the war-witch late last night, but never took a picture for the blog (shame!).  I'll be updating as I proceed through the painting process.  Very exciting stuff!