New Chaos Spawn Paint WIP

Well been a while since my last post.  I'm recovering from injuring my back working around the homestead which consequently screwed up my racing for a couple of weeks, but has allowed me some time to sling some paint on a chaos spawn that has sat on my desk for likely 6 years.  As chaos player that likes the looks of spawns, I can never have enough of them.

 I've been playing a bit with my new Nikon DSLR camera, and wow is it something else.  Definitely has more capabilities than I will ever likely use.  The video it takes just about as awesome and the I must say the burst capability is very cool at the race track.

This is the very first miniature that I have photographed with the new camera.  It is likely I will figure out some different things as i go.

 Anyways, onto the miniature.  I converted this one just slightly thousands of years ago and then it sat in primer for a half-life just mutating further.

The paint work matches my current chaos army in detail level and quality.  I still need to work on the eyeballs a bit.  And I also need to add the static grass and such to the base.

 I had a bit of fun on the head.  The rust on the axe I think works.

There you go.  Expect a few more pieces soon....

Purchased a new camera

I purchased a new Nikon digital SLR camera.  Still figuring it out.   BUT since I now hope to be a much better camera since my work camera is not very good and my old Nikon died on me, expect some pictures of Viking army units and figures soon.  I had been holding off photographing them a bit, until I managed to get a new camera.

Dr. Faust Painting Clinic - End of an Era

Having taken a little bit of time off to do some other things has allowed me to think about somethings and where the hobby is actually going. I got up this morning and saw this come across my Youtube subcriptions notice that the Dr. Faust Painting Clinic webpage has been closed. Back in the mid to late 90's when I was just getting started in the hobby this was one of the web pages that helped me out with figuring out some of the painting techniques that I was struggling with. Nowadays, the community has grown to a point where you can find hundreds of web pages, forums, blogs, youtube channels, etc that can help you with every aspect of the hobby. 

 

I listened to his posting about the closing and see many parallels between where he came from with myself. No, my screen name, did not come from the local bar scene, it was actually from playing Quake on-line with a bunch of college buddies and influenced by Kiss's Psycho Circus. And no, this does mean I'm closing the blog either.

 

But all that said I really have experienced many of the same feelings over the years and have had many similar run-ins with people that have vehemently disliked my past work or tutorials.  Much of that has toned down since I do not frequent forums as much any more compared to what use to.

 

Anyways, I thought I would share this with you all, linked below is his youtube announcement.

And I do recommend viewing his channel if you enjoy the hobby or are someone just getting started in the hobby.

 http://youtu.be/MAICnJnpm1Y 

Adepticon is Coming...errrr....Here.....errrr...There....

Adepticon is coming, well actually its here, or technically in Lombard.  I’ve been going to Adepticon since 2003, I believe was my first time there.  This year I’m not attending the event.  My hobby budget for this year is being applied to my racing karts instead as I plan out the racing season.  I’m not getting any younger and so there are some racing things that I want to do while I’m still somewhat competitive.  I’ll come back to tournament / convention scene when I’m old. 


So plans are not to play any tournaments, not to go to any conventions, but instead to race on the oval locally, race at least at one of the asphalt ovals in a new Midwestern Oval track series, race in the Grand Prix in Illinios, race 4-5 vintage events, race some sprint track events here in Wisconsin and Iowa, and partake in two Midwestern sprint series races.  That does not mean that I don’t have hobby things planned, just a taking a break from the events.   As part of that, I’m physically trying to get in better shape, and get prepared for all of the racing, which in karting means core strength and cardio.

A GW Rant at Spikey Bits

Things have been a bit busy around here and I have not really gotten anything done on miniatures.  I don't think I have lost the steam or desire, just have a limited amount of time and been working quite a bit.  I also have built with my dad two karts and have done some work on my truck.  Those things should be ready to go this spring.  And not just that, I finally cleaned off my drawing table and have gotten back to drawing, doing some pen and ink, and some point will paint 2d.   Also for some reason I'm having problems posting pictures on the blog, things just seem to lock whether I upload them through blogger or link them off one of my many picture hosting sites that I use.


Anyways the real reason for the posting is that I saw a blog post by Spikey Bits.  I think its a good read, and well said about what he thinks is happening with GW. The following is a link to that posting:
http://www.spikeybitsblog.com/2014/01/utter-chaos-gw-past-present-future.html?utm_source=Copy+of+1%2F16&utm_campaign=9%2F26&utm_medium=email


I can't say that I've been a customer of GW's as long as Spikey, but I have bought a lot of stuff from them over the years.  I have also found that I have been increasingly alienated or maybe it should be annoyed by them.  It is not about the money for me.  The miniature hobby is nowhere near as expensive as my kart racing hobby.  Racing is in the stratosphere in comparison to the miniatures hobby.  I think he hit on what has happened with me, and that is the Fun aspect.   I started in with the GW hobby playing 3rd Edition 40k.  I found the game, fun, but then came 4th edition that sort of sucked the wind out of me.  Some friends then turned me on to 6th Edition Fantasy and I found that fun again, then came 7th and early on the fun was there, but started to fade towards the end with all of the new books coming out for armies, especially with the likes of VC and Skaven.  Then 8th Edition came out and that basically ended Fantasy for me.  I seriously dislike the 8th edition rules.  I had also in that period of Fantasy found Warhammer Ancients and loved the game, 2.0 WAB came out and I loved it even more, then GW killed WAB.  Go figure.  Gone is the fun. Where is the hobby going for me, I really do not know.  I need to find that FUN again, until then I guess I will just keep going with what I find fun, and that is the modeling and the painting, and the kart racing.

For Sale: An assembled Logan Grimnar, Bretonian Knights, and Gripping Beast Berserkers

As the title says:


Space Wolf Lord: 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/331121420601?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649


Relisted the Knights:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/331118382800?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649


Another batch of Gripping Beast Berserkers
http://www.ebay.com/itm/331118382489?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649


And a whole lot of other crap.

BoLS Article RE: Victor Hardy

I saw the following interview posted on Bell of Lost Souls where they had interviewed Victor Hardy.  Victor built and painted some simply beautifully evil pieces a number of years back.  His dark style has definitely been one of the influences on my style of painting miniatures over the years.  I highly recommend you read the interview.


http://www.belloflostsouls.net/2014/01/miniature-painting-masters-victor-hardy.html