a WIP by Hasslefree Miniatures

I seem to have this 'thing' about Kev White sculpts, I just absolutely love what he does and there have been a couple of pieces over on the Forum of Doom recently which have really impressed me. One is a Powered Armoured human:

I think its difficult to top the quality of that sculpt even though Kev feels he needs to "sharpen some details". I'll buy this as soon as its released (and would be really happy if they released him in resin!)

The other is an ED209 style Grymn walker (Grymn are Hasslefree's space dwarves). This one is outrageous:

There is also a version with a detailed interior and pilot on its way:

One thing I'd love to see on this model is some kind of arm option for one (or both) of the shoulder mounts... but maybe that can be something for me to work on personally - it would certainly make it different!

I've got to stop fawning about HF minis... too damn good!

Forgeworld/Warhammer Forge... *drool*

This post is just a general musing, and a bit of a 'hats off' moment to GW's premium resin sister company Forgeworld. Since (re-?)opening their Warhammer doors with their 'Warhammer Forge' range, the releases coming from FW have just gone from strength to strength.

To the point that I almost have to buy some....!!

The models I want to highlight today are the new Verminlord, a skaven lord mounted on a rat-beast and a new style of Space Marine Dreadnought. All superb models which look like a real joy to paint

Forgeworld

Here are some pics of the groovy stuff (all taken from the Forgeworld website)

So, what's next...

The Domaru is now at a stage where it is theoretically complete (just needs a plinth), but I want to put it down for a little while so that I can look at it again with fresh eyes and make sure its been done to the best of my abilities. I want it to be a 'competition standard' mini, and taking that step away from it for a few weeks can make all the difference.

However, I have not been resting on my laurels, but been prepping and working out what to do next. I have a couple of Studio McVey minis that I want to do in a vignette which I have been sketching recently, a handful of Infinity models which I want to paint as a unit, and then something like the Avalonian Recruit bust by Kraken/Figone...

As each piece requires different levels of involvement I am tempted to start them all at once! One is a painting excercise, once is a base building and scene setting and the other is unit painting.

The bust is primed and I have started work on the metals
The McVey minis are cleaned and washed
The ALEPH are waiting patiently whilst I design the scenic base for them

Sketch for the McVey piece

Vadim one last time

Actually, scrap that last post, I have fiddled a bit with him and tried to get some better photos.

Gave him a wolf's head tattoo and a crude but very subtle (less so in real life) wolf design on the metal scales on his back.

Vadim, Hasslefree Orc - Finito? (Nope!)

I think I'm at the end of another project, and had that strange feeling towards the end that I just wanted to get it done. Not entirely sure thats a positive thing, but there you go... I now have a completed Vadim, the Hasslefree Orc.

Part of me still feels he needs some tattoos or warpaint, but I cant decide on a theme or even where to put it... unless anyone has any great ideas, I think I will leave him as is!

Besides, is a model ever truly finished...?

Quick Orc update

Got a bit more done on the orc this week... he is getting close to completion now, but he needs some kind of fine detail. I am thinking of tattoos or warpaint, but I cant decide which!

On to the pics:

The WAMP Orc

As I mentioned in my previous post, I did some work on the Orc I am hoping to enter into the WAMP competition. He's looking a little rough atm, but he's getting there slowly...

I had a bit of a crisis once I started painting the metallics. His flesh was too light for the dark, worn metals I had gone for (a blackened steel and bronze) so I have tried to deepen the tone of the flesh, but keeping it fairly desaturated and not loose the brightness of the highlights.

Took a lot of faffing, but here are some pics:

Zenithal priming?

I dont know if this will come across so well in these photos, but here are pics of my orc after the zenithal priming.

You can just about see the transitions from grey to white where I have blasted white down from an angle

Straight on to the next project...

Well, I have been thinking about the model I want to do for the WAMP Hasslefree competition, and I have come to the conclusion that what I really want to do is something fantasy (after my recent sci-fi endeavour). With it being HF, you're pretty well spoilt for choice but I have had my eye on one of their earlier models for quite some time. It is Vadim the orc

He is now prepped, attached to the base and primed. I have gone for a 'zenithal priming' technique for the first time where I have primed grey and then primed white from about a 60 degree angle all round the model. This should give me a good idea for positioning of shadows and highlights but also allow the high spots to be naturally brighter as they have a white undercoat.

I am thinking 'real metallics', lots of leather and dark, oily metals... but only time will tell!

The Ultramarine Veteran - Complete

Well, I think he's complete...!

He has been a lot of fun to paint, and I like what I have achieved in the relatively short time its taken me (snatched moments build up in the end!). He's the first Space Marine I've painted in a long while, but I don't think he is going to be my last*.

One thing that I am not so sure of is the open space at the back. Now it is painted it feels a lot larger an expanse than when I was building it... I am tempted to add a discarded bolter and some shell casings to that side, but can't decide if its needed...

EDIT: I have now uploaded these pics to CoolMiniOrNot! If you fancy popping over and voting for this guy, you can find him here: http://www.coolminiornot.com/283094

Anyhow, enough waffle, here are some pics:

* I have a lurvely Forgeworld resin one in my drawers

Amazing Duel

I love a good Duel entry at Golden Demons - its probably my favourite category. I love it even more when people think outside the box... and I don't mean cramming the largest rock possible on top of the 50mm base and slapping a huge monster on there. 

Here is an example of something which really floats my boat - a TINY duel by Morbäck:

Everything you need in a tight little diorama - action, movement, direct interaction and great composition all on a base the size of a Euro coin. The painting speaks for itself!

 

 

Interesting Competition over on WAMP

WAMP is one of those wonderful communities where something is ALWAYS going on, and this month its a painting competition sponsored by Hasslefree Miniatures. Its no secret that I love Kev White's stuff, and that I have probably painted more Hasslefree Miniatures over the last 5 years than any other mini company. This, combined with the fact I have been meaning to take part in one of the WAMP competitions for ages kinda makes this a 'must enter' moment.

Details of the WAMP competition

I think I know what I want to do, and I have the model already - something gothic-scifi. A 'Privateer' or 'Rogue Trader' if you will. Proper WIP pics to come!

Ultramarine progress

Bit more progress on the Ultramarine tonight, got a good lot of paint slapped onto the base and the backpack is on. Lots of weathering to be done on the groundwork yet, and some finer details on the marine himself, but he's getting there.

It is meant to be an alien yet familiar terrain with red mars-esque sand and alien green crystals sticking out of the earth.

 

The next step

Well, the base is pretty much built and and after a bit of filling and sanding, I have attached it to the plinth and sprayed it all black.

Stonking new Hasslefree greens...!

Well, I was just doing my usual browsing of "the forums" over lunch today and I saw a new thread on the Forum of Doom by Sally from Hasslefree with a couple of new greens. They were both VERY different, one 'modern' civilian and the other something always dear to my heart - a kick-ass barbarian.

I really love Kev's sculpts, and have done since I first discovered Hasslefree when they released their first Libby model and somehow he keep son going from strength to strength maintaining his own style whilst getting more and more detail onto his models. Just look at these two...