Raiding the Dusty Wastes

Patience has paid off as I have found an appropriate file to get printed as a themed dice tower. No need to go in and try to modify any files for building one from scratch. Feed My 3D Printer definitely saved me time and effort in that regard. I think I can use this as my sacred ground base for play. If nothing else the motif is maintained. I wonder if I could pack this in with the rest of my army or devote a second bag to transport.

Going back to my PoOP (Pile of Overwhelming Potential) I pulled what I’ve been building and decided to show off the idea. Despite a small setback with the flying carpet print breaking its going well enough. The repair was small and I hope to be able to just hide it under paint. The floppy cape was mandatory as it shows so much movement. The sword was from a Reaper minis bits pack and needed only slight work as the original hand came off while removing the previous spear. I don’t recall if the Lieutenant figures get 40 or 50mm bases but this is just a quick bit of work to get scale on one of the flight bases I picked up in the past.

With amazing majesty Hasn has made allies and commands a presence within his land that has attracted the attention of wise and able sorcerers. Those who wield powers beyond those of mere mortals have even pledged themselves to the service of this mighty leader.

Here I have found the end of procrastination in finally getting around to painting these figures. Yes, it is well worth the self flagellation in order to see these images where my work is done. I’m quite pleased with the result of trying out the Vallejo Xpress Carribean Turquoise for the mounted sorceress. The contrast is stark in person and may well be worth using heavily for the large Amazon project. I’m also happy with the freehand of the bearded floating fellow as I got fed up with seeing open space of that brilliant dark blue and the golden hue before committing to just painting.

Irritation with the average seems to be a running theme it seems. I should temper that. Really, who am I kidding? You all know me better than that with the level of this bonkers project.

Continuing the path of working on this force I have fallen prey to my wont of being a hobby bumblebee.

A hobby butterfly simply flutters and alights gently on projects to then go onto the next one. A hobby bumblebee will roam in similar fashion but drop unceremoniously with heavy impact onto a project, collect the pollen of effort and then buzz off to fall onto the the next unsuspecting project with the same reckless abandon before returning to the hobby hive and turn out a sweet reward, by some unknowable magic means, from the accumulated stores.

I have found more minis for the project to add as monsters from the most recent Reaper Bones Kickstarter being sold as singles. Eventhough I could get the Elemental Scion box I purchased the Scions of Air and Fire. The male efreet will pair nicely with female featured previously. The djinn will just be fun and may or may not serve as an additional beast.

From the experience of horses, the painting of a flying carpet should be considered a separate figure. Disney would be proud in the knowledge that the conveyance is considered its own character. Too much visual input has been a problem and it just doesn’t feel right visually… or is it?

Hayao Miyazaki may be credited with the phrase “Anime was a mistake” but I’ll try and avoid the pitfall of color overload for now. Retina fry is my intention for work yet to be seen, or purchased, in the likes of the medieval Indians. This force is a lesson to build on for that eventuality with this model giving me opportunity to practice my mayhem in a controlled manner.

The Reaper elemental scion figures arrived and will fit in nicely with the rest of the army. I have found issue with the djinn and efreet that aren’t addressed in the promo photos.

The djinn is great except for one glaring detail. The scale mail skirt (sarong?) was sculpted upside down. The fenestrations of the scales were placed upright making it look like little rows of pavises or tombstones instead of overlapping like fish scales or rounded roof tiles that would shed water. I’ll make a mold of these, grind down the detail and replace it with greenstuff. A simple fix will correct the error.

The efreet has its own issues with armor. The figure’s left shoulder has great detail for sculpted armor like the face of a Balinese demon. The right shoulder sported a pitiful skull that obviously lacked the same attention. I’ve already scraped the offensive thing down to the general pad where I’ll build it back up. I’ll also do some small modification to the position of the right arm and the sword it holds. When dry fit, the blade is perfect to go over the edge of the raised base it was sculpted with. I’ll be setting the base details so the male efreet matches the female one. In doing that the blade would need adjustment to appear naturally held by the fiery being. I’ve also scraped down a couple skull details on the flourishes for the crotch curtain. The quality of the sculpts are great beyond these flaws.

The work may end one day, perhaps when I decide to not keep polishing this and creating wonder.

Well, I did it to myself and decided to just get it done. I did all the NMM work I intended to do and put off. I got fed up with procrastination and thought this Spring Clean needed at least one monster. I made this move after looking at the sizing of the custom waterslide transfers I received from Bedlam Creations. I’ve since added the decal to give me something more to look at when I move the model about. Before throwing down that detail I went back and added more definition to the musculature since I was adding the black wash and lining to the belt, necklace, bracers and rings. I did manage to bust the top knot in the process of handling the model but I’ve repaired it. I locked in the work with clear floor varnish before the matte varnish for everything but the jewels. The major work that I dreaded and found most daunting can be called done. I just need to finish up a few spears, shields and other oddments to make the scene more “lived in”.

Much to my relief I’ve gone and done it. Finally, I have got the cyclops off my mind as an unfinished project piece. Motivated by the completion of the djinn I am done with this model to nevermore think “Its just sitting there”. Again, like the last one, I’m done with the basic figure and I’ll add a few extra details like spears, shield and a banner later for character. Using the original film stills was good reference in the end.

I’ll turn my attention to the mortar and sculpting modifications needed for the efreet and djinn. I am also back into the design work of the banners. Now that I am assured of getting custom decals to work with I’ll be sure to use the resource for upcoming armies. The hobby hump is so much easier from the vantage of getting over it.

I hate the watermark from the AI platform Craiyon for art but its free and been useful for quick sketches for my banner idea. I don’t know how well it’ll end up being but I think merging images and ideas will end up with what I want in the end as waterslides.