Spawn of Cthulhu - Chip off the old block

This is a post to showcase my son's recent painting! :) I'll be posting more of his stuff as I remember to take pics.

At 12, it seems that the coolest stuff apparently needs to involve poo and farts and rot and zombies and horror influences. This meant by son was overjoyed when he received this Reaper Miniatures Eldritch Demon as he is also a firm fan of the images of the Great Cthulhu.

I'm lucky in that we are able to paint standing side-by-side at my tall painting station, which makes for some really good bonding time. In two good sessions, the young man churned this tentacled beastie out with an ample usage of washes over a base-coat and swift dry-brush. This mini is quite large as well, about twice the size of a "human-sized" 28mm fig, so I was rather impressed when he declared it done. (I think I will be borrowing it to represent something nasty in one of my future roleplay sessions.

Hope you like. :)

I'm a Maserati in a world of Kias

Frostgrave starting warbands are typically made up of a Wizard who represents “You”, his Apprentice who offers more opportunity to throw spells around each turn and a mixed assortment of mercenaries that you buy with a gold coin allotment.

To battle my son’s Ratmen Necromancer warband, I decided to go with the very opposite wizard type, a Thaumaturge who specializes in healing majicks and the like. For my wizard mini, I went with my already painted-up (For my rpg campaign) Druid. As his apprentice, I then decided to use my only other druid mini shown below. He’s a metal Privateer Press sculpt, Potent Bradigus. My son had the idea of painting him up with a completely different skin colour to his master, I also added some black dots as a type of tattoo after seeing an old black’n’white picture of a north African tribesman with similar markings. Not sure I carried it off right though. With this fellow done, I now have a fully painted warband to play with!

I like this sculpt - all sorts of quiet intimidation about it. The "axe" parts to his staff are painted up as stone rather than steel. Seemed more druidish to me.

Green cloak like all good druids should sport. Tried to give the shoulder pads a wood look, again to seem more "natural" than if he had metal.

Wizard and Apprentice. I think they'll do just fine against those evil rats... should.

 My son also got a couple more of his own Skaven ratmen painted up - a thug and a man-at-arms. He only has to paint a Templar and a Ranger and he'll also be ready for play. Now I just have to get all my terrain painted too.... Ugh.

1980's Jes Goodwin Skaven Slave and a more recent plastic Skaven Clanrat with a weapon switch. No idea why he needed one though.

A long time ago in a country far, far away a much younger self felt a need to cut the tip from the Skaven slave model. I have no recollection as to why. My son though, was delighted to find this out and gleefully painted blood effects accordingly.

 After finishing up my Apprentice, I had more time last night so slapped some paint on this late 90's GW Daemonette. Just a cheeky grey primer, white drybrush and a load of successive washes to get a fair pastel effect. My son and wife think she looks creepy for some reason. I'll be using her as a "Medium Demon" for Frostgrave.

Unlike the original 80's sculpts, these girls were far more brutish in design to get them away from the very sexualised originals. Whilst I do like this version very much, the lithe originals and current versions fit the descriptions for these Slaaneshi daemons far better.

This deadly young lady seems not to be lacking in rump.

And last up, a real quick paintjob on a Reaper Bones animal companion sculpt. It is meant to be a hawk or some such, but I wanted it to represent a raven or crow instead so went with black. It'll do for both my rpg campaign and Frostgrave's new Lich King supplement that I bought for my Kindle to expand my mission selections and also check out the cool sounding campaign.

His head seems to blend in with his body in this photo. Not that there's much to see. 

"Nevermore" quoth another raven. Not this one, he prefers Dylan Thomas to Ed Poe.

A Raffle worth mentioning!

Right now and until May 14th, there is a raffle on at my NUMBER ONE forum that I frequent far too often for a model so amazing, it's something that you can't miss out on.

Yes, a sales pitch, but only one that wouldn't be worth yelling about if I didn't think it was a worthy cause.

Okay, that's it. No more sales. No buyer beware either.

Mabrothrax, founder of the PAPANURGLE.COM forum is holding a raffle to fund this year's costs to keep the forum running. All you have to do is donate via the paypal address he's listed here to have a chance at winning one of these:

Custom (But regular sized) Plague Bearer here for scale purposes

Now when I say that this model is an AMAZING sculpt, take it from me, I couldn't have anything less to say. I own one. (Admittedly still unpainted due to the fact that I'm intimidated by it.... ~_~ )  No really I do. The sculptor (Jon Meechelsen) only made a limited run of them and they are by far the coolest and most disturbing Nurgle-esque sculpts out there. They make GamesWorkshop's own Great Unclean Ones look like they were sculpted by my dog.

If you're a fan of Nurgle things, if you appreciate amazing sculpts in this hobby of ours, if you just like the chance to win a centerpiece plague thingamajig for your Chaos army, just head on over to  Papanurgle.com and donate a measly dollar (or more!).

My next post won't be half as full of rubbish sales technique.

[Please take my word that this is a legit raffle. I've been a member of this forum in respected and good standing for 5 years with multiple transactions between myself and other forum members and also readers of my blog. I like to support the places that support me.]

A Challenge (Part 4 - Herald Finished!)

Along with another game of Flames of War where my dice once again betrayed me (they have now been retired. Permanently.) I have finished my Herald for my Challenge's January commitment. He has no name as yet, though I'll think of something soon - "soandso the Counter" is sitting well thus far.

Last three pics are of his face details, backpack and shell, and my rubbish attempt at verdigris.

A Challenge

Until recently, I was rather wary of hobby podcasts, considering them to probably be far too nerdy and beardy for the likes of me, full of "inside jokes" and other unfunny childishness. How wrong I was! Thanks for Mr Esty for starting me off, I now have four podcasts that I listen to whenever a new episode is released. Mr Esty suggested I try out The Independent Characters podcast that is run out of the Bay Area, a mere hour and a half or so away from where I live.

Carl and Geoff run a pretty well put together production with better than average sound values and a structured show that rarely goes off track, or if it does, they seem professional enough to get over their fits of giggles quickly. Each episode is dedicated to a certain 40K-esque subject and these chaps are pretty darn knowledgeable on their topics and, should the occasion arise where they don't have said knowledge, they have plenty of guests on hand to bring on board to help them out. If you don't listen to podcasts and have perhaps been curious, then these chaps are a good first option.

(I'll list the other three for any interested at the end of this post.)

Anyhoo, the reason I mention the podcast is because they also have a very friendly message board and are currently running a Challenge to paint up 1850 points of Warhammer 40K figs for a list or some such by November 30th, each month pledging to complete a character, unit or vehicle. For each pledge completed, you get an entry into a draw at the end of the challenge to win something cool. (I believe last year's Challenge prizes were KR Multicases or Black Library publications or some such.) Either way, I'm not really doing this for the prizes, more to see if I can't finally, f i n a l l y have myself a fully painted army. (Which I haven't had since I was an early teen with my old Squats.) I decided my much loved and maligned Nurgle Chaos force needed the love it always deserved and so made up a list with the new Chaos Marine Codex and the old daemons one, both including my models painted thus far and those I plan to do up each month. (the list is below the pics for those interested.)

So, seeing as I got into this Challenge a little late, my first month's pledge is a simple one - to paint a herald of Nurgle for my Daemon Allies contingent. The mini is by Darksword and was a lovely Xmas present from my mate Niko in Minnesota. I hacked off the original bannertop (Which was some sort of naff moon and stars design.) and replaced the left hand which formerly held a compass with handy parts from the new-ish plastic Plague Bearers kit. Since this photo was taken, I've since added sand to his base and given the mini a coating in Krylon primer.

If you got this far then my thanks for sticking with it!

Here's the three other podcasts I keep up with:

1. The Overlords - another 40K podcast, these chaps out of London are a game club with a microphone and make me laugh lots. They also have a good bunch of people who have different takes on the game to the US one I hear more regularly.

2. Deepstrike Radio - this 40K podcast is more fluff oriented, which I like lots. These chaps know their stuff VERY thoroughly and it appeals to my oldschool 40K hobbyist self. They are also more adult with their humour, so keep that in mind before you play them around yer young'ns.

3. WhatWouldPattonDo? - lastly, I also listen to a Flames of War podcast by the wwpd crew. They are a fun bunch and go off topic all the time, but if you like to play Flames of War, they can offer lots on the hobby and also talk about new books and releases

I forgot to add that I've also added to my Flames of War British contingent. A platoon of 6-pdr Anti-tank guns to hopefully help me fend off those dirty Nazi heavy tanks all the better. Painting might take a while though....

And here's the 3000point (Or there abouts) list I'm going by for my Challenge for those that are interested. I WILL still be painting other stuff, eg. my WW2 Brits, etc, but hopefully this challenge will see me more productive with my hobby than ever before. Roll on 2013!

CSM

HQ

Chaos Lord: Mark of Nurgle, Black Mace, Palanquin, Veteran of the Long War, Combi Plasma, Aura of Dark Glory

Daemon Prince of Nurgle: Wings, Power armour, Murder Sword, Aura of Dark Glory

TROOPS
7 x Plague Marines: 2 x Flamers, Lightning Claw

7 x Plague Marines: 2 x Melta Guns, Lightning Claw

7 x Plague Marines: 2 x Plasma Guns, Lightning Claw

7 x Plague Marines: 2 x Plasma Guns, Lightning Claw

ELITES
5 x Terminators: Mark of Nurgle, Heavy Flamer, Power Fist, Twin Lightning Claws, Veterans of the Long War, Land Raider Transport with Combi-bolter and Havoc launcher

Hell Brute: Twin-Linked Heavy Bolter, 2x Combi Bolters

FAST ATTACK
3 x Nurgle Spawn

HEAVY SUPPORT
7 x Havocs: 4 x Missile Launchers with Flakk ammo

2 x Vindicators: Siege Shields

DAEMON ALLIES

HQ
Ku’Gath

Herald of Nurgle

TROOPS
7 x Plague Bearers

7 x Plague Bearers

3 x Nurgling Bases

POINTS TOTAL = 2967

That’s the 3000 (ish), the 1850 (ish) that will be my list for this Challenge are:

The Chaos Lord (That I’ve yet to buy)
2 of the Plague Marine Units
2 Terminators from their squad (I already have 3 painted) and their Land Raider
3 Chaos Spawn (That I’ve yet to put together)
Ku’Gath (A mini that is pretty damned amazing, sculpted by a mate in Denmark)
The Herald of Nurgle (Proxied with a cool mini I got for Xmas)
The 2 Plague bearer units (One of the new plastic sculpts, the other old OOP models I've had for years.)
And the Nurglings (New plastic kit that I’ve yet to buy)

I think all this adds up to about 1860 all told with options included.

Big Bad Demon Daddy

Get one, you know you want to.


Only at: