Monday, February 16, 2015

WIP: Space Wolves Grey Hunters

The main colors on the armor are complete as are the shoulder pad colors. Next is the trim detail, transfers for the shoulder pads, and the pack markings. So far, these miniatures have been fun to paint and I really like this pale blue-grey color I used. The armor was primed grey, basecoated with VGC Sombre Grey, and the highlights were accomplished by slowly adding VGC Wolf Grey into the Sombre Grey, finishing it off with pure Wolf Grey for the final highlight. The yellow shoulder pads are primed white, basecoated with VMA Gold Yellow, shaded with VMA Burnt Umber, and highlighted with VMA Yellow over VMA White (to make the yellow brighter). The red shoulder pads were primed white, basecoated with VMA Italian Red, shaded with VMA Tank Brown, and highlighted with VMA Scarlet Red. The yellow pads will have the chapter logo and the red will have a black tribal design that I haven't decided on yet.

The Frost Blades were painted in my "standard" NMM power weapon scheme of white basecoat, VMA Light Blue, VMA French Blue, 1:1 mix of VMA Dark Sea Blue and VMA Black from lightest to dakest. I know this scheme is pretty much played out by now, but I still enjoy it and I think it will look quite nice on the completed model.

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Studio Update: Personal Losses, Space Wolves, and the NOVA Open


So it's been a rough start to 2015 for me. I lost my beloved cat Chet on January 12 and a week later, my father-in-law John passed away unexpectedly on January 18. It goes without saying that my family was shocked and deeply saddened with John's passing, myself especially because I had intended on building him a 1/700 scale model (complete with the full compliment of brass etch) of the USS Mississippi (CGN-40) which was the last ship he served on during his time in the Navy. I wanted to have it done in time for Christmas, but my commissions took most of my hobby time so I kept putting it off. I thought about telling him what I was going to do, but I decided it was it would be better if it stayed a surprise and that I would give it to him for his birthday in July. I fully intend on finishing the model and will most likely end up giving it to my mother-in-law so she can display it with his flag after his burial. I will also place a large photo of it on his headstone at Arlington National Cemetery.
I have one commission currently in progress that I started a couple of weeks ago. I'm little behind schedule due to dealing with the fallout of the losses in my family, but I'm looking to getting back on track in the weeks to come. This is a squad of Grey Hunters that will compliment a squad of Blood Claws and a Stormfang gunship. They are base coated with VGC Sombre Grey and still need to be shaded and highlighted. I'm enjoying these models so far, I love the color and I think they models have a lot of personality.
In other news, I'm happy to report that I am registered for the NOVA Open this summer and I will be playing in the X-wing Championship (and also some other X-wing games if I can squeeze them in). This is my first gaming convention and I'm really looking forward to soaking up four days with other gaming and hobby enthusiasts from around the country (and the world!).