Day 1461 - a 4th year of paint-on-brush (Nick)

So yesterday was an incredible 4 years since Carl & I started trying to put 'paint on brush', and sadly this post feels like a carbon copy of the one I made 12 months ago!

For me it was just 3 finishes again, while Carl has had another bumper year with 57(?).

All started with good intentions to make amends, and then big changes in February meant I ended up travelling the UK & Europe a lot and living out of a suitcase as it were.

Despite a brave attempt to carry on and at least do 'something' every day, it soon became clear that it was just one more thing I didn't need to worry about and I have been out of the gaming & hobby circle completely for 9 months and I am only just getting back into it now the winter draws in.

It will take me a while to get back onboard with the hobby side of things, especially as the mantra has been completely out the window for a long time now... it may get there, it may not, but I've started playing a few games again and having a deep dive into my stash so you never know?

Age of Sigmar Chaos Chariot (Carl)

I recently finished my Slaves to Darkness Chaos Chariot. Aside from my attempts to wear away at the lead (& plastic) mountain I had the added incentive to get this finished as I’d committed to going to an evening Age of Sigmar Spearhead event at Warhammer World.

The Chaos Chariot was the only model I didn’t have ready for the event so it got bumped up the painting queue. But due to a combination of family life and work shifts I ran the painting very close to the wire completing it in the morning of the event. The build was generally quite enjoyable, I built and painted it in subassemblies however, due to running so close in time, I had to cut a few corners on the painting so the horses and a few details aren’t as ‘finished’ as I’d ideally have liked.

My main gripe was the reins, by all the gods of hobbying they were a challenge, it might have been my build skills but I struggled. After much swearing, huffing and general bad tempered moaning I resigned myself to having a gap that I couldn’t avoid. But in a flash of inspiration I cut a spiky bit from the haft of an unused axehead from the kit and shaped it to the gap, hurrah! Problem solved. If I hadn’t got so wound up with trying to match the kit instructions and simply trusted hobby experience I could have got to this solution a lot quicker. Something to try to remember.

I was gifted this model for my birthday earlier this year and I’ve actually got it completed within six months! That’s a big deal for me.

At the event, a casual affair with ‘Quests’ to complete along with playing the games, I had a win and a draw and completed about half of the quests. It was loads of fun to play in and using a painted force was a big ‘feel good’ moment for me. My opponents were lovely chaps, there were a lot of beautifully painted armies present and good natured story swapping and chat amongst players. A very enjoyable experience all round.

So that’s another completion for 2024 putting my total on 32!

Age of Sigmar Chaos Lord (Carl)

Another finish for 2024 and it’s the Chaos Lord for Age of Sigmar. Unlike a lot of the other chaos minis I’ve been working on, this one has been incredibly quick and straight forward.

Although I did have a bit of a crisis with the blade of his glaive. I got it to the point where I was happy with it. Then, I don’t know why, I tried to do a little bit of glowing effect bling, failed terribly and had to repaint it to bring it back to where it is now.

Other than that, pretty easy.

Total minis completed in 2024 now at 31!

Slaves to Darkness Chaos Knight (Carl)

After months of inactivity I’ve finally finished the last Chaos Knight for my Slaves to Darkness Age of Sigmar force.

I’ve not managed to pick up a brush in months due to work and home being busy.

This takes my tally of completions for the year to 30. Got to get my mojo rolling a lot faster if I want to complete 52 by year end.

Warcry (Age of Sigmar) Darkoath Savagers (Carl)

The last day of May sees me finally scrape in with two finishes. Hobby time this month has been consumed by cleaning up and priming the Darkoath Savager models from Games Workshop’s Warcry game.

They’ll be performing double duty for me as part of my Slaves to Darkness Age of Sigmar army.

To say that I’ve been swearng, moaning, ranting and generally crying during the process of cleanup and build of the Darkoath models is an understatement. I intensely dislike the way the models have been split and compiled on the sprues. Half a forearm!? Sheesh.

Anyway, that aside, when they’re built and primed they’re lovely models, full of Conan style character.

Pictured here are my first two (out of ten) finishes. Hopefully in June I’ll get the other eight done along with, more importantly, my final Chaos Knight.

These two models make my total completions for the year so far 29!

Tzeentch old Warhammer/Battlemasters Chaos Knight (Carl)

Another completion towards my Age of Sigmar Chaps Knights unit, this time a Tzeentch themed Knight.

It’s another old GW/Battlemasters model, I wasn’t entirely sure where I was going with the colour scheme so it’s a bit darker than I wanted but it’s finished.

That makes 27 completions in 2024 and only one Knight left to go to complete the unit.

Old Warhammer/Battlemasters Chaos Knight (Carl)

 

Hot on the heels of the sweetly scented allure of the old Realms of Chaos Slaaneshi Chaos Knight follows the no less pungent Nurgle Knight.

This time the model is one of the old Games Workshop & MB Games collaboration Battermasters models. This one was quite quick to do, I do think Nurgle themed models allow for a looser approach to applying colours.

Total completions: 26 for the year!