Sculpting Fantasy Miniatures + Axterix Dwarf Lord

Axterix the Dwarf Lord.

I have sculpted another new miniature this week. My third this month. This is a new chapter in my life of gaming, which up until this month has included painting amd converting miniatures but not making my own.

Axterix started out as a dwarf and soon grew in stature to a rather large 'heroic scale' Dwarf Lord. Compared with my first two miniatures, this one has the largest girth. As I continue to develop my crafting skills a style is emerging.

Painting Table Saturday has turned into Putty Table Saturday. I am now planning on getting my miniatures cast in metal. A couple more will make a party of five for Yeoman. Perhaps a Wizard or Amazon will be next?

Like a bird on a wire.

The nod to Asterix of Gaul may be subtle but I guess it is more of a salute to the fantasy worlds of Dungeons & Dragons, Warhammer and Fighting Fantasy.

God bless you and enjoy your week.

Sculpting Fantasy Miniatures + Slaine Mac Roth

Slàine Mac Roth. 

After my first sculpt (Sir Theobald) I was challenged by my youngest brother Daniel. He asked for 'Sláine', from 2000AD, which proved to be a massive sculpt (and I'm not just talking about his axe).

Humble beginnings.

Shoulders.

Six pack abs.

Legs.

Fur cloak. 

Face.

Belt and boots.

I find anything flat or straight is difficult to sculpt using Tamiya putty. To help keep his axe and sword in place I added some metal rods. The axe blade still required a few attempts. I can understand why maces and clubs are a popular choice for fantasy miniature sculptors!

First axe attempt. 

Second axe attempt.  

Third time lucky? 

Room for another weapon?

The axe turned out to be larger than expected but this is Slàine after all and I think it balances the figure well. Brainbiter certainly looks ready for action. Or as the Highlander himself might say "Kiss my axe!"

I have learnt it's better to focus on one thing at a time and not mix too much putty at once. Often I would squash detail with my fat fingers while working, so letting the putty set between sculpting sessions was also a good idea.

As this is my second sculpt, I am thinking about getting some putty more suited to fine detail. I need to track down some Sculpey or BeeSputty. Meanwhile, I may return to the painting table.

Lewis reckons I should make a whole party of miniatures. Perhaps I will have a posse for Wasteman: Yeoman before Christmas?

God bless you and have a great week.

Wastelands Battle Report

Tamahere Officer's Club. 

Another Wasteland Battle Report from Lewis:

It's another fine day out here in the wastes!

Forecast is for Rad Fog with intermittent Galactic Bombardments.

This is our second game of Wasteman. It was a 4 player bloodbath that saw Bandits escaping from a crashed chopper with a GPS unit. Arrayed against them were Cybjorgs, Knights of Genetic Purity and the dreaded Hazamatadors.

Victory would go to whoever left the table with the GPS...

The Bandits got off to a cracker of a start by coping a Galactic Bombardment which killed one of their number and left the other two stunned and crippled.

Otto was the first casualty!

The Knights of Genetic Purity make their move...

The MAD cards started coming thick and fast.

As a lone bandit (Nurse Betty) made a break for the table edge she was first Mega Tornado'ed into a radpit, then abducted by aliens. Bad luck Betty!

Here is that radpit!

Quick closeup of Gina, leader of the KoGP.

Betty is close to leaving, but is ambushed by 2 gunmen and a robotic dog.

Cybjorg stalks it's prey.... ......all of who are out of range :-(

Nurse Betty is shot, stabbed and probed but remains unstoppable due to a veritable torrent of MAD cards!

Gina pumps the vending machine for more MAD cards while Grendel trots in circles.

It's always good to wear protection...

Bottle top on Gina symbolises that she's been activated.

Yep, it official. Nurse Betty is a Bad Egg.

And thanks to our guest sponsor for tonights game - Tui

Thus ends another session of Wasteman, beer was the winner on the night :-)

Sculpting Fantasy Miniatures + Yeoman Knight

Sir Theobald. 

Thanks to daylight savings, I had an extra hour up my sleeve this morning. What to do with daylight? Well, I finished the sculpt I started yesterday. You can see the step by step photos in my previous post here.

There were some challenges with using Tamiya putty but I don't have any Green Stuff or Milliput, so the old adage "use what you have" applied. Apparently Sculpty is the latest rage? Anyway, apart from some experiments with Fimo in my youth, this is my first miniature sculpting experience.

I have altered and converted miniatures before and have often sculpted terrain elements onto bases. This is the first time I have made a miniature from scratch, beginning with a wire frame and sculpting everything from head to toe.

I used Tamiya Epoxy Putty. It is fairly sticky at first and drys quick. I find it easy to do hair with it and harder to do everything else. The sword was especially troublesome. Other areas came together surprisingly well.

I am pleased with the result. I wouldn't have thought about giving it a go if it weren't for Jason Fairclough and his Wasteman fantasy heartbreaker: Yeoman. Seeing his sculpts took me back to a time when Fighting Fantasy, Dungeons & Dragons and all manner of role-playing and war games inspired me to paint miniatures.

Thirty years on and it's still a fun hobby.

Sir Theobald is similar to the classic Citadel miniatures in my collection. He certainly has plenty of character. I enjoyed creating this knight immensely. So much so, that I am tempted to sculpt another one.

God's peace to you and may you have a blessed week.

Sculpting Fantasy Miniatures + Yeoman

I have been inspired by the work of Jason Fairclough and his Wasteman fantasy heartbreaker: Yeoman. Just does his own sculpting (along with writing and illustrating) for the game. He has a style that takes me back to the 80s. The classic look of Fighting Fantasy and Citadel miniatures.

So this weekend instead of picking up a paint brush I mixed up some Tamiya putty and went to work. I am happy with the result thus far. Next will come the hands and weapon. I also have some extra details to add to the armour and helm.

With Tamiya putty some things are easy and most things are hard. I have been using it for years but only to alter and convert existing miniatures or enhance their bases. This is my first time on a full miniature sculpt. It's just over an inch tall and has plenty of character already.

Painting Table Saturday just became Putty Table Saturday.

God bless you and enjoy your week.