Rum and Bones Official Display for Gencon 2015/CMoN

Hot out of the galley, here is the official display/demo table for Rum and Bones, a board game of ship to ship combat by CoolMiniorNot for Gencon 2015 in Indianapolis.

The display is built from an old trunk, inside of which a second 5" deep tray holds the three gallons of clear resin and two boats.  The ships are 100% scratch built from foam, clay, plastic stock, and a few animal bones.  The surface is 1:1 the scale of the game boards, and fully playable.

The display collapses fully.  Tray sinks into box, sails remove, and all goes within the box, lid returned to it's proper place.

Going to Gencon?  Stop by and say hello.  I will be there all weekend helping to demo the game and chit-chatting my voice away as usual. 

Spring Break

Spring is finally here in Indiana.  That means getting out and revisiting some regular warm weather spots, and catching up with friends.  First, a visit to my favorite local antique shop The Warehouse.  A great place I try and visit as often as possible for display parts and ideas.  I tend to hibernate during the Adepticon season so I had not seen Jeff since building the Golden Throne, which had a few parts I bought from his shop.  Lot's of good stuff, but that's to be expected. Potential Miss Adepticon 2016?  Possibly!  If you are ever around Bloomington be sure to visit both of his locations.

Second, spring means I can finally get back in the woods and the lake about 30 minutes behind the house.  Good exercise over southern Indiana terrain, and the view is very good to see again.  Double duty this trip, as I am scouting for a specific spot to take pictures of two displays coming up this year that will match the surroundings.  One for a client and one for Clash for the Cure.  It will be a hike to get them out here once made, but definitely worth it!

Back to work.  Several smaller projects coming up quickly, then a massive Deadpool themed army.  See you then!

Adepticon Charity Army - Rebel Sanctuary

"You would prefer another target? Then name the system! I grow tired of asking this so it will be the last time: *Where* is the rebel base?" - Rogal Dorn interrogates an Emperors Children prisoner.

This year's Adepticon charity army had some hiccups with logistics.  I received the army in time to get it painted to what I would be happy to photograph, but the donator of the checker cutting board was not able to get it to me until actually at the con.  Luckily, the winner was very kind to allow me to take the army home, give the army itself about a week's more brush time, and build the display board and bases I had originally envisioned.  

The display is heavily influenced by Yavin 4, the moon base of the rebel forces in A New Hope.  There was always something additionally endearing about the valiant Rebel army holding up in this ancient ruin, beautiful but in decay, more so than any other location direction-wise would provide.  Throwing Fulgrim and companies' background of the pretty but tragic on top seemed natural, no pun intended.

Thanks to Dan Zehner for helping out!

Radiant Child - Legendary Reaver Titan

This is a heavily resculpted Reaver Titan, built for a client specifically to use in the Adepticon Titan battle this year (although, it was more of an excuse to!). At the time back when I built the Titan, I shared my ideas for something cherub-like, as well as the notion of a character Titan, and he gave me full artistic licence and freedom to make something unique.  It would be a complete surprise.

Building the Golden Throne Part 10 - Adepticon Epilogue

On the road again...

Another year, another Adepticon!  Time to do the annual recap of the experience; there is quite a bit to go over.  This was the first year in many I did not play in anything (official) at all.  My plan was for once just go and spend time with as many people I know as possible.  I always enjoy a weekend of gaming, but in past years I have looked back on the way home and thought of all the people I did not get a chance to talk to in person.  So this year was different.

-= The Golden Throne =-

Gothic science fiction.  Say these words to anyone with an interest in Warhammer, and no matter how long ago, how fleeting that interest was you will undoubtedly conjure from the subconscious an image of a pointed arch surrounded by a baroque behemoth of a futuristic church, emphasis on the industrial.  Warhammer has taken this visual theme over the top so far, it is almost cliche to make light of it. It is it's own inside joke, Gothic for it's own sake.  Let's consider however the real genius behind the story of the Emperor. Examine that "Gothic" behind the "science fiction" and one can see the irony in the visual of the Gothic, being so excessive, overtaking the depth of the Emperor's tragedy. While we might think it frivolous, being so accustomed to waves of visual decoration, in reality the Imperium and the story of our entombed hero is Gothic in every sense of the word.

Building the Golden Throne Part 9 - The End Times

Unfortunately no deep thoughts to stimulate the right brain today.  Just a quick update amid frenzied work - the Throne is about halfway finished.  It will be completed in time for the convention, but with three other projects to complete before next Tuesday final photography may not be up until afterwards.

However feel free to follow on social media as live updates of getting to and goings-on of the convention will surely be posted.  More details will be posted soon, time permitting.

Building the Golden Throne Part 8 - Trial By Ordeal

"Thou art a subject of the divine, created in the image of man, by the masses, for the masses." Spoken by a tinny speaker and plexiglass screen of god in THX 1138.  The image of the creator in science fiction is usually a technologically overgrown and encrusted version of the 17th century, both visually and liturgically.  A grand empire is a common theme, held together by a massive character often with two sides to one coin.  In THX it is an image of god, stylized and classical, but behind the curtain a mass of wires and reels of tape with canned responses (perfectly timed by Lucas) to only be less than awkward to these sedated people. In Warhammer, the image of the Emperor for the people, is a massive effigy of the Emperor surrounded by a grand palace.  While behind the scenes only a very select few, or perhaps only the Emperor himself know the dark truth, and keep the last masses of his cells alive.

Building the Golden Throne part 7 - Salvation and Doom

I was first introduced to Gothic architecture at around the same time as miniatures.  In High School I was part of a class "knowledge bowl." Sort of a spelling bee but for facts.  I joined the Gothic section, which was the arts offering, and began to memorize different architectural elements of different cathedrals.  What ended up being more fascinating however, and would always slowly take my attention away, was the visual message and the "why" behind them more than the "how."  I have over the years expanded upon that, and also come to understand something - these buildings are very much taken for granted.

Building the Golden Throne Part 6 - Good Dramatic Bullshit

"Good dramatic bullshit" - Ridley Scott

I hesitate to use the phrase just as Mr. Scott did in the interview I have seen so many times over the years.  He didn't mean to make light of the work or thought put into the visual work of his legendary 1984 Apple commercial, he was simply commenting on the process.  His reluctance was from an understanding that an average practical mind would want to understand how things work.

If you take any of my loves and influences - assemblage art, science fiction model making, creature effects - the truth is that there is much more fretting over the look than practicality.  Many people over the years have taken the famous Star Wars lightsaber and Millenium Falcon and tried to back-engineer them with their imagination.  It is a true testament to the intricacy of these models that it can be done, but there wasn't as much a question of "how would this work?" when making a model as a statement of "this looks good visually, and it could work."

This has been true through all the great science fiction movies of the past, from Metropolis to the new Star Trek; good design is a mix of aesthetic and a great deal of skill in improvisation. The answer to the question of "what does this hose on the Millenium Falcon do?" might sadden a professional Engineer, but it doesn't stop his imagination from creating it's own story, and that is the essence of"good dramatic bullshit."

Building the Golden Throne Part 5 - Imperatores In Memoria

"For famous men have the whole earth as their memorial." -Pericles

There is a good bit of existing background on the Throne, but luckily for me a lot of room for creativity.  Not only in the aesthetic, but also the story.  I will save a lot of my writing on the background of this for when it is finished, but for the time being I will say I have always believed the Imperium is an alternate reality where military, technology, science and religion veer off last century or this one, where some horrible fascist regime wins one of the two World Wars, or another in this alternate near future.  This should for now explain all visual references and themes, and in the literal sense I see the "crown" of the throne being particular very important memorials from the surface that have been recovered.  Very important people in the lineage of the Emperor that he would want to keep and would be seen as relics by those who important enough to lay eyes on the throne.  Sort of a family tree if you will, honoring the people who laid the building blocks for the Imperium.  

Anyway, enjoy the images for today.  Scale is roughly 1 meter wide (same as the throne) and a couple feet high.  Watch for Waldo, for scale. 

Building the Golden Throne Part 4 - Big Things Have Small Beginnings

"I have never yet heard or seen anything serious that was not ridiculous" - Horace Walpole

Mr. Walpole is a comrade of taste and method in a different time and place to me.  The first true Gothic author, he would often live and create in an obsessive way, for the sake of it wanting to exist, for a need to create and a want to see something in reality.  Walpole had a taste for different and extreme; many of his creations were grand not only in skill and method, but size and scope, for sake of size and scope.

"I sat down and began to write, without knowing in the least what I intended to say or relate."

Much like Walpole at his desk improvising the first novel in the Gothic sense, I sit in my own Strawberry Hill, a secluded place not of traditional function but re-purposed to my own enjoyment and pursuits, filled with my own creations and dreams. Late into the night planning and throwing a million ideas to the wall and waking up to see what has stuck.  A Gothic structure in the architectural, in the literary method.

Some would look at Walpole and see an eccentric with poor and unconventional taste.  I see a man too confident and driven to care of anything but creation of things great in skill, and as importantly scope.

He was a based brother of the arts, and this project is dedicated to him.

Nurgle Dueling Coasters Display Part 1

Hey all,

The second display I am working on for next year is one for the Fantasy team tournament.  This is a doubles 1000 point per army event.  We had originally gone for a carnival theme, but this bit of inspiration hit me when trying to figure out a way to make room for more displays.

Building the Golden Throne Part 3 - Make Way!

In space, no one knows if you clean.

Hey all,

Anyone can tell you an artist normally has a bit of organized chaos around his workspace.  Mine was a Jawa's paradise.  It looked like something out of a horror movie, so let's get on with it. Displays must be built, and space must be made.  Time to pop the garage open and see what I am working with.

Building the Golden Throne Part 2 - Let's Buy Junk!

This probably shouldn't be quite as exciting a sight as it is.

Hey all,

Well, time for the fun part.  Let's blow some money on a bunch of junk some antique shops are probably excited to see sell.  While actually a bit picky in what I can use - can't be too heavy, fragile, or poorly detailed - most of the stuff I am looking for is likely otherwise quite gaudy and useless.  Statuettes (preferably well detailed), small brass objects and anything plastic that is ornate for the price.  It is one of those things, after a while you can look at an object and the number on the sticker and know if it's a good "value" for the look or not.  But let's get to it!

Building the Golden Throne Part 1 - The Concept

The Original - John Blanche

Hey all!  It's that time again - the leaves change, the weather cools, and my impending yearly marathon creeps heavier into my regular thoughts.  I have had a few ideas here and there, and even posted on a few of them, but I have decided the natural conclusion of last year's two projects was to combine them into one most ambitious project and ubiquitous 40k icon - the Golden Throne itself.  It feels natural, as a lot of what I learned from the inside of the egg chair felt like great practice for something like this.

But let's get to the rough idea.

Showcase - Ride of the Worm King Army Pictures

Hey all!

I have had, over the course of the past month since Adepticon ended, a ton of people ask or note that they had no idea if there were pictures of the army.  I understand this as there were so many pictures of the display before the army shots some people's scrolly-finger may have worn out. :)  With that in mind I figured it couldn't hurt to just post up the army and this time add a few words of description to each as well.

Thanks as always for giving it a read! :)

Love Devours All - Adepticon 2015 Blog Pt 3 - Shopping Around

Hey everyone!

A quick report from my first outing looking for display goodies.  My first stop was an Architectural Salvage in Louisville, KY.  It's not quite what it sounds, I am sure that brings to mind lots of structural stuff.  This is all antiques, decorative elements, furniture.  "Salvage" is more a term of endearment I think.  With your average piece of furniture from 1890 and $2000, it's far from junk.  I hoped to find a few goodies and basically let the ideas come to me as I poked around.

Love Devours All - Adepticon 2015 Blog Pt. 2 - Sowing the Seeds

Hey everyone!

Back at it with more inspiration.  This time I am going to look at Triptychs, which is a form of three-panel painting, relevant due to it's common use in the Middle Ages on altarpieces.  It often tells a story, with one large center panel flanked by two smaller. 

Love Devours All - Adepticon 2015 Blog Part 1 - An Ogrish Reformation

Hey everyone!

Well, it looks like I have finally reached the point I need to do more...advanced planning.  So I have most of 2015 figured out, and invite you along.  This time, (at least at this point) an Ogre army.  The main challenges - make it bigger in scope than the throne, and much different from the Monty Python Ogres while still being relatively medieval, which you will see.  Let's kick it off with the overall display idea.