Lessons Learned #2: Scale Creep is the devil.

Actually, let's get this straight.  I love scale creep.  I like my plastic heroes to be big and chunky, with disproportionately large hands, weapons and heads.
What I actually hate is what I call scale-slide.  Essentially, Warhammer models are getting smaller- or less heroic at least.  Case in point, flagellants.

I wanted to create a Kislev team for blood bowl. So, while waiting for Norsemen to dry, I thought I'd kitbash a mock-up of a Kislevite.  But it was more difficult than I thought because my choice of Cossack-esque torso turned out to be tiny.

Granted, he looks okay so far.  But to get what I want out of him is gonna take a fair amount of green stuff and I had hoped for a simple conversion.  It's pretty darn annoying that a Warhammer body looks small on Lord of the Rings legs.  Bizarre!

But anyway, just so I don't spend the whole post grumbling, here's my WiP thrower, who will eventually be pointing with his left hand:

Lessons Learned #1: Keep it Simple

I've been working on my positional Norsemen for Blood Bowl recently.  The two pictured below will one day be my berserkers but they are both works in progress at the moment.  I'm really happy with how the models are coming along so far, but it is taking a while.

Which brings me to today's lesson; keep it simple. Chances are that when my Norse are on the pitch, no one will notice how much effort went into creating the legs and rugby shorts. Does that mean I shouldn't bother? Not necessarily- I do want to be happy with my team's look- but you can achieve a lot with far simpler conversions.  I mean, take a look at this orc team from Laughing Ferret.  It's characterful, fun and unique but also pretty simple- only a few green stuff accessories have been added.

Of course, I'll be seeing this project through.  It'll be good green-stuff practise and should result in a pretty unique team.  But my next team is definitely going to be a simple legs and torso swap- I'ma need a break after this!

Big Grumpy Monsters

So for my return to Blood Bowl I wanted to make a team I'd never fielded before.  I've always been a big fan of Norse mythology so I decided to go with a Norse team and after a couple of games with them on Cyanide, I found I really liked their play-style.  But I love modelling and wanted to play some real life games so I had to get on with converting a team at some point.

Oddly enough, the first player I started converting was this guy, my Yeti.  He's made completely from scratch out of green stuff and wire and it's been a pleasure creating him.  Progress has slowed a little as I'm a bit apprehensive about the finer details and the hands but I'm happy with how he looks so far.

I want to hug him, and pet him, and call him GRENDEL!

This was my first ever foray into the world of scratch-building models (I've only ever filled in gaps before!) so it's been a test of my skill and patience, but I'm glad I did it.  When he's finished, I'll have a unique Yeti that no one else will have.  He is a little on the large side due to a mathematical error I made in the planning stage but he'll be fine.

This next guy isn't part of the project but he may well be part of the team some day.  He's a model that I used to use as a werewolf in my Von Carstein army (remember when those were legal?).  Well, the Von Carstein army was sold on eBay a long time ago but I found this guy hiding in a drawer at my dad's house.  And I sure am glad he was because I really like him.  He's too big to be a Norse Werewolf outright but would look great as a ST5 werewolf if luck is ever on my side!


And that's all for now folks!  I'm working on some basic Norse positionals so I guess next time I see you I'll show you some progress on them.  Cheers for reading.