Step-by-Step: Building and Painting the Galleon

Well, you can't play a Bart/Galleon list without a Galleon...so here's the guy I built to Batten Down the Hatches!

This is a step-by-step post, so let's start with the model. All right...I have to admit, I don't like the look of the damn thing. I find it kind of silly-looking; particularly with the overly-large trident. But it ain't gunna build itself.

So, as we've come to expect from Privateer's big resin models, the mould lines and flow gates are ridiculous. I spent a long time cleaning the parts. And in this kit, there are a lot of parts. I'm glad they included an exploded diagram for the thing, because, honestly, I would not have figured out how to put the Galleon together on my own.

Thinking about how I was going to paint this colossal, I figured that the best strategy for building it was to assemble four large chunks...the hips, upper torso, left arm and right arm.

I started by priming black.

I wanted to distress the green paint scheme to reveal rusty metal underneath. So, I sprayed all the assemblies with a combination of hull red, brown and rust colors. After that dried, I sealed all the brown areas with multiple coats of Testors Dullcoat.

I'll use the cargo claw as an example of how I got to the end finish on the rest of the model. First, I taped off areas to avoid overspray. In the case of the claw, it got a spray of yellow (I used two different shades here).

Removed the tape, and moved on to spraying other areas with green (two tones again...a dark then a light).

And this is how it looked after the top coat was distressed.

To distress the top coat of paint, I applied rubbing alcohol to the surface of the model. I then used a brush with very stiff bristles, and rubbed away the top coat. The alcohol loosens up the top coat to make it easy to remove, and then evaporates quickly, so the new distressed paint scheme stabilizes in about a minute.

As you can see here, I also painted in the metallic areas as well. I used two metallic progressions for this model...a light bronze from Foundry, and the silver metal metallics from GW.

Once I had the hip assembly complete and painted, I glued it to the base, applied glue and sand and painted the "soil" brown. Once that was dry, I attached some of the other scenic base elements. These included a section of fence from GW...

...and a few larger slate stone pieces. These were blended into the ground cover with more glue and sand.

Skipping ahead a little, I then applied a fair bit of static grass, tufts, scale flowers and a few extra odds and ends. You can see a sword and shield leaning up against the fence here.

Anyway, after all the painting was done on the major assemblies, they were all attached with CA glue, and the model was largely done by this point.

I applied some silver paint chips, and then added some rusty washes to the finished model.

Like the highlight of the yellow claw o the left hand, I made the shoulder pad on the right side red to add another accent to the model.

The bronze was washed with sepia, and then green and blue inks to weather it. The silver metal areas, on the other hand, were washed with umber and rust colors. Both got a final highlight drybrush.

Well, that's the whole thing. Another colossal in the bag. I still think the model is pretty goofy, but I'm happy with the finished result.

"Til next time.

Works in Progress

I haven't posted much this month. I've been starting a number of projects, but have nothing to show for the effort yet...but soon!

The LGS is running the new Charsaug league for Warmachine. I won't be able to play many games, but I will be trying to earn as many hobby points as I can. So...starting work on the most difficult model I'll face in this hobby challenge...Galleon. As usual, cleaning the horrendous mould lines and flow gates off the resin has proven to be the biggest challenge so far. However, the major assemblies are together and ready for painting. I'm going to go with a rusty green and brass paint scheme, which I think will move along pretty quickly.

I'm also doing a Vanguard light jack at the same time in the same scheme.

However, what's been occupying most of my time is a new batch of Middle-earth figures. Concentrating on men this time. I have a selection of men from the Gondor fiefdoms, Dunland, and a few from Arnor. They are still on the painting table.

In other news, Tabletop World, which casts wonderful 28mm buildings, is having a Facebook painting contest. I've photographed a few of my pieces and sent them in for consideration.

Anyway, I should get some models off the table shortly.

'Til next time.

Step-by-Step: Painting Sci-Fi Stealth Camouflage

On the continuing journey to build up a couple of 10-12mm sci-fi armies, the time has come to add some air power. I have some Dropzone Commander aircraft on order, but while I'm waiting for them to come in, I went out and bought a 1/144 scale Chinese stealth jet, the J-20. This stealth fighter is due to enter service at the end of this decade. So, seeing as it's not in service yet, it looks high tech, and is generally unrecognizable to North American eyes, I figured this model makes a good sci-fi jet.

Not a complex model...particularly since I was going to paint over the canopy and build it with the landing gear retracted.

Here the model is built and is ready to take it's primer coat.

The base color was black. Over top of that I sprayed dark grey to give it that matte look. Next I started planning out a muted camouflage pattern. The Chinese jet, like some of the American stealth aircraft, is a matte black. However, as a sci-fi piece, I have the luxury of just making something up. So. I decided to do a patchy black/dark brown/dark green camo pattern.

So, the first order of business was to mask off the black patches. I used some tacky putty.

Next, I over-sprayed a dark brown and then highlighted that with a medium brown.

I peeled off the putty, which left a very cool looking dark camo scheme. To add the green, I marked off the patches with more tacky putty...

...and then filled in the spaces between the patches with tape.

After spraying with a dark green and highlighting with a pale green, I removed all the masking material. I was super happy with the result. The scheme feels familiar, but has a good military sci-fi aesthetic. Familiar and not at the same time.

All that was left to do was hand-paint the engine nacelles, canopy and running lights. The model got an over-spray of floor wax and a few decals were applied. The final dullcoat spray sealed everything up, and the model was done.

I'll mount it on a flight stand later.

Hopefully, I'll get those next Dropzone Commander models in this week and have them on the table for next weekend.

'Til next time.

Dropzone Commander APCs, Howitzers and Buggies

Recently I've completed some 12mm mechs and infantry stands from the Heavy Gear franchise. They got me interested in building up a couple of sci-fi armies. I started looking around for other models to round out a combined arms force. The vehicle models from Dream Pod 9 (Heavy Gear's manufacturer) are just way too expensive to consider...and really, there weren't good quality cheap alternatives. However, I was intrigued by the aesthetic of Hawk Wargames' Dropzone Commander UCM vehicles. Although these models are 10mm scale, they are a close match for the Heavy Gear stuff. And they look good. I ordered some.

Here are some Bear APCs. I was suspect of the lateral mould break...there were going to be some nasty gaps to fill.

Also got some Longbow Howitzers. These artillery pieces are real beauties.

This is the Kodiak command vehicle. A variant of the Bear...so same mould gap issue.

Wolverine buggies. These fast attack cars can be built with chain gun or rocket pod armaments.

Here is an assembled Bear. As I suspected, the gap right through the middle of the vehicle is a real problem.

The Howitzers went together like a dream. Really like these models.

And the buggies are very cool.

The Kodiak, with its trailer. This is going to look really good once the radar dish is mounted.

Putty for all the APC chassis. Nasty. Had to apply and scrape down several times.

On to painting. I acquired these Dropzone models for my Heavy Gear Southern force...so they got the same blue-grey color treatment. I felt that the APCs needed a camo pattern, so I applied a tape mask...

...and sprayed brown.

Once the tape was removed, I was left with a pretty interesting looking camo pattern.

To finish the models off, they got a blue-black wash and details like windscreens, guns, tires and lights painted in. They were then sprayed with floor wax and decals were applied. A final spray of Dullcoat flattened out the finish.

And these are the buggies and howitzers.

And here's how the models mix in with the Heavy Gear mechs and infantry stands.

I've ordered some stands to mount these new models on...when they arrive I'll do the bases.

Anyway, I think this mix of models (along with some aircraft and tanks to come) will make a nice 10-12mm sci-fi army.

'Til next time.

Heavy Gear Southern Infantry Stands

Having finished off a platoon of infantry for the Heavy Gear Northern faction last week, I couldn't resist doing the same for the Southern faction as soon as I could get around to them.

Each platoon pack contains 40 miniatures and 12 stands. There aren't a lot of different poses, but the figures are so incredibly small, pose diversity isn't very important...everything looks the same from table-distance!

Anyway, I painted these guys up to mix with the Heavy Gears I'd painted for the Southern Faction last month...I think they make a pretty good match. Here are the infantry stands along with some Southern Gears.

OK, time to get back to some Warmachine stuff, I think...so...

'Til next time.

Heavy Gear Northern Infantry Stands

I enjoyed painted those Heavy Gear mechs a few weeks back, so I decided to get a couple of packs of infantry to go along with them. I bought a platoon of Northern and Southern infantry.

I started with the Northern platoon.

Now, these are 12mm models, so they are quite small. While the sculpts are quite good, it's hard to see the detail. Given that, I did not concentrate on picking out all the belts, boots, gizmos and so on. I just highlighted the helmet and picked out the shoulder pads with the Northern green accent color.

Here are the infantry stands with a few of the mech models to show relative size. A good project for the week that Titanfall was released!

I may do the Southern infantry next, or may go back to some Warmachine...we'll see.

'Til next time!