June Hobby Progress

Hello and Welcome back,

Time for my hobby Progress update for June.

June has been a busy month in the real world. Birthdays, chasing workmen, trips and a new car. It has left little time to get some Blog posts up. There is a pile of figures waiting for pictures and writing up.

Hobby wise, it has been a plate spinning appoach with several things on the go at the same time. I bet it isnt a surprise that there wasn't much finished. I did manage to paint some random figures.

There has been a lot of scratch building. A couple of scrap beasts and more junk piles for Skirm. Speaking of Skirm, I pushed on to make a Rusters force for Skirm. It is still work in progress as this is taking a lot longer than I anticipated. I have been working on them for nearly two weeks now and they still aren't finished. I am also looking for a suitable figure in the pile to make a leader for them.

I am waiting on Forlone Hope (some extra figures for the Rusters, I must be mad making more), Heresy and Ramshackle orders.

Some old figures have had a dettol bath, they are all earmarked to become either members for my planned Alien Zoology expedition team or colonials for Skirm or my Corrosion setting. Luckily the figures should be useable for all of these settings or games.

Figures finished* = 0 (total 7) *Figures that needed bases finishing from 2024

Figures painted = 10 (total so far 70)

Figures reworked = 0 (total so far 6)

Vehicles finished = 0

Vehicles reworked = 0


Figures bought/arrived = 2 (total so far 46)

Vehicles bought = 0

I got a Mantic Forge Fathers Iron Ancestor and Artifactor Juggernaut figures for my Birthday. These two additions will be to provide support for my various Squat/Dvarg forces.

That's all for now.


Thanks for reading and take care out there.

Wasteland Wondering May 25

Hello and Welcome back,

Time for another Wasteland Wondering, it's been a while since we had one of these. In this chat I will be highlighting the direction my hobby is going in.

There are four or five new blog posts queued, which I hope to get posted up as soon as I have grabbed some pictures. I seem to be struggling to arrange getting pictures recently.

My Post Apocalyptic setting is slowing down. PA isn't grabbing me as much these days. I am working slowly to populate the Skrap Knights and Rustlords factions. 

The Rustlords

Maybe I need to find another name for these rambling posts, as they aren't just concentrated on Post Apocalyptic.

The Wild Galaxy setting is growing exponentially and I am finding it quite inspiring. I think there is such a wide scope for creativity it keeps me interested. I have had to start a spreadsheet to keep track of all the nonsense I create.

A friend recently asked me why I use Genetically Engineered Life Forms (GELFs) for my other Space races instead of rebranding them as aliens. It is in part, a carry over from the Mattblackgod’s world setting as I wanted to use 40k miniatures, as stableised mutations felt a bit of a stretch. The introduction of my Ork collection as combat GELFs felt fitting for the history of Mattblackgod’s world. It just felt natural to keep the GELFs in the wider Galactic setting.

ORCS GELFs terrorise a frontier world settlement 

I have no issue with aliens in Sci Fi, it's just that I want them to be very different to humans. In fact there are some intelligent aliens in my setting. Not to mention plenty of alien beasties. 

But I have other reasons for using GELFs. Firstly, I feel just going "Aliens" is too easy and is a stale go to for most SF settings. Secondly, the chances that another intelligent race out there, being a four limbed biped is extremely unlikely. I feel it is somewhat lazy and arrogant to think so. Thirdly, the GELFs and GELF wars are a satirical view of human nature and it's behaviour to anything "non human" or in many cases other Humans because they differ in some way and our reaction when things go wrong. Our history is littered with examples of such behaviour. I suppose in some ways it's my version of a far future Frankenstein cautionary tale. 

To be honest ever since seeing GELFs in the Red Dwarf TV show, I have liked them as a concept. Even the main character in the 2000AD Rogue Trooper which I read when I was knee high is a type of GELF, genetically bred to survive a toxic contaminated world and operate as an enhanced elite fighting force. 

I have been considering doing a GELF fluff post, but there is so much material built up over the years it will need several posts. Speaking of GELFs, I am planning a new GELF group to add soon. By soon, I mean in probably in next two years, given my work rate! 

The miners of Maddans Independent Mining Company 

The Maddans world setting is slowly growing. I am thinking of adding the only city called Hecksclutch to the world, situated next to the planets main space port as a centre point for conflict. This lawless frontier mining world is inspired by Logans world in the 40K Rogue Trader fluff mixed with Pandora from the Borderlands Computer game, with my own slice of creativity added to it. It was created as a vehicle to allow all my factions to be on world protecting their colonies while trying to extract as much wealth from the world, before a legal owner is found. I am still working on the Dusty Space Port buildings for this setting. I still have a pile of wonderful Fogou Models to finish or modify for this setting. 

Iron Ladies gangers attack Shorty of Loop's Heroes someplace deep in Wreckage Station.

Regular readers of this blog will have seen the introduction of Wreckage Station during my 5 Parsecs campaign. I have been expanding the background fluff for this setting. Terrain has been knocked together from various sets to game in this old moon sized space station. As luck would have it these models will also be useful for the Zone Raiders game set in the Matrioshka. 

Rather than drop a massive peice of fluff for Wreckage Station, I am thinking of news bulletins dropped by the "Authorities". This way it slowly builds and adds colour to the setting. 

Readers of this Blog will recall me doing a review of the Skirm game by Bill Making Stuff. I have been slowly putting together factions and terrain for this game. Check out the Gutterlands or Bill's You Tube Channel. Both sites are cock full of ideas.*share links for Gutterlands and Bill Making Stuff YouTube channel* . I find the Gutterlands (or Tapu to give it, it's true name) setting quite intoxicating. Hobby wise it points to parts of the hobby I find really rewarding, kitbashing, trashbashing and converting models. At present I am working on the Skirm factions. 

Now as luck would have it, Wreckage Station orbits a dead world (called Skeletal worlds). A major battle during the GELF wars turned it into a dusty rock covered in skeletons, wrecks and ruins. I intended to develop it into a setting with crews from the orbital station making salvage ruins in the ruins. But I hadn't gotten around to any world building. So I began to mix inspiration from Bill's setting with my Wild Galaxy setting and Wreckage Station fluff. And so the lost world Corrosion was born. Some of the background for this world will be filtered through to this blog through the planned Wreckage Station News Bulletin. 

Some WIP conversions I am working on to make DEAP troops for the Skirm game.

I am looking forward to creating both colonists and terrain for Corrosion/Skirm/Gutterlands. There will be a lot of future conversion work.

My 5 parsecs from home campaign involving the crew of the Problem Child aka Loop's Heroes is still on hold. Hopefully I can begin organising games again soon. I am hoping to maybe include some future missions to the surface of Corrosion for the crew.

Anyway I have rambled on for long enough, thank you for reading. 

Take care out there.

Dusty spaceport town building Pt 2

Hello and Welcome back, 

Some progress has been made on the peices I started back in this post.

The ruined walls got a dry brush of Coat d Arms sand while the coated portions of the wall got a dry brush of Coat d Arms Light grey. They then whole of the models got a light drybrush of Coat D Arms Bone. I like it as it gives everything a nice dusty feel. 

Here are the finished power generators. 

All the other buildings also got a dry brush of Coat d Arms sand followed by a light drybrush of Coat D Arms Bone. The bottoms of all walls got a drybrush of Barbarian leather to give a dirty appearance to them. 

The pipes and control panels were picked out and detailed. After this the compulsory graffiti was added using Posca Markers. Posters and signs were added from pictures I had printed off. 
I fancied some graphics on the building so a corner was masked off and purple craft paint was sponged on. Once dry extra graphics was masked on and white painted on. This was followed by a yellow top coat. Weathering was added.

As I want the models to look like they have a purpose I made a sign from plastic card salvaged from some packaging. Two peices were cut and glued back to back to add some lamination and strength to the sign. 

It was painted to look a bit rusty as I thought it would make a good contrast with the shiney letter stickers I picked up on ebay. I envisioned this building being a some sort of munitions dealer that adventurers (or ship's crews) could go to stock up before going off to explore the world. 

The Ammo Shack could be a interesting tabletop hazard too. Anyone hitting the building in a fire fight might cause the munitions within to explode causing further tabletop mayhem. 

The compulsory graffiti was then added using Posca Markers and posters and signs were added from pictures I had printed off. 

I have yet to decide which Fogou Desert buildings are going to be worked on next. There has been a flurry of activity digging through bits boxes looking for stuff to add details to the next bunch of buildings. 

Keep watching for the next thrilling installment of Dusty Space Port Town Building.  

Thanks for looking, take care out there.

Some Figure conversion WIPs

Hello and Welcome back. 

A quick figure WIP of various figures that I am working on. 

The first up are a bunch of Space Dwarves for the Big Red Mining Corporation for the Skirm game by Bill Making Stuff. They are based on old plastic Warhammer Dwarves.

This guy is sporting Mantic Games Forge Fathers arms and back pack. A visor/goggles has been added with greenstuff. 

The Squat has a big arse gun that I am unsure of the origin (possbily Mantic). It kind of reminds me of the Tribarrel power guns fitted to the Combat Cars in the Hammers Slammers universe (I need to re read these novels one day). 

His pickaxe arm is from a Heresy miniatures Dwarf Miner. Some hoses and eyepiece was added from green stuff. The eye peice is a tiny nail art gem, which also make excellent rivets.

This guy sports his hammer arm but has a plastic Void Viridian machine pistol added. Some green stuff shoulder pads were added along with a similar eye peice to the last mini. 

The colour scheme for this faction will have red highlights or details to tie them together. This should also make them look like members of the Big Ded Mining Corporation.

Then we come to some Ramshackle miniatures currently sat on the bench.

This Vulcan miniature on the right has had a head swap from a Void Plastic Junkers figure. He is planned to join the Skrapknights. The original Vulcan will be joining the opposing faction of the Rust Lords. 

The Staveley figure on the left has a fantasy shield (with some Combat damage added with a scalpel) and a 40k Space Marine power sword arm. Out of sight around the back there is a Space Marine Scout shotgun holster. The converted Staveley will be joining the Skrap knights while the orginal will join the Rust Lords.

These two are Khordal Pattern Armour figures. I chose these as they are ripe for kitbashing and using up all those space Marine spare parts. Plus they make good Post Apocalyptic power armour.

The figure on the left has Space Marine and some Chaos Maurader parts from the bits box and a Anvil Skull helmet adding. I am thinking he will become Mattius Black, the leader of the Last City. The figure on the right also got Space Marine arms and pads. The head is a old Void Viridian helmet. I plan to add this figure to my Guardians faction (think Fallout Brotherhood of steel). 

Hopefully soon they will be added to the paint queue...it's anyone's guess when these figures will be finished. Future kitbashes are also planned as I need to build a DEAP (mutated bio weapons that will become a kind of GELF for my setting) and Rusters (rusty tribals which may become a new MBW faction) factions for Skirm. 

Thanks for looking, take care out there.

Dusty spaceport town building pt1.

Hello and Welcome back, 

One of my plans is to build a space port town on a dusty frontier world. You know the sort of thing, adobe mud buildings with bits of tech and suchlike. 

I have been making a start in the past with these models: 

Fogou resin models 

Trashbashed plastic tub

Reworked gift box. 

3d print from Amazon.

In my pile of shame is a lot of resin desert buildings by Fogou, from their Kickstarters. As I have been on a terrain push this year, I plan to crack on with these. There are several old models in my collection which I plan to rework to fit the setting. 

One of the beauties of Fogou Models is that the resin can be painted directly without priming. One thing that has stopped me working through these models is that they are lacking suitable gubbins to make them fit into a Sci fi setting. Coincidentally I have been collecting lots of detailing bits for a long time. Time to use them up. I might also have to add some scratch built bits to the models. 

First up, there was some crumbly ruins. They had oddbricks picked out with Coat d arms Bestial Brown and desert sand. The wall coatings were painted light grey. My magic brown wash was applied (70:30 Burnt Sennia craft paint and Sepia ink mix, diluted to 50:50 with water and then a drop of washing up liquid added. Its a lot cheaper than buying model paints/inks). As you can see it looks decent once dried. I still have to do some dry brushing to finish them off. 

The power Generators are also WIP, they have had the details picked out (pipes, hatch and control panels). My next move will be to dry brush them with desert sand and Bone. The details will need finishing too. 

This WIP building had some Fogou pipes and vent added as detail. A Mantic aircon vent was added to the roof. The air-conditioning unit has been painted and super glued onto the roof. Like the power Generators, this model had some details painted up, before hitting it with my Magic Wash, drybrushing and weathering.

My other plans for this building is to maybe add some colour to it and possibly a sign for the building. 

Thanks for looking, take care out there.

Pressed card packaging piece WIP pt 2

Hello and welcome back.

So the build slowly rolls forwards. I have been slowly adding details to what I think of as the base of the ruin. 

Some pipes that would have supplied gas, steam, water and removed waste from what was the building above. Some struts and supports for a small walkway to be added. 

The gaps inbetween the columns have had some canvas doors added. These nooks and crannies would be where I imagine some wastelanders would make home. 

In the alcove I added a room at the back behind a canvas door. The other alcove had more pipes added. Above the area some struts with cloth covers to keep the sun off have been added. These are made from water baby wipes that t have been washed clean and left to dry off. 

The gaps on this side have been blocked off with scrap metal to keep intruders out. Some of the pipe work had old cables added. 

I have noticed that the packaging piece is a bit warped and it looks like I can’t straighten it. So I am going to base it. While it’s not what I originally wanted it will allow me to add detail. 

As a bonus there was one extra bit of packaging from the same electrical appliance looked like a old worn concrete pillar. It’s been glued to a CD and had some blue foam “rubble” added around the base. 

There are more updates to follow. Stay tuned. 

Thanks for looking, stay safe out there.

Pressed card packing model WIP.

Hello and welcome back Wanderer, 

This is something I am working on for my Last City setting. I like these pressed card packing pieces. They have a look of old delaminated concrete. Which is great for the ruins of a post apocalyptic world or the remains of some forgotten old colony on a abandoned planet. 

These pieces often remind me of the remains of the foundations of giant old world buildings. In my mind the after people have returned and made the crumbling concrete into a home. 

This build is inspired by the cool models that Ramshackle Games uses in its backdrops. I have no idea what this will become yet, my plan is to let it grow organically as I work on it.  It is slow going so far as I have to wait for bits to dry before continuing on the next part. 

So far the model had some spray foam filler sprayed into the recesses to act as reinforcement. I have built the ladder/staircase using bamboo skewers. The lashing ropes are copper multi strand cores stripped out from old electrical flex. The pipes are card drinking straws while the floor panels are a gift card and beer mat.

Keep watching for more WIP pictures as the build progresses. 

Stay safe out there and take care out there.

Fort Hardknox pt 2

 Hello and welcome back.

My hobby time over the last couple of weeks has been spent working my way through the fort Hardknox KS set by Fogou models. When the Kickstarter was active I went for the all in offer and got a lot of resin goodness. My progress so far. 

Note: the crates aren’t part of the set. 

The spigot holes on the gate house needed filling and I made a couple of plates to cover them. It was only long after I had painted them that I noticed the set came with a few resin plate panels. Doh! Still I expect they will be put to good use somewhere. 

There is still the fire steps and additional goodies to finish. Apologies for the mess around the fort, my games table seems to have become a temporary dumping ground. 

One nice discovery is that the resin can be painted without needing priming (I had missed a  few bits). 

This set has been hanging over my head since it arrived a couple of years back because of the sheer amount of stuff to paint. I have broken the back of it and I am looking forward to getting this set finished.

The destroyed wall pieces .

Looking at the set makes me want to break out my not Mad Max and not Warboys figures to recreate the fights from the Mad Max video game. 

Thanks for looking and keep a eye open for the next part of Fort Hardknox 

Take care out there.