Red Bull Racing Showrun 10th December 2012

Hello and Welcome! This time something a little different ( well completely different). Apart from Miniature painting my other passion is for the roaring races of Formula 1. This weekend was the Red Bull Racing Showrun, I headed down and it was a great day. I manged to get some OK shots and thought I would share on my blog. So I did some basic editing , blasted some music in the background and shoved it on youtube. Enjoy!

Start Of A Vostroyan Army

Hello and Welcome! I haven't Updated my blog much recently as life's been pretty hectic and I haven't had much spare time. But the time I did have I have been putting the start of an army together. My old favorites " The Vostroyans" But due to my not wanting to buy all new figures I have to scrimp and pull this army out of my bits box or old models stripped down.
So far I have made a sentinel, Mogul Kamir on his cyber steed, 10 Veterans and refurbished some old weapons teams.

Thanks For Looking!

"Swift Vengeance" Sanguinary Guard Squad For Sale

Hello and welcome! I have been having a massive clear out of all my models as I know longer have space for it. The problem is I don't know what I have and what I don't. The first thing I found to go is my golden demon finalist from two years ago. Since I have a new camera now since I took the shots of this I taken some new snaps (below) and seeing as I have no room I have to let it go.  I would be looking for offers in the region of £220 - £240 + postage which I think is a very reasonable price for the whole piece which took me well over a two months to complete. If you are interested in this piece please email through bionicknees@hotmail.co.uk for more info.

If you are interested in this piece please email through bionicknees@hotmail.co.uk for more info.

Thanks for Looking!

[Commission] Tau Fire Warrior Sergeant 3

 

Hello and Welcome! So from the last update I have just about finished the painting on the fire warrior. Perhaps just a few small changes and anything the client suggests. I quite enjoyed painting this figure even though there was a few things that took ages to do. I never had no idea that tau models were so small and tricky. Anyway I'll leave you with some more photos.

Thanks For Looking!

[Commission] Tau Fire Warrior Sergeant 2

 

Hello and Welcome! I have more or less assembled the fire warrior with just maybe a few tweaks to do. Can't wait to get painting this model.

Thanks For Looking!

[Commission] Tau Fire Warrior Sergeant

Hello and welcome! So I have started work on my next commission which is a Tau Fire warrior for display.  I have nearly finished the base just a few minor tweaks to be made like some deeper shading on the grey pillars and steps also need to add some detail to the hanging ribbon.

He is going to converted so he is carrying his helmet as shown, with a scratch built katana and other sculpted details. The scheme was chosen to be the standard Tau colors of mustard, browns and creams.
More over the coming days!

Thanks for Looking!

(WIP) Daemonette Banner Bearer

            Hello and Welcome! After spending quite a while on my golden demon entry I wanted to paint something completely different to space marines. So Have assembled a plastic daemonette with a slight conversion in way of the banner he is holding is from the seekers of slannesh box.
           I have also made a nice scenic base out of plasticard, bark and miliput. Just for some extra height to the model, as it is quite a small figure I wanted it to stand out against the big-boys in my display cabinet.
          I used GW new liquid green stuff of this piece you can see on the rim of the base and in small quantities of the model. While I was first impressed by the thickness and easy application of it, also the quick drying time I think around 30 mins from what I can tell. I soon found out that it doesn't sand very  well at all much like normal green stuff. While it seems like a decent product I would still advise using millput wash. 

More Progress Soon!

Thanks for looking!

New stuff for sale!

Hello and welcome! As mentioned last week I have been getting some items up on ebay. I have a few games day figures up from previous years and some forge world events figures, also I have relisted a bretonnia army at a lower price.

Links to ebay below:

Bretonnia  Army


Games day 2005 Space Marine Veteran

Games day 2008 Space Marine Captain


Forge World Thunder Bolt Pilot Events only model

Thanks for Looking!

Now Taking Commissions Again!

Hello and welcome! After a couple of months where I couldn't accept any new commissions. I am now available again so check out my pricing guide and get in quick.
In an attempt to lighten my load of unmade plastic figures, I have added some special deals on commissions where if you commission me for one of my unopened figures you will get the cost of the model at a reduced price or for free. To see what offers I have at the moment click here.
That's all for now but look out over the coming days as listing lots of cool stuff on ebay from limited edition figures to some painted stuff.

GDUK 2011 Finalist " Fear Our Name For it is Vengeance "

 

Hello and welcome! As you probably already know another games day and golden demon competition has been and gone. Firstly, I must apologize for not posting in a while as any spare time I had I was working on my entry. 

In the end I only managed to finish one entry and received another finalist pin. My entry was also shown again on the games workshop website. I was a bit disappointed that I couldn't take my painting to the next level to get in the top three but I was still satisfied with the result and my finished piece. Once again the painting throughout the categories was top notch and congrats to everyone who won.

 

Thanks for Looking!

Games Day 2011

Hello and welcome! It's games day season with Spain and Chicago already and with Germany this weekend. It's beckoning on me that Games Day UK is fast approaching with less than 2 months to go and I haven't got my tickets yet. Anyway with this wake up call to get a move is was looking for some inspiration and found last weeks Golden Demon Chicago and Spain Gallery. I found what I was looking for some fantastic miniatures with plenty of inspiring thoughts. My favorites are the grey knights dreadknight which won gold in 40k large monster at Spain and the lovely grey knight squad which won gold in 40k squad at Chicago.
For those who haven't seen the photos yet I thought I'd share here make sure to check them out. Links below

Golden Demon Spain 2011 Photos

Golden Demon Chicago 2011 Photos

Thanks For Looking!

(WIP) Mounted Empire General 4

     Hello and welcome! Some of you may have noticed I haven't updating my blog in a while this is due to my computer blanking out and only recently being able to get a new one.
    Anyway, I'm back now and with some pictures to show of my progress on the empire general. Still mainly basecoating each area and applying the first shades. Really Trying to get the color placement's right. But you can see the direction I am taking this piece in and I am quite pleased with the way it looks at the moment. Still lots and lots of painting to do on this. I'm looking forward and dreading painting a complex design on the large banner. I'll leave you with a couple more photos.

 

As always thanks for looking!

Bretonnia Army Battalion Well Painted for Sale

Hello and welcome! I have dug out a Bretonnia army that painted a good two and a half years ago now and with regret I have sell this army from lack of storage. This army won me a painting award at a local tournament at warhammer world, which proves this army looks great on the tabletop. I have listed it on ebay with the army book for a very reasonable price: Link below

Bretonnia Army on Ebay

More Photos...

Thanks for Looking!

Some Stuff on My Workbench! Again

Hello and welcome! I'll admit I haven't been doing much hobbying at the moment. But, I've done a little on the Horse for my empire general I show last week. It's just mainly placing the colours at the moment, some areas have started to be highlighted and shaded like the reins near his face. Obviously a load of work to. More on that soon... I hope.

Also on my workbench I have assembled two marines which I plan to enter as part of a squad into Golden Demon. Not anything exciting to show and no major conversions for the squad. As the feedback from my squad entry from last year was it was to complicated and should be more simple and refined. So I am sticking with that simple idea of like a command squad just placed on simple plinth.

Thanks for Looking!

Mounted Empire General WIP

Hello and welcome! I have made some more progress on my mounted empire general. As you can see from last time I've smooth the edges of the base and added some details to it as well as the grit. I have painted the base by drybrushing through the shades up to bleached bone. Then, I have started to add some grass tuffs and flowers. I still need to add lots more foliage like more of the above and leaves etc.

I have also made a start on the horse using my airbrush to give it a solid basecoat of codex grey, then applying a very subtle highlight of grey with a hint of white. From this base I will use my brush to add shade and details.
Beneath, I  have a shot of the plinth I plan to use at the moment.

Thanks for Looking!

Miniature Painting with Jérémie Bonamant Teboul DVD Review

            Hello and Welcome! Today, I would like to write a review on the DVD "Miniature Painting with Jérémie Bonamant Teboul". I know this product has been out for years , but my main reason for writing this is when I was looking into buying this dvd I couldn't find any reviews on it.
            So In case you haven't heard of this product before or couldn't work out. This is the miniature painting video of Legendary french figure painter of Jeremie Bonamant Teboul , Who has won an incredible 33 Golden Demon trophy's and 3 Slayer Swords. Making him the most successful painter at Golden Demon ever!
          So in theory this video should be fantastic... But we will see. Lets get to the actual product. I will split the review into several sections covering all aspects of the product.

First Impressions
         When I first received it I was surprised how professional and polished the set is from the well designed glossy outside cover to the smooth looking discs. The case cover is particularly well done with several  high resolution images of Jeremies award winning figures on the front and back covers.
         The set comprises of 2 dics and has a whopping 7 hours of close up footage which already seems like good value as this dvd retails at around £25.

DVD Menu, Video Quality and Audio
           Firstly, I came to the menu. This doesn't quite look as fantastic, however it does it's job and you easily navigate through the content. The menu includes themed text, pictures of figures and some nice calm music. The menu is nether here nor there, It's ok and as said It does it's job of navigating the content great. Lets face it the menu doesn't matter anyway were here for the content. 
          The video quality overall is between good and very good. On occasions the picture is slightly blurred and perhaps to dark. However you can always see what Jeremie is doing with his brush, but due to the minor blur or dark lighting it sometimes makes it hard to see the effects he creates on the figure he's working on.
         Next, Is the audio which is the only major flaw in my opinion. As you have to many options for the audio either listening to Jeremie's original french voice over or you can listen to it Italian, German ,Spanish and of course English. All with a translator speaking I imagine trying to get as close to Jeremie's original script. But listening to the translator I always feel like I am missing out as I don't believe it is his original script as often Jeremie's is talking ( mouth moving on screen) while the translator is silent sometimes for up to several minutes.
        So, I didn't really feel like I was getting Jeremie's full wisdom. The other minor problem with the audio is that the English translation is spoken with a French accent, which isn't really a big problem just sometimes it's a little difficult to understand and you should expect to rewind a couple of times to hear what is said properly.

Content: Technique, Theory and Gallery
        This set boasts to have more than 50 step-by-step tutorials, in depth talk about theory and audio commented gallery. The content is spread over the 2 discs with the bulk of the techniques on disc 1. Lets breakdown the Content.
        It starts with a quick little message from Jeremie in his work area explaining that why he has decided to make this dvd and explains the techniques he shows aren't necessarily the best, but it's what works best for him. Quite honest and refreshing I thought.
        Next we come to a five video section of on choosing tools, paints and organizing your work area. This includes a great video on making your own Wet Palette. He explains in some depth the tools he uses and paints, what they are and why he uses them. Also included is a how to assemble metal and resin figures, showing the great technique of Milliput wash used for smoothing out uneven metal surfaces.
       The we start with the actual painting techniques. We come to ten more techniques being shown which are preshading, Pull/Push Blending, successive wash blending, washes, intermediate blending, wet blending, dot blending, blending on details and finally making corrections. I know what your thinking how many blending techniques can't anyone possibly make up? But, I have to say the techniques he shows are world class and each blending technique creates a different finish. His preshading technique is ingenious although now a well known technique. Jeremie uses an orc to preshade, what he does is basecoat the figures large skin area in mild green then uses GW white spray very lightly to spray the raised areas where the light would hit creating a very quick blended light effect. Superb!
       Jeremie then discusses light and colour theory in several more videos. The topics covered in this section are Zenithal light, Focal points, Spotlights, Warm cold/tones, colour harmony and contrast. Now you may of heard of many of the above applications but like me for a while didn't really understand what they meant and how to apply them to your figures. However, Jeremie I must say does a truly superb job of explaining each topic and how to achieve them.

      Then there four other videos the last of the painting labeled under "Practical Applications". which covers painting Gems, Gore, Leather and stains etc. The Gem video is the real highlight here as Jeremie paints a spectacular red reflective gem on a shield. When I got to this point I was overwhelming disappointed to find no videos on Freehand, I was really expecting it on this dvd. Because anyone who has seen Jeremie's figures nearly all of them feature exquisite freehand designs and would of thought he could easily create a video on this .... unless he left it out intentionally so no one will ever know his secrets of freehand. I'll admit this was the main reason I brought his video was to find out how he did freehand. So thats the last of the painting features.
        Now we come to the best part of the dvd hands down. Simply put his basing is fantastic and his basing videos are fantastic. Firstly, he explains you how to choose the right plinth then he shows you how to transform a block into a woodland scene, barren wasteland, Ice land, Pavement stones with marble pillar and industrial bases. He also covers making titles (plagues) for the front of your bases and making resin water. Every single basing video is great and I guarantee you will all take something away for your own bases.
      Last but not least there is a audio commented gallery showing Jeremie's best miniatures with him explaining how he painted them, what mood the figures have and why he painted them. You can also learn alot from this section just looking at his great great figures. each model has multiple shots from every angle.

Summary
    In conclusion this dvd is very good and I guarantee whether you are a beginner or a professional painter you will learn loads. While this beginners might struggle to get to grips with some of the techniques on show as it is aimed at painters with a good grip on the basics. I consider this dvd good value for money when I look at some of the other products on the market. some videos are more expensive, have less content and are only digital downloads. So this certainly at the top of the market as far as I have seen. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a dvd on miniature painting and to improve their painting.

Ratings

Presentation                                                     6/10
Video Quality                                                   8/10
Audio                                                                5/10
Content                                                            10/10
Value                                                                9/10

Overall                                                             38/50 Recommended

I hope you enjoyed reading and hope you will find it useful!

Thanks For Looking!

Citadel Finecast Thoughts!

          Hello and Welcome! As you are probalay aware there has been lots of talk on Citadel Finecast over the web and mostly it has not been positive. 

           However, I didn't want to listen too much talk online and decided to make my own mind up when I saw the figures in the flesh. So, Yesterday I visited my local store and must say on approaching I was getting mildly excited about buying a resin figure which I could easily assemble and chop up for conversions with crisper detail.

           Sadly, when I got there my hopes were dashed when I started looking at the figures. I must say it looks like all the stories about Finecast are true. I must of looked at 30 odd packs of figures over the different ranges and I couldn't fine one without any air bubbles or other casting imperfections that I would be willing to pay for.

          Then we come the next point of price. Now the price rise originally didn't bother me to much as long as the product was perfect and I'm most people should be used to price rises, I mean come on this is Games Workshop were talking about. I guess the can justify a price rise with the nicely redesigned packaging and the cost of high volume production of Resin... I guess

         At this moment in time I don't think Games Workshop have quite nailed it and me personally I will continue to buy my Resin Figures from the smaller company's like Studio McVey with more control over their castings and would recommend other to steer clear of Finecast. But, I suspect in a couple of months time Games Workshop will have mastered mass producing resin and I sure hope they do because I really want some GW designs in resin... Please hurry.

On a sidenote I have added a nice little cool feature to my Blog " A Gallery Of My Finished Work" which you can find by clicking the link or looking under "Pages" down the left hand side of my home page.

Thanks for Looking!

Mounted Empire General WIP

 

Hello and Welcome! I have made some more progress on my Empire General. I have bulked out the base with milliput, I still need to sand down the sides for a smooth flat finish. 

Next I will add some detail to the base like skulls etc then add sand and grit to texture it. 

I will being painting the horse in a light grey colour and using the traditional Red and white empire colours with the armour in steel.

                           I have made a Flag out of shim brass which I'm quite pleased with how it looks
                                       and all you have to do is some flexing around a brush. Easy !
                                     I used some steel rod to make a longer banner pole then used the
                                             Imperial Guard banner tassel to give a little detail to it. 

I'm planing to do a complex freehand banner design in red and white.

Thanks for Looking!

WIP Wizard Duel Mock-up

Hello and Welcome! I have been doing a bit more work on a "Wizard duel" well a Wizard and a Daemonette but I didn't have another wizard. Oh well! So I have created a little mock-up of the scene, with a very rough layout just to give myself some ideas.

I imagine the Wizard channelling his energy and using it a blast sweeping the Daemonette off his feet and against the wall , This image was inspired through a scene from one of the Harry Potter Films not sure which one though. I'm sure someone does....

Thanks for Looking!

Some Stuff on My Workbench!

Hello and welcome! I have some work in progress stuff to show you today. I have again been tinkering with ideas for some cool looking figures ad possible Golden Demon entries.

First off is a Empire Wizard which I have converted to be out stretched and more flowing. There is still alot of green stuff work to do including the smoothing of all the areas with a thin wash of milliput. I plan to use this Wizard in a duel scene, either with the obvious choice of opponent "another Wizard" or I was also thinking of using a Daemonette just because I have the parts for it.

Then I have a mounted Empire General which is just blu tacked just to give me some idea of assembly and composition. I plan to make a banner out of thin sheet brass, allowing me a nice clear canvas to do some freehand. I intend to make a built up elevated base to give the figure more height and more room to add features and details to the base. 

More Soon!

Thanks for Looking!

Limited Edition Imperial Guardsmen at ease now on ebay!

Hello and welcome! Today I have listed a load of limited edition Imperial Guardsmen at ease. These figures are extremely rare and were only released as a promo during the eye of terror campaign. I have these listed at a reduced price of £10.00, In an attempt to clear my pile of endless models.

Ebay Link: Limited Edition Imperial Guardsmen at Ease

Thanks for Looking!