Nostalgic Image of the Day, 08 October 2009

Cover of Dragon Magazine, No. 69, January 1983

Cover of Dragon Magazine, No. 69, January 1983

Twilight Roban WIP

The new WIP for Twilight, Roban

The new WIP for Twilight, Roban

From the Forum of Doom thread:

Here’s a preview that I’ve been itching to share for ages now. A few of you will have seen him at Salute, but I’ve done a lot more work on him since then! This is by far the largest model in the Twilight range, and it took a long time for him to get to a stage where I am happy, so I really hope you like him!

Apparently a painted model will be uploaded to the thread soon.

I’m buying a Twilight starter set.  Have I mentioned that here already?

Ultimate Gaming Table

The "ultimate gaming table"

The "Ultimate Gaming Table"

I only found out about this recently.

The AvengerTable was built in early 2000, by myself a gamer since 1980, and my father. It’s sole purpose was to make the gaming experience “better.” Long had I sat upon the floor, held on to clipboards, or sat around dining room or coffee tables, and I had always wanted something more. However, I did not have the tons of cash to purchase some large, slick, custom table. Big surprise right? Nor was there anything available via the “open market”.

They sell plans for people interested in duplicating their table.

Fantasy Flight Releases PPP Investigators for Arkham Horror

Arkham Horror Investigator Pack

Arkham Horror Investigator Pack

Arkham Horror investigator, Harvey

Arkham Horror investigator, Harvey

Arkham Horror investigator, Jenny

Arkham Horror investigator, Jenny

From the Fantasy Flight Games Web site:

FFG is proud to announce finely detailed, pre-painted plastic Investigators! Our first wave is the tenacious professor, Harvey Walters, and the jet-setting Jenny Barnes. Both of these Investigators see a lot of table time, and the new expertly-sculpted, pre-painted plastic figures will let you immerse yourself in the madness like never before. Every Investigator, from Arkham Horror all the way through Innsmouth will make their appearance in superb detail. From “Ashcan” Pete’s guitar and four-legged travel companion to Michael McGlen’s cigar and tommy gun, every figure is ripped straight from the art you have come to know and love.

You can read more on the FFG Web site, here.

I may get these, but think I’d still prefer to paint my own.  I’ve already got a good start, too, using miniatures from RAFM.

UPDATE: This project has been canceled.

Nostalgic Image of the Day, 07 October 2009

From the PC game Pool of Radiance by SSI (1988)

From the PC game Pool of Radiance by SSI (1988)

Stormtroopers 365

From Stormtroopers 365, by Stéfan

From Stormtroopers 365, by Stéfan

Your daily shot of Stormtroopers.
For one year.
Starting April 3rd 2009.

I learned about this from a thread started by YAAF on Frothers.  Click on the image to start the slide show, if you’re interested.  Total running time is about 10 minutes.

I was big into Star Wars collecting back in the early 90s, but my interest waned right about the time when the revamped original trilogy started showing in theaters.  Then a few months ago I started coming across packs of 1/144 (≈10mm) Star Wars vehicles (F-Toys) in the local super markets and hobby stores.  Now I’ve got a nice little collection of AT-ATs, AT-STs, snow speeders, etc., just in case I finally get around to playing a variant game of Assault on Hoth some day.

Copplestone Castings is selling these models now (second wave only), for those of you who missed his announcement.  Get them now, however, because they’re selling fast and are limited to one print run.

Nostalgic Image of the Day, 07 October 2009

DAT's Goblin

DAT's Goblin

Updates on a Couple Great Terrain Projects

Crane bits

Crane bits

Completed "Quite a Big Terrain Project"

Completed "Quite a Big Terrain Project"

There are a couple updates to some fantastic terrain projects I’ve been following over at the Lead Adventure Forum that are worth checking out.  Click on the images to be redirected to their respective threads.

NOTE: Images featured in this post are Copyright © 2009 Admiral Benbow (steam powered harbour crane) and  Captain Blood (Quite a big terrain project) of the Lead Adventure Forum.

Steam Powered Harbour Crane

Admiral Benbow's custom made steam crane

Admiral Benbow's custom made steam crane

Wow.  Click on the image or here to be redirected to the Lead Adventure Forum thread to see more of this fantastic beast created by the mad scientist Admiral Benbow.

Nostalgic Image of the Day, 05 October 2009

Wormy finally gets Siege of the Iron Keep

Wormy finally gets Siege of the Iron Keep

Wormy - Dragon 84 April 1984 Wormy gets his Siege of the Iron Keep delivered 02

From my first issue of Dragon magazine as a kid, April issue, 1984.  Interesting that my introduction to miniatures coincided with a “Wormy” storyline about the hobby.

I got these from The Wormy Archive.

Wyrd Molemen: Do You See What I See?

Molemen models available from Wyrd Miniatures

Molemen models available from Wyrd Miniatures

Wyrd has been around as a miniatures company and forum host for enthusiasts since 2005, but they’ve come to the fore in the last few months with the release of their highly anticipated and popular rules set, Malifaux.  Leading up to and following the GenCon premier of the game, Wyrd started cranking out starter sets, blister packs, accessories, and loads of new characters.

I’ve bought into the game.  I picked up a Witch Hunters crew, Mortimer (gravedigger), Nicodem (undertaker), the Malifaux core rulebook, a burgundy fate deck, and the coloring book.  I would have purchased more, but due to the timing of my order (right after GenCon) they were out of many things that I wanted.  Fortunately, between then and now they’ve refilled their stock, and I have a full cart again.

While keeping myself up to date on information about new releases from Wyrd, I recently came across this picture of the molemen.  Another fine release from Wyrd, yes; but my initial reaction had me thinking of possibilities for these models that have nothing to do with the Malifaux universe.

What I see here are potential proxies for cave trolls for 10mm Middle-earth.  The hands are way too large, however; they will need to be amputated and new ones sculpted in their place.  But that’s a minor issue considering these are the closest matches to Weta’s interpretation of cave trolls at this size that I’ve ever seen.  (I know about the plastic pieces for Risk and WotR, but dismissed them for being too large or lacking the kind if detail I require.)  The models will also need chains and a weapon or two, and I’ll have to shorten the teeth with a Dremel, but that’s also easy to do.  I’ve got some in my cart, and hope to have them in hand soon.  I’ll be sure to post pictures when I do.

I hope that helps.  And please add a comment if you feel inspired to do the same or have an idea of your own for 10mm cave trolls.

NOTE: Images featured in this post are Copyright © 2005-2009 Wyrd Miniatures LLC.

Nostalgic Image of the Day, 04 October 2009

Grenadier Dragon Lords Guardian Dragon

Grenadier Dragon Lords Guardian Dragon

One of my favorites from the old DotM series.  Mirliton now sells this under the name Dragon of the Mountains.  Unfortunately, their paint scheme doesn’t do the model justice.

NOTE: Image featured in this post is Copyright © 1998-2008 The Stuff of Legends.

Today’s Purchases, 04 October 2009

Today's purchases

Today's purchases

A detail shot (click the photo for a larger image)

A detail shot (click the photo for a larger image)

The back of the SnarfQuest card

The back of the SnarfQuest card

My quest for “darkness” Rackham bits was a complete failure.  The only two stores I know of that still have a few scraps of Rackham metal left didn’t have any decent evil models left (just a few old goblins).  I will push forward with the painting challenge, however, but may, in retrospect, pick up an old goblin for fun.  I’ll have to measure my mood once the Kelt is done.

I did pick up the Rackham earth familiars cheap—the store was selling them separately—a couple Reaper models (one more saproling to use as an ent for 10mm Middle-earth), and a pack of SnarfQuest minis for the old Elmore card game.  For just 100 yen, I couldn’t pass them up.

Nostalgic Image of the Day, 03 October 2009

Grenadier's Wizard Room

Grenadier's Wizard Room

NOTE: Images featured in this post are Copyright © 1998-2008 The Stuff of Legends.

Chambers of Miniatures

Do yourself a favor: check out the work housed at the Chambers of Miniatures (don’t forget to look in the archive).  Beautiful stuff.

I learned of Regiment Games and their drantakh figures via CofM.  Thanks, roadrunner!