EFD's "Night on Grey Mountain" [BATG2023]

[EvilFuzzyDoom]

This update, it’s a matter of a few steps forward and a few steps back. Isn’t that always the way?

There were some good deals going on a local trade group so I picked up some reinforcements for my Imperial Gurd (not that I need them, but shoosh!). Theres a couple of extra turrets for my Leman Russ pool, which I guess don’t count? And ten guardsmen to paint up as retro style dudes. I’ll need another box to equip them properly but I’m exercising some self-control at the moment: I’m nearly at net zero and I have a wedding to pay for, after all!

There’s hope on the horizon, too - I’ve set up the assembly line to get some serious painting done:

There’s twenty soldiers on the desk at the moment, and another thirty or so waiting once they’re done!

We’ll see if that holds up, of course, but I can feel the negative count within my grasp!

For now, ten models onto the pile:

BATG score: +19

[EvilFuzzyDoom]

In my second purchase for August, I picked up five Ratling Snipers for my Astra Militarum:

They are pictured here with my 2003-era Ratlings who I’m going to give a glow-up.

Five more into the pile.

BATG score: +24

[EvilFuzzyDoom]

I painted a bunch of stuff!

Firstly, I finished up the Imperial Guardsmen I’ve been working on (well, some of them anyway):

There’s fifteen in the picture but one of them was a reference model, so it’s fourteen off the pile,

Next I decided to rifle through my Contrast paints and slap a bunch of them randomly on the Mancrusher Gargants I built a while back, just to see what would happen:

I’ve got two on the workbench but only finished one today.

Finally, while I was waiting for that to dry I decided to super-chest and painted this Emerald Lifeswarm endless spell for Age of Sigmar:

Slapchop for the win! I’m not sure if it comes across in the photo but it looks real nice.

As per recent posts, I need a new lightbox so the pics are a bit sad for now.

Anyway, sixteen models off the count for today. I can smell zero nearby!

BATG score: +8

[EvilFuzzyDoom]

Today was stressful but I found/stole some time to myself and finish painting this Mancrusher/Aleguzzler Gargant:

I’ve realised that the two gargants I’ve already painted plus Kragnos would be a 1000 point Sons of Behemat army, which would be neat if I had anyone to play Age of Sigmar with!

I have a few more things on the workbench, but I don’t think I’ll finish any of it by tomorrow. So- didn’t crack net zero this month, but September is in my sights!

One more off the pile.

BATG score: +7

[EvilFuzzyDoom]

Apparently I’m on a roll because I painted two Executioners from my pile of Nighthaunt.

I pulled them out because I’m striking around to find some quick wins before the end of the month, and they’re a real easy pair to put in the completed column.

The big takeaway from these is that Vallejo Metal Air steel is absolutely fantastic and I can see why the rest of the range is sold out everywhere. I need them all now and am sad I didn’t try them earlier.

Funnily, with these guys done I have only one more Nighthaunt model to paint - but it’s Lady Olynder and she wiggles so much I might have to lean hard on the airbrush to get her done. I foresee pain.

Meanwhile, this dude made his way to my painting table:

I’m still not down to net zero but we’re real close!

BATG score: +5

[EvilFuzzyDoom]

Look at this big, beautiful centaur!

I painted Kragnos this weekend, giving myself the challenge to paint him black since that’s my fiancée’s favourite type of horse.

I accomplished it with a zenithal prime and layered over a mix of Black Templar with Scale75 Abyssal Blue and lots of Lahmian Medium, drybrushing between each layer to keep the highlights strong.

The metal is Vallejo Metal Colour Steel for airbrush and I am absolutely in love. I corroded it with a diluted Aethermatic Blue wash, some Nihilakh Oxide, and Canoptek Alloy as a finishing touch.

The only layer painting I did on him is on his face, just to give him some definition!

Very happy with this big fella.

Also, I figured out a hack to get the lightbox working, so enjoy the decent pics for a change!

BATG score: +4

[EvilFuzzyDoom]

Yesterday my partner left the country on a work trip so to comfort myself I bought a Chaos Rhino and some Magic cards.

BATG score: +5

[Pyroven]

@EvilFuzzyDoom

Next I decided to rifle through my Contrast paints and slap a bunch of them randomly on the Mancrusher Gargants I built a while back, just to see what would happen:

@EvilFuzzyDoom

Today was stressful but I found/stole some time to myself and finish painting this Mancrusher/Aleguzzler Gargant:

These gargants are fantastic, such excellent shading that almost feels like a vignette.

[EvilFuzzyDoom]

Thanks @Pyroven !

I really love how they turned out, for how little effort I put in.

All I did was prime them black, spray white from above, wash black, lightly drybrush white and then throw on contrast paints.

The most complicated thing I did was dilute the flesh colour around their bellies because the paint was showing brush marks!

They really make me want to get a Mega-Gargant and paint it the same way, but I’m trying to save for a wedding so it’s just going on the wish list for now.

[EvilFuzzyDoom]

Good news everyone - I’ve hit net zero!

The weather this week has been fantastic, so I’ve been sneaking in some priming whenever I can - six Leman Russ, five Crossbowmen and five Ratling snipers have gotten a layer of primer!

I also figured, while I had the ratlings out (the ones I bought this year) I should update my old unit as well. They are in my grey & red scheme from the early 2000s, but like my Cadians, they were never really polished up. Here’s what they looked like when I started:

Not much to write home about and very much unfinished, with no basing, messy metals and a lot of spots needing a good tidy.

Here’s what they look like after an evening’s love and attention:

Much better!

I filled in the base slots with greenstuff, stuck on a layer of sand and after that, Most of the work was just tidying up, putting on a second thin coat over most of the colours, and a bath in Agrax Earthshade. Now they match the style of my refurbished Cadian army.

I’ve started the second unit, and decided that I’ll paint them with a different approach that leans more into drybrush/contrast and see if I can get them done with a bit less work. Also, green hats. That way, if I decide to run both then I’ll be able to tell them apart!

Here’s the WIP shot:

Until then, I’ve managed to knock five more off the pile, bringing my bought & painted piles into equilibrium. Hooray!

I have a big bunch of stuff in the immediate queue, I have good priming weather to start getting ahead of it, and I’m not really feeling the pull of any new projects that would need me to add more to the pile (yet). We’ve got a window to get us a big lead before my eye wanders and I feel the pull of the new. I’d better take advantage while I can!

BATG score: 0

[EvilFuzzyDoom]

And the other five Ratlings are done!

I tried the lightbox trick again (I’m just using it as a background, really - the lighting is from some other sources now) and it came through really washed-out. Makes me sad.

But, five more off the pile, taking me into the negatives properly!

BATG score: -5

[EvilFuzzyDoom]

Continuing the streak, I’ve completed a unit of retro-style Imperial Guard:

I think I’ve finally worked out a scheme for Imperial Guardsmen that’s quick and easy to paint - sometimes old tricks are the best tricks!

Despite the OG guardsmen having bare steel lasguns and helmets, I’ve gone with no metals for now, partly as a time-saving measure and partly because the black helmets look great against the Averland Sunset I’ve used for the unit markings.

I figure I can come back and pick out metal details on sergeants or something if I think they need it. Old school officer models originally had gold details and things, so I might need to go back and do some other metals so they don’t look too out of place.

Anyway, ten off the pile!

BATG score: -15