Fimir - Crom Cruach

After sitting on my painting desk for some time awaiting his turn, Crom is finally done. He will eventually have a larger base he sits into so he can be used as either a gorebeast chariot or a hellcannon.

I used the same colour scheme on Crom as I used on the marlwyrm. I started using GW bloodletter glaze, recently, starting with this guy. Great stuff. If the other GW glazes are as good I'll be picking them up. I found a slightly better glue to use for drool too, a super cheap glue called Capitol, from the 'just what you need' range. Faster drying and more elastic than UHU, it even allowed me to suspend a skull hanging from several of Crom's tentacles.

Next up, more marlwyrm riders and some war dogs.

Passing the Torch - Son of Saturday

On holidays last week, we came across the town of Macroom in county Cork. As we were nearing the town long dormant Neurons flared into life and the realisation dawned that the Prince August visitors centre was in said town. Casually remarking on this fact in as nonchalant a way as I could muster, I was met with the delightful response of "Why don't we go see it?" and so we were off. Honestly though, my wife did actually suggest it a couple of days earlier but it wasn't something that we thought we'd be in the area for. Thanks to an unexpected fair in Kenmare we ended up changing our route and bingo, hobby bonanza time.

Once we arrived I was met with cabinets of painted minis and every hobbyists fantasy, large piles of blisters and boxes on sale at really low prices. While I was mining the boxed set bin, my eldest was drawn over to watch the demonstration of casting miniatures. I hadn't banked on him being so interested, but he was fascinated. Before I knew it he was casting his own Karoliner Musketeer and making for the painting station. Choosing paints and brushes like a twenty year veteran, he painted up his primed mini with great concentration. Simultaneously taken aback and awash with pride at his ability I had long since abandoned the mini hunt and watched him finish his first mini.

Awesome.

(I still managed to bag some bargains later on. Heh.)

Correct Size Card Protectors for Warhammer Battle Magic Cards

If you're like me, you like to take care of your stuff. Especially when it's a limited run type of stuff. It's always galled me that it wasn't possible to get correct size card protectors for those pesky battle magic cards, what with the use they get. GW seem to have made them in a weird size not compatible with any of the existing lines of card sleeves. For those interested, it looks like there is finally a solution. Check it out here:

http://swanpanasiasleeves.com/standard-sleeves/swan-card-sleeves-75x110-mm-150-per-pack.html

also:

http://www.boardgameextras.co.uk/item.php?id=1957&name=Swan+Card+Sleeves:+75x110+mm+-150+per+pack&cat=291&sub_cat=#.UgOK-KxGbiE

The warhammer magic cards are 75x110mm, so happy days. They are still on pre-order, but are out at the end of August.

Go nuts!

Fimir - Avagdu

After finishing the first marlworm I thought I'd complete one of the characters for the army, Avagdu. He's been assembled for some while, and it was past time he got some paint. In gaming terms he'll operate as a low level wizard, and as a character I thought those big shoulder pads needed something more, so a bit of Celtic style freehand was in order. I added the name of the meargh who controls Avagdu in ogham to the back of the stone. Yeah? Too much you say? No way I reply.

Now, there's a pile of tentacles that need some red wash...

Kickstarter - ArcWorlde

The Warploque Miniatures kickstarter for ArcWorlde has just gone live and is already nearly 200% funded. I've been a fan of Warploque for some time, so I'm definitely in on this. The undead pirates are just wonderful, but most of the Warploque miniatures are great in my opinion. There are four starting warbands with stretch additions added already. The hardback rulebook from what I can see so far looks very pretty, hopefully the contents are as delicious. Worth a look.

The NG Questionnaire

I can see your belly.

Having enjoying Thantsants More Omphalic Inspection post over at the mighty Somewhere the tea's Getting Cold, I thought I'd have a go at the list of questions that's doing the rounds in blogtown at the moment. Also, talking about myself is one of my favourite things to do. Prepare yourself for things you most likely have zero interest in.

So, behold the Saturday. Frankly, this is the thing that piqued my interest in the first place, getting to see what these blogger folks actually look like, and trying to reconcile your half-considered mental image with reality. I'm the hatless one.

I offer no background to this photo. Make up a fun story!

Q1. Favourite wargaming period and why?
Er. This smells of historical. While I do read Wargames Illustrated, and have regular daydreams about painting Vikings, (That came out wrong. Or did it?) I'm more a fantasy man. I guess if I was to take the plunge it'd be Dark Ages.

Q2. Next period, money no object?
Without a doubt alternative WW1 America. Oh, with Martians. I am still giddy with excitement about the upcoming All Quiet on the Martian Front. I went a bit mad during the kickstarter and now have a rather large shipment due around Christmas. Joy.

Q3. Favourite 5 films?
Crikey. Ahm... okay. In no particular order. And subject to daily change.
Evil Dead 2
Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Withnail & I
The Dark Crystal
Spirited Away

Q4. Favourite 5 TV series?
Walking Dead
Ulysses 31
Red Dwarf
The Mighty Boosh
Spaced

Q5. Favourite book and author?
An impossible question. Tolkien, Terry Pratchett, Ian Banks, Neal Stephenson, George R Martin, Tad Williams, Bernard Cornwell, Michael Moorcock, the list goes on. I do have a special affection for Robert Holdstock's Mythago Wood. Ian Livingstone and Steve Jackson had quite an affect no me too, I must admit!

Q6. Greatest general? Excluding oneself!
Surely it must be Genghis Khan. The only reason he didn't take over the world is because he died. Okay, his army was pretty great, and he was utterly ruthless, but still, a great general.

Q7. Favourite wargames rules?
Warhammer 3rd ed and Rogue Trader.

Q8. Favourite sport and team?
My Bloodbowl team, the Drakenhof Deadskins. What? It's a sports team. Just not a real one.

Q9. If you had a one use only time machine, when and where would you go?
Back to get last weeks euro lotto numbers. Yes, I am that shallow. Look, it's a one use time machine, so there's no point going back to witness the battle of Waterloo or the glory of Rome, is there? It'd be great for a day or two, then you're stuck there with no internet.

Q10. Last meal on Death Row?
A delicious skeleton key cake served with a pardon from the governor.

Q11. Fantasy relationship and why?
Um. There's a big remit here. Like, fantasy as in a real yet unattainable person, or an insatiable daeomonette with a crush on you and six breasts? I know who'd I'd pick...

Q12. If your life were a movie, who would play you?
Adrian Edmondson.
 

Q13. Favourite comic superhero?
It's a dead heat between Nemesis, Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper and Johnny Alpha.

Q14. Favourite military quote?
"Never do an enemy a small injury." - Machiavelli

Q16. Biggest wargaming regret?
Not playing more of them.

Q17. Favourite fantasy job?
Professional (insanely highly paid) dark ages/medieval re-enactor.

Q18. Favourite 5 songs?
Get lost. My favourite five songs now will be different to an hour from now. But:
Tom Waits - Singapore
Road to Nowhere - Talking Heads
1979 - Smashing Pumpkins
Mein Herz Brennt - Rammstein
The Theme From Harry's Game - Clannad

Q.19 Favourite wargaming moment?
When a mate of mine went purple and had to lie down after losing 30+ dwarves to a desperate purple sun from my vampire lord, then lost his general seconds later as my wight king beheaded him with a lucky killing blow. I couldn't breathe I was laughing so hard. It even gives me a chuckle now.

Q20. The miserable git question, what upsets you?
Lack of empathy and poor manners. Among other things.

There we have it! If you've made it this far, then well done, well done indeed.

Fimir - A Rather Nice Thing

I was trawling through my forum replies this morning as I am want to do. I run a 'Fimir of Albion' thread on quite a few forums as there's no Fimir.com or BogDwellers.org fimir army site to plant my flag on. (Well, there is a fimir.com, but it's sadly got not a single cyclopean monster on it.) The feedback and encouragement on the various fora is beyond price too, and keeps me trucking on.

Anyway.

On the superb Lead Adventure Forum, I came across this comment from Dewbakuk:
  

I was speaking to Aly Morrison at the weekend and he mentioned this thread, said how fantastic the army looked and I should take a look. He's right this army is looking superb, very impressive! I can see why it's one of his favourite threads.

That made me put my tea down, I can tell you. For anyone who doesn't know, and shame on you if you don't, Aly Morrison is a miniature designer of some considerable repute, who has been in the industry for an age of man. He co-founded Marauder Miniatures back in the late eighties. Aly and Trish Morrison produced such wonders as the MM90 series of chaos dwarves, and, a personal favourite, the MM50 skeletons. He has produced a wealth of great miniatures for Games Workshop down the years.

And, apparently, he likes my fimir.

My day, she is made.