Deathworld Flora and Fauna: Ambull 30/08/14

[Rob_S]

Re: Deathworld Flora and Fauna

Cheetor- I know you've already discovered Ramshackle games, what with the Dungers and all. I was browsing their site the other day and couldn't help but feel like all the models on display had obvious Rogue Trader vibes. I think his mutant plants would fit a death world game very nicely.

 

[Count Von Bruno]

Re: Deathworld Flora and Fauna

I've ummed and ahhed about the Ramshackle Digging machines to use as Termites for my Squat army...

 

[cheetor]

Re: Deathworld Flora and Fauna

Cheetor- I know you've already discovered Ramshackle games, what with the Dungers and all. I was browsing their site the other day and couldn't help but feel like all the models on display had obvious Rogue Trader vibes. I think his mutant plants would fit a death world game very nicely.

Hi Rob. I have a set of Curtis mutant plants on my assembly table at the moment (along with some other stuff) for that express purpose. Thanks for the tip though. The plants look like a fun couple of days painting to me

I've ummed and ahhed about the Ramshackle Digging machines to use as Termites for my Squat army...

Again, snap I have one of those assembled and sprayed black to cart my Ursa Miners around since last summer, but have yet to get around to painting it. A 2014 project I guess.

The style of the Ramshackle range doesnt appeal to everyone, but there are loads of items exceptionally well suited to RT games.

 

[Magos Explorator]

Re: Deathworld Flora and Fauna

I've ummed and ahhed about the Ramshackle Digging machines to use as Termites for my Squat army...

I have two of these painted (no pics yet though, guess I could take some). They're great fun to paint and will make good terrain (or would be good Termites).

 

[cheetor]

Re: Deathworld Flora and Fauna

I have been working on this project in tandem with painting the occasional ork and occasional Bono look-a-like over the last few months. I have lots of jungle terrain and associated bits almost complete that I will add to this over the next few weeks. It will be satisfying to finally have that alien jungle table that I have been promising myself since I first read Rogue Trader

Before I get to that stuff I wanted to put up these photos of some of the larger hostile flora that I have just finished.

This first item is going to fill the role of a Spiker (plus a Spiker victim on the left. More about him at a later date.

Some alien pod terrain pieces:

Lastly, some mean green muthas from outer space. The obvious stars of the "flora" side of this project.

I have lots more of this stuff at the almost finished stage, so I should have some more RT Deathworld stuff to post early next week Id say.

The blog post, with a couple of extra photos and some explanations regarding colour choices etc is here.

Comments and criticisms all welcome

 

[Timbor]

Re: Deathworld Flora and Fauna: updated 15/02/14

Those armorcast plants paint up very nicely. I have looked at them on their site before... might just have to order them eventually!

 

[Asslessman]

Re: Deathworld Flora and Fauna: updated 15/02/14

These are really nice. Though it doesn't have the regressive charm of simple lichen thrown over a green carpet, it really gives a setting to the story which is a very important point I've been eluding for too long. The added aquarium plants and flowers really help those pieces to integrate like they're in their habitat rather than just being placed in the middle of nowhere. A very coherent and graphic result which was expectable from you considering the rest of your work.

 

[Jeff McC]

Re: Deathworld Flora and Fauna: updated 15/02/14

Wonderful stuff, very well done!

 

[cheetor]

Re: Deathworld Flora and Fauna: updated 15/02/14

Those armorcast plants paint up very nicely. I have looked at them on their site before... might just have to order them eventually!

They are fun models and I enjoyed painting them and they look good on the table.

A word of warning. Armorcast had my order for these for three months before they shipped them. They mostly responded to emails during that time and I did get the models eventually (the delay was due to a backlog in casting I think), but it was a bit of a drag. I never had that sort of problem with an Armorcast order before either, so hopefully it was just a blip, but it is worth mentioning.

Wonderful stuff, very well done!

Thank you Jeff. I have a number of similar items ready to have their pictures taken too.

These are really nice. Though it doesn't have the regressive charm of simple lichen thrown over a green carpet

No, it doesnt. I dont plan to put a few books under the felt to make a hill either

Its interesting that you mention that actually. I know that this forum is by its nature a pretty retro and nostalgic place, but nonetheless, older is not always better. Goblin Green miniature bases may remind us of simpler times of our youth, but along with books-under-felt-hills and jumpers-for-goalposts, they should be consigned to that era.

it really gives a setting to the story which is a very important point I've been eluding for too long.

Decent terrain is more important that decent armies really. Even a poorly painted army will look pretty good on a nice table, but a beautiful army will still look awful on crappy terrain.

The added aquarium plants and flowers really help those pieces to integrate like they're in their habitat rather than just being placed in the middle of nowhere. A very coherent and graphic result which was expectable from you considering the rest of your work.

Thanks very much JB. The occasional bit of aquarium plant does make the cast lumps of resin look a little more 3D, plus as you say, they will integrate the models with the huge aquarium plant jungle that is currently being assembled on the table in my man cave. Photos of that next week with a bit of luck.

 

[phreedh]

Re: Deathworld Flora and Fauna: updated 15/02/14

I really love the pods, both sculpts and painting! Is that the 90 bucks set you've got? How are they to work with? I'm getting some old Metal Magic stuff from Armor Cast that I've accidently missed out on and might go for a set of these too... They're great!

 

[cheetor]

Re: Deathworld Flora and Fauna: updated 15/02/14

I really love the pods, both sculpts and painting! Is that the 90 bucks set you've got?

Yep. Not exactly cheap. I am pleased with the purchase though. Its possible to scratch build things like these plants if you have the skills, time and inclination. I do not have at least two of those. I would rather dump cash on them and just assemble and paint the things.

How are they to work with?

Fine. They are made from a light resin. Split lines were easy enough to fix. The bases were a bit thick where the pieces were poured, but thats not really a very big deal for organic models like these. There were some small bubble in places but I didnt even bother to fill those: they are not really visible alongside the plant texture.

There was a lack of detail at the top of these pods, visible as trapped bubbles above. I should possibly have filled them and resculpted the detail visible on the other pods, but figures that it wasnt worth the effort. I do think it likely that part of the delay on my delivery was caused by Armorcast having difficulty making those pieces without too many bubbles. If they get a lot of miscasts with those designs then that would explain the slightly high cost too I suppose. Although all things considered, maybe they are not *that" expensive.

 

[Suber]

Re: Deathworld Flora and Fauna: updated 15/02/14

I know that this forum is by its nature a pretty retro and nostalgic place, but nonetheless, older is not always better. Goblin Green miniature bases may remind us of simpler times of our youth, but along with books-under-felt-hills and jumpers-for-goalposts, they should be consigned to that era.

Quite an interesting and remarkable point you made there. I believe new stuff is not incompatible with old spirits (and I believe this is the actual point for all of us in this forum). However, those pieces you made up here totally have that vibe and look absolutely great.

 

[cheetor]

Re: Deathworld Flora and Fauna: updated 15/02/14

I believe new stuff is not incompatible with old spirits

Exactly Suber, you nailed it. I dont believe in limiting myself exclusively to older miniatures, or to newer miniatures, or to GW miniatures, or to GW rulesets. I tend to set my games in the 40k universe because I like it, I am very familiar with it and its very open-ended. I still reckon that the games that I play are as close in spirit to a narrative driven ideal as any I can think of and thats the point as far as I am concerned.

I like lots of the old miniatures and dislike lots too. Im just interested in playing fun games that look good and that fire my imagination: I dont care where the props come from as long I like how they look.

Aaaaanyway, after slightly derailing my own thread, thanks for the encouraging feedback about the killer plants Suber. In a way I want this terrain to look even more nostalgic than Rogue Trader anyway, in the sense that I want it to conjure up technicolor images of Forbidden Planet, Lost in Space, Land of the Giants and Star Trek, the things that inpsired Priestly and co in the first place.

 

[cheetor]

Re: Deathworld Flora and Fauna: updated 15/02/14

This is the last of the more interesting alien flora, with the aquarium plant heavy larger portion of the jungle to follow.

Firstly the technorganic terrain elements from Sedition Wars.

Some refurbished Horrorclix next.  I didnt fully repaint these, I just rebased, ink washed and drybrushed them to tie them in with the rest of my terrain and figures a little better.

And some Ramshackle Games Mutant Plants.  Like almost everything in this project they have been painted more quickly than I would paint a normal 28mm figure, but they turned out well I think

Some photos of the whole lot alongside the less aggressive parts of the jungle to come next, probably over the next couple of days. It should be Rogue Traderiffic (I hope).

 

[cheetor]

Re: Deathworld Flora and Fauna: updated 18/02/14

I got the rest of the gaudy, space jungle finished. It took ages and was a bit of a chore at times, but I think that it worked out. Its a bit trippy looking, like H.R. Puffinstuff or something else similar from the seventies.

More photos in the blog post.

I literally cannot see the wood for the trees after a couple of weeks staring at this stuff, but I think it has worked out pretty well. Ask me again in a few weeks when I am not seeing space foliage in my sleep

 

[theottovonbismark]

Re: Deathworld Flora and Fauna: Jungle Finished 21/02/14

Well done on getting through that lot. It takes a lot of focus to see a project like that through to the end. Looking forward to gaming on the full setup in the coming year .

 

[Erny]

Re: Deathworld Flora and Fauna: Jungle Finished 21/02/14

It looks awsome.

With the aquatic Zoidberg in the picture with the plants and the ruined columns in the back ground it has a hint of a trippy aquarium about it. Not in a bad way either.

I now know my old aquarium plants need some TLC.

 

[Lord Chaotl Oml]

Re: Deathworld Flora and Fauna: Jungle Finished 21/02/14

Wow, I can almost hear the sounds of the jungle...

 

[Blue in VT]

Re: Deathworld Flora and Fauna: Jungle Finished 21/02/14

Wow mind blowing!

I love it! I want to come over for a game!

Blue

 

[cheetor]

Re: Deathworld Flora and Fauna: Jungle Finished 21/02/14

Well done on getting through that lot. It takes a lot of focus to see a project like that through to the end. Looking forward to gaming on the full setup in the coming year .

The Necromundan 1989th are going to come down with serious dose of astro-trench foot in the jungles of Krellborn IV and no mistake

Im glad that this chunk of the project is now over though. I was a bit of a slog in places, as you rightly point out.

It looks awsome.

With the aquatic Zoidberg in the picture with the plants and the ruined columns in the back ground it has a hint of a trippy aquarium about it. Not in a bad way either.

Thanks Erny

Its true. Plonk a shell into that shot and suddenly its "Look everyone, Im Zoidberg, home owner!"

Wow, I can almost hear the sounds of the jungle...

The distant cry of a Death Ferret caught in a Sand Clam startles the Razorwing hunting for leaping Rippyfish, while the below of a Cudbear locked in mortal combat with a hissing Catachan Devil ensures another sleepless night on Luther McIntyre.

Wow mind blowing!

I love it! I want to come over for a game!

Well logistically it could be tough, but never say never Blue. In the not too distant future a Nazgrub Wurrzag that you used to own will proudly lead his super-runts on assassination missions in this jungle, so you will only be one degree of separation away.