ZEDVEMBER WEEK # 2

What's occurrin' then?

Painting zombies once again has been this weeks task here at the bunker. Hey, it's not called Bob's Zombie Apocalypse for nothing. As  Zedvember draws to it's mid point the zombie count increases steadily, which is exactly the point of this bit of tomfoolery. Well, for me it is! The things we do for a little motivation.

The cultural mission also continues! More art from the extremely talented chap stayinwonderland. This fine piece of work is entitled Infected - Zombie RPG artwork # 1. He's a great artist but his titles need a little work. Enjoy!

INFECTED # 1.

Managed to crank out five of the little motherlovers this week, a small step back to my initial levels of production. A very small step! Someone far wiser than me once said something about every journey starting with but a single step. I'll take this as a win, the very reason this whole Zedvember thing started.

Looking back over Zombtober's posts, it suddenly dawned on me! I had been so focused on getting zombies painted, I'd completely forgotten to name them! D'oh, what a twunt! I'll be rectifing that this post.

So without further ado, (little drumroll)  on with the show. All of these zombies came in the various seasons of Zombicide. The other thing they have in common is that they are all missing at least part of one arm. My first clumsy step into converting these excellent sculpts.

From left to right, as was usual before the break. First up this time is a Season 2 walker, a besuited gent by the name of  Gwydion. He was in local government middle management when things turn bad. Next is another Season 2 walker, you've just gotta respect his hair game. The Mohawked Merfyn! An estate kid and local gang member, probably out on the streets when the first attacks started. Moving along we have a Season3 VIP. Very Infected Person. A doctor, very obviously a front line casualty when the dead started reanimating. She's called Doctor Sioned Jones. Fourth in line we have yet another Season 2 walker. Rhydian was an inmate of the state until quite late into the outbreak. Finally for this time is a Season 1 walker. Iestyn must be a pikey! I've never seen anyone else wear a vest with shoes. Not having a permanent home was not a way to survive, it seems.

DON'T WORRY THEY'RE 'ARMLESS REALLY!

Some of the conversions were more successful than others. Pretty pleased overall, besides they'll get lost in the horde.

Well it seems that even with the incentive of Zedvember, I couldn 't bring this in on time. It's my first Zedvember, what can I say. Slacker! Anyway back to the NFL. Arizona v's Seattle!

AND TAKEN FROM BEHIND!?!

Short and sweet this time! Before I go, I want to extend some best wishes to fellow blogger and honourary Dude, Vampifan. He's had to go offline to visit hospital. Take her easy Bryan! We'll still be here when you get back.

I guess that's it, for this time dudes and dudettes. So until next time, try and follow in the DUDE'S footsteps and "Take it easy".

HORDE #5 BREAKING 200!

What's occurrin' then?

Zombtober felt a little short this year, with almost a full week left of the month after the final Sunday deadline. Although I've still been painting zombies and survivors, I thought that this was a prime opportunity to catch up with a horde progress report. I hope other participants also take full advantage of this "bonus" time.

The welcome wagon needs to be dragged out of the storage shed. It's been given a wash, oiling and has balloons and streamers added! Why? Well it's a special occasion, my 50th follower! So, as is usual, let's have a big BZA welcome for my latest follower Bullcher Feb. WELCOME BULLCHER! He runs the Waaagghhh! blog, go check it out, it's really good. Buckle up Bullcher this journey is going to take awhile yet!

Amongst all the excitement and stuff, we can't forget the cultural mission. You know the one by now! So with out further ado, I present another great piece by stayinwonderland. Again more of a landscape or panorama, I must say I'm enjoying the change. This picture is entitled Infected zombie RPG artwork #2. Enjoy!

INFECTED #2

My fifth horde update, yes it has been quite a while since the last one. That's down to me making and painting other things to try and get this game off and running. I think it's going to be a little while yet, I appreciate your patience.

I'd completely lost count of how many zombies I'd painted for this project. Well as the title says, I've broken the two hudred barrier. Two hundred and two to be exact. It's great to say that Zombtober helped immensely getting my over that milestone!

Anyway enough gabble, on with the pictures!

THE HORDE IN ALL IT'S GLORY. LOL.

So after taking the group shot, my official photographer then took a few close ups of different parts of the horde.

SOMEWHERE ON THE RIGHT.

Yes, that's an old Heroquest mummy. He was at a Fancy Dress Party on zed day!

SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE.

Below is a selection of crawlers, don't know how many I'll need but there's loads in Rue Morgue.

SOMEWHERE ALONG THE FRONT.

Although there's a lot of repeat sculpts, I hope for now that my different colour schemes are enough to provide diversity. My conversion skills are not the best so for now they will have to do.

SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE AGAIN.

So that's my close to Zombtober, the end of the month at least. It actually feels like I'm getting somewhere. I've so much more left to paint! Half the TCM Toxic zombies, all the Prison Outbreak zombies, Rue Morgue zombies, loads more VIP zombies and  over half the stuff that came as part of the Infected kickstarter box. That's not including the survivors and zombivors! Let's just say, I'll be painting zombies for a fair bit yet.

Wow man! Is TWD ramping it up or what, best season yet!?!

Well, I guess that's all I got for this time dudes and dudettes. So until next time, try taking a leaf out of the DUDE'S book and "take it easy".

A W.I.P. POST

What's occurrin' then?

What's this weather all about then? The humidity is killing me, I haven't left the fan's area of effect for several days at a time. Sleep? Your having a laugh! Way too hot and sticky at night to sleep.
Due to the sleep/weather situation my weeks productivity is way down, that's even comparing it to the last couple of months' pitiful output.

Enough moaning and on with the mission. You know, the culture thing. Once again another offering from the insanely talented Bryan Baugh. This one is called Ribcage Guts. Enjoy!

My enthusiasm as well as my productivity is at a real low point at the moment. I really can't be arsed to pick up a brush, or stick anything together, or even print out more buildings. So I haven't got much to show you all except these W.I.P. photo's. Better than nothing, eh!?!

STREET WALKING TOXIC WALKERS.

Proving to be a real slog are the Toxic zombies, I don't know why, I was really enjoying painting them at the start. I seem to get this feeling every year, just after my birthday. It must be a reaction to getting old.

The ladies below have been in this condition for months, the last of my Zombicide season 1 to finish off, yet I can't seem to get them completed. The DUDE will make an appearance shortly as well, although I seem to be hitting a wall with him too. Mitch is going to be painted by my son, allegedly. He's got undercoat at least.

MORE WIP ZOMBICIDE HEROES.

What about ATZ? I'm still slowly getting stuff together for that. Having a stab at making some P.E.F. (Potential Enemy Force) markers, using these old Heroquest skeletons. Grim reaper and all that!

From left to right is my painting progression. Using the Army Painter Zombicide paints. First one is painted Boney Spikes. Next one is overbrushed Zombie Skin. Third one is drybrushed Brainmatter Beige. Finally washed with Zombie Shade and typically I broke the blade off the scythe just as it was finished!

SOME P.E.F. MARKERS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

Using some of my birthday money, I managed to recruit two more members for the Crow Valley Sheriff's Department. These are both by Reaper, from the Chronoscope line. On the right is Sheriff Joe Don Mitchel and to the left is Deputy Wayne Tisdale. Their names not mine.

These are my first ever Reaper miniatures, I must say I'm quite impressed. Although the bases they came with were not my bag. At £4.50 each they are not the cheapest mini's on the market, but they are very good quality and no where near as expensive GW single metal mini's.

They'll be painted up in the same colours as Shane and the gang, finishing off my small town's local police force. Now I just need to find them some budget transport.

CROW VALLEY SHERIFF'S DEPT LATEST RECRUITS.

Let's hope I can get another post in before the end of the month. Maybe even finish that bloody shed, don't hold your breath though.

Well I guess that's all I got for this time dudes and dudettes. So until next time, you should all try and follow the DUDE'S example and "take it easy".

TOXIC WALKERS # 3

What's occurrin' then?

Well it seems that the summer holidays are well and truly here. My daughter has been finished for several weeks (it feels like months, she can be very demanding). Now, my son is home from university for six weeks. Let the chaos reign! Hobby time will probably be curtailed as I attempt to entertain the little darlings.

I had to take a breather from the storage shed, more on that next time, and paint some mini's. It's been over a month since I painted a figure! Where the fuck does the time go? (I know, entropy and decay. It was rhetorical.)

OK, so on with the cultural mission. Another great piece by Bryan Baugh. More monochromatic goodness this time, with a lovely damsel in distress again. This one's called Cosmic Zombie. Enjoy!

Yeah, over a month since I painted a figure, not good enough really. I'll never finish at this rate. A little rusty too, my standards are dropping by the day. Still got some done the last few days.

These are the first of the female Toxic walkers, nothing much to say about them, straight out of the box. So no conversions but the sculpts are quite nice as they are.

FIRST OF THE TOXIC LADIES.

I guess some introductions are in order. So from left to right as usual. First up, she was working as a waitress at a cocktail bar, it's Adyna. Next in line, a car rental receptionist, Cordelia. Following her, primary school teacher Sioned. Finally, for this time, we have Mab. She's a barmaid.

Again, I've edged the bases in bright green to denote them as Toxic zombies.

TOXIC LADIES FROM BEHIND.

My posting seems to be all over the shop at the moment, so a concerted effort will be made to get things back on track. If the summer holidays allow that is!

No real news in other areas either. At least the WNI(Wednesday Night Irregulars) are gathering again this evening to save the world from the zombie menace. Best go put the kettle on!

Well, I guess that's all I got for now dudes and dudettes. So until next time, try and be more like the DUDE and "take it easy".

TOXIC WALKERS # 2

What's occurrin' then?

Half term here at the bunker, so we're a little under siege from pesky kids. No, I love them really. It has interferred with the painting a smidge, but we have played some games. Zombicide of course, nothing brings the family together quite like survivng the zombie apocalypse.

Once again, I'm going to force more art on you all, it's in the name of culture so you can all feel enlightened by your visit. This time we have another wonderful work from Bryan Baugh. No, haven't run out of them yet. This piece is a tribute to the movie C.H.U.D. Remember that one, great memories of cannibals running around New York's sewers. Colours back too. Enjoy!

C.H.U.D. WAS AWESOME BACK IN THE DAY. 1984 TO BE PRECISE.

So, managed to finish my second walker sculpt from TCM. I really liked this sculpt, I think it's the puffa jacket, making a nice change from a t-shirt or collar and tie.

You might ask what the difference is between toxic zombies and regular zombies. Well, the main difference is, if you kill one of the toxics in melee or at point blank range, you suffer a toxic spray attack, similar to the acid blood spray made famous by the Alien franchise. This toxic spray wounds the person inflicting the damage on the toxic zombie. Remembering you only have two wounds per character in Zombicide, it makes it rather important to take them down at range, thus changing the tactics and strategies for success. The skill "Toxic Immunity" helps in this regard, as does the "Gasmask" equipment card. Both essential for toxic adventurers.

FOUR MORE TOXICS JOIN THE HORDE.

I guess some introductions are in order. First in the line-up this time is Trefor, he's a big Cincinnati Bengals fan (American football team). Shuffling in next is Erbin, a once proud groundsman at the local golf course. Moving on, we come to Madoc, shoe repairer and key cutter. Finally Vaughn makes up our quartet, also a gridiron fan, he's wearing the Greenbay Packers colours. Strangely before reanimating, Vaughn never took his coat off, even on blazing hot days. Nobody ever saw him out of it, he was rumoured to sleep in it. He certainly died in it!

I'VE EVEN PAINTED THE BACKS OF THEM.

In other news I caught a decent zombie movie this week. Upon recommendation via Simon of Brummies Wargaming Blog fame, I spent a very enjoyable 98 mins watching Wyrmwood : Road of the Dead.  Very simply, after losing everything at the start of the apocalypse, a brother tries to rescue his kidnapped sister. Great fun, with just the right amount of pitch black humour and some pretty good ideas. Like, everybody wearing armour, take note Walking Dead. Well worth a viewing. Thanks for the heads up Simon.

MAD AS FUCK AND VERY FUNNY.

Well, I guess that's all I got for now dudes and dudettes. Until next time, do as the DUDE does and "take it easy".

TOXIC WALKERS # 1.

What's occurrin' then?

Another fairly quiet week here at the bunker, so I managed a little painting. As I mentioned last post, I've started the toxic zombies from the Zombicide season 1 expansion Toxic City Mall(TCM).

My cultural mission is not stopping. This time we have a part two to last weeks fine example by Bryan Baugh. So, no surprise it's called Afternoon at Zombie Beach Part 2. Again no colour. Enjoy!

AFTERNOON AT ZOMBIE BEACH PART 2.

Even though there is a colour guide for these guys, infact all the toxic zombies, in the TCM rulebook, I find that I can't stick to them. I've never liked being told what to do. What can I say?

I wanted my toxic's green, so green they are. I just feel these colours make them more ....... icky? The bases have been edge painted bright green to denote them as toxic zombies.

Luckily, they come in fours in the box, almost made for me to paint.

BIT BORING, ALL THE SAME POSE.

Some introductions are in order. From left to right as usual. Firstly we have Bedo a former steel worker. Next in line is Eurion a milkman before reanimating. Following him is Maelon a former member of the Cwmbran Massive. Finally we come to Tringad, unemployed before Z-day, now gainfully feasting on flesh.

ALL THE SAME FROM THE BACK.

I feel back in some kind of groove, so hopefully this painting thing continues longer than the last time. The plan is to finish the TCM zombies before moving on to anything else. We all know how long plans survive when they come into contact with the enemy, the enemy being real life in this case.

 I guess that's all I got for this time dudes and dudettes. So until next time try and follow the DUDE and "take it easy".

I'M BACK. MORE NEW STUFF AT THE BUNKER.

What's occurrin' then?

Well, April turned into an unmitigated disaster hobbywise, no that should be painting production wise. I think my mojo's broken, I just can't seem to sit down and paint anything. Having my son home for an extra week of Easter seems to have disturbed something in the force. That and I've been feeling really down. Although gaming wise the new Zombicide has had a serious workout, I must say that I'm really impressed with the new tweaks. The skinner zombies and new spawning rules make things a little more entertaining and less certain. Making everything more replayable.

So, let's try and act like I've never been away, to continue with my relentless attempt to bring some culture into the world of zombies. Once again I present you with another amazing example by Bryan Baugh. This one is called We Caught One! Enjoy!

I'm pretty sure this one is called We Caught One!

Before charging off into the rest of the post, I must first go to the storage shed and wheel out the welcome wagon. It needs a little dusting off and a couple of squeaks oiled. So the welcome wagon is out for my latest couple of followers, first can we have a big BZA welcome for Ken Reilly. WELCOME KEN! Ken runs the Yarkshire Gamer blog, go check it out, everything from musketry to X-wing. No zombies though.
The second BZA welcome goes out to Carvin' Joe. WELCOME JOE! Can't find a blog for you Joe, if or when you have one let me know.

April turned into a painting wasteland. Motivation was at an all time low, the mojo tank was drained. Even amongst such desolation, there was a silver lining to some very dark clouds. My son, in an effort to cheer me up, did something that left me stunned. He bought me some Zombicide stuff. I say "some" stuff, he bought me loads.

Firstly, he woke me up on Friday morning, telling me that I had some mail. It was Toxic City Mall, the season 1 expansion for Zombicide. I thanked him profusely, much hugging ensued.

FRIDAY'S SUPRISE. TCM.

I thought, WOW, what a great kid. Trying to cheer up his miserable old man. Little did I know just how great a kid he was being. So Friday was spent oohhing and aarrhhing over TCM.

Saturday morning, same routine. This time it was Zombicide season 2:Prison Outbreak. I was speechless, I told him to stop spending his money on me. More hugging and a few tears shed this time.

SATURDAY'S SUPRISE!

As I was still going through the Prison Outbreak box, marvelling at all the plastic goodness, there was a knock at the door. My son ran to answer it, very unusual behaviour, returning with a beaming grin and another box.

In that box was Uncle Honk and Mitch. Again struck dumb by such generosity, I hugged him fiercely and more tears were shed. I asked him why he had done it, he said he just wanted to cheer me up. What could I say? Well thanks for one. See, I told you he was a great kid.

TWO MORE SURVIVORS TO TAKE BACK THE STREETS.

As I mentioned at the top of the post, I think my mojo's broken. I just can't seem to sit and paint, the following W.I.P. pictures have taken me weeks to get to this far.

And I now have a plastic mountain to climb. To that end, I'm going to challenge myself to paint all my Zombicide figures by years end, I just hope it's do-able. Does anyone know if you can buy bottled or canned mojo?

ZOMBICIDE SEASON 3 WIP.

I hate posting WIP pictures, but it was that or nothing. Still better than nothing eh?!? It's why I haven't posted, I've had nothing to post.

A FEW SURVIVORS AND A COUPLE MORE SEASON 3 ZOMBIES.

It's great to have all these new figures and games, now this may seem churlish, but it's kind of delaying my ATZ journey. I know that nearly all these mini's will be pulling double duty and appearing in my ATZ games, so maybe it's not going off on too much of a tangent, but it feels like I'm not making any progress on the original plan. Anyway, enough whining, I'll just have to "nut up or shut up".

Don't forget Star Wars day tomorrow. May the 4th and all that..................

I guess that's all I got for this time dudes and dudettes. So, until next time try and follow in the footsteps of the DUDE and "take it easy".