Closeing in

As the year creeps to an end I still am hung up on the pods. I did get the doll bed done for my niece as seen in the pic, with the wife doing the sheets and bedding it came out great. It was her first project with the sewing machine and through small set backs she did great. As with any project we were over critical of small imperfections that one one else will see.
I also completed the table that will hold the CnC machine-as can be seen supporting my Skorne force right before making its way onto Barter Town. Cleaning up the desk will hopefully move me forward on other projects, I think getting the pods done-all 4- will be a challenge but I'm hopeful that It can be done.

Time march's on.

It's been a couple of weeks since i've put anything up. Its been a slow couple of weeks for the hobby side of the house hold. I have been trying to decide on how to proceed with the spores, original design still holding. I have finally found a suitable material for sculpting the texture and hopefully will put it to use in the next week. The holidays have put a damper on the motivation, and making a doll bed for the niece has me in different waters as I try to design as I build all the while hopeful that the dam thing is big enough.
As I catalog what I can field for the Nids I seem to find that I ain't got squat of an army - just a collection of figs. I am planning on listing a bit of stuff on the ol' barter town to try to fill in the gaps.
Some the pics.

Home stretch.

As the paint dries on the last 20 or so stealers, I now face the challenge of scratch building 4 Mycetic spores, in 4 weeks. I have sketched out a few designs and have seemed to settle on a few designs. Card stock and foam core will form the bulk of the build.
I will need to do some minor forming/sculpting and have not found a suitable cheap material to use. I think I may have to do battle with celuclay, something i've tried before and found the results lacking. Hopeful to have at least the templates to cut the main fins and plates ready to go by next week end.

Plugging along.

I have finished the war hounds and as far as the Carnifex's go they eagerly await priming. I decided to magnitize them for prosperity.
The Chaos Lord was a bust, decided to go to the gym instead.
As the WHFB league winds down, I will find great satisfaction in fielding fully painted army for the Nids. I am sure that I will feel the need to increase the skittering mass's, but it will be a relief to knock down a brood as needed.
Of course keeping the Chaos hoard growing will also be an ongoing project.
No pictures this week-dead batteries.
Goals - stealers ready to paint, Carnifex's done. I'll be happy with that.

Late again, becoming an issue.

Well as I post this as late as I do I notice that the hive tyrant is not really complete as I thought. Eyes and teeth need a bit of picking out. 10 of the 15 war hounds are done-the other 5 are just started.
As I write this, still high from clear coat, I know ive fallen on the goals ive set. As the end of the month looms, I know that I have to get off my buttocks and knock this stuff out. I can safely say that the time not getting it done is not well spent.
Friday night was a waste,flipped channels and watched bad t.v. Saturday was about the same. When I first got back from GenCon of course the motivation was fresh, I was holding tight on the 1/2 hour rule I had set for myself, with a bit of cheating on the ol lunch break I was able to concentrate on other things around the house.
I need to get back to the timer.
I'll take it easy on myself this week and only set a few goals.
Carnifex's ready to paint, stealers ready to paint, and as the weekly game has been canceled I will spend Wednesday modeling-possible get a Chaos Lord ready for battle.

Late Again.

Haven't posted in a few weeks, my goal is to post every week. As I write this I have little to put up on the "finished" table, just 5 chaos war hounds. I do have a few things that will make it into finished status. I have lost all motivation with the Nids, as all my motivation seems to be geared towards the fantasy end now. As with most gamers I model/paint what I'm playing.
As I blame my motivation on the game, I also realize that as I near completion of the bugs I fear that end. I like most (I think) see the completion of one army is the start of collecting another-something I wish not to do. I am falling to self defeat, and as I say all this I'm already thinking the next WHFB army I want to do-I'm sick.
Hopefully the quick self exam will push me forward and I'll get back to setting goals for the week.
Next week- all chaos hounds-done, big bug and tyrant-done, I will have the last of the stealers assembled and my Carnifex's assembled and ready to paint. Tall order since I will be working Saturday, b-day party after and Sunday will be chock full o' chores.
All along with getting my lazy ass back into the gym 5-6 days a week.

Loose ends.

I have had better luck this week. As I was taking pics of this weeks progress I figured that I may have been becoming burnt out on what I've been doing, building a junk load of chaos. Now that the apoc game was delayed that took the demand and urgency off the big stuff. I have been hammered with building troops to do the brunt of the battle.
All those troops in about a month and a half, being that most were cast. Most of those still need converting. Now on to the characters-that more fun.
I switched gears this week, just finishing up some stuff laying about.
First was the Tyranifex, dipped and ready for clear coat, second was my familiar for the campaign. The third was the Sorcerer that was to adorn the top of the floating rock. He had me stalled, a I did not want to put the work into something that was going to spend its life on the shelf-then I remember magnets, that motivated me into finishing the build on him. Last is Mrs Pac, did this for a friend to break the monotony.
Have no idea what is on the docket for the week, think i'll maybe concentrate on the Nids. I need a battle standard bearer

No Painting-second week, well alomst!!

Well, this week was a repeat of last, not much really done. I have to blame it on the upcoming WHFB campaign that my group is planning. I had volunteered to take on painting some map tiles.
This in addition to casting plaster for a Malifaux board, assembling beastmen/marauders for the hoard I'm planing, getting my familiar for the campign done, not to mention the Nids.
Again no speed paint done this week, I just couldn't get motivated, again. I have fallen back into to many projects going at once.
With completion of the tiles, I will move onto the skull piles that we plan on using as charnel pits/piles and with my great friend the dipping pot should be done quickly.
As long as I can keep my motivation with the Nids I do see the light at the end of the tunnel, with that army at least being done at years end. I can easily catch up on the Malifaux with a solid week of concentration. The sticking point of the challenge is WoC. If I can get my head straight and focus on what I need for my army and get away from feeling that I need at least one unit of everything I should be alright. Painting it all will be another story in it,s own.
Pics of the hoard and a flying pig that will be my familiar.

Slow Week

Don't know what happened, though I was doing pretty good. Then today as I get some pic foe the ol post, I see I ain't got noth'in.
No speed paint, no Nids done, no forward momentum on "The Rock"
Now unfortunately life has gotten in the way, and Ive lost a bit of my momentum/motivation.
I did mak some progress on the Choosen regiment for WoC. I have also gotten most of the beast men bodies that I cast filled and cleaned ready for baseing.
With the addition of a couple of Minotaurs as unit fillers, and a Heresy centaur that I've had laying around I will have a unit of 50 strong.
This week my goal is to get the hoard based(before Wednesday), the tyranifex done, end of the week would be to have the hoard fully assembled and ready for combat.
The Choosen will be a little longer as I will have to start scratch building the halberds.

Grinding out the figs

Good week, Got another batch of nids done and Nid Prime close enough for pics.
Another Death Marshall speed painted, floating rock primed. With the purchase of some rubber my hordes of chaos has grown at a respectable rate.
Unfortunately other things around the house have suffered, grass needs to be cut, basement and garage needs a clean'in, and other household chores keep stacking up.
I am fully motivated to have a standing army ready to go for chaos by years end Along with my nids fully painted.
My one sticking point is that I cant seem to get away to lunch everyday which I think would help with the feeling of urgency on the home front.
I passed the test of a great deal on an army and said no, very good deal and was hard to pass up. Some one in the group made a comment "Buying an army to go into the closet". I think that made my mind up for me, I could of flipped my chaos and went on to Lizardmen. While that army is pretty cool theme wise, they would be a huge challenge to paint and would of found myself burnt out fast. More options for chaos anyway- still would like to field a 75 model unit of Chosen!!!!
Flyin rocks. War mammoth. "LIZARD MAN AINT GOT NOT'IN ON ME"

Pics of the week.

cooling down

Well the wizards for the top of the rock are not even close as I would have to sculpt the darn things. I have started the conversion and sculpting of the main baddie, and I can safely say I really don't have the patience for sculpting, even robes. So I will grudgingly plug along, saving grace is that the big fantasy Apoc game has been put on the back burner until the end of the year.
As promised pics, second helping of painted gaunts and stealers, a group shot of the big guys ready to go under the brush, and two Malifaux dudes that got speed painted.
As the weather cools I hope to get the base coats on the big guys done during lunch breaks. When that starts to get to me I can switch gears with assembling figs for Woc.
I am going to try and speed paint one fig for Malifaux every week until I am caught up on that front.
Gen Con resolution- Not to start another army until the ones I have are complete. I know that that a silly proposition as no army is ever complete with changing rules and tactics. But at least set up a solid base so that anything added is quick and dirty.

Full steam ahead!!

With Gen Con firmly behind me and motivation still strong I have made great progress.
A combination of 48 gaunts and stealers will be getting clear coat tomorrow. I will have another 5 warriors, tyranafex, prime warrior, tyrant and mawloc ready to paint.
WHFB I have been building feverishly and will be making great strides in the coming week to get that together in anticipation for the big game in October.
The floating rock will be ready for paint tomorrow also, but the sorcerer's on top will not be done to weeks end. The mammoth may have been a bigger project then anticipated and may not get painted, but im gonna try like hell to get it ready.
As the wife has taken the camera to New York for vacation no pics for the update.
so double pics for next week!!!

Back with a vengence!!

As the dust settles from Gen Con I have, as usual, come back focused and renewed. Last year I had made a pledge not to paint as to focus on sculpting. I started out strong building the heck out of terrain.
As the year drug on my gaming group enticed me to paint by hosting a couple of mini-tourneys when you gained benefits for having a painted force.
I attempted sculpting and didn't really enjoy it, its a slow process,my patience is limited at best, and jumping games doesn't seem to help.
The Con was a good time, most of my focus was in the acquisition of stuff for my Chaos army, although I had to fight the strong urge to purchase a spiffy new crew for Malifax.
I toted a bunch of stuff to paint when I was there, I knocked out thirty something staealers, a brood lord, a lictor, and bishop from the Outcasts. Now that Hamlin is a master he may even see the field.
With the new Malifaux book comes a host of great new stuff for the Guild, I am already looking at the collection to see what can be pressed ganged into service. As I really don't see me getting into organized play proxies will do within my gaming group.
This years Gen Con resolution is to "finish" all my stuff!!! Tall order now that WHFB has made it into my collection of games. With dipping the nids it should be a possible endeavor- so I'm told.
As a great man once said - "ENOUGH TALK"!!!
Here's a couple of pics of bugs.

Weal week.

Not much to up date, just building some Chaos dudes. I'm going to play my first game of 8th edition this week. 1500 points Chaos vs Orcs. My opponent is an experienced veteran and I'm hoping to make him earn his victory at the very least.
I have made slight progress on the Tyranafex and got a base coat on the Stealers.
The new Malifax has been previewed and I know the book is a buy at Gen Con. I think I can hold off on the figures until they release in a month or two. With fantasy Battle being the focus for the next couple of months Malifaux will be on the back burner.
I still entertain the thought of bringing stuff to paint to the Con as something to do between wanderings.
With no pressure on time, I think that i would get a bunch o stuff done.

Tank kill'n and Genesteal'n!

Well due to the heat this week painting at the park at lunch was not in the cards.
That being said I did get a chance to finish painting the Zoenthropes.
I had ordered some alternate Genestealer heads from Chapter House Studios, they showed up on my door Saturday so I converted a full brood. The alternate heads are a bit large for the bodies and make them a bit top heavy but a couple of slight bends solved that issue. They are primed and ready to go, along with a unit of Termagaunts. I'm hoping to get these ready to dip by Friday, ready for pics by Sunday.
Sadly the Tyranifex is sitting on my desk, I have not forgotten him, but sculpting is slow work. I may have him done by the time Gencon hits, i'm hoping sooner - we'll see.
Chaos has distracted me a bit, I am trying to get some of the stuff I have together as the group gets ramped up for the WHFB bloodbath. I have sidelined a Chaos Giant, a couple of spawn for fill in as paint dries and putty cures on the Nids. Project creep is on the rise.

First Brood painted

Well First brood of warriors painted, came out ok. I really have to get into the "good enough" mind set if I want to get the bugs painted. I am plugging along on the tyranifex and should see it ready for paint by next weekend.
Zoenthropes were dipped this morning and should be done and ready for their close ups.
I have been stalled on the tyrant, big model I know I want to put a bit more time into painting so have taken a step or two back. I think after the fex gets painted it'll be time for some swarm models to be done. maybe i'll knock out the bajillion stealer's I have, cant forget to convert the Ymargl stealer's full brood of course.
My hopes of running the Tomb King for WHFB has been dashed on the rocks. Speaking to the group, although a new book for the tomb kings is on the horizon they have not been a supported army in the past. Along with that and in my opinion not haveing a decent modeling opportunity with them I have taken up the banner of Chaos. After looking at models already owned I have a good start as far as champions, lords, and sorcerer's go. As I write this a battalion of Chaos's finest are making their way to my door.

Two week update.

I was busy as heck last couple of weeks, had internet issues for a few days.
Seems to add up add up and get away from you.
I have been busy with the bugs, got a little modeling done and actually got a game in last night. Tyrant survived my opponent's personal goal to kill it, i was a bit nervous though as he was running the Blood Angels and had heard that they were sick lil puppies. After he pasted a warrior brood and their prime I was ready for defeat, but in the end the Tyrant was saved by shooting the Marines and taking the sledge hammer squad to one man. Trygon prime was a bit of a lack luster critter although he did his job.
As I look forward to getting the Nids done before Gen Con I still think it can be done, i'll have to stay away from the devil box (TV).
Pics of my finished Zoenthropes and Tyranafex in progress.

Motivation achieved

I think I have finally been motivated to get the nids done, I think that I have been holding back knowing that next book/codex/rules version will make conversions obsolete.
I have finally said screw it and will be making strides forward to complete all models in my possession (40K Nid wise) completed in the next couple of months-before GenCon.
Should be a "simple" task. Especially with dipping the critters, casting of bone swords and some press molds when the rubber runs out.
So with that said I have a brood of warriors base coated and completed with cast bone sword's, lash whips and deathspiter's . I am hoping to get these painted by the end of the week end, since the wife's leaving me for the weekend.
Tyrant body has been magnetized and is waiting for the completion of his devourer's so his arms can be magnetized. I will be assembling and painting a heavy weapon for future use.
sone pics of the Warrior's.

Set back and surge forward

Some pics of my desk, as you can see the two project rule been trampled under, and also crept over to the adjacent book shelf.

So after a three hour clean up-of course the entire room was in similar discord. I was able to focus after and make progress on the Nids. got a pile of lash whips done and a brood of converted zoenthropes.

I like most in my weekly group are doing, I am looking at my collection. Now I have been cleaning house for the last couple of years, I have made the decision of cutting even deeper. I can use that money to concentrate on the few games I want to focus on.
Chaos Dwarfs are gone, there is a group army on the shelf that no one uses, Tomb kings-and they are getting a new book soon.
Nids will be my "Main 40K Army" for that system.
Malifaux seems to be kicking my in the nads a bit, looks like I may have three forces soon, we'll see about that one.
The rest of my hodge podge collection will be sold off in lots, just easier that way.
Till next week - some pics

Well, well, well !!!

Not much to up date, have a tentative list for the tourney and not much else. Had to finish up a project for a friend.
Until next time.

Small Gain!!

Well due to weather I've fallen behind on weekly goals, I can "cheat" and get my half hour in at lunch. The only thing I accomplished was to get the Bone Swords cast, and some saw blades.
I should have these cleaned up and attached by weeks end, I am also hoping to have the Lash whips almost done also.
Still have to come up with a list for the looming tourney, hopefully this week.

FIRST REAL UPDATE.

I have gotten all my nids based for the tourney, still don't have a solid list as of yet. Haven't played that new rules for the bugs so don't really have to much of an idea of how they work now, they seem more expensive but that may be just me.
Anyhow, I have a test paint done and think that I got pretty close on the color's I'm going to use-going the dip them all for shading so it should be quick. Bone sword almost ready to cast, im hoping to have these wrapped in rubber and cast next week, that will just leave making the lash whips, uuggg.
I have found myself not really wanting to do any real sculpting, I was going to do it from scratch but couldn't find my happy place. I think this may have been due to not knowing the direction I wanted to go- no vision i guess.
Next week goals:
Bone swords cast
Zombies based
Hive Tyrant assembled and magnetized

AS PROMISED

Snapped a couple of pics, the first is one of all the models I completed during the painting campaign that my gaming group did. I won first for most models painted didn't feel like counting but I think I was in the high 40's, about 1000 pts. worth.
My favorite models that I painted were my croc-men. Sweet azz models in themselves.
Most of these were painted over the course of 2 1/2 months, painting for a half hour a day.

See title of blog.
I figured that only allowing this amount of time will increase my speed as I will be competing with the clock.
Until next Week !!!

NEW DAY NEW BLAHBLAH

Well, just starting a new one, old name didn't really fit me anymore.
The first few updates will be a catch up of what i've been doing the last few months. The goal, as always, is to keep me on track and minimize projects on the desk. The predetermined number of projects on the desk is no more then two at a time. First update is tomorrow!! I'll snap a pic of my Skorne that got painted during my groups last painting campaign for PP.