One last time! The dwarves gather...

OK folks!  One final group shot of the Stonehaven dwarves!

They really have been fun to paint.  Lots of character.  They will make great RPG minis!!

This did give me a chance to do a nice variety of basing themes :-)

I hope you have enjoyed this series!  Go check out the Gnomes kickstater currently under way!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2087444096/gnomish-adventurers-box-set

If you should be interested in learning any of the techniques used to paint or base the Stonehaven dwarves, you can check out my own Kickstarter, which is down to the final day!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/891905985/discover-the-painting-pyramid-with-james-wappel

Babo's Body Guard!

Well, I still want to celebrate the anniversary of the Blog's beginning by showing a unit of converted Temple Guard which I made for my converted Mage Priest!

These guys started out as a batch of old Lizardman figures which I purchased at a bizarre bazzare.  They were in a pretty bad state, which was no big deal, since I had other plans for them!

Some of the conversions were made with standard 7th edition saurus, but I also had some 5th edition old timers that I used as champions, banner bearers, etc.  I was also given some spare plastic Temple Guard bits, which proved to be very handy!

You have see other examples of my movement trays, complete with broken stone floors and vegetation.  I also like to add snakes, shields, and other bits.

Most of the saurus got some sculpted head crests, made from brown stuff.

Once the whole unit was painted, I was very happy with it!!!

Here's one of the conversions using the plastic Temple Guard bits...

And here is a shot of the 7th edition saurus with the sculpted head crests.  I used brown stuff, as that material holds and edge much better than green stuff.  It can be more brittle, but that's the trade off.

Most of the weapons were made by combining spears with hand weapons.

OK folks!  We are getting down to the end of the Kickstarter!  Only about 36 hours left!!!!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/891905985/discover-the-painting-pyramid-with-james-wappel

Foxy lady...One more Stonehaven dwarf

Here we have one more entry from the Stonehaven Dwarf line!

This is Elia Morningstar, dwarf Druid.

Elia Morningstar tries to do her best to the point of being overly critical of her mistakes.  Elia is clean and tidy and is visibly unnerved by those who are not.

Elia travels with the fox Starling, and anyone else whose motives she trusts.

Be sure to check out their latest kickstarter!  Look for those Gnomes!!!!!!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2087444096/gnomish-adventurers-box-set

Harrow Boarfell, dwarf Huntsman

Once more we delve into the realm of the Stonehaven dwarves with Harrow Borafell.

Harrow entertains himself by attempting difficult tasks.  Whether it is taking the impossible shot, or tracking impressive game, Harrow is sure to inform others of his success!

In a pinch, Harrow is quick to act.  His reflexes have saved his hide more than once.

Terrain building at the Wandering Dragon...

OK!  Now that I am not half dead anymore, I can finally get around to this post on the terrain I was building at the Wandering Dragon Shoppe on Saturday!

Kevin was kind enough to save me a spot, and some used pill jars, so that I could construct some steampunk terrain pieces for his Warmachine game boards!!

Here I am getting everything set up...

Some textured plasticard with the metal grating on it...

And lots of polystyrene tubing!

I started out by cutting some square and rectangular pieces of foam as a base.

And then started to position some of the pill containers after I sawed off the threads.

I cut numerous small bits of foam, which will look more like control stations or coal bunkers when painted.

I added some bits of polystyrene tubing here and there, along with more foam details, such as the steps.

You can see this piece beginning to take shape...

Now for the all important, and by far most tedious part.  Making the rivets!  This tool is more of an archivist hole punch, which is great for making lots of rivets.  Getting them out of the punch can be a bit of a pain, as static charges make them want to stick to the punch.

I fished them out, and then put them in a container.  I got out a new, very sharp exacto blade, which I will use to handle them.

Each rivet it picked up with the blade, dipped in a spot of glue, and then painstakingly positioned on the terrain piece, one by one.  As I mentioned, this is the most tedious bit!!!

Here you can see some other pieces that I was also working on, using some other types of containers...

More bits, more rivets.  Once these are painted and weathered, it will be a real transformation!

I tried to leave some places where the figures could actually get on top of the terrain, using it as cover or for a dramatic fight scene!

The view from above.

I made a few more pieces while we were there, which I will show in another post.

It was really hopping at the Wandering Dragon, as usual!

Lots of stuff going on, and lots of people having fun, with Malifeaux, RPG's card and board games, you name it!

Well, it's getting to be crunch time for the Painting Pyramid!!  Just 3 days remain!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/891905985/discover-the-painting-pyramid-with-james-wappel

Kirin Lightfoot, Dwarf Rogue

Here's one more Stonehaven Dwarf!

This is Kirin Lightfoot.

Kirin has learned to survive on her own, and consequently does not quite know how to work with others.  ait's not that she doesn't want to, but out of habit she thinks of herself first, taking what she needs.

Though Kirin is oblivious to many social expectations, she is friendly at heart and a quick learner...

Orm Surefist, Dwarf Monk

Once again, we return to Stonehaven to see another addition.  This time, it's Orm Surefist!

Orm prefers seclusion.  For him to take up the road, something truly critical must be on the line.  Orm spends most of his free time training.  He does not value social interaction, but he attempts to be kind when forced into a conversation.

I had lots of fun doing the freehand!  The base is from DragonForge Designs, and it has those Woodland Scenics painted leaves for some extra color!

Be sure to check out their very cool gnome kickstarter!!!!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2087444096/gnomish-adventurers-box-set