The Painting Shop – Miniature Painting and Modelling

Saw one of the post about a Radio Control Land Raider at Inquisitor Lord Aki site. The radio control Land Raider does look impressive and amazing. Was inspired though, and was thinking maybe I could built one. But on second thought, guess I think I just stick with painting my miniatures and tanks, and with the power of imagination, I am already commanding them in the battle fields of 40k and supporting my Grey Knights… haha.

As impressed with the RC Land Raider, so I ran to my Painting Shop and check out my Daemonhunter Land Raider. Been a while since I commanded my Land Raider to battle, haha. My Land Raider was done way back years when I started the Daemonhunter army when it was first released. The weather effect I done that time was just dry brushing the tank track areas only. Then I thought maybe it would be nice to try out the Tamiya Weathering Stick on my Daemonhunter Land Raider, since I have already weathered my Rhino.

I applied the Tamiya Weathering Powder first, same method as I did with the Rhino tank, using the sponge applicator and powder the track area to create the dusty effect.

Once the weathering powder is done, I took the weathering stick and “painted” the track area, by pressing gently the pen paint tip onto the track. The paint felt like semi dried clay paint feel. Once done, the effect does look amazing, it sure looks like mud have been stuck on the tracks. “Painted” a few more slap of mud paint on the front opening hatch of the Lander Raider and the side door hatch steps area as well. Overall, the effect is good and amazing.

Check out more pictures of my Daemonhunter Land Raider below… cheers!

FOR THE EMPEROR!

After experimenting and trying recently with the Tamiya Weathering Powder (check out my earlier post on the weathering powder and application on my 40k Rhino.), I managed to get hold of the Tamiya Weathering Stick to experiment with some more weathering effects on my 40k tanks.

The weathering stick will create mud weathering effect. It is like a pen style applicator. Open the cap, and you can see the pen paint. Touching the pen paint tip, it feels very much like semi dry paint. You can turn the pen applicator to reveal more of the pen paint, very much like how a lipstick would function.

I think it will very suitable on my 40k tank tracks to create mud effect on the tank tracks and door way areas. Will be trying them out on my 40k Daemonhunter Land Raider. Stay tuned…

FOR THE EMPEROR!

Saw from Bell of Lost Soul site, THQ has released another trailer for the Warhammer 40k Space Marine game. If you have watched the 40k Ultramarine trailer I posted yesterday, I think this one would bring the adrenaline rush factor to about 99%.. haha.

I think the monologue in this THQ Space Marine Trailer is much better, as in, it is described in the Space Marine’s perspective, “I am a Space Marine.” I thought that was a very strong phrase along with the visual that was shown there after. It showed the power of the Space Marine where he battled the Orks, and showing all positivity sign of the power of the Space Marine, unlike the 40k Ultramarines trailer, where there are many scenes of the Space Marines are being hit.

The trailer ending portion was left with another strong statement of monologue, “I do not fight for Victory, I fight for the survival of mankind…, I am a Space Marine!…”. The “I am” statement is so strong and firm that it induces a very powerful feel of being a Space Marine. After the Space Marine said that, I can imagine and feel myself being a Space Marine and the awesome power that I will have, along with the responsibility to protect the survival of mankind… haha.

FOR THE EMPEROR! Enjoy the trailer, Gosh, I can watch over and over and feel so inspired to be a Space Marine…haha… FOR THE EMPEROR..again..haha.

Finally the trailer for the Warhammer 40k Ultramarine movie is released. You can check out the movie here, www.ultramarinesthemovie.com. Dont have to login or sign up to see.

As I pressed the play button to watch the movie, I was pinning hopes that it will be way better than the Ultramarine teaser release earlier. The trailer is 1.36 seconds long, and I was hoping for jaw dropping actions and intense mood to drive me into the “FOR THE EMPEROR” mood, like the Dawn of Wars game trailers.

Sadly, the first 50 seconds of the trailer was too long winded. Its just smoke and monologue about the 40k world and the Space Marines, where are the actions? And it took up already 50% of the duration. I wasn’t impressed already at the 30 plus second, and my mind keep saying where are the actions. After the smoke and lengthy monologue, it did not cut to an action impact scene to wow the audience, but to a space scene with a Thunderhawk flying. I must say the Thunkerhawk looks cool. I was expecting when the Thunderhawk flies into the planet of sort, actions began. But oh no, its a dialogue between 2 space marines, but it was good timing which after that it was the cut to all the actions sequences.

Cool and exciting are the action sequences, it was good to watch, but I would say the adrenaline rush only hit me about 60 percent mark as compared to the Dawn of Wars ones, which left me standing up shouting “FOR THE EMPEROR!” haha. The other thing I thought was the monologue mentioned the all mighty Space Marines all powerful and such, and in the action sequences, scenes of the Space Marines taking hits with blood splatter and ending with a fallen Space Marine does not seem to match what the monologue had described.

Anyway, it was still a good trailer to watch, but I thought it could have been more exciting. Still,I will definitely be looking forward to the release.

FOR THE EMPEROR!

Still working on my Empire swordmen currently. Managed to complete one swordman the other day. I was comparing the swordman I painted way back early when I started the warhammer hobby. I guess the techniques and style is still me. Probably the detailing and highlights I guess I have grown and improved as compared to those I first started. Painting the swordman sure bring back memories of the battles I have fought with them. As I paint each stroke on the swordman, flashes of battle scenes of my swordmen struck my mind, haha.

Still working on the rest of the swordmen, hopefully I can complete it by this week or next week. I did had a thought of maybe I could get a new box of the Empire State Troop as well. I guess the new miniatures are definitely much detailed and refined as compared to the early years one.

For one difference I noticed, the swords for the new Empire State Troop miniatures are sharper and better looking then the previous ones. The previous one feel much like a thick metal slate which the blacksmith has forgotten to grind down to sharpness like the current swords… haha. Even the current skeletons warriors’ old and rusty sword looks better than the old Empire ones… haha. Think I will just stick with my current swordmen, still have enough to form another core unit, and decide later on when there is a need for a recruitment drive… haha.

FOR SIGMAR!

Seems like the rumour for the Grey Knights is getting hotter and possibly coming true. Recently read the updated bits and news from BOLS and Warseer forum, it got me all excited as usual.

But I am still disappointed that the allied rules seems like its gonna be gone with the rumour getting more and more solid. I still recall when Daemonhunter was first released many years back, the allied rule was one of interesting unique feature of Daemonhunter that attracted me, seems like this will soon be a choice of the past, or maybe not, as there are also rumours that there are cannon fodder in the possibly new release. I was thinking maybe the cannon fodder could be the new stormtroopers? So far, there has been not much tips about the Imperial Guards Stormtroopers, since the last wave of new Imperial Guard release.

The rumour is also steered toward an army of Grey Knights rather than the focus on Inquisition. Still feel pretty mixed up about the feel of the whole thing, I like both Inquisitions and the Grey Knights. Guess whatever the new release would be, Inquisition and Grey Knights I am definitely still a fan. Come to think of it, I recall reading Black Library novels about Inquisition titles like Eisenhorn and Scourge The Heretic, usually the support that is needed is called from the Imperial Guards. Maybe the plan from GamesWorkshop is to separate the focus, Inquisition and Grey Knight, independently. For now, we all can only guess and speculate, definitely looking forward to 2011 for the rumours to come true.

Meantime, any Inquisition and Grey Knights fans to share their thoughts…?

FOR THE EMPEROR!

Seems like with the new Fantasy 8th Edition new rules on the horde formation, I noticed there is always at least a horde unit in most people army list nowadays. Spend yesterday rumbling my boxes of stuff to gather more men for my Empire. Decided that I will add on another 10 swordmen to one of my exisiting 20 swordmen unit. This will make a horde unit of 30 swordmen, each 10 wide with 3 ranks. Just need another 10 more swordmen to be painted.

Before the rumbling of the Empire men, I was messing with my Vampire Count Skeleton warriors. Managed to complete 5, 5 more to go which in the midst of it, I got distracted by the Empire swordman… haha. Seems like I am switching between Empire and Vampires. I think I will fill a horde unit of 40 skeleton warriors, this will leave me with another 15 more skeleton warriors to go. Its sure gonna be a busy horde painting session for the next few days and weeks.

FOR SIGMAR!

Wow… Like I always say, time flies when you are having fun or not… This is… my 100th post for The Painting Shop, and I had a lot of fun sharing with everyone my adventures in the world of Wargaming Miniature Painting and modeling. A big Thank You to all readers and supporters! Meantime, there’s more endless adventures to go on and share with everyone! Cheers!

FOR THE EMPEROR! FOR SIGMAR!

Managed to get all my Imperial Guard Plasma guys to all fall in and have their plasma gun all checked, serviced and cleaned, such that the chances of GET HOT is drop to lowest possibility… haha. I meant, I painted the plasma gun with blue glows for all my Imperial Guard Plasma Guardmen. I will show you how to paint the 40k plasma glow effect.

1. Let starts off with the miniature Imperial Guardman already painted and the plasma section unpainted.

2. Mix Citadel Midnight Blue and Skull White, dry brush gently on the grid section of the plasma gun.

3. Take a small amount of Skull White and dry brush gently on the plasma grid section. If you happen to smudge the grids while dry bushing, when its dried, wash it down with a thin layer of Citadel Badab Black wash.

4. When its dried, dry brush another layer of Skull White, stressing more on the edge of the plasma gun.

5. Mix Citadel Midnight Blue and Skull White again, dry brush gently on the edges around the grid section of the plasma gun, creating a glow effect all round.

And, wa, the Plasma Guardman looks good with the glowing feel. Sure feels like its gonna burn and melt some stuff.

Command Squad 306 Plasma Guardman! Command Squad 802 Plasma Guardman! Command Squad 707 Plasma Guardman! Squad 501 Plasma Guardman!… FALL IN!

FOR THE EMPEROR!

I have been searching for Card Protector Sleeve for Warhammer Battle Magic cards. Seems like the Warhammer Magic cards are of odd size, not the standard trading cards size. This makes it a headache to find a suitable card protector sleeve for the precious battle magic cards.

After much searching high and low, most of the brands or maker for trading cards protection sleeve are all catered for the standard and popular trading cards only. The only brand that have the widest selection is Ultra Pro. If you know of others, do let me know…

There are only 2 solutions I have concluded so far. The Warhammer Battle Magic Cards is at the size of 7.5cm x 11cm, convert to inches which is 2.95″ x 4.33″.

The closest size of protector sleeve to fit is, Ultra Pro Top Loader (3-1/2” X 5-1/8”). There will be quite a fair bit of extra space around the sleeve. The next issue I would say, if the battle magic cards are all sleeved, maybe a deck case is needed. That’s another search.

Managed to find another brand or maker for Top Loader sleeve, BCW 3.5 x 5 – Index Card Topload Holder. Seems like the size is slightly smaller than the Ultra pro ones, probably will make a better fit.




The other alternative, is to place the Battle Magic cards in a Page Pocket sleeve, which the closest fit is Ultra Pro 4 Pocket Page, pocket size is at 3.5″ x 5.25″. The pocket page sleeve can be easily filed with any 3 ring binder. I think flipping the binder to use in the midst of any battle is also easy.

I am still not sure which option to choose, probably the page pocket choice. Next, finding Ultra Pro product here in Singapore is tough. Most stores here in SG only have those standard size, not these odd sizes. If you happen to know any shop in SG selling wide choice of sleeve or ultra pro products, do let me know…

Seem like purchasing it online is the next best choice. Any one know of any good trading cards or Ultra Pro online stores, do let me know, cheers!

FOR SIGMAR!