Holiday Exchange 2020: Karen

Constructed my first diorama. It had been on my modeling list todo for a while now. Our hobby group has been doing a holiday miniature exchange each year, and thought this would be the perfect time.

The 2020 modeling task was to craft a "Karen" model. Mine took this form: A disgruntled Karen turned away from her favorite cafe because they won't allow her pet Millisaur in. Needless to say, she isn't having that and immediately called the manager to address the situation.

 

Base miniature is a pirate from North Star Games Rogue Stars. She has a head swapped, right hand changed as well from a gun to a walking stick, and left to be holding a phone. Base is a computer heat sync. Various bits were used to decorate. Behind the clear plastic door there is a printed view of inside the bar. Model is magnetized to the base.

Choice bits pulled to possibly be used. 

 I am very happy on how it turned out. And I am currently working on another diorama.

 

Holiday Exchange 2019: Objectives

Totally random timeline here, but worthy of sharing.

Each holiday season, our gaming group tries to get together. Part of that fun has been crafting up a miniature to gift another gamer. Each year we decide a theme and model up something for a random person in that theme. I have been in charge of linking people to build for. I found DrawNames website,  a very useful tool. It allows to drop all the names into a hat and randomly draw names. Even me, the organizer doesn't get to see who gets who, so it is a good surprise. Each person leaves some notes on maybe what they are looking for in the model they receive according to the theme.

2019's theme was objective markers. This year, each of us crafted up an objective marker for two randomly drawn names. Below are what everyone came up with.

Not pictured above was my second objective marker, the special Amazon delivery box of random loot. Plus a spin around of each.

Don't Wake the Sleeping Cock

 Just a word of advice..... 

Stargrave Ship: VaporWave

Stargrave is kind of the new kid on the block, but not really. It is really the sci-fi brother of Frostgrave that we have all been looking forward too. Modeled after Frostgrave 2.0 rules and adapted to science fiction.

Part of the fun is the idea of having a ship to shuttle your crew to the planet surface to do battle. I selected mine from Dragon's Rest. They offer a 3D printed Dragonfly drop ship model. I found mine through an Etsy reseller called RealityAtWork. The PLA print came disassembled and unpainted. It included clips to join the modules together.

I replaced the printed hoses on the legs with rolled green stuff hoses. Added plastic windows to the front. Pilot model added to the empty seat. I painted everything separately and then assembled. Most were glued into position, but the tail and smaller hull section I kept unglued. I used the clips to allow the ship to change to a smaller size by omitting the smaller hull section. The two roof panels were magnetized for easy access to the inside.

Test assembly

Happy how it turned out. Used Vallejo Game Color Bronze Fleshtone for the ship base color. Stippled dark brown paint by sponge along the edges for battle damage. Then added gunmetal within the larger damaged sections.

The model is a PLA print, so the print lines are very visible on some surfaces. Being an industrial non-organic ship, some of the lines were fine. The print had more difficulty with gradual slopes. I did my best to sand the surface to even it out. I didn't try gap filler, but it could of helped even out some of the more offending areas.

 

 

 

 

 

Door hatches that open

 

Smaller hull removed for a smaller dropship

 

Details of battle damage

 

 

All the pieces mostly painted before assembly 

Holiday Exchange 2017: Sidekick

Group's holiday miniature exchange consisted of selecting and making a "Sidekick" for another. Below are the miniatures exchanged that year.

 

 

Adore the Immortals, for they are Ours!

 "Aye lads, gather 'round. Stay here and listen to the nightmares of the Sump Sea. This sad tale begins on the edge of the Great Sump, near a huge drainage tunnel that just happens to be the most direct route from the Underhive to what lies beyond the Wall. The twin settlements of Sumptown and Port Imperiale sprang up on either side of the tunnel, growing wealthy on the trade between the hivers and Ash Nomads, Sludge Sea sailors, and even smugglers from the spaceports outside the hive. The shops and bazaars were stocked with exotic items unavailable anywhere else. The taverns were teaming with wanted men, desperadoes, and strange offworlders. Port Imperiale was a shining boomtown of vice and false promises, while Sumptown was a lawless sprawl of shanties and thieves dens. Mayor Norton I of Port Imperiale, though a mere figurehead, was much beloved by the citizens and visitors. A sort of peace and order was maintained through a truce between the three largest gangs, the Orphans, the Savages, and the Spuggs.
 This fragile peace was shattered by a series of bombings and assassinations which decimated the three gangs and left the cities and surrounding settlements dark and smouldering. The Immortals, a large gang from a distant part of the hive have moved in to fill this power vacuum and attempt to restore order. 
 So, what will it be lads? Try to rebuild Port Imperiale to it's lost glory, join up with the foreign upstarts, or sit here drowning your sorrows in another tankard of fungale? 

 At the game day on the 1st, I have a list of 5 scenarios written up for us to play, some can be replayed several times, a record of the results will be kept that will determine the disposition of forces for the big game at KublaCon, which will be a Siege scenario from the Outlanders book, representing the Immortals final assault on the defenders of Port Imperiale.

Should the player choose to ally with the Immortals, the following rules will apply:
 1. Due to the Immortals' control of the Spook trade, the gang can hire a Wyrd for free.
 2. For the cost of 25 credits per game, D3 Immortals will fight with the gang. Standard ganger stats, 2 random Ferocity skills, armed with either an Autogun or Autopistol, and knife.
 3. If the gang has a Settlement territory, any "free juves" must be given to the Immortals in exchange for D3 Immortals, as above.
 4. If the Immortals gain control of Port Imperiale, the gang may choose any one new territory.

Should the player choose to side with the independent gangs and the mayor, the following rules apply:
 1. Dispossessed civilians are eager to help. The gang may hire Scummers for 5 credits, or 1 independent ganger or d3 Scavvies for free.
 2. Refugees looking for a new start are plentiful. The gang may hire new Juves for 15 credits.
 3. If the Mayor and the Independent gangs maintain control of Port Imperiale, the gang will receive D3 randomly determined new territories.

In the comments below, please post before Saturday morning which side you are backing. First come first serve, but if you guys bunch up on one side, I may have to either sweeten the other deal, or bump some of you over to the opposition. Now back to the painting table for me.
Thanks, good luck, remember if the bad guys are "the Boot" and the good guys are "the Neck," it's better to be the bad guy, and always check those corners.

True Atronian Fyrdalee WIP

Test paint on a War of Ashes model from Zombiesmith. Any resemblance to a certain television shield-maiden is purely coincidence.