Tuesday 30 December 2014

From DavidB - Red Caps & Skaven Mage (25 Points)

Ah, holiday week! No internet, insurance company phone tag, and the usual holiday frivolities! Here are the pictures of the delayed ratman and some holiday fun I had with the kids. The fun all started with a full dinning room, three dogs, one terrified cat, and a led squeaky ball....

I did have an "Oliphant" full of nasty evil folk for the fortnight challenge, but he and the mighty Harad warriors were taken out! A fuzzy stampede lead by said led light and consisting in order of one cat in-the- wrong-place, three excited lab mixes, and four concerned kids. No holiday decorations, French doors, or heirlooms were damaged. No lasting harm to any living being ( the cat may have lost a life, but he has at least 8 more). The mighty oliphant and a couple troops did not survive the charge. They can be repaired, but I'm not keen on it for now. 

To settle the kids, we painted models yesterday. Each of us had 4 Defiance Games marines from my prep box. The kids feel better about it and some of their work may be observed behind the four I painted.

Mine are the Red Caps, an intergalactic mercenary group made up of former soldiers looking for decent pay. The troops are responsible for their own gear and uniforms. Hence the mishmash of gear and camo. They are for a freebie skirmish written by Howard Whitehouse. Quick play and wounded/dead troops are not removed. Care- under- fire is part of the rules.



There was controversy about Defiance Games. But as you can see the models are pretty decent. Plus I was in contact with them and received TWO boxes plus extras for FREE while I was deployed and I never asked once for samples or anything beyond what I paid for. I am sorry to see them gone now.


I like the "combat diapers" the models sport. "Combat diapers" are uncomfortable, hot, jock-itch creating gear that you don't need till you do! Seeing them reminds me that you the same idiots will be designing uniforms for troops in the future, and those troops will find the same discomfort I have...and the same gripping on comfort will continue anon! ;)


In the 1812 War, more British troops died on the march to Washington than in the skirmishing. It was because of the wool uniform jackets, backpacks, and humid summer air! You KNOW they were griping a bit!


The Skaven mage is a conversion of several fantasy bits. I needed a sorcerer for my skaven warband and did not like what GW had available. All the parts came from GW kits, and in the end , I had my very own cycloptic mage!


Since mages are albinos in the Skaven world, he was undercoated white. Since he eats warpstone for magic, I painted his eye green. He keeps his stash of warpstone in his staff within the lantern.


I have him posed as if he is preparing a blast of magic. I used a lot of inks and washes on him with a light drybrushing of tan followed by more washes and some highlights. I prefer black undercoats, but white makes washes work really well. The Defiance Games marines (mercs) have a NMM attempted on the weapons, but I don't think it worked out too well. I think I did better with it on Red Platoon, but it is still new to me. I'll try again on later entries.



From Curt:David, it sounds like you've had your hands full this holiday season! My deepest condolences regarding the stricken Oliphant and its posse. I hope we see the repaired beast soon. I like your Red Caps though I find the whole idea of 'combat diapers' deeply troubling. I had no idea... (Though I guess they make perfect sense.) Your Skaven mage is completey ace. I love the lantern, his green eyes and his albino fur - excellent stuff.  
Finally, your hobby space has that whiff of chaotic reality about it that I find strangely calming. Thanks for sending that along.  :)

25 comments:

  1. Thank you, Curt! I probably should explain that "combat diapers" are a special rig of kevlar that protects a portion of a soldiers anatomy that is rather valuable. It also protects other sensitive areas( aka million dollar wound). My recon unit made them entirely optional as movement and comfort in 120° desert is greatly reduced. Due to IED attacks, some commands made them inspection-able items for truck missions. Oshkosh trucks pushing 3,000 lbs of minerollers needed to run the heater to prevent overheating the engine. Gripes would ensue!
    The DAPs on the shoulders were not comfortable either!
    The Oliphant probably would have survived if I had room for him on my desk, rather than the TV tray on the side. A pointed lesson for neatness counts! ;)

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  2. That's a nice and messy paint desk!..nice results from it by th way..

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    1. Thank you, Dave! Not all the debris is mine. Some are broken items my family wants repaired. The desk is a messy island in a sea of clean within the living room. My wife calls it the toll for having my presence within the house and not in the woods! ;)

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  3. Sounds like someone had their hands full over Christmas - I smell a sitcom...!

    The Skaven mage looks suitably wicked, just what any self-respecting Skaven warband needs if they're to cut a swathe through the assorted man-things and mutants of Mordheim. The Mercs are likewise intimidating - well done there, despite the chaotic incursions of Christmas!

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  4. Replies
    1. Thanks, Tamsin! I have a lot of them in my paint pile!

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  5. The joys of family and holidays! ;) My kids were more distraught than I, hence the paint session Friday. Thankfully one of the labs shredded the ball today and vanquished the ball and vanquished the wicked squeaker!
    The mage is exactly what my ratmen needed...and a rat ogre or two!

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  6. Sorry to hear about the Oliphant disaster David. But those are some nice figures you've got painted up. Defiance leave a bad taste to me as I have lost out to them. But dislike for the manufacturer aside you've done a top job with their minis. The Skaven is my personal fave however. Hope to see the Oliphant repaired at some point :-)

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    1. Thanks! The skaven was a first as he is mostly washes. I'll dub him my 1st 3D watercolor! Although I was lucky with DG, a friend of mine had dismal luck with them like you.
      The "oliphant" will be up hopefully soon the harad bow and spear plastic may take a bit!

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  7. Ack, the sound of damaged minis always makes me wince! Love the backstory on the mercs and the paint job too. The best bit is the lantern glow though, that's tres cool sir.

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    1. It did alter plans a touch! I had to come up with a background for the mercs, as my kids were giving theirs backgrounds as we painted. My youngest has hers as activists, their helms are decorated with ribbons for the causes they support! ;)

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  8. Sorry to hear of the disaster, a real shame given the quality of this entry

    Ian

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    1. Thanks, Ian! He'll be up after repair and highlights!

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  9. WE all have disasters. I have also had one this challenge. But the Day after we pick ourselves up and carry on. (Maybe not on that exact project) Give it a week and the Oliphant will start calling to you. Skaven Mage looks good as do the Mercs. Keep the good entries coming mate we are all eager to see more.

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    1. Thanks,Clint! It was a bit of a set back, but I haven't given up on him. I hope this is the only time he falls! I'll avoid deploying him on table edges. ;)

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  10. Very nice painting work. I also have a cat living in my (his) home, so I know how dangerous they can be when they take interest in your painting work...

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    1. Thanks,Jusn!He is actually a pretty good cat. He and the LED squeaky ball passed easily under the TV tray, the three dogs in pursuit were way too large for the passage!

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  11. Very nice painting on the Marines and the Skaven! Sorry to hear about your little christmas disaster.

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    1. Thanks, Moiterei! This one is minor compared to others, I'll look at it as a chance to improve the model. Plus, I got to spend a day painting with my kids, not the way I planned, but still a good day! ;)

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  12. Good stuff. The Skaven mage is really creative, fine work. Sorry about the oliphaunt.

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    1. Thanks, Michael! The big beastie will be along after repair, TouchUp and highlights are completed.

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  13. I really like that Skaven magic user. Skaven were my first WH army back in the 90s, so I've got a bit of a soft spot for them.

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    1. I've never fielded them beyond skirmish in Mordenheim, but I do have an army book for them. My favorite bits are leaders are in the back of the formation and they prefer to outnumber the enemy before they charge! Cowardly little backstabbers! ;)

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  14. I especially like the work you did on the Skaven Mage conversion.

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  15. Everything looks great, but in particular I have to offer another thumbs-up for the Skaven mage, especially as he's meant for Mordheim, one of my all-time favorite GW games.

    I hope the oliphant gets out of the hospital before the end of the Challenge so we can all get a look!

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