Stinging Sensation

Periodically I check out videos from Boylie Hobby time.  He does an outstanding job creating miniatures related dioramas.  I'm especially drawn to his Weird West creations (see earlier post).  One I recently viewed involved a Monster Hunting Wagon.  In the video was a giant scorpion.  I thought to myself, "Hmmm...I don't have one of those."

I ran down to my neighborhood, hobby store (SCG Hobby), and picked up a Pathfinder Magma Scorpion.   I was inspired to paint it similar to a Deathstalker Scorpion.  While not my best job to date, I'm decently satisfied.  I'll probably attach it to a Tomb-King like army or some such.  

Thanks for checking in.  I'm always glad that you do. Have a great one!

Sink Your Teeth into These Bad Boys

It's a pirate's life for me (or not).  I found these guys on Etsy awhile back.  I thought they were so cool looking.  I couldn't wait to get them painted and ready to sail...swim...IDK!  Anyway...they're all done.  Take a gander, old chum (LOL).

It's Tauriffic!!!

I've been keeping myself busy (and out of trouble) lately.  Putting my time to good use, I assembled and painted a rather cool looking Tau Army with Auxiliaries.  Included is a Pathfinder team (which I painted a very long time ago), the Crisis Battlesuit (which I did a few weeks ago), the Vespid Set, a set of Stealth Suits, a Kroot Carnivore Squad (painted a while back) with Krootox Rider, and some human mercenaries.  Not too bad all-in-all.

See attached pics.  I hope you like them.

Krootox Rider

Stealth Team

 

Greater Good Sniper Team

Human Mercenaries - Gue'vesa

My Tau Army
Gue'vesa (front left), Kroot with Krootox (center), Sniper Team and Vespids (right)
Crisis Battlesuit (back left), Tau Pathfinders (back center), Stealth Team (back right)

The Sniper Team are some 3D prints I think I got from Etsy.  The Gue'vesa (human helpers) are a set of Merc Figures I bought several years ago.  I saw that the Tau Empire had humans in it and decided to use these Kem Var figures as some mercenaries for the Tau Army. 

Crafty

I got to check out some really cool items made by some really nice folks out here in da Burgh.  The business is called REimagine Handmade.  Rather than me blather on about what they do and how they do it, I'm putting the link to their website below so you can see for yourself. If your looking for something special for someone near and dear, take a gander at their goods.

REimagine Handmade

Float Like a Butterfly....

...Sting like a Bee.  But these little buggers (LOL) are no Muhammad Ali.  What they are are a kinda sorta almost nearly not quite WH40K Vespid Stingwings. I got them on Etsy.  They are called the Mantomorph Assault Squad.

I liked them better than the 40K version of Vespids that came out fairly recently.  They are a little chunkier and I felt would not break as easily. (I did breakoff and repair 2 antennae and a wing).  In the end, I loved how they turned. out.  

I went with an orange paint scheme that I had seen online.  I used a deep red/brown wash.  I highlighted them with yellow/orange.  The eyes were painted metallic yellow. The wings got a coat of white.  I then gave them an aqua wash.  The wings were then coated with several layers of glitter paint.  Weapons and armor were painted silver then given a black wash.  All the metal parts were highlighted with platinum.

Rock areas were painted black. They were dry-brushed a dark gray and then highlighted with a light gray.  I gave them all a coat of clear sealant and called it done.  

Check 'em out, boys and girls.  Just be careful!

Paradise Found

If you haven't been watching the series Paradise on HULU, then you've been missing out on something special.  Great concept, great story, superb acting.  It is intense!!!!  There are 8 episodes this season.  The last one will air on March 4.  I usually don't get too crazy about TV shows, but I've made an exception with this one.  Trust me, it's super good!  Lots of plot twists and turns leaving you at the edge of your seat.  (I intentionally didn't give any details, I don't want to spoil anything for potential viewers.)

The Great White North

Last night's championship game between the U.S. and Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off Tournament was great!  It went back and forth all night ending in a tie in regulation.  The Canadians won 3-2 in overtime with Connor McDavid getting one past Connor Hellebuyck.  NHL regular season play resumes tomorrow.  After the tournament, it might all seem anticlimactic. 

4 Nations Face Off

If you haven't been watching this you've really been missing out on something special.  The best players in the NHL are playing for their native countries; Sweden, Finland, Canada, and the U.S.A.  The Americans have won their 1st two games and will be in the championship game.  The other nations have all lost a game each.  Jake Guentzel has been fabulous for the U.S.  Next games are on Monday and the championship will be on Thursday.  If you love hockey, tune in!

Dino-myte

The word "myte" is a Norwegian word which translates into English as myth.  There is a tale from olden times of a sorcerer that used his magic staff to control the great beasts of yore.  They would do his bidding or experience extreme pain.  Little did the sorcerer know that one day he would come across one that would not bend to his will.  That day would be his last one.

The "sorcerer" is a Mage Knight Dark Rider figure.  The Triceratops I picked up at a thrift shop for a dollar.  I gave it a nice repaint and then mounted the "Magic Man" on its back.  I'm digging how it turned out.  Take a look.

Before

 

After

For the Love of Mage Knight

I have to admit I love Mage Knight figures.  They're not the greatest sculpts or have the best paint jobs, but there is just something about them.  Maybe it's just the simplicity of them. IDK.

Any way, I picked up a few on eBay for a decent price.  When I got them, I did some dry brushing on the demon, the guys with the guns got complete repaints, and the Orcs and the Steampunk Scorpion got a few minor touch ups.  I'm now pleasantly pleased with the group.

I did get one more, but I'm saving it for a future project which I will share soon.  So what about the Tau?  They're still coming along.  I'm working on some Dark Eldar as well.

Sharing some pics of the newbies.  Enjoy!

Not So Alien

 I watched Alien: Romulus last night.  Big disappointment.  Essentially the same plot as the original movie except with teenagers/twenty somethings and a more benevolent android.  The human-alien hybrid was wild and the crash at the end was cool.  For newcomers to the franchise it might be worth a watch.

Two by Two

Recently I painted a Tau Crisis Battlesuit.  I wasn't 100% happy with the paint job.  It was good, but not nearly my best.  I had a a several month hiatus from miniatures painting.  They say practice makes perfect and I haven't had much practice.

I'm still going through boxes since we  moved into the new house.  In one of them, I found some toys I had growing up.  There were some animal figures from back in the 70s.  They were made by Lamar Toys and were given away at ARCO gas stations.  In the box were a set of lions and two gorillas.  They were my favorites from the Noah's Ark collection.  The lions look pretty cool and the gorillas were just plain fun.  (The gorillas look like they're ready to party.  Dancing to Grand Funk's Loco Motion maybe???)  I thought I'd give them a second chance with a fresh coat of paint and get some practice in as well.

I checked out the internet for pics of lions and gorillas and then sat down and gave it a go.  Overall, I'm pretty pleased with how they turned out.  Take a look.  As always, thanks for checking out my little blog.  I appreciate that you do.

Suit Up!

 As I mentioned in my last report, I'm in WH40K mode.  I got this Tau Crisis Battlesuit online a few weeks back.  It was partially built, based and painted.  The Tau Fire Warriors I painted several years ago have a blue and gray color scheme.  Keeping to that, this guy got a silver-gray suit with metallic blue accents.  I repositioned the arms a bit and called it a day.  I'm pretty happy with how he turned out.  I think I'm going to keep to the Tau motif in February, but you never know.  Stay safe out there!

Put the Hammer Down

 

I recently moved.  Having to pack up one house and transport the belongs to a new one is an undertaking.  Then having to unpack in the new one is no small chore. Needless to say, it has taken up much of my time leaving little for hobbies.

While I might not be building, painting, and creating, I have been buying.  I don't know why, but I have become obsessed with WH40K models.  A few months back, I bought some Kroot Warriors for a reasonable amount on eBay.  They were assembled and partially painted.  This purchase sparked my newest passion, finding WH0K models for cheap.

With that in mind, recent purchases have included a set of Vespids (Etsy), Battle Sisters (Etsy), a Krootox Rider (eBay), a Tau Battle Suit and Stealth Warriors (Noble Knight), and some Kabalite Warriors (eBay).  I saved a lot of money by not buying them new and a ton of time because most are assembled and at least partially painted.

These combined with a a number of other 40K models I purchased in the past (still in boxes - Necrons, Orks, more Battle Sisters, Astra Militarum Units. some champion figures) and ones I have already assembled and painted should give me a pretty outstanding collection. As I get more settled, I will share pics.  Wish me luck!  "For the Emperor!"

All Hell's Breaking Loose

 WOW!

Sports in da Burgh are falling apart.  Steelers, Penguins, Pitt Panthers, (of course the Pirates have stunk for some time - I think we just accept it now.)  The Steelers crapped the bed at the end of the season losing 4 straight at the end of the season and then get embarrassed by the Ravens in the playoffs.  The buzz is Tomlin is safe and won't get canned.  The team seems like a mess with disgruntled players and accusations that vets went soft at the end.  The Rooney's need to right that ship in the off season.  Steeler fans are known to be intolerant and won't put up with much.

Equally as bad are the Penguins.  They seem to be having trouble on and off the ice.  It seems that nearly everyone is unhappy from Coach Sullivan to the players (Jarry on his way tot he Baby Pens) to the fans.  The front office needs to decide what is the path forward.  Rebuild or chug along with the same-old-same- old.  What's going to sell tickets?  It's time to decide.

Coach Narduzzi and the Pitt Panther football team were Jekyll and Hyde this past season.  The first half they were pretty darn good and the second half (including the bowl game) were just ugly.  What to do here is anyone's guess.

As fans, were stuck with some train wrecks and some mediocrity.  Dark days in the Steel City for sure.