Herd Bases - WIP #5

After the last update I decided to use some Agrellan Earth on the bases and this resulted in the cracked mud effect.

From here the last part was to apply the vegetation. Throughout the army I've used tufts that are affixed using PVA. I have a selection from a variety of manufacturers including Silfuor, Army Painter and Citadel. In my opinion tufts are better than static grass when you are trying to achieve broken ground.

I think the overall effect is quite realistic and in this case complements the Herd army. In the next 24 hours I'll be posting some more detailed pictures of the final units and a shot of the overall army.

This is the last post on "How to do" the bases. Hopefully it has shown how straightforward and easy they are to achieve with just a little effort and will inspire others to try the methodology. There is an old adage in miniature painting "faces and Bases" and spending time on either can make a unit "POP". KoW, with its multibasing is ideally suited to this tenet.

 

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Gorechosen - Unboxing

Last week my copy of "GORECHOSEN" arrived. This is GW's latest boxed game and represent "brutal arena combat" i.e. Pitfighting.

I picked up a copy as I thought it might be a nice quick game to play in an evening or at a tournament between rounds. The re-launched White Dwarf had a character for the game on its front cover.

 

Opening up the box you are greeted by a plethora of components - cards, counters, markers, booklets and a playing board. As well as that there is a plastic box insert to keep things tidy and four mini sprues of models (plus round bases).

A lot has been made on the net as to what great value this set is. Certainly the components look sturdy, well made and attractive. But the thing most people point to is the inclusion of four sprues if various Khorne characters. The common refrain is that buying these separately would cost 2x the game price and therefore the game is great value. I can't help thinking that there is a certain amount of "Battered Wife Syndrome" at work there, in respect to GW pricing.

Still it is a very nice looking game and by all accounts fun to play.

Here you can see the individual player cards plus the rule book. There is a separate pamphlet included on how to construct the models and paint them..

All the components fit into the box insert and there is space to put your painted models.

Glancing through the rules I see that there are rules for the inclusion of other Khorne characters into the game. The WD also included extra rules and cards for various AOS Khorne models. Luckily my good friend Higgins has multiple AoS box sets and is going to throw me the requisite character models.

Overall I'm happy with the purchase and will be assembling and painting the combatants over the next few weeks with a few to giving it a run.

I like this move of GW to release these type of games as they can fill a niche in providing a fun timefiller. You can pick the game up from GW for $105 NZD or from a UK seller for around $50 NZD. Give there was no urgency for me I used the later route.

 

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Herd Bases - WIP #4

On the home stretch now!

With the rocks and earth painted the next stage is to add some character. The first of these is to add some ink to the rocks to give them some discolouration. You can go as far as you want with this. I was reasonably happy with the rocks so just gave them the light touch.

The second is to add some water to the ground to simulate puddles. I use Realistic Water from Woodland Scenics but mix some GW Shades in. I then apply with a match or for larger depressions- live dangerously - and pour it in.

This comes up well and provides the base on which to mount the models. In some cases I will add GW Agrellan Earth - their crackle paint - but I'm not sure yet with these. I probably will Om the edges but will wait until after the models are added.

So the exciting part - fixing the models. I pin then to give extra rigidity. In this case my wolves are resin and a little bit brittle so that extra step is more troublesome. Still I think in the long run it is probably worth it.

I can get four wolves comfortably onto a Cavalry Troop base, easily meeting the MMC while still looking good.

The next stage is to go back and paint the models fixing point (see the back leg of the front right wolf ) and then decide on Agrellan Earth.

After that the fun part begins - using tufts.

 

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Herd Bases - WIP #3

After the bases are undercoated then the next stage is to begin painting them. I start with a basecoat of brown on the earth and dark grey on rocks.

Once this is done it is just a series of drybrushes, starting with the rocks.

And then on the earth.

 

The idea is to try and make it look as natural as possible and in the next stage I'll add a couple of effects to try and enhance that.

It's worth taking the opportunity at this stage to paint the edges black.

 

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Herd Bases - WIP #2

The next stage is to fill in the rest of the bases with finer scatter. I have a tub of various grades of sand and grit plus small stones that I use for this.

First you lay down some PVA in the empty areas and between the rocks and then "sprinkle". Once it is dry you then get out some more PVA, water it down (50/50) and give it a top coat which binds all the sand. I also coat the bark and stones - provides a better painting surface - but leave twigs "au natural".

You then leave them for 6-12 hours to dry completely. When that is done you should have completely bound surface for painting.

My first step is to give everything but the twigs a coat of black primer and then leave it to dry.

The next stage is to start painting your base.

 

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Herd Bases - WIP

Over the past few evenings I have been working on some multibases for my Herd army.

These bases are for Beast Packs and Giant Eagles (flying stands). They are Sarissa Precision mdf bases which I magnetised.

To start with I glue on bark, twigs and gravel.

To do this I use a builders' adhesive and give it 24 hours to ensure maximum adhesion.

Once dry I'll lay down gravel and sand and then move on to painting.

 

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Two Great Hobby Essentials

Given that I am hobbying away I thought that I would give a shout out to two great Hobby tools that May my life immeasurably easier.

1. Tamiya Hobby Drill

I've used a pin vise for a number of years - pinning metal and resin parts and fixing models to bases. In that time I have snapped a mountain of 1mm drill bits, drilled through the sides of fine joints and pierced the top of my finger dozens of times.

Earlier this year I saw the Tamiya Hobby Drill on the net. I'm not sure where but it piqued my interest. I ordered it from Amazon and it was delivered pretty quick. What surprised me was that it was a kitset like most Tamiya models and it needed to be assembled. This was straightforward and in 15 minutes I was up and hobbying.

The Drill is magic. It requires little physical effort and drills a controlled hole. I've used it a lot with basing this year and it drills through plastic, wood, metal and stone.

Last week I pinned 200 plastic goblins to a textured wood base. Normally this would take multiple evenings but I got it done in a single session - and without any callouses or blisters - we models must look after our assets!!

2. Ultrasonic Jewellery Cleaner

The second item I've had for 2-3 years. It is an ultrasonic jewellery cleaner I bought off local eBay-equivalent Trade Me. The small unit is mains powered and sits on my desk.

 

These little units are made in China and are very cheap - around NZ 60, USD 40, GBP 35.

I fill mine up with Simple Green, a bit of iso-propyl alcohol and water.

It is great to strip figures. Put them in the cleaner overnight to soak and then run it through a few cycles. Generally you can remove the paint then with toothbrush under running water. Deep seated paint may take a couple of goes but I've had nothing it can't remove in a couple of days.

The other great use is as a brush cleaner. Once a month I pick up all my brushes and drop them in. I then run a few cycles and when you remove them any paint that has been caught in bristles or got up ferrules has been removed. Especially good for drybrushes and any heavy duty base coating brushes but I run my Series 7 W&N through it as well.

Once you've taken them out give them a wash with brush soap, repoint and they are as good as new.

 

Both tools are relatively cheap but any expense is truly mitigated with the time and money you save. Can't recommend them more highly.

 

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Weekly Hobby Update

This week has been a little bit "blah". I've been fighting some kind of bug while also getting through a lot of domestic jobs.....yeah, "blah".

I did get the Goblins based which was a win but other than that haven't been too hobby-motivated. Last evening I started painting some wolves for the Beast Packs for my Herd. I trying to get over the hump in the middle of the hobby road. By my reckoning I think I can have my Herd all up and running by Saturday week.

The other thing that I've been doing is reading through KoW Historical Rulebook - well the lists really. I'll post a full review with my thoughts later in the week. It looks like they've done an interesting job and I am keen to try the rules out in the next few weeks.

With The Herd nearing completion and the Goblins partly re-based, the next army project looms. Over the past few months I have been collecting models for a Night Stalker army. That is now largely completed and I'm looking at November/December as my painting block.

Plastic Bases - Kickstarter from Warlock's Tower

Local wargamer John Willenbruch (formerly "the sexiest man in Warhammer") has spent the last few months on a new hobby venture which has just launched on Kickstarter.

Warlock's Tower is seeking funds to create and produce plastic bases in a variety of sizes and themes.



You can access the Kickstarter page here

Currently they are focusing only on round bases - so it is aimed primarily at the 40k/Age of Sigmar crew.

The CAD prototypes look very nice and I'm sure an army mounted on these bases would look very smart.

Good luck to John, here's hoping you get plenty of support.

The Goblin Horde

While fighting some kind of bug over the past few days, I've managed to finish basing 200 Night Goblins for KoW.

This corresponds to 2x Spitter Hordes, a Legion of Rabble and a Horde of Rabble (that expands to a Legion with the addition of two Troop-sized bases).

Spitters

Rabble Legion

Rabble Horde

More Spitters

The Rabble "Extras"

I've now got some Herd To work on before I get back to the more exotic Night Goblin units.

 

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