Flings, Fling

Now, I'm not the fastest painter, nor do I claim to be the best. But it would seem that some people like what I do. In this case, so much so that I've gained a new friend, Robin. We met as you sometimes do in the 21st Century, on Facebook after he was selling some old miniatures. Turns out that he also has a love of the old Halfling Blood Bowl team, in particular, the style that I've painted mine. At the time I was look for some Skaven (ratmen) to increase the models I had so that I could start a Skaven team of my own. So in exchange of the Skaven he had, I said I would paint him some Halflings and he'd send me the minis. Though I did warn him, I'm slow, and I paint in waves. 6 months later, I've finally finished. I don't know the team name, I'll add it once Robin has decided, but they are done and posted yesterday. Painted in a style similar to my 'Fondant Fancies', but with something a bit different so they are not just a clone of what I did before. Even the Treemen are painted in 2 different styles, with one just a light brown/sand and a Earthshade wash. Then the other one is also brown/sand base, but with ink washes in 2 different colours.
I hope they bring him years of enjoyment, it was nice to paint the little guys again.

 

It's All For Charity Mate!

Sometimes I paint stuff not just for myself, but also for a charity auction. This weekend 3/4/5 August in Bognor there will be a Blood Bowl weekend, with auctions and other events going to charity. Its called Thrudball and organised by a chap named Andy and some other guys who's names escape me. But Andy did ask if I'd be happy painting a few models for him, as its for charity I agreed.
First one is a fat Ratman produced by Impact! Miniatures named Glart Smash-n-Rip if you interest in owning one of your own. Lovely sculpt, and very true to the image that I remember from Blood Bowl second edition. So I was looking forward to painting him, though he is made of resin, which so far, I hate painting.

This resin was a bit easier than some I've painted, having washed him soapy water first, and then priming him with Vallejo Air surface primer (70 600). I chose a base colour for him of Elf grey (from my 80's orginal citadel paint collection) and then gave him a wash of Agrax Earthshade and Nuln Oil. These gave him a nice fetted look, more unwashed and unkept Ratman. After this, it was just a mass dry brush of more Elf Grey, simple by effective.

As you can see above, I've added some other details into this mini. First was picking out some flesh on the Ratman, so the toes, palms of hands, tail, scar, mouth, nose, eyes, and ears where painted with Coat d'arms Dwarven Flesh (124) and then washed with Ink Wash Flesh (133). You can follow the link to this and get them from Black Hat Miniatures, where I get all my paints now. After this, the skin was highlighted with some more Dwarven Flesh, and a few touches added round the body to give a hairless feel to some of it. The rest is just dark red, with a light red highlight, white pads and silver items where needed. Anything leather is a dark brown, washed with Agrax, and then highlighted with a ligher brown. Then after a satin varnish, you get your finished Glart.

 Along with Glart, I also painted up a Werebear, this chap too was from Impact. Just follow the link if you want to own one of your own.
Again he was washed in soapy water, then based coated with Vallejo white primer. The base colour for him this time was Citadel Dryad Bark, then some tests with 2 highlights. First was Gorthor Brown, but I decided it wasn't strong enough, so followed up with a Ratskin Flesh. But in some areas I didn't think that was strong enough and added Troll Slayer Orange. His armour I wanted to give a bronze look, so this is a base coat of 80s Citadel Shining Gold, then a wash of Biel-Tan Green and Druchii Violet.

BLOOD BOWL!

I've finished rather a few Blood Bowl teams over the time that I've had this blog now. Most of them my own, and a commission that I did for a friend as I liked the challenge. So lets start at the beginning. 'Orcwind' are the first Blood Bowl team that I played and painted when I was getting back into the hobby. I made some silly choices with the team positions at first, but they allowed me to get some practice in both the game and painting. Plus I made a cool logo for them.

So, you can see I have all four 3rd Edition Goblins lined up ( would I ever use four?). Behind them 4 Blockers being the Black Orcs, then the red based Blitzers, Linemen (grey). Token Thrower, chap I converted from the plastic Orc with a chainsaw. At the back a Troll, an original Ripper model.

Next was my Chaos Dwarfs, these I used to be my originally painted Chaos Dwarfs that I did when I was 15ish, plus 2 new painted ones. You can tell the early painting due to the flames on the legs like a bad heavy metal band. Added some 3rd edition Hobgoblins, and then did a Chaos Dwarf conversion with a boar and made another out of Milliput. The Minotaur, which I've yet to use, as they are a bit of a liability. 

I called this lot, Chopper Pots, due to the mine they get their money from. You can also see another conversion of a Chaos Dwarf with a 'Blunderbuss' as a star player. Then in the back, their coach Dark Dwarf Lord Va'Durr (Heresy Miniatures).

Next are Goblins, they have had a mix of names. At the moment I've called them 'Lucky 4 Sum', though I expect that might change depending on my mood or futher inspiration.

These are all 2nd edition Goblins, painted in 3 main colours. Red for 'Lava', Green for 'Forest', then Blue for the 'Sea'. I figured different types would come together to play. The other positions are from 3rd Edition models and a Warhammer Doom Diver. They also have some Goblin Cheerleaders who have their nipples out. Then its the 1999 Chaos Troll, along with Ripper you'd have seen in the Orc team. He doesn't care who he plays for, as long as they pay.

You can also see the Orc coach in this photo, though he heads up both the Goblin and Orc teams. He's a busy Orc.

After this is, the team I painted for a friend are Space Frogs or as GW calls them, Slann. Now this seemed like a great idea at first, but these are resin. Some of the most awful resin I've ever experienced. These where won at a auction, but apparently not the first time, I think four other people gave up with the idea of painting them. While I persisted, it was a arse. The resin wouldn't hold the paint, even after cleaning and soaking, so I had to be extra careful until they where varnished. Assembly was a bit troublesome too, lots of parts had to be re-worked to get them to fit. The heads being the most difficult. But they got finished in all their multi-coloured glory. Unfortunately I don't think my camera did the colours justice.

They are painted in colours similar to rain forest tree frogs, so bold bright colours to warn of poison. Along with random dark patterns on the skin like below.

These two are probably linemen.

I painted these up as Blitzers due to the increased armour, and gave them red and orange tones.

 2 more line men

Catchers/Runners. 

When I finished those I decided to make a start on my Dark Elves, these are the oldest team I own, making it 30 years now. But with changes to the rules, they are missing some players, so I've added some Witch Elves, an Assassin, and touched up the paint work on the team. Which I think needs doing again.

I'm currently using these the most at the moment, hence the paint needing some TLC.

After these it was the ones everyone loves and hates, the hardest team in Blood Bowl (to play and win) the Halfings and their Treemen Friends. I've got a mix of the 2nd edition (smallest) and 3rd edition models, which I've done in what I consider fondant colours to match the team name, 'Fondant Fancies'. Plus 2 of the first release Treemen, or which one I was fortunate to acquire with the 'limited' arm-sculpt. The chap in the helmet has this arm set which was only out for a while as the original  mold broke, after which they went with a 2 shoulder pad version.

Made another team logo for them!

This is the Treeman with the 'limited' arms.

This is the other sculpt that was also used for Warhammer Fantasy Battles, know as Tree-beard.

 I liked them so much I decided to draw him too!

These were the last Halflings I painted, which was for a challenge to paint with only 3 colours. Those behind the models. 

Finished with grass and mud. 

I did 4 Halflings, but the chap on the right had a extra colour for his belt and 'satchel' of loafs.

All stand together.

With their Treemen friends.

Note the team logo on the Treeman shoulder pad.

Finally we have the extras, Star players, Cheerleaders, Coaches, turn markers of tied up dwarfs, and Bloodwiser Wench.