Heavy armor...

So, I'm going to try working my way back into regularly scheduled programming as much as possible, but also provide you with a few Adepticon oriented posts.  I did manage to get some pictures, and those posts will go up later in the week.

There are a host of long time projects that will continue, including the legions of Red Box Games figures.  This is the third figure in the "elite" set that are like heavily armored Marauders.

As with all the others from this and similar sets, I have had some fun using the snow bases as a foil to reflect those lighter sky colors onto the armor and swords.  They are not supposed to be polished steel or anything of the sort, so I try to keep that from getting too intense.  

It's even more tricky, given that they are supposed to be wearing red tunics!  That alone can make any blue that I paint onto it seem more like that bright chrome.

Sticks and Stones...

Well, Adepticon 2016 has come and gone.  It all started Wednesday morning with squeezing a semi trailer worth of minis, terrain, lights and tools into a Kia Soul.

By Wednesday afternoon, the Hobby Lounge (heretofore to be referred to as Fort Wappel) was in full swing.  It was a fantastic mix of painters and players.  More than a few intrepid tournament players stayed with me late into the night on Wednesday and Thursday painting their armies, while others put last minute touches on their contest entries.

It was fantastic to hang out with Sabrina and Mark, Syndjinn, Michelle, and so many more!

If the convention was five days longer, I might have been able to see half of what there was to see!  I never even made it to the Bolt Action or Flames of War areas.  Perhaps next time.

Since I normally slave away at the painting table in isolation seven days a week, having other human painters nearby was a rare and wonderful experience!  I enjoyed that so much, it was with regret that I had to take significant time away on Friday and Saturday to meet other obligations, which were also very fun!.

Doing a few quick demos in the Secret Weapon booth was a blast, talking Counterblast minis with Patrick was great, and hanging out in the Reaper and Mantic booths was also very fun.  Congrats to Cory on another great showing of Witchborn, and to the many groups which put on fantastic displays, such as the pirate game.

The Stuff of Legends Oldhammer game was a fun throwback, and a shout out to all the instructors and painters who competed in the contest.

A huge shout out to the whole staff of Adepticon for helping get the Hobby Area together, and it was a stunning effort by Drew to make the seminars and such a reality.

This post would have to go on for a very long time to include everyone.  I want to say thanks to every single person that came around to chat, no matter how long or how rushed.  It means a lot, and it will be the energy for all the long painting nights ahead.

Dinos on Dragons!

This is something quite wonderful from Albino Raven miniatures.  This Wyvern figure amazed me from the moment I saw it on the website.  Even then, I imagined it as a possible Rhinosaur mount for my Kings of War Salamander army.

Obviously, the rider is a cold one cavalry saurus.  It shocked me at how well it fit, and how easy he was to convert!

I primed both figures an off white to illustrate just how well they do mesh.  Four of these will comprise my heavy cavalry Rhinosaur unit.

Since the theme for the Salamanders is the "Army of Ash", I wanted to have as many fire breathing dragons as possible.  The army already has Fire Drakes and Ember sprites, and this seemed to be the icing on the very hot cake!!

The positions of the wings should make it pretty easy to fit all four of them on the movement tray.

The original Wyvern figure has an orc rider.  Check out the website to see the original version...

http://www.albinoravenmini.com/#!wywernrider/c1qqr

Size does matter

The large and the small!  A King Tiger and a Renault AMR side by side.  The AMR probably weighs less than the turret on the Tiger. :-)

The Colossus of the West, circa 1939, and the Beast of the East, 5 years later.

Sooo tiny...

It takes a village to take down a Tiger.  That is, unless you have a Firefly.

Much more to come, with some infantry stands soon!  Stay tuned.

New Enemies, Old Heroes

While the Lawmen patrol the streets of Wappelville, something lurks in the shadows...

Strange creatures have been spotted by very nervous citizens, peeking out from behind curtains.  The Lawmen have dismissed most of these outlandish tales as fiction, but they are about to learn the hard way that the threat is real!

Right down Main street... a small horde of greyish creatures with hostile intent!

Legendary Wyatt sprung into action to counter this move, with some help from Carl Frederickson.

The great K-9 bots bared iron teeth, unafraid of these new enemies.  They set upon the spindly alien creatures...

But more continued to arrive!  An endless stream of greys, taking down one Lawman after another with gouts of green fire!

It looks like it will be up to the Hero of Wappelville to hold the line against the Aliens.

Virgil Earp also lent his firepower to the effort.  With the combined support of General Grant, Lucinda Loveless and the Union, this initial threat was dealt with.

General Grant knows, however, that this was simply the beginning...

A Rose by any other name...

The huge Union Siege Train has come into town, unloading a priceless cargo of ammunition, vehicles, and RJ-1027.  These have been a constant target of the Outlaws and the Enlightened, but concern over a new threat has grown... requiring more than token regiments of soldiers to guard it.

The Lawmen are out on patrol, with their customary K-9 and mercenary reinforcements.

They have sighted an unusual number of Dark Council, which can only mean major trouble is at hand!

This rather fetching Dark Council member seems to be whispering in the Preacher's ear...

Agent Lucinda Loveless has checked in to Le Flamant Rose, creating quite a stir.

Or has she already been in town for weeks in advance of the Siege Train?  No one is sure...

Life continues as normal.  Or at least as normal as possible for a town that has been leveled over and over again!

A shadowy figure reveals a glowing red RJ-1027 sabre.  This can only be one man... General Grant himself!  Serious trouble must be at hand.

What could this new threat be?  To bring out not only Legendary Wyatt, but the seldom seen General has the townsfolk really scared now!!  Stay tuned.

The Siege Train is in Town!

The train and all of the buildings in these images were made by Burn in Designs.  Seeing all of them together like this is a first for me, and I thought you just had to see it too!!

Look what's rolled into Wappelville!  A Union Siege Train.  Hopefully it's bringing in some new heavy and light support weapons for the Lawmen, who have been hard pressed of late by Carpathian and Jesse!

Everyone in town came out to see the impressive sight... a massive Iron Beast, bristling with weapons.

The Lawmen were leaving nothing to chance, however sunny the day, and mood of the townsfolk.

They knew all too well how badly that the enemies of order wanted to get their dirty hands on such firepower!

Legendary Wyatt himself decided that he needed to monitor the situation personally, and he brought along as many of his robotic canine friends as possible.

Passengers mixed with robotic guards at the station.  The Wooster Sisters seem to be trying to get a word in with Judge Stern...

Yes indeed, this was no ordinary train.  Buildings shuddered up and down Main Street as the Great Beast slowed to a halt near the platform.  The security grew even tighter, with Lawmen Interceptors mingling in with wagons and carts.

Guards seemed to be everywhere... on the roof of the Cantina, the tower... even in the wagons!

Wyatt sensed however, that a new enemy may attempt to strike.  One far stranger than the mad Dr. Carpathian and his abominations.  What could this mean?

The Hero of Wappelville was also called in, in case his portal jumping abilities might be needed once more.  This time, Carl Fredrickson's ties to the Union would be needed to help keep the peace between "allies", since some high ranking Union officers came with the train.

Willa Shaw, Lucinda Loveless and even General Grant are also on hand to make sure nothing happens to this train.  Will they be successful?