A Great Many Things.

Hi, All!

Mighty Warlord Guzz-Lin-L'Aga and The Dreaded Bé-Bé-Chamm...

It's been a week of bits and pieces here at Casa Del O'Truth...

Much of my time has been taken up with the dinosaur-riding chieftain I featured in my last post, so I am pleased finally to introduce you all to... The Mighty Warlord Guzz-Lin-L'aga, with his fearsome mount, The Dreaded Bé-Bé-Chamm.

Holes are drilled into the dinosaur's head and pins glued in place.

After my last post, I added a bridle and reins to the model, for which I used some copper loop pins I found in the jewelery section of Spotlight, a feather from GW High Elves, greenstuff, and brass foil from a tube of tomato puree...

Greenstuff bridle is added, along with a feather for decoration.

Tiny reins are cut from brass foil...

...and carefully glued into place.

Then it was on with the painting...

The finished model, undercoated, washed and highlighted. Now it's ready for colour.

As is usual for me, this model was coloured almost entirely with inks, following a 3-stage undercoat process. The only paints I used (other than on the base) were gold and silver metallics. I'm happy with the result...

The finished model, ready to lead the charge...

I can also report that the Wutha-F'Kahwi tribesmen are coming along, llikewise coloured with inks...

Simple ink washes are fast and effective.

Next, I turned my attention to a couple of silly ideas that I had in the back of my mind: The customisation of a somewhat pompous gent from Reaper Miniatures and the creation of some VSF Shocktroops using Warlord Games plastic brits, System Troopers from Pig Iron and various bits and bobs...

Warning... Smoking guns can be bad for your health...

This fabulous fellow started life with a cigar in his hand. "Hmmm..." thunk I, "One really ought not to promote smoking on one's blog-thingummy. Much better if he's holding a gigantic gun..." And so it came to pass...

The finished model...

The gun is part of a U.S. anti-aircraft gun from Flames of War. I added a plastic press-stud, bits of plastic tubing, the stock from a plastic rifle and some guitar string to finish it off. I also added a System-Trooper backpack and made straps from greenstuff. A quick paintjob later, and Ladies and Gentlemen, I present... Lord Smudgington Smythely-Smythe and his Mk III Magna-Lectric De-Fleshulising Porta-Cannon! (lovingly known as 'Ethel'.)

Lord Smudgington Smythely-Smythe... Splendid Chap, don'cha know?

Alongside the creation of Lord Smudgington Smythely Smythe, I was also working on Her Majesty's Shock-Infantry...

A squad of five will be plenty for now, I think...

These were very quick to produce but I expect good results. Like Lord Smudginton Smythely Smythe, they will have guitar-string conduits when done...

Sergeant in the early stages of colouring...

Trooper, armed with Electro-Rifle.

The Sergeant is armed with a Gatling-type weapon, while his men carry electro-rifles. I have no idea how much use these fellow will get, being so advanced, but I felt like making them anyway.

So that's what's been going on. Obviously, I haven't forgotten the Flunks, the Lancers or the second Hydrothermicopter... I think I may be busy for a while... Also, I am ready to embark upon my NEW BIG PROJECT... Keep reading, folks...

But First: A big THANK YOU! to MonkeyLite for sending me his interpretation of one of my pics. Mr Monkeylite commented after my last post that the pic in question reminded him of the cover of a 1920s Pulp Magazine... So he made one! I am flattered, Sir! And it's great, don't you think?

Thank you, Monkeylite!

OK - So... "What's this 'ere NEW BIG PROJECT thingummy you've been blathering on about, Colonel?" I hear you cry...

Well, calm down and have a biscuit. You're far too excitable.

The main reason I rushed ahead with the creation of Lord Smudgington Smythely-Smythe today was that I wished to announce my latest concept, which has been commissioned by the aforementioned pompously posturing Peer...

Namely:

Pages from my sketchbook. You can probably tell a lot about me...

Lord Smudgington Smythely-Smythe's Hydraulicly Motorvated Sextupedal Land-Traversing Vacational Domicile... (yes, folks - it's a mobile home on legs...)

One criticism I received concerning HMSW Gargantua was that she is too big to be of much use for wargaming. And indeed, this may be true to some degree. So, I started thinking... What if I built a walker so big that the model itself became the gaming table?!

HMSW Gargantua... Too big? Or not big enough...?

...after I had stopped shaking and whimpering, I started sketching. What you see here is the early concept. I won't give away too much at this stage, but suffice it to say that this thing will be massive! Big enough, at least, to be the setting for assaults, sieges and fisticuffs of a skirmish type-nature.

I hope I haven't bitten off more than I can chew this time...

Construction will start soon and I expect it will take the best part of a year to complete. I'd like to have the model finished in time for next year's Call To Arms convention in Wellington. Obviously, I will be posting updates as the model grows, and I will be continuing my work on other projects at the same time... Please send medication and charitable contributions to my nurse...

So that's that, foilks! More soon...

Lord Smudgington Smythely-Smythe... Intrepid explorer, entrepreneur and alcoholic.

All the Best!