Squaduary 2020 Week 3 Progress - TO DONE

Coming to the end of Squaduary 2020 week three and it's time to reveal my progress.  I was able to complete the twelve models I set out to paint, pretty much right on schedule.  As mentioned in earlier posts, I'm away for business all next week so it was important that I wrapped things up this year in three weeks instead of four.  I'm very happy with the results and it was truly great fun to paint something completely different this time around.  All models were finished off with a generous coat of Model Masters Lusterless Flat lacquer.

The spindle drones were completed first.  A pretty simple paint job and an easy win. Here they are posed on a Blackstone Fortress tile for comparison.  I love the look.  I'll offer a final shout out to White Metal Games for the base design inspiration.

During week three I tweaked the drone lenses with a drop of orange to brighten up the center a bit.

These models are identical so I'll spare you a full set of close ups. This post is already pretty picture heavy.

The Ur-Ghuls were painted next. I had a lot of fun with the colorful shading. These guys have been complete since the end of week one and no more work was done on them in week three.

A bit over exposed still here, but I think you get the idea.

Fun and simple to paint. I enjoy these models and only wish there were four unique poses, instead of just two.

I'm not showing all four Ur-Ghul as a result, just examples of the two poses and how they came out.

Last up were the Choas Beastmen.  More work, of course, but still very fun to paint.  Lots of detail on these goat men.

I put a bit more time into these models; they deserve it. During week three, I added additional highlights, some shading and color around the faces, and tidied up all the little details (skull trinkets, etc.).  I won't discuss each pic below, but I included front and back pics of all four models since they are individual enough to warrant the attention.

So that's going to earn me another big seal o' DONE for Squaduary 2020.

Best of luck to my fellow challengers during week four as they draw their own projects to completion.  This has been another great challenge and I look forward to sharing in many more to come.  Many, many thanks to thousandeyes and steppingbetweengames for hosting Squaduary 2020.  It's been a blast!

When I get back it'll be time for tiny titans and #MonsterMarch4!

Cheers and Happy Gaming!

On the Workbench [February] - Blackstone Fortress Escalation Models

Blackstone Fortress sure comes with a lot of models, if you buy all of the expansions!  Above is a quick snap of all of the unpainted models I have for the game so far.  Missing are twelve models currently being painted as part of the Squaduary 2020 challenge.

On the work bench this month are models from the Blackstone Fortress Escalation expansion.  This expansion appears to be gone from the range as it no longer appears on the GW website.  Not sure why that is.  With the new expansion "No Respite" soon to be released, I figured I should get the Escalation models built so I wouldn't fall too far behind.

First up are the new heroes.  I re-based the models on Necromunda bases to avoid the hassle of moving them later; a lesson I learned recently trying to move painted hostiles during the Squaduary 2020 project. As with the original Blackkstone Fortress characters, these models are push-fit and very well detailed - amazing in fact.

For hostiles, the Escalation expansion offers new Chaos Cultists. Above are the Cult Champion and Cultist Firebrand models.  Below are the rank-and-file cultists.  All have been mounted on Necromunda bases to match the rest of my Blackstone Fortress collection. Lots of detail and individual character to this lot.

With most of my hobby time spent on Squaduary 2020 this month, there wasn't a lot of time for new builds.  This project was the perfect match both in terms of size/time and topic since I'm painting Blackstone Fortress hostiles as well this month.

Stop back for my next post to see where I got to during Squaduary 2020. I have twelve hostiles painted and locked in a base paint scheme for the collection.  For now, that's all I have from the work bench.

Cheers and Happy Gaming!

Squaduary 2020 Week 2 Progress

Chaos Beastmen!  During week two, I put aside the Spindle Drones and Ur-Ghul to get paint on the beastmen. It all began by blocking in the base colors for all areas. This is a classic stage where you are doing work towards the vision; but it all looks pretty awful (click through the pic below)...

I went bold with the orange clothes (GW Wild Rider Red) and bright wraps (P3 Menoth White Base).  Then went with a ruddy brown (GW Tuskgor Fur) for the fur and skin - a decision I'm not loving to be honest, but it's growing on me. GW Doombull Brown completed the leather pouches, belts, and armor straps. Then I went all over with a heavy brown wash (50/50 Army Painter soft/strong tone).  Once this dried, I added a black wash to the weapons and armor (custom mix I'm trying) and dry brushed the fur, skin, clothing, wraps, and equipment with P3 Menoth White Base. Then I shaded the highlighted areas again with the same brown wash.

The horns were based with Vallejo German Grey (70.995), and then coarsely blended up to a lighter Vallejo Dark Sea Grey (70.991). The horns were also shaded with both the brown wash and the black wash used on the armor and weapons. The armor and weapons were painted with Vallejo Gun Metal (71.072).

Some really great detail in these plastics that is finally appearing as the wash dries.

Next I'll follow up with the remaining small details (icons, fetishes, eyes, teeth, etc.) and highlights. Also, these models need to be taken of these temporary bases and pinned to the final bases (shown in the pics at the head of the post).

And that's where I'm at currently for week two of Squaduary 2020. I have until the 22nd to complete this pledge which should be ample time at this point. Then I'm off on a business trip and the challenge will have to be done for me. Check back next week to see how things turn out.

My best wishes go out to all the other Squaduarians.

Cheers and Happy Gaming!

Squaduary 2020 Week One Progress

New bases!  This week I worked on the bases for my challenge.  Inspired by work over on the White Metal Games flickr site, I ordered up a bunch of GW Necromunda bases and tried my own take on a similar look.  I started by taping the bases down with double sided tape and basing them with Vallejo Surface Primer Black. When that dried, I sprayed a layer of Vallejo Game Color Electric Blue (72.723) over all. Next, I sprayed a little Vallejo Surface Primer White on the "grill" looking bits where I wanted some luminescence and a pop of color.  Here's how things looked at this point.

30mm bases

1st lot of 25mm bases

2nd lot of 25mm bases

Next, I carefully shaded all of the blue areas with GW Agrax Earth Shade trying to avoid the white areas. In the future, I'll shade the blue first, and THEN spray on the white...I brushed on some Secret Weapon Miniatures Purple wash carefully over the white, allowing some overlap around the edges where white meets blue for a little bit of OSL effect (a very little). This left a bit of a purple glow in the recessed vent areas.  The effect is a bit washed out in the pics here, but it more evident in the picks with models attached.

30mm bases

1st lot of 25mm bases

2nd lot of 25mm bases

At this point, GW Abbaddon Black was painted around the edges and the bases were ready for models.  I spent a good amount of time carefully removing the Ur-Ghuls and Spindle Drones from their original bases (Boy, I wish I thought of this basing idea BEFORE assembling these guys on the slotta bases) using flush-cutters and a sharp hobby knife.  No fingers were harmed in this process miraculously.  I made sure to leave plastic pins on the bottoms of the Ur-Ghul's feet as I cut away the old bases and attached slotta tab.  These were used to pin them to their new bases for extra support.

The Spindle Drones have the tiny points of contact, two of which were molded to a bit of terrain.  I left that terrain attached, cutting it down somewhat, and decided not to fashion any pins. The drones are light and the epoxy strong, so I don't figure on issues. The third "floating leg" is glued down on each this time around for three points of contact with the base and added strength.

I should note that the Spindle Drones got some pin wash to highlight the seams between armor plates, and a jolly red eye. I'll come back to the eyes to fancy them up at some point. The Ur-Ghuls got some speckling on their backs with GW Agrax Earthshade as well as a pin wash to define muscles on their chests and backs.

And there we have it for week one. The eight easiest models basically complete.  I can use the remainder of the month to focus on the Chaos Beastmen which are larger and covered in detail. I also have to travel for a week, so I really only have two weeks left to finish the project in any case, not three. Next week I look forward to sharing progress on the Beastmen.

Best wishes for all of the other Squaduarians out there.

Cheers and Happy Gaming!

Horus Heresy Dark Angels Command Squad Veterans - TO DONE

Right on schedule, I completed the two command squad models by the (very) end of January.  For those following the project, I wanted to post up the final photos.  Above, the pair of veteran Dark Angels can be seen standing with the recently completed Praetor on my painting table. They are a little sad that their banner bearer didn't make the tour, but they are DONE.

Part of my cunning plan to delay painting the banner played out as I hoped with the release of a new First Legion decal sheet from Forge World. The sheet appears to include some banner art, so we'll see if they planned it to fit the legion banners (and why wouldn't they??).  I was blocked on a final banner design that I felt I could do justice to (a mix of free and and decals). Now perhaps I will have some fresh new art.  Just waitin' on the pre-order while I work on Squaduary 2020.

So...back to the command squad veterans.  Here they are during a little photo shoot.

Cheers and Happy Gaming!

Still looking fierce.  I must come back at some point and brighten up the skull on his chest...maybe with some gold.  I'm using gold very sparingly on this force, but might make the emblem a little more interesting.

Now sporting the first legion designation on the shoulders. I went back and added a decal on the Praetor as well.  Totally missed that before...

As a hobby hoarder, it always feels good when I get some use out of something stored for over two decades.  If you've been at this long enough, you'll recognize the emblems on the power fist and chest plate below.  First Legion all the way - suitable for these legion veterans.

This fellow has really grown on me. Maybe it's a form of Stockholm syndrome, or maybe he really is cool looking. I like the leg, and the simple look to this veteran.  He's definitely been at this whole cleanse the galaxy thing for a while.

I like the First legion emblems, but feel a need for something more granular...after all these guys don't serve in the Lion's own command squad.  Have to look into something for a chapter/company designation, maybe on the front corner of the pads.

I can't make the sword not look bent to my eyes in this picture.  I assure you it isn't.   Maybe you won't see it anyway...