Back to Bloodbowl

Of all GW games, Section 8 loves Blood Bowl. I think we must've held at least 5 tournaments over the years, the largest with around 25 teams. So, understandably when it was re-released everyone was very excited, the models were great, the contents of the gamebox were pretty plush. However, it didn't really take off for us, difficult to know why. I realise the release schedule has been tortuous, there just aren't enough teams out for variety. However, our members have teams from countries all around the world, of all different races, so maybe this shouldn't matter. However, it didn't take off again in the way we expected. Maybe now is the time, Abenormal has a skaven team painted up and it's near Christmas, a good time for people to pick up a team. Also, the Elves can't be far away and they're cracking figures, so I thought I'd do a practice run on the boxed set Human Team. I decided to do a test figure and paint him in the colours of a previous team, a red and yellow combo, a bit "Howling Griffons". Anyway, one test figure turned into one test figure of each position and soon I had four players finished, so here we go:

Here’s the thrower, always number #1 as he’s like a quarterback 

Here's a catcher, #9 as he scores the touchdowns like a striker, numbers were applied from the transfer sheet in the box, I went for black as it shows up on the yellow 

       Test Lineman, the least glamorous of players 

Blitzer, I always number these like centre halves, as they make all the crunching tackles 

 So, I'll try and get the team finished over a couple of weeks, eight more players to go but I could really do with some extra positionals, two blitzers, two catchers and maybe an ogre. There are no extra players out yet so I'll need to get another plastic team from somewhere. I'm really pleased with how these came out, I used a modified version of the guide in the back of the bloodbowl rules, but I used quite a few edging paints in with what was suggested to make them really bling. I fell this helps in a skirmish or team game where there aren't load of figures. So hopefully we'll see some more bloodbowl over the coming weeks, I'm off to Nottingham on 11th November so I'm going to Warhammer World with the intent of getting a neoprene pitch and maybe the elf team if it's out in time.

Painting Spaces- Stonedrose

More of an interest article this time. An all important but rarely considered topic- painting spaces. I'm currently pretty lucky, I have a hobby room, purposely kitted out for all my needs. However, this wasn't always the case. I originally painted at the dining room table as I suppose most did. A plastic table cloth was of utmost importance so that my Mam didn't kick my arse for any paint spillage! I went up in the world (depends how you look at it...) to painting in the shed, it was pretty cold but a little electric heater sorted this out. Earwigs were a problem too, falling out of the ceiling and landing in my water, the odd woodlouse made an appearance too... So where are we today? Well I thought myself and fellow bloggers at Section 8 could share how they go about painting and share some pics of the painting areas they use, let's make it easy for everyone and use the same headings. Maybe we can learn a bit from one another: Where? Well for me I spray outside in a cardboard box, I airbrush in the hobby room where my stuff is set up and I have a well ventilated room with two roof windows and a spray box with a fan. My hobby room is well lit with white LED lights and should be the perfect painting space....however, life gets in the way and staying upstairs alone is pretty unsociable. So, I use a kneeboard (one for painting and one for assembling) and often paint in front of the TV, I find I'm better painting with some sound so if not the TV, then the radio or some music.

 

My airbrushing station, complete with spray booth, note the mask nearby, look after your lungs people!

I make sure The Wolf King blesses all my painting

When? Because it's easy to pick up a kneeboard I paint whenever I want, often weeknights and I do get a couple of afternoons off so if I have nothing to be getting on with I'll often pick up my latest project. I also paint a the club, where lighting is not at it's best but we're trying to address that. I acknowledge that since I really enjoy painting this is pretty easy for me, but i acknowledge that some might not paint as often as I do. It's a motivation thing, I'm usually painting every 2-3 days for a few hours, if I'm not it's a bit of a red light that I'm not at my happiest.

 

Painting knee board and GW project box, which is pretty good but it seems to me everyone has a hinge missing after a while

Assembly knee board 

 How? 

 I use citadel paints mainly, I also use vallejo airbrush paints and forgeworld airbrush paints. I've experimented with all kinds of stuff over the years and find that continuing to experiment is good, the products you use definitely affect your painting. I use U-POL Matt black for undercoats, its a matt car spray and there's more in it that citadel for 1/4 of the price. I base largely with sand, cork and grass tufts, I also use pre-cast bases and have even had my own cast. I use two water pots, one for metallics and one for non-metallics and get clear water regularly. I use a tile for mixing as it's easy to clear with hot water, I have a wet pallet but I'm not really experienced with it yet.

 

Display cabinet, mine are from Ikea, good for storage and displaying your best stuff, or for the storing the denial that comes when GW kill off WFB...

Display cabinet two, you never know when you might need to dress up as Optimus prime...

So, where do you paint? What tips do you have? What works and what doesn't? We'd love to hear about it in the comments section and the other contributors should be posting their own ideas soon...