Montyhaul's models

Daleks, Greenskins and bits and bobs

2012-01-08T05:14:00.000-08:00

Several things that have been in need of finishing off for a long time now.

Some Daleks from the DR Who magazine.

They are dirt cheap, probably about 12p each. They do require some cleanup as they aren't as finely made as regular miniatures, but they do scale up nicely with 28mm minis and I am very happy with them.

Some Gretchen, from Games Workshop. I bought these because I wanted to try casting more small, single piece models with the Oyumaru.

While the results from attempting to cast were naff (my fault, didn't do it properly), but good enough to get an extra model and an interesting trampled figure on one of the bases;

At Christmas I received a pack of the OOP plastic Chaos Warriors, so the resin cast with the warped face got a new head.

I had a go at giving a space marine a less rounded look. I was trying to make something in power armour, but wasn't a space marine. Like a renegade, or a mercenary or something.

Finally, I finished off the Space Marine Captain I had left over from the last Black Reach set. His face looks darker than it should because there's a big annoying shadow across his face.

Casting miniatures using oyumaru mould and milliput

2011-10-30T07:28:00.000-07:00

Still playing with the Oyumaru when I get the chance. Using the resin takes up a lot of room and can be smelly and messy, so I have been using milliput. Milliput is a 2 part epoxy putty, like games workshop’s green stuff, but cheaper. It is much easier to control than resin so I didn’t use the lego press mould I use for resin casts. I just used my hands. However, if I was to do it again, I would use the lego mould – because there were a LOT of faults.

Results so far:

Gretchin and some Necromunda weapon casts

Chaos lord components cast individually before assembly

Unlike the strong resin, Milliput is too brittle for models with fine parts. Some of the big guy’s claws and spiky bits have already shattered. Similarly, the three gretchin have eroded significantly just from handling; their pointy noses aren’t strong enough. SO... I won’t rely on milliput for sharp bits in future. I might still use it to cast a full miniature though, as long as it’s a solid piece, or a part that isn’t an extremity ( torsos and legs should be fine).

Casting miniatures with oyumaru and resin

2011-05-29T06:27:00.000-07:00

Oyumaru is a rubbery plastic material that has been the subject of a lot of chatter among modellers lately. It's a great resource for casting. When placed in hot water it becomes soft and pliable, so that it can be wrapped around a miniature. After a few moments it cools to room temperature, becoming firm again (about as tough as rubber). Filling this mould with resin or milliput and waiting a short while rewards you with a copy as good as your casting skills - and most important of all - you can then reheat and reuse the oyumaru to start the process all over again, instead of filling your garage with boxfuls of casts.

Original miniature for comparison. I chose a model that is 'flat' because it would be easiest to cut around. Also, I chose a metal mini because it wouldn't suffer as badly as a plastic one if clumsily nicked during the 'cutting out' stage. It also has no parts of the model that my knife cannot reach when cutting out (ie; no gap between her legs).

After five minutes in freshly boiled water, I pressed the oyumaru over the miniature. I made sure the oyumaru cast was square so that it would fit into the lego case I used later. Many people also add a single-pip lego block to a corner or two of their moulds to keep the two pieces correctly aligned in the casting stage. I'll do this in future.

I did not use a release agent, as oyumaru does not stick to resin. Another note; heat generated by the curing resin isn't hot enough to warp the detail of the oyumaru mould.

When it dried, I cut around the edge of the miniature with a scalpel to free it.

I lay both sides of the cast open and filled them with resin before it started to get thick. In total, I used a teaspoon of material for the one miniature - half a teaspoon from bottle a, and half from bottle b. Use two separate teaspoons! I keep a couple of little 'bits' moulds nearby so I can put the leftover mixed resin to good use. I watched the resin until it looked like treacle and then pressed them together and put them in the lego mould case (see next stage).

When filling larger moulds be sure to fill the deepest recesses of the mould first - otherwise, air bubbles may form. I used Smooth-Cast 300; it costs slightly more, but it has the slowest curing time of the resins I could find. This is important because it allows precious time before it becomes too viscous for bubbles to escape.

Sitting snug inside the lego mould case, flat on the top and on the bottom. Inside, the resin would have been oozing (slowly) into places I didn't want it to, so I needed to fix it in place for the remaining 3 minutes.

I held down this block reasonably firmly for about 3 minutes while the resin set. Then left it alone and I gave the miniature another 10 minutes curing time. watch the excess resin in your mixing pot - so you can get a clue as to the condition of the resin inside your mould.

After ten minutes, I popped the oyumaru mould out of the lego case, and carefully opened it up. I was careful to treat the sword gently as I have heard stories about the fragile nature of resin, but at this stage the miniature still had some flex to it. No problems came about from not using a release agent.

The model feels light and cheap to hold, even moreso than plastic. The detail is near perfect - the little pips on the armour are there when I compare it to the original. Before painting a resin model, I'll need to wash it - it 'sweats' for a while. Sadly, I won't be painting this one, because I failed to check how carefully I'd made the mould, and messed up her face (air bubble). Check your mould!

Overall, I am very pleased with how easy it was to use oyumaru and resin. This was my first attempt at using a lego box to hold the mould and keep it firmly fixed, and I'd highly recommend it - using your hands to hold it all in place just doesn't do the trick.

Ork Warboss for sale on ebay

2010-07-31T08:59:00.000-07:00

Ork Warboss for sale on ebay;

http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/red_hand_of_doom

On ebay now; Valten, Exhalted of Sigmar on Foot

2010-07-31T08:54:00.000-07:00

For sale on ebay, limited edition miniature of Valten, Exhalted of Sigmar, on foot.

http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/red_hand_of_doom

A note about the paintjob; it is incomplete, but the layers of paint are thinly applied - there is no loss of detailing . I simply didn't have the time to finish what I intended to be a very conscientious job.

The warhammer is held on with blue tak for display purposes.

Empire battle wizard plus warhammer bits for sale on ebay

2010-07-31T08:47:00.000-07:00

For sale on ebay:

http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/red_hand_of_doom

I assembled one wizard from the kit, and am selling everything I didn't use from the boxed set.

I am also throwing in several other warhammer bits;

Large skull from ogre bulls boxed set

Brettonian men at arms armoured head

3 x metal shields from confrontation game

Gnoblar, pointing, with 2 head options

Dog, from brettonian men at arms boxed set

Horned skull, from glade guard boxed set

Tobacco pipe from old dwarf kit

40k bits for sale on ebay

2010-07-31T08:43:00.000-07:00

40k bits for sale on ebay, here's the link;

http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/red_hand_of_doom

Click the image for a much bigger version, so you can see the items more easily.

There is a complete space marine commander, a complete space marine, several ork chainsaw weapon arms, a left handed flamer from a necromunda redemptionist special character, plus redemptionist banner, and some other bits.

Wood Elf glade guard bits for sale on ebay

2010-07-31T08:41:00.000-07:00

Click for a much larger image, so you can see the bits more clearly.

For sale on ebay:

http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/red_hand_of_doom

Celestine the Living Saint Sisters of Battle

2010-07-31T08:38:00.000-07:00

For sale on ebay.

http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/red_hand_of_doom

The miniature has received undercoating and removal of mould lines.

Space Crusade miniatures for sale on ebay

2010-07-31T08:25:00.000-07:00

As part of a big clear out, Space Crusade miniatures are up on ebay.

Click the pictures for much larger versions of the pictures.

Mordheim and Heroquest terrain for sale on ebay

2010-07-31T08:16:00.000-07:00

Having a clear out; tabletop terrain now on ebay, along with several miniature lots.

Click the images for large versions of the pictures.

http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/red_hand_of_doom

Assault on Black Reach Dreadnought and Terminators

2009-05-19T04:58:00.000-07:00

Two new lots soon headed for ebay. Dreadnought, and squad of five Terminators.

Click the pictures for large versions.

A link on the right will take you to my ebay page.

Painted Dwarf Lord, Cannon and Crew

2009-04-29T09:22:00.000-07:00

Dwarf Lord from the Battle for Skull Pass boxed set, on ebay.

Dwarf Cannon and Crew, painted and for sale on ebay. Includes pictured terrain piece.

Painted for Sale: Assault on Black Reach Tactical Space Marines

2009-04-22T10:26:00.000-07:00

Just click for a big close-up version of any picture.

There's a link to this ebay lot in the right hand tab.

Soon to come; Terminators, Dreadnaught, and Space Marine Captain.

Forest Goblin Spider Riders

2009-03-08T06:22:00.000-07:00

As usual, just clock the pictures for a bigger version.

From the Battle for Skull Pass boxed set, these will also go onto ebay today to end on the 15th March.

'Assault on Black Reach' Orks

2009-03-07T01:53:00.001-08:00

The Ork Army from the Assault on Black Reach Boxed Set. Just click the pictures to see them more closely. I am available to paint to order until September, so if you have something in mind then send me a message!

Nobz. The one in the centre has received the champion's arm from the Warhammer Fantasy Orc Warriors Regiment. Click on the picture for a really big blown up version, so you can properly see the details.

First unit of Boyz.

Every Ork in this second unit of Boyz has received conversion work.

Some Boyz from the converted unit wield spears (count as Choppas).

Ork boy with a painboyz-style 'facelift'.

Three Ork Deffkoptas.

Thanks for looking! If you have something you would like painted, contact me here or on ebay with what you have in mind.

My Username is Red_hand_of_doom, and I have over 100 positive feedback.

Happy gaming!

Montyhaul

'Assault on Black Reach' Space Marines

2009-02-21T06:36:00.000-08:00

Space Marines from the Assault on Black Reach boxed set.

Terminators (the arms aren't glued on, allowing for customisation).

Ten tactical Space Marines.

Dreadnought.

Another shot of the termies.

Some closeups:

All miniatures are for sale. They will appear on ebay soon, but if you would like to make an offer then be my guest!

My username is Red_hand_of_doom, and I have 100% positive feedback.

I'm also currently considering commission work. If you have something in mind then send me an email with your ideas.

Montyhaul.

Secret Santa

2008-12-07T06:51:00.001-08:00

A 'Secret Santa' miniature exchange was organised on the Librarium Online forum. I love the idea of painting something as a present for someone else, it really keeps my enthusiasm up. I did this Ratskin Renegade from the Necromunda game (which is Mordheim in 40k).

Not 100% happy with the photograph quality, but he's already a little behind schedule so it'll have to do. Tomorrow he'll be off to Oslo, I hope his new owner likes him.

Ice Devil (Gelugon) WIP

2008-10-28T15:11:00.000-07:00

Work in progress. Still a little way to go, this is my first attempt at source lighting.

Mum's Chaos Warriors

2008-10-18T16:31:00.000-07:00

Really late with this one, but soon after paintintg her first miniature, An Ogre, my Mum had a go at a unit. She liked the look of some mauve Chaos Warriors on a website, and this unit of Slaaneshi baddies was the result.

October Commission

2008-10-14T07:48:00.001-07:00

Some more Battle For Skull Pass Dwarves, done on Commission;

Dwarf Miners and Warriors

2008-09-13T05:38:00.000-07:00

Coming to the end of the Battle For Skull Pass boxed set now, just about in time for the Assault on Black Reach one to be delivered.

As usual, they're all for sale.

More BFSP minis

2008-08-30T03:48:00.000-07:00

More BFSP minis, Dwarves this time;

And a unit of Night Goblin Spearmen. As usual, all of them are for sale.

Squats Ebay bargain

2008-08-13T11:19:00.001-07:00

I managed to snipe this lot of Squats on ebay for £5.50, because they were listed by someone who didn't really seem to know how rare they are.

Blessed parents selling their kids old junk!

I'm not even going to do anything with them, just take a decent picture and relist them with the proper name.

????

PROFIT

Battle for Skull Pass Goblins

2008-08-12T11:28:00.000-07:00

Finished a sizable chunk of the Goblin Army.

I know I could highlight the black robes grey, it'd improve their finish, but I feel I've spent enough time with these chaps. I'm so ready to do something new.

However, it is satisfying to see several units together, all with the same colour scheme. When I put them all together I almost wanted to keep them instead of selling them on ebay in a few days.

I like the funky lil mushrooms that pop up here and there.

The Goblin Boss's pet Squig had a big enough eye to pop the added detail of a 'glint' of white, something that I've recently been trying to add.

BFSP Goblins

2008-08-06T16:06:00.001-07:00

So many of them...

I'm going to sell the lot as soon as I've painted them; have been playing Warhammer with the great little rulebook that comes with the BFSP boxed set, but i'm not really enjoying painting great blocks of troops as much as I do individuals. Having said that, I might still grab a box of the 40k equivalent in September - If i've never painted space marines, I can't really call myself a Games Workshop enthusiast can I?

WIP: Giant Skelly thing

2008-07-28T07:47:00.000-07:00

A few years ago I was given some Hangman sets. Instead of drawing a man, if your opponent guessed incorrectly you would add a piece of the skeleton hanging from the post.

I built a bone giant for the Tomb Kings army out of the last kit, and this time I'm thinking I'll go for something to ride the wave of the latest army release for the hobby; Daemons.

When the damned (hurr) thing's set I'll invest in some greenstuff and raid the bits box, to create something suitably putrescent.

Mordheim: Another Possessed Warband

2008-07-24T15:27:00.000-07:00

Another Mordheim gang from a couple of years ago. Just like the last Undead warband, they're on those godawful green-flocked bases.

These lot were mostly Redemptionists from the Necromunda game. In future I'm going to avoid converting metal miniatures if it can be helped - unless you pin them they are prone to breaking. The minis really need to be sturdy in Mordheim, as they get a lot of individual handling rather than hitching a ride on a movement tray.

I will NEVER buy another one of those Possessed miniatures (the big green guy at the back, and the pink tentacled chap in the last Possessed warband). Those models are so damn ugly! And not in a cool way.

Plus, the opportunity to create something unique is a crying shame to pass up.

Mordheim: Undead

2008-07-23T09:40:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I received an email out of the blue from a man in Holland asking if my Mordheim warband was for sale. He'd found pics from 18 months ago on the Librarium-Online forum, but they were long gone. We had a good chat about his campaigns, ending with me missing the game, and impulse-bidding on a load of Necromunda lots on Ebay that I shouldn't have.

Here are some pics of that warband. Some are a bit slapdash, but I was only fundraising. As such, the gang were never played with before being sold, like last month's Possessed Warband.

The Vampire Leader was the standard Mordheim mini, who is too short to be imposing; if I was ever to have another I'd boost his base. The Necromancer and Hero Ghoul (having received a 'Lad's Got Talent' increase') are iffy conversions; an old Daemonette of Slaanesh with zombie arms instead of pincers, and a Necromancer composed of Brettonian Man-at-Arms body with some Mordheim bitz. Apologies for those Green Hill Zone bases. That box of Brettonians went towards several cheap Spellcaster conversions for Mordheim and Dungeons and Dragons.

All of the Dreg miniatures I have seen are humans with something amiss, usually an an Igor-hunch. For this Dreg I used a Dwarf body to get a weird posture.

Ghouls. I really liked the previous Ghoul miniatures, and I think they're much more disturbing than the new plastics. I included an Ogre Mercenary with the Warband, as another fast mover to support the Dire Wolves and Vampire should they race off ahead:

From the GW site:
"Mercenaries beyond peer, Maneaters have spent decades accruing scars, tall tales, wealth, and exotic weapons before travelling back to the tribe from which they came. As Ogres tend to inherit culture rather than pioneer it, Maneaters typically dress in the style appropriate to the lands in which they fought during their mercenary career"

I decided that it might be fun to have an Ogre that had imprinted onto the Ghouls. The Gut plate received a Skeleton Warriors shield boss, a severed leg from the zombie spru in his right hand made a tasty snack, and an axeblade was made from plasticard and attached to an unused Standard Bearer arm. I took a head with a long moustache and repositioned the jaw between the tips to make a distended maw. A cocktail stick extended the nose, and the upper teeth where taken from an Imperial shield boss (the previous, frilltastic plastic set):

The Necromancer operates an Equal-Opportunities policy when recruiting zombie henchmen. A motley group of zombies of different races.

Human zombie:

Dwarf Zombie:

Zombie pillaged from Advanced Heroquest:

Goblin Zombie:

Not the so easy to show as dead, so I just lopped an arm off and poked an eye out.

Skaven Zombie:

The whole gang was inspired by one component: the Skaven skull. This one was my favourite.

I'm sure I'll give non-human zombies a go again in the future. As well as the Mordheim range which includes a zombie Sister of Sigmar, and others, I could also splash out on some minis from the Dogs of War Regiment of Renown 'The Cursed Company', which includes a skeletal lizardman, skaven, orc, goblin, dwarf and high elf. I would also give a Beastman zombie a go, as there is a bovine skull in the (Tomb Kings) skeleton box set. For a more involved project someone might get inspiration from one of the troll skulls used as markers in the Battle for Skull Pass boxed set.

Dawn of War II Trailer

2008-07-19T08:18:00.000-07:00

A lot of comments for the video are from people saying 'they should make a 40k movie'. Any Dungeons and Dragons player will experience a gut wrenching feeling whenever a non-geek says 'didn't they make a film of that?'.

They made two actually, and both were absolute wank.

Possessed Warband complete

2008-07-03T09:32:00.000-07:00

The Possessed Warband is complete, the dwarfs are my favourite. This is my first time using Warlock purple, which was good fun, and I've not really tried gemstones before, but I'm pleased with the results on the Magister's staff.

In other news, I have finally removed the mould lines from every single model in the Battle for Skull Pass boxed set, and undercoated everything; phew! I felt like I was working in a sweat shop.

Mordheim: Cult of the Possessed

2008-06-25T10:49:00.000-07:00

I love Mordheim because I am a cheap bastard.

In Mordheim each player takes control of a gang of a just a dozen or so miniatures. This means is that unlike the big sellers Warhammer and Warhammer 40k, where you're looking at spending at least a hundred pounds plus for a good game, for Mordheim you're looking at £20 - £30.. or even less if you're crafty.

The dozen miniatures for your gang can be easily chopped up from standard regiment boxed sets; Dwarf Treasure Hunters, Beastmen and Skaven warbands can be built with one of the army's regiments of plastics. The Empire Militia regiment *are* the same miniatures as the Mordheim mercenary warband.

With it's focus on individually characterful miniatures, the game is ideal for those who enjoy converting. It gives you the opportunity to rake through your bits box and use all those little bits you've been saving for a rainy day, or too much of a pikey to chuck out (no matter how old and awful a mini is, someone somewhere will still like it. People are still buying Heroquest Orcs on Ebay today). Those naff old Brettonian Archers that came free with the Games Workshop paint set? Head swaps and a couple of stuck-on pouches and you have some henchmen for your Reiklanders.

While I'm waiting for Skull Pass to arrive I've been rummaging through my bits box to see what I have left. A few Brettonian bodies. Two Dwarfs. An old Chaos Sorceror and a Possessed model that was thrown in for free when Games Workshop Mail Order was cool. Nothing that could be of use to a Warhammer player, but what about Mordheim?

The prospect of getting rid of the hated Possessed model galvanised me. There were plenty of spare heads from the last Chaos Warriors. 'Excellent' I thought, because;

*Helmets that cover the face are quickly recognisable as 'eeevil'.
*I didn't have to paint eyes.

The group consisted of a Magister, a Possessed, and two groups of Brethren. However, I did'nt have any Darksouls (mortals driven insane after demonic possession). Then I thought about the Dwarf minis:

The great big Chaos Warrior helmets from the less recent 'Hunchback' Chaos Warriors was in proportion. To keep things fair I had the Darksouls / Possessed dwarfs standing on stuff so that the miniatures would be the same height as the miniatures they were proxying.

Possessed Dwarfs. Not to be confused with Chaos Dwarfs...

A Misunderstanding

2008-06-24T14:50:00.000-07:00

New Tricks

2008-06-20T05:11:00.000-07:00

I don’t know whether it’s a cool thing to be able to say or not; I spent yesterday afternoon teaching my mother how to paint a Warhammer mini.

It was a great afternoon actually.

She poked through the bits box and asked if she could paint one. Sure, I thought, always keen to share the hobby with someone new, and if she does well then meybe she won't be so suspicious of those funny little men and monsters with guns and swords and stuff.

I don’t have many miniatures left; I sold my whole collection to help fund a year spent traveling, so the selection was slim.

This concerned me a little – pretty much all I could find was a Sisters of Sigmar Mordheim Warband (too fiddly), some Necromunda Ratskins (sci-fi didn't appeal), and some bits and bobs from from hobby store bargain bins. She didn’t seem enthusiastic about any of them, and was about to settle for some thing with one arm when I happened across this fella;

That horrible, blurry picture is of an ogre bull. Probably the perfect miniature for a first time painter. A large, easy to handle miniature with relatively little detail, and consisting of nice big areas to be painted in the same colour. This also meant that he would be quite satisfying to paint, as he would take form quickly. If you've ever painted a tank or a war machine you'll know what I mean. He already had a head, one with an eye patch - even better, I thought; she wouldn’t have to agonise over wonky eyes. There were plenty of arms to choose from; she chose to equip him with a sword and club.

She left gluing the arms on until everything was painted and began with block painting the exposed skin with Dwarf Flesh and the trousers Hawk Turquoise. On seeing the paint on the model she had misgivings about the turquoise. He looked a bit Disney. However, applying a dark wash to the trouser took the edge off the colour, and she quickly figured out how a wash can create shading, using thinned down ‘Bestiality Brown’ to run between the cracks of the arms, back and moobs.

Dwarven Brass drybrushed onto the gutplate and sword, highlighted with Chainmail Silver, and Jon the ogre was ready for a flocked base and varnish.

I think she did really well for a first go. Now she’s looking at my Chaos Warriors, and asking me how many shades of mauve and purple I’ve got…

Chaos Warriors of Khorne

2008-06-20T03:24:00.000-07:00

Blood for the Blood God!

I bought these chaps for something to do when I was in Vancouver, Canada. My brother, his girlfriend, and her sister all had a go at painting them. With all of us sitting at the table felt like being back at primary school, it was all of us making a mess.

Then when I got back home I painted over them all.

Sorry chaps, red-yellow-green-blue chaos warriors went out in the 80’s, along with electro pop and ZX Spectrums.