A Tale of Duelling Gamers: July

Here we are at the end of July, and the beginning of the Tzeentch contingent. I went into this month with $24 accumulated fro prior installments, and no really strong urge to paint Slaanesh stuff (plus I have not quite figured out how to convert the things I want to do just yet!) For reasons of cheapness and wanting a more 'templar' looking Tzeentch force, I've chosen Mantic Basileans for the basis of these guys. The paladins and paladin knights have excellent cultish robes which makes them look like an order of warrior mages, and the sisterhood make excellent female marauder cultists. Therefore, this month's work has been as follows:

1 Avatars of War lord of Torment (Sorcerer Lord)

12 Mantic Basilean Paladins (Chaos Warriors)

5 Mantic Basilean Panther Lancers (Marauder Horse)

Behold the fearsome might of their purple cats - because if you are Tzeentch you don't have to use normal coloured cats.

And another angle. I have not made a command group in this batch, but since the Mantic boxes have ten figures, I'm thinking of doing it for the second half.

Behold the sorcerer lord and warriors.

Minor free hand work on the banner. This is actually the first sculpted banner I've free handed. Previously, I've only free handed shields and banners made from metal foil.

The lord's staff broke during painting. It was VERY thin, and bent very easily... it came off and I don't have a drill bit small enough to fix it - need to borrow one from El Presidente Gregor.

Yup. They look like blue and yellow dudes from this angle also. Note the Greek Hoplite helmet I fitted to the champion, cut from a figure I bought years back at Eureka Minis.

Well, that's about it for july, except the budget report:

Well, the column headings are missing... so that's GW Price, what I paid, a blank space, total remaining budget, savings over GW, and monthly savings.

Ishoo Ninty-Free: Bamboo groves

Welcome back to the third post today! This time, we're looking at how to make Bamboo groves, like the ones featured in the Toadburg set I made for the Woolongronks.

Bamboo groves are very handy for any game set in Asia, or just about any jungle-esque environment. Fortunately, they are fairly easy to make. How easy? 

Hippo easy.

The thin PVA will soak into the folliage thanks to the dish washing liquid. Make sure it's VERY wet. It will take forever to dry, so you should either stick things out in the sun (if it's warm weather) or in front of a heater. The wetness will tend to re-liquify the PVA used to glue the foliage on in the first place, so watch out for bits falling off.

Well, there you have it Hippo fans! Next ishoo we'll be looking at something I've been getting excited about for about a fortnight now, but always had to postpone thanks to Gronkly commissions... steam punk paddle steamers!
And remember, you have always dreamed of entering the annual terrain compometition. This is the year to make your dreams come true.

Ishoo Ninty-Too: Micro Generators

At last it's here! Long have I awaited it's completion (mostly cause I've already completed the next ishoo, but have to post this one first...) Yes, Micro Generators are here at last!

This is an experiment in 'instant terrain'. Not instant in that you snap your fingers or wave a tentacle and it's there, instant in that you don't need to cut anything. In fact, every component of this project (bar two small plastic rods) is an item available from Bunnings, a $2 shop or a supermarket.
How will this all combine? Let's summon forth the hippo and find out!

Note: this was spray undercoated first with a special paint designed to bond with smooth plastics, available from Rust-Oleum.

And there you have it hippo fans! Quick and easy to build, and featuring the characteristic-shapes beloved of the players of certain futuristic games. These boxes are also available in larger sized from Office Works (although they're transparent). And here are the printable graphics:

Don't forget to enter the annual Terrain Compometition, and keep a weather eye out for Ishoo ninty-free, which should be online tonight. And don't you dare forget to enter the annual terrain compometition!

Pretty Pictures: The Toad-riddled commissions of the toad-riddled Woolongronks

Welcome to another instalment of Pretty Pictures, this time showing off why I have not been posting anything much by the way of TFH Ishoos for the last four months. Because for the last four months or so, I've been dedicating my terrain making time to the toad-riddled commissions of the toad-riddled Woolongronks (a toad-riddled games club from what I can only assume is the most toad-riddled part NSW).

Yonder Gronkly men contacted me seeking terrain for an upcoming tourney, and with certain strange requirements (and I quote here from the email their sinister representative sent)

"Also if possible we would love any of it to be slightly toad themed if possible.  Maybe some lilly pads in the swamps or something? I dont know. :P"

They have taken delivery of one batch, delivered by hand at Face/Off (seen here accompanied by my own Easter Wars terrible toads of the swamps of surpassing stench):

A nonchalant toad strolls beside the stone walls, unaware of his sinister doom...

Toads an Ninja Commando Easter Bunnies clash in the swamps.

Toads defend to portico of the small toad temple with their lives.

While at the same time, through the magic of staged photographs, the toad artillery does the same thing!

The combined might of the Terrible Toads of the Swamps of Surpassing Stench model along with the small toad temple, a swamp and some walls. The complete set has four such swamps.

The terrain itself in use at Easter Wars - the forests and three stone buildings are not part of the set. They were there to make up the numbers.

The same, from a different direction.

 AND NOW...

The rest of the stuff, which is about to be sent northwards by swift messengers...

The whole of the rest of the set, here seen taking up half my gaming table.

The left flank of all the rest of the stuff

The Magnificent Toad Ziggurat at the centre, emblazoned with magnificent golden toads and overgrown with various folliages

The right flank, containing the bamboo groves, which will be the subject of a TFH Ishoo very shortly (when I finally get off my arse and complete the micro fusion generator...)

An avenue of imposing toad idols leads to the Ziggurat

Which is defended by the toad artillery. Those guys certainly do get around...

Further toads stream forth from the gateway...

And perform exotic dances on the altar. Stop, hammer time indeed.

An idol from behind.

Toadburg from the side...

The watch tower, from which toads watch things as they tower above them watchfully.

Another view of said edifice.

Toads are not very good at farming, as evinced by this overgrown field, and the way in which toads attempt to plant things using hammers.

The mighty and benevolent statue of the toad god beams on his followers.

Sometimes he beams on them from behind too.

Another angle of things.

And a final view of the tower.

Remember, if you too have large sums of spare money and a burning desire for terrain, you too can unleash the hippo! Email for commissions. I reserve the right to refuse to make any more basic terrain sets for several years. I am bored of them. But if you have something exciting in mind (like Toadburg, or a Vampire Counts table or something) email me.