Sunday and a day of travels.

I've had a great day today. I traveled down to sunny Somerset to visit my family and enjoyed my time thoroughly. The only downer was the three hour drive either way, in rather icy conditions but I took it slowly and never had any problems.

So I guess you'd be expecting no update then? Well think again. First is the finished prototype Grymn Cavalry trooper:

Click the Pic!

As a result of some of the constructive feedback I have received on the Forum of Doom, I will try to bend the knees a bit on the next one. He'll also be getting an SMG rather than a plasma rifle.

Next up is the first of two heavy weapon Cavalry troopers. It is a Baruk and it is still very WIP at the moment:

Click the Pic!

You will have probably noticed that the riders are the same. That is due to them being the right pose for what I want. I will be removing heads and converting them to be individual...so don't worry :). I have a long way to go on the Heavy. I need to add pouches, ammo boxes and possibly an ammo feed (haven't decided whether to have an ammo feed or box magazine...). I also need to convert the rider properly and finish the weapon support.

On the plus side, I have decided to have these as part of my desert veteran army. I think they will go particularly well with the veterans as they are all mounted in armoured walking APCs (Tiger APC from the Void range). I will save the bikes I am planning for the urban or temperate armies I have instead ;).

Well, that is about it for tonight. I doubt if I'll be doing too much tomorrow as I have been drinking Red Bull on the journey (to stave off tiredness whilst driving) so I doubt if I'll be doing much sleeping tonight...

See you through some bleary eyes!

Friday...and it's all gone white!?

Oh the joys of the British weather are a wonder to behold. I went to bed and outside was just as you'd expect of a normal day...everything in colour (although, at that time of night it was mostly dark). I woke up this morning and something weird had happened...all the colour was gone and everything had turned white!...Yes, the snow has hit and due to having a huge depth of the white stuff (a whole inch of snow!...I know...it was terrible to see! The whole world came to a standstill!), I did the Dad thing and kept the children at home. The real reason was they were only due to go for a morning and there had been an accident near to the school which was causing a huge amount of traffic delay...so by the time they would have got there, they would have been coming home again.

So...snow + children =...

..."it's too cold outside and it's the wrong sort of snow so can we build with Lego all day instead?"

I remember...back in the day...we used to rush outside at the slightest hint of snow and stay outside until frostbite took the ends off our noses! And even then, we'd just put some Savlon on and stay out until our fingers were stumps...we'd end up dragging ourselves across the floor with blackened, shriveled, stumps ONLY when we had built a snowman that was as big as the snow would allow...I don't know...the children of today, they just don't know what's good for them ;).

So...distractions, distractions, distractions...

I have a whole lot of stuff going on that I shouldn't have.

I have ten sci-fi adventurers undercoated and sat on my painting table. They are a selection of miniatures from Hasslefree Miniatures and I'm sure that there will be some pix when I get to a point where they are worth showing.

I have also added a wash to the Belog's skin...not a lot, I know but it IS something so it can't be all bad.

I have assembled 2 Baruk, 1 unbridled Enuk and 7 bridled Enuks. They are all from Hasslefree Miniatures (again) and they are part of the Twilight range. What are they for? Well...they are for some Grymn cavalry. Speaking of which, I have a prototype almost ready for a photo-call!...I have been busy chopping, pinning and sculpting a suitable Grymn and he actually suits things really well...

I still need to clean all of the cavalry mounts of flash...but it is a start and now that they are all firmly secured to their bases, they are easier to control while sculpting/cleaning.

I have tried out my shiny new mitre block and tenon saw and it works well enough on the dowel I have for my tank wheels...which is nice.

So...that's it for now! I'm sure I'll have something to show off by Sunday!

See you through the snow-storm.

SHHHH...you ain't seen this; right?:

Click the Pic!

Thursday...STOP THE PRESS!

Today has been pretty cool (apart from the sunburn on my forehead, nose and neck).

Why?

I received a parcel.

It contained my order from Hasslefree Miniatures so I can now make 8 Grymn cavalry.

It contained a goody bag containing some magnetic bits and pieces, a bubble gum and some metal components for conversions (alien heads and a few cinematic effects).

It also contained, as a gift, some resin components.

I now have the main components for building a resin Grymn walker AND a powered armour trooper. Not only that, I have a pair of resin blanks for two Grymn in standard armour!

I am extremely happy about the gifts and I thank Kev and Sally white, at Hasslefree Miniatures for their generosity.

Now...what can I do with the bits and pieces...decisions, decisions...

On to other things, I also went to a families day today. There were lots of parked aircraft, flying displays, parachutists, classic cars, a fun fair and many other things to see. I went with my family and my in-laws and we had a very nice time. It was only when I got home that I realised I looked like a tomato...oh, I am going to get the mickey taken out of me tomorrow!

See you on the happy farm!

Wednesday...welcomes!

I wasn't going to post again this week until I'd got a bit further with my Ogarix but I have had an influx of followers so I thought I'd better return the interest with a few hellos.

Welcomes are going to Grekwood, TJ, Anevilgiraffe and Skullcrafts who have all joined the blog since Sunday...I think that is the most followers I've gained in a week! Thank you all for joining and I hope you find something of interest in Inso's World.

What is going on with the Ogarix? Well, he has had his arms fleshed out a bit and his cap covered in Brown putty. I haven't started on the weapon yet and will seriously need to sand down the cap to get it nice and smooth (then I can cut holes in it :D ).

As well as working on the big guy, I have been doing a lot of thinking about the next character; the shaman. I have a completely set idea on how he will look and also I am convinced that he should be bigger than the Agarix but smaller than the Ogarix. He will be different to the look of the standard Mushroom Men so far. I'm not saying anything else about the design because I want to surprise you. Finally...I haven't started it yet so I have nothing to show off at the moment.

At the moment, I am really suffering with insomnia so I am not able to get on with some of the more fiddly elements of the hobby. That said, being really tired expands the mind so I have got a head full of new ideas! I am looking forward to receiving my parcel from Hasslefree Miniatures so that I can crack on with some Grymn cavalry...not start the sculpting yet but just get the Grymn trimmed and cleaned ready for the putty to go on (I think that there will need to be a lot of conversion work on these...so I am taking a pre-emptive deep breath).

That's it for now; my ramblings are over!

See you on the bright side!

Thursday progress.

It has been another sunny day and we all visited Basingstoke today. I haven't been there for a good few years and the whole place has changed dramatically. It now has a very nice shopping centre with, amongst other things, a couple of model shops so I was very pleased (even though I didn't actually buy anything).

When I returned from my travels, I found that a parcel had arrived and in it were some minis from the Twilight creator; Mike Thorp. I have been sworn to secrecy over two of the minis but I can tell you that they are very, very nice... you may see a certain Enuk in the pic further down this post (I'm sure he won't mind me showing that one off...well, I hope not!)...

...while we're on the subject of the pic, it shows the first work for ages on my desert veterans:

Click the Pic!

I have started to bulk up the existing troops with extra water bottles and pouches. Most of them already had their hats sculpted about a year ago but a few still needed them adding. The pic shows the first squad of a platoon. Five have had extra pouches and bottles added (they just need buttons) and five are awaiting the same treatment. I have a total of 40 of these to do.

You can also see a scale pic (at the bottom) of an Enuk next to the leader of the squad. I think it will make a really nice cavalry mount and I have a selection of armoured ones in the post ready to join this one when they arrive. I think that the riders will take a lot of converting...but I'm sure I'll think of something!

That's it for now!

See you on the other side.

Hah...I remembered Friday this week!

Well it's Friday and I actually remembered this week...so it's a good start!

Inso has been fairly busy today and has finished all the weapons on the Grymn but hasn't taken pix. He has had to stop for now because he is having difficulty focusing. It would seem that this week's painting schedule has caught up with him a bit.

Today, a parcel with four more Viridian marines turned up. They are a grenade launcher, rocket launcher, sniper and sergeant. Unfortunately the sergeant is the same one he already had...but there's the breaks when you go for random blisters.

The saga of the Gill Worm took a new form today as Inso gave it away to someone on the Forum of Doom. There's not a lot I can say about artistic temperament but I guess Inso has some. He posted it of to a guy whose user name is 'Rod the Worm' and in Inso's own words, 'who else could I possibly send it to?'. I suppose he has a point. The good thing is that it is going to a home to be painted and not cast; that means he can sculpt bigger ones without worrying about IP infringement.

Well, that's about it for tonight. There is panto for most of the day tomorrow so I doubt if very much will get done...but you never know!

See you tomorrow!

...squeak...it's Wednesday...

Well, it's been a much slower day today. The Grymn now have brown boots, gloves and pouches and the highlights have been started but that's about it. I think Inso has burned himself out over the last couple of days but he assures me that tomorrow he will have the brown finished. I think he's doing OK...certainly better than the time since Christmas, during which the same Grymn have sat getting dusty.

Until next weekend, there won't be many free evenings for Inso because there are a lot of Panto rehearsals (the show starts next Thursday!). The good news is that he can get some painting done during the day because he is on leave.

More news on the Tiger front...they are both being dispatched from America on Monday and should be here 7 - 10 days later. That will be interesting to see because they are already assembled and are of indeterminate condition. Hopefully the gamble has paid off and they will be great...we'll have to wait and see, I suppose.

The Hasslefree parcel arrived today and that meant that the Grymn for the cavalry turned up (along with some other bits and pieces). The down side to the arrival was the fact that the Gill Worm turned out to be a bit small for the planned rider...so it looks like he'll be side-lined and not used. It's a shame but it goes to show that it sometimes helps to have all the required items at hand when working on an idea. On the plus side, there was a free Grymn in the parcel as a sorry for the parcel being delayed a little...unnecessary but a testament to the excellent service that Hasslefree miniatures provides.

When it comes to the Grymn, all are welcomed and none will be left out...Inso can always be relied upon to find a home for them!

There are only two more parcels due to arrive (apart from the Tigers); a Veridian marine chain-gunner and a pack of 3 Vulkan battle-suits. Then it will be NO MORE SPENDING for Inso...well...until he goes to Salute of course.

See you tomorrow!

Just another manic Monday!

I've been sent another two pics from Inso today. First up is an update of Birdy. It is still not finished but now has a bit more texture and a pair of forelimbs. It also has a pair of eyes...which are always helpful!



Inso tells me that the head and beak will be worked on and tidied up a bit so it isn't going to look exactly the same as it does now. There will be plenty more feathers added as well...time will tell.

Next up we have the fourth mount which has gained the name of Tusker. Bear in mind that this pic is of a sculpt in a very early stage but what it does show is the rough shape...fat, bipedal and elephantine...with tusks:



Well, with what has been shown off so far, I dread to think what will come next. I'd also like to see what the Trhino ends up like. I think it's about time Inso pulled his finger out and got it finished! I mentioned this to him and all I got in reply was 'it'll get finished when it gets finished'...so I guess we'll have to sit and wait.

Well, that's Monday over with...roll on tomorrow!

See you.

And now for something completely different...

I got sent this pic today and it is a pic of the third Grymn cavalry mount. It is called a Gill Worm and will have a chariot styled howdah on its back for a Grymn to ride in (apparently):



As you can see, it is completely different to the other two and represents a desert dwelling, giant millipede of some description. I'd like to know what's next?...A giant slug maybe? I'm sure that it will be something different, seeing as Inso has the sculpting bit well and truly between his teeth at the moment.

There is further news on the Birdy front, with the addition of more feathers and a bit more detail to the head...but no pix I'm afraid. Maybe we'll get some later as Inso is off to pantomime rehearsals again soon.

As is always the case, comments are welcomed!

See you later.

Birdy has evolved.

After a days sculpting on the third cavalry mount, Inso has taken some advice and started to put a bit more effort into making Birdy more of a lizardy...



The question has arisen as to whether the front legs should be wings or forelimbs like a dinosaur would have. I think it should be dinosaur style forelimbs but the decision is still to be made. I'm sure that he'll make his mind up soon.

As for cavalry mount 3; I have seen it and it is nearly finished...well the 'beast' is but not the saddle or rider (the rider is still in the post). It is most certainly different to the other two but I have been sworn to secrecy so I can't say any more. All I can say is that it is tailor made for a harsh, desert lifestyle.

As well as a bit of sculpting, Inso put a bit of paint on the mecha...so I was wrong there! I thought it would just sit there!

What else has happened? Well there has been a bit of action on E-bay and Inso has bid on some Void stuff; namely an APC and a squad of marines. He's also gone and ordered some Vanir from Brigade Models. Why? I have no idea! I do know, however, that what ever he orders will get used for something...it always does. The Vanir are Dwarves from Celtos and they were sculpted by Kev White (the sculptor who makes the Grymn) so I think that a few Grymn/Vanir conversions may be forthcoming when the minis arrive.

More stuff tomorrow!

Yay! It's the weekend!

Inso has mentioned that with all the work he has been putting into the third cavalry mount, he has only managed to feather-up the top of Birdy's other leg...so he hasn't taken any pix (just imagine the last picture...but facing the other way!).

So what can we talk about instead? Inso's order from Heresy arrived today; two days it took and it contained a lolly as well as enough Green Stuff to sculpt an army of cavalry mounts and a nice handfull of shiny metal miniatures including three Hellmites (that Inso has hinted, may end up as more mounts for the Grymn...or maybe even a chariot).

Mecha has been on his mind lately as well. A While ago, he bought a Gundam super deformed Zaku robot and it seems to have turned up on his painting table again. I doubt if it will see much paint seeing as Inso has his sculpting head on at the moment...but we'll see. Here is a pic of what he has done so far:



From what I have seen, the 'horn' on the front of the helmet has disappeared but apart from that, it's the same as it has been for at least six months!

The weekend beckons! Catch you tomorrow!

Fancy a bit of leg?

Inso has sent over a small pic of some minor progress on Birdy today:



All he's done is started to texture the legs so that he doesn't end up with a sculpt that is finished except for the surface texture (as covering the muscles after so much work scares the bejeezus out of him :) )...like he did with the Trhino.

The thing with sculpting the way he does, is that everything is done in layers. He starts with a wire frame, adds a layer of putty to thicken the wire and provide a key, then he sculpts on layer after layer until it's done. The downside is that each layer needs to dry so Inso is left having to tap his fingers in impatience.

The reason that there isn't much to show tonight is because Inso has been putting a little more effort into his third, more simple, cavalry mount...and he doesn't want to show that off until the rider is ready to mount it.

An order went into Hasslefree Miniatures last night so there will be riders aplenty very soon!

Tomorrow is Friday so there is bound to be a bit more to show off very soon...after all the weekend is coming!

Photobucket's back.

This is as far as the Trhino will be going until skin texture is added:


This is the new cavalry mount, currently known as Birdy:

Hmmmm...no Photobucket.

It's one of those days! Inso has been busy tidying up the loose ends on the Trhino before thinking about adding skin texture. He's also started bulking up his second cavalry mount (who shall be known as Birdy). Inso has also taken photographs of said progress...but can't upload them due to Photobucket maintenance. At least the pix are ready to upload and that means Inso can charge his camera battery and have no excuse not to produce pix next time.

As part of 'Operation Cavalry' Inso has started a third, top secret mount. He's not even told me what it is yet. All he has mentioned is that the rider stands on it to ride it...the mind boggles! He's also mentioned that he's going to do all sorts of mounts, including a motorcycle of some description! We'll have to see what happens there. So much for his painting list...at this rate he'll not get anything else painted before he has to go to Iraq/Kuwait again in April.

In case anyone is interested, Inso uses a putty to make his miniatures out of and it is called Kneadatite (or Green stuff, more commonly). As a result of his flurry of sculpting, his supplies have dwindled and he has placed an order with Heresy Miniatures for some more. He's also got a few miniatures to go with it (it would be rude not to make the most of free postage over £25-00 now, wouldn't it?). Another problem with sculpting lots of cavalry is the need for lots of riders; It looks like there will be another order going in to Hasslefree Miniatures very soon!

Well, that's it for now. I hope to have pix to show off tomorrow (as long as Photobucket is back on line).

Bye now.

Monday again.

Well it's another Monday and another evening where Inso has been keeping up the trend of weekend sculpting.

The Trhino has ground to a halt because the thought of adding skin texture to his new beast has put the frighteners on Inso and he is taking a step back until he can summon the courage to pile on the skin and cover all those muscles. He did, however, add some more detail to the head, neck and chest with a bit of gap filling on various 'missed' areas.

Inso has also started another cavalry mount that will have two legs and will probably be a bit like an Emu (but with an alien twist maybe?).

Unfortunately, there are no pix to show off but at least there has been a bit of progress.

Other stuff...

Well done the Giants for stopping the Patriots in the NFL Superbowl! I always support the underdogs and although I never watched the game was glad that the Giants were up to the task.

The Insomnia is biting Inso at the moment so it is likey that there will be lots of basecoating, varnishing or undercoating going on as his motor skills get messed up when he looses too much sleep.

See you tomorrow!

Sunday Cavalry

What with it being Sunday (and that means Pantomime practice), I will put up todays update early because I don't expect there to be too much more progress from Inso today. As far as progress goes, Inso has chipped away at his Trhino and has bulked it up a bit and added a little more detail. The little beast now has eyes as well so it is starting to look a little more complete:



Inso has also mentioned that he has added stirrups to the rider but won't be adding any reigns because he says that the beast would have been raised from a pup and would be trained to a level that would make reigns unnecessary.

From an idea on Friday, this sculpt has progressed at a great rate and I think that it should be finished fairly soon at this rate!

Unless any more progress turns up, I'll catch you tomorrow!

Saturday is Trhino day...

Inso sent this pic over and it shows the Trhino at a fairly advanced time during the sculpt. The Grymn with it was not his first choice as rider but it will suffice for the time being. He thought a beret would suit it anyway...so it now has one.



There is stil a long way to go, with the head, feet, chest and saddle still needing details and shape adding but it is a good start.

More tomorrow.

Whatever happened to Friday?

Friday came and went, didn't it? I sort of missed the day's post out didn't I? Well it hasn't happened today. A bit later I will have something to post that will be a little different. Inso has been pacing around like a caged animal and has finally said 'damn it!' and has started to sculpt a new cavalry beast for his Grymn.

It was a trip to the local game shop that convinced him to start his own sculpt. He bought a box of Riders of Rohan; Lord of the Ring miniatures from Games Workshop, to see how big the horses were and discovered that, even though they are in a slightly smaller scale, they are still too big for Grymn.

He has told me that this will only be a trial run as he has used a spare minitaure for the rider that he wouldn't necessarily have used if he had a choice.

The beast itself is going to be a mix of boar, camel and possibly tapir with a hint of added bony plates...apparently. Hopefully, there will be a pic by the end of the day, even if the sculpt isn't finished.


Well if the above information doesn't confirm that an artistic mind never rests, then I don't know what does. So far in the blog, we have gone from painting Zombies to Grymn to Tyranids and now on to sculpting alien riding beasts. Life with Inso is never boring!

Catch you later for another post!

Quiet Thursday.

Not a lot to add today. We're all a bit out of sorts and have decided to take a day off.

Here is some food for thought...cavalry mounts. Inso has been sharing a few thoughts with me:

If the Grymn were living on a desert/arid planet what sort of beasts would they ride as cavalry units? Would they even ride beasts or would they opt for bikes? Grymn are short (being space dwarves and all) so how about short legged camels? Big insects? The Tyranids that Inso has painted are enemies for the Grymn; maybe the Grymn could capture and ride Tyranid variants? What about lizards or even dinosaurs? God forbid...badgers???

If bikes, then what sort? Anti-grav bikes? Jet bikes? Dirt bikes? What about a bike styled like Akira's?

The cavalry would have to fit in with the Imperial Guard Codex, so Rough-Riders or Sentinels would be the obvious choices for them to fit into.

So many questions...

See you tomorrow.