Couple of WIP pics

I might say more later, or take better pics, but for now, here's some random content:

He wasn't my first attempt at the airbrush, but he was the last thing I did before I pretty much packed it up.  I'm generally happy with the skin tones.  I do not, however, have enough control to do really fine lines, so the stones and detail will all be done by hand.  All in all, painting his skin this way was probably not too much faster than doing it with a traditional brush, but it was easier, and I think it looks smoother overall.  I am hoping to get him firmly set onto his base today, which will make transporting him easier.

The tire stacks are done (started them Tuesday or Wednesday), but the truck is still a WIP.  I'm trying for a rust effect, but the salt technique from NQ isn't working for me just yet.  I'm reasonably happy with this so far, but I rubbed to hard or something, and got down to the resin.  I'll finish this one up (and a companion truck, not pictured here), and try it again on something else.

Yet another picless update

I know, I know - all words and no text makes the Army Altaholic poor reading.  I should have some pics up tomorrow.

First up - the airbrush update.  I have been playing with the airbrush since Tuesday.  Tomorrow, I will be taking it back, a day earlier than planned.  Not because I am disappointed with it - well, not per se.  I wish I had a bit more control than the single action provides, but really, what I wanted to do was learn.  And, learn I did.  I spent quite a bit of time making lines, dots, spirals, and all sorts of random little squiggles of paint on paper.  I mixed paint, thinned it, thickened it, increased the pressure, tried low pressure - I did as much as I could in the hour or two per day that I was playing around with it.

I even tried painting a few figs.  Let's just say that my first attempt did not end well.  So poorly, in fact, that they are currently sitting in the Pine-Sol, I chose metal starships for a reason - simple, easy to paint, and easy to strip.  Good thing, too.

I have tried the airbrush on several other figures - one of which I will take pics of in the morning, maybe the others.  I'm actually rather pleased with one of them, and not displeased with the others, especially since I was trying something else, in addition to the airbrush.

Second - my final GenCon based order arrived.  I had held off for a little bit, post-GenCon, but last Friday, I put in an order for some Warlands figs, from Aberrant Games.  They arrived today, which is pretty darned good - especially since they packed them on Monday (Labor Day), and went in the mail on Tuesday.

I need to upgrade my rulebook to the current version, but now, when I combine the official Warlands figs, as well as the Hot Wheels which will have various items from the accessory packs glued onto them, and I have plenty to keep the son and I busy for a while.  I am hoping to teach him how to play on Sunday

Quick post

First, I finally broke down.  I am almost committed to getting an airbrush, but, in a rare flash of intelligence, I realized that renting one from the local FLGS for a few days (at a very reasonable price) would be a Good Idea before buying one.  It's not the same type - they rent a single action brush, and it's also siphon feed - whereas I want double action and gravity-feed, but it's enough to let me work out some of the basics before I commit.

So far, I've managed to get it up and running, although I haven't gotten much more than blotches and spider legs yet.  And yes, I've already looked up what I am doing wrong - though watch this space, especially for "HELP!!" posts.

Second, my Rail Crew from Wyrd Miniatures arrived, along with a tape measure as an apology for the delay.  The tape measure was a nice touch - not needed, but certainly appreciated.

Thinking of appreciated - I placed an order late last week for some Warlands vehicles and accessories.  They packed it yesterday (on Labor Day, which admittedly impressed me to no end), and it apparently went out in the mail today.  Hoping they arrive fairly soon, although there is nothing in it that I need to teach my son how to play the game.

Another three steps back

It's "Meet the Teacher" night, so I may not have any hobby time.  No hobby time means that I won't finish anything tonight.  But, that's not losing ground, is it?

No, but getting a Druid Gone Wilder, a Trollkin Kilt Lifter, and a Bombadier Bombshell in the mail today means that my playable collection gained two more models - three if a TO will let me use it for a Fennblade leader.

On a semi-related note, I currently have 4 Warlands vehicles.  Today or tomorrow, I will probably place an order that will add 4 bikes, 3 vehicles, and the bits to convert a half dozen hot wheels cars to death machines.  I think that I can finish all those in a weekend, once I have them all in place.  They won't need much in the way of detail, unless you count weathering and rust.  The rust I plan to do by undercoating in red primer, and then using the salt technique that was in NQ a few issues back.

I can't wait until school starts next week - this SAHD (stay-at-home dad) plans to gain some painting time, at least for a few weeks (until everyone catches on that I am doing it), and make headway in my collections.

I might start with the smaller collections - I will have the Warlands figs above (say, 15 vehicles, maybe), plus MERCS (30 figs at the moment), plus Malifaux (35 or so), plus Dystopian Wars (maybe 130 models, between all the fleets).  By that standard, my Ogres are a pretty small collection - 18 Ogres is almost 900 points, so that's most of an army right there.

Not that I am dropping my Warmachine stuff, by any means.  I need to keep painting at least 5 points per month, after all.  That's got to be at least one model, and I really should go after those low-hanging infantry units, like Immortals and  Men O'War - both are more than 75% done, so I should be able to knock those out in short order, if I have to.

Not much progress today

The wold guardian is almost done.  I have some highlights and touch-ups to do, plus the basing.  With any luck, I will get that done tomorrow, although real life is going to try to limit my hobby time.  I would be working on it now, but I have to wait for a wash to dry before I can work on anything.  Worked a bit on the men o'war, but not sure if I will get them done tomorrow or not - again, that pesky real life thing going on.

Going to be working on a big terrain project soon, most likely.  It's destined for trade - and the trade will most likely wind up being for GW stuff.  I don't know if I should work on my Ogre army (which really needs rounding out in the special and rare unit categories), add to my Skaven (which, though numbering 70 or 80 models, may not break 500 points), or just wind up with the new 40k box set (which will be out before I get the project done).  I don't really need the marines, so I could always swap them for the Chaos, and start a third 40k army again.  Actually, I really just want the cultists - surely I can use them for Necromunda or something.  I have time to figure it out, thankfully.  And change my mind a few times in the process.

Over on Kickstarter, there is a Relic Knights one going on right now.  It looks interesting, but I am going to probably have to pass on it.  First, I really don't need to add another game and miniature line right now - GenCon and the Reaper kickstarter have been bad enough, setting my painting queue back by four or five years.  Second, I spent a fair amount of cash between those two things, and, while I could probably justify the Relic Knights, it's currently either that or an airbrush.  And third, I really do not need the grief of trying to explain some of the models, and the Soda Pop girls, to the wife.  Reaper Sophie was bad enough.

I am probably going to pick up some Warlands figs, however.  Warlands is a happy little game, set in a post-apocalyptic future, a la Mad Max.  I've had the starter box for quite some time, but did not play it until GenCon.  It's simple enough that I can teach it to my son, it has explosions and cars, which he will love, and I really only need to pick up weapon packs and some matchbox cars.

That's it for now - pizza is in the oven (late snack), the gin & tonic is mixed, and I am going to try and get through a bit more of the Malifaux rulebook tonight.  At some point, I am going to want to play that game.