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...

Squaduary 2020 Pledge and Kick-off

Squaduary 2020 Pledge, primed and ready to go

Hey there! It is Squaduary time again. Having wrapped up the pair of Veteran Dark Angels marines that I was working on for Horus Heresy, I'm ready to hit up another project.  This year, I'm pledging to complete 12 Blackstone Fortress hostiles. As a bonus, I'm going to see if I can sneak in more - however, I have a business trip smack in the middle of the challenge so I'm working on only three weeks this year. NO excuses though!

Last year, I assembled all of the Blackstone Fortress models in order to try the game out (which I finally did late last fall).  Now it's time to get some paint on them. 

Here is what I'm painting...

Chaos Beastmen

Spindle Drones

Ur-Ghuls

The models will be re-based onto GW Necromunda bases which will be painted in a manner similar to something I saw from White Metal Games while doing a little image research for cool Blackstone bases.  So the current bland state of the bases reflects that decision. Part of the challenge then is to move these models from where they are to new bases.  The results must be equally secure if not more so....we'll see how it goes.

In order to get a jump on the challenge, I hit up the models with the air brush as soon as the month began so I could get to work. The Ur-Ghuls and Spindle drones both got a coat of Vallejo Surface Primer Gray then a top down spray of Vallejo Surface Primer White.  The Beastmen got the usual coat of Vallejo Surface Primer Black.

The Spindle Drones then got a coat of GW Nuln Oil on the legs and lower body under the carapace. The Carapace itself was shaded with two coats of Secret Weapon Miniatures Cool Grey wash.

The legs then got a second coat of Nuln Oil and the whole model was dry brushed with GW White Scar.  The models were left to dry thoroughly between each shade step.

The Ur-Ghuls were shaded with two coats of Secret Weapon Miniatures Green wash and left to dry thoroughly.  The hands and lower arms where then shaded with Secret Weapon Miniatures Purple wash.  The faces were shaded with Secret Weapon Miniatures Drying Blood wash.

The models were then dry brushed with GW White Scar, same as the drones.  While washing the bodies, I used my finger to lightly wipe the wash from the foreheads and a few other areas to create strong highlights.

And that was where I left things on day one of the challenge.  It feels good to have eight of the models so far along already - but it's also a cheap victory given how simple they were to advance this far. Heh.  I'll take it, anyway.

Check back for updates on my progress this month.  Challenges like Squaduary are a great way to gain some extra motivation to get hobby work done. Let's here it for all the Squaduary 2020 challengers!

Cheers and Happy Gaming!