Breaking bad - sorry about the silence.

Guys,

Year 2013 has started insanely busy professionally and personally. Apart from finishing the Alter Daemon (mmmmm...) I have not had a single moment to spend on the models or to take photos. In fact I haven't even had the time to order or pick up the Dark Angels Codex. A heresy by my usual standards. I apologize and thank you for your patience.

It's been an extremely inspirational month however. And I do intend to return with a Vengeance.

With a caveat - it is a fact of life, now with two young children and extremely busy job that my hobby life will never be the same again. I think this is something number of us have to realize and reconcile. I think this deserves a proper blog entry one day. I've never been so acutely aware of the gap in perspective and realities with hobbyists with kids and without.

But until there is time for said entry, I wanted to share you a short film. An ad. A Super Bowl ad actually. It is the single most beautiful piece of creative work seen this year and will be a key inspiration and philosophical back bone for the third and final installment of the +I+nquititor trilogy. The good.

God Made The Farmer

Happy New Year.

2012 was Epic. Epic.

For the family, for me professionally and for the hobby: I made a few really great new friends. I ended up finishing 20 miniatures! (Considering the insanity of conversion work and my work and family commitments, I must say I'm surprised and pleased with the number.) Furthermore, I got the dream desk done and loaded with the right tools and supplies.

2013 promises to be very very interesting. I've heard rumors of a neat Blanchitsu in the January WD to begin with. In turn I promise to:

1. Get gaming with my minis again! (that's been the big failure in '12 and something I dearly miss)
2. Finish the Legion army fully done to tournament ready glory. (starting with the Bay area open team tournament)
3. Surprise you every now and then.

Select few photos from 2012 to kick off the new year.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

And a happy new year!

PIP of the Alter and the HH book from Santa!

PS/Edit / oh WOW how badly the blogger app pic size quality shrink sucks...

Setting a deadline.

On 1st of March, one of the most insanely converted and painted Warhammer 40000 armies ever built will go to war.

THE BAY AREA OPEN

I am contemplating between the team tournament (if I find a good match) and the massive task of finishing 2000pts (I'm up to 1250ish today) and living with the consequences of doing a crazy army list to reach that and then having my beautifully made models die to some possibly half painted copy paste list.

The latter don't sound so good, does it? In time, I'm sure my list will be very strong too, but I also need practice, since I only managed to play like half a dozen games of 5th, after very active 3rd and 4th editions.

WIP update : Heroes and Villains

Almost ready to prime.

Both the Von Lochov Praetorian and the Devotee have since gotten fitting shoulder pad detailing that completely hides the Cadian feel. The trio, together with the Chastener (the dual pistol guy) and Servo-skull, both shown earlier, received a coat of primer today.

I like how the B&Ws hide what I sculpted and what is standard parts.

Devotee is heading for the BAD retinue. The +I+ not decided yet, the Praetorian is Legion, Von Lochov's personal Praetorian.

... stories will be written ....

WIP update : Legion, Good and Bad

Here's a random update of what's cooking. Adding to the mix a Leman Russ Demolisher 50% assembled.

You see here models that will end up in the Bad retinue, the very first concepts for the Good Retinue and Legion project (Space Marine squad and Von Lochov's retinue)

I'll try to focus so I can actually deliver something soon.

See how badly scaled the DA Librarian is to the Cultist models most of whom are actually a tad taller. This plays nicely for my project though. My own marines being "correctly" scaled to GW Background, I get to make good use of a lot of Space Marine parts/models for =I= projects. The Librarian will be a fine canvas for one.

+ Inquisitor Silas and the new recruits +

Mirror Master - Where is the mirror? Old, Wise beyond law, Erudite Extraordinaire, but how to remember thy minutia?

Tobias the Curze - Caretaker, Make sure master see no harm, solid slug for everyday, Enuncia for ordnance!

Chaide - Pelicanne, Man Bird, Haunted Hunter, The Weather!

At long last, The new additions are here. Well new and old. I had tremendous fun painting them. Taking fifteen minutes here and there. I still have some finishing work to do after varnish, but 99% they are done.

I've kept going back to the original +I+ rulebook for guidance. I've worked hard to maintain that feel and for these characters to be something if rendered by Blanche, Kopinski,  or Dainton that they would totally fit in. For each new character I had unique considerations, but ended up also wanting a somewhat common look for the three of them. Like I had for the first three.

It is now time to start planning how to play with these guys, where to find a new gang of crazy hobbyists to create a world and storyline worthy of the energy.

Next comes.

The Mirror - mirror mirror, dead or alive...

The Devout - Burn the Ministeric!

and of course, The Alterkin

Cant wait to show you more...