Season’s greetings!

Snowflake the Black-Heart Paindeer is a 3D print from Imitation of Life. I almost repainted his red trews, but they went down a storm at the AHPC XII.

All the best for 2022!

40K Ryza Ruins

I've had these for a few years, but following a surge in my interest in grimdark skirmishes, it was time to get them painted. I prefer my scenery to merge with the tabletop rather than plonk directly onto it, so cut and sanded some MDF bases. I had a flash of inspiration and used Renedra square bases to make some interior floor tiling for texture. I also had a 3D printed crater floating about which I glued down on one base and I think works well. I built up the groundwork using Sculptamold for the first time, which I was pretty happy with. Then I glued down rubble and sand with a lot of watery PVA. I sprayed them black, then an overspray of gunmetal. I sponged on some orange, then a watery coat of red-brown craft paints. Finally I dry brushed the bases in browns and creams. There is plenty of detail I have not picked out.

The collection

The raised hoarding gives a slight Old West feel to this one building only, but I am not sure if I really like this.

I left the roofs separate for ease of painting with the intent of gluing them later, but they are a snug and secure fit so I have left them unglued.

The buildings can match with GW pipes, but they are a little offset due to my MDF bases.

I cannot decide if I prefer the modularity of two separate corners, or if I would have preferred the aesthetic appeal of one larger base.

Overall, I like these sturdy pieces and you will see them often.

Five Parsecs: Campaign Game 6. Rogue servitors

Lady Heldecryn's patron sets a new task -to investigate anti-mining activities in the sub-hive. The crew is reduced after their last firefight, so Lady H. is accompanied by the void-cross'd lovers, Julio and Roma. The mining interest representative assures her it will be a simple task.

The sub-hive is empty and claustrophobic. Why have the denizens left?

"There's something odd in this chamber.
 And those servitors are coming for us!"

"Don't hit the device!"

The terrifying servitors ignore the hail of fire and trudge forward.

Roma takes one down with her swift moves.

Overconfident, she takes out the second but it wallops her as well- luckily, nothing serious.

Lady Heldecryn is able to disarm the device.

The mining interest representative is shocked by the discovery of an infernal device in the sub-hive. Who placed it, and why? Who overrode the servitors' protocols? The Innominate's crew is issued a sector permit for expanded activities as a bonus and token of appreciation.

I resin-printed these characterful figures from Red Warden. I encountered a significant issue with two of them a few days after printing, when incompletely cured resin caused a gas buildup that split the hollow print. Luckily I only needed two for this scenario, but I do like the creepy concept of this lobotomised cyborg workforce and I will print more.

Servitors

These cracks spiral all the way up the back...

Batcow to the rescue

This was a fun scenario! Batcow dreams that she has to rescue Batman et al., and stop the fiendish plot to poison Gotham’s milk. She got 4 of 5 objectives, but suffered a few big hits that left her unable to take out Poison Ivy in the end. As with other Gotham City Chronicles scenarios, it is quite tight and unforgiving, but the ludicrous concept made for a lot of laughs. I enjoyed making the report using the Comic Life 3 app.

Tenth bloggiversary

No-one would have believed, in the first years of the 2010s, that this blog would still be puttering on. And yet, here we are. Today is my tenth bloggiversary. I shall review the past year, peer into the next, and briefly review my decade.

The tenth year

If 2020 was my fantasy year, then 2021 has been science fiction.

I have succumbed to the grimdark, with initial impetus from Stargrave but really propelled by Five Parsecs from Home 3rd edition. Neither Killteam nor Necromunda rules have held my interest, but the nostalgic grip the setting has on me is considerable.

The crew of the Innominate. What adventures await?

I got a resin 3D printer (Anycubic Photon S) late last year. It is far from plug'n'play, but the potential is enormous. I'm not sure if it is best for unique characters and one-off models, or massive savings in printing out hordes- probably a bit of both. The ability to print a figure at whim is quite intoxicating.

My first 3D prints

The other almost game-changers are Contrast paints. I wouldn't use them for a competition entry, but for quick results they are very impressive. I'm relieved to hear Army Painter is coming up with a near-equivalent range, and will try to get this paint set en masse.

Descent heroes, with a lot of help from Contrast

Ten years in review

Looking back at my first post, my intent was threefold:

• Inspire other gamers

• Keep track of my hobby progress, whether that is gaming, painting or modelling

• Allow me to occasionally offer my thoughts on an aspect of gaming

I think I have stayed admirably close to those goals. I have maintained a discipline of aiming for a weekly post. This has been achievable and has not placed me under undue hobby-stress. I have eschewed the bright lights of Twitter and Instagram, for better or worse. 

I have gone through phases and infatuations like so many of us do. I have many neglected projects, and my lead mountain is no smaller. I tend to avoid work-in-progress posts, as I know I may not finish them in a hurry... There have been some signature staples as well as completed projects of which I am proud- here are some very concise hits and memories:

War of the Ring

On the slopes of Mount Doom

Théoden King rides out

The Wild 'Flings

The Dunwich Hoppers

"Don't throw those bloody spears at me!"

Batman and his ride

Batman and so many friends...

Blood Angel terminators for Space Hulk

The Guiding Hands genestealer cult

15mm Mephisto and friend

Realm of Battle boards

Ice zombies

Mansions of Madness 2nd Ed.

Han shot first

"Painted lightsabers? This is folly, Darth."

I have found the impressive joys of modern boardgames, and been lucky to get into good boardgaming friend groups. There is a lot that boardgames can teach the traditional miniature wargamer.

The upcoming year

In the near future, I am looking forward to the Analogue Challenge XII as a spur to my painting efforts. I'm hoping to go to post-pandemic CanCon 2022. I intend to continue my Five Parsecs saga, and fire up the printers for scenery and figures. I have a special WW1 project I'm keen to reveal here soon. More of the same!

AHPC XI output

My AHPC XI journey

Happy hobbying!