First Paint

Both Tiggs and Ro have now gotten their paintbrushes out for the first time.  Tiggs applying pigmet to her Space Orks and Ro to his Space Marines.  We covered some of the very basics of painting and dry brushing.  They found everything about it enjoyable.

What they labored to produce was much better than anything I did at their age.  If I recall correctly, at that age, I was apply paint to 1/72 ACW figures with a clumsy paint marker.  Going by some of the items I see on eBay these days, they'll be masterclass painters by the age of 14.

Tiggs has decided that her clan of Orks will be known as "Da Pink Teef".  Ro is still searching for his ideal chapter as he likes the idea of painting them how he wants.  Any chapter with Mantis or Scorpion in its title does catch his eye as he really likes the show "Monster Bug Wars" at the moment.

eBay Rehab - 1.0 Cadians

When compiling new forces I always like to search for deals on eBay.  The days of absolute steals on eBay are well long gone, but there is some money to be saved here and there as well as the challenge of picking up somebody else's pieces and putting something together.  There is just something about a good fixer upper as long as it doesn't become a money or time pit.  In this ongoing series of articles I will be discussing the rehabilitation of some of those pieces I've been able to find.  First up, a few batches of Cadian Shock Troops...warts and all.

These came as 3 auctions of 10 shock troops each.  They looked very basic in paint and assembly featuring only a top frontal view in the photographs.

When they arrived they were indeed very simple.  A few colors and a black undercoating.  A few were in pieces and a closer examination showed some weak glue points.  I'm not convinced these were assembled using plastic cement, but rather a cheap superglue.  As can been seen in the next couple shots, they suffer from a lack of flash/mold line removal and they don't have any equipment such as canteens.

This second group was purchased in another auction.  Slightly more work on them, but still only a single layer per color.

As shown in the following photos, they are a bit rough, but these at least do have equipment and have better assembly despite the problem of mold lines again.

So what we are left with at the start are 4 squads, at a decent starting point, with a little reassembly work.  One squad is totally out of step with the other 3 when it comes to paint scheme so that will have to be addressed.  To move forward with the painting, I need to decide if I want to keep them different paint schemes or make them the same.

If I wanted to have them all in the same paint scheme I'd simply re-prime them all and start from scratch.  Being that my idea for this project was to pick up the ball up at the 20 yard line and run the ball home the next 80, I'll rule that out.  So we'll have one squad out of step with the rest which I'm sure can be justified with a modicum of fluff.

So, what needs to be decided next will be how to go forward with the painting.  The choices are:

1. Triad from the present state.  I could start building up the paint, just as it has been started, in a basic triad structure.  Maybe utilizing some inks I can manipulate the starting point, but first there would need to be some cleaning up of the areas as they are.
2. As Is -  They are gaming pieces after all and will be used with children of many ages.  After a bit of basing work I could just gloss and dull cote them up and be done with it.
3. Dip It. -  I could use the dip technique and build up with some nice highlights.  I'm not a big fan of the dip method, but I have seen it put to good use.  Basically for me to start painting a miniature only to stop and dip it has always seemed to run counter to my goals.  However, with the block painting already done, these may be a candidate for my first ever Dip job.

Stay tuned to see in which direction I take these fellows.

KS: Halfling Adventures

After having a look around Kickstarter the other day I happened upon "Halfling Adventures" by Midlam Miniatures. I've not had any experience with Midlam, but the figures in this KS look like they would afford nice clean painting opportunities. We decided after a little deliberation, to fund them for all 6 adventurers and their sleeping/dead counterparts.

From their Kickstarter: "A series of 6 brave-hearted 28mm halfling adventurer miniatures (each with standing and prone version) for all of your Fantasy games."

Estimated Delivery: July 2017

KS: Strongsword

Westfalia Miniatures recently had their 7th Kickstarter completely funded. I missed on one of their earlier Kickstarters that I really wanted to back, but woefully forgot when the time came. Not this time! As a fan of their figures, both fantasy and historical, I had to become a backer. I mean, they are offering a large centipede, how could one pass on it.

From their KS: "A fantasy skirmish wargame with Kobolds, Mercenaries, Pit Beasts and more. Includes rules, a complete campaign and 28mm resin minis."

Estimated Delivery: Feb/2018

It Begins...

As the years have gone by and the kids have grown-up fascinated by Dad's painting desk, their own interest in painting and miniatures have grown as well.  My youngest son's (hereafter referred to as "Ro") 8th birthday seemed like a good opportunity to introduce some more figures into his growing collection of Airfix 1/72 and 54mm plastic figures.  He's been a big fan of "Greatest Tank Battles" since the age of 4.

The seemingly natural starting place for sci-fi and fantasy has always, to me, been Games Workshop.  Not only due to my own introduction to them as a  young person, but also due to them having their own IP for each as well as being home to some LOTR products.  Ro's running interest in sci-fi via Star Wars (yes we have and play that game too) prompted me to choose his introduction into sci-fi miniature painting as some Space Marines.

I was able to find this set reasonably priced on eBay.  After the excitement of his party died down he looked more at this set and started planning.  His first question was whether or not he had to paint them like the guide or any way he wanted.  The gears were obviously turning.  Of course I told him he can paint them in any way he wants and explained the "chapters" or "teams" to him and how he could even come up with his own.  Anxious to get started so we assembled and primed them that night.  They are eagerly awaiting his brush and he's ready to take up the brush.  We shall see what he comes up with.

My approach to gaming with kids has always been simple.  Make it fun.  When playing games with them the rules are amended and simplified for that purpose alone, as I think they should be regardless.  On occasion I play "according to Hoyle" games with older people, but with my kids its all about creating the fun and rolling the dice while having some laughs and learning along the way.  With the youngest three of my five children just beginning their journey this will continue as my approach.