Zombicide painting projects ongoing for week 3 of Zomtober 2015

Its been one of those weeks where I just keep being distracted and moving from one interesting project to the next.

I started at the weekend by getting stuck into the Survivors. After the last couple of weeks, this was a reward. I had some block colours on the minis but they needed a lot of additional work and facial detail. As I was doing this I figured it would be a good time to commence the Zombivors. I am loving these models. The colours had to match and this seemed to make sense. I really enjoyed painting them. It proved quite hard to match the colours. This is what happens with lots of highlights and washes. I am enjoying picking out the details.

Then I said to myself that I really needed to complete the zombie sets. I had no Runners and therefore started a set of eight (on the right) and some Toxic Runners (on the left). Once these are done I will have some of every zombie type painted. But they were not so much fun. I am not keen on the models themselves.

Then I figured I should add in some more of the Toxic Walkers so I started them (4 at the back right). I do like these models. I also added a Fatty for some reason, he was undercoated and lying around.

Then Zombivor Neema called to me so I gave her a little attention.

And then I was reading up on the VIP's and decided that they really needed to be included. I will need to have all 20 painted to use the new weapons and cards. I started to look up different hot dog types, as you do ..... seeded buns, mustard and ketchup with sides .....

The result is bedlam!

By the end of last evening I was looking at the table saying to myself - 'what are you doing, finish something you idiot'.

Now this is why Zomtober is such a good thing. I want to have something to show for Sunday morning and as such feel the need to FOCUS! Finish something! Get it done!

Thank you Zomtober. Is it any wonder that my garage is a magnificant collection of unfinished models?

Very Infected People (VIP's)

I had a look at the rules for playing the VIP's and at first I just didn't get it. There were loads of cards in the box in lots of different languages and it was a bit beyond me to figure out, or was that red wine? Who is to know.

Anyway I had a second read last evening (minus the red wine) and it all became clear. First off I split out the English cards. We were down to a manageable pile. These cards spawn VIP models. They are to be mixed into the normal spawning deck.

Random VIP models spawn. The idea is to kill different model types. As the models are killed the Survivor retains the model instead of returning it to the zombie discard pile. Five models, one of each type, can be exchanged for a top level weapon. There are 5 different types of VIP and 4 of each type making 20 in total. You just know they are all going to 'need' painting. I like the idea. Its like big game hunting.

There are 3 new weapons available.

These are combined with the top level weapons from the various rules sets to form a 'pimpmobile deck'. For example the original game has Ma's Shotgun and the Evil Twins. The Survivor may choose a weapon from this deck when handing in 5 VIP models.

Overall I think this is a rather cool addition to the game and I look forward to giving it a try.

Zomtober 2015 after two weeks

It has been a great couple of weeks and the painting has gone really well. I have spent most evening at the painting table doing something and I have managed to get through a impressive load of models. I am conscious that the number of zombies required is quite high and therefore I started with them. Its like having a deal with yourself in that you only get to paint the Survivors if you crack out a load of zombies first.

This has always been my philosophy especially when painting 40k armies. I had to paint up some units first and then I would reward myself with a few characters. It is a good mindset I think. You get to try colour schemes on the basic models and then you are ready to do something better for the characters.

So I started Zomtober with 13 painted zombies and and the hoard is growing.

I have now painted both Abominations, a load of Walkers including some of the Very Infected People, some Fatties, some Toxic Walkers, some Toxic Fatties, the two Elsa's and Neema.

It has been enjoyable and the standard of my paining is improving little by little.

Next week should see some Runners, some Toxic Runners and needless to say the Survivors and  their Zombivors.

Zomtober, we love ya :-).

Survivor Neema - painting

I was determined to have another bash at painting black skin. I was very disappointed with my first attempt so last night I moved on to the Survivors and Neema. I had some fun researching Neema when I first unboxed Toxic City Mall.

She is a great model and this became more apparent as the painting began.

The skin colouring has worked much better this time around. I was much bolder in my approach and layered from dark through 3-4 highlights before knocking everything back with a dark wash. I then returned to the model and picked out some more of the top edges. I am much happier with the outcome. There is still some work to do but I think that we are going in the right direction.

I may even consider including Neema in the 6 man Survivor crew. She does seem to be unique in her play style. Emmmmm ........ but who to drop, more pondering ahead.

This whole Zomtober idea is great. It provides a real focus and as a result there is lots of painting going on. I got more done this week than in the many previous months.

Very Infected People

Last night saw some progress on the first batch of Very Infected People. I have box set number 1. I started with a single model of each type and they are good fun to paint. Very different characters.

In the box we have have a 1970'ies black guy, some kind of rocker dude, a hospital Orderly, a female surgeon doctor and of course hotdog man.

They are coming along nicely. I have kept them to the original paint spec (not the Toxic Green Zombies). We are not playing their special rules as yet so I be treating them as normal walkers. They add a nice bit of variety to the growing hoard.

I gave 'hot dog man' a big yellow mustard stripe.  I might try to zig, zag it on the next one.

There are five models of each type so it is going to be interesting to see how different I can get them looking.

This has been my first attempt at painting black skin and I am chalking it up as a fail! Well at least a learning event. I have learned how not to paint it. The trouble is you get one or two attempts on a model before it becomes swamped with paint. I have decided to try again but on a new model.

The plan this time will be to put in a base dark brown colour and then take that up through a series of highlights before knocking it all back with washes. This worked really well for painting black generally. In fact I am getting quite confident with it at this stage.

Toxic Abomination, painting

"Ah look at that, its a furry bunny wabbit, how cute"

He, he.

I am just loving these miniatures, they have so much detail that you find yourself being regularly amazed. I discovered these slippers last night, as I continue to work up the detail.

It is just a stunning piece. 'Coolminiornot' have outdone themselves. A true joy to paint.  

I have gone mad with spikes and boils and gore and guts and puss and, and, and ..... Its a proper Abomination!!

I could be playing with it for days yet, picking out this little detail or emphasising another part of the miniature. It will also stand out on the field of battle, which is exactly what you want from the most powerful character that we have played so far.

Zomtober week 2 - working progress

I have been busy on the painting table working on the Toxic Zombies. I have enjoyed the fact that the models are quite a bit different in terms of sculpt. They are much more decayed with bones showing through, lots of boils and spikes and are are posed with more awkward angles. They stand out. I still wanted to paint them differently though and used a rotting green / blue for the skin with green washes. I also placed green toxic puddles on the ground.

Beware the 'Toxic Spray' if you get too close.

Here they are lined up beside the zombies for the original box set. We have both Abombinations, both Fatties and some Walkers.

Survivor Crew Assembley

I am still working on filling the final two slots for the Survivor Crew.

There I was going through each of the characters, reading the various rules and thinking about which way I would go. There of lots of different combinations that would work and be complimentary. Maybe even some that would suit particular scenarios. Then I came across it .....

"AMBIDEXTROUS - The Survivor treats all Melee and Ranged weapons as if they had the dual symbol"

Now you just know that is going to appeal to an Ork player. My mind raced .... that could be two Chainsaws, one in each hand or or or or .......

Just think of the pain and the hurt that could be inflicted.

I really like the sound of Josh and Doug both of whom benefit from this skill in Zombivor form.

Doug will be great because he has Matching Set and also gets a Free Search which can be combined with +1 die: Ranged and then the Ambidextrous skill. So he is great at getting tooled up and Ranged is the way to go.

Josh on the other hand is Melee. He gets Slippery, +1 free Melee Action, +1 re-roll per turn and Ambidextrous.

Handfuls of dice - Joy, bliss - my crew is complete!