The model was quite straight forward to put together although despite being plastic some of the many pointy bits are bloody sharp. Nor was it too bad to paint as the serious level of detail, such as deep wood grain, makes things much easier to highlight. The model was to be painted in block colours and washed in Army Painter dip, my usual technique, but the detail screamed highlights. There are actually two highlight colours over the base wood colour, two over the base stone colour and two for the bell. Other areas, such as the plague filled smoke emminating from the bell and the two censers, are just one highlight.
Strangely, the real problem was adding the dip and then the varnish. The dip took almost two hours to apply as there are just so many areas to cover. Being made of timber baulks each piece has four sides and all is woven together with some very tricky to reach bits indeed. My main concern was the dip drying out in places and forming tide marks on areas as I worked around the detail. I had to mentally break the model down into defined areas starting with the bell as this was fairly central and divided the model. I then worked down one side of the carriage, taking care to get between all of the various struts, and the wheels. I then had to get to the inner areas of that side which was a pain. After completeing the second side of the carriage I could work on the Rat Ogre at the back and then work my way along the decking areas. So many times I came across pooled areas of dip between various struts that were on the point of turning into toffee, that almost dried out stage that can realy mess you up if missed. This is what happens when you have to do inner and outer areas of course, and you have to put on a lot of dip to let it do its thing and then take off the excess. This also meant that the model took a long time to fully dry out.
The varnishing was just as bad as the dip application, you really ned to make sure that every surface had been given a good coat of the varnish otherwise you are left with some really obvious patches! This was another two hour stint but rather than toffee like blobs I had to deal with those irritating varnish air bubbles! Back and forth picking up excess varnish before it dried out to much...sigh. I gave this a full day to dry out and I have to say I am pleased with the result, no major patches, no missed bits, no blobbing....and I think the bell itself has come out really well, has that metal look I have had difficulty with before. Highlights before adding dip really does help give the model extra depth and takes so little time.
This model gets its first game on Tuesday against Phil's Beastmen army. We each have 2000 points and if the bell doesn't blow itself up, and me along with it, it might not be such a one sided affair as I fear....hell, we might even win! I have given myself a little extra edge, just in case. I made it myself because you never know, the Great Horned One may be watching! It might also serve to distract Phil too....I will accept any edge that I can get :)
That is a very nice screaming bell. If nice is the right word. I like the grimy colours on the wood and metal it makes the ogre and Skanen stand out well.
ReplyDeleteHi Clint,
DeleteWhy thank you old friend :) I was aiming for grimy!
Anyone after the Pit fighter rules from yesterday can find them here:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.games-workshop.com/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m1340002_Pit_Fighter.pdf
Hi Andrew,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link, I will get it distributed :) Looks like it was a fun game and I thought your board was great!
LoL, wrong Andrew. But i am quite fond of the board so thank you. I can make more hex tiles if anyone has a project in mind that needs them. The game is fun but the rules could do with a few tweaks. I think Andrew was more adept at it then me with my gung-ho "must chop everyone" style. Also i think the loaded d20 Andy gave him helped too ;)
ReplyDeleteAs discussed very impressed with the control you have over the army painter varnish. I like the stuff but would be nice if i had the patience to keep removing pools of varnish.
Hi Drew,
Deletedoh! so many Andrews now my addled brain cant cope! Thanks for the offer of making the hex tiles, they were very good. As for the dip, it really is a question of practice, I certainly do not go along with the actual Army Painter advice at all...lost too many figures that way, quite literally! I did offer to run a bit of an army painter workshop at one of the meetings but there was not that much interest at the time, perhaps it is something that we can revisit? We may have another terrain making day this year, perhaps we can extend that to figure painting too? At least we can all swap ideas and stuff. I shall mention it to Mark.
Yes, there are a lot of Andrews. My girlfriend was most amused when I told her there was Andrew, Andrew, Andrew and Bob playing on Tuesday night. But then one Bob went away so we subbed in another.
DeleteAlthough i'm glacial working on most hobby projects, making terrain is probably what I enjoy most. Would be interesting to have a terrain night and swap ideas with folk, or work on a combined project for the club.
We that sort of settles it, we will need to put another special meeting on. The last one was an all day saturday affair, turn up as you wanted sort of thing. There was cake too!
Delete