Tap's Workbench

[Spinal Tap]

Thank you so much folks.

I painted up two of the remaining Dark Alliance trolls as these both have a LOTR film cave troll appearance, which I've always liked.

Chap with the wooden club originally had a rubbish looking sword so a weapon swap was in order from the other figure in the box.

Painted really quickly just layering up Army Painter washes over a black/white zenithal prime with the aid of Debs' hairdryer, then a few details painted and washed in AP Strongtone.

Not bad for £1.75 each.

20240111_142705 by markndebs, on Flickr

20240111_142823 by markndebs, on Flickr

20240111_142839 by markndebs, on Flickr

20240111_142759 by markndebs, on Flickr

20240111_142814 by markndebs, on Flickr

[mikedemana]

That's a good looking troll! Hobbits everywhere are shivering in their hairy feet...

Mike Demana

[Constable Bertrand]

Look great Tap  , yes I agree the LOTR cave troll looked fantastic, loved the chunky monkey style they pulled over the all arms and legs of GW trolls normally.

Though I'm so tempted by more Scandinavian style if I could find something that matched the trolls in troll Hunter. (I found from us esty prints but not quite right)

[Sunjester]

Yes, those Dark Alliance trolls are a bargain and look very acceptable when painted up. Their Cyclops pack is good value too, a bit smaller than the trolls but 12 minis in the box! I have various boxes of Dark Alliance and a bunch of those cheap 54mm plastic fantasy in my collection as various trolls/ogres/giants and other big beasties.

[Spinal Tap]

So I've been making and painting a bit in January but hadn't got around to adding them to my thread.

So here goes.



15 Hobgrot Slittaz painted as a Neanderthal type race for my new project.


20240118_152844 by markndebs, on Flickr



Recently started playing Grimdark Future Firefight at the club and wanted an Electro Priest to try in my Admech force so knocked one up from bits and beads.


20240123_144848 by markndebs, on Flickr

20240125_094218 by markndebs, on Flickr



My eldest bought me a box of Elder Scrolls figures for Christmas so have painted a couple of them.


20240131_085113 by markndebs, on Flickr

20240122_181505 by markndebs, on Flickr



Read through the final scenario for my Trotter Watch campaign to find I needed 2 large mutants but I only had one suitable model.

Quick scour through my bits box and I came across the Dark Alliance Troll I'd taken the wooden club off for the Cave Troll above.

Cut off the armour and clothing, drilled face and glued in pieces of paperclip, repositioned left arm and added greenstuff.

Quick Speedpaint this morning and sorted.


20240130_093153 by markndebs, on Flickr

20240130_171646 by markndebs, on Flickr

20240130_222450 by markndebs, on Flickr

20240131_084821 by markndebs, on Flickr

20240131_084842 by markndebs, on Flickr

20240131_084849 by markndebs, on Flickr

[Spinal Tap]

Recently started Grimdark Firefight at the club and wanted a couple of hazardous terrain pieces to put down; they will also come in very useful as I'm planning to embark on a Fallout type Post Apoc setting soon.

Get sick of card warping when use in terrain making so thought I'd build on a surface then fasten it to the card - this worked well although I had to settle for foil as we had no greaseproof paper.

Basically wrapped the foil around, applied a thick layer of PVA glue then sprinkled on gravel and flocks.

Once dried I glued the foil onto the back then stuck on thick paper with a glue stick.

Result was no warping at all.

Leaking tank is a tuna can covered in EVA foam - this is my new favourite material as it cuts easily, glues to anything, is easy to add detail to and takes paint well.


Glued the two together and used 2 part resin for the chemical waste.

Made up way too much resin so, after a quick think, made a circle of gravel on some card and poured the resin in the middle.

After curing overnight I cut it out, added a little more sand to the edge with superglue and stuck on some tufts.

20240211_112030 by markndebs, on Flickr


20240211_135910 by markndebs, on Flickr


20240213_173156 by markndebs, on Flickr


20240213_184956 by markndebs, on Flickr


20240214_112659 by markndebs, on Flickr


20240214_112638 by markndebs, on Flickr

[Wirelizard]

The impromptu gravel puddle came out great, might need to steal that idea for hazardous puddles for Gaslands and other games!

[Spinal Tap]

The impromptu gravel puddle came out great, might need to steal that idea for hazardous puddles for Gaslands and other games!

Yeah, it's a bit annoying that the 'what can I do with this lot?' piece looks better than the planned one.

Mind you, the spill from the leaking tank does look better in the flesh than the pictures for some reason.

I will also be doing some but with green tinted resin and a bit of greenery for a swam setting.

[Spinal Tap]

Having 2 Dark Alliance Trolls left I decided to make one into a Fenbeast and the other paint as is.

However, on opening the box I found that the most upright one had a miscast head with no features so I was forced to do a head swap then sculpt/bodge the Fenbeast as best I could with my bits box and greenstuff.

20240219_153610 by markndebs, on Flickr


20240220_101144 by markndebs, on Flickr


20240220_133305 by markndebs, on Flickr


20240227_064444 by markndebs, on Flickr


20240227_064505 by markndebs, on Flickr


20240227_064100 by markndebs, on Flickr


20240227_064341 by markndebs, on Flickr

[Sunjester]

Nice job. Those Fenbeasts look superb!

[Spinal Tap]

Nice job. Those Fenbeasts look superb!

Cheers Graham. Those trolls are brilliant to act as a mannikin for larger sculpts.

[Spinal Tap]

Got another of my Elder Scrolls miniatures painted, namely the Dragonborn. The sword on this was bent and refused to straighten whatever I tried (hot water, hair dryer, clamps) so I snipped it off of replaced it was a Frostgrave one; not perfect but I struggled to get the resin to stick to the plastic.

20240229_150626 by markndebs, on Flickr

I am now engaged in a Grimdark Future Firefight with my Orks from Killteam 2021 (2 games and everyone at the club gave up).

PB270033 by markndebs, on Flickr



First upgrade to my team I chose a Grot Tank so put one together with various bits from the box including Adeptus Mechanicus, Airfix planes, Gaslands, EVA foam, a Hobgrot Slitta head, a little greenstuff and a lot of superglue.

Quite pleased with it.

20240226_215004 by markndebs, on Flickr

20240226_215019 by markndebs, on Flickr

20240229_150407 by markndebs, on Flickr

20240229_150323 by markndebs, on Flickr

[Spinal Tap]

Today's crafting involved painting up 2 Mongrelfolk I kitbashed a while back.

I saw an image ages ago which I wanted to use for inspiration, not an exact copy but capturing the feel of the picture.

2024-02-09_03-51-50 by markndebs, on Flickr


20240209_154809 by markndebs, on Flickr


20240301_160846 by markndebs, on Flickr


I also wanted another ranged fighter and had been given a few Burrows and Badgers metal miniatures by a friend, however, I already had the rabbit archer so she looked like a possible candidate.


received_401560638910976 by markndebs, on Flickr


The only heads I had that fit in any way were GW Ogres - all men.

I trimmed off the facial hair and thinned the chin somewhat then used greenstuff to add 'girly' hair - looked a bit more female but more like Peter Dinklage - BUGGER.

Never mind, I made a reptilian tail, attached it and called the model done.


20240209_154745 by markndebs, on Flickr


20240209_154738 by markndebs, on Flickr


20240301_160756 by markndebs, on Flickr


20240301_160808 by markndebs, on Flickr




I must say that I am really pleased with how my little band of Mongrelfolk are coming on.


20240301_161117 by markndebs, on Flickr

[Sunjester]

They look great...in a weird way!

[Constable Bertrand]

What a motley crew!! 

I am not sure they will be welcome in those human towns