Monday, 18 November 2019

"I Am Awake!"

"And I thirst for vengeance!"
This 28mm scale resin miniature of a Trigon Portal is one of the eleven resin miniatures which can be found inside the Teen Titans Bat-Box for the "Batman Miniatures Game" by "Knight Models", and is used as an objective marker during the Teen Titans scenario: Portal of Evil. Able to bestow two Victory Points to "its owner when they control it", this marker's owner can also score "an additional Victory Point for each friendly model controlling it after the first, up to an additional two Victory points", and can cause "all models within 8 inches" to suffer a "Push effect of four inches (no roll is required) directly away from the portal."

The single-piece casting was primed using a double coat of "Vallejo" Heavy Red, shaded in "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson, and thoroughly dry-brushed with some (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Red. I then started building up the magical doorway's highlights using "Vallejo" Heavy Orange, Heavy Ochre, Iraqi Sand and a smidgen of Dead White. The entire ensemble was subsequently glazed using "Citadel" Bloodletter.
"Crooked Dice" WIPs - This Fishfolk Devil has been primed, washed and dry-brushed
Having ensured that I had one less miniature in my painting queue, I recently made the annual trip up to the Rivermead Leisure Centre in Reading for the Wargames Association of Reading's event "Warfare". Ordinarily, as "one of the largest [shows] in the country", this convention causes my wallet considerable pain, as I usually come away with a number of purchases I could never have anticipated buying prior to walking through its doors.

Disconcertingly however, I didn't find this year's array of traders to be especially enticing, with the notable exception of "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio", who not only ensured that I walked away with a handful of their characterful Fishfolk Devils. But also a reassuringly heavy copy of their 7TV: Pulp Boxed Set, a "tabletop skirmish game inspired by the American cinema serials and pulp magazines of the 1930's and 1940's", which was on sale at a modest discount for the weekend of the show.
"Warcry" WIPs - An almost completed Iron Legionary and Drillmaster
Indeed, even the much publicised "ever popular (and huge) bring and buy" sale didn't get close to making me put my hand in my pocket, and in the end the only 'out of production' figures I found of interest were three blisters of metal "Confrontation" models by "Rackham", which were simply sat on the table of a dealer in the main hall. It was though certainly nice to once again briefly meet up with fellow blogger Ray Rousell of "Don't Throw A One" fame.

Setting aside my disappointment with "Warfare", I have almost finished the fifth member of my Iron Golem warband for "Warcry". Chock full of excruciatingly annoying fine detail, these hard plastic "Games Workshop" figures have proved frustratingly time-consuming to progress, but having changed tactics so as to pigment their brass-work first, I'm hopeful that I've now discovered a method of painting the heavily-armoured warriors that little bit quicker than before...

14 comments:

  1. Nice work on the portal Simon, I admit I preferred the previous photo of it as it had more contrast, but that's personal taste.
    With the fishfolk devil try using purple as a shade and a muted orange as a highlight.
    Good to see the Warcry is still progressing, and hasn't hit a painters block

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    1. Thanks Dave. The "Citadel" Bloodletter did indeed turn out far more red/orange than I intended, and you could certainly argue I could have ignored a few of the dry-brushes as a result. Still, Trigon himself is red, and its just a scenario objective, so I wasn't going to go back and start again, LOL! As for the Fishman I've already followed the washes you recommended for my "Heroclix" Manphibian last year :-)

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  2. Horses for courses, I actually prefer the finished version of the portal as looks more blended after the glaze. Those Iron Golems do look good, but I agree about the detail. I am currently a bit off GW models due to the excessive detail and enjoying less cluttered sculpts! I like the frog thing too, he looks great.

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    1. Cheers Undercoat. I've now got my three Iron Legionaries finished for "Warcry", and am making good progress on the Drillmaster, so hopefully my Iron Golem warband will soon be finished and on the tabletop.

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  3. Great to see you although very briefly once again Simon. I really enjoyed the show, it was a little cramped in the main hall but there was plenty on offer for a historical game like me.

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    1. I think you hit the nail on the head with the "historical gamer" point, Ray. Unless I'm in a Napoleonic or WW2 mood, I tend to skip past the historical stores, and there certainly seemed to be a few of them at "Warfare". Anyway, I'm delighted you enjoyed the show - see you at "Salute" 2020 :-)

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  4. That's a great portal, great paintjob Simon.
    The frogfaced devil looks fun to paint too.

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    1. Thanks Wouter. I'm hoping to do quite a big "Crooked Dice" mini push soon as I return to "7TV2e".

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    1. Cheers Michael. Halfway through the Teen Titans Bat-box :-)

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  6. The portal has really 'popped' by your shading - great looking piece !
    I can;t say I'm impressed with Mr Frog, but I'll reserve final judgement until he's finished.
    I'm continuing to be impressed with the Warcry (restrained) fantasy sculpts.

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    1. Thanks Joe. I'm hoping to showcase a lot of "Crooked Dice" minis over the next few months as I dive into my partially-painted collection. But first I have a few more Iron Golem figures to finish.

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  7. Trigon Portal looks good Simon. The Fishfolk is coming along well.

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    1. Cheers Simon. I'm rather pleased with the portal tbh :-)

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