Hi All! So I have found myself recently unemployed (by my own choice, got tired of my deadbeat boss) and finally able to spend significant time rooting around the storage area after our move to find my minis. Dear lord, what a surprise!!! There are so many recruits that need to be inducted into the WAAAAGH!!!

I managed to dig out the case with some of my painted items in it. These guys were painted up well over 2 years ago prior to my move to California and now that I have some free time during the day, I hope to actually get an army put together and maybe get some games in. ;)

On to the goodies!

Here is a set of older Night Goblin Netters:




Next up, a set of really old school Night Goblin Fanatics:




And now, two Night Goblin Shaman from the Skull Pass set:




Alas, I got started on pictures a bit late today and the sun has since moved to the other side of the apartment building. The pictures in the shade on the blacony are not turning out that great, so more to come hopefully tomorrow.

Comments/suggestions would be much appreciated as this blog continues! I'm hoping this will inspire me to get back to painting and fine tune my skills.

Glad to finally get this army blog started up!!! :D

Good to see a new blog, thanks for sharing with us :)

I like finding forgotten models, it's sort of like another Christmas surprise :D

Just a couple of thoughts; a black wash (whatever the GW name for it is now) would do wonders for the grey drybrush you have over the black robes, should tie it in nicely. Also, perhaps a darkish wash over the green skin areas to give a bit more depth.
Noone likes going over painted models again, but those two things are dead easy and take stuff-all time to do.

Either way, I look forward to seeing what else you post up here ;)

RoV

Nice too see another nice plog ^^ I like those models, and I second the black wash advice, it would improve those robes a lot :D

Cheers guys! Thanks for the suggestion on the black wash. If I could only find my pot of black wash now... :badgobbo: Hopefully I can dig it up after another foray into the storage room and give it a go on some models over the weekend if not sooner.

Here are some snotlings that have latched onto the growing army:



And a couple of Forest Goblin Spider Riders from the Skull Pass set. I have yet to finish this unit up but have no clue what paints I had used over 2 years ago! :(

Looks like a Mechrite Red drybrush on the spiders to me :)

Nice snotlings there, I like the little guys.

RoV

:) I think it was a different red Rat of Vengence. I don't remember having a Mechrite Red in my paint supplies. Thankfully I did find the rest of the unit last night and discovered that all of the spiders are painted and done! (amazing what two years away from painting will do to the memory! LOL) the only items remaining on the Spider Rider unit are the unit champion and standard bearer.

So it has been a gorgeous morning here in sunny California and I was able to find the remaining painted figures in my growing force and get some more shots in the sunlight. Off we go!!!

Here is the full Night Goblin army thus far in all it's glory. So far I have the following painted up and ready to put on the gaming table:

40 Night Goblins with Spears/Sheilds (2 full commands so this can be 2x20 or 1x40)
40 Night Goblins with Bows (2 full commands so again, 2x20 or 1x40)
2 Night Goblin Shaman
5 Night Goblin Netters for use with the Spear regiments
3 Night Goblin Fanatics





And here are some shots of each of the regiments so far:






I have to total up the points on this group so far. It should give me a pretty good start on an army. I'm thinking for the time being of just using one of the Shaman as the Army General to get some games in. I'm a stickler for only putting painted figures on the gaming table...helps to keep me on track with my painting. :mellow:

I have dozens more Night Goblins primed up and ready to go, just need to get to painting. Any tips or suggestions to make the next batch look better would be much appreciated. I'm keeping the suggestion of using a black wash in mind for the next regiment and am thinking of changing up the color...maybe a nice purple?

Happy Weekend fellow Warbosses!

I mentioned earlier that I was thinking of a purple theme for the next batch of Night Goblins. I got these three Fanatics finished up to test out the colors:




I also started work on a Black Orc, certainly still in progress. I'm stuck on what colors to add and just how to go about it though...




Looking for some comments/suggestions/tips to help make the purple colors come through better and also to get the Black Orcs looking sharp. B)

Looking good. If you want advice on where to go with the black orc, I'd definitely add some washes to get into those cracks. If you look in the chainmail, you can see some silver has gotten in the holes, so a black wash or a brown wash could work really nicely on tying all the metals together. And also, always remember to shave or file off the mold lines of your models - you can see a prominent one on the back of your black orc's arm. It just makes painting easier on yourself at a later stage.

As for the fanatics, they're looking fine. If you're wanting the colours to come out more, well you're using the drybrushing effect on the cloaks from the looks of it, so you're not using the full pigment. If you want stronger colours, try layering it on. But if you still want it darker as it is, you can then add some dark washes to the cloaks, or just leave it as it is, because they're not too bad. The only thing which stands out at all is the white/bleached bone rope. It's a bit garish because it looks as though you've painted directly over black. Even small details should be approached with patience - layer on some browns then work up to white/bleached bone if you'd like (although, I tend to keep my rope darker and in the light browns). You'll appreciate it later and it makes your model look professional if you pay attention to the details.

But overall, really nice work and if you didn't do anything, it'd still be a better paint job than most people could muster and is solid. :)

Oh yep, I never used to worry about mould lines, but they only take a minute per model to clean them off. A sharp knife at right-angles to the mould line and they'll scrape right off.

Watered-down Black Ink is my friend! I use it shade nearly everything. With a basecoat and only one layer of drybrushing it's a quick and effective shading technique. It usually looks pretty good too.

Sometimes with purples I lightly drybrush Blood Red around the edges of capes. Sometimes pinks look a little too bright and erm, girly. It helps to define the edges and seperates different parts of the model.

Solid paintjobs all-round though, your army is looking pretty cool :)

@Da Spawn Man - thank you for the feedback and the tips! The Fanatics, dare I say that was my attempt at layering, not drybrushing? LMAO I used a black undercoat, and Warlock Purple as a base, and then a layer with some Warlock Purple/White. The purple I have is quite thin already, maybe it's not showing up well over the black undercoat. :blush: I think I'll try a wash over the rope as you're right, they do look pretty slapped on in the picture. Need to practice layering still.

As for the Black Orc, I was so excited to have the paints and brushes unpacked and out again that I just grabbed him and started in. :D In my excitement I dind't even think of the mold lines. I just noticed too that I left the cloth scraps sticking out from the shoulderpads as silver when they should be painted a spot color. Still trying to decide what color I want to go with for the army.

@Sokk - thank you as well! Painting is certainly a still very rusty skill for me, but it's the part of the hobby that I can really get into once I get going. I'll have to try out the red drybrush. Do you have any pictures you can post of what it looks like?

I'm hoping to pick up some of the new washes soon as there seems to be a good variety. We'll see if the new Citadel paint line will turn me into a top caliber painter on their own. ;)

If that was layering, either your paint is too dry ('Eavy Metal painters try to keep their paint the consistency of thick milk) or too thin, and only just showing. There's loads of cool tutorials online to help. :)

I have nothing useful to add, but I'll be ecstatic if I can get my pieces looking half that nice.

Yea, I need to get into a regular painting schedule to hammer out some techniques and get a good amount of practice in. Thankfully, there are a few dozen willing Night Gobbos in the wings that have offered to let me add some color to them! LOL

LOL Thank you Shane! Although these are far from looking individually nice, I think as full units or an overall army it comes off OK. Do you have an army blog going already? I've already gotten some good tips on improving the look and feel of these guys and there are some really talented folks on the forums that I'm sure will be happy to help out!

Aww sorry , I only have my camera phone which takes quite blurry pics, or I'd show you some robes as examples.

However, I did find this Dark Elf Assassin on the interweb...

http://www.coolminiornot.com/articles/1049...d-to-use-colors

It's pretty similar to how my Liche Purple with Blood Red Highlights looks, although this guy is a VERY slick painter and uses a much more complicated method. The contrast between the purple and the highlights is much the same, so it will give you an idea of what it looks like before you paint up a model.

I usually go with a Liche Purple basecoat, followed by a very thin Black Ink wash in the folds of the cloth, then a light drybrush of Blood Red over the raised parts. With the paint on my brush a little bit 'wetter' I drybrush a bit more around the very edges of the cloak with Blood Red again. For bolder highlights around the edges and the raised folds you could carefully paint thin lines of Blood Red or a lighter pink, or even Bleached Bone or Skull White, although I find that my hand isn't quite steady enough for that sometimes!

I don't mix my paints if I can help it, I find it easier to go one or two shades brighter for the highlights (instead of the 60/40 mixes this guy talks about on this site).
I find it much easier to get a consistent shade if I'm painting a whole unit at once, it's faster too and less wasted paint.

For example if I'm painting leather, I'll basecoat with Bestial Brown, Black Ink wash,then highlight with Snakebite leather. For Goblin skin I use Snot green as a basecoat, Black Ink wash, then Scorpion Green for highlights. Some colours look too dull with a Black Ink wash, so it pays to experiment until you get the result you're after.

However if there's the occasional little dangly bit or necklace or soemthing that I don't have the right colour for then I mix paints.

I've found that not everything really needs a highlight though, as most of the detail is lost when the models are on the table and the dice start rolling. Noone will probably pay much attention to the little crescent moon belt clasps I painted, highlighted and varnished to look like blue minerals, but hey it's cool if people DO notice the little details like that.

I hope this has been helpful for you :)

I don't think that assassin is a good example - the layering is not very good IMHO. :/

Yeah you're right, but it does give a rough idea of how the colours would look together. Except that using red highlights would be a bit more muted and not quite so 'loud'
This guy has gone more into the pinky purples.

Thanks for that link. The Dark Elf mini has a very different look to it, some good, some bad. Couple of observations I've had since starting up this army blog:

• Painting styles are very different from person to person.
• There are definitely several routes to get to the finish line.
• "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" holds very true when it comes to minis.

The night gobbos that I have earlier in this blog are certainly far from being indiviually spectacular, but to me, they look nice as a whole...and from a distance! LOL I'm looking to improve my painting skills, otherwise I wouldn't ask for so much advice. Speaking of which, I've already gotten loads of advice from you guys, cheers!!! Should be putting some of your tips to brush during the week (busy knocking out a Honey Do list that my wife gave me :badgobbo: )

On to some painting that I am aspiring to. I picked up this seasoned shaman from an eBay auction a while back. Wish I could say I painted it, but thankfully I didn't! :D

He'll certainly find a place in my growing force!

Awesome stuff - he's one of my favourite O&G models. I got him sneaky-wize like a Gobbo. I asked the store for a unit of Ruglud's Armoured Orcs in the window and he was right next to the unit. The lady who packaged them up for me didn't play O&G so she picked the shaman up as well and I got him for free! :D

As for painting advice, I'm happy to give it bro! It may sound big headed, but over the sites a few people have bestowed me with the totally unearned title of a "good painter" and I try to give advice where I can, so hopefully I can be of some use to you. :P

Spawn, one of my favorite models as well. I actually got my first one as a freebie too! I was in the local GW shop just hanging out and the manger walked up and asks "Have you won any of the prizes in our contests yet?" (they had these random contests every now and then) and I answered "Not yet." and he just tossed me a blister for the Shaman! :D Can't beat that kind of deal! I remember winning a box of Wolf Riders as well for the best haiku describing a Warhammer game. Wish I could remember what it was (was like 3-4 years ago) but I got a standing ovation in the shop. :yarr!:

Keep the painting advice coming, it is much appreciated!!!

That shaman is also one of my favourite miniature :D And, paradoxally, I got him for free too xD I purchased a box of metal 2nd hand savages and I discovered that my friend sent also Nazgob along them for free :P

I'll jump on this bandwagon while we're at it, Nazgob is one of my favourite Warhammer Sculpts, nice to see him make a return in finecast even though he has long lost his name :o

I didn't get my Zazgob for free unfortunately, I did manage to pick him up at a carboot sale a while back for the pricely sum of 25p

Hey Gang!

As my "summer break" and job search continue, the painting and army building continues as well!

I took some time to tally up the points for the figures that have already been painted up and are ready to go:

1 Orc Great Shaman
2 Night Goblin Shaman
20 Night Goblins with Spears, Netters and Full Command (x2)
20 Night Goblins with Shortbows and Full Command (x2)
6 Night Goblin Fanatics

This gives me roughly 865 points without upgrading the Shaman and without any magical items.

Currently on the painting table are a batch of 5 wolves for some Goblin Wolf Riders. I plan on this unit consisting of 5 Goblin riders with Bows. I am also working on two Night Goblins with Spears that I'm testing colors on. Hopefully will have pics up in a few days time for everyone.

I still don't really have a direction for the army. At the moment its more about painting and getting back in the swing of things, so I'm just picking up any unit that catches my eye and "promoting" it to the painting station to work on.

I also picked up some more Fanatics (I just find these guys fun to paint!) and an Orc Boar Chariot from eBay. They should be arriving soon and will be up next after the Wolf Riders have been completed.

Great looking Nazgob, Glad to see a good paint job on one of the most iconic O&G minis.

Working on the Wolf Riders today and thought I'd share a quick shot of my very own Wolf Rider pair. (My son at 2 weeks old and my "baby girl" Husky.) This picture is what inspired me to paint these figures next. :wub:

That's an AWESOME photo. Congrats for both those awesome creatures :wub:

:huh: Thanks Thitanium!!! Definitely one of my fav photos as well. Trying to find a place that will do a canvas wrap print of this for me without costing an arm and a leg. :blink:

Back to painting the wolves. Having a tough time getting them to look just how I'm picturing them in my head... :huh:

Nooo! Don't do a canvas print - the image detail is great in the picture and canvas prints now only alter the colouring a lot, but they reduce the resolution to something just above a camera phone pic enlarged! :(

Get it framed and mounted. Don't ruin it with a canvas print. /photographer rant over. ;)

Awesome picture, just give that gobbo a thraka green wash, or whatever the new shades are called.

Spawn: I have seen excellent canvas prints of my father's pictures. I guess it depends on who's doing the job. :)

I can assure you, they'll look fine, but they'll never look as good as a printed version. It's so much more precise.

LOL Thanks for the heads up Spawn. I have a neighbor here at the apartment complex that got one done for a picture of his son and it turned out fantastic. I'll have to find out where he had it made. My sister is an amatuer photographer and even she said to get a high quality print instead. She's always saying "canvas was made for painting, not pictures!" LOL

That is one great looking shaman, keep up the great work.

Cheers,
G

@Warlord Ghazak - Thank you, wish I could take the credit! I'll get to that level one of these days hopefully! LOL

Here's quick update on one of the color test Night Goblins:



(Not sure why this picture keeps coming in sideways when it shows rightside up on Photobucket...:angry:)

I'm trying to figure out how to paint up the next batch of these guys. Thoughts?

Update on the Wolves - working on carving out that annoying hunk of plastic in between the top canines. Any suggestions on how to paint up the interior of the mouths? Right now I have just black in there with the fabled "Tentacle Pink" on the tongues.

Edit: The orientation of the picture seems to keep changing for me..weird... :blink:

Is it meant to be so vividly pink?

LOL I think that's the consequence of the camera flash. :D I missed the natural sunlight today so the camera kept triggering the flash. Any pictures I took without the flash turned out too dark. I'll try again tomorrow morning if I can catch the sunlight and see if I can get a better picture posted up.

Especially for Spawn ;) I caught the morning sun today after dropping the little Snot off at daycare. Here's an updated picture of the Night Goblin:

Also, a quick update on the Wolves for the Goblin Wolf Rider unit. This is the first time I'm trying my hand at the wolves, so I was quite unsure how to get them just right. It turned out to be more of an experimental exercise with some different browns and a combination of washes. I finished up 5 of them, here's 3 of them to get an idea of the look:




These two are probably the best of the batch. I'm quite happy with how the one on the left turned out with the different shades.



Moving on to the actual riders for these guys now.

Yeah the cloak looks better in the light, but I'd still do some highlights on it.

The wolves look good, but I'd tidy up the eyes. The fur is so good that the eyes should keep up with it - I'd maybe just put a blob of watery black ink in the eye holes to let the paint run into the corners and see how that looks. No real need to do pupils yet. :)

Thanks for the tips Spawn. Ya, the wolf eyes...got a little too much paint on the brush at times. Will fix that with some touchup and work on the highlights. I'm torn between putting a lot of time into each Night Gobbo or just getting them to a point at which they will look good en masse. :blink:

Started on the Wolf Riders but am heading out of town for a bit, so they'll have to wait to be finished up.

In the meantime, here's a Pump Wagon that I finished up a few years back.






To all the folks in the USA, hope you all have an enjoyable and safe Independance Day weekend!!!

Hi All!

Finally back from our trip and had some time to work on a chariot that arrived from eBay while I was gone. This thing had a thick layer of black primer that I just couldn't strip so it didn't quite turn out the way I had hoped, but it'll do for now.




The Waaaagh! is slowly growing...

Use Dettol or easy green in the USA to strip. Works like a charm. :)