From TomG - Studio Scifi is ROCKING! & Lady Sarah's Limousine Request (54pts)

ERE WE GO, ERE WE GO, ERE WE GO! 

We who are about to rock, salute you, and welcome you to the rockingest Goff Rocker this side of the Studio Plot, bringing down the roof in the newest Space Opera: Squigs, Dakka and Orks onna Roll! 

Fulfilling the studio challenge for Sci-fi, I offer you the most entertaining model I've had the chance to paint in a very long time, and one that has fully ignited my love for painting again. Eschewing the standard black leather on black leather that is advertised on the box art, I wanted something a little more characterful. 

Having my wall of paints staring at me, I decided that nothing screamed metal more than a studded denim jacket, and having not painted fabric nicely in a while, it offered some fun opportunities for texture work. Next was a decision to go with red leather trousers, although having gone a bit too bright with the highlights, I decided to make them orange squig leather trousers instead. Allowing me to tie the amp-squig in to the rest of the model. 

I was then presented with a real treat; a single gloved hand! No other musician came to mind other than the King of Pop himself, Michael Jackson, but a pure white glove was never going to work on an ork, so I went for a very grimy off white/yellow. As I chose to paint this with the hand and guitar detached I had to be careful to match highlight directions, but this was relatively easy, as you can see, due to the final position of the hand being very flat. 

When it came to the guitar I knew I needed to add a real punch of colour, and nothing would have worked better than red, and as we all know; "RED ONES STRUM FASTER!" But not any red, it needed to be a vibrant cherry red, mostly to help bring warmth back to the palette of the model nearer the top. The bonus effect was that the orange to red tones get more intense as you move up the figure, assisting with the journey I want the audiences eye to take, moving up the figure. 

But as we focus back to the amp squig and the base, there's a story to both of these elements as well. Growing up I always wanted an amp by the company "Orange Amps", however I got in to wargames instead of live music, so the money needed for a nice amp bought me many models instead. But this was my time to honour that previous desire, and luckily worked perfectly with the colour plan for the figure. 

As for the base, in my head all I could imagine was this epic song that called on the power of the WAAAGH! to raise the roof. So to reflect this, I wanted a cracked earth effect with the green waaagh magic seeping out, which was achieved by slapping a good layer or two of green down, followed by Agrellan Earth from Games Workshop to give that cracking effect. Finished with a drybrush of sand yellow from Vallejo, it really brought the whole effect together. 

I can't tell you just how much nostalgia this model brought up for me, from my earliest days in the hobby, buying my first box of Ork Stikk Bombers from Marquee Models in Harlow, Essex, through my time working for Games Workshop in Southampton, where I was tutored by a great painter to let a model tell its own story just by selecting the right colours, all the way through to the joy I had taking my son to buy his first models last week. I've always loved painting orks, and they never fail to remind me why I find solo mini painting so relaxing and inspiring. I've kept notes on most of the paints used, so if you have any questions please do ask, I'd love to share with anyone interested. 

Now on to the second model of the week! 

With my painting mojo well and truly up, I wanted to tackle my need for a ride in the illustrious limousine, and offer this Michonne from Walking Dead, for Lady Sarah's perusal. 

Having painted the infamous "Fish Tank" of zombie heads two challenges ago, I had this resin figure sat in a draw collecting dust. But I knew that I wanted to give it a breath of life, which I appreciate is a bit ironic knowing the setting she's from. Although I could have drawn inspiration from the TV series, I wanted to give my own spin on her clothing colours, as I imagined her from the comics. 

I knew I'd be sticking to earthy tones, however they needed to be distinct from her flesh tone, which ended up being the triad for "African Skin" from Wargames Foundry, and I feel it gave a lovely rich and warm tone to the flesh areas. I then tackled the cloak/cape with a military green in mind, almost imagining the oilskin material but a bit dried out, mostly to desaturate the colours. Again this was a deliberate choice so as to keep the warmth close to her skin, and differentiate the intimate from the necessary items.

This decision to go with saturated, warm tones gave rise to the spot colour being red, and where better than in the triangle pattern for spot colours. The red boots were painted with two separate reds, a shiny one for the toe caps, and a duller one for the rest of the fabric, although I don't think it really shows up after basing sadly. A bandana in a matching red helped finish the model off, and I was happy. The brown trousers, black shirt and katana were kept dull and simple in tonal variety so as not to distract the viewer from the key areas. 

Dear Lady Sarah, 

Please accept this warrior woman from a zombie apocalypse, to strengthen your forces and share many a fascinating, and possibly gruesome, story or two. I have marked on the map below my desired journey to the Casting Couch, where I have a fun twist ready to share, next week.

Yours,

Tom

Welcome weary traveller, you have made it far in this post, through highs and lows, so why not take a seat as I regale you of my points and how they came to be...

28mm Model x2 = 10pts

Studio Entry x1 = 20pts

Lady Sarah Entry x1 = 20pts

Total = 50pts

Thank you all for reading this post, I worry my colour theory might have bored you, but I do hope that my enthusiasm shines through, because I've had a blast painting these two. Now it'sover to the big green guy to sing us out...

ORKS IS BEST, CRUMP DA REST, ITS FIGHTIN TIME! 

ERE WE GO, ERE WE GO, ERE WE GO, 

ERE WE GO, ERE WE GO THRU DA COSMO!

WAAAAAAAAGH!

Tom.

From TeemuL: That Orc Rocker is terrific and I did read and enjoy colour theories and stories behind the colour choices. I guess the Orc is bit tall compared to 28mm minis so I gave you a few points extra, it is just so stunning mini with great paint job. There are some skulls, too, for those interested in that kind of things. It is kind of funny, that your Limo ride is such a grim and dark and your orc from grim and dark future is not, quite clever (if unintended) contrast. Waiting for the Casting Couch entry.

From: BrettM - Walking Dead part 2 (185 points)

Last of the minis from the Walking Dead kickstarter painted up!

No clue who any of these characters are except Michonne and the Governor. Then again I haven't caught the Walking Dead on TV for several seasons now. Looks like the comics were really fleshed out more in regards to characters. Need to read them already and stop talking about them.

 Close up of the Survivors

Did just the usual base colors with a wash. Again I think they turned out pretty good for being to me just board game miniatures. Not the best sculpts nor the most detailed which made them easy to paint up.

Now for the Zombies!!

Again kept it simple with the zombies. Didn't go for any hardcore blood effects. Painted the skin a different color but used same flesh wash on them. Apparently that zombie in the back left is walking away

There are small tears in their clothes that I take as wounds so I painted them red. I also painted the bases of all the zombies red so a quick look while playing you can see what you are dealing with. 

I kept the basing job on all these pretty simple as well. Just grass and some rocks. Also had no clue how to paint zombie flesh any other color except for white. Everything I tried just turned out to look to normal not zombie like. Have to admit didn't spend to much time testing though.

I count 36 minis unless we are going to count the two little kids on one stand as 2 minis. So if sticking to 36 should be at a point total of 180 points. Think that 1000 point mark might have been a bit ambitious this year. Who knew having an 1.5 year old would take up so much time?!?!

Wow Brett, great entry today! Even if they are "but" boardgame miniatures you've done a great job. I haven't  read the comics either but that should not matter much if you've had fun painting these and it sure looks like it. I do like your zombies, they look great! Anyway, I'll not haggle with you and will count the children as separate figures so 185 points it is. I have a 1,5 year old as well and yes they can be a handful, but you wouldn't  want to miss them right ;-)

From: BrettM - Walking Dead Expansions, Part 1

Finally got around to painting the extras from the Walking Dead miniatures game I got from the kick starter Mantic did.

This is about 1/3 of the minis from 3 expansions that they had with the kickstarter.

 Only know I think one character out of all these that I painted. Haven't kept up with the show and never did read the comics. Would be nice to one day though.
 

 I jumped on this kickstarter when they launched it due to my love of walking dead at the time and well of course Zombie things. Have still yet to even try the game out.

The guy in the middle is Glen from the show and comics.

The guy in the middle on this pic is Tyreese? I think?? Had to get something out to boost him up for the camera. Good looking mini when seen in person. Didn't take to much time on these guys. Just base coats and some army painter washes. I think they turned out pretty well though. Seeing how they are just board game type minis. I have 15 of them at 28mm for a total points of 75

Now Brett, don't sell yourself short "just base coats and army painter washes" they really look good to me! Sometimes we need figures done quick to get them on the table and yes that means putting less detail on them than we would like, but from these I would not be able to see you do so, I like them a lot. I am more a Van Helsing (both movie and series) guy rather than Walking Dead but it's iconic status will not have escaped anyone out there. Are you planning to do a game soon? Will you brief us as to your findings on playing it and perhaps some shots with these guys in action?

Anyway, yes 75 points will be added to your Z-kill ratio this evening ;-)