My Dwarf & Orc skirmish project (update 1-30-13)

[magnusthetraitor]

Seeing the Hobbit inspired me to break out the fantasy figs once more, and take a break from the sci fi end of things. I've got a number of scenarios in mind, and with more hobby time than hobby cash available, I figured this is the right time to play around with doing some sculpting. I'll be using SoBH or Brink of Battle for the rules end of things.

First, some Avatars of War Berserker dwarves, with added pelts:


Some pack boars for them to guard:


I've been re-sculpting the faces of some ogres and other assorted figs to match my favorite style of troll, the older GW Stone Troll:


I needed a proper leader for my nasty orc warbands, so I worked up this fellow:




Apologies for the blurriness! I hadn't thought they were this bad until I uploaded them. I need to break out the tripod and take some proper pictures with better lighting. I can't even find a decent picture of the rest of the orcs and goblins.

I'm planning on building some dwarven cavern terrain tiles for some skirmish gaming fun, but I find that I work better on the terrain if I've already got some painted minis to put onto said terrain! I'm certainly open to inspiration, so if you have seen any cool cavern/mine terrain I'd love to heard about it.

Thanks for reading,
Magnus

[Gutbukkit]

A great looking project. I love the extra sculpted detail you have added. I shall follow this with interest.

[Doomhippie]

looks good. I love the orc.

Isn't it wonderful how just a little idea get's you started on a whole new project? That's what I like about this hobby.

[rob_the_robgoblin]

Great project and great conversions, I particularly like the boars...

[driller]

Hobbit did the same to me... It wasn't even a good film, but the dwarves were cool.

[magnusthetraitor]

I've been working on some of the cavern and ruin terrain pieces. I have a number of other pieces planned to form the outline of my cavernous battlefields, but I still need to pick up some supplies. In the meantime, I worked up these scatter pieces to be placed about the interior regions.



The crystals are carved foam insulation, and the torches are greenstuff I sculpted. The firepit was a practice piece where I tested my colors and technique. I quite like it though, as it makes me feel quite warm!



I wanted some statuary or decorative elements on the pillars, so I grabbed my Instant Mold and went hunting through the bits box. This is what I came up with.



I really wanted to add splashes of vibrant color to this terrain, as our club has quite a lot of grey and brown natural-looking terrain, and it could use some more outlandish pieces. The blue crystals will one day soon be joined by bioluminescent fungae and algal pools.



Here is the Troll matron I sculpted a new face for, seen unpainted in my first post. I think she looks quite content in her new home!

Thanks for reading,
Magnus

PS I have a new camera to play with. Can you tell? :-)

[Mo!]

Wow your sourcelighting is really really nice!!! Looks so real!

[DeafNala]

Wow your sourcelighting is really really nice!!! Looks so real!

I agree...AND I'm not usually all that keen on source lighting.
The Cavern pieces & the Inhabitants are all EXCELLENT little creations. Taking existing minis & making them uniquely your own is an art in itself; its an art for which you have a decided flair. GREAT STUFF!

[magnusthetraitor]

Wow your sourcelighting is really really nice!!! Looks so real!

Thanks! I use an airbrush and try to spray from the angle of the torch, moving it around and building up the layers. Picking the right colors was much harder than doing the spraying!

Magnus

[manic _miner]

 Great scenery and very well painted.Would love to see a whole tables worth with miniatures too.

[B. Basiliscus]

this looks like a very fun project! keeping my eyes on it.

[magnusthetraitor]

Great scenery and very well painted.Would love to see a whole tables worth with miniatures too.

You and me both! I have the MDF bases cut and sanded in preparation for my next batch of cavern walls. That will give me the basics for a 36" square table easily. I won't be getting the foam to build those pieces until later, so I will be busily painting orcs and goblins in the mean time. Somewhere in there I will need to stat up these baddies in Brink of Battle.

 

Taking existing minis & making them uniquely your own is an art in itself; its an art for which you have a decided flair. GREAT STUFF!

Thanks! As a fan of your work, I really appreciate the compliment. 

Magnus

[Thantsants]

Lovely scenery and that old stone troll looks great in grey and green 

[southheaven]

This is looking great. Can wait to see the way this project is going.

[Engel]

Nice work, especially the source lighting on those crystals and the fire effects.