Giftmas 2022

Another week and another post, this time around there’s actual stuff to reveal. I’ve sourced some bases for a band of minis that will come to me from a 3D printer which will allow me to use my long unused resin crystal clumps from Spellcrow. I’ve made a quick look over ones I have left and considered the amount of leftover space on the bases that won’t be taken up by the figures and come to believe there will be a happy marriage of the two elements. There is the back and forth of how many are too many so I’ll cross that bridge when I get the figures.

There also is a second bit of news for this update that in playing with the AP Speedpaints Magic Blue has come to my attention as being quite useful. I don’t think that I’d replace the Vallejo Dark Blue I’m using for the Arabian Knights but the striking nature of the hue is arresting when taking in the 2’/2″ Rule. I might add a shock color to contrast in order to cement that notion. I have decided against real metallics as previous work doesn’t use that technique.

Now since last post there is yet one more important point as there has been quite a stirring development with bringing on the imaginative and ever busy Blinky465 onboard. This has been noticed, of course, and will be a crucial point of fact when Giftmas arrives with all its bells and whistles.

Blinky, will there be bells and whistles or should we leave those off on technical grounds? Hold off on answering here, you never know who’s listening *cough cough* ahem.

So I’ve thought that tying gifts into each other might be a good idea. As such, Free will have a force of figures tied to Lloyd’s. I’m thinking on who to tie what else to at present.

Beyond that, I’m progressing with the builds and painting happily as ever and getting Sundancer’s Giftmas present together. All around this is looking to be a good haul for the crew.

So I’ve received the secondary force for Lloyd so that he may have a real game go on with high end tabletop quality minis (I’m nowhere near the level of a certain Hobby God… yet?).

Its all been built and based to my liking and just needs the slapdash of color. Its a little awkward as the general paint schemes and art I see rely heavily on monochromatic themes. I’m trying to wrap my head around a way to make the pieces pop and still remain faithful to the overall theme of basing and faction colors. I’ll continue having a think on it and putter about on Sundancer’s stuff. I think the distraction for things bound for Germany would allow my strain to wane and allow for creativity to burst forth. If not that I’ll have a bit of a laugh in looking at Justin’s gifts again.

The moment you look at a group of figures ans you want to keep them for yourself is when you know it was an amount of effort that has paid dividends. The first batch is done. The second group has been settled with basing and hit with the base colors. I’ve made a decision on how to make them stand out and I believe it will work. We’ll all see how it comes out in the end. I also have that third selection to process once the bases arrive so I’m actually doing this hobby thing. The Sundancer Select (I think that’s a rather catchy title, if I may say so myself) has been undergoing some technical rework so it might be more than I intended initially. Like Darkvoivod and the wargaming9 Dragonfiend Dollhouse (Lisa Simpson can keep her Malibu Stacy unless its all upscaled Frostgrave) this thing grows beyond intendes scope.

Another bit of information that I’ve run my head back and forth over has been the fact that these are gaming pieces. I’m aware of the Gerry Cans on noting sealants and I’m pretty much settling on a clear floor sealant to spray on everything once I’m done. Warren’s notoriety for dropping things and my own clumsiness with such light plastics made the decision for me. I was steered away from clear resins for boating by the absolute state of the price for not only the resins but the thinning/cleaning agents I’d need to use when spraying. I know the pain of having lost an airbrush to clogging and having to replace it. That won’t happen again.

Addendum: I have come up with a name for John’s present and I can’t stop laughing. I’ll warn Warren now to be ready. I also believe it will tie nicely into Justin’s. I need no ab workout after this.

I’ve gone and done the unthinkable in getting Gerry what he may never know he wanted but always needed! I’ve tied in a gift to Ben and there will be much in the way of mirth and merriment this Giftmas. The ghosts of the past haunt you friend and all will be laid bare for all to see. May the Fourth be with you!

Alright, its not really something I had commissioned or even reached out to the creater to do but I found it on Myminifactory.com and decided it was appropriate for the purpose of this project and needed to share.

I’m certain that there is a certain sense of relief that an actual image has been posted instead of all the “Redacted” “Censored” and “Image Not Available” that I’ve presented before Giftmas.

All other things proceed at a rate… damn well zipping along as the snail crawls. Broken parts have been repaired. Functional parts have been cut open. Building seems to be more fun right now as I purchase more paints and minis unrelated to this project. I am however getting floor sealant to coat the fine paint job I’m doing now. Play pieces are meant to be handled all the time so hard wearing coverage is mandatory. I’ll say it won’t be like trying to coat with Testor’s enamel as a kid without a damn idea of what I was doing.

Success! I have received my bottle of Pledge gloss floor varnish and Lloyd’s first batch of minis has been sprayed. This stuff works very well as I’ve managed to drop a figure and save the paint (albeit breaking a sword, which I was able to be repair). Its definitely glossy and covers splendidly as a thicker layer than Testor’s. I have no idea as far as what comprises the material other than what is likely an acrylic varnish when compared to the lacquer that I’d normally use to finish minis. I’ll still hit these with my standard Dullcote as par for course removing the sheen and giving them the matte treatment.

Aside from that I’ve found a new shipping solution for all packages and it will cut down on cost to ship (global issues not withstanding). I’ve also changed my mind on Warren’s upcoming gift and made slight changes to Justin and John’s which may need a bit more work than anticipated. Time gives me so much to work with as things are said and done over the course of a year and I love the slow build of progress.

Speaking of progress, Blinky465 will be getting Sundancer’s package soon. I’m making it a point to have the paint done and all things I do to the outside complete in the next two weeks. I’ve slacked off enough. I’m kicking this pig.

I was quite motivated… and then hit a block. I think it was the dopamine crash from being all over progress that I finally fell to earth.. hard. Now I’m back as I’ve cut away bits, reinforced others and sculpted some greenstuff. I am ok. The paint will now be sprayed and I’m debating on using stencils. Its all uphill again but thia is baby steps. I have other things to finish but this will be in the post before month’s end in order to give Blinky his time to work.

Other than the Sundancer Special the other bita are coming along. I also have a possibly idea to send along. This is all tenative and I’ll curb my enthusiasm for the time being.