How to base a Titan?

A question, rather than an answer.. or a tutorial.. but also, my WIP take on basing for a titan.

It’s been a bit quiet on the blog the last couple of weeks, blame work, a combination of an external examiner for my HE program and an end of year show for my 100+ Games students means I didn't get much time.

I did however pick away at this problem.. I didn't feel I could start building ZZzz’s Titan until I had the base sorted, because that speaks both to pose and to security of attachment, he had already said he didn't want anything too ornate, or los blocking, and that it often looks daft when a model is carrying a huge amount of scenery with it everywhere it goes.

I however couldn't just slap a model of this scale and magnificence on a flocked green bit of hardboard, so here’s my WIP take on getting it right.

I include the Elysian for scale :)

There's a single small structure in the top left corner, and the rest depicts a road intersection. the streetlights will have osl, and they will be better embedded in the surface.

Ive a lot of putty work to do to tidy and seal edges and to enhance the rubble piles.

 

The big flat area of wall here will get some imperial propaganda posters in scale, and I am toying with the idea of finding or scratch building a suitable scale civilian vehicle to be a wreck, possibly even underfoot.

Here’s some of the development.

Once I had the idea in my head, i sketched it onto the formed hardboard sheet, and started to make the main structural elements.

the embossed brickwork is scribed onto peeled foam core with a pencil and blade.

 

the flagstones are a mix of poster board and cereal box

you can see the foam core structure in the back and the double height poster board kerbstones

       

A liberal coating of PVA and ballast makes a reasonable tarmac analogue

So there we have it so far. still in progress, but I think, showing direction, I may add some signs of corruption to the city as I must bear in mind that this work and this titan are under the influence of the red god!

I might get some more bits done over the weekend, as its my birthday, so along with having a sneaky day off today, I’m at liberty for the weekend too :)

and a few short weeks remain before the holidays, which seem to get shorter every year.

Anyway, thanks for reading, and feel free to offer comment on the direction of this odd base.. a base for a titan!

Did someone say “Free Miniature”?

They did indeed!

“Someone” being the Assault Group.

This company makes characterful 28mm white metal minis across historical, WW2 , Vietnam, Modern and other ranges, and they are offering anyone who “likes” them on facebook a free mini of their choice from the “freebies” section of their website. how awesome is that?

I’m sure they wont mind a few image reposts.. if they do they are more than free to contact me and I'll take em down.. but guys, just look at how cool these wee sculpts are:

Did I mention the Vehicle is from their range too?

What’s not to like, a free model!

I’ve been thinking about WW2 for quite a while, this this chap:

Will shortly be appearing on this blog as my first German mini.

Thanks for reading, and look out for the post where he gets some paint on him :)

Bran Redmaw Conversion

Ready for paint..

I think….

There's a few bits to clean up, primer always shows you the flaws, it’s why I do it when I think I am nearly there. – incidentally I used the Vallejo airbrush primer this time as the humidity was high and i didn't want to mess it up with my usual Halfords can, hence it’s quite a bit darker.

He’s been a long … time … coming if you red the blog regularly you’ll have seen that, but I’m happy with the current state of affairs.

Here’s the rest of the pics -

 

A suitably dark paintjob will be required I think, lots of fur, and maybe black trim in places, rather than gold? hrm, will have to ponder some more.

The backpack was made from a regular wolf power pack from the grey hunters/blood claws box, with some bitz chopped off axes from the same box, the big ol’ axe is “borrowed” from the Thunderwolf Cavalry box, as is the chest plate. The fur cloak, collar and tabard are sculpted using this technique and the beard was similarly added by me. The head is from the terminator box with it’s top knot removed.

I have part of a GH squad on the paint bench at the moment, but this bloke might well be next.

Thanks for taking the time to read, your comments have influenced this build and I value them all :)

Cheers!

Lucky Old Dog

Checkit:

so-who-won-copy-of-sedition-wars-then

ME! ahahahahaha....

ahem.

Yes, thanks to the generosity of Studio McVey donating this amazing prize to the Frontline gamer's  Birthday giveaway celebrations, I will be receiving a copy of the Sedition Wars boxed game on it's release.

I cant tell you how chuffed I am about this.. I've been following the amazing success of the kickstarter, and had this literally on my "birthday list" for the end of the month!

To have won one is amazing, and makes me very happy.

I've won four actual physical things in my life. (not counting work accolades etc.. actial PRIZES)

When i was ten, I won a poster design competition.. five pound book token..
When i Was twelve I won a book.. in a prize draw.. Medieval History,
A while Back on this very blog, I won a Stormsword.. for a web banner design..

and now a copy Of Sedition Wars..

So overall, pretty happy with this recent one :)

Many thanks to Both the frontline Gamer and To Studio McVey once again, I can only apologise for the fact that, once in my hands.. the paint I slap on the models won't look anywhere as good as the demo models painted by the studio guys and Mike and Ali.

Still cant wait till release time tho.

Space Wolves - Fur Sculpting Tutorial Video

Had half an hour today so thought I would record as I did this next bit of work on Bran.

It’s soundless, hence captioned, and for some reason my best light seems to cause banding in the video – I'll have to look into that.

Anyway, it’s a short demo/tut on how I sculpt the tabards and fur on the wolves. Here’s hoping someone finds it useful.

Thanks for viewing!

Slow News Day – Man Cave Revamp

When paper have a slow news day, they reach for the CIT stories (Cat In Tree), If you’ll permit me my own variation…

So the offics.. studio.. man cave call it what you will, it got a revamp.

It looks like this now.

Some nasty old shelves have been replaces with Detolf display cases (thanks Ikea) and a new cupboard has arrived., I have a big ol desk at the end for painting, modelling and my computer. (airbrush right) and a smaller desk where I can draw, or set up a laptop, or where my partner can work or on the rare occasions a miniature grabs her, paint.

Now the improvements to the space alone were worth it, but there was a reason for doing it, see, my guys and the chemicals and stuff i use needed to be put away.

(excuse crappy phone pics)

We added these two boys to our family this weekend just gone. Getting the house ready for one year old ginger nutters and subsequently settling them in has meant less hobby, but has been worth it.

We lost our previous moggie in January, he was a ginger and white nutcase too, so when the shelter said they had these two, we couldn't not bring them home with us.

So there we go, a Cat In Tree story for a slow news day. And because the internet loves cats.. more pictures of Ronnie and Reggie..

Thanks for reading, normal service will be resumed as soon as I find out why paintbrushes are so good for sniffing….

A Turn Counter?

Sometimes I just make these things, I get a notion in my head, and I have to build it even if it’s not the best way to do something or the cleverest, neatest idea.

This is an example of such a thing.

    

Yeah it’s a Menhir with magnetisied skulls… they clip to the base, or into the Menhir, there’s seven of them, so I can mark game turns…

Only question is, add or take away?

Oh, also,

Should I start cleaning up pics more in Photoshop?

A question about Bran Redmaw

 

Oh and .. KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!

Yeah, so a week after my typing “I did think about using a nice dynamic sculpt like Khan as the basis of this, but ya know, he’s mail order only.. and metal” they go and release a finecast. dammit. never mind, I’m committed now.

So I was doing some GS groundwork, I put in the shape of his loincloth (fur to follow) and started on his beard.. with the intention of adding flowing hair..

But he’s been sat on my desk a week now as a baldie, and I'm not sure if it’s not the way to go..

here’s a black and white close up, so the green isn't distracting

So whaddya think? Is Bran Redmaw Bald? or do I carry on with hair?