No Hobby Love and Echo City

Really have no hobby progress at all this week really. Felt a bit lost with my three projects at the moment I think mainly because I'm just tired! Came down with a cold today and feel awful. On a more cheerful note my youngest daughter Leila is 3 tomorrow wow that has come round extremely fast. I've been busy blowing up balloons and building various toys this evening. I'm off tomorrow which is good and can spend some fun time with my little girl.

Have read a fair bit over the weekend and have just finished reading 'Echo City' by Tim Lebbon this was a random pick up at the library a few weeks back It sounded and the cover caught my interest in passing as I quite like Post Apocalyptic settings.

From the cover
Surrounded by a vast, poisonous desert, Echo City is built upon the graveyard of its own past. Most inhabitants believe that their city and its subterranean Echoes are the whole of the world, but there are a few dissenters. Peer Nadawa is a political exile, forced to live with criminals in a ruinous slum. Gorham, once her lover, leads a ragtag band of rebels against the ruling theocracy. Nophel, a servant of that theocracy, dreams of revenge from his perch atop the city’s tallest spire. And beneath the city, a woman called Nadielle conducts macabre experiments in genetic manipulation using a science indistinguishable from sorcery. They believe there is something more beyond the endless desert . . . but what?
It is only when a stranger arrives from out of the wastes that things begin to change. Frail and amnesiac, he holds the key to a new beginning for Echo City—or perhaps to its end, for he is not the only new arrival. From the depths beneath Echo City, something ancient and deadly is rising. Now Peer, Gorham, Nophel, and Nadielle must test the limits of love and loyalty, courage and compassion, as they struggle to save a city collapsing under the weight of its own history.

Its set in a fantasy world (sorry no guns or vehicles) which has been destroyed many many years before by some sort of world war which pretty much destroyed the world they inhabit. Its centred around a single city called Echo City. There are various sects within the city all with different beliefs and views some more dominant than others. Now it sounds kind of familiar and perhaps has been done many times before BUT  I can honestly say It blew me away. I really wish this was part of a series it was a great read and once I started I couldn't put it down until I'd finished. I don't want to go into to much detail as it will spoil the plot. But I recommend you check it out if your interested.

Reaper Zombie Strippers and my 100th Post

Who would of thought it 100 posts sure comes around really quickly, the Page views have reached nearly 18'000 hits. I must say a big thank you to you all for following (wow 125 folks now) and offering your support and advice! Here's to the next 100! Onto the miniatures

Reaper Zombie Strippers, these erm lovely ladies where donated to the Brummie Apocalypse via the kindly Lord Siwoc over at Brains and Guts a friend of his earlier in the year went to Reapercon and traded in a load of old lead bringing him back a horde of figs whom Johnny has kindly sent me some as a present.

Finally plucked up the courage to paint these ladies and heres my take on them. Very minimal flash and moldlines they where great to paint. My undead flesh is still being tweaked but I'm sure they will mix into the horde with out a problem.

Copplestone Zombie Troopers

Some more addtions to the zombie masses bringing my total number upto 45. As always with Copplestone figures they where a joy to paint plenty of detail but not to much only one to me seemed to have a dodgy pose the one with the shotgun across his waist is leaning precariously back.

Might have make some special rules that these guys are created at random and drop ammo or guns perhaps when taken out, I'd also thought about having them fire off a burst a fire at random calling more zombies or perhaps dropping a grenade when killed that goes off.

Anyway here's the pics.

Busy Busy Busy

I honestly don't know where this last week has gone. Well my eldest started full time school last Thursday boy has it turned everything on its head time wise and in the evening by the time everything has settled down I'm knackered and just want to veg out.

I did manage to read Charlie Higson's 'The Fear' another great read I've mentioned this series before basically everyone over the age of 14 suddenly contracts a disease and craves flesh of the remaining children. Its about the kids fight for survival amongst the ashes of all we know. Its not quite zombies as the adults are alive but they act and behave like them. The kids hole up in various cool places, Buckingham Palace, The Imperial War museum and various other places. The tales from the three books so far (The Dead, The Enemy and The Fear) are starting to weave into an unknown conclusion as yet this is book 3 and I believe 6 are planned in total. Looking forward to the next one.Which as I write this have noticed that book 4 is now out 'The Sacrifice' will have to ask nicely at the library to order it in :D

I've also nearly finished my first read through of World War Z by Max Brooks. I had listened to the audiobook previously and now I'm sure some of the tales in the main book are missing from it. I'd have to re-listen to it first mind as often I'm driving when listening to these and can get distracted and miss bits.


 I have managed to get some hobby time in but not managed to get anything finished for this weeks post.

At the moment on the painting table are Copplestone Future Wars Zombie Troopers and Reaper Chronoscope's Stripper Zombies both sets need final highlights adding and bases painted and they'll be done

I've also delved into the lead pile (I'm on a quest to reduce some of leadpile that has been languishing there for a fair bit) and have under coated and begun base coating (more Copplestone FW) a set of Citizen Militia 1 these will all be painted separate as random survivors/hunters for Zombie gaming/Post apocalyptic games.

Hopefully with couple of nights of painting I'll have something to show mid week. Enjoy the week and take it easy

Studio Miniatures Dixon

In preparation for Season 3 of 'The Walking Dead' which starts October 14 woot woot can't wait!
I've been re-watching season 1 (now watched all six episodes) and I'm just about to start season 2.

Anyhow some new survivor figures have been released by Studio miniatures and being in the mood decided to try this company out for the first time and ordered me the 'Dixon' Survivor.

Service was excellent arrived pretty quickly came well packed in a blister the really cool card insert 'Z-Clipz' has been pinched and being used as a bookmark.

The Dixon figure is obviously themed on Daryl for The Walking Dead series and is an excellent represntation of him it has his iconic weapon i.e the crossbow, the knife strapped to his hip, Satchel, squirrel pelts even the ear necklace is present though its hard to see.

The miniature comes in two pieces the body and the main shaft/bow of the crossbow is seperate which is great as it lets you get into the hard to reach places to paint. Very minimal flash and he came with a 30mm lipped base.

I am going to get a second figure as where the crossbow separates I want to splice in a shotgun for a bit more 'noisier' fire power and it will be a doddle to do. Hell I may get a third and give him an smg or assault rifle but we will see.


I REALLY enjoyed painting this figure it practically painted itself. I am certainly going to be picking up some more survivors and perhaps a zombie mob or two.

Big Thumbs up Studio Miniatures!

Painted him last night in one sitting having undercoated and puttied the base on Thursday evening. Mixture of pictures it was so nice and sunny I took some in the garden.

You can just about see the Ear Necklace

 Thought i'd have a play and do some scenic ones :D

This weeks bits and bobs

Sort of been pottering about this week doing this and that. Miniature wise I've been basecoating my Foundry armed N'ver Do wells, the Lycaon (werewolf ) faction for EotD and I've made 8 more trees these still need the leafy bits adding (still undecided how or what to use at the minute).

I had a groovy badge arrive in the post this week courtesy of a really great guy Doctor Warlock over at Pulp City Planet. Its a Department X (7TV, Crooked Dice's latest guide for this faction) Its pretty cool even the letter he stuck in was ace.

The Excellent Badge

The first two finished members of the Lycaon Faction

Dammit just noticed the tiny red spot on the first wolves nose will correct that tonight

I had considered adding Lichen but talking to Mathyoo on facebook he has pointed out they may look a little bit alien looking.

The bases and the 'dirt' have been added just need sealing and painting.

The painting table this week