Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin (and a Bloodhawk)

This week saw the completion of the four Hobbits Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin. I also painted one more miniature from the Diablo II line.

Pict 467: Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin

Pict 468: Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin

The Halflings were a quick paint since the colors were already decided upon and I only had to do the highlights. As ever the faces proved to be difficult and the impending end of my usual detail brush's  life, didn't help that either. I like them a litte more colourful than my usual Hobbits esspecially Pippin since he's from a rich family and sould be able to afford the red dye for his cloak. Having one colour for each also makes it easier to distinguish them during play.

Pict 469: Bloodhawk (Diablo II)

Pict 470: Bloodhawk (Diablo II)

I also went ahead and painted this Bloodhawk. He's a neat little miniature with his devil-face instead of a bird's beak and I'm pretty happy whith the reds on his wings. Other than that I didn't have to much time, so that other projects that came along are not even ready for WIP pictures.

More D&D Monsters and Adventurous Hobbits

Riding the wave of D&D miniatures, I finished some more monsters for my menagerie: one Diablo II Goat Demon and two Displacer Beasts by WizKids. I also got started on the four Hobbits in Balin's tomb.

Pict 461: D&D Monsters

Pict 462: Goat Demon

Pict 463: Goat Demon

Pict 464: Goat Demon

I wanted this Goat Demon to be different from the Beastmen I have and thus opted for black fur. I'm rather happy with the contrast between these dark areas and the lighter skin. The demon is part of the same set of Diablo II monsters as the skeleton I painted in march. The complete set consists of only four more, so maybe I'll try and complete it within the next few weeks?

Pict 465: Displacer Beast

These two were rather quick to paint since the main area is simply black, highlighted with a very dark blue-gray. The casts themselves are ok, but you could improve them by smoothing out the seams where different parst meet - and you do have to clean up quite a few moldlines. But they are alright as gaming pieces and with the paint and bases, they are ready for some action.

Pict 466: Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin (WIP)

Lastly I made a start on the Hobbits from the original fellowship for the Balin's tomb display. I have put down the main colours and washes and after they have dried, I hope to get some highlights and details on them today as well.

Termagants, Genestealers and D&D

I originally planned to get the Dúnedain done, but as is so often the case, I got distracted. During a painting session with a friend, I started to work on some more Tyranids and I contiued with my D&D menagerie.

Pict 391: Smaller Tyranids

Pict 392: Termagants (WIP)

These Tyranids were the ones that were primed and ready to get some paint, so I grabbed them when I was invited for an afternoon of painting over at a friend's. I was really surprised at how fast I was able to get the skin and the first layer of carapax done - I did pretty much all of them in this one afternoon, so that I was able to finish some and get very far with ten more. There are still some more Genestealers as well as Hormagaunts and Termagants left for me to do, but the backlog of Tyranids is definitly shrinking!

Pict 393: Skeleton (Diablo II Miniatures)

Pict 394: Skeleton (Diablo II Miniatures)

This here is the first piece from the Diablo II Miniatures set, I was gifted last year. I really enjoyed the old school look of this skeleton and the painting went really fast as well. I used the same woodgrain technique I developed for the shields of my Arnor Warriors and I'm happy with the texture it adds to the miniature.

Pict 395: Hex-Map of the Elven-King's Protectorate

Some more hobby-time was spent world-building for Dungeons and Dragons. The first outlines of terrain, cities and special places were created using the Rolling through Regions generator over at my friend's roleplaying blog Out of Curiosity. After I had a rough sketch in pencil, I used Hexographer by Inkwell Ideas to convert it into a hex-map. The resulting look of the map is great I think, but the tool has it's kinks.
I do want to continue with the D&D miniatures - maybe I'll be able to sneak one in every week? Let's see!

The rage of the Gundabad Berserkers

So after I didn't finish anything last week, this week I did get something done! Other than the four Gundabad Berserkers, I advanced some other projects - but they are nowhere near to show even as a WIP.

Pict 260: Gundabad Bersekers

Pict 261: Gundabad Bersekers

 As I said in the blurb - the only thing I finished are the four Gundabad Berserkers. They were considered for a team tournament, but right now it looks like they will be substituted by an Ogre. The hit to the army's breakoint is not to and the ability to throw opponents is to good to give up.
I'm rather happy with how the grey skin turned out - much better than the one I managed on Bolg. So redoing that is added to the ToDo pile.

Pict 262: Diablo II D&D Miniatures

Speaking of the ToDo pile: A good friend of mine gifted me these amazing D&D miniatures made by Wizards of the Coast to add to my list of thinges to paint. I really like the oldschool look of them and do look forward to work on them. And of course to get to play them!