Saturday 22 December 2012

Harald Bayneye's Pack: Grey Hunters


My first full squad is now completed; a 10 man pack of Grey Hunters I have named after their leader, Harald Bayneye.

I think my favourite part of the hobby is when I've just finished a unit and can sit back, look at it, and enjoy the fruits of my labours.

Read on for individual photos and backstories for each pack member.

Tuesday 18 December 2012

Olaf Wyrdweaver


This is Olaf Wyrdweaver, wielder of Gottblyndyr, Gothi to Rikkard's Great Company. A Rune Priest of considerable talent in manipulating the natural world, Olaf has served several Great Companies since his elevation to the Sky Warriors of Fenris.

Olaf wields a staff named Gottblyndyr, a weapon inherited from his mentor in the ancient ways. It is said that Gottblyndyr's light shines so brightly in the warp that it pains the gods themselves to look upon it.

Fierce and wise with an uncanny ability to be one step ahead of fate, Olaf is at the very heart of Rikkard's Great Company, valued as a warrior and councillor both.

Monday 17 December 2012

Gunn the Sullen


Just a quick update on my Space Wolves. I've been busy taking some photos of my completed Space Wolf models this evening, one of which was my test model from a while back. It seemed appropriate that he became the first completed Space Wolf I post.

Let it snow: snow basing tutorial


Right from the start I wanted my Space Wolves to have snowy bases. It fits their character and complements their colours.

I spent a great deal of time online looking at various ways and materials to create snowy bases and finally settled on the use of PVA glue and Bicarbonate of Soda. This gave me the fluffy pure snow look I wanted.

Here's how I did it.

Monday 10 December 2012

Thrifty Shades of Grey: grey rock bases tutorial


Just a small tutorialette for today; I've now got a method for a nice simple way to paint my rock bases. This is quick, easy, and needs little skill or effort.

This tutorial consists of four steps, and actually the end results of each of the last three of those steps works nicely as a base rock colour on it's own. This is sort of three tutorials in one.

Credit for this must go to Sgt Sharpe who very kindly posted a comment the other day suggesting a method to paint my bases which inspired me. I did adapt it a little to suit by style, and I didn't have the necessary paint available, but it worked out in the end. It's often about techniques and principles rather than having the exact colours.

Read on, and I hope this is useful to someone.

Tuesday 4 December 2012

Ultramarines Librarian


I'm not sure this is a word, but this Ultramarines Librarian might be the most 'kitbashingest' model I have.

There's bits from all manner of marine kits from the Dark Angel Veteran robed body, to the Sanguinary Guard axe. One of the best things you can have in this hobby is a well-stocked, and well-organized, bits box. That certainly came in handy for realising this model.

Thursday 22 November 2012

Easy Plasma Weapons



If, like me, you're no good at object source lighting (OSL), fine and delicate highlighting, or just like to get things done easily, then you may find this method for painting plasma weapons of interest.

Wednesday 21 November 2012

Terminator Chaplain


Just a quick little showcase post today; I have been neglecting the blog lately.

Here's my rendition of GW's outstanding Terminator Chaplain miniature. This is undoubtedly one of my very favourite models from GW. Everything about it is just spot-on. He's so imposing and positively oozes character. The helmet is tilted at just the right angle, and the parchments are superbly realised.

Tuesday 20 November 2012

Ultramarines Command Squad



Sorry for the lack of new posts for the last week or so: I've not had time to feed my batteries of keyboard monkeys and they were hammering out gibberish. Something about being and not being, I don't know.

Anyway, time for another Ultramarines showcase. May I present my Second Company Command Squad.

Sunday 11 November 2012

Patrekr the Sharp-Minded: WIP


Here's my second 'test' model for my Space Wolves (if you can have a second test model once you've decided the paint scheme). May I present Patrekr the Sharp-Minded, a Long Fang Pack Leader with keen senses, and a keener mind undimmed by age.

For Patrekr I wanted to convey a sense of a man who's seen it all and calmly directs the fire from his pack without any fuss or stress. I decided to convert him so that he was, almost casually, leaning on his chainsword whilst surveying the scene.

Thursday 8 November 2012

Space Wolf test model


Carrying on with my plan to paint up my Space Wolves quickly, effectively, and with as little fuss as possible, here's my test model for the army. This is the same mini that featured in my Space Wolf armour painting tutorial.

There's essentially no line highlighting, layering or blending used on this model. It's all done with a combination of drybrushing and washes.

Tuesday 6 November 2012

Marneus Calgar


Well they don't get much more Ultramariney than this guy! Marneus Augustus Calgar himself.

This model is a real challenge to paint. I had to paint him in four sub-assemblies (legs and base, torso and arms, 'U' icon, and sword). I took my time with this model as I really didn't want to mess up on the Calgar model in my Ultramarine army. That wouldn't do at all.

Monday 5 November 2012

Fast, effective, Space Wolf armour: tutorial - UPDATED


UPDATE: please note that the original photos I took for this tutorial were badly over-exposed and the colour appeared much too light. The above photo much better reflects the final outcome of this method.

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One of the driving philosophies behind my Space Wolves army is to really focus on efficiency. To get the best results I can, with the minimum of fuss. This is somewhat of a departure from my Ultramarine army. New army, new style.

In this post I'll give a quick tutorial on how I am planning to paint my Space Wolves' armour. This is really quick and easy and should give sound results.

Wolf Guard Pack Leaders: WIP


One of the key parts of the Space Wolf army list is integrating Wolf Guard Pack Leaders with the various units from within the codex. The Wolf Guard are so versatile, they can be built to complement any type of unit. Plus with the new challenge rules in Sixth Edition, they can come in handy.

Friday 2 November 2012

Optimal Prime


I'm sure many of you are familiar with the concept of the 'spray stick'. For those who aren't, the spray stick is a really great technique to use when priming your miniatures.

It's kind of exactly what it sounds like. You attach your miniatures to a stick (or stick-like object) with adhesive tack or similar and spray away with your spray primer.

So why bother? What are the advantages?

Thursday 1 November 2012

Wolf Priest: WIP


Let me introduce you to Hrafn Fire-in-the-Heart, Wolf Priest to Rikkard's Great Company.

Inspiration is an important thing in this hobby – much like any other art form or creative pursuit. A hobbyist may be inspired by story, or a character, a new kit, a new codex, or all manner of things. In this case, I was inspired by one model, built and painted by one person. Therefore before I go into any more details about my own take on a Wolf Priest, I should place credit where credit is due and link you to William (Wiltrichs) Davies's Wolf Guard Battle Leader.

Wednesday 31 October 2012

Brotherhood of the Storm


Look what I found on my doormat earlier! Will be nice to finally get a White Scars story in the Horus Heresy series.

I'm such a sucker for the Horus Heresy and once I bought the first of these limited novellas, it immediately became a collection. And as we all know, 'but it's a collection!' is the war cry of the obsessive fan.

Tuesday 30 October 2012

Gesso – the other primer


Gess-what?
The discovery of gesso is only a recent one for me, but I wish I'd known of it sooner! After just one use I was sold and it has become one of my go-to hobby materials.

So, what is gesso?

Monday 29 October 2012

Wolf Guard Terminator: WIP

If I were you, I'd run.

I seem to be on a bit of a Terminator fixation lately. Oh well: here's another for you anyway. Let me introduce Varungr Hellblade, Wolf Guard to my Wolf Lord Rikkard.

Now, I'll confess from the start: I meant to make his chainblade big ... but perhaps this is a little too big!

Sunday 28 October 2012

Ultramarines Terminator Squad


Terminators. I love them. So imposing and great fun to use in games. However, it's a rare thing to came across dynamic and excitingly posed terminators which is why I adore GW's Space Hulk Terminators, and why I had to convert them to be part of my Ultramarine army.

Wolf Lord: WIP



I mentioned the the other day about my current huge army project: a Space Wolves army. So, what better way to kick of my series of WIP posts than with the main man himself: Rikkard Threadcuatter, the White Wolf, Jarl of Fyf.

Now, in my humble opinion, if you want an epic Space Wolves army, you need to have an epic-looking Lord to lead them. With that in mind, I tried to make Rikkard (yes, I intend to name as many of my Wolves as possible ... ) as big and imposing as I could.

Friday 26 October 2012

Ultramarines Terminator Librarian


This is probably my favourite model in my collection. The Space Hulk Terminator Librarian is probably one of the most recognizable miniatures GW has produced in recent years. It's one of those models that's just right.

Thursday 25 October 2012

The Wolves are coming

So to kick off my blog I'd like to post a little teaser of what's to come in the future.

Mmmm ... fresh kits ...
That photo was taken almost exactly a year ago and I've been busy over the last six months or so turning that lot into a sizeable Space Wolf army.

I'm very close to putting the last drop of poly cement onto some drop pods, so check back soon for some WIP photos and further details of my current big project.

Wednesday 24 October 2012

One small step ...

It's one small step for pingo, one giant leap for ... well ... pingo.

Welcome to my shiny new blog! I've just finished cleaning up in here, so don't forget to wipe your feet when you come in.

Starting a blog is something that's been nagging at the back of my mind to do for a while now, so I finally bit the bullet and jumped into this brave new world. Good to get online I reckon – I hear this Internet thing is going to be big.

So what do I plan to do here?

Well, I have no specifics in mind. I expect this blog will evolve as time goes on, but what I do know is I intend to post my hobby progress and from time to time my general thoughts on hobby-related matters. I may post some tutorials and useful tips I've come across along my way. Anything that takes my fancy really.

I will make one promise: I'll always try to keep it light, good-humoured, and welcoming.

Now I don't claim to be some kind of hobby guru, but if this blog ends up helping someone out, or even as a pleasant and amusing diversion to someone, then that's just fine by me. Plus, it keeps me off the streets.

So join me as I dip my toe into the inviting waters of the Bloglantic Ocean.

Now ... where are my armbands?