Brother's Workshop

[Brother Haephestus]

Thought I would go ahead and put my own WIP materials up here for a little friendly "whipping" to get some projects done! I'm really excited to have a "battle buddy" in Warrior who's own frothy devotion spurs mine. A quick shot (for those who are curious) of me, and my Warhammer shelf - lots of 40k and fantasy goodness and a few years' worth of White Dwarf. Note there are no spues here - I have a whole closet full of that stuff >.> I have a ton of stuff also out in the shed - but for some reason (heat?) all my cheap-ass book shelves collapsed and it looks like an earthquake destroyed the place - only the brave dare to tread now, but that's a whole other project ...

Here's some of that boring background fluff that you sometimes have to deal with.

Bought my first figures in 1987, not knowing what-all WHFB was all about. Third Edition was on the shelf (which I still have) as well as Rogue Trader 40K (ditto).

I didn't really start playing GW until 92 when I saw a game of Blood Bowl being played. I wanted to play too, so bought myself a team and went to town. Next week was WHFB games and I've been hooked since. When I was stationed at Fort Hood, I had the delight to work and play at John's Slaughter House, and we played a lot of games there. Since I moved from Texas I've run into opportunities to play, but never really messed around much until last year when I kind of got Warrior addicted. So, now we're on a rush to get painted armies on the deck!

As you go through the pix you'll see that I use a lot of GW materials (paints, paint station, etc.) I'm very comfortable with these products, but the only one I'm a fanatic about is the Chaos Black primer. Yes, I can use Krylon for about 1/10th the cost, but I don't care. This primer is my absolute, all-time favorite for even coat, satin-like finish, solid covering, and bondability to the models. I won't use anything but Chaos Black. Ever. Ever ever.

[Brother Haephestus]

Lets start off with my projects boxes. These are items that are based and primed and ready to work on. Stupid project boxes ... stupid Spider Riders ...

[Brother Haephestus]

Speaking of, here's my spider riders WIP and the "painting proof" I'm using to match them on.

The lines are a bit sloppy, but I do that in the pre-wash stage. Soon, they'll get a wash and I'll clean with Chaos Black - see the proof below.

He's (the proof) not 100% done, but I don't want to spend much more time with him. One of the things I've done is gouge out chips in their weapons to make them look like obsidian or something - I need to get some drybrushing to bring that out.

[Brother Alexos]

Ooh, a nice spread of Orcs, TK, and Astral Claws. What are you planning for these armies in the long run? anything big?

EDIT: Really like the color scheme on those Spiders.

[Brother Haephestus]

Here's a base I'm working on for some goblin wolf riders. I've always enjoyed layering up reds and had a great time with this. A little black lining to cover up any "Ooops!" during painting and then lots of drybrushing to get the rocks and stuff up to snuff and we'll be ready for a chariot!

[Brother Haephestus]

I've never been able to resist the lure of the "new shiny!" and so, after seeing the magnificent TK range, I had to dip into them a bit too. First, after priming, I airbrushed the Stalkers with Mechrite Red, and then the lower halves in Bubonic Brown. I'll clean up the join during painting.

And here are the shots of the one I've been working on. I've told my friends the TKs are a painter's delight and it is true - it's been an absolute joy working on these figures and enhancing my skills.

And a little clip of the detailing I'm doing on the base. I like simple details and the mixed stone sizes to shake things up. The gravel I use on the base is "official" GW gravel, but the stone is stuff I scooped up across the street from the playground. If they had a sandbox with the finer sand in it, I'd not be owning ANY purchased basing gravel - this stuff is just too easy to get without spending a buck. I even like keeping the small bits of detrius in it - sticks, twigs and the like, for additional character.

[Brother Haephestus]

I'm pushing the O&G so I can hammer on Warrior of Chaos. He just got a bunch of dwarves for his birthday, and his fiance leads a large skaven force - I'm kinda hoping we can make a thematic recreation of Karak Eight Peaks with me taking one end of the board and trying to enter the delve, whereas the other side is skaven inside the corridors, and the poor dwarves in between!

The 40k work is just me messing around with some pieces and practicing my skills, and trying to find a nice color scheme. I've got some Forge World pieces incoming, to include the Contemptor dread and several squads of MKII Marines - I've got a crusade/heresy army idea I'd like to paint up - but right now Fantasy is the main focus, with the O&G the stars of the show.

[mrtn]

I'm pushing the O&G so I can hammer on Warrior of Chaos. He just got a bunch of dwarves for his birthday, and his fiance leads a large skaven force - I'm kinda hoping we can make a thematic recreation of Karak Eight Peaks with me taking one end of the board and trying to enter the delve, whereas the other side is skaven inside the corridors, and the poor dwarves in between!

I've been dying to try that myself. Nice painting on the wiggly-snake.

[Brother Haephestus]

Okay - today I focused mainly on the Wolf Chariot base. My goal is to have the whole thing done by tomorrow night. So here's the shot with the base "nude" and then mocked up with the chariot team. I'm not a great painter - but I think this really came out great! Oh - I haven't trimmed the outside edge yet - I'm still waggling between black (my personal preference) and graveyard earth. By the way - should I 'Ardcoat the shield, or leave it matte?

NOTE: I've removed the pictures because the chariot is done and I don't want to be taking up excess space.

[Confessor_Atol]

Great stuff there coach! I like your bases, and I think you should stick with black trim. My fav too. As for the ard coat, I doubt anyone will ever touch that part of the model. You could feel safe leaving it Matt.

[Warrior of Chaos]

Ahh....nice to see the WIPs coming along nicely Brother! The chariot looks very good so far and love the spider rider. Making some progress on getting the dwarfs assembled, but still have to finish painting up my mauraders. I'm thinking the grudge pony you gave me will make a nice unit filler for my dwarfs.

Looking forward to our first O&G game....either vs. dwarfs or WoC.

[mrtn]

Nice base. Didn't you put on the blades on the chariot the wrong way round?

[Brother Haephestus]

I think you're right Mrtn - it's one of those things I've been looking at and worrying about as I painted it. Too afraid to pop them off and I thought it looked kinda cool this way. Besides - it's goblin-built ...

Here's where I'm stopping for the night - tomorrow I'll 'metal' it up, put some washes on, some highlights, and then get to work on the crew.

[Elfboy]

Besides - it's goblin-built ...

Easily solved: All we haz to do to fixxit iz to drive da chariot backwards innit!

Nice looking collection, love the work you put into the bases, they look great.

[Brother Haephestus]

Easily solved: All we haz to do to fixxit iz to drive da chariot backwards innit!

Exactly!!

Thanks so much for the comments Elfboy! Bases are so easy to do, just using simple things like spare bits and some scraps from your own yard - and yet add so much character to the figure!

[mdiscala]

That base really speaks to the basaphile in me. Great work.

[Brother Haephestus]

I hereby pronounce this chariot ready for game. There are a few things I may yet do (eyes for the wolves - I hate eyes - and the faces on the side-railings, and adding the skulls and tails) but for all general purposes, I'm done with it. Now where the hell did the crew go?

[Warrior of Chaos]

OOOOOOhhhhh......shiny!

Hey mdiscala liked the base.....you're good to go! Looking forward to our next game man. If all the models turn out looking that good, it will be an impressive sight on your side of the table! Keep of the good work.

[Brother Haephestus]

Yeah. I'm really a base-aphile as well. You're definitely king of the scratchbuilding, which I've never been all that fond of - I just want to build the things and move on. But when it comes to bases, I feel this area is where I have complete, 100% creative control of. You can tell little stories about what's going on with the bases, the type of terrain and season your army is fighting in, past glories ... all sorts of little things. It takes such little work to make it awesome, too!

Perhaps one day I'll be a modder, but I'm saving that for a special occasion.

[Warrior of Chaos]

Bases sadly are my weak area. I really need to work on them more. Got some solid advice from mdiscala on my thread and I've been trying to implement other ideas I've seen and read about.

I wouldn't say that I'm the king of modders by any stretch of the imagination. I'd think that title would go to Kaos or Warplock Monkey. You should really check out their threads....makes me drool and be inspired all at the same time.

mdiscala needs to do a tutorial on how to achieve those cool source lighting effects....very nice!

Anyways, enough patting the over-achievers on the back. Your stuff is looking great dude. More gobbos...more gobbos!