He doesn't look like Oscar!!

Well, I've never won anything like this before! Christopher aka Axebreaker, of LAF and Sweetwater fame and the incredibly talented painter of Bunker Hill, decided to give one of these (it seems currently very... hip) Liebster awards to this blog, describing it using the kindest words. Thank you, Christopher! I feel deeply honoured to be "holding" this golden man-ish thingy holding a trophy.

Now, we must of course talk about the rules of the Liebster Award, because the warehouses are still full and these awards need to be distributed to talented people!

The rules of the award are:
- "Copy and paste" the award on your blog, and talk about it a bit.
- post a link back to the blogger who gave you the award
- Select for the award your five favourite blogs with less than 200 followers, leaving a comment on one of their post to notify them that they have won the award. You need also to list them in your own blog.
- Enjoy the moment, knowing that you have just made someone's day.
- Of course, there is no obligation to pass the award, but it is a good deed really.

Well for me, my choices are clear (regardless of whether or not they have received the award before):

- RJ Painting  - Amazingly talented painter, who sadly photographs his miniatures way to seldom! I absolutely adore his painting style and he's the only painter I've actually bought painted miniatures from.

- The Leutnant's Diary - one of the best blogs around, this talented fella will travel with you from the wild forests of  Arthurian Britain to the exotic Manchuria of 1905! Inspirational every time!


- Pro Gloria miniatures - not so much a painting blog, I really like this guy. He's young, he's talented and now he is venturing into the business of producing miniatures... I like the cut of his jib and he deserves this!

- Comes Britanniae - I thought for a while that this guy was gone completely from the scene, then he posted something again in March and now he is gone again. I like his miniatures so much, that I still go through his old posts when I have the time and feel like it! I hope this will motivate him a bit to become more active.

- Conquering the Lead Mountain - not strictly within the rules, but as I am painting Vikings at the moment; damn the rules! :) This guy already has more than 200 followers, but darn it, he is one of the best around! His Roman-themed miniatures are particularly good and true works of art with very well researched backgrounds!

Now, please don't feel offended if I am not mentioning you here... If I am following your blog, trust me, I am reading every new post with joy and admiration!

SAGA Wip

My desire to work on something Dark Age-y is still going strong and I've started working on some things.In order to increase my motivation, here are some WIP pictures taken with my mobile over the last few days:

This is one of Bill T's Jomsvikings and (by Odin!) it's a beauty! Such a joy to paint. The whole range is amazing and I'm looking forward to painting every single one of them.

This is an animal pen by Grand Manner... Nuff said, really. I just wish they'd go down with the price, so I could buy the lot!

A pig by Architects of War. I am currently working on a pigsty in which this lovely, rotund fella could enjoy life before he becomes sausages!

Sorry for the crappy unedited pictures. I'll be taking some proper ones soon of these and of other stuff I haven't photographed yet.

Till soon!

100 visitors but the landlord's missing!

Well, I am amazed! 100 people think it's expedient and interesting to follow my blog! Well, who am I to disagree with such impeccable taste?

Thankfully this milestone has been achieved at time I am coming out of a phase where I've been really struggling to accommodate my hobby. Things have been really really reeeeheally busy... not just at work, but also privately as I will be moving in with my girlfriend in the next few weeks. So this is a massive boost for my motivation to simply make the time, paint more and also take pictures of what I've finished (which ain't much to be honest).

Nonetheless, things should improve soon-ish (I get a painting table in the new flat and even a huge basement) and I am currently working on something I've wanted to do for quite some time, namely paint a SAGA warband. Now, Saxons might have been the logical step, but Crisis did me no favour when it threw the new Gripping Beast Jomsvikings in my way... Many Euros later, I'm currently working on my Vikings. For the time being these will be supplemented by Saxon stand-ins, which wouldn't bother me much really. It just means I can start playing 6 miniatures before actually finishing my band. Bonus!

Anyway... thank you once more to all 100 visitors who have decided to stay (there will be more to come, I promise) but also to those who just come by every now and again. I feel honoured!

First Sikhs disembark in Gumba

My first Sikhs are now done. Finally had some time to paint and I am happy with them. :) I am now a big fan of the Foundry Eastern Skin triad. Although I gave them a reddish wash at the end to make the colour a bit more lively.

If you want to know more about them and their role in Gumbaland, don't hesitate to visit our Club's blog: Adventures in Gumba

Sikh WIP

Oh, look, one of them just needs varnishing and basing! :)

I'm getting on with my Sikh for our Gumba Campaign, but sadly not in a satisfying pace. It's picking up though, so stay tuned.

The photo was taken with my mobile, so please don't be too harsh. I've just realised that it has swallowed a tone of colour variations.

PS: Jeez, these Sikhs are badly cast! So unusual for Foundry. I had to file and cut so often. Especially at the back of the mini, which I have strategically hid from view! :) This guys beard was also half missing, so I had to sculpt him one.

I really hope Foundry will retool their molds at some point. Such a pity...

PS2: I've just realised that I've gone a bit overboard with the folds on this guy. Just had another look at my Askari and that's the style I'd like to follow with the rest of the Sikhs... But my brush-hand is remembering fast! :)

Colonial Adventures

This weekend I didn't paint, but I had a lovely time near a lake. On Saturday we even visited a flea market where I found this book entitled "Adventures in the German Colonies", probably from around the 1930s. I'm still getting used to the typically German early 1900s type, but it promises to be a fun read. :)

Proof of life!

Just wanted to post some proof that I am around and will be posting some nice photos soon. The following are mobile phone photos, so please don't expect much.

I've just finished further 2 Post Apocalyptic Lead Adventure Miniatures for my Flying Lead/Apocalypticum team. The miniatures are a joy to point although occasionally folds are slightly weirdly sculpted. Proper photos will follow.

This is what I am working on at the moment... My Sikhs for Gumba:

Not much to see here... Most of the face highlights are not visible, but at least you can see I'm painting. :)

More to follow...

Adventures in Gumba - new blog

Hello everyone,

well, our gaming group decided to get a bit more serious with our pulp-y African campaign. For that reason we've now set up a blog for our Adventures in Gumba.

Gumba is a fictitious part of East Africa that harbours a growing British force, who have decided to establish a colony there. Based in the port of Mbambo, they are unaware yet of a growing Gumbanese freedom movement, the invading warriors of the Goa-Goa tribe, a ruthless Zanzibari slaver and the growing interest of the German Kaiser. Amongst that turmoil, a Belgian expedition sets off to discover remains of old civilizations and whatever else might tickle their fancy.

More adventures in Gumba:

http://adventuresingumba.blogspot.de/
(or follow the link of the right)

The blog will be updated by Ben (LAF's Turbo-Ben) and myself for the time being.

As you will see there, I've decided to represent the British forces, which I will present soon. That decision was a bit counterproductive, as I've already started some Schutztruppe Askari, but that's fine by me. With the British as my faction I can use all these Masai I have in my drawers and also paint some rather versatile British, who could be used for the NWF as well. Till then my German Askari will have to pose for British ones.

Some of you might be pleased to know that painting is starting to fill a good chunk of my still a bit limited free time, so hopefully there will be some pictures soon. To warm myself up, I am currently finishing my LAM 5 man post-apocalyptic team and have already started with some Foundry Sikhs.

I'm still here...

I just can't find my brushes!

Or something along those lines. To be honest I just can't find my mojo yet, but I'm keeping informed and keep buying the occasional miniature. :) Watch this space. My mojo is bound to be around the corner.

Regards,

D