Friday 30 December 2016

One Mini Every Week #52

As regular followers of the blog will probably know, back at the beginning of the year I made a resolution to try and paint at least one miniature every single week throughout 2016 (or at the very least - do something miniatures related).

Well, it's the last week of the year, and I've somehow managed to stick at it! (though I've also purchased a bunch of new mini's throughout the year - so I'm not sure if I've managed to lessen my unpainted stockpile or not ;) ).

Anyway, for this week's project I've done something a bit different (and I've also cheated a little - but more on that later), as I seem to have been bitten by the WW2 bug again. So here's what I've painted:


Both of these mini's a from Warlord Games' plastic Bolt Action range, and I've assembled them to use as crew for a Marder III tank destroyer (note that I originally painted up a couple of metal crew members from the same range ...but they are tiny by comparison, and so I'll not be using them :( ).

However, for the Marder itself I've cheated somewhat (as I hate painting tanks or large models) and have opted for a pre-painted 1:48 scale model from China (as they only cost £7.99 delivered, from this ebayer - though they obviously take a few weeks to arrive).


Now the paint job on the model is nothing to write home about - but I think it's an acceptable 'tabletop quality' ...and after the crew have been added I think it actually looks more than presentable:


So that's pretty much it for the 'One Mini Every Week' project ...and all that's left to do now is to take a group photograph of all the mini's I've painted throughout the year (which will probably be a separate blog post next week - assuming I can find the time).

Saturday 24 December 2016

One Mini Every Week #51

Well it's the penultimate blog post for 2016's 'one mini every week' project - and this week has seen me splash some paint on a couple more GW skaven miniatures...


...and there's not a whole lot more to say about these guys that I didn't already say last week :)

Anyway, I still have a few more of these little fellas left to paint (and I'm toying with the idea 'multi-basing' the rest of them like I did with some of my Mantic zombies), but I might try to paint something a little larger for next week's project (though I haven't quite made up my mind yet :S ).

Monday 19 December 2016

One Mini Every Week #50

For this week's painting project I've painted up a couple more 'ratmen' miniatures (that I'll be using as Age of Shadow lesser beastlings)...


These particular ones are GamesWorkshop Clanrats - but as I've mentioned before, since I'm using them for RPG purposes I don't really need a whole box of them, so I'll generally pick up the parts to make half-a-dozen or so models from the various 'bitz' websites out there (THIS ONE for example).

But what do I think of the models themselves...

...well, I kinda like them. They are very easy to assemble (as you just need to stick on the weapon arm and shield), and they paint up nicely (though I did make it harder for myself by gluing the shields on before I started painting them).

My only real gripe is that, although they come with a variety of different torsos (some armoured, some unarmoured, some wearing hoods, some bareheaded, etc.), they all seem to be in a very similar (almost identical) pose.

Sunday 18 December 2016

Mine Geomorph #25 (patreon funded)

Here it is ...the last mine geomorph of the year (and the final one of the 'mine set'):


...and as an added bonus, I've also put a 'little' compilation map together, that features all of these bonus geomorphs ...plus a couple from some of the other sets.


So, as always, I'd like to thank everyone for supporting the project - because without your help and encouragement I probably wouldn't have been able to finish the 'mine set' this year :)

*   *   *

Anyway, now that all of 2016's maps are done, I think five years worth of greyscale maps is probably enough for most folks - so next year I'm thinking of changing things up a little, and starting on a whole new batch of colour maps and geomorphs :)

www.patreon.com/csp_kris

Thursday 15 December 2016

Mine Geomorph #24 (patreon funded)

Here's the penultimate mine geomorph of the year :)


Note that you can find all of these bonus mine geomorphs in THIS album.


Monday 12 December 2016

Mine Geomorph #23 (patreon funded)

Here's the latest geomorph from the ongoing Patreon campaign...


...and I'm thinking that two more of these 'bonus mine geomorphs' should be enough to complete the set.

So, over the course of this coming week I'm going to attempt to get the rest of these tiles finished - and if I can find time, I might also try to squeeze in a bonus Xmas map before the end of the year :)

(note that you can find all of these bonus mine geomorphs in THIS ALBUM)

Sunday 11 December 2016

One Mini Every Week #48 & #49

As you can tell, I'm still struggling to post pictures every week ...but my miniatures painting continues nonetheless...


So, last weekend I slapped some paint on the plastic GamesWorkshop skaven miniature on the left (I believe it is one of THESE - though I usually just pick up bits and pieces here and there for stores like THIS or the occasional sprue from ebay) ...which will represent a foul beastling sorcerer in an encounter I have planned.

And this weekend I have painted the adventurer miniature on the right (another £2 model from Midlam Miniatures).

Furthermore, I've also been experimenting some more with air drying clay (to make a monster for yet another encounter I have planned)...

 -the encounter-


-sculpting the creature-


-painted :( -

...though I think I applied the gloss varnish too soon - as the shading and highlight colours have all bled into one :( (plus, I'm not all that happy with how it looks in any case - so I might try to make a replacement 'body' next week).

And that's it for this week. Hopefully I'll get back to posting pictures a little more regularly - as there are only 3 weeks left of this little project ...and I will have then successfully completed my new year's resolution for 2016 :)

Friday 9 December 2016

Dungeon Designer - December 2016

Here's the last little transitional (i.e. cave to dungeon) geomorph of the year...


However, thanks to guys over on Patreon, there are still 3 more mine geomorphs to come!


Note that I'm also compiling all of these transitional maps in THIS album.

Friday 2 December 2016

2016 Dungeon Monthly Compilation

If you've been following my 'dungeon monthly' posts for any length of time, then you'll probably know that at the end of each year I connect all 12 of that year's maps together to form a huge dungeon level, and release it over on RPGNow/DriveThruRPG.

Well, it's that time again...


Obviously, all the individual maps are still available for free in THIS ALBUM (for you to piece together however you like) - however, unlike the original 'dungeon monthly' versions, this compilation map is supplied as:
  • A pdf version of the entire level (supplied as parchment style handout).
  • A huge (50 pixel per grid square) jpeg image of the whole map - with a dark background.
  • A huge (50 pixel per grid square) jpeg image of the whole map - with a white background.


So if you've been thinking of running a mega-dungeon in the near future, or are looking to expand upon the 3 previous compilations (or would just like to show your support for the 'dungeon monthly' project), then you can pick up the 2016 Compilation  for the princely sum of $1 over on RPGNow & DriveThruRPG.

Thursday 1 December 2016

Dungeon Monthly #48 (December 2016)

December is upon us once again (how time flies) ...so that must mean that it's time for the last* 'dungeon monthly' map of the year!


And, because this is the last* one of the year, the 2016 compilation map will be following along shortly.
*though there are still a few 'bonus' geomorphs to come.

Also note that you can find unlabelled versions of all these 'dungeon monthly' maps in the following albums:

...and you can support the project over on Patreon.


Tuesday 29 November 2016

Mine Geomorph #22 (patreon funded)

Here's the latest geomorph from the ongoing Patreon campaign :)


And, as always, thanks to everyone supporting the project!

(note that you can find all of these bonus mine geomorphs in THIS ALBUM)

 

One Mini Every Week #46 & #47

Once again, I've fallen behind with my posts (but not my painting) - so here's a quick look at what I've been up to these past couple of weekends...


On the left is another little dwarf mini (THIS ONE from Midlam Miniatures), and just like all the other 'heroes' I've been painting recently, this is another one that I feel has a suitable look for the Age of Shadow setting.

On the right is my first attempt at making something with air drying clay (and I'm using a 1kg packet of DAS that I picked up for £4). I'll admit that it's a very basic piece (and far from perfect) - but I'm happy with it for a first try :)

And finally...


...I've also made a few more (self adhesive) flowers to brighten up my bases a little :)

And that's it for this week. I can't believe that I've almost been at this for a year now, and I'm looking forward to taking a group photograph at the end of 2016 - to see just how much I've managed to get done in the space of a year.

Monday 28 November 2016

New Map Bundle & Cyber Monday Offer

NEW BUNDLE

I'm pleased to announce that you can now get all of the 'Into the Darkness' maps in one bundled product...


When purchased separately these maps would normally cost $6 - but if you take advantage of this bundle deal you can get them all for just $4!

The 'Into the Darkness' bundle is available from both DriveThruRPG and RPGNow.


PLUS A SPECIAL CYBER MONDAY OFFER

Furthermore, (for one day only) you can also pick up the 'Helroth's Tower' map-pack for just $1!


The 'Helroth's Tower' map pack is available from both DriveThruRPG and RPGNow.

Monday 21 November 2016

Mine Geomorph #21 (patreon funded)

Here's the latest mine geomorph from the Patreon campaign...


As always, my thanks go out to all those supporting the project!


(note that you can find all of these bonus mine geomorphs in THIS ALBUM)

Tuesday 15 November 2016

One Mini Every Week #45

For this week's project I've made a couple more pieces of 'creepy forest' scatter terrain, and slapped some paint on another little adventurer mini :)





* * *



The figure is from Midlam Miniatures (THIS ONE), and for some reason I had all sorts of trouble painting this one (though I can't fathom out why - so I must have just been having an off day) ...but it's turned out OK in the end :)


Next up was a little test piece to try and add some large cobwebs to the current set of scatter terrain (which looks kinda OK - but not OK enough to warrant me making more). But, for those who may be interested, the webs were made from a baby wipe that's been left to dry out overnight, and then pulled apart and soaked in PVA glue (much like I did in THIS post, when I made the web covering the spider eggs).


However, I'm much happier with the standing stone that's surrounded by a fairy ring of giant mushrooms (pictured above)...


...and, like before, the stone was just a piece of gravel (stolen) from the garden path, and the mushrooms are two different size 'brads' (i.e. the things you use to pin paper/card together) that have had their prongs clipped off and replaced with pieces of cocktail stick or BBQ skewer.

So, all in all, another productive week on the miniatures front ...or at least it was when measured against my usual snail's pace :)

Friday 11 November 2016

Dungeon Designer - November 2016

Here's another little transitional (cave to dungeon) geomorph - based on the ongoing request of one of the guys over on Patreon.


And here's a quick look at how all five of these transitional maps look when you piece them all together...


...though they are (of course) compatible with all the other geomorphs I've created over the years.


Tuesday 8 November 2016

Mine Geomorph #20 (patreon funded)

Here's the latest bonus map from my Patreon campaign...


As always, my thanks go out to everyone supporting the project (and thus, making it possible for me to spend so much time on things like this :) ).

Also note that you can find all of these bonus mine geomorphs in THIS ALBUM.

Monday 7 November 2016

One Mini Every Week #44

Since I made a few pieces of 'creepy forest' scatter terrain last week, I thought that I would paint up something to haunt that forest for this week's project...


This one is the Reaper Bones Ghost miniature, and it was a nice little mini to paint (I say 'little' but it's a bit larger than most of my other human sized mini's from other ranges - but that's pretty much the same with all Reaper mini's).

I've also noticed that most of the other 'Bones' miniatures that I've painted have become a little sticky/tacky to the touch (and, after looking online, it seems I'm not the only one to have that problem). So for this one I've neither primed nor varnished it - so we'll see if that makes any difference :S

And in addition to the above ghost, I couldn't resist making a few more scatter pieces of terrain...


...and on this last one I've used some cheap resin (£1 from poundland*) with a few spots of Army Painter 'green tone' added to make the little pool.

*it's the same stuff that the guy is using in THIS video (which is where I first heard about it - and so I thought I'd give it a try for myself :) ).


Thursday 3 November 2016

Dungeon Monthly #47 (November 2016)

I can't believe it's November already. Oh well, at least that means it's time for another 'dungeon monthly' map :)...


Note: you can find unlabelled versions of all the 'dungeon monthly' maps in the following albums:




...and you can support the project (if you so desire) over on Patreon.


Tuesday 1 November 2016

Into the Darkness : Map 4 (sewer)

I'm pleased to announce the release of the next map in the 'Into the Darkness' range...


Into the Darkness : Map 4 features a full colour dungeon map (in this instance, that of an old sewer) that should be suitable for use with most fantasy games and settings.

In this product you get:
  • A pdf booklet featuring a labelled version of the map (for the GM's notes).
  • An unlabelled jpg image of the map (for use with virtual tabletops).
  • A (multi-page) miniatures scaled battlemap (i.e. printable at 1" per grid square).

- the battlemap in action (miniatures from Midlam Miniatures) -

Into the Darkness : Map 4 is available for just $1.50 from RPGNow & DriveThruRPG.

Monday 31 October 2016

One Mini Every Week #43 - Halloween Special

Since it's Halloween, I thought I'd do something a little different for this week's project, and so I've had a go at making some creepy looking scenery (so this blog post also doubles as one of my quick & easy terrain tutorials as well)...


To create the naked/dead trees I've made a base out of two pieces of vinyl floor tile (that have been stuck together - for a bit of added strength), and BBQ skewers and cocktail sticks that have been bent/broken into branch-like shapes (being careful not to snap them entirely in two).


The various pieces have then been superglued together into a treelike shape (and each of the bends/breaks has also been strengthened by adding a spot of superglue).


A hot glue gun is then carefully  dragged up and down the branches and trunk to give it a bit of texture (pulling out from the trunk's base to create the roots).


Each tree is then painted (I've done 1 base coat, and 2 drybrush layers) and based with sand, flock, or static grass (as is your preference) ...and that's pretty much all there is to it!




* * *
 
As well as the trees, I've also made a few small standing stones (perhaps as the kind of thing that you would expect to see atop an old barrow) that can be used individually...



...or placed on top of one another to make a more substantial piece.


These were made in much the same fashion as my previous 'runestones' (see THIS page) ...i.e. by grabbing a few pieces of gravel from the garden path, and giving them a simple paint job. And despite only taking a few minutes to make, I think they look rather nice :)

-the whole set-

And that's it for this week's project. Next time I should be back to painting actual miniatures again :)