Hanger 18 Photo Backdrops test shots

Just got around to playing with some photo backdrops I ordered from Hanger 18 Miniatures took some quick shots. I will give more of my impression's later;)

Vermithrax! More Bang For your Buck!

Everyone knows by now, that love them or leave them GW is ripping us off. They are able to do what they want when it comes to prices, and until people speak with their wallets the trend won't end. I for one have cut my GW purchases about 90% and 10% is just because they manage to make a figure or kit hard to resist every once in a while;) I have switched to small Manufactures such as Otherworld, Red Box and I'm starting to grow fond of Mithril Miniatures. My last post was on my experience with Reaper bones in which I concluded, while more bang for your buck they are best for beginners or casual gamers who are learning to paint and not for someone like me who's had the best ;) (metal and "good"resin).
     Now below are examples of a deal I found on Amazon marketplace over Christmas for only $48.00! It Pegasus models: Dragonslayer Vinyl model kit based on the 1981 film. Just look at the size and detail of the kit compared to the GW chaos Champion. Who I picked up sometime ago in fine-cast for $25! The kit is a heavy professional vinyl and if you have ever done a vinyl kit you know it is also a dream to work with, it holds detail awesome, paints and glues great. So,why hasn't anyone tried vinyl for larger miniature kits? ...unless the molding process is more involved???

A quick update

While Bones holds paint excellent, I'm finding the more I paint the more blemishes and lack of detail:( and can't help but think I'd rather have paid extra for the metal version.(pics to come...but I recently been distracted with painting a superior Red Dragon;) pics of that coming soon also!) I'm just glad I didn't invest heavily in Bones, great for beginners not for the experienced. 

I believe that those who start with bones and love to paint, won't look back when they discover the detail, metal and resin hold.

Reaper Bones: First impression

So I gave in after not being part of the first Bones Kickstarter, I couldn't hold back on the Bones II one. Esp. after seeing what Reaper pulled out of their hat on the last day , "Dragons Don't Share 2"! Check it out here:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Kg17Wuz8mw
All for only $36 bucks , it will retail at $100 when released.
Well anyway, since I gave in, I better check out the material I've been dissing and also skeptical about. I will list the pros and cons I found so far:
Pros:
1.Cheap: Ebonwrath, which retails for $50 and up in metal was acquired in Bones on ebay for just $9.99
2.Glues well with no pinning. Even with huge wings this would be unimaginable in metal
3.Holds green stuff well for modifying. I ran into a few areas where I got a little overzealous with the X-acto and need to re-sculpt:\
Cons:
1.Though, I found little flash, it is hard to clean of and requires a new approach. So far, the suggestions from reapers own painters really help. Such as, diamond files (filing in one direction) and a chisel like seam scraper.
2.It's not metal, it is rubbery like the pre-painted figures from Hero-Clix. so it will take getting used to if you are ever going to accept it.
3.Less detail. I don't have a metal version to compare it to, but I have heard it dose not hold detail like metal or resin.
Just some of my impressions as I head off to try some paint on this guy, I will let you know what I find.

 Meanwhile here are some other W.I.P. for this month

 Otherworld Dwarf Fighter from their Fantasy Adventures line

 GW Goblin Captain in Finecast(cough) but a Perry brothers sculpt non the less:)

Another Paul Muller Orc from the once Fictive line

Any guesses?

I just wanted to tease a WIP, that I started recently from a line that's chromatic in nature;)

Summers always busy...

Sorry for lack of post but between work and vacations and covering vacations, I haven't had a hole lot of time:( so, here are a few project in the works, all oop old school miniatures
with a few real cool orcs from the Perry's

Citadel D&D -BDD10 Red Dragon WIP

There's not much I can say about this piece By Nicholas Bibby based on the painting by Larry Elmore that hasn't been said in Miniature circles. It's an amazing piece, I found him on eBay with some minor damage, which I was able to repair with green stuff and begin to paint. Currently, I'm about 85% complete.

*the base is a resin treasure hoard vignette base by Reaper Miniatures