White Tanks Hobbies, formerly known as...

 

While I've been away from the bloggerverse for a while I've been working on a rebranding of "The Artist of War". While the name served me well over the years I have started to head in a new direction. While I still enjoy modeling, and do so when time permits, I am pivoting toward actually producing models and accessories for the hobby.

To this end I've been working on several accessories in various scales for scale modelers, specifically those building dioramas or display bases for their models.

I've also been designing some original kits and models for the wargaming community. The first such product is my Gun Emplacement (below). Its is comprised of several parts and the turret is fully compatible with the Games Workshop Leman Russ battle tank. The turret will be available to purchase separately from the base and multiple weapon options will be available to adjust to the needs of your army.

This isn't the final version. I do plan on adding some additional details and will likely add a pintle mounted weapon as well.

In addition to the wargaming models I have a variety of bits and pieces in the works such as road cones, jersey barriers, bottles, and appliances for all your diorama and basing needs.

I'll be providing all of my non-wargaming related bits and kits in various scales including 1:20 for all the Maschinen Krieger fans out there.

I hope you'll join me on this adventure.

Online store coming soon!

Skaven Army

While I've never played Warhammer or AOS I did purchase and complete a Skaven Army. It consists of:

All the models were painted with Vallejo Acrylics and Army Painter washes. I used various weathering solutions to add the patina and rust.

I used extra parts from the Start Collecting! Skaven Pestilens box set to make my Grey Seer. It was really quite simple as all I did was take the Grey Seer and bell from the Screaming Bell option and cut the bell flush with a base.

All the writing on the scrolls and banners was completed using a .2mm Pigma Micron pen from Sakura in the Archival Ink color which is a kind of dark brown.

The movement trays are castings of 3D prints I purchased from Mack the Maker at Etsy. Check out his shop at https://www.etsy.com/shop/MackTheMaker for these and many other movement trays.

I added a gloss varnish to the pile of slime on the Plagueclaw to add to the funk.

Overall I really had a fun time building this army. It even picked up an award at the local hobby show and the Plague furnace picked up an award at the model show in Las Vegas. One of these days I may even play a game of Warhammer!

Blitz Bowl: Nordoff Rangers

After hearing such great things about Blitz Bowl I had to go out and get it. I'm always on the look out for more tabletop 2 player games and this sounded like an interesting way of including the Mrs. into my Warhammer hobby.

I decided to paint the human team in the scheme of my hometown Highschool football team, the Nordoff Rangers. I think the name lends itself well to the Warhammer universe and I like the colors.

The models were painted in blue and yellow with Vallejo acrylics. I used the included decals for the player numbers and dry rub transfers for the 'N'. Woodland senics makes a wide range of dry transfers. These are applied simply by rubbing the transfer on to the model with a burnishing tool or the back end of a paintbrush handle. Click on the picture to the right to see an example you can purchase on Amazon.




I wanted to display the team so I cut base sized holes in PVC foam board the same thickness as the GW bases. The base itself is a wood plaque from Micheal's hobby store. I would like to add a name plate to the base. I plan on getting a 3D printer and will probably make that one of my first projects with the printer.

I haven't decided what color scheme I like for my Ork team yet. It's sitting on my desktop waiting for inspiration to strike.

Dark Imperium: Plague Marines

When it first came out I immediately picked up the Dark Imperium box set. I have not however played a game since then and until just now, hadn't painted or assembled any of the models in it.

Due to the recent pandemic I found myself, as so many others have, trapped in the house looking for ways to pass the time. I thought it only fitting that I bust out the Plague Marines and give 'em a go.

I began by pre-shading all the models with primer. They were coated with black then grey was sprayed at a 45 degree angle, followed by a top down spray of white primer. I then base coated them all in Army Painter necrotic flesh sprayed down at a 45 degree angle.

Each was painted in a combination of Army Painter and Vallejo acrylics. I also practiced making glazes this time using Vallejo Glaze Medium. This was especially helpful in achieving smooth transitions in tones.

The blood spatter was applied by pulling my thumb across a toothbrush dipped in a blood wash I made with various red acrylics and Pledge Floor Care. A single bottle of this will last you a lifetime and it can be used to make washes, as a gloss sealer prior to applying oil washes or decals, or as a gloss varnish.

I also used several Citadel products including Typhus Corrosion, Nurgle Rot, Nihlakh Oxide, and Nulin Oil. Gloss varnish was applied to the gooey bits.

I have dabbled in Object Source Lighting (OSL) in the past but I'm quite happy with what I achieved this time. I applied the technique to each of the plasma weapons as well as some of the lenses and visors.

The texture of the base was achived using Liquitex Resin Sand. The product is similar to Citadel Astrogranite but comes in large 8oz tubs for around $14. It is an acrylic paint infused with sand. It takes color very well. Simply add your acrylic paint color of choice, mix, and apply to your base.