Kiss Kiss Bang Bang: British Freelancers

These models are being painted for the 2012 Clean-Slate Challenge, an attempt to paint all the forgotten models accrued over the years by an enthusiastic hobbyist. 

This particular box was bought hastily a year ago but never ended up painted for the intended project. I saw the outside of the box said "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang!" and I was happy enough knowing that I was getting some snooty looking guys in suits.

The 2012 challenge is officially underway, and the first model on the table is... 

This guy: affectionately named Colonel Harumph. 

I had no idea who these characters were or who they were supposed to represent. Usually I do an extensive amount of research into the source material, but I purposely avoided it this time around. I wanted an unbiased perspective on how the models would come to life. If I started reading I would eventually see images and the project wouldn't be the same.

Micro-lesson: Shadows of a different color

Consider using a different color to form the shadowed area of a model. Very few things are purely one color in real life. The brown of the fabric in the Colonel's suit is shaded with brown, purple, and black. The purple gives the suit a new dimension, while the brown pulls it back toward a believable hue, and the black provides the deepest shades.

So how do you determine the colors to use? 

Take a look at the color wheel. 

If you want to push a shadow especially hard and in a realistic manner, use the adjacent colors on the wheel. In the case of the good Colonel's suit, he's wearing brown, which is a shade of orange and red. Therefore our best bet for a new shadow color is either purple or yellow, depending on your taste and the situation. Here purple wins out for the shadow, and I mixed some yellow in for the highlight.

What about grey?

Grey is both your best friend and your greatest enemy here. It can take almost any color on as a secondary, which gives it ultimate flexibility, but also forces you to make some hard decisions. My recommendation to look at the rest of the model and pick a color that compliments the other non-grey colors you're using. If you've got a warm color scheme, keep it to the right side of the wheel, cool keeps to the left. But if all else fails, go blue. 

Here I used a softer blend of green and blue to form the shadows for the Lady's jump-suit. I wanted her to have that pleathery look, so I didn't push the shadows too far. The slightly flat color helps to give the fig that impossibly synthetic look that we've all seen in the movies.

I decided this guy should be named "The Crimson Parasol" for obvious reasons. 

I admit, the pinstripes were an act of pure masochism, but the ends definitely justified the means. Now that I've seen him painted up like this, I can't imagine him any other way. Here the shadows had a lot of blue mixed in to give the grey some needed depth. 

You can find the manufacturer's website here.

This project was a fantastic start to my challenge and I'm excited for the next few models I have lined up. 2012 is going to be a good year for painting.

Dear Mantic Games, Stop it

I saw your new Goblin artwork today, it looks good. I'm sure the minis will be good too. You know what? No one cares. You know why? Because you can get better Goblins right now from Games Workshop.

You see, Mantic, Games Workshop owns Goblins. They have that mess locked down. They made so many Goblins they literally had to go and invent different types of Goblins, Gnoblar, just as an excuse to make more Goblins. Then they went and made Gretchin, more Goblins, and snotlings, aka Goblin Goblins.

Do you understand Mantic? Games Workshop made Meta-Goblins


Why would you then turn around and make Goblins unless you were prepared to stage some sort of Goblin-revolution (Goblinution?) You're a business, and as a business I presume you're interested in making money. Why in the world would you try and engage GW on the Goblin front? I'm not saying never make another Goblin ever again, but you need an angle that GW hasn't considered.

IE: I'm in good shape; I'm a martial artist, a marathon runner, and a weight lifter. Does that mean I'm qualified to challenge the world pushup champion of 2011 to a pushup contest? Hell no. Hell no. If I need to beat that guy, I'm challenging him to a game of chess.

One of the biggest advantages you have over GW is that you are a small company, which means you're faster and more reflexive. If GW is busy making the best Goblins ever in a Tolkien-esque setting, get your butts in gear and make a Roman-Legion inspired Goblin force. Show the world what would happen if the Goblin King was an ingenious inventer and blacksmith, who manufactured the best armor and weapons the old world has ever seen. For the love of god, set those little bastards on fire and make an army of Magma-Goblins.

But there they are, some beautiful renders of Goblins that look exactly like GW's. It makes me sad to see them, knowing that someone who had a real love and talent for his or her profession designed these soon to be forgotten models.

Yes, your product is cheaper. Yes, Games Workshop is an evil mega-corporation. Yes, people who are obsessed with GW are elitest jerks. You know who else has these same problems?

Apple.

You don't see the i-Pad/Phone/Pod going anywhere do you? Not happening. Apple did it first and Apple continues to do it best. Sony, Microsoft, Samsung; it doesn't matter how big the competition is or how deep their pockets are, they can't beat Apple at the iPod. So what do they do? How does a company like Sony stay afloat if it's doomed to fail against Apple at making a mobile music player with mass appeal?

They diversify away from what Apple can do.

Just the same way you did Mantic, the exact same way you made a hard-right in 2011 with the Forge Fathers. Now there are some models that have staying power. It was brilliant, filling an existing gap with a product that a lumbering giant like GW was far too slow to cover. You have space-dwarves all to yourself, a total win.

And then you put out the corporation, which looks exactly like the Imperial Guard.

Stop.

And now you're getting ready to do some Goblins.

It.


I want to see you do well Mantic. I want there to be a third miniature company out there on the level of Privateer Press and Games Workshop. But if you keep picking a fight with the biggest kid in the school yard you're just gonna keep getting a black eye. You've got a insanely talented core of dedicated guys and the resources to do something amazing that the world will remember. Stop retreading the same ground and start blazing your own path.

Just stop it.

Love,

-James

The 2012 Clean-Slate Challenge

Another year, another army put to bed. I was looking at the list and realizing that I haven't committed to painting anything major in 2012.

Let's fix that right now, shall we?

If you're like me, you've accrued more than your fair share of random figures and pieces as you've ground through more important projects. Little ideas and pockets of inspiration left unfulfilled in a little box in the closet. Time passes, as it tends to do, and one day you realize that little box in the closet says Rubbermade on the side, and has a capacity measured in gallons.

Typographic logo please:

Thank you.

The 2012 CS Challenge is simple: find every wayward model that has fallen by the side and paint the hell out of it. Every space marine, every goblin, every little "I'll work on that later" project. It's all coming out of the bits box and onto the painting table.

Da Rules:

1. Painting will take as long as is necessary. If I'm happy with a model after a day it's gone. If it take 2 months, so be it. I want these models to reflect the highest standards I am capable of putting forth, and I'm willing to take as much time as is necessary.
2. No fair just giving stuff away. If I get rid of a painting obligation, I need to trade it. It's okay if I don't feel like painting a fig anymore, so long as I can find someone willing to trade for one that I want to paint. 
3. It's called the 2012 challenge because it started in 2012, not because that's how long I anticipate this will take. It might take 3 months, it might take 3 years. I've been hoarding stuff for a long time. 
4. There is NO RULE 4!
5. When it's finished, there will be a party. With cake. No lies. 

Every Friday post will be a progress report on whatever I'm working on, and you're invited to come along and witness firsthand my battle to leave no model unpainted. 

It begins.

Sanguinius

I recently had a chance to paint up a Sci-Fi Archangel (aka Sanguinius) from Scibor Monstrous Miniatures. 

It's been awhile since I worked with a resin miniature. Each material has it's own quirks and oddities you can work with or against depending on your attitude. For me, resin is a close second to metal in terms of difficulty to work with. The universal problem with resin is air bubbles, which crop up with virtually every figure I've ever seen. 

Today's air bubbles reared their ugly heads half way down the sword blade and in the knuckle of the hand gripping the sword itself. The knuckle was an easy fix to fill with greenstuff, but the sword blade was beyond repair. My solution was to cut a notch in the blade to create an interesting design, and mirror it on the other side to make it look intentional. Remember: It's only a mistake if you let it become one. 

This is the first time I've worked with a resin piece that didn't come from forgeworld, and I was relieved to find that the notorious film that requires a regimen of scrubbing was not present at all on this mini. I was able to prime the surface without any preparation at all.

What did require some work ahead of time was fitting and drilling the holes for pinning the model. The wings for this sculpt were heavy and bulky. With nothing to hold the wings to the back save for a flat contact point, I knew it would be vital to pin the wings into place. The sword blade by contrast had a minuscule contact point that was also sure to break if the model got any pressure. Finally I drilled a hole in the base of the model to anchor is firmly to the uneven surface of the base. 

I glued the pins in place before priming, which would give me the added advantage of having a point I could hold the pieces by without having to worry about ruining the paint job. 

The model itself was well detailed, had a dynamic pose, and mirrored the artwork of the Horus Heresy. I did some research to find my subject was clad entirely in golden armor. I'm not a huge fan of single-color armor; you tend to lose details and depth. I focused on pushing the shadows back to the let the landscape of the places come through with the natural shine of the gold paint. 

The base that came with the model was outlandish by any standards. It seemed like the sculptor didn't really know what look he wanted to go for, so he just smashed a little bit of everything together into one base. The individual elements that make up the base are highly reminiscent of other Scibor bases styles. I tried to keep the palette neutral with a few minor detail highlights to let the viewer concentrate on the model. 

The only real complaint I have about the base is that it forces Sanguinius off center. This isn't a problem in itself, but the massive weight of the wings anchored to his back make the model extremely prone to tipping. I compensated by pushing him further toward the center, but holding the whole piece, you can still feel the lack of true balance.

Overall this is a fantastic figure with lots of great detail, as Scibor is business of making awesome Space Marines. If you're playing a loyalist chapter and want a special model to lead your forces, they have quite the selection of powerarmored badasses to choose from. 

Scibor Monstrous Miniatures

Dreadfleet Part 12: Conclusions

The concluding piece of a series of articles containing thoughts and tips on the latest mega-box from Games Workshop.

The Grand Alliance
Overall the more complex half of the game pieces to paint. I enjoyed the creativity and vision that went into each sculpt. It's more work, but ultimately more rewarding to see it all come together. The diversity of the models really helps push the sense of individual identity.

The sails alone are worth talking about. From a painting standpoint the represent the largest time sink but from a modeling standpoint they are a technical marvel. Getting such a high degree of precision on a curved surface with no mold-lines and nearly limitless detail shows everyone else out there who is boss. Games Workshop doesn't make the best rule systems, their tournaments could use some help, and their PR policies need to throw a hard 180. That being said, no one, and I mean no one, does models better than GW.

The one complaint I have about these ships is the heavy repetition the painter has to deal with. I get that we're working on a very grandiose scale with lots of over-the-top moments, but 176 cannons is just too many.

The Dreadfleet
I would say offhand that it took roughly half the time to paint this half of the box as it did for the Grand Alliance. Practice was definitely a factor, as I did these models second. But where the alliance ships relied on rows and rows of neatly arranged cannons and bolt throwers to convey a sense of power, the ships of the Dreadfleet instead look to overwhelming scale of force. It's appropriate when you consider the armies they're meant to represent from Warhammer Fantasy Battles. The Empire doesn't get to bring monstrous creatures, but instead packs in a metric ton of soldiers (except for Nuln of course). But when you think about the massive warmachines of the Chaos Dwarves, the towering monsters of the Tomb Kings, it makes sense that they would bring equally impressive titans with them on the high seas.

The variety of influences in the sculpture really help to keep things fresh. I worked on this project for roughly ten weeks, but I never felt the standard battle-fatigue I usually get when working on other projects of this scale. What kept it from becoming painfully repetitive was that every week I knew I was getting into something that was brand new, which really ups the value for potential painters out there.

In the negatives for this part of the box I really only have two nitpicks. The Bloody Reaver is a pain to assemble, and no where in the book or the box or the website can you find images of the auxiliary ship for the Black Kraken.

Everything Else

The rest of this box is a collection of awesome tokens, islands, and a few monsters to boot. I really have nothing to add about these pieces, except that they really are something special. My big tip for potential painters is to definitely break it up by throwing in just a few pieces alongside each ship you paint. That way when you're finally done with the 10th ship you don't have a mountain of mountains to paint.

Who should get this box?

I feel like this is a box every painter should work their way through. For a long time I've heard a lot of guys complain that they don't want to work at this scale because the models are garbage, but the rules have changed with this box. GW has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is possible not only to make sub-28mm scale models in plastic, but in razor-sharp detail. Anything that would have held you back with older metal models just is not a factor here. If you're looking for a fun challenge that will help grow your artistic skills, this box has a lot to offer.

What does this mean for the future of Warhammer Fantasy Battles?

I think that given the high degree of correlation between each of these ships and the factions they represent, we can expect to see this box as a roadmap for GW moving forward for the next few army releases. There are already rumblings of an updated to the empire, and I wouldn't be surprised if the Heldenhammer and Flaming Scimitar held clues to future design elements.

But more importantly, I see this box as a further acknowledgement that Chaos Dwarves are returning to WFB proper, and I'm not just talking forgeworld. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that this isn't the last time we'll be seeing Evil Stunties from the Citadel.

What does this mean for the future of miniature wargames?

If you're producing plastic miniatures, consider the bar raised. Plain and simple, this is going to serve as the standard by which all other miniatures are judged for a long time. Unless these other companies pull off a miracle, I just don't see anyone measuring up.

Conclusions?

This box is filled with awesome and win.

Teh End.

Dreadfleet Part 11: A Spirited Performance

Part 11 of thoughts and tips on the latest mega-box from Games Workshop. This article deals with the Shade Wraith.

Having worked my way through so many different pieces, I felt I should save something special for my last ship. I wanted something as a treat for finishing such an extensive box. So I moved the Shade Wraith to the back of the queue, giving me something light to help put the final pieces in place.

Despite its nearly monochromatic color scheme, this ship does not fail to impress. The key to a successful paint job is pushing the contrast between the darker greens and the pure white that you find at the very tops of the masts and sails. The contrast is further heightened because of the open sides of the ship, letting you create a big difference between the pure white of the frame and the forest-green of the underside. 

Don't be afraid to use several different shades of green. I used Orchide shade for the underside, a series of Thraka green washes for the main sails, and Scorpion green for the light sources. Even just variations in the primary color can really help bring the piece to life.

The castle and skull islands came together quickly and added a fun challenge to the end of the journey.

And that's it. Dreadfleet is officially done and I'm very excited about how it all turned out. I'll be posting some concluding thoughts next week about who should consider this box, and how I feel GW handled the whole deal, and what this means for the miniature wargaming community moving forward.

2011: Grey Knights and Blood Angels

I recently got my hands on some miniatures I had painted in early 2011, which gave me a chance to revisit some of the details I missed the first time through. Here's the results: