COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Update II

These are weird times. I can't really think of any other way to say it. 

Just wanted to write an update on things since my last post on COVID-19 on March 15. Teresa and I are doing fine despite everything that's going on. I've been teleworking since March 18, which has been an interesting adjustment. I know now that I wouldn't be happy in a 9 to 5 desk job. My wife splits her time between working remotely and going into her office (she's been classified as essential). Aside from grocery and miniature supply runs, I've been mostly at home for the past two weeks. 

I am worried about my family in California though. Both my parents are in the high-risk category and I fear something happening to them, and my sister as well. They’ve told me they’ve been good so far...so that’s a bit reassuring.

Yesterday, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam issued a stay-at-home order for the entire commonwealth until June 10. Desperate times call for desperate measures and I'm glad he's issued this order (Maryland and Washington, DC have also done the same). I think I'm going to get a lot of miniatures done in the next 11 weeks.  

Keep washing your hands, folks, and be safe out there!

Painting Dark Skin (Plus my Catachan Test Figure)

I’ve been surprised at some of the reactions I’ve gotten on the dark skin for my Catachan test figure (still very much a WIP) on Facebook and Instagram. I figured I’d post a little tutorial on the simple method I used to do it. Enjoy!

My mostly finished Catachan test figure!

Truth be told, this was my first real time painting dark skin. None of the armies I’ve done before have had black people in them, so I definitely wanted them represented in my Vietnam-themed Catachan army. I'm really pleased with how it's turned and overall I found it much easier to paint than light skin.

First off, prime black (though I suppose grey would work too) and put down a base layer of Games Workshop Rhinox Hide. A wash of Games Workshop Agrax Earthshade was applied afterward.

The face and muscles are then highlighted with Vallejo Flat Brown. For a handful of future models,  I’m going to experiment with Games Workshop Mournfang Brown in some future models. I think that'll give my army a nice variety of skin tones.

Then – and here’s my special addition – I apply a thin wash of Agrax Earthshade again to knock down the brightness a bit and tie all the colors together. That’s pretty much it!

It's a pretty simple but effective method, but I quite like it. Hopefully you found this helpful!

The One Colour Challenge

As discussed in my previous post, I signed up for the One Colour Challenge on Instagram. I was assigned green, and so armed with an assortment of shades I went to work! 

I finished after about two days’ worth of work, and had fun! But not going to lie: I’m so tired of working with Moot Green for the time being. It also gets everywhere. 

An old Space Marine was chosen for the task. To create a bit more visual interest, I decided to put him on top of a supply box. I like to think he’s defending the last shipment of toilet paper in the sector. Everything else is essentially my normal jungle base but with bits of dried parsley sprinkled on to represent more foliage. I might end up using that on my normal bases after this. I kinda like the effect. 

Without further ado, here are the paints used:

• Moot Green (Games Workshop)
• Yellow Green (Vallejo)
• Military Green (Vallejo)
• Black Green (Vallejo)
• Green Grey (Vallejo)
• Russian Green (Vallejo)
• Biel-Tan Green (Games Workshop)
• Athonian Camoshade (Games Workshop)
• Nuln Oil (Games Workshop...and yes, it was allowed)

I was glad to do this challenge. It helped pass the time and stretched my creative muscles. I can’t wait to see what the others have done for their entries!

Lunch Break Hobby Time, Part II

A few days ago I signed up for the One Colour Challenge on Instagram. It’s being put on by @the_warhammer_lass and participants are assigned one color to paint a miniature of their choice. You can use any shade of that color (green in my case). Bases can be whatever we want. The challenge itself will be from March 28 to April 4, which the finished models being displayed on Instagram. There are no prizes, winners, or losers. This is just a fun challenge to get us all through these weird times.

So I assembled my paints yesterday and dug through my boxes to find an appropriate model: a Space Marine from the Assault on Black Reach Battle for Vedros set. 

So far he’s been given three very thin coats of Games Workshop Moot Green. Once dry, he’ll be given a wash of Games Workshop Biel-Tan Green and then I’ll block in some of the darker greens elsewhere. Still not entirely sure what I’m going to do with him, but I’m definitely enjoying this challenge! 

Jungle Fever!

While stuck at home, the urge hit me to try my hand at making some jungle bases. It came out of nowhere really, but I realized I had all the necessary parts. Using this awesome tutorial from Games Workshop, I set to it. I did stray from the video a bit and throw in some skulls and fallen branches (courtesy of a fallen branch in our yard....how meta).

The underside of the barbed bracken was under coated with Death Guard Green. I also strayed a bit from the tutorial on this, but I didn’t want to run the risk of any bare plastic showing on the final product. While this was drying, I slapped on some old GW texture paint (from four years ago...yikes!) and allowed it to dry. I glued in the branches and skulls while the texture paint was still damp. I waited until the texture paint was dry to glue in the flora. 

With everything dry and in glued in place, the bases were also given a spray of Death Guard Green. 

Once dry, I randomly picked out the leaves with Elysian Green and Warboss Green to give things some variety. The fallen branches were painted Steel Legion Drab. As the tutorial specified, everything was given a wash of Athonian Camoshade, then the plant bases, stems, and branches were given a wash of Agrax Earthshade. Everything was then dry brushed with Screaming Skull.

Speaking of skulls, they were heavily dry brushed with Screaming Skull and then given two coats of Skeleton Horde Contrast. I liked the “earthiness” of the color mixed with hints of the original Death Guard Green. It reminds me of examples I saw in my Anthropology classes back in the day at Fullerton College. 

This was also my first time using a light box! I'd picked it up for cheap on eBay a few months ago with the purpose of photographing both my minis and Teresa's jewelry. Full disclosure, I did adjust the brightness and contrast in editing but I feel it does the best job of showing the bases' details. 

Additionally, while running errands yesterday I hit Curio Cavern and went through their bits box. To my knowledge this is currently the only bits box in Northern Virginia (since the Island Games closed last year). I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of jungle pieces they had! I'll definitely be incorporating these on future bases and scatter terrain.

Now that I have jungle bases, I think it's only natural to put proper figures on them.

Yup, the classic Catachan Jungle Fighters for Warhammer 40k. I used to hate these guys when I was first getting into the hobby but they've grown on me over the years. Plus they're not the ubiqitious Cadians that every Imperial Guard Astra Militarum player seems to have. They're different and that's something that really appeals to me. 

“Papa Nurgle has no chance!”

Well done, Tower Center!

I just want to give a huge shoutout to the Games Workshop: Tower Center crew in Springfield, VA. They’ve been taking the COVID-19 outbreak seriously from the beginning and have really been looking out for the gaming community. They’ve been on the ball, and I thank them for it.

After about a week inside the house, I needed to get out and grab some paint and new brushes for my most recent project. This sign was up on the door, and I appreciated it immensely.

Hopefully things will return to normal sooner rather than later. I do suspect, though, that we’ll be in this for the long haul. 

Please be safe, everyone, and take good care of yourselves.

Lunch Break Hobby Time, Part I

My team and I were approved for situational telework in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, I’ll be working from home for the foreseeable future and will have a lot of time to get a lot of training and planning out of the way. But this also means that I’ll have plenty lunch breaks in the coming weeks to work on minis. 

So as a result, I’m starting a semi-regular feature called Lunch Break Hobby Time!

I only had about five minutes today (had to take care of some other chores around the house first), but I was able to quickly spray some barbed bracken for some jungle bases. I’ll have some more time tomorrow and I intend to glue them onto the bases I prepared with texture paints after I was off work. Stay tuned!

Now I just need to contend with an oh-so-helpful friend....

COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Update I

This last week has been surreal to say the least. COVID-19 became a pandemic and increasingly drastic measures are being taken to try and stop the virus’ spread. There’s total chaos as stores can’t keep toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and bottled water stocked. Schools, libraries, museums, etc. are being closed and people are being urged to stay home.

My wife and I, at least for right now, still have to report to work. But guidance changes daily and we have no idea what’s going to happen. But then, no one really does do they?

At least one thing is certain:

Be safe, my friends. May the Force be with you and live long and prosper.