Shroomy Hollow II, some Ravening Jaws and a little peek into the future...

In my last post I shared some images of my Shroomy Hollow project in progress - I've now completed the Shroomancer's Hovel (which functions as a Balewind Vortex endless spell) and have even added some extra details before painting!

Completing the Sculpt

First up, I needed to make something for my Fungoid Cave Shaman (or any other Shroom caster!) to stand on as I wanted this piece to represent a Balewind Vortex Endless Spell.

I didn't want to just resort to a wooden platform, so I decided to create a giant flat headed toadstool to fit in with the overall theme.  I approached this in the same way as the main structure, creating a basic shape with tinfoil then coating it with medium grade Super Sculpey.

I wanted the large flat surface to be really interesting, so I created some nice splits along the edges and sculpted pits and boily protrusions on the surface.  The overall effect is very pleasing to the eye, having quite a nurgly look to it!

As the top surface was very large (approximately 3" across) it needed plenty of surface detail to stop it from looking out of scale.

I tried a new technique for detailing the underside of the head and the stem of this mushroom.  I cut slightly deeper channels into the surface then used isopropanol to smooth the surface.  This also has the benefit of removing unwanted surface details such as finger prints.  I use this technique sparingly though as it can easily melt away finer details...

Once the large flat mushroom had been fired, I glued both parts to a large acrylic oval base (which I scored heavily to help adhesion) and used Milliput to create a better gradient - this also helped anchor the parts down.  The flat acrylic base was a conscious decision as it's heavier than a hollow plastic one and offsets the high centre of gravity which the sculpt has!

The final build stage was adding some additional smaller mushrooms and texturing the base with rocks and sand.

The skeletal signpost from the Aleguzzler Gargant kit finished off the base nicely!

I added these extra smaller mushrooms to the surface of the main one to break up the large surface a bit.

The wiggly tendrils where the mushroom meets the base look wonderfully creepy!

The Finished Shroom Hovel

Although I'm still working on some lesser (only 5" tall!) mushrooms to properly finish off the Shroomy Hollow board, the main Shroom Hovel is now complete.  Behold it's fungal Splendour!

The Shroom hovel mushrooms are all finished with fluorescent paints, so they are lurid under normal light and glow in UV!

It was difficult to photography this 'miniature' as it stands approximately 10" tall!

The yellow eye-like pods and smaller green mushrooms break up the main cap's large surface nicely

I used white moss, yellow grass and dark green clump foliage to simulate a light starved underground environment.

The surface detail on the flat toadstool is probably my favourite part of this piece.  The green flesh peeking through the tears really makes it pop!

As a final details, I added a couple of barrels stuffed with more Shrooms to the hovel - snack storage, potion ingredients or a shop front for an enterprising grot?  I like the story they suggest!

What else was I going to write on the sign?

Mollog and his little helpers are on the hunt for new digs...

Mmmmm... Mollog likes dis.  Mollog gonna stay...

Gnash Gnash!

In preparation for a recent game of Age of Sigmar (my first in over a year...), I decided to paint up a particularly nasty looking spell - Ravenak's Gnashing Jaws!  Annoyingly I didn't manage to successfully cast it during the game, but I was very happy with the final paint job.

Ever since I first saw this model, I wanted to have a crack at making it look like the creatures from 'Attack the Block' which were jet black with luminescent, glowing teeth.

As cool as jet black looks on film, it's dull on a miniature, so I used pearlescent paints to give it some texture and shimmer on the black surfaces.  I plan to add some glow in the dark paint to the teeth when I have time!

On the horizon

So, whilst I have been delving into the underground world of the Gloomspite Gitz, I have also been looking to the future.  38,000 years into the future to be exact!

The next big project which I am working on is an Acastus Knight Asterius 'Quake Hydra' who will be joining the ranks of the Fisher King.

I need to get him finished in time for the 2020 UK Titan Owner's Club Walk in June, so it's full speed ahead!

As the eagle eyed amongst you can see, I have replaced the carapace Plasma cannons with two of the Armiger class Conversion Beam cannons.  The reason I did this is simple... it looks bad-ass.

The base for this model is 10" across, so I had lots of room for a strong theme!  The front section of the base will be filled with lapping resin waves when it's completed

Getting the pose right on this model was pretty difficult as it is really chunky and like other knights, only stand on its toes, so I had to take that into account when building the base as well.  I'm happy with the overall look - posing at the edge of the beach, gazing out across the endless oceans of Corbenic - a bit like this wonderful painting:

Wanderer above the Sea of Fog by German artist Caspar David Friedrich

When I built the contemptor Dreadnought conversion beam cannon, the grills were annoying.  Having to tidy up and straighten 8 conversion beam grills each the size of half a contemptor dreadnought was despair inducing!!

When I test fitted the arms onto the Asterius body, I found that the shoulder pads interfered with the carapace.  Having looked back at the Forgeworld site, I could see that this wasn't an issue with my assembly, but with the kit design as the rivets from the trim overlap the carapace.

Things like this annoy me because they detract from the realism of the miniature - the arms can't move if the shoulders which they're mounted on can't move.

To resolve the issue I created two 3mm thick spacers using greenstuff.  I used rubber and steel washers glued to baking paper to create a push mould then cleaned up the rough edges with a knife once they were removed.  These increase the thickness of the joint where the shoulder meets the body giving better clearance from the carapace.

Yes, I am anally retentive.  And no, I'm not sorry!

Corbenic is akin to a deathworld, with huge underwater expanses where giant beasts roam, testing the shoreline and dragging the unwary into the icy depths.  I wanted to make a little window into this inhospitable environment with the addition of large tentacles investigating the artificial shoreline which the Knights patrol.

I used octopus musculature for reference to add a bit of realism to the tentacles.  I'm very pleased with the overall form; it looks to be writhing and lashing without being made of jelly which can happen if you don't imply a structure under the surface of the arm.

Two film creatures helped me find the right look: Ray Harryhausen's giant Octopus from 'It Came from beneath the Sea' and the monster from 'Deep Rising'.  I liked the suckers and heft of the Octopus arms in the former and the gnarly 'teeth' and skin texture from the latter:

It took me several iterations before I settled on this sculpt for the questing tentacle. Tentacles are notoriously difficult to sculpt and I have a new appreciation for anyone that does them justice!  I added the toothy protuberances near the tip of the tentacle to make them seem a little more threatening and otherworldly.

I'll be sure to post some more pictures once I've finished Quake Hydra!

Dare you venture Into The Depths?

I've been planning an Age of Sigmar narrative event for almost a year now.  Although it's still at least a few months away, I wanted to give people a bit of a taster of what's to come!

Into the Depths

You are the lord of a growing warband seeking coin and glory for yourself and your chosen Gods. 

Following Nagash’s great Necroquake, whispers of newly revealed dark places, across the known realms have been carried to your ears.  Rarely do opportunities for such riches and power present themselves in these troubled times.  Although you move quickly to gain advantage, you are not the first to overhear talk of these places.

Tracking the source of the rumours is not easy, but you and a variety of your rivals eventually find your way to an isolated mountain shack within Chamon’s desert wastes.  From the outside, the shack resembles a poorly maintained mud hut, smelling strongly of decay and littered with the bones of what you hope were animals…  You pull back the ragged skins covering the entrance revealing what you first thought was a stinking pile of leather and rags until it speaks…

“My most humbled Greetings honoured guests!  The rumours you have heard?  Of course you have, yes!  Come to seek the truth of them?  Yes, yes of course; a much-wise leader would surely not pass on this greatest of opportunities for glory, riches and power!  Wish to hear more you do?  Then be comfortable in my humble dwellings and let me impart the knowings of which I have.

Of the recently discovered dank-dens I speak – by umbral portal, stony pass and hidden fissure have long forgot caverns been found.  For the knowing of ways and the guiding of feet you have come like many before you.  Few have returned from the goings, but those of the coming have given me their wisdoms that I might pass them on to far worthier men such as thee…

Guide your ‘parties’ I shall, to the entrances – but never until the mappings and warnings I have given you!  Of the depths we may know little, but to other more… exotic beings, the caverns are home.

To assist old Trelok in recalling knowings, he requests… a donation towards the upkeep of his fine abode!  Rarely after all, are wisdoms gleaned with no risk to self; perils of great magnitude have been faced in the gathering of the truths which Trelok speaks!  And the truths could save you undoings when venturing into the depths…”

Old Trelok collects your offerings gladly in a filthy bowl, coughing affectedly at anyone trying to avoid the giving of coin.  He quickly squirrels the coins away, hiding them deep within his ragged clothing.

In return, Trelok produces a dusty journal and unfurls several large maps.  He explains that 8 caverns have been discovered across the realms.  Each holds valuable treasures but also great peril for any who enter.

Although whispers of a 9^th have been heard, he has no further information regarding what he calls the ‘Greathold of the Trogg-King’.  He muses that any who discover information as to the whereabouts of this cavern might be rewarded for such a contribution of knowledge…

Trelok offers his disgusting hut as a treasury for your most valuable findings.  Each warband is provided with a chest which Trelok explains will be protected by powerful magical runes which will prevent them from being opened by anyone but the pre-determined owner.  After testing the chests exhaustively, each warband agrees and sets off with hastily taken notes in order to venture Into The Depths…

Here are a few of the cave maps and some of my sketches which all form part of the event itself:

King Stolothum's Mine

Chamber of Illumination

Shroomy Hollow

The Beasthold

One of the curious inhabitants of Shroomy Hollow...

Don't eat the shrooms!

Stalagsquigs are right at home in the deep dark places...

Suffice to say that there are a lot of custom miniatures and scenery in progress at the moment along with some other surprises such as special items I've made for the event like this prototype...

Watch this space for more info in the near future... :)