Heresy 28mm Tunnel Dweller (Metal version)

This has taken many years to complete (not all of it working on the model. To begin, the original metal model came in many parts and took several aeons just to clean and assemble. The main abdomen came in six or seven ill-fitting parts so several sessions were required to even get to the upper body.

This kit came with several optional parts. I chose the insectoid head over a humanoid one, and the sword replaced a large scythe.

The six insectoid legs were a pain in the arse to be blunt, I should have pinned them really. 

I undercoated in White, and then it lay dormant for several months whilst other projects continued. Most of the time it was still on the table, staring at me with its beady eyes, and I guess this time was when I began to formulate how it would look.

It picked up the basic stone/rubble base, and then a few greeny ink coats around the base told me that was not the way to progress. More dormancy.

Inspiration happens strangely sometimes, and when painting yellow on another model, I pulled it off the shelf, and set to. Perfect. 'I shall waspify it' thought I.

Much image searching on our friend Google, and I knew what was going to go in all the different spots on the model.

Here are some of my work in progress shots.

Several coats of ink and basic black pattern, blue ink wash on sword, no work on armour yet

More yellow work, and basic bone colour on sword. Tinny tin base coat on armour. Antennae added from fuse wire.

More coats of yellow ochre on body, sword finished, antennae thickened with successive coats of thick paint.

Highlight yellows, define face and upper body more, severed head in hand completed.

More definition and highlighting, armour highlighted, antennae details.

And finally, here's the 360 of the finished model.

Laserburn project WIP11 - finished buildings, started buildings.

These astoundingly cheap Amera buildings have been a joy to paint.

In this post, I'll run you through how I did them, start to finish:

1: Purchase buildings. These are vac-formed, £1.50 for the small ones, £1.75 for the larger.

2: Raid your bitz boxes for suitable add-ons. Halford's grey primer.

3: Drybrush white all over, then follow that with a yellow ochre wash (Americana yellow ochre, thinned)

4: Brown ink wash. (Vallejo Game Color Smokey ink). Black inks pin washed into the windows and painted into shadowy areas (Chromacryl Black).

5: Highlight/drybrush with a mix of yellow ochre and unbleached titanium (Liquitex Heavy Body unbleached titanium)

6: More brown washing with smokey ink. Further highlighting with unbleached titanium

Paints I used in this process so far

7: Yet more inking

8: And here's the selection of paint markers I used to finish off the detail. I also scoured my decal envelope and added a selection of further details. Most of the decals are from old 1:100 Macross kits, the numerals by each door are from an original land raider.

Here's Building 1. The doorway effect is black and two brown tones. The paving slabs are all done with markers. The water effects is clear granular gel with an ink wash. The aircon (?) unit is from an old USS Grissom miniature

Building 3. I wanted the buildings 'the same but different'. Turning into a bit of a motto for me, that.

This building sports an alternative roof protrusion, and an odd solar panel thing with branding in an alien script. The alien decals are from Macross Zentraedi models.

Building 5 has something industrial going on at the top of their steps. The 'No step' decal is from some aircraft kit.

Building 7 is fairly bog-standard apart from that massive unit strapped on the side. It's an old Klingon d18 that got cannibalised at some point. The rear stairs feature a raised fin for some reason.

A view of the home improvements

Compare the stairs, the hilarious new game show.

Side walls

That's the finished buildings, now for the one I've started, you saw it flat packed in the second photo.

Phase one, make it, and stick more bits on.

Not sure about the green cap. I haven't stuck it yet, and I may mount something else there.

Phase 2: grey undercoat, ready for a similar treatment to the others.

Whilst we're on a Laserburn tip, some of the decals I got to complete my vehicles

So, four things off the painting table, which is looking a bit crowded at the moment.

More soon, lilliputian aficionados.

Xyston 15mm later Spartan Greek army WIP03 - Basing

For basing, I have pre-cut MDF sized for Impetus from Warbases.co.uk. I use GOLDEN texture gels for easy, ready-mixed goodness. For this project, I'll be using their 'clear granules' which has worked well on my 15mm Laserburn miniatures.

This shot shows the just-applied gel. Very white at the moment.

These are custom made sabots that I'll be using for my command group. The size is standard for a cavalry unit, but has six slots for oval sabots. As I'm only filling three of the slots at the moment, I've made three blank sabots too.

Also from Warbases, a nice 15mm bridge. I've applied some gel to cover the joins from the construction process.

Here you can see how the gel dries - mainly clear, but some of the denser areas remain white. No worries though, it will all get covered up with the paint and suchlike.

Finally for this instalment, I've given them an all-over wash of Vallejo Smokey Ink (also called 'Smoke' in other incarnations. This is a lovely pigment-rich chocolate brown. I've also added some slate chips for rocky outcrops, salvaged from a planter in town >:)

In the next update, I'll show the drybrush layers and their cumulative effects. Those riders might get on their horses too...

Laserburn project - WIP02 Vehicles & rebasing

The work continues. Here are some shots from the workbench.

I've purchased limited vehicles - I will probably get some more if it takes off with my players. I already have this Laserburn wagon and this Laserburn van from the original releases I bought waaay back. This Industrial transporter was a purchase from Ainsty, but I don't think they are spinning these moulds in their current incarnation.

Construction of the Patrol Truck's undercarriage

L-R Warthog, Skimmer, Patrol Truck.

So, having seen their extensive range at various shows, my first port of call was Ground Zero Games (henceforth GZG). The basic vehicle in a SF skirmish has to be the grav utility skimmer - the equivalent of a Traveller Air/Raft. So, one for my imperials, and one for the Judges. I will probably have to pick up some more for other forces (Redemption, Mercs, Commercial etc). I figured that The Judges could probably do with some sort of Patrol/Crowd control truck too, so I got one of those.

Warthog blister

The other Imperial vehicle had to be one of the splendid Warthog APC models from Atenociti's Workshop - from their Governance of Technology range.

The Judges' vehicles will be a midnight blue, the Imperials are Khaki.

I've already made inroads into the painting of miniatures too. First up, from GZG come these characterful Crusties. Whilst they don't fit exactly into the Laserburn universe, it's always good to have a random squad of aliens. These are a new paintjob.

Crusties from GZG

I've been doing a lot of rebasing too - mostly of the already-painted traveller and laserburn figures. The bases are GOLDEN clear granular gel. It's a paste, so I apply and leave to dry. It dries as a clear lumpy layer. I paint with Vallejo smokey ink, then drybrush with lighter shades of brown and grey.

Laserburn civilians

Traveller Aslan

And finally for this session. my first fully complete imperial squad.

Imperials!

More soon! Enjoy.