Terrain for next year...

There's so much work going on in the background that doesn't reach this blog.

Here's a quick work in progress snap of one such thing, for next years mega project...

Greek mythology - scale comparison and compatibility

So here's the final post in this little series for now, showcasing the scale comparison:

(left to right in the above image)

• Victrix plastic torso, converted using MOTN metal head and arm parts
• MOTN hoplite miniature
• MOTN Faun archer miniature
• Victrix Greek archer, converted to use a MOTN head.

I now need to clean up and prepare the masters for production molds... a painstaking task.

Final shots below, these were test sculpts with my dollies. Some of the arms are wonky but I painted them up anyway. Here I'm experimenting to see if I can do hoplites with the left arm and shield all single piece with the body (so only the head and right arm would be multi-part). I'll likely take this approach with my god specific warriors and regiments.

And lastly, my humble little conversion parts gracing the Victrix plastics.

Stay tuned for more Greek mythology developments.

More hoplite colour schemes

Few pics of more test colour schemes. These are all made from my metal parts, only the spears have been taken from the Victrix plastic kit.

The hero in blue and white

I like this colour scheme! Though will perhaps make the silver a bit more moody and dark in future.

The Spartan, paint job.

Another colour scheme experiment on a master cast... with a base fitting an underworld setting.

Planning on doing this head and shield combo as a single sprue, think I'll be able to squeeze 20 or so into a master mold. Folks can combine these parts with some victrix plastics for a mass army.

Faun archers painted

Some colour scheme tests on the master casts!

These are more civilised 'city' fauns... there's a wilder variety lurking somewhere in my long sculpting schedule.

Painting some masters - Hoplites and Fauns

I got some master casts back so I've cleaned up a couple, assembled them.. and started painting.

I'm guessing the embossed shields will be popular, everyone wants a spartan shield, or a giant omega symbol.

When posting images I've always tried to maintain a discipline of using a light tent and cropping the image. This is a bit of a departure for the blog with a quick iPhone shot synced with the iMac in a second. This method might be useful in terms of speed for work in progress shots.

Test Sculpts - LOTR scale.

Just a quick sneak peak of some test sculpts... an orc and a robed eastern guy (next to a some of the amazing perry sculpted LOTR plastics.)

The guy in robes represents my good middle eastern faction, to face off against my Fallen Dwarf range. The head is just a stand in for the time being, this may be an option alongside the intended head design.

Faun Archers - master sculpts

So here's the final test on these sculpts: I photograph them, ramp up the brightness and expand the size to about 5 times their actual size...

As soon as I post this I'm off to make a few tweaks and final corrections before they ship off to the mold maker.

Not photographed here are 4 'dynamic hoplites' bodies and another sprue of arms, also going off for old making.

Greek Mythology - conversion parts coming in metal

I know doing aftermarket conversion parts for Games Workshop miniatures is most peoples gateway into sculpting... but what about conversion parts for historical miniatures?

Pretty common I'm sure.

I've previously mentioned my love of all things Victrix. Regular readers will also be aware of my mythology sculpts taking shape.

I really don't think there's much need for the basic hoplites... there's a few plastic kits out there from a couple of manufacturers (they do want for some dynamic poses but I'll take care of that soon). What I did want to see though was fantastical helmets and weapons that I could use on all those plastics...

Here's a few early stage snaps of my metals parts in action. More to follow. Comment below if you are interested in getting your hands on some.

And as a closing statement - buy Victrix. They are amazing!

The mighty Karkadann - resin masters

Anvil Industry have cast me some resin masters of my fantasy rhino creature!

To recoup the costs of production, Anvil are offering a limited number on sale here - http://anvilindustry.co.uk/Boutique/Miniatures-of-the-North/rhino

I'm really happy with them, I want to dive in and start converting some right away....but I really must focus - first up I'll be making some armoured versions for my Fallen Dwarves to ride around. They'll be heavy assault cavalry, naturally!

Then who knows, the sky's the limit with them... they could pull a war wagon, or a chariot, and I'm sure my ski-fi desert range could use some beasts of burden.

Here's some other shots.... they come with tails but they're still on the sprues. These images are of the actual cleaned up masters I'm about to start sculpting over!

Obligatory ubiquitous scale shot below...

Greek mythology - heads up!

These images sure look raw, but the parts paint up nice, see for yourself: http://www.lead-adventure.de/index.php?topic=100433.0

Heads are all ready to go onto sprues then I'll arrange a caster. I have my own hoplite bodies that will come at a later date, for now though these are good for adding accents to some of the very excellent plastic kits out there in the market.

Martial Orbital Fusiliers: Heavy Weapons

The Anvil greatness continues. I seriously recommend this range.

So far these have been straight builds of the kits as they come... next up I get to do some conversion work! Assault teams with shields, commanders, and I'll raid the Afterlife range for a mech or power suit... or two.

http://anvilindustry.co.uk/Regiments/regiments-full-squads/regiments-martian-orbital-fusiliers

http://anvilindustry.co.uk/Regiments/regiments-heavy-support-weapons/regiments-portable-phase-cannon

http://anvilindustry.co.uk/Regiments/regiments-heavy-support-weapons/regiments-tesla-annihilator-heavy-support-weapon

http://anvilindustry.co.uk/Regiments/regiments-heavy-support-weapons/regiments-heavy-weapon-gun-tractor

Time to blog - Hello 2017

I'm not sure what's scarier, the fact that I haven't blogged in nearly three months... or the fact that I haven't really had the time or mojo to blog.

My miniature time has been severely limited so far this year, the bulk of that time has been trying to learn zbrush. It's such a steep learning curve, I had thought about blogging on my progress but I'm trying to fast track myself - time spent bogging would be time away from learning.

To keep my morale up I have gone back to physical (analog?) clay sculpting...

So this first bunch, these are my good guy Arabian Nights infantry. Fitting rivals to my Fallen Dwarf range.

The style is a bit of a change for me: I've recently bought a lot of historical plastic miniatures from the likes of Gripping Beast, Fireforge and also North Star's Frostgrave stuff. These sculpts are intended to sync up with those. Once finished I'll do some comparison shots!

Weapons are stand in at the moment, they will have scimitars, spears and shields (leaning towards big round half moon ones). Archers and some elites will hopefully follow, as will alternate heads and kit.

This really spurred me back into ideas of doing elite and myth units, compatible with all the basic historical plastic miniatures out there...

Speaking of myth units, 2 elite Ares hoplites are a fun little project to ease me back into things. Comparison shots at the end, but they go very nice with Victrix plastics.

And this is just a wizard that's been WIP for ages... 99.99% finished now. I'll assign him to my Arabian Nights collection.