Batman Miniature Game Diablo (Suicide Squad)

In the mood to get some more figure finished I plucked up the courage this week to crack on with the last few Suicide Squad members.

These last two have lingered until last mainly due to them both requiring tattoos of some sort painting on them.

Diablo is plastered in them some of which I had to omit mainly because the areas where they were to go are just to small.

The facias one are done to make his head appear like a skull. I really love his character in the movie and the comics which I have recently read he is awesome

Sadly I am not sure how much I well get out of him. Diablo is quite a cheap free agent at 50 reputation he has some really cool rules but what let's him down is his Regrets trait meaning he has to fail a Willpower test everytime he activates in order to attack anything. It's a flavoursome rule those who have seen the movie will know he has to be goaded into Action because of his past.

I like the rule just which it had been reversed so that you had to pass a test in order to make attacks mainly because Deadshot had the leadership ability allowing reroll failed tests and if you had see the film there is a really cool bit where he goads Diablo into using his powers.

Anyway he is done and I shall give him at least one run out for a game. I am hoping we get different version of him when they release the magic expansion. 

I stuck to the studio scheme but chickened out trying to paint the gang symbols on jacket.

Harley Quinn is also finished but I need to re shoot the pics as my finger is in most of them....

Polar Lights Bates Mansion 1/87 scale

Finally got this kit finished. It started out as a small commission for a family friend. They had purchased it but upon opening the kit didn't feel they as a first time builder of such kits that they could do it justice so asked me if I would have a go. Its simple enough kit with a small internal light kit.



I'd not done anything like this before and at first assembling the house was quite easy soaked and scrubbed. Pieces filed and cleaned up. The main body of the house was all in separate sections that link together onto the base.

 The roof sections with the railings attached

 All the remaining odd pieces left off in order to make painting easier.

Here is where I started to struggle. The kit only comes with a base for the top part but includes nothing for the stair case that would travel down to the motel. I asked our friend if they wanted this set of stairs included ad they said yes. The main issue I had with the kit was the lighting I had to think ahead as to where they batteries would need to go as well access to turn on the switch and change the batteries if needed,

I built the base up out of polystyrene in layers and got a rough idea of the layout for it.

So the plan as to build it up but leave a hole for the batteries(inc switch) to live in. The house would then be removable to get to the part. So work began

 I secured the layers down using cocktails sticks and pva between the layers. Then beginning to use polyfilla to add a surface and blend the layers together

 Between drying times I then began to basecoat all the other components.

 The interior was at first painted silver as it was recommended in the instructions as this reflects the light from inside.

 Finally filled out and sealed it now became known as daddies chocolate cake.....


Disaster strikes! Test fitting the lighting and access to lower area resulted in the top cracking. This is when it got a bit of hard work patching and securing down the house and top back to the base. This was probably the most frustrating bit as I'd repair it and it kept breaking again. I ended up having to hot glue gun it all down.

 More painting and adding texture to the cake part of it. 

In the end I decided to weld the house down to the base and leave the roof pieces loose. I then cut a hole in the bottom to get access to the switch/battery housing.

 Finally finished the last few bits Sunday evening I then discovered that when lit and despite a fair few layers of paint that the interior is quite translucent so ended up painting the interior and inside the roof sections with a few coats of black paint just to prevent the light bleeding out.

Some pics with the lighting on. I am quite pleased with the final results

 Mrs Bates!

Batman Miniature Game Deadshot (Suicide Squad)

Firs Batman miniature done for a while he has been sat started since before Christmas I think but as he has not fitted in any lists sort drifted along. I was also having colour scheme quandaries as well so it got bogged down and put away. Anyway I have a tournament coming up end of April and I'm tempted to get take the Suicide Squad. This version of Deadshot brings a lot of firepower like his previous two versions but its his bullet time special rule meaning he can move and fire two of his guns in one turn. Depending on the combo he can put out 7 shots at short range or 5 at medium meaning something is going to die.....

 One of potential Suicide Squad lists. 345 rep Captain Boomerang for his Primary target loot. Copperhead for Bat signal countering as she has undercover. Deadshot for blowing the crap out of threats. Katana for slicing and dicing. Croc to jump out the sewer onto an objective and hold on for defend/hold on for dear life. I have some other configs in the works but need some other models to take these lists.

Apocalypse Ilse Geronimo

Another miniature I've had for a while and finally got around to paint him. This is a Kev White sculpt (Hasslefree) but is owned by Akula and is part of his private commissioned Apocalypse Isle range of which spare castings are available. Its a cracking sculpt called Geronimo. I am going to use him as the leader of a band of River Pirates in my Post Apoc games but would obviously make a suitable zombie hunter etc.

I've got one of the pirate sets sculpted by Shany Hoyle and hope to pick up the armed civilians as I think they will make good 'Saviours' for Walking Dead themed games.

There is a wide variety of sculpts available so take a browse something might take your fancy

Akula's Apocalypse Isle

Frostgrave Cultist Barbarian

I really like the Frostgrave setting I am yet to try it but plan to build up two force so I can play some games with the kids or down at the club. I fell in love with this figure as soon as I saw and Frostgrave or not it was on my list to get. I love Mark Copplestones sculpting style and have admired his Fantasy 15/18mm range that he did and this guy replicates that stile nicely but in 28mm obviously. The Plastic Barbarians are really nice and I plan to build some associates to accompany this one. I may pick up a further box later on and build a larger force for some bigger size skirmish games. (Rules to be decided or made myself).

This figure comes in a twin pack accompanying a thief which will get painted up at some point. I spend ages chopping off the integral base. I'm not sure if it was worth it or not yet as it took a long time of careful clipping and finally lots of filing.

Studio Miniatures Norm (Daryll)

First up off the paint bench in a while is Norm from Studio miniatures aka Daryll Dixon. This is a lovely sculpt I really like how the crossbow has been cast. My only issue with it was the straps either snapped off or didn't cast properly and I didn't notice upon arrival from the Kickstarter that was done a couple of years ago. I've replaced it with some paper fold in half then trimmed to the right width then coated in superglue.

I hope to finish get another couple done from the kickstarter as I am enjoying the current season of the Walking Dead.

Checking in 1,2,3

Its been a funny month or so here at Brummie Towers. Ultra busy with real life the wife is healing nicely and much better thank you for the well wishes!

Hobby wise I am a bit lost at the moment have been pottering with bits here and there but I am lacking focus.

I have managed to assemble for the Batman game Commissioner Gordon and the 3 Swat members he comes with. Half a dozen Sky Pirates from Statuesque, The Henchmen from Crooked Dice as well as some agents and Daredevils though these got a little further being primed in grey!

Randomly I pre ordered the Frostgrave Folio from Northstar via Nickstarter. I am still yet to play this game having picked up the main rulebook and Thaw of the Lich Lord expansion sometime last year. The books are lovely and I like the setting itself. I must try and get two factions up and ready so me and Carmen get some games in. I need a mage and I need to sort out some henchmen/soldiers for both sides my adventurers though suitable aren't really equipped to suit that well.

The Folio itself is a collection of the small pdf add on's that were released some scenarios and the rules to include Captains.

Anyway that was last month and this week they were despatched and arrived in very short order. This is my first Nickstarter and I must say I am really chuffed for Pre ordering through it. For the cost of the book plus shipping I got the book, a free sprue of Barbarians, a Mage and Apprentice and some metal bits to convert one of the plastic barbarians into the scene on the cover all for £12.40 including shipping!

 The package that arrived.

The Mage, Apprentice and Conversion bits

 I really like the Plastic Barbarians so much so I am going to pick up the full set up at some point to make a raiding party for Fantasy gaming in general.

Painting Wise I have managed to get a bit done over the past few weeks namely the Norm (Daryll) from Studio miniatures and the fabulous metal Barbarian from Northstar (Cultist version for Frostgrave). I've been catching up on Season 6 and 7 of the Walking Dead and am now upto date finally! What a corker of a season so far!

I also randomly picked up a bargain a few weeks back a random sale post on one of the facebook groups for a bunch of Hasslefree figures at £2 each! I bit the chap's arm off and took the lot as fortunately I have been eyeing both sets of these figures for ages. But when having the funds ordering one or another always seems to be out of stock. So I am pleased to of added the Scooby themed Post Apoc Gang and the Mission Improbable Spy set.

Being in a zombie slaying mood I cleaned up the Post Apoc gang and got them based and once finishing the two figures up above hope to make a start. I have made a slight modification to the Louise as I was never fond of the chainsaw she carried mainly because she has Night Vision goggles on her head which seemed a bit off with the gruesome close combat weapon. Fortunately I picked up the Statuesque Pulp weapon sprue which has a very nice pump action shotgun on it.

The converted Louise

Besides its a little close to this pic :D

I'm very keen to do some zombie gaming at the moment. I am looking forward to the post apoc expansion being hinted at for 7TV2 but whilst waiting for that I am going to have another crack at No More Room in Hell by Iron Ivan Games. I tried a few years back to do this game with a Victorian setting for it (Pre Empire of the Dead) I am going to just stick to its modern setting and stick to the rules as written at first.