31 May 2009
More links added
I have added a few more links on the margin, including the new site for Molniya Miniatures and David Manley's Naval Rules On-Line
27 May 2009
New VSF game coming soon - Leviathans
Catalyst Game Labs has announced a new entry in the VSF aerial fleet genre - Leviathans.
So far, the Leviathans blog has some information on the background for the game, and some interesting artwork. I am not sure how this new game would affect the already established Aeronef; it might be complimentary as the two games are based in slightly different time references. Aeronef seems (I am not quite certain as I have yet to purchase it) to have its ship architecture based in approximately 1890, while Leviathans is in 1910. That might not seem like much, but naval architecture was rapidly changing in the turn of the previous century.
My biggest hope for Leviathans is the commisioning of new minis!
So far, the Leviathans blog has some information on the background for the game, and some interesting artwork. I am not sure how this new game would affect the already established Aeronef; it might be complimentary as the two games are based in slightly different time references. Aeronef seems (I am not quite certain as I have yet to purchase it) to have its ship architecture based in approximately 1890, while Leviathans is in 1910. That might not seem like much, but naval architecture was rapidly changing in the turn of the previous century.
My biggest hope for Leviathans is the commisioning of new minis!
25 May 2009
Some more links...
Mark at Scale Creep Miniatures has posted pics of the Navwar 1/1200 ACW line
Mark at Deepfriedhappymice has several entries for naval rules at his Rules Directory
And, I am trying to add more links to the lists on the right...
Mark at Deepfriedhappymice has several entries for naval rules at his Rules Directory
And, I am trying to add more links to the lists on the right...
Base basics, part 2
I finally had a bit of time to experiment some more with my basing scheme. My typical base color, Apple Barrel 'Territorial Beige', is too dark in my opinion, so off to Michael's we went to find something more suitable. Feawin and I looked at several colors, and in the end we picked 2 - Americana 'Fawn' and FolkArt 'Camel'.
And, here they are - 'Camel' on the left, 'Fawn' in the center, and just for comparison 'Territorial Beige' on the right. To my eyes, 'Camel' is too yellow for my purposes, but 'Fawn' looks like a winner.
This side-by-side comparison confirms that opinion. I do like the comtrast between the 'Fawn' and the 'Territorial Beige', and I might use the 'Territorial Beige' and the base color for any rocky formations when I finally start making some terrain pieces.
One more comparison:
This is a heavily fooled-around-with but still poor pic of the test bases on the felt that will be the terrain cloth for my first games. 'Fawn' actually does look good on the felt, just not in that pic!
After some thought, I decided that I would stick with a slight variation of my usual base decorating strategy, which is as follows:
1. After gluing down the minis, paint the base in the selected color - 'Fawn' in this case
2. Once the paint is dry, spread white (PVA) glue on the base
3. While the glue is still wet, sprinkle various types of basing materials on the glue, starting with the most coarse and ending with the finest grain material.
I considered using a different technique, where the base is coated with the rocks and sandy materials first and then inked/painted up to the desired colors - as exemplified on the Olicanalad's Games page - but I am not a very skilled drybrusher, therefore the old technique is the one that will be used.
Here is the array of material I am considering to use on the bases:
1. Crushed walnut shells - I found this stuff while wandering around the local pet store. It is normally used for bird cages, but it should make a great basing material. And, it is cheap - $10 for a 7 pound bag! The size and sharp edges might be better suited to 15mm rubble, but the color is perfect.
2. Woodland Scenics fine tan talus
3. ?
4. Woodland Scenics fine brown ballast
5. ?
6. ?
The ? materials, unfortunately, are just perfect for the job, but I need to hunt around here for some info on what they are! I purchased most of these items 12 years ago or so, and have held onto them ever since. Some were used on other projects, especially 40K minis, but never in a large scale. I do remember buying the ? materials from a now-closed train/hobby shop in Spokane... I should have the package labels here someplace (I'm a pack-rat for paperwork).
This is an example of what I'm trying to achieve. This is the 'Fawn' test piece from above, with various amounts of the 6 jars of materials as shown above. I like it so far; I might add some bits of light green foliage in the future.
.
And, here they are - 'Camel' on the left, 'Fawn' in the center, and just for comparison 'Territorial Beige' on the right. To my eyes, 'Camel' is too yellow for my purposes, but 'Fawn' looks like a winner.
This side-by-side comparison confirms that opinion. I do like the comtrast between the 'Fawn' and the 'Territorial Beige', and I might use the 'Territorial Beige' and the base color for any rocky formations when I finally start making some terrain pieces.
One more comparison:
This is a heavily fooled-around-with but still poor pic of the test bases on the felt that will be the terrain cloth for my first games. 'Fawn' actually does look good on the felt, just not in that pic!
After some thought, I decided that I would stick with a slight variation of my usual base decorating strategy, which is as follows:
1. After gluing down the minis, paint the base in the selected color - 'Fawn' in this case
2. Once the paint is dry, spread white (PVA) glue on the base
3. While the glue is still wet, sprinkle various types of basing materials on the glue, starting with the most coarse and ending with the finest grain material.
I considered using a different technique, where the base is coated with the rocks and sandy materials first and then inked/painted up to the desired colors - as exemplified on the Olicanalad's Games page - but I am not a very skilled drybrusher, therefore the old technique is the one that will be used.
Here is the array of material I am considering to use on the bases:
1. Crushed walnut shells - I found this stuff while wandering around the local pet store. It is normally used for bird cages, but it should make a great basing material. And, it is cheap - $10 for a 7 pound bag! The size and sharp edges might be better suited to 15mm rubble, but the color is perfect.
2. Woodland Scenics fine tan talus
3. ?
4. Woodland Scenics fine brown ballast
5. ?
6. ?
The ? materials, unfortunately, are just perfect for the job, but I need to hunt around here for some info on what they are! I purchased most of these items 12 years ago or so, and have held onto them ever since. Some were used on other projects, especially 40K minis, but never in a large scale. I do remember buying the ? materials from a now-closed train/hobby shop in Spokane... I should have the package labels here someplace (I'm a pack-rat for paperwork).
This is an example of what I'm trying to achieve. This is the 'Fawn' test piece from above, with various amounts of the 6 jars of materials as shown above. I like it so far; I might add some bits of light green foliage in the future.
.
24 May 2009
More blogs
Here are a couple of naval or mostly naval blogs:
SteelonSand - Pre-dreadnought naval and some interesting 6mm sci-fi
My Victorian Navy - Ironclads among others
SteelonSand - Pre-dreadnought naval and some interesting 6mm sci-fi
My Victorian Navy - Ironclads among others
21 May 2009
Another naval mini You Tube video...
You Tube user SEEKRIEG4 has a video of a WW2 naval miniatures duel for your viewing pleasure - SeeKrieg Naval Miniature Battle
20 May 2009
Another naval gaming blog
I just wanted to point my gentle readers to another great blog - A Wargaming Odyssey
There are several great ideas for naval gaming, and a lot of nice pics. Highly Recommended!
There are several great ideas for naval gaming, and a lot of nice pics. Highly Recommended!
19 May 2009
MMORPG, part 7
Quite a while back, last December actually, Feawin (my wife) and I switched from World of Warcraft back to EverQuest2 as our on-line computer game/time-sink. I have a couple of screenshots from EQ2:
My Ratonga berserker, Ratzenfric, in East Freeport.
Larousse, a Ratonga brigand, fighting undead orcs in The Commonlands
Buffing up, EQ2 style - my wife's Wood Elf wizard, Miraj
My Gnome conjuror, Gnisq, and his Tellurian Soldier pet, in the North Qeynos bank
(one thing about gnomes - I played a gnome mage in EQ, a gnome mage in WoW, and still play a gnome in EQ2!)
Larousse and my wife's warden Anashi in the Sinking Sands on Erollisi Day
Grinding away and having fun still!
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My Ratonga berserker, Ratzenfric, in East Freeport.
Larousse, a Ratonga brigand, fighting undead orcs in The Commonlands
Buffing up, EQ2 style - my wife's Wood Elf wizard, Miraj
My Gnome conjuror, Gnisq, and his Tellurian Soldier pet, in the North Qeynos bank
(one thing about gnomes - I played a gnome mage in EQ, a gnome mage in WoW, and still play a gnome in EQ2!)
Larousse and my wife's warden Anashi in the Sinking Sands on Erollisi Day
Grinding away and having fun still!
.
08 May 2009
Well where's he at?
My apologies for not posting for so long... the blazing start I had burned right out!
Some of this is due to getting a severe case of 'sticker shock' with the GHQ minis. They are beautiful minis, but I just do not foresee myself having the financial resources to invest in them, especially with the other projects demanding funding as well. Also, the problem with the GQ3 rules, as mentioned previously, took some of the wind from my sails, even though the charts were quite satisfactorily replaced.
So, a change of course is required. I am looking into 1/3000 scale ships instead. And, I might even revise the scope of the collection to pre-dreadnoughts. Much to decide...
Some of this is due to getting a severe case of 'sticker shock' with the GHQ minis. They are beautiful minis, but I just do not foresee myself having the financial resources to invest in them, especially with the other projects demanding funding as well. Also, the problem with the GQ3 rules, as mentioned previously, took some of the wind from my sails, even though the charts were quite satisfactorily replaced.
So, a change of course is required. I am looking into 1/3000 scale ships instead. And, I might even revise the scope of the collection to pre-dreadnoughts. Much to decide...
04 May 2009
Base basics
My initial order of Impetus-sized bases from Litko arrived recently:
These three bags will be enough for 45 Impetus units! These are very nice bases.
I do have another worry - what sort of adhesive should I use? Having 7 to 10 metal minis on one base will get a bit weighty; I can not hope that, even with the 3mm base, the units will always be handled by the base - some one (probably me!) will pick up the unit by one mini and I would prefer that it not break off. I might need to use the hot-glue gun that is hiding around here, somewhere.
The base color is another item to consider. I typically use craft paints for bulk area painting, but my usual base color - Territorial Beige from Apple Barrel - is too dark from the dry scrub look that I want to portray (it works great for a more temperate area), so some new paints will be on the shopping list.
.
These three bags will be enough for 45 Impetus units! These are very nice bases.
I do have another worry - what sort of adhesive should I use? Having 7 to 10 metal minis on one base will get a bit weighty; I can not hope that, even with the 3mm base, the units will always be handled by the base - some one (probably me!) will pick up the unit by one mini and I would prefer that it not break off. I might need to use the hot-glue gun that is hiding around here, somewhere.
The base color is another item to consider. I typically use craft paints for bulk area painting, but my usual base color - Territorial Beige from Apple Barrel - is too dark from the dry scrub look that I want to portray (it works great for a more temperate area), so some new paints will be on the shopping list.
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