Not So Secret Santa

Well I reckon I'd get found out anyway so I thought I'd post this picture, (after the swap).

I love this gonk. It was OK to put together, (still needed pinning at the chimney, leg and both arms).

The cloak proved to be quite tricky. I was going to leave it with a blend of greens but decided that it needed more contrast.  I did the "valleys" with a thinned red, then went over these several times with more green.

The additional roof tiles are made from plasticard and I green stuffed the lintels.

Anyway, HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

On The Bench: Gangland Gonks III

No pics to show at the moment.

Have got the  next couple based and undercoated, (in black of course). I've started work on the faces as this is the focal point and will take the longest to get right.

The gonks are Cobra and a gun weilding hoody from Hasslefree, (a really nice company).

I will post some photos soon. Off to the big smoke now, be back soon. (as long as the snow behaves). 

Location : Glendower Close, Daventry, Northamptonshire NN11 9,
Posted on the move. TGM

Left the machine on last night.

I thought that I'd turn the Gonk Machine off last night as I was out watching the wrestling with my boys.  It turns out it'd been left on by mistake and look what's come out:

Another Vampire for the Nuns.

I'm off to watch the Wrestling tonight with my boys.

It should be great fun but has interrupted the Gonk Machine's latest procedure:

On The Bench: Gangland Gonks II

Gangland Gonks II.  It sounds like a top film to me.
Well, I've squeezed the bolts into the machine before the snow arrives.  These two gonks will need a small amount of tickling and a couple of coats of varnish before they are handed over for assessment.
I'm planning the next two in this series which will probably a "hoody" and another BIG gun toting dude.

I must get a better camera.

On The Bench: Gangland Gonks

The post apocalypse gang in now well on the way.  The theme behind these is black and dark! (So normal for me then).
I'm going to paint a lighter contrasting rubble with a bit of rust for good measure.

These figures are all from HassleFree, a great company and part of "The Forum of Doom"

(When I've done the entire gang then I'll let you into a little secret).

Look what's on the bench Bob!

I've spent too long on the Monolith. I don't think I will ever be happy with it and its time to sign it off, (almost...).

Next up: back to some long overdue 28mm characters.  Loving these. Sorry for the delay Bob!

Posted on the move. TGM

This has got to be the most difficult thing ever in the world ever to construct and paint!

OMG.
Give me a 25-28mm figure soooooooooooooon.
(Even them 15mm weenies were better!)

This Necron thing is doing my noggin in.

I keep adding and changing the green black and bright green ratio but  not pleased.

Deep breaths. Almost done. 

Neomics are coming to town.

Just seen the news that Neomics will not only be attending VaulCon 2011 but they'll be sponsoring the BloodBowl competition!
This is going to be great!

When I said bigger...

...I meant BIGGER!

This has been a WIP for a very looong time now, (Sorry guys) and has been in the backgound with a little dab on it here and there.  It's really difficult to paint a HUGE model like this, (IMO), but am pleased with the progress.

Teeny Weeny Halloweenies - DONE

Yep, managed to finish the Necromantic Halloweenie team without completely losing my sight.  (It came close to going when the sun went in and the lamp wasn't bright enough).

Still, I hope Pete is happy - they did look pretty cool, (for 15mm).

My favourite? Well apart from the grave marker stones which were just scenery it's got to be the ghosts erupting from gravestones.  (However, the werewolves were also good and the golems were loveable and the upright skelly was OK).

The zeds though...
(The ones with arms needed pinning - that was a pain and the short "igor" ones, well you can't like them all)

I wouldn't mind trying the vampires from this range but for now I've got my eye on bigger things...

It's official - I am now boss-eyed.

These Halloweenies are well small.

Weenie is the word.

They are making progress though and I reckon they may even see a game this season! (There's only one more match to go and it's a bit of a crunch match against the Norse women).

If you fancy joining the fun next season then check out: The Games Vault.  (There will also be a BloodBowl boot camp on 4th December 2010).

It's a funny old game.

I've just played the most surreal, funnest game of Bloodbowl.
Orcs V Orcs in a relegation zone battle. No score upto turn 7 in the second half then four touchdowns; three of which were throw team mate and a long bomb and run in - almost the length of the pitch!
Roll on VaultCon

More 'Shrooms

Here's the team photo and my favourite:

Ripper for a day! Love the Neomics Troll.

The 'Shrooms

Here's some pictures of Steve from The Games Vault's BloodBowl team.

These were used to almost good effect in Vault Bowl 2010.  Will they be dusted off for VAULTCON 2011?

Captain Cape was a crowd fave! 

Yes, he was really that bright.

VaultCon 2011

The Gonk Machine will be at next year's Vaultcon.

We'll be running an open painting competition - judged by fellow gamers and a speed painting competition, (10 minutes allowed to slap some paint on!) - judged by The Gonk Machine!

The 'Weenies continue.

I think that I've got it right now.

I've gone for a fairly bright "Arcane Blue" from P3 for the uniform colour.  This will of course be low lighted and highlighted.
The trim will be white but I'll have to do some black or/and brown boots and belts as is fit.

The size of these models does make it slightly tricky to see where the clothing is, especially on the zombies as I think some of the "shirt" is actually rotting flesh.

Anyway, they're coming along nicely.

Persians incoming.

Just gathering and ordering a few bits for the upcoming Persians.

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Weenies

Yes, it's true: I'm going boss-eyed.

All of the Halloweenie team have been started and I'm playing with colours.

They're actually not too bad to paint.(If you squint a bit and have massive goggles and a really bright light).

What's next?

Well there's been an arranged change of plan, so lucky me, I've got to squint and strain to paint these 15mm Bloodbowl players!

They'll be played in the very popular Blood Bowl League, (now in it's fourth season), which is based at The Games Vault in Daventry.

The new season starts in November 2010 so get onto the forum and sign yourself up!

Here's a group photo of this silly but effective Necromantic team.

And now in proportion against a proper sized figure.  (This is another reason why I hate Flames of War).

One man's fun is another's trip to the optician. ;)

Mantic again.

I painted this Mantic Elf as scenery.
I will be playing a High Elf army at some point in the future if I ever get a moment.  I know that I've done a bronze statue before but I think the pose on the gonk is great.

Mantic bits and pieces...

Mantic Games are about to release their alternative rule set to Warhammer.  The game plays well but we'll see how popular it becomes.

The Mantic figures, I think, are superb.

Yes, the Elves are skinny, (just how I imagine them); the Dwarves are stout with beards, (err - again, kinda what I thought); the skellys are a bit weird, (some seem a bit bow legged) BUT the zombies are superb!

I've been waiting patiently for these and couldn't help sneak a quick paint job in between projects.

Also, here's a few more Mantic gonks:

Pro Elves - Done

They've taken a loooong time. (I did have Vault Bowl in betwen I guess).
Still, I think they look OK.
(The diamonds are more noticeable on the backside!).

Hopefully, they play well - pesky elvsis.

Pro Elves - BloodBowl Team

Just getting the Pro Elves finished - had to wait since last night for the matt varnish to dry.

A bit of static grass and white paint is all that's needed - well apart from the little bits...

Vault Bowl 2010 continued.

The plan for the Troll prize was to make it into a kind of River Troll - basically a blend of blue, turquoise and greens.  However, with bad light and lack of sleep he came out really badly.  I found that what looked like a seamless blend of colours just looked like a mess!

I had very  limited time to start over.
I decided I'd go for a more normal looking blue with a much lighter belly.(Which I think looks better).

Vault Bowl 2010

Great fun was had by all at Vault Bowl 2010!
Yours truly managed to get the wooden spoon! But it was top fun - which is all that matters in the end.
I finished painting the rest of Steve's Goblin team, (He did do at least 5!).  I will add some pictures as soon as I manage to grab the team and take photos.

In the meantime here's a couple of badly taken pictures of the prizes.

The Intergalactic

I've decided to paint all my stuff for Vault Bowl: "The Intergalactic" away from prying eyes.  I have to have some secret fun!

The Intergalactic are my human Blood Bowl Team.  The story is that peoples from 40,000 universe have got together to form a Blood Bowl team.
These are made up mostly of Space Wolves as they tend to be quite tough in their training regime but the team will be picked out of the humans available no matter their background. This means there are Imperial Guard throwers and linemen from different chapters as well; (Black Templars, Ultramarines and even Chaos Space Marines' Khorne).

(It also means I can use loads of things from my bits box!)


I've had great fun converting all these players and making their very special dugout. It doesn't mean that I'm going to win or anything but I've had top fun - which is what counts in my book.

Countdown To Vault Bowl.........

It's gonna be a late one!

Countdown To Vault Bowl.......

The next stage happened so quick that I didn't see what occurred.  The Gonk Machine just took over and out they came:

They'll make great turn counters for Steve's team: The Mushroom Men.

The full team will be done for Saturday's Vault Bowl.

Countdown To Vault Bowl......

Only two sleeps to go. The pressure is really on now.

Here's a couple of snaps of Steve's secret present.  I started off with a white undercoat then once dried gave them a wash of Sepia.

TGM TOP TIP   If there is a smallish gonk with a fair amount of detail it is sometimes quite tricky to see all the details and it can be difficult to identify bits like belts etc.  If this is the case it is quite a good idea to paint them white, add a thin wash just to see what you're doing.  It certainly helped with this Blood Bowl team.

Countdown To Vault Bowl.....

Now that the two big guns are well stuck, (I had to make sure the glue was really dry).  I have now undercoated them.
As time is of the essence, (only three sleeps until Vault Bowl at The Games Vault), I have opted for a simple paint job.
Black undercoat for the troll which will be blue/green and flesh spray from Army Painter for the ogre.

Now have to wait for these to dry.

C'mon dry quicker!

Countdown To Vault Bowl....

OK, so I've eventually managed to drill and pin and glue those arms and hands on to the two larger gonks.  I hate metalwork, love painting.

Countdown to Vault Bowl...

To save precious time I sprayed my Star Player white and once dried gave him an immediate wash of sepia.  This will easily identify the details and I hope cut some time later.

Whilst this was drying I added a thinned black to a few bits that I will want darker or will add a metallic colour to later on.

Countdown to Vault Bowl..

Part of the plan is to do a couple of extras.  These will include my star player.

I'm playing as humans - they're called The Intergalactic and are made up of Space Marines and Imperial Guard. I had great fun raiding my bitz box, (pictures of the team will follow later).

My start player is Helmut Wulf and he's got a chainsaw.  I decided that he should stand out and look like he's having a "warp spasm" just like Sláine from 2000AD fame.  (Man, I loved that character). 

For full warp spasm effect I extended the torso and stretch this to an odd angle; used an Ork arm which looks MASSIVE on the normal marine torso and also gave him a popped out eye!

Countdown to Vault Bowl.

I'm also helping with Steve's Team.  He's playing Goblins, so, as a bit of encouragement I secretly painted a ball and chain fanatic for his birthday:

This team is themed as having spent a lot of time underground hence the grey skin but the Vault's colours are orange and black.

I am also planning a couple of extras, to be announced...

Countdown to Vault Bowl

VaultBowl is a two day BloodBowl Tournament which is being held at The Games Vault in Daventry this weekend, (18th and 19th September).

I am playing with humans, (not played them much before as I normally try and smash through with Orcs).  I've got a few things to do before Saturday and I'll try and keep track of them right here.

OKAY.  I'm a bit behind, (too much work, family, dog and now running!), but I reckon it can be done. Firstly: the three prizes:

Check them out.

Finished the Harlequin Troupe!
Managed to take some snaps but by the time the matt varnish had dried and I'd cut the grass in the jungle/back garden, I have managed to lose the light.

I'll try for some crisper pictures tomorrow, (if the sun is out...).

Now.  What's next?

Harlequins: So far, so good.

They're coming along nicely.  I've had to use gloss varnish as there's so much handling of the gonks that the paint has been wearing off.

Once I've added a few touches to them and put the basing on then I'll paint them all over with a matt varnish.