Manufacturer's Links (Big Update)

Every once in a while I've added link or two to my Manufacturer's list (see link at top of blog.) I've just added a lot more, expanding beyond the original list of 25/28mm ancients and medievals manufacturers. I've now got lists started for manufacturers of:

Terrain
Game Mats
25/28mm Halflings or Hobbits
25/28mm Giants


The former two lists are just the tip of the iceberg, but I think I've found a majority of the links for the latter two -- though I'm always interested in adding more. Let me know if I've missed any! At some point in the future, I'd like to pretty it up a bit, and get better organized.

Warhammer Empire "Pleasant Surprises"

This is the third year (of the four years of its existence) that I've participated in the Warhammer-Empire.com "Pleasant Surprises" which is a mystery figure exchange organized by one of the dedicated forum members.

Two years ago, my "target" was forum member CannonofDoom. After a bit of snooping, I found a photo of him and learned that he was an artillery man in the military. So I converted an engineer/crew to look like him (to the best of my abilities.)

So this year I drew his name again in the random shuffle. Doing a little more snooping, I found a photo of his family, so I decided to add a converted figure to represent his son as an "artillery apprentice." I used the Hasslefree Miniatures "Albert" for this, with just a few minor alterations. I thought the helmet would look close to a sallet with the crest removed, and I swapped out the morning star and repositioned the arm so that it was holding a cannon "swab"(whatever they're called) made of brass rod & greenstuff.

Both are painted & based to match his Empire army.


This year I received a mercenary ogre from Claus79:

Barbarian

Spanish Cav & More Townfolk

I've just about finished the unit of Spanish cavalry I've been working on the past... year or so. I just need to base them and make a few touch-ups. Not as detailed as I would have liked (and I'm considering repainting the standard bearer's shield) but they turned out OK.

I also finished up two more of the "townfolk" from Reaper Miniatures I had previously started. I posted three tavern workers previously.  Again, still have to finish the bases. Not certain how I want to base them though.

Photo Background

It's only been... I don't know, 6 months or so since I moved into my art studio, and my figures moved along with me. It's taken that long just to put up a backdrop for photographing figures. What a difference! The puke colored wallpaper really did alter the photos drastically.

Mind you, I still haven't fixed the lighting yet. So these photos are just a change in background...

The dipped Persians from the last photo.

And some Skaven jezzails left over from the sell-off of my Skaven army.

These (Skaven) are still for sale, by the way. I'm going to be posting a list of the remaining few items soon (maybe later tonight.)

Double Dipping - Persian Tests

I thought I'd try two "dips" on some of those Persians I assembled.

The three on the left are don using regular ol' Minwax, the three on the right use my homemade "Substance D" that I've previously mentioned, and tested a few times.

Truthfully, I'm not that happy with either result. But I'm definitely more unhappy with my Substance D dip. I tried touching up the three on the right. Maybe if I give the three on the left the sametreatment they will look better.

I really don't want to (and don't have the time to) paint a hundred or so Persians. I think they are going on the back burner for a while, anyway. I just wanted to try a bit of comparative dipping. If/when I get some time, it's most likely back to the Romans & ancient Spanish.

Work

As I mentioned a little while ago, I am now happily employed again. Without getting into too much detail, I enjoy my work and feel as if I've got a stake in the work I'm doing and the organizations for whom I am doing it.

One of these organizations is an aviation museum that's just getting off the ground (I'm trying to get some mileage out of that wordplay while it lasts.)

 

This is me, in one of the museum's planes, a North American B-25J Mitchell Bomber, earlier this morning. Not part of my work -- I just wanted to get a chance to climb around the plane, and finally had the time. The plane was at an event at a small airport in my part of town. I also got to tour a B-17 owned by another museum.

On a gaming note... I've never had a big urge to play any wargames beyond WWI. I've always felt a bit uncomfortable making a game of wars that friends and family have served in. That's not a value judgement, and it doesn't bother me that other people do. It's just a personal preference for myself.

Blogger Woes

Actually, it's not just the photos.

But I am having troubles viewing photos on many peoples blogs with this new system. Sometimes it's horribly slow load times on the enlargements. Sometimes not all of the photos are loading at all.

Also, the new spam filter is blocking non-spam. Like my own replies on my own blog, using this same account.

Changes to the blog entry/editing interface are also buggy. I tried the new one and it was far worse, so I switched back to the old one which still isn't as solid as it was a few months ago, but it mostly works.

It seems the more blogger is "improved," the worse it gets. I do have to admit that I am glad they finally added the option for mobile-friendly output. (Now if they would get an Android app that lets me view my subscribed blogs...)

I don't suppose anyone knows anything or has any experience with the blogs at http://6sided.net/ or http://blogs.tabletopgamingnews.com/ ?

(not the) Last Argument of the Consumer

I would like to order Last Argument of Kings, but it seems that Amazon is still not stocked yet. Disappointing. I'm really curious to take a look at the book.

I'm still holding off on Hail Caesar until we can try the game out a few times. I've still got a copy on loan from a friend. I need to get some painting done so I can put a game together.

Winter is Coming

I finished "Achtung Schweinhund!" and enjoyed it quite a bit. The last few chapters seemed to be a bit judgmental about others in the hobby (and "related" hobbies), though I've got to admit my own biases.

I ordered "Quintus Sertorius and the Legacy of Sulla" by Philip Spann from the library, but even though it's just a transfer from the main library to my branch a few miles away, it appears to be taking forever. I was going to buy the book a while ago, but when I looked it up more recently on Amazon.com, the cheapest copy was $65.

At any rate, my wife just finished "A Game of Thrones," and recommended it. So within a short time I'm already about 1/3 through the book and have to admit it's a bit addicting already.

I realize I'm slow to come around to things, but that's just how it goes. I didn't start reading the Dark Tower series until the last one was out, and I'm like the anti-hipster of music -- I don't discover music until the bands have already come and gone.


And just because I'm still in "proud pappa" mode, a gratuitous baby pic of my Lady A.