Weekly Finds

Codex: Loot by Tim from The Tau of War - The Mad Max inspired vehicles continue this month with this clever use of Dark Eldar bits to get some awesomely posed combatants.

Lights of Perverted Science by Jeff Vader from The Convertorum - Next time I'm at a Games Workshop store I've gotta get my hands on the wraith miniature... I've seen so many awesome conversions.

Heresy Imperial Fists by Brother Galfridus from the Bolter & Chainsword - Such a vibrant yellow despite all the weathering. Looking forward to seeing this army progress.

Creating Terrain by poom from the Bolter & Chainsword - An approaching to adding some uniqueness to the Realm of Battle boards by Games Workshop. I'm actually a fan of the skull pits. But that isn't for everybody.

Weekly Finds

Lost to the Chaos...

Weekly Finds

Painting the Centipede Basics by Carmen from Carmen's Fun Painty Time - With the release of the new Tyranids this tutorial seemed appropriate for all those carapaces that will need painting. This approach offers something a little different to what is shown in White Dwarf's Paint Splatter.

Citadel Fantasy Terrain Enhancement by TEoE from Eye of Error - Something different to the normal when it comes to terrain tutorials. I don't think I've seen balsa foam used in the past for terrain pieces. However, a quick search of Google shows just how useful this material is for hobbyists wanting to add something to their terrain tables.

Slaaneshi Cultist by Kari from Spiky Rat Pack - The pose and colour selection really doesn't scream Slaaneshi Cultist to me. However, it is still an amazing conversion and paint job. I particularly like how the legs have been blended into everything. And even though the bolt pistol is huge, it doesn't look out of place.

Light of Morrslieb

Following on from my earlier post from the Games Workshop store in Stockholm, we have the Light of Morrslieb...

Follow the link to get a run down in the comment section on how they pulled off this simple conversion.

Shores of Nordland

Last month Dan, from What's New Today, showed off a stunning display table being built by Games Workshop Stockholm. Below are some pictures of their aptly named Shores of Nordland...

The picture above and below show how painting two different colours sand and blue creates the illusion that it is a beach head. It is a clever approach and although I've seen it attempted in the past. Never seen it pulled off so well.

The little boat and the wharf are just two characterful additions to this display board. There are others hidden away in the pictures.  

Weekly Finds

Product Review: AK-Interactive by Raffa from Massive Voodoo - This stuff looks amazing...

Warhound Oil Wash by Drathmere from 40k Hobby Blog - And it isn't the first time I've featured a Titan that used AK-Interactive for weathering. At the beginning of the year I showed off MBG's Phantom Titan along with a tutorial by Orc Painter Nerd... to think this stuff has been around for a while, and yet, only now does it seem to be picking up any sort of momentum in our niche hobby.

Lets Make Some Snow by David Soper from Sproket's Small World - This isn't the only tutorial on making snow or icicles. However, it does go into more depth than most. There are several excellent tutorials on making snow of varying consistencies on the interwebz including this great one by Mr Justin from Secret Weapon Miniatures. Another way of making icicles can be found here... it does involve the use of plastic and fire do this in a well ventilated environment.

Weekly Finds

The Blind Necromancer by Karun from Blog de Kouzes - With the release of the latest Eldar Codex there has been some great looking miniatures floating around the interwebz. This has to be my favourite. The conversion is just stunning.

Legion Rising from Subtle Discord from the Bolter & Chainsword - It's been a while since I last featured Subtle Discord's dark mechanicus project. Since then his thread has sunk into the ethers of the forum-sphere. Only to rise up again to spit out this beast. Shouldn't be long now before we get to see him sell some of his own kits. 

Staging the Set by Kari Spiky Rat Pack - Have you had enough of Kari's terrain. No? Good. Because, I am a huge fan of his stuff. Even though there probably isn't all that much special about it. Something about it just screams grim dark... especially. when compared to how the Games Workshop guys go about painting and displaying their own terrain,

Horus Heresy Blood Angels by Martok from the Bolter & Chainsword - The Contemptor-Mortis is probably one of those Forge World miniatures I wish I could have several of. They look deadly and have the  rules to pack a real punch on the table top. Martok's own Contemptor-Mortis does nothing but add to this. Also like the clever use of basing to change the usual gorilla legs of Tactical Marines.

Aiming Space Marines Tutorial by Big Jim from Galaxy in Flames - I'm currently in the process of trying to pull off this conversion. It is a royal pain trying to align all of the elements together. Hopefully my end results turns out half way decent. Big Jim also shares his receipt for painting yellow using Vallejo Colours.

Weekly Finds

Is it Time to Fight? by Dave Taylor from Dave Taylor Miniatures - These are a very strange approach to Adeptus Mechanicus units. In saying that after reading Graham McNeill's Priests of Mars are probably more appropriate than some of the curious constructs hobbyists have given birth too.

Weeping Walls of the Monastery by Kari from Spiky Rat Pack - Last week I showed off some WiP pictures of Kari's terrain. This week we see that he has made envy inducing progress. The terrain bases really help connect his miniatures to the terrain. It is one of the things that always irked me about Games Workshop stores... and to an extent the flat nature of the Warhammer Rulebook pictures. They may be eye level, but the miniatures don't look like they are truly apart of the enviorment. Forge World is the general exception with their Photoshopped pictures...

Lorenzen's Badly Worded Tabard Tutorial by Lorenzen from the Bolter & Chainsword - This isn't the first tutorial I've seen on creating tabards. Can find some over on From the Warp by Ron. There are dozens of others on forums and blogs. However, this is the first time I've seen someone use scaffolding to support the process. And this is a great use of the hooded head from the new Deathwing Box Set.

Weekly Finds

Legion Outrider Squadron by Drathmere from 40K Hobby Blog - When I first saw the outrider models, I was far from a fan. For some reason I didn't like them one bit. However, seeing them with a nice coat of  paint, those feelings have completely been replaced by envy. These bikes look amazing... in a way they are a hybrid between the Scimitar Pattern Jetbikes and the current Space Marine Bikes.

Elegant Haemonculus Conversion Finished by EoE from Eye of Error - Something different to the traditional look associated with Dark Eldar Haemonculus... this one doesn't look as gauntish. The conversion itself is great. However, it is the robe that I think is brilliant. It is a great combination of stippling and traditional weathering.

Lets Paint Weathered Walls by Kari from Spiky Rat Packs - I need inspiration to get some paint onto my terrain pieces. This quick and dirty approach reminds me of the display board created for the Armageddon Charity. 

Dark Eldar Quad Gun Conversion by EoE from Eye of Error - Some inspiration for those Dark Eldar players who want to include some army specific fortifications into their army. The Aegis Defence Line could be represented by a grotesque version of the Imperial version... impaled bodies and piles of skulls. 

Kickstarter - Tablescapes by Secret Weapon Miniatures

There have been many Kickstarters aimed at members of our community. Very few of them have caught much of my attention. And none of them have made me want to drop some cash d. However, this may change with Secret Weapon Miniatures starting their own Kickstarter, Tablescapes.

Following on from Games Workshop's Realm of Battle Gameboard. The Tablescapes will offer hobbyists a gaming surfaces just as detailed, but at a reduced price. The Scrapyard is already funded and the "Clean" Urban Streets goal is close to being reached. And with still 20 plus days to go, it's hard to imagine that more stretched goals won't be achieved. With the kickstarter fully funded, I'm now waiting to see the Battlefoam Bag preview before I join others in supporting this project.

 

Weekly Finds #127

Sector Primed by Kari from Spikey Rat Pack - It's interesting to see how the angle of the pictures can really bring together some pieces of scenery. I am a fan of the use of extra pieces such as the barrels and the sand bags. Can see some of Kari's WiP pictures here.

Forge World Realm of Battle Cityscape Board by Opr8or from BnC - With the exception of some of the Games Day tables, this has got to be the most beautiful gaming table I've ever seen. I envy those that get to play regular games on this. Would never get boring. Opr8or's skills are not limited to jaw dropping gaming tables. His Legio Ignatum Titans are amazing.

White Dwarf - April 2013 Tau Empire

This month's White Dwarf Review is by Stahly from Tale of Painters. The tone of the review is almost depressing... but then the lack of real content could probably do that. Nothing stunning or insightful about the Tau release. Despite being the 400th issue of White Dwarf, there really isn't anything special about it. Haven't seen a freebie in a long time. The eight page spread of the Agrellan Refinery was nice... it looks good. And the use of yellow for the buildings was a pleasant change of scenery. But then this blows it out of the water. And off course once again the interwebz offers more unique content with Aaron Dembski-Bowden showing off Eddie's Dark Angels.

Weekly Finds #117

And the Madness Continues by Dave Taylor from Dave Taylor Miniatures - Based off a piece of artwork in the main rulebook for this edition. It shows just how weird and wacky the Warhammer 40K Universe really is. A tutorial on making/using cables and wires for this monstrous construct can be found here.

Scarebrushing vs Airbrush by Rev from Tale of Painters - A look at setting up your own airbrush 'studio'. Something missing from this review by Rev is an airbrush cleaning pot. For me these are a must. It makes the quick cleaning between colours so much less tedious. Of course that isn't to say there isn't a need to properly clean your air brush after EVERY SINGLE USE. These things are an expensive investment, proper maintenance can keep them going for a lot longer. But then the time saved on getting a nice, clean basecoat on a squad of miniatures can be spent cleaning up afterwards. Another look at the portable spray booth and extractor can be found here. This is one thing I'm missing...

Imperial Fountain by Luck No 5. from Eye of Error - This would make a great centre piece. I need to find a model train store that sells detailed plasticard...

Vehicle Weathering How-To by Man Boy Genius from Spikey Bits - This is a brilliant series by Orc Nerd Painter. The streaking grime by AK looks so promising. Just look at the Eldar Titan pictured below...

Weekly Finds #116

New Year, Old Tricks by izeColt from Spiky Rat Pack - My partner got me the Imperial Sector set for Chrimstas. Have been slowly plucking away at each of the buildings while working on other projects at the same time. Seeing this got me thinking of ways to utilise some of the spare bits. And the Terra-Flex Gaming Mat looks amazing.

Painting OSL Weapons Effects by Lucky No. 5 from Eye of Error - Following on from last weeks vial tutorial...

From the Margins of the Mighty Tome by Dave Taylor from Dave Taylor Miniatures - Stunning assortment of different kitbashes. The floating servitors offer some ideas on what can be done with all of the wings that come in the Dark Angels Veteran Upgrade box. Then there are these equally stunning, yet very different miniatures. The first could easily be seen as an Arch Magos, while the second fits into the lumber war machine category very nicely. Another option for the bodies is Skaven in a smiliar fashion to what Paulson Games did in making some Jawa seen here, here and here.

Snapshot: Expressive Surfaces by JRN from miniaTEXTures - White is one of those colours that is extremely difficult to get right. For beginners it is a challenge just to get a smooth, even coat. And then there is the greater challenge of adding depth. The below image goes to show one way of achieving a detailed white surface. Reminds me of this Forge World miniature with an almost flat white and the use of weathering to add depth.

Creating Complex Styrene/Plasticard Armour by Lucky No 5. from Eye of Error - I doubt I'd have the patience to go through with something like this. However, it does offer one way of adding lightening bolts in a fashion similar to The Damned Artificer.

Weekly Finds #115

Magnetizing Contemptor Weapons and Joints by Drathmere from 40k Hobby Blog - This is one of Forge World's kits that is high on my Gift List. Unfortunately, I've got more than enough to build for a life time. So it won't be added to the never ending collection any time soon. Doesn't stop me from checking out other hobbyists resin crack. The fully painted body can be found here along with some background.

Painting Realistic Fluid Filled Vials by Lucky No. 5 from Eye of Error - A tutorial with four easy steps. This approach could be most useful for Dark Eldar... however, it would work for any miniature with a vial. Obviously if you wanted the liquid free portion of the vial to be transparent then more work would be required. Can also see the latest Pain Engine added to Lucky No. 7's coven here...

Ork Kopta Carrier by Rictus from Recalcitrant Daze - This is a jaw dropping project. Below is the current rivet count. It is a multi story scratch built project using a Bane Blade as the base... and that doesn't give this justice at it will dwarf a Bane Blade. It has some rather unique weapon platforms as well. Orks always have such fun conversions...

Landscaping Projekt Thalassa Prime by Tuskar from dieVincis - This looks very cool. Would be a great backdrop for a Sisters of Battle army. Shame there aren't more WiP pictures... or more details on the construction.

Hobby Products Tested: Army Painter Warpaints by Tuskar from dieVincis - Another review on the Warpaint Inks can be found here by Stahly from Tale of Painters.