Orc Boys, Complete!

It seems like eons ago that I started this unit, but they are done! Painting 40 Boys is no laughing matter, let me tell you. But it was great fun painting up all of these orcs. While I generally still hate a few things about the kit, it is an improvement over the prior versions of the main orc foot troops. The biggest issue is that the models are generally too big for their bases and when you trying to squeeze 40 of them into a unit, you have to get a bit creative in how you place them on the bases, and even what arms you use.
Anyway, I am happy how these guys have turned out.  I know that Pappa JJ will be happy as well, or I'll stab him in the eye with all of these spears!

Here is the unit, assembled, and ready for paint.

And here they are, all covered with paint (minus that banner thing). 

Don't worry. I'm not done yet... there is a rather large stack of boys still in my basement!

On the Painting Table- Even More Orc Boys

I am now thirty of forty Orc Boys down. Wahooo!  In fact, as I write this the other four models are dangerously close to being done with the rest of the models. At the moment, I am waiting for some Secret Weapon Miniature supplies to arrive to finish off the unit.

Oddly enough, its taken about this long to start to hit my stride with the unit. Finally, I feel like I have the colors down and further models are taking less and less time. Its an important thing to remember when doing large model count armies like this. It can take awhile to get started and get going, but then the army can be finished pretty quickly.

Here is the last of the second rank, all the individual models.

And in non-ranked up position. Some of the details are yet to come. My next update will show what I finally decided to do with some of the special bits on the models.

Here it is in their full glory (minus a banner that fell off).  Its getting close... so close.

Miniature Monday- Orcs in 4x4

One of the biggest aids in painting large regiments in Warhammer Fantasy Battles (like this huge Orc Boy mob) is to put some of your models on the long regiment bases (like last weeks post), or square monster bases. It helps break up with 'stand in a straight line' phenomenon you can otherwise get. These boys are going to be in the middle of the large unit, shields to be placed up in the air to protect them for the inevitable hail of fire.

For those keeping track of the army, the weapons need the rust effect finalized and the shields with emblems will be placed. Twenty-four down, only sixteen left to go!

Miniature Monday- Orc Boys

I've been busy back at the painting table the last week. The Orc Boys are getting some special attention. Also, I hope to start a new theme on my blog- Miniature Monday.  It goes like this- I don't like some of the things social media gives us. However, I've been enjoying the trend of #MiniatureMonday on Twitter. Its been fun seeing all of the painters out there from all the genres. So join the crowd, post a MiniatureMonday picture! (links were above, give it a go).

Below is the 40 strong unit of boys just waiting to get completed. Oh, how I love the new WFB!
Anyway, the painting has been broken down into manageable groups of 6-8 models at a time. I like this method because it would be impossible to do them all at once (obviously). However, it is a bit frustrating to see how your painting technique and colors used subtly (and not so subtly) change over the course of a few weeks painting the same squad.
I'll let you all see the subtle changes as they occur.

Looking good. I'm in the grove and will be done in no time!

Oh crap! There is how many more to paint! Aghhh! :)

GenCon 2011 Wrap Up

Its only been a month since GenCon Indy, but with summer ending, the kids starting school, and recovering from all of my summer vacations, its been busy around the workshop here. I got the paint brushes out this week to complete the Orc and Goblin army for Papa JJ. Pictures will be coming soon, but I wanted to show you all some of the pictures from Indy!

Steampunk is awesome, right up to the part where I try to wear it. 

For those who haven't heard, the con had over 36,000 attendees this year. That smashes all of the previous GenCon's. And I think that most were there to see the new Star Wars stuff!  FFG games announced the industries worst kept secret just prior to the con that they were acquiring the rights from Lucas to produce just about everything this gamer wants to play that falls into the Star Wars Universe. The X-Wings of War, errr X-Wing game looks fantastic and the card game looks to hold interest to my gaming group as well. The key things I saw were that they are focusing on the 'original' SW story and they are using (new) art over movie stills. Surly FFG hopes to inject new life into the SW story. 

Star Wars Card game- with original art!

Of course, I'm the most interested in the RPG that I hope is announced next year at GenCon. There has been no word on anything about the system, rules, sytle... nothing at this point. But it is safe to consider this the hottest item already for next year!

X-Wing looks great. 

On a personal note, I took one step closer to looking into Warmachine/Hordes. The system and style hasn't bee my thing for a few years now. However, the big fella up there made some threats! However, I did spend a lot of time at the Wyrd both and Malifaux is in my sights for this next year.

Dan (ETW) and me. 

I did get to meet up with Dan from the Eternal Warrior's podcast. We had some lunch and got to play a fun game of Dark Heresy RPG along with some other listeners and Bill from the Gamers Lounge (well sorta!).  More on that next week. It was a blast to hang out for a day with someone that I've spent the last couple of years listening too online. Don't fret, he is still pretty much a douche bag in real life as well!  (I kid, I kid!).

It only took one rum and coke to build up the guts to do this. Yeah, just one!

But to be honest, I spent most of my time playing Pathfinder RPG's in the small room with lots of people! It was a total blast despite the lack of space.

GenCon and Kara Black

I've been back from GenCon for a week and a half and just got my oldest starting school this week (he is a big kinder-gardener now!). So life at the DrGabe blog is coming off of its summer hiatus and back to grind. It was a great summer, filled with a few vacations and of course the big daddy gaming convention of them all, GenCon. 

I'll have more to report about GenCon in the coming days, but I wanted to talk about my miniature that went into the painting contest, Lt Kara Black. This is pretty much all I painted this summer and it was a blast to paint only one model and give it the best I could when it comes to blending in the highlights and shadows. Unfortunately it didn't make it past the first cut, since there really wasn't such a thing at this competition. The winning entries were fantastic, but we were all going up against professional painters who took home almost all of the trophies. 

When I was picking up my entry the organizers were talking about how Marike Reimer was embarrassed to have won all of the Dark Sword Miniature prizes, since she is one of there staff painters. The comment I heard, was "What stuff is there left to get at this point."  Anyway, there is probably a long rant coming about professional painter and the hobby painter somewhere down the road.

So what would have make Kara stand out more? The blending is actually pretty well done, but not perfect. There is space on the back for some freehand work (I was too chicken to do it!), and there were no conversions on the model (something almost all of the winners had, even if it was just the base).  The good news is that its open to enter at Adepticon! :)

Wait, where is the 40K?

Its ok to call off the man hunt- I'm still here, and there is nothing to be overly concerned about.  The truth is that I've been taking some down time with painting. At least painting 40K that is. Now don't try reading too much into this, but its more that that I have a large box of other party single miniatures that I've been picking for the for the last couple of years. In fact, my future painting log looks to be full of single models and not full 40K armies. Don't fret PappaJJ- you're orcs and goblins are still on top of the work list. Well, after I finish this here one model!

Last year at GenCon Indy, I found the Studio McVey models for the first time. The Lt. Kara Black from the now forthcoming Sedition Wars range immediately caught my eye. There is so much to love about this model- the pose, the guns, the extras, and the incredible resin cast. So here she is, my first run of really taking some time on an individual model. There are still several places that aren't started, and a few that need more work, its definitely WiP. I hope to start on the base this week and finally be finished soon. Perhaps when I go to GenCon this year, I'll throw it into the painting contest...