Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Reaper Bones: Arthrand Nightblade, Elf Ranger

Another figure from the New 30 set of Bones I has been completed:  77049 Arthrand Nightblade, Elf Ranger.  This figure was used as a trial for a color scheme...



Tuesday, July 28, 2015

6MMRPC Sixth Hit Complete

The sixth target for my 6MMRPC has fallen!  The Doctrine Novitiates are complete (and detailed in a separate post):


And in case you think I was slacking over the weekend, I cleaned and assembled two Reaper Bones dragons:  77323 Blightfang and 77328 Cinder.


These are the green and red dragons which go along with the black and white dragons from Bones I (Ebonwrath and Deathsleet).

With that done, here is my current tally for my 6MMRPC Hit List:

(EDIT:  my Hit List images were lost, so I wasn't able to re-upload them to a new location.)

Next up will be the last of the Salvage Crew figures, though I expect I may finish up some Bones I figures before moving to my seventh target.  I'm keen to get my Bones I figures completed and earn the "Vampire Slayer" title (plus clear the way to get into Bones II)!

- M:M

Sunday, July 19, 2015

6MMRPC Update: Sixth Hit WIP #2

So, just when I had my Doctrine Novitiates primed and read to go... my package of MicroArts scenic bases arrived.  I had ordered the Arcane set with the Doctrine in mind, so rebasing was in order.  However, I first had to wash and dry the bases to ensure that any mold release agent residue was cleaned off.  This is an important step, as the release agent is designed to help the figures pop out of the mold and will keep paint from sticking to the model.

Once that was done, I rebased the three Doctrine Novitiates and played with some ideas for color schemes.  I knew I wanted to incorporate the Doctrine's faction color of yellow (also the color of Essence esper, to which they are heavily tied).  Aside from that, I didn't have much of a scheme worked out.  Playing with some colors and using the Soda Pop studio models for guidance, I managed to get the three Novitiates basecoated:



So far I like how the color scheme is working out.  It's strange using so many bright colors, and kind of requires a different mindset when approaching the figure.  I want to be sure and keep the Relic Knight figures bright and flashy, as befitting their anime/manga style.

I expect to wrap up the figures some time this week, and I'll post a full summary once they're complete and I'm ready to move on to the seventh target on my 6MMRPC Hit List!

One final note, as a sort of community announcement:  the Bones III Kickstarter has a little less than a week left.  If you haven't taken a look at everything that's been unlocked, I highly recommend doing so.  You might as well burn all of those Jokers on something!

- M:M

Relic Knights: Boost Markers (Part 1)

I managed to sneak in a few Boost Markers from Relic Knights over the weekend:


I came across these while working on my Doctrine Novitiates (the sixth target on my 6MMRPC Hit List).  Boost Markers are used to represent Boosts in Relic Knights, which are buffs you can deploy along with your units.  While the markers aren't specifically tied to the available Boosts players can purchase, some of them do seem more suited for particular factions.  I used that as the basis for some of the paint schemes.

The taller piece and the small container with crossed swords both struck me as identifying with the Shattered Sword Paladins, so I went with a relatively clean and white/blue scheme (VGC Wolf Grey, Electric Blue, AP Dark Tone Ink).  The circular device with the skull matched the Star Nebula Corsairs symbol, so I went with a darker theme and an orange skull icon (VGC Coal Black, Wolf Grey, Orange Fire, AP Dark Tone Ink).  Finally, the fourth device didn't seem faction-specific, so I went with a general-purpose black/gray scheme (VGC Coal Black, Wolf Grey, AP Dark Tone Ink).  All of the bases were painted medium gray (MSP HD Concrete Gray) for a neutral color.

There are four other Boost Markers that I have to finish to complete the set.  Look for them in a future post!

- M:M

Sunday, July 12, 2015

6MMRPC Update: Sixth Hit WIP

I didn't make a ton of progress on my actual 6MMRPC Hit List targets this week, though I did complete a couple of Bones figures so I haven't been idle.  I did manage to get the Doctrine Novitiates based, along with some of the other Relic Knights figures I had assembled.

Noh Kyojin Berserkers (2), Noh Render, Doctrine Novitiates (3), Darkspace Candy & Cola


While my actual Sixth Hit is just the three Doctrine Novitiates, I figured I could get all of the figures mounted and ready to paint while I was at it.  I did not pin the figures to the bases, but I've used an adhesive called E6000 which dries with a slightly rubbery texture and has some "give" to it.  So far it seems to be doing an excellent job of holding the figures even with minimal surface area (such as Darkspace Candy and Cola).  Hopefully it'll continue to work as well once the figures are being used in tabletop games.

While I was at it, I also ran across a pack of Boost Markers I had assembled.


Boost Markers serve as markers for various Boosts in Relic Knights, which represent a variety of gear that forces can bring with them.  The models are nice and could be used in a variety of games as objectives or scatter terrain, so I'll probably paint them up between projects.

- M:M

Reaper Bones: Silver Dragon

After finishing Deathsleet, I had the urge to tackle another dragon.  However, since I haven't figured out a base for Ebonwrath just yet, I looked to Bones II's Expansion Set #1:  77329 Silver Dragon.


Saturday, July 11, 2015

Reaper Bones: Ragnaros, Evil Warrior

Inspired by the currently running Bones III campaign on Kickstarter, I completed the final figure from the Dark Heroes set of Bones I:  77150 Ragnaros, Evil Warrior.


Saturday, July 4, 2015

6MMRPC Update: Fifth Hit WIP

Work proceeds apace on my 6MMRPC Hit List.  For my fifth target, I decided on 7710 Deathsleet simply because I have a base that he'll fit on!


I used some Green Stuff to add additional texture between his legs and help unify the model with the base.  Once that cured, I was able to get a basecoat applied.  Working with white can be tricky, so I chose a light-medium gray as a foundation to work on, and then lighten/darken as I go.


While looking at the figure and the base, I realized there was a decent amount of "dead space" that might be a good opportunity to add a bit of terrain or other feature.  While digging around, I came across something that looked right:


The Wall of Ice from the Bones II Water Elementals set was an ideal height, and gives some context on why Deathsleet might be rearing up the way he is - perhaps trying to swat at an adventurer running for cover behind the wall of ice!

I've finished the Wall of Ice and detailed it in a separate post, but I wanted to provide a snapshot of my progress on my actual 6MMRPC target.  So far it's been a fun figure to paint, and I look forward to seeing how it turns out.

- M:M

Reaper Bones: Wall of Ice

While working on Deathsleet today (the fifth target on my 6MMRPC Hit List), I decided his base could make use of a part of the Water Elementals set from Bones II:  77312 Wall of Ice.


Friday, July 3, 2015

Reaper Bones: Autumn Bronzeleaf

With the imminent launch of the Bones III Kickstarter, I'm feeling additional pressure to complete Bones I.  So today I completed another figure from the Bones I Elves set:  77069 Autumn Bronzeleaf.