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GrandMaster Raziel
I live in Scotland but I'm originally from Texas. I've been an avid gamer since the early '80s and have played just about every game out there. I have a lovely wife and 5 children, so getting the life / gaming balance is always important.
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Thursday 21 October 2010

Coming out of the closet....

Hi there folks,

I was recently reminded of some boardgames I had lurking in a closet.  My kids had found them and, by all accounts, had a smashing time.  After they had gone( I dare not show them all my games) I had a look at the collection and came across some real gems.  There was the 2nd ed. Spacehulk along side the newer version.  Also there was Car Wars, by Steve Jackson Games with the original pocket ruleset.  The hours I spent playing some of these games I guess is about the same kids today spend on their mobile phones, PSP's or DS's.  But I wonder which (if either) is better.  I know I spent alot of time playing old board games, even to the point of spending an entire summer recreating the battle of the bulge in Squad Leader!

So I have to think to myself, do I have to accept my kids attraction to the latest techno-gizmo console since I was also given to playing any number of games.  Or is it right to steer them clear of a path of wasted afternoons and fresh air.  After all, I imagine had I been born in these times I too would have much better thumb response times and not been so pasty when I was younger...

Cheers!
Thursday 14 October 2010

Going 'ol school for this one...

Hiya Folks

Here are the 10 Dark Reapers I am working on next.  They are all old models so the detail will be harder to get to (the newer models are easier to paint imo).


I hope to have these done in a few days, hopefully all will go to plan ;)

Cheers
Tuesday 12 October 2010

The Banshees' have landed

So here are a couple pics of my Banshees finally finished!

Next is.....

Dark Reapers!!!


Thursday 7 October 2010

Keeping up momentum...

Hello Folks

Having just finished my wraithlords, I figured I would also work on finishing some howling banshees that I've been neglecting for too long.  Here's a (bad) pic...

















The pic is a bit blurry sorry for that, but I'll get better finished pics.

I had started them months ago, but one thing led to another and they got shelved.  So far I've only done a base coat and 1st color.  I'm keen to get into the detailing of them to make them look truly menacing.

I'll keep you posted :)

Cheers

Completed Wraithlords

Hiya Folks

Well, I've had 3 days off work (Almost unheard of) and I managed to complete my wraithlords.  Sorry about the pic quality, but I need batteries for my good camera.   Here are the pics :)





As usual, comments and critiques most welcomed :)

Cheers!
Sunday 3 October 2010

Good luck and thanks for all the fish....

Hello everyone,

I'd like to take this opportunity to wish my son, Philip (pictured next to me in my profile pic with a maniacal grin) all the best of luck on his job interview tomorrow.  I only mention this because the job he is going for is the Games Workshop Management Program and he is heading down to Nottingham, England tonight by train. So far, the GW people have been very impressed with his knowledge and dedication to the hobby and it's now down to him and 2 others.

The next few days are going to be slow ones indeed and as I have taught him everything he knows (wink) I'm sure he'll do well.

Plus it would be really cool to know someone on the inside ;)

Cheers and Happy Hunting!
Saturday 2 October 2010

Awesome gaming board for less than £100!

Hello folks

I thought I would share my method for creating a cheap, expandable, and most important fun gaming board.  I made mine after searching the net and getting some ideas that way.  But in my case, time was very limited and the budget was almost non-existant.

So with that in mind, I'll start by showing you what you need to start off.  The great thing about this is I borrowed alot of materials from my wife's misdirected DIY of our house.
You'll need:

2'x2' plywood  (I went with 9mm thickness as its not to heavy and only £4 a piece)
White Paint  (I used cheap wall emulsion left over from room decoration)
Colored Paint  (I went to ASDA and bought the £2 bottle of childrens water based paint, you get a full litre)
Foam Core  (The most expensive part, I spent £27 for a 11'x8'x2" sheet, but it makes alot as you will see)
Matt black spray paint  (£3 a can at a local discount store)
White PVA glue (£1 a bottle at a national UK discount chain, don't skimp here get a few extra bottles)


Thats it. With all that bought, borrowed, or found (I did use some foam core found on the side of the road!) you can get to the fun part of putting it together.

Now the first step is to prime the wood white.  I used white emulsion because in these quantities, it goes a long way and makes any colors you add more vibrant.

Okay this is where you have to decide on the theme of your board.  For this tutorial, I am doing a lava-themed board as I have based my Deathwing to match it.  But you can do anything really, another simple color change could make it an ice-themed board or you could do trenches, or lots of various combinations.

I now take the primed board and add the lava coloring (roughly mixing red and yellow together to get the right effect)on the board


So thats the board finished and now you can turn your attention to the detail.  I have here a chunk of foam core salvaged from the side of the road, but if you get a whole section from your local builders merchant you can do more elaborate features.



Now I figured with the shape of this piece it says "roads" to me.  I sectioned it up into road segments and gave it a basic coat of the good 'ol matt black spray paint.  It doesn't have to be the £6 a can GW stuff as the cheap stuff covers just as well.





But you can also use your good foarm core to make designs for the board itself and then the scrap pieces for terrain.



With a simple drybrush the white emulsion you can achive very dramatic results.  One key thing to remember when making a board of this nature is to make sure when glueing the foam core to the board that you make sure you take into consideration flexability of placement.  You wouldn't want to end up with sections that could only be used in certain places like the corners, all pieces should be useable anywhere.




As shown above, it allows for many different layouts and with the excess foamcore I had left over I've make over 40 pieces of terrain like these...




I currently have 9 such tiles completed, I am working toward 12 for a truly apocalypse friendly board.  Hope this has enlightened, inspired some of you to go out and give it a go.  Feel free to share your creations!

Cheers and Happy Hunting