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| Mister Freeze Lackey WIPs - The goons have all had their jumpers layered, ready for washing |
This month's randomly themed attempt to try and reduce my 'ever so slightly dwindling' collection of metal, plastic and resin miniatures has been rather waylaid as a result of the announcement by Dick Garrison and Carrion Crow that "Forgotten Heroes" is back for its second year. Collated on the 'official' "Forgotten Heroes" website, this particular challenge specifically encourages bloggers to create/convert "an existing figure into a costumed superhero or villain" of their choice, "from any source (be that Comic’s, TV, Film, Adverts, Toy lines, Novels basically anywhere you can think of)."
Last year, I rather optimistically attempted to complete a number of well-meaning conversions, but sadly only managed to finish my Imperator Furiosa and Vampire By Night; the latter actually being a simple "Horrorclix" repaint. This time round I plan to simply finish what I started, and have thus begun working (once again) on five “Heroclix” Lackey miniatures I have previously 'converted' using a dollop of grey stuff, into some of Mister Freeze's bobble-hat wearing goons.
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| Necron Raider WIPs - The "merciless killers" have all been primed "Citadel" Ironbreaker |
In addition to "Forgotten Heroes" I also plan on polishing off the remaining Second Edition "Warhammer 40K" Necron Raiders I began painting a little over four weeks ago. This 'Oldhammer 40K' mini-project has somewhat stalled recently as a result of the generosity of a pair of stalwart wargamers substantially increasing the number of Gauss-Flayer Gun-carrying miniatures I own, and I have therefore spent some extra time on these wonderful gifts cleaning, priming and basing them, so as to do them the justice they deserve.
Of particular note, Dave Stone of "Wargames Terrain Workshop" fame has kindly not only sent me a few extra "merciless killers", but also a very much appreciated Limited Edition Skulz Necron Examination Table to use as an objective marker. Whilst, amongst several other most welcome miniatures from the "dystopian science fantasy universe", Steve from "The Game Cupboard" posted me several more Necron Raiders including a complete "machine-like" Immortal armed with a Gauss Blaster...
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| Xorn Ravager WIPS - The "outsiders from the Elemental Plane of Earth" have been undercoated |
Finally, my recent purchase of the "Dungeon & Dragon" module "Expedition To The Barrier Peaks" by "TSR Hobbies Inc" has enthused me to start rummaging through my collection of pre-painted "Wizkids" Dungeons & Dragons miniatures. As I plan on playing the out-of-print 1980 "playing aid" using "Mutants And Death Ray Guns" by "Ganesha Games", rather than Gary Gygax's famous rule-set, I am currently developing an opening scenario which will see the Grand Duchy of Geoff's "doughiest henchmen" first encounter the strange "gated cave" which mysteriously disgorges "monsters... at random intervals."
I already have some suitably appropriate miniatures by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" to use as vegepygmies, but also thought the adventure would be a good excuse to re-base and prime some plastic Xorn Ravagers that have long languished in my painting queue unattended. As a result, all three of the "outsiders from the Elemental Plane of Earth" have been undercoated "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey, and now are simply awaiting a wash of "Citadel" Nuln Oil before I pick out their teeth, claws and eyes.
Excellent news, I wish you the best of luck Simon.
ReplyDeleteThanks Michael. I'm very much looking forward to your "mean green mother from outer space" for "Forgotten Heroes". I'm sure it'll be bad!! ;-)
DeleteAnother truly eclectic bunch on your paint table, Simon. Will Manphibian be showing up too? I mean, he's an armed fish(?) man in wellies - what's not to love? 😉
ReplyDeleteCheers Jez. Both Manphibian and Warwolf will be finished this month, and if possible I'm even going to try and squeeze in some ice zombies to give Mister Freeze even more minions :-)
DeleteAnother exciting post I see. I like what goes on in your head Simon, its always focussed on not only enjoying NOW, but also knows e-x-a-c-t-l-y what its going to do NEXT.
ReplyDeleteThe Forgotten Heroes idea is rather exciting too, and if I can find a quiet day to myself, I will endeavour to create two contributions from the cursed earth. Two I have never ever seen done in miniature before in fact.
The Forgotten Heroes thing, it was carrion crow (Jez) who originally started this off isn't it? Him and his close blogger friends? So really I suppose its still very much his project, if only in part now: ***grins** and his friends seem really cool people too.
The robots are coming on nicely I see, and I just KNOW I have seen those scarabs in a box recently as well. When I find them (or himself does) we will send them your way, wouldn`t be a complete thing otherwise would it :)
Those vegepygmies do look absolutely awesome, and will make the most amazing addition to your Mutants and Death Ray Guns adventures. I must say I am massively looking forward to seeing this Expedition To The Barrier Peaks come together. If its anything like the other JD M&DRG things you did, this will not only be fabulous fun, but also very different, and euphorically unique.
Many thanks Hils. "Forgotten Heroes" is indeed Jez's baby, albeit Roger kindly took on the mantle of running the challenge's very own blog!!
DeleteThe gold paint scheme on the Necron Raiders you kindly sent me was a bit hard to overpaint, so I've had to use use a couple of thinned down coats of Ironbreaker for now. I'm hoping once the "Citadel" Nuln Oil goes on, and they're then dry-brushed with more more Ironbreaker, that they'll perfectly fit in with all the other Necrons. Any scarab beetles will be very gratefully accepted!! And your Predator package is en route and trackable too!!! :-)
I've got "Doctor Who: Invasion" to write-up this weekend, and then another "Judge Dredd" instalment to do first (as he teams up with a certain Road Warrior to battle T-800s). So "Expedition To The Barrier Peaks" will be after them - which might give me time to paint a genuine D&D party rather than use my "Frostgrave" minis..?
Oh God Simon!!! it reads like a Christmas TV guide special, so many forthcoming goodies to look forward to and enjoy. Your first Doctor Who write up, this should be a real treat and one I think so many of us have been waiting for, for a while now. Then another Judge Dredd instalment to savour, wow, this just keeps getting better.... and to have Dredd team up with `Max` against a Terminator WOOOW WOOOW WOOOOW!!! So cool!!!
DeleteAnd to cap it all, top billing for Barrier Peaks as a final main attraction. Rock on, and BRING it on wooohooo!!!
Hmmmmm, Frostgrave minis or a genuine dedicated D&D dream team. That's a tough one. Hmmmm, for Barrier Peaks I m-i-g-h-t be tempted to go authentic (to honour the genre) and stick with the authentic team idea. But hey, this is your baby and you decide mate :)
As for the awful gold ink, ouch!!! I wondered if it would come off okay. Sorry about that :( I hope the blue ink on the Raptor marines isn't as tough to remove... unless you keep the colour there and add to it of course (the Raptors I mean)? Blue was the original colour GW advised at the time (and it is the correct shade too).
Yeeey I`ll check the post box at the end of the drive each day now, cheers Simon.
Heh, your enthusiasm as ever is as appreciated as it is seemingly boundless, Steve. I've a lot of BatReps planned for this year, as I felt I was playing anywhere near as much as I wanted.
DeleteI really fancy using a gnome adventurer, so I'll need to dig into my collection of boxed "D&D" minis and see what I can muster. Authentic I think it will have to be tbh, but time will tell, as I want to strike whilst the iron is hot and I'm not distracted by my latest "Goodman Games" addition, "Synthetic Swordsmen Of The Purple Planet" :-)
No worries at all about the gold my friend, the Necrons were an absolutely wonderful treat and I'm delighted to have got them from you. I've put the Raptors in a drawer, as I hope to use them as the Necrons opposition in "Shadow War: Armageddon", but obviously want to get the killer robots all finished first. Don't worry about the blue, as that colour they'll be keeping :-)
wooohoooo!!! all sounds thrilling. Its a joy to see you so enthused as well. Playing regularly, playing lots, and enjoying it lots, is fast becoming a lost art with the majority of gamers I fear :( (collecting {buying} painting and planning games that never quite happen, is the bane of the modern age... I blame the internet **winks**). But once you make that decision, make that start, and ENJOY the hobby, enjoy your gaming, the rest quickly falls into place doesn't it my friend? Best of all you are starting it RIGHT. Linked games are the way to go, especially if playing solo. The `living world` you are trying to create within that suspension of disbelief really shines and comes into its own, if approached this way. You have the passion for it too, so I salute you with pride as one of the honoured few, hehe. Actually you may like my new novel, when I have it finished, which is all about the art of solo gaming.
Delete"Actually you may like my new novel, when I have it finished, which is all about the art of solo gaming." - I look forward to reading my 'signed' copy, Steve :-)
Deletedeal!
Deleteyep, everything Hillers says, and more.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, I`m intrigued by your Xorn Ravager. I notice it has three legs and three upper appendages... three eye stalks? This immediately got me thinking of Tekumel and Empire of the Petal Throne. Would I be right, that this critter was once part of that wonderful alien world?
Cheers Steve. The Ravagers' eyes are in the side of its torso, so the appendages are just claws. I'm afraid I know very little about these beasties apart from the fact they look awesome!! My journey into "D&D" has only just started tbh, so compared to a "D&D" Jedi Master like yourself, I'm but a humble padawan :-)
DeleteI only know my D&D so intimately because I have stayed with it faithfully for 40 years, never wavering never leaving it for `the next best thing` lol. But hey if I`m Jedi of D&D, then YOU are the Jedi MASTER of all things comic book hehe.
DeleteIf you ever need any help with anything D&D related, don`t hesitate to ask Simon. And if you need any old adventure modules, just let me know They may be a bit beat up as they are well thumbed and have been played to death many times over the years. But they are still perfectly usable and like a faithful retainer, are ever happy to serve a new master .
While we are on the subject, let me point you to OSRIC, which is the very first retro clone for ODD (Old School D&D). It`s basically 1st edition D&D and for all intents and purposes, is a tidied up version of the Gxgax classic... thus totally compatible with any of the original modules and all things Greyhawk. All three core books PH DMG and MM (Fiend Folio) all rolled into one huge lovely black covered hardback tome. It`s one of my pride and joy purchases, which I got from Lulu Publications a few years back.
I'm not sure whether to thank you for making me aware of "OSRIC" or not, Steve :-) Needles to say, I have visited "Lulu Publications", and am am already impatiently awaiting the arrival of "OSRIC 2.2" (HC)!! I guess we'll both be keeping a beady eye on the mail over the next few days ;-)
DeleteThanks for the offer of helping me get through D&D. The only module I'm currently considering, as I have a whole host of "Goodman Games" ones which have just arrived (Thanks Gordon!!) is "Tomb Of Horrors", and that one i can get a PDF of through "Drive Thru RPG" - Its actually the only module I know (apart from ""Expedition To The Barrier Peaks" ) and that's because its pivotal to the outstanding novel "Ready Player One" by Ernest Cline - a recommended read!! :-)
HAHAHAHAhahahaa, oh Simon, you don't know what you`ve done. You may well find yourself looking at M&DRG, then back at OSRIC, then back to M&DRG, and back again, and so on..... utterly undecided which to follow. BOTH are simply amazing, Both will whisper in your ear seductively "play with me," both will work fine for fantasy or science fantasy (oh Lord, wait until I tell you about the Old School Dwimmermount campaign and Uber/mega dungeon... specially designed for OSRIC and/or Labyrinth Lord {{don`t worry haha, I have a complete copy I can give you, when you are ready for it - and begging for more, once OSRIC has burned into your soul}}. M&DRGs is simply amazing, but OSRIC feels much bigger, much more complete somehow, much more designed as a DIY tailored `kit` for designing the type game YOU want too build. Anyway, I`m delighted for you that you keep the big plunge into a bigger world ^^
DeleteMeanwhile, uuugh, you got me too. I just ordered myself a copy of "Ready Player One" by Ernest Cline. It looks fantastic :)))
Dwimmermount is that absolutely vast campaign all set around a vast dungeon crawl, isn't it? Sounds very much like Barrier Peaks in that, half the dungeon part of the adventure actually conceals futuristic technology, and some of the levels even, are full of science fiction stuff? Sounds just like Metamorphosis Alpha to me? And hey, why have you never run us through it?
DeleteYes Tar`, Dwimmermount is a huge 420 page retro style campaign adventure, designed to be played using any ODD rules, especially Labyrinth Lord or OSRIC (though quite frankly, it would play perfectly well with absolutely no alterations what so ever required.. alongside any D&D rules or retro clone, up to 2nd edition AD&D). It is, a you say, a vast dungeon crawl, easily twice as big as Forgotten Realms Undermountain, but unlike Undremountain, where the flavour text and the room encounter descriptions could easily run into one or two pages each one, Dwimmermount keeps it simple (aka old school D&D) and so it means you can run this baby through its paces with little or no prior study and reading involved (depending on how much of a seasoned DM you are of course). It looks like and feels like a giant old school mammoth module, but in fact is a retro clone, created only a few year ago and originally put out as a kickstarter for gamers wanting to recreate a true D&D experience that felt like games did back long before the millennium. Some herald it as the best thing since sliced bread and the second coming of the messier: others (more used to being spoon fed by the modern trend of having everything explained and done for them) found it lacking in flavour and tone. Me…. I found it simply THE best thing since 2nd edition Undermountain hit the shelves back in the 90`s. In fact, I think it`s better. Its easier to understand, easier to run, easier to handle {in game} less linear, and includes fantasy and sci-fi in a seamless sandbox meld of open ended potential. It feels like elements from every boys perfect fantasy, from Xena, Red Sonya, Cthulhu, Bram Stoker, Egyptian Tombs and Pharaohs, Star Gate, Star Trek, and (early version) Star Wars, all rolled into one. If I had to say what it most reminds me of, I would say its very similar in tone to Alderac Entertainment Group`s “World`s Largest Dungeon” (but with more sci-fi elements in it).
Delete.. and YOU miss Tarot already seem to know far too much about Drimmermount already. Hmmmm you need to keep yer nose out of that book young lady, as I play to be running your sorry butt through that game sometime in the not too distant future… all of you in fact lol ^^
"Dwimmermount" - Wow! Just read through the $10 PDF version sample on "Drive Thru RPG". What a corking looking megadungeon. Yep, me thinks I'll be giving that a look at some point :-)
DeleteWhen you`re ready for it let me know. I`ll send you the PDF, and save you a tenner.
DeleteBeing black and white artwork (like the old rpg manuals of all used to be) its really easy to print out as well. We did the pages double sided and had the whole thing bound in a nice spine and plastic cover (with just the front cover in colour), and now its a super treasured game part of thee collection. Talking about it has reminded me just how much we need to get down to playing this one love.
DeleteCool. Er, no pun intended. One day I'll have to get some of those Heroclix models to have a go at repainting them. I had a look at the troll and toad webstore and was quite blown away with the huge amount of choice there is with the Heroclix ranges -- Not at all helped by me not having a clue who 99% of all the characters are!
ReplyDeleteThanks Roy. "Troll And Toad" continue to be my 'go to' place for "Heroclix", despite the postage cost. Indeed, I'm getting very tempted by all their great "D&D" models presently; so many!!! :-)
DeleteYeah that Emma Frost Hils wanted was in Troll and Toad too. Sadly we couldn't put together a big order right at this moment (post too high just to buy one or two figures)., and so are praying it will still be there when we get round to affording it. Though in truth, right now there`s not much we need for Clix. Just the Emma Frost and a cool Magik... in black with a yellow plastic flame type halo round her (who I believe was part of the same starter Emmma was in). So fingers crossed for us on that.
DeleteBelieve me, Steve, if I do 'hit the switch' at some point with "Troll And Toad", then I'll include an Emma Frost for you. Currently though I'm still desperately trying to hold out until September and "Colours"...
Deletehahahahaa, I hear ya Simon. And thank you :-)
DeleteLikewise, If Hils cant resist and places an order before September/Colours, I`ll get her to check in with you first, and see if there`s anything you want her to add to the order.
Good to see you clearing last years fallen heros from your mountain Simon. The necrons are coming on nicely, and the last creature is very interesting
ReplyDeleteCheers Dave. I need to finish the "Fallen Heroes" or else Jez and Roger won't let me forget about it. I also need a good couple of sessions tackling all the wonderful Necrons I've now been sent. Your gifts are very much appreciated :-)
DeleteI'm looking forward to seeing all of these fine figures completed. Plenty of variety here.
ReplyDeleteThanks Bryan. I'm really hoping this'll be the year of finished projects as opposed to simply yet another in a long line of started ones.
DeleteManphibian!! yeah, he might make your top ten this year now!
ReplyDeleteCheers Roger.
Yes... I remember you making a similar remark during your "Top Ten" posting :-)
DeleteWhat a great mix of figures to look forward to, but having seen what you've done with the perious necor I'm especially looking forward to the necrons.
ReplyDeleteThanks Joe. Glad you're enjoying all the minis. I know I am, and I'm looking forward to getting the Necron Raiders finished soon.
DeleteI think you may have just inadvertently encouraged me to accelerate development of one of the characters for my SMG Project for Forgotten heroes Simon! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm delighted to be encouraging you, Leon, inadvertently or not :-) I must say I found your "SMG" posting very inspiring indeed, and am really looking forward to seeing it take fruit. Here's a link for anyone else interested: http://eclecticgentlemantabletopgamer.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/smg-side-project.html
Deletemmmmm very nice indeed.
ReplyDeleteThanks Hils :-)
DeleteXorn are so cool. Old school ones especially. Never actually used them in an rpg game though - that might have to change...
ReplyDeleteXorn are indeed, Dai, though I may well darken their grey skin by applying a different grey on them before I apply a wash. I'm hoping they'll prove quite the monster for my "D&D" games :-)
Delete