Mr. DIY

I realized today that it has been a few days since I posted.  I had a trip to Kamloops for a conference, so there was no hobby going on there.  I was also pretty busy the few days before I left.  I had decided to start a little DIY project for the ol’ Man Cave.  I have been looking for a suitable paint storage solution for ages.  I have never really found something I like.  Until a few days ago I was using a small little shelf thing I picked up from Winners a few years back for around $10.

As you can see, it was great space wise, but it was hard to find the paints I needed in all the jumble.  There was also a suitcase of Vallejo Air paints on the floor under the desk.  It was not an efficient setup and I didn’t use some paints because they were crowded out.  So, I went to work and made myself a shelf where I could see everything I have. I didn’t take pictures of the process because it was so inefficient and generally a shit show, that I didn’t want to advertise how much I suck.  But here is the result!

It’s just made out of pine and stained a dark oak with a few coats of varnish to wear a bit better.  So, I spent some time yesterday loading her up with my stuff.

Life should be good now, right?  I can see all of my colours and washes.  It is even beside the desk, so I have to get up once in a while to get other paints.  Sitting for too long will kill you they say.  There was only one small problem.

Son of a bitch!  Not all of my paints fit!  I even went through my older GW paints to check if any were dried out so I could chuck them.  A few were, but I still had this small collection left.  I am also eying up the soon to be released Vallejo Game Air paints.  I’ll likely be getting a few of those to add to the mix. 

I went out to the shed today and took stock of my scrap lumber.  It looks like I have enough to do a narrower version of this shelf for the other side of my desk.  It is supposed to rain the next couple of days, and then I’ll have to get back to the woodworking. 

As they say, the best laid plans…

A Comment-able Goal

First off, I must apologize for the horrendous pun in the title.  With that out of the way, I can explain why I subjected you to my rapier whit.  While reading through my blog roll a while back, I realized that I commented in my head about what I saw quite a bit, and then moved on to the next blog.  I never left a comment for the author about what I had thought.  I realized that I was a natural lurker.  I like peeping in on what people are doing and then slinking away.  Now that I am blogging again, I realize how nice it is to get comments on what you are posting.  The comments both let you know that someone is actually reading the stuff you are posting, but also if it has any resonance with the reader.

I also realized that just reading blogs and not interacting with the authors is ultimately unsatisfying.  I feel like the poor kid looking in the window of the fancy restaurant.  I see the people having fun and eating delicious food, but never really get to partake of it myself.  When you don’t put yourself out into the community you are ultimately only getting vicarious enjoyment from real enjoyment of others.

The above realizations put me in a frame of mind to change my lurking ways and come out into the light.  If I read something on a blog that gets me to thinking or even just makes me go “Wow!”, I try to make sure and leave a quick comment for the author.  It makes me feel better and I hope it adds something to the blogger’s day as well.   So far, I find it satisfying to leave my thoughts.  I haven’t been at it long enough to develop any familiarity with any of the bloggers, but one can hope that it gets there someday.

So, if you have read this or anything else on here, take 30 seconds to leave a comment and tell me what you think.  If you have a blog, let me know and I’ll swing by and return the favour.

 

photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/liviacristinalc/3402221680/     Lívia Cristina  http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">cc</a>

Yay, Kickstarter

Back in the spring I backed a Kickstarter by DS’tone Art for vinyl gaming mats.  If you have played the X-Wing miniatures game, you have probably played on one of these mats.  The draw for this Kickstarter was the option of picking the size and the images on the mats.  Also, while the price seemed pretty high ($70) it turned out that Canadian customers got two mats due to the lower postage required to send it here.  That turned it into a no brainer.  Now I don’t have to use painters tape to mark out a 3X3 area on the table.  I’m pretty jazzed.  Now I just have to get a game in on them…

Rookie Caster

I backed the Warmachine Tactics Kickstarter last summer.  I was only mildly interested in the game, but I was very interested in the limited edition sculpts for he Journeyman Warcasters that were some of the rewards.  I received my physical rewards a while ago, but just got around to building and painting Tristan Durant, the PoM journeman.  He’s not bad looking and I think he’ll find a place in a couple of my lists.  I’m looking forward to getting him on the table and seeing what he adds.

His base was my second try at using crackle paste for a desert base.  It turns out that the first time I spread it a bit thin and it lifted from the bottom and may be a little fragile in the long run. This time I spread it a bit thicker.  It still lifted, but was thick enough for me to glue back down.  I like the desert look it gives for a fraction of the cost of resin bases.  I also played with the airbrush to give it a bit different look.

Visual List Building

I just read an article on Hand Canon Online that gives a lot of information for people newer to the game of WarmaHordes, but also introduced me to a more visual way of building lists.  Even after a few years of playing the game (albeit not at a high level) I still have difficulty getting my head around synergies in lists and what models to put into a list to do all the jobs I need doing.   I’m definitely going to give this a try and see if it helps me out.

Check out the article here.

Quick update

I have finished a couple more models in the past few days.  I must admit to a waning of the urgency I felt last month.  Unless I were being paid for it, I don’t think I could paint non-stop all the time.  I like to spend my time doing other things as well.  Those other things are just starting to look better and better is all. 

Anyway, first is the Monolith Bearer UA for the Holy Zealots unit.  I tried to paint around the cracks in the monolith rather than drybrush like I normally would.  I’m reasonably happy with the outcome.  Again, the backgrounds are discarded scrapbooking paper.  There’s a new background each time because I’m trying them all out to see what paper works best with what colours.

Next is the Hierophant.  I’m pretty pleased with the paint job on this guy.  I’ve been working hard on my blending and glazing.  I am by no means a pro, but I’m seeing progress, which is all anyone can ask for.

Finally, here’s a WIP of Menoth’s journeyman warcaster, Tristan Durant.  I just have his head and base to finish.  I’m hoping to get the head done today.

Just as a note, I would appreciate any constructive criticism from anyone with skills or knowledge they would like to pass al0ng.  Just leave me a note in the comments.

Hobby hack

Here’s a quick hobby hack for all of you modelers out there.  I know when I started trying to take better pictures of my minis, the first step was setting up some sort of light box, but the next step was finding appropriate backdrops for the photos.  After some searching I found a very cheap and easily accessible solution.  Use scrapbooking paper for your backdrop.  I discovered this use when my wife was cleaning out a bunch of old papers she no longer wanted.  I went through the pile and picked out some promising patterns and colours.  It worked like a charm!  All of my recent pictures here on the blog have used scrapbooking paper as backdrops.

Scrapbooking paper is 12”x12”, so will fit most light boxes set up for photographing miniatures.  I have trimmed some of mine to fit into the 10” width of my Foldio.  Scrapbooking paper comes in a dizzying  array of colours and patterns.  This explains why my wife can spend countless hours in Michael’s looking at paper while I wander around looking like a vagrant looking for a place to spend the night.  Most patterns are unsuitable for using as a photo backdrop, but some are just right.  Scrapbooking paper is often two sided, so when you are shopping, make sure you check both sides.  I found that there is usually a bold print on one side and the other will have a more muted pattern of colours in the same palette.  Finally, scrapbooking paper can be found at your local Michael’s or scrapbooking store.  Prices vary from around $2 per page to under $1.  If you are looking for cheaper stuff, look in the clearance areas.  These are full of papers that are discontinued or out of style in the scrapbooking world.  They are often still good enough for what we’re looking for. 

So, the next time that your significant other drags you to the scrapbooking store, don’t sit in the car and sulk, get in there and look for a deal.  Don’t let her know that you will enjoy your visit though, you don’t need to go that often.

Disclaimer:  The author in no way recommends or authorizes you, the reader to raid your lady friend’s paper stash.  Any actions taken in a woman’s craft room can and will end in sorrow and severe repercussions for the transgressor.  Scrapbookers have an unhealthy attachment to those piles of paper.  You have been warned!

Gallery update

Just a couple of pics of what I’ve accomplished lately.

The Bastion Seneschal was a ton of fun to paint.  The only problem I had was that he tipped over a couple of times and his halberd is a bit bent.  It looks that if I try to bend it back again it will come right off.  I’m trying to avoid that particular repair for a while.

I also got a full unit of Holy Zealots finished.  My Foldio is a bit small for the whole unit, so I just took a picture of a grunt and the leader.  I just finished the Monolith Bearer today, but he’s drying on his base.  Pictures to come.

I currently have a Hierophant on the painting table.  It will be nice to get some focus management help.

Until next time, hobby on.

Summer Surge: update

Here we are at the beginning of August already.  I thought it would be a great time time to post an update on my Summer Surge progress.  As I’ve posted earlier, I have had a lot of non-hobby stuff going on the past month.  I think I would be forgiven for a poor showing over July.  However, I think that I did alright.

Before I give you the results, I think it is important to remind you about a few of my hobby hang-ups.  First, although my painting doesn’t look like it, I am a perfectionist.  Second, I am a completionist.  What I report to you as finished is all there is going on.  I do not start and work on multiple projects at the same time.  I am a linear thinker to the core.  So, be kind when you judge me.

As you can see, I completed 13 minis during the past month.  Considering one of the models was a battle engine, I’m pretty happy with that number.  However, you can see that if I don’t do better this month, I will be nowhere near my goal of 50% of models unpainted at the beginning of the summer being completed.  I guess that means that I have to put the pedal to the metal for the next month.  Hopefully, that will mean plentiful hobby updates on this blog during the next 31 days.

I believe I have spent enough time reading.  I have lots of hobby to do!