Super Dungeon Explore. Part 1

The above pic shows the first 6 models (heroes) painted in my newest minature game, Super Dungeon Explore.  I was introduced to and purchased this game at Origins back in June.  Apprently, Sodapopminiatures had just released the second printing of the game and I got one of the first copies.  Changes in the new release include the replacement of the metal hero models with these fantastic plastic ones.  Other blogs show that the newer models are also a little bit larger.

I immediately fell in love with these minatures after seeing the display booth at Origins and examining the images on the box.  My miniature painting style had taken on a cartoony-ness over the past 5 years and these models would definatley accentuate that more than the "realistic" sci-fi models (40k) I had been working on.  I am very pleased with how these first six came out.  I think that my high contrast blends and hardlined boarders and edges replicate the techniques used by comicbook artists and makes these models look very similar to their fantastic art work.

The box came with 40 models; 9 of them heroes; and all of them gorgeous.  I can't wait to see how the rest turn out.
 

Ork Warboss with Power Klaw (from AoBR)

I finally got around to painting the Warboss from the Assault on Black Reach set. I think this is the best figure from the set! The Deff Kopta's are good, too. Amazingly, they even managed to pick decent wargear for the guy.

I like the pose a lot, and I tried to do some pretty sharp highlights. Jen asked me to repaint the tassel. The first attempt was a little too similar to the Power Klaw.

I kept the yellow theme, since his main job is to provide leadership to the Bad Moon Mega Nobz.

Ork Battlewagon

I finally finished the Battlewagon (with the Deff Rolla and Killkannon). It's overkill, I know, but I can't imagine not having both. I still have the optional gunners to paint, but they won't make a big difference to the overall effect.

I tried something different. I hard-lined the red panels with metallic silver, to make it look like the paint was wearing away from the edges. I think this could be improved in 2 ways: wider edge highlights, and darker/layered metallics.

Dark Eldar "Wracks"

The above picture features the first three of  ten Dark Eldar "Wracks" I'm adding to my army.  Once again, I've decided to use Privateer Press models (Hex Hunters) instead of the GW ones because they represent my pirate theme better.  The wracks described in the Dark Eldar codex and represented by the GW models are cyborg-mutant-abominations.  I wanted slightly-tainted scurvy sailor types.  These models come dang close.  I gave them the blue skin to show that they were not normal "space elves", the copper-ish armor to represent their diminished status, and the crystalline swords to represent the poison rules for their melee weapons.  This squad of ten + a small HQ will take my core 1850 point army up to 2000 when necessary.   

Chess Set Finished

I recently finished the last piece for my custom chess set--the White Knights. Below is the full complement of models.

King and Queen

Bishops

Knights

Castles

Pawns

King and Queen

Bishops

Knights

Castles

Pawns

Dark Eldar Pirate Display Base

Arrr! The pirate fleet is now complete--at least the 1850 point tournament standard is. The miniatures themselves were done a month and a half ago when the Razorwing Jetfighter (upper left on base) was finished. However, serious tournament goers are now expected to arrive with a suitably themed diorama-like movement tray and I finished mine yesterday (and spent today taking pictures of it). I learned this lesson the hard way when I showed up to the Baltimore Grand Tournament in 2008 with my Eldar army on well-used cookie sheet. I won second in "appearance" and I believe the absence of this unwritten requirement (I took them off the cookie sheet for judging :-) may have lost me a couple of points. I created a better display base for the Eldar in July 2009 for future tournaments (see blog posts at this time) but it was fairly plain and more function than form.

The design for this display base is intended to highlight the nautical theme I emphasized in the way I modified the stock models. The flying bases on the vehicles have specific spots in the water and their flying bases have had the same wave effect modeled. The rocky outcrop was made from 2" thick polystyrene foam cut with a hot wire (aka "wonder cutter") and the wave effects were added with Woodland Scenics (tm) Foam Putty. This foam putty is the same material I used to make the snow effects on the bases of my Eldar (also seen in July 2009 blog post) but laid on much thicker. With the right amount of water, this material gains the consistency of thick whipped cream and dries like Spackle. I simply spooned it onto the base and then used the same spoon to shape small white-caps.

Khymerae Substitute

The Dark Eldar Beastmaster unit has become a popular choice among players due to its hardiness, mass attacks, and relatively cheap cost. My unit contains 4 beastmasters, 6 razorwings, and 5 khymeraes. I've chosen to use the Flesh Hounds of Khorn instead of the actual Khymerae models and painted them in my purple and blue scheme. I wanted them to appear darker than normal so I left the majority of their flesh black or dark purple. Nevertheless, I made the highlights in light blue and white to maximize the contrast and reflect their mystical nature.