Started a new project today, a Malus Darkblade on foot I found in my cupboard. I have a few different minis knocking about that will be good to practice a few different things on, the main thing I want to practice with this guy is refining my blending. Plenty of detail in the armour and robes for this so we’ll see how things go!

So far the work has mainly been on the base, using a plinth I bought a while ago, some Milliput then finished off with sand and a skull from a beastman sprue I had knocking around. Nice and simple!

More progress tonight with my Contemptor, painted the base. Need to do a pass on the metals next as they look a bit ropey, and then need to decide where the chapter symbol is going to go.

A few months ago I decided to go for this year’s Golden Demon. It’s been around 4 years since I went to Games Day, and around 6 since I entered Golden Demon. My target was a finalists pin, I chose my entry and away I went.

Now, it’s been a while since I posted and that is the main reason that I haven’t. Initially I redecorated and didn’t have a painting space for around a month. After that I was straight on to the Demon entry, with the intention to reveal it after the day.

Unfortunately Games Day sold out. Since when did Games Day sell out? My thought process was that it never sells out, so in the event that I didn’t get my entry finished in time I wouldn’t have wasted £30, and if I did get it done, I’ll buy a ticket when I knew I would be finished in time. Nope – sold out. Couldn’t go.

Never mind though, there’s always next year. Ever since I was a child entering young bloods, watching Alan Merritt closely examining my entry alongside 4 others and missing out on a top 3, I have wanted one of those trophies. There’s something about them, they’re cool and I want to win one. I know I need to seriously improve, but I like to think I have enough basic skills that I can get there with a lot of practice.

And so on to the contingency. I was aiming for a pin this year, so lets aim for a pin next year, and aim to get a trophy in 3. Might be a tough ask but a couple of Golden Demons worth of trying and improving and it could happen!

So over the next year (and indeed inevitably) a Golden Demon practice/training/preparation programme is needed I think! Theres 12 months until the next show, If I give myself 2 months to paint something special, I can do 5 practice pieces before I go for an actual entry. The practice ones could indeed end up becoming entries themselves too in different categories. The idea is on each one to have a specific goal or technique that is the main practice. For example the first one I will be focusing on my blending technique in an attempt to achieve that perfect smooth blend between shadows and highlights – or indeed between 2 colours. I’ll be posting the first WIP shot soon!

In other news, I have invested in a shiny new camera, which is the perfect excuse to take some test shots of my recent Goblin figure, and also something I’ve been working on recently – A Forge World Contemptor for my Subjugators. The resin base came for it today so I’ll be finishing him off over the weekend.

For many years I have heard the name Testors Dullcote splattered all over painting forums and website claiming that it’s every painter’s varnish of choice – but is it actually as good as everyone says?

continue reading »

I have spent the last couple of weeks working on this miniature. The Trolls and Khador that I’ve posted recently have been the tabletop level stuff I’ve been bashing out over the past year or so. Once that was out of the way I sat down with the aim to paint something as best as I can, and this is the result – I hope you like!

CMON Link - 

The plan is to start painting high quality stuff again and end up with a great gallery of minis on here so every couple of weeks or so I’ll be posting something up.

I was hoping to get some WIP shots while I was working on it, however as you probably noticed I’ve changed the way I photograph minis. It’s still not 100% but all my WIP shots of this mini are all WIP shots of this new method and so not up to scratch unfortunately.

Any questions about paints or techniques used etc I will be happy to answer.