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1

Hasslefree Babble / Re: salute2010...and deepest sympathies to Sally.

« on: April 25, 2010, 07:19:38 PM »

Had a great day.
Nursed another hangover, which got worse as the day progressed, same as every year.
Met Toosh and Avicenna properly and shared some beers, best way to get to know people.
Had a quick chat to Gi6ers ( can never remember ya name. ).
Bought some Hasslefree to add to my ever growing pile..... got the mini mawes aswell after a recommendation... they are lovely.
Said a quick hello to Sally.

Role on next year!!

Nigel

2

Questions and Answers / Re: Looking for help on creating an Aliens diorama

« on: March 26, 2010, 12:20:04 AM »

This might help.

http://www.jrn-works.dk/tutorials/tut.php?tut=presentationBase&lan=eng

Nigel

3

Hasslefree / Re: That's Mr Roban to you...

« on: March 01, 2010, 06:46:16 PM »

Wow Peter, thats an absolutely cracking paintjob.
I would be well happy with that.

Great stuff, colours, basing and subtle painting have worked so well.

Best Mini I have seen for a while.

Nigel

4

Eye Candy / Re: Limited Edition Axenarf

« on: January 05, 2010, 08:09:51 PM »

Absolutely brilliant.
So much character, it looks like it will be a real pleasure to paint.

I had better be nice to the wife and see if I can have some money.

5

Hasslefree / Re: 40mm Tiriel

« on: November 12, 2009, 01:51:43 PM »

But how much do you thin it?

I thin it a lot..... more like water.

6

DOD IV (2009) Finished Entries! / Re: 'Sabotage!'

« on: November 01, 2009, 03:33:24 PM »

@Peter

Yes I think a coherence to the defending force would of helped. It was definitely the kev? figure that helped confuse me.
Please remember though I was looking at this early in the morning when my youngest two decided to get me up, and after the beers consumed last night my mind wasn't at its most focused.
Red star motif's on the defending force would certainly sort out any future misinterpretation.

Nigel

7

DOD IV (2009) Finished Entries! / Re: Dinner Interrupted

« on: November 01, 2009, 08:59:17 AM »

The classic dungeon quest is always a good choice for a dio. This one is really nice and compact, which in my opinion is always the best way to do it.
The posing of the troll being disturbed mid feast is great band effective, as is the dwarf who is about to shoot him.
The parts that let this down for me are mainly to do with the finial finish.
The whole piece has a very plastic look to it.
I don't know if its varnish... or just the paint, but the shiny nature of everything is very distracting.
The central column of the stairs isn't straight and screams at me from the screen "look at me, look at me!!"
Extra care on getting parts like that right are essential with these things.
The osl is OK... its missing some major areas to be truly effective, also the entire scene should be darker to help convey the sense of darkness, at the mo I look and wonder why he has a torch..... its daylight.

Another entry that I feel with a little more time and attention to detail could of stepped up a level.
Still great stuff.

Nigel

8

DOD IV (2009) Finished Entries! / Re: Zombie Surfers against radioactive sewage..

« on: November 01, 2009, 08:46:48 AM »

Haha what a cool little scene.
I think you can never have enough zombies and this gets a big thumbs up for that.
The zombies against pollution idea is excellent... humour is always important.
The painting is a little rough in places... but you get away with it on zombies.
Its the extras in this dio that add to it.... things like the hand reaching for the gull and the starfish.
I know the general consensus is that the sea is too dark... and I have to agree... but the sense of depth that you have got with this, by cutting the zombies is very well done. I know these fenris bases don't have much depth.. but looking at this you would never know.
I would of played the pollution side a bit more myself but thats probably just a personal thing.
Well done and good luck.
NIgel

9

DOD IV (2009) Finished Entries! / Re: Smurf Wars

« on: November 01, 2009, 08:38:10 AM »

HAHAHA
Stupid and daft......... what a brilliant combination.
I love the off the wall though that has gone into this.
The paper scenery is genius.... really gives it a cartoon feel.
the painting is a bit rough.... but this also fits the cartoon and subject manner.
I don't think you will win with this but for sheer off the wall thinking you should get a special prize.
Well done.

Nigel

10

DOD IV (2009) Finished Entries! / Re: The Liberation of IX

« on: November 01, 2009, 08:32:30 AM »

Dune!!! One of my favourite books...... although the later additions to the series did start to ruin it somewhat for me.
Anyway..... your entry.

I understand what you are goind for with this, ands some of it works in part..... bu the whole doesn't.
I think Rob above has hit the nail on the head with the main problem, which is one of viewpoints.
Having all the characters pointing the worst viewpoint is never a good idea for a diorama. Faces of minis are the most important feature.
You also have far to much blank spoace. Making the scene more compact will help the focus of the viewer and add menace.
The final finish could do with a few more hours of work too.

The idea is solid and with some changes could be great.

Nigel

11

DOD IV (2009) Finished Entries! / Re: The Netherhells Angel

« on: November 01, 2009, 08:20:34 AM »

A cool idea with some good movement in it.
I like the use of the wings to imply the allegiance of the biker...... well done.
Now to some critique.

The painting looks very rushed on much of this entry. I know everybody cannot paint like a "fluffy" but I do think a bit more care with the paint would of really helped to improve this.
The whole thing could do with more contrast and variation. The hound and the wings in particular are very flat.
The road at the front of the display is very large and empty...... cutting this out would help tighten the scene also.

Nigel

12

DOD IV (2009) Finished Entries! / Re: Sorcery and Sudden Vengeance

« on: November 01, 2009, 08:09:49 AM »

A great scene with a good story to it.
The painting looks a little thick and the varnish doesn't help showing off the painting you have done.
The layout of the characters is fine.
For me its the final finish of this that lets it down.
The grass is very monotonous and doesn't help create atmosphere.
Some variation in floor heights, grass height and colour can make a big difference.
The trees/bushes are well executed but too "weedy" to be effective. They also could do with encroaching on the scene more. Helping to frame the action.
Please don't think I am being to harsh and take the crits as constructive.

With a little more time and work this could be raised up to be a contender.

Nigel

13

DOD IV (2009) Finished Entries! / Re: 'Sabotage!'

« on: November 01, 2009, 07:58:29 AM »

Another wow from me.
Such a well executed scene.
The attention to detail and the finish of this are second to none.
How you manage to fit so much in such a constrictive space is also a lesson for us all.
I cannot fault the painting,its perfect for what you have achieved.
My only negative is that it wasn't immediately apparent to me who the 2 sides in the conflict are...... but the more I look I think that's due to the difficulty of transferring the 3d scene into a photo. So much is lost in photos.
Very very well done.

Nigel

14

DOD IV (2009) Finished Entries! / Re: Hard Days Night....

« on: November 01, 2009, 07:39:10 AM »

Wow!!
Brilliant scene with so much atmosphere.
I love the contrast of the two scenes, quiet sunny day....... dark disturbing evil below.
Its the attention to detail that really sets this apart.
The converted figures are subtle, the scenery excellent, the dog is funny.
Below decks the guy on the rope is posed so well. Water effects are very smooth.
The lighting effect combined with the gloomy sewer works so well.
Also a great hoist.
Brilliant
A+ from me.
I feel inspired to enter myself next year after seeing the inventiveness you guys come up with.

Nigel

15

Hasslefree / Re: 40mm Tiriel

« on: October 20, 2009, 01:23:13 PM »

Yes I thin all the tamiya clear acrylics with water.

16

Hasslefree / Re: 40mm Tiriel

« on: October 20, 2009, 01:01:59 PM »

Thanks for all the comments.

I think I had better redo the pics...... I hate taking photos, its a very poor way of judging a mini but I think these are particulary bad for me..... specifically the presentation and the halo effect.

Metals do in my opinion look much better in person.
Not hard to do, just well mixed paint, thinned alot and then many many thin coats.
After that I gove it a coat or too of thinned tamiya clear smoke paint.
This is wonderful at smoothing the metallics and deepening the shine.
After the tamiya I then work old GW glazes into the shadows.
These are fantastic for this kind of effect. On metals they give an almost petrol effect where the colours only get picked up by turning the mini around in light.
For deeper shadows GW ink/thinned is used in multiple layers.
If the metals start to get overpowered I work an extremely thin coat of metallic paint back over the area to add some metal pigment back to it.
Once finished I then added a final very thin coat of smoke to tie it ll back together again.

Sounds like a lot of hard work but its worth it.

Nigel

17

Hasslefree / 40mm Tiriel

« on: October 19, 2009, 11:02:25 PM »

Hi all.

I thought I would post up this mini I have recently finished.
An absolute pleasure to paint.
I admit to stealing the whole grave/mausoleum from Fluffy's excellent version.
Looks much better in real life, metallics are a bitch to photograph.

Nigel c

18

Hasslefree Babble / Re: Painting guides

« on: October 17, 2009, 10:06:49 AM »

I could certainly paint something for you.

Tempted by Taxxis and Death.... the version with her riding him.
Its in my to do pile.
Probably be a casual entry for Salute as well.

Interested?

Nigel

19

Announcements and News / Re: Luke a bit poorly, sorry delays.

« on: September 20, 2009, 10:47:37 PM »

Always horrible when the little ones are poorly.
Heres hoping he gets better soon.

Nigel

20

General Ranting / Re: Dora Cannon

« on: September 07, 2009, 10:40:36 PM »

I think this 40k themed Dora is impressive

http://s14.photobucket.com/albums/a301/fitmanb/Dora/?action=view&current=DSCF2694re.jpg

21

Hasslefree Babble / Re: Dress a Kev competition

« on: May 19, 2009, 10:21:09 PM »

Did mine make it into the set?
I handed it to Kev at Salute which wasn't the best place and the little guy may not have made it out in one piece.

Nigel

22

Announcements and News / Re: Officially back

« on: May 05, 2009, 11:36:11 AM »

Good to see you back Sally.
Heres hoping you stay fit and well for the future.

Nigel

23

Heresy / Re: Duel

« on: April 28, 2009, 08:05:21 PM »

Thanks all for the comments.

It was touch and go for the fixing point. It survived the journey from the fens to Salute and back so I am fairly happy with it.

@Roger

I may take it along if I make it to PB, I hope to bring my Gd wips though.

Nigel

24

Heresy / Duel

« on: April 27, 2009, 10:20:30 PM »

Hi all.

I realised I hadn't posted any pics up of my finished duel from Salute09. So a quick snap with the camera and here are some crappy photos.
I was quite pleased how this turned out. Certain areas are a bit of a fudge but the dynamics I was striving for come of quite well.

Anyway all comments most welcome.

Nigel