Big Update

After a long period of no updates i have a pretty big one. I now have paint on all of the first 5 skeletons i started. This post will be kinda pic heavy. I picked up the set of GW washes and played around with those a lot. I really wanted some variation in the dirt and grime collected on the skeletons. So each one has between 1-4 different washes on it. I also started highlighting some of them, and I am far from done, but I am really liking how they are turning out so far.

Days 3, 4, and 5:

This weekend was pretty hectic so I was not able to get as much work done as I had wanted to. I was able to get a workspace put together. I out to the garage storage and got some of my parts boxes and old pants and just what ever I could find that would fit in the space and might be useful. I forgot how much stuff I had.

This is my desk before cleaning



And after




It is still no where near how it want it, but my priority was getting a painting space. I will keep fixing it up as I go. Now on to the minis. I was able to get 5 skeletons all assembled with the flash removed.

For the first 5 i have decided to work up from a white undercoat. I am going to try black for the next batch.




I made a wash with some dark brown paint that I had and did two coats over two of the skeletons.




On one of them i tried to get the brown a little darker, just to have some variation. I was really only concerned with getting the darkest colors in the cracks of the minis. This was as far as I was able to get over the last three days. It is not very much, but it is a start.

Day 2:

My first goal for today is figuring out the picture situation, because I do not like how I did it last. I plan on having a small picture in the blog that links to the large one. So I'm going to be working on that.

I have decided to paint the skeletons firsts, and I have been going through various paint schemes and have decided that I want to use the color red to unify all of the troops together, because I have never really worked with that color before. I have also decided on all of the colors I want to use on the skeletons. My goals for today is to get out to the store to pick up the paint, get the 20 Skeletons flash free and assembled. Not very ambitious but after working for most of the day I have to go get my eyes dilated so that is going to put me out of commission for several hours.

Day 1:

So I have decided to start painting again after nearly a 5 year break. Leave it to me to decide to start a project at the end of spring break. I've decided to go with Game Workshop's Vampire Counts Battalion. I plan on eventually incorporating it into a diorama of sorts later on. The number of figures in this set, coupled with the fact that school is starting in 3 days, and I haven't even picked up a paint brush in 5 years, I'm sure this new project of mine is biting off way more than I can chew, but I'm going for it anyway. I plan on picking up the set tonight, hopefully, if the the local store has it in stock, as well as some paints.

Well I hope today is not a sign of things to come. I managed to get my hands on the box set after going to the three stores in my area. I got it home and opened it up, looked inside and as the words "oh shit" passed through my lips my original fear of biting off more than I can chew is reaffirmed. Tonight I was able to get all of the sprues out and washed them off with soap and a tooth brush.

Now on to the pics


The set in its shrinkwrappy sweetness.

This is what i saw when i cracked the lid, a whole lot of plastic that needs to be painted.



Alright Time for Step 1:

Wash off the sprues with some soap and water, scrubbing with a toothbrush.


Step 2:
These are the 8 sprues sitting out on towels to dry





Alright I think that will be all for tonight. Total cost for day 1 comes in at just under 100$. In addition to the set i bought a few new brushes.