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!