XanderXereus' Tutorials on Mold Making and Resin Casting

Studioworx Sculpting Videos

I will post some of the videos here for easy reference, but you should check out all of his videos at Studioworx's Channel on YouTube.



























Unfortunately, on many of these he uses a background music track that somebody put in a notice about copyright violation. Fortunately, YouTube just blocked the audio track and didn't delete the account or the videos themselves. There isn't a lot of narration anyway, as the videos are done

Creager Studios Sculpting Tutorials: Heads

Here is are additional videos on sculpting...designed for larger models, but you can appply the techniques to smaller miniatures as illustrated by Will at stormthecastle.com in a previous post.

Grognardia

This morning I discovered Grognardia, which is an excellent blog on the history and traditions of all things RPG.

The word is used as a slang term for a veteran wargamer, but derives from a French term used to describe grumbling members of Napoleon's Old Guard. You can a find a definition here and here.

The blog is truly an excellent place for fellow grognards to feel less lonely.

Storm the Castle Sculpting Tutorial

There are some excellent tutorials for miniatures at Storm the Castle

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Part 15:

Cold War Miniatures

I have been putting off buying the 28mm SG-1 miniatures from Phoenix for a long time. I checked the website from a link on this blog yesterday and discovered that Phoenix isn't making them anymore and sold their backstock to several different companies, all operating out of the UK.

In a panic, I clicked through the links to each of them and the only one still selling them was Cold War Miniatures.

I really hate nothing more than not buying something because it feels like an impulse buy and then finding out that it is OOP when I make up my mind to purchase it. So, I grabbed the credit card and purchased the complete set of Stargate SG-1 Miniatures from Cold War Minis.

Paypal estimates the conversion at around $113, which is pretty good, and shipping was free.

I will let you know what the quality of the miniatures is when (if) they arrive from England. I was in England last January and was going to try to find Phoenix then, but they didn't have a shop in London and I wasn't able to travel outside the city.

Auggie's Order

Auggie's Games

I prefer the interface at the Troll and Toad website, but you can't argue with Auggie's service or prices! The store is top notch, and when you're shopping, you should definitely check there first.

Just don't buy stuff I want!

• Knights of the Old Republic #38 Czerka Scientist
  
• Knights of the Old Republic #40 GenoHaradan Assassin (Yes, I already bought one of these at Troll & Toad...but it was only $0.19 here.)
  
• Alliance and Empire #45 Human Force Adept (x5)
  
• Legacy of the Force #14 General Dodonna
  
• Rebel Storm #47 Gamorrean Guard (x6)
  
• Universe #31 Vornskr (x10) (I use these as a proxy for Gibberlings)
  
• Universe #40 Noghri
  
• Dragoneye #23 Medium Air Elemental
  
• Dragoneye #43 Abyssal Maw(x2)
  
• Chuul (x2)
  
• Kelda the Kyrie Warrior
  
• Raelin Kyrie Warrior
  
• Raelin Kyrie Warrior
  
• Taelord the Kyrie Warrior If the wings come off him easily enough, he might make a good proxy for Kaanyr Vhok
  
• Charos
  
• Underdark #14 Dromite Wilder
  
• WotDQ #18 Warden of the Wood
  
• WotDQ #19 Azer Fighter (x5)
  

New Order from Troll and Toad

There is nothing more dangerous than being snowed in with an internet connection and a credit card.

This is what I've ordered from Troll and Toad.

When I get home, I will take pictures and do reviews of them all...eventually.

• Kem Ravenbane #094 Mage Knight Sorcery: Got the last one! An excellent proxy for the evil guy in Baldur's Gate.
  
• Warrior Sprite #008 Mage Knight Sinister: These are only $0.79, so if good, I might get a bunch more.
  
• Centipede #020 HorrorClix Nightmares: These were also pretty cheap, and I really want lots of nasties for forests and caverns.
  
• Goat-Headed Satanist #018 HorrorClix Nightmares: This will be an excellent Ibixian shaman.
  
• Nessie #043 HorrorClix Nightmares: I have been collecting water based monsters a lot lately, so I couldn't resist. I think a ship crossing of the Sea ofFallen Stars is in the PCs future...
  
• Pod People #019 HorrorClix Nightmares: Impulse buy, but might be useful someday. No regret is as painful as not buying something now you may want later when it is out of print. Like the Ultimate Godzilla toy which would be an excellent Tarrarasque but though you could once get it for $10 is now $375 on Amazon.com. My wife does not appreciate this very good advice.
  
• Sasquatch #013 HorrorClix Nightmares: I don't know why I bought this. Impulse buy. It is exactly the same pose as the Reaper metal miniature hanging on my wall...but was under a dollar. I AM NOT A HORDER!!!! (If the hord is organized, you're not a horder, you're a collector.)
  
• Satanist #038 HorrorClix Nightmares: Can you ever have enough?
  
• Succubus #044 HorrorClix Nightmares: I think this would make an excellent proxy for an Alu Fiend, and will probably make her a stand-in for Aliisza from The Empyrean Odyssey.
  
• Voodoo Priest #045 HorrorClix Nightmares: He is like that Disney character, but I like human shamen.
  
• Fan Dancer #061 Freakshow HorrorClix: I will have to look at her, but I'm hoping I can re-sculpt a little to make this a proxy for a swanmay
  
• Catman #040 DC Heroclix Origin Rookie: I probably already have one of these, but maybe I will make this the vestments for Sharessan Celebrants, if I do.
  
• Anaconda #031 Rookie Marvel Heroclix Ultimates: What is this? Is it a dude with boobs? Fzoul Chembryl's ugly sister? At $0.49, I'll roll the dice.
  
• Green Arrow #014 Justice League DC Heroclix: I love Green Arrow, and have a bunch of different ones and poses. Maybe they will be Meilikki priest vestments or something.
  
• Merlyn #019 Justice League DC Heroclix: I am always looking for rangers who don't look dorky.
  
• Black Panther #085 Rookie Marvel Heroclix Infinity Challenge: I don't know for sure what I'll use this for, but I'll find something.
  
• Raven #029 Experienced DC Heroclix Icons: I have a bunch of Raven in blue and two different poses because I'm using her as vestments for a priest of something. The white one will be the High Priestess.
  
• Fandral #018 Heroclix Hammer of Thor: Another fighter.
  
• Heimdall #036 Heroclix Hammer of Thor: Not crazy about a sword where the hilt is longer thant he blade, but the rest of the mini is pretty cool.
  
• Karnilla #020 Heroclix Hammer of Thor: Always looking for evil females.
  
• Loki #035 Heroclix Hammer of Thor: I really like this mini. Not sure if I will use her as a barbarian or something else. I should have also gotten the male version of Loki. Next time.
  
• Moonstone #022 Heroclix Hammer of Thor: I have a lot of super heroine type minis, but I like the mask. Maybe I will make these the vestments of the Church of Mask.
  
• Namora #024 Heroclix Hammer of Thor: I use all of the Namor-ite miniatures as Aquatic Elves.
  
• Sif #033 Heroclix Hammer of Thor: I have a metal miniature to use for Sif, so this will be just another female fighter NPC. I don't think it is detailed enough for anyone to want to use as a PC.
  
• Venus #052 Heroclix Hammer of Thor: This is a great mini and would make a much better cleric of Sune than the WOTC one...but that ain't gonna happen with these priced at $12 each! Maybe I will make her the High Priestess at the temple and the rest mere clerics.
  
• Hawkeye #052 Rookie Marvel Heroclix Clobberin Time: Another ranger, though at $0.49, you could get a whole lot of them and make them Cormyrean Archers.
  
• Medusa #095 Unique Marvel Heroclix Clobberin Time: She's just hot...and I will find something for her to do that justifies the $12 price tag.
  
• Citizen V #52 Avengers Marvel HeroClix: I have no idea what I'll do with this, but he is kind of neat. A little pricey to repaint at $5, but if I don't like it I might go that route.
  
• Taskmaster #29 Avengers Marvel HeroClix: I'm sure I can find a use for this. Not sure if he is really skeletal or if it is a mask.
  
• Angel of Valor Legionnaire #3/40 - Savage Encounters D&D Miniatures (x4)
  
• Black Slaad #4/40 - Savage Encounters D&D Miniatures (x2)
  
• Bullywug Guard #7/40 - Savage Encounters D&D Miniatures (x10)
  
• Drider Fanglord #12/40 - Savage Encounters D&D Miniatures (x4)
  
• Greenvise Vine #20/40 - Savage Encounters D&D Miniatures (x2)
  
• Human Outrider #22/40 - Savage Encounters D&D Miniatures (x5)
  
• Norker #27/40 - Savage Encounters D&D Miniatures (x10)
  
• Rat Swarm #28/40 - Savage Encounters D&D Miniatures (x4)
  
• Rockfire Dreadnought #29/40 - Savage Encounters D&D Miniatures (x3)
  
• Salamander Archer #30/40 - Savage Encounters D&D Miniatures (x3)
  
• Thief of Last Chances #58 Dreamblade Baxar's War: Not sure what I'll use this for.
  
• Jorogumo - Arcane Legions Single Miniatures: I might use this for an Areana or the Lady Pentitent from the Lisa Smedman books
  
• Gray Slaad #18/40 - Savage Encounters D&D Miniatures (x2)
  
• GenoHaradan Assassin #40 Knights of the Old Republic Star Wars Miniatures: Might not be useful, but you gotta buy SWMs with real swords and not light sabres.
  
• Sith Assassin #16 Knights of the Old Republic Star Wars Miniatures: Ditto
  
• Praetorite Vong Warrior #39
  
• Captain Mar Tuuk #5/40 Galaxy at War Star Wars Minis: I will have to look at it before I decide what I will do with it...holy crap, did I really blow $12 on it? Better be freakin' awesome!
  
• Elite Senate Guard #27/40 Galaxy at War Star Wars Minis: I need to look at this, but at $0.61 this could be a pretty cool palace guard bought in bulk.
  
• Human Force Adept #45 Alliance and Empire Star Wars Miniatures: I think this could be a cool priestly vestmant, and they are $0.49 so I could buy in bulk if needed. Perhaps a druidic sect, worhipers of Sylvanus?
  
• Ithorian Commander #10 Alliance and Empire Star Wars Miniatures: I got 5 of these, I'm thinking they will be a variant of Myconid and live in the Underdark.
  

DDM Spoilers by Greyhaze

http://www.ddmspoilers.com

I've been in Minot, North Dakota for a week or so now...with at least three of those days snowed in. I've been going a little stir crazy and that often results in spending time on the computer surfing for miniatures.

Knowing that my mother-in-law was going to have a knee replaced and that I'd probably be wanting even more computer time than usual, I bought them a wireless router (by them, yes, I mean me).

I used to spend a lot of time in the discussion forums on Hordelings, which is still great, but ever since DDM 2.0 and WOTC no longer supporting the skirmish game, Hordelings has become the official place for fan based/user support of that game system.

I never played DDM, but before Hordelings became the only official place to discuss DDM gaming you could still have great conversations about miniatures in general. Now there are far fewer casual players of the game discussing there and not nearly as much interest in discussing anything outside the official game.

I've made the transition this week to lurking primarily at another DDM forum site, DDM Spoilers by Greyhaze. I was always a frequent visitor to the site, because at Hordelings the official policy has always been that they don't discuss any miniatures which were not officially previewed by WOTC on their site or acknowledged by WOTC at a convention or something. DDM Spoilers has always been exactly what the name implies, a gallery of images of the miniatures in the pipe as soon as the news, leaks, or images could be gleaned from any possible source.

It wasn't until this week that I registered for and began participating in the forums. I have to say it is a really enjoyable online community. The site even has a nifty chat feature so that not everything that is discussed is preserved in the forum for all time.

Unfortunately, there haven't been any new spoilers for a long time and the new PHH set that was due out in February has been moved back. There is the usual gloom and doom predictions that the end of the WOTC miniatures line is at hand, but it has been predicted before.

At any rate, DDM Spoilers is the place to go if you are interested in miniatures but are not married to a brand name and towing the corporate line. There is great discussion of all editions of D&D as well as a wide range of other miniatures and role playing options.

Go there. It is good.

And Greyhaze is a great guy.

Thumbs up!

Eye of Frost

As you know, recently ordered my new series set from Auggie's and while I was at it I ordered another Eye of Flame.
I wanted to try my hand at repainting it as a conversion to an Eye of Frost. It came out pretty well, I think.

First step is to spray the whole thing with a white primer coat.

Next, I painted the entire mini with Pearl White paint from the Reaper Master Series paints. This gave the mini a really nice opalescent quality which shimmers like ice or snow.

Once the Pearl White dried, I used some different shades of blue from the Reaper Pro-Paints line. I can't remember which ones and though the paints are still sitting in teh living room waiting for my wife to tell me to put them away, I am not at home to look at them. I'll try to post the shades in the comments later. Mostly the eye is dark blue with a light blue highlight around the iris, inside eye, and lips.

I used Reaper Saphire Blue Ink as a wash to the body and eyestalks to give depth, and black wash in the mouth to accentuate the teeth. I had painted the teeth Pure White, and then they stained up nicely as nasty looking teeth. I used a little tissue wipe off the black ink from the tops of the teeth.

ALl that ink pooled around the base, so I used Pure White to repaint the base like snow. If I were being really dedicated, I might have used some green stuff to make drifts on the base, but these are as much utilitarian as they are for display...really, they are much more for game play than for display, so I don't mind them not being perfect.

Quite pleased with the results!