[Project 2021] A Table to Fight People On

[Vulkan209 14]

Let's get this show on the road!

I recently moved house and one of my key goals when moving was to have a gaming table to have friends over. However, starting from scratch is always hard. There's a lot of options out there. So to generate some momentum, I stole some inspiration from my Dad and used a bunch of buildings from the lads at Miniature Scenery.

The initial progress looks like this:

Now, we are far from done here - this is just the beginning. I have organised some custom bases from Krefey's side hustle, Laser Shark Designs.

Next Up:
-Stick the buildings on bases
-Decide on a color scheme (Thinking 'grey' and 'lighter grey')
-Maybe organise a different mat that better fits the aesthetic. Maybe.

And of course, double-up and cover all the action on my blog. I'm thinking monthly updates for both. Maybe even include a battle report.

Edited February 15 by Vulkan209

[Vulkan209 14]

As two 'bonus' objectives, I have the following two goals:
-2,000 points of Tyranids painted in New York Giants colours (named after the 'Big Blue Wrecking Crew')
-'Finished' Orlock Gang for Necromunda (which will involve purchasing another box and the FW upgrade kits)

[Vulkan209 14]

*rubs hands with glee*
Alrighty, updates, updates time!

After much umm'ing and ahh'ing I decided to bite the bullet and start somewhere -  I decided to do the building base seperately prior to painting the building. So, where to start? Well, how about a mixture of PVA, Water and Sand to generate some texture on the base. Then a blast of army painter uniform grey once dry:

Then an airbrush coat of a darker grey than the grey I rattle-canned onto the base, followed by a drybrush of a lighter grey, then a lighter grey again and voila! One terrain base. In a sort of "you got this, brother" moment, the previously warped MDF base even decided to unwarp itself a little.

One base, which my minion couldn't wait to investigate prior to rattlecanning the building:

One rattlecan later and by dumb luck I had stumbled onto the exact result I wanted - a lighter grey for the building than the base:

I then completed the building in a very brief dark grey, red and gold - picking a dark, burnished gold to make it look like copper. Did it work? You be the judge:

It looked a little plain initially, but it is growing on me. Once I get the right mat and get some more buildings done in the same style, I have every confidence in being won over. Must get a bigger brush, though.

Edited February 16 by Vulkan209

[Vulkan209 14]

Alrighty! More Updates!

Although with a bit of doubling back. Turns out I was very unhappy with using expensive and hard to source paint, coupled with the agony of trying to airbrush a huge base with what feels like a mosquito's... *ahem*

So I whined and moaned to my friends who have a background of sorts in this stuff and more years of hobby experience than me. Their solution? Try using spak-filla and housepaint. So I got some product recommendations, made a lunchtime sojurn to bunnings, watched a youtube tutorial, and had a go at rebasing my first building.

Step one - flash the spak:



Step two - apply the hauspaint:

Step three - drybrush:



Step four - ????

Step five - PROFIT!

This method uses more mundane household items, that are much easier to get ahold of, for a better result - in my mind, anyway. I've started texturing the next base for the next building - then will do the next terrain piece. Sometime between all that excitement I will varnish the first building.

Edited February 18 by Vulkan209

[korocite 132]

Paint shops often have mistints that can be useful for terrain projects at a fraction of the normal cost of house paint.

 

I particularly like the effect you have achieved on the balcony.

[Vulkan209 14]

Mistints, you say? I'll have to look into that.

[Vulkan209 14]

Terrain Piece Get!
An Auto Shop.

[Vulkan209 14]

I finished another piece, bringing the total up to 3:

These guys are all varnished, too - and ready to be fought over.

[Krefey 391]

Nice one mate.  Will have to have a game sometime on your new terrain 🙂

[Vulkan209 14]

On 2/23/2021 at 2:59 PM, Krefey said:

Nice one mate.  Will have to have a game sometime on your new terrain 🙂

You are welcome any time.

[Vulkan209 14]

On my way, whacked the terrain - including some unpainted bits (boo! hiss!) on the table for a game of combat patrol with my new deep cut studio mat to match the bases so it doesn't look so weird.

Still a way to go and I think this particular layout was a bit shit - and I want to organise some bases for the shipping containers to put into smaller areas as flexible blockers. I tested it, they're taller than most infantry and make perfect pocket hiding spots.

I also think I need a bit more scatter terrain to add character - but I'll sort that next pay cycle.