The Collection

Right, the collection.  Nothing to get too excited about really, but it's something at least.  It's a bit pared down now, as I have just put up 11 for auction (see the_reverend_1977 if you are interested).  Here's a group shot in all its depth-of-field shoddiness:

Anything on a base survived the cull.  From left to right, we're looking at some Talisman pieces (dwarf and elf, front), An eldar scout, spacemarine captain, ork nob (I love this piece), spacemarine veteran, a chaplain, then a wight at the front.  Behind him is a wizard (the same one as on WHFRP), then a skeleton, two familiars (front), Marauder dark elf, Marauder swordsman, and a dryad.  We then get a bit of chaos, with a blue horror (I think), a beastman, Slambo (legend), plus two other Slanneshi beastmen.  Sandwiched between all them is Sir Monne de Monte, one of my favourite ever pieces.  Classic wordplay.  Finally, there's a dwarf, front.

Some other images:

Not to neglect my perennially under-painted, incomplete figures:

I've been down the caravan all weekend, so the idea of painting was way out of my head.  I was to unwound for that jazz.

Heroquest nicenesses

That man of many names, he who recently fled to antipodean climes, he of the talented brush and stuff, Spacemunkie himself...he's only gone and started a HQ project.  It's a modular system, mounted on some magnetic backing material.  I assume this is due to him playing with his young lad, but I'd also suggest it's to prevent bits flying everywhere when stray dice roll across the board.  And maybe also just because he could.  He's truly unfettered in his ambitions.  Some images below. 

He also said he'd send me a copy free of charge.  Now that's what I call generous, be fair.  

I'll post some more of his stuff as I see it.  He's not using the standard adventurers, but some very nice re-boots by some company or other.  Beautiful things they are.

Bloody hard graft, this painting shizzle

Having romanticised miniature painting in my own head, I have to point out how much effort it takes to get back to a place of decent competence. I'm enjoying what I'm doing (2 sessions thus far), but it's far from plain-sailing. I'm using Oldhammer-type figures, so there's generally a bit of extra leg-work in getting them to look as tidy as newer sculpts can be.  Some of the pieces are very quirky, which enhances my respect of the work of the old 'eavy metal pros, not to mention those who paint them in the here-and-now, turning out evocative works on tough figures.

I'm still wrestling with my coaties as well. I think I've hit on a system of shading with washes mixed with paint to reduce glossiness. I tried this mix after getting a very shiny finish on a deep, dark red, ink wash. The coaties come with inks and washes, both seeming quite different. I'm still playing with them to see what I can do, but I'm making more sense of it. 

Painting session

Having installed a man room, my next step was to break down the psychological barriers involved in getting painting again. To this end, and with the good lady wife and the stepson away in London for a couple of days, I booked a day of annual leave.  Apart from the effects of some over-indulgence on the wine front on Tuesday night, this meant I was was looking forward to at least a few hours sat at the desk. It's hard to pull away from the usual around-the-house stuff that shapes everyday life, and it wasn't until almost midday that I sat down at the desk to paint. At first it felt awkward and a tad frustrating, but after a couple of hours I was somewhere near that place where painters zone out. That was a very good feeling. The results of my labour can be summed up as mixed, but at least I've started a new piece (dwarf wizard, citadel, the one with specs, a staff, and books under his arm). I used a wash of part citadel (hex pot) red ink and coaties black ink to shade a dark/deep red. The outcome was glossy, but I'm fighting back against that. I'm just happy that some colours went on. I'm highlighting towards a coral/pink colour, so the effect is quite glowy. 

I also painted the base on another nearly finished citadel dwarf female fighter. 

Small steps, and I've  still got paint all over my thumb. Some images to follow.