ZOMBTOBER 2014 WEEK4

What an awful week! The flu outbreak warning, on my hazard tape decorations, has not been heeded and I find myself a victim. I'm pretty sure the adorable Mrs. K brought this strain of vicious superflu back with her from her last family visit to deepest, darkest Devon. Obviously, in my case it has mutated in to Welsh Man Flu, considered the most virulent and toxic strain of all Man Flu's.

As a result of my incapacitation production has taken a hit. I did manage something, just not as much as I had planned, prepped and almost completed for a Zombtober finale. That being said, every month is zombie month here at BZA so I'm sure you'll see them soon enough.

Right then, enough feeble excuses and on with the show. As has become regular we'll start with the introduction of an example of zombie art.

Another great piece by the outstanding GRIMBRO. I'm pretty sure most of you will recognise Tarman (played by actor and puppeteer Allan Trautman) from the 1985 movie The Return of the Living Dead, directed by Dan O'Bannon.  Allan Trautman made his name as a puppeteer working with Jim Henson and The Muppets.

Next order of business is to welcome some new followers. Time to drag the welcome wagon back out of the storage shed, dust it off and oil the squeaks, to welcome BZA's latest followers. We have three to welcome, so let's get on with it. First in line is Sean, WELCOME SEAN, he runs the Sean's Wargames Corner blog. Go check it out!
Next in line is Hunterpest, WELCOME HUNTERPEST, he runs Project Zeke Miniatures. Nice blog and he sells some cool mini's too.
Lastly, but not least is Roy Williamson. WELCOME ROY, he runs R W Hobby Blog. I think this is Roy aka gingerbhoy, he's had to set up a new blog having run in to technical trouble with his previous one.
Thanks for joining guys, get comfortable because this is going to take a long time.

Now, none of us like to admit to mistakes but it has been brought to my attention that I made a howler last post. It appears that I didn't tell you the zombies names, what an idiot. I would like to address this now.

THE NAMELESS ARE NAMED.

So the zombie in the prison overalls is Govannon and the zombie in the bloodied jeans is called Iwan. Thank you all for not pointing this out and making me feel like a bigger clown than I already do.

Now let's get to this week's feeble offering. Yet again another conversion involving a set of Studio plastic legs and a Mantic torso and arms, the head came from the Mantic Deadzone zombie sprue just to change things up a little.

So without further ado I present my final 2014 Zombtober entry, Pebin.

Hey, at least he's in focus this time.

A LONE STRAGGLER SHAMBLES IN FOR ZOMBTOBER ROLLCALL.

THE FINAL 2014 ZOMBTOBER ZOMBIE SHUFFLES OFF INTO THE SUNSET.

Well it ended with a whimper rather a bang, but it did get me back to painting again. It also introduced me to some like minded bloggers, who I never knew existed till Zombtober, which was great.

Here's hoping to see you all again next year, to see if my love of deadlines has improved (I seriously doubt it!) and my painting's got any better.(I doubt that too).

At BZA a zombie is not just for Zombtober, it's more of a lifestyle choice, so whenever you call in I'm sure there'll be zombies or something related to zombie wargames.

Well, all this excitement has left me exhausted so until next time dudes and dudettes, follow the DUDE'S example and "take it easy".

ZOMBTOBER 2014 WEEK 3 FASHIONABLY LATE.

Late for my own funeral, that's what the adorable Mrs. K always says I'll be. Bless her, she's bloody right though. I'm sure I mentioned last post that time management was not one of my strong points. I just like to pootle too much.
Anyway let's not make too much fuss I'm here now.

As has become the done thing, we'll kick off with an attempt to bring culture to the proceedings. So without further ado, I give you some zombie art.

THE BIG YIN HIMSELF.

Another piece by the excellent zombie artist GRIMBRO. I'm sure some of you dedicated zombiphiles will recognise the titular character Fido. From the 2006 horror-comedy, directed by Andrew Currie. Fido is played by none other than Billy Connolly. I'm now sure we have had enough culture for one post, on to the show and tell.

TWO MORE SHAMBLE IN FOR ZOMBTOBER ROLLCALL.

These two are simple little conversions. The first is a result of having seven torsos and five sets of legs on the Deadzone zombie sprue. I took one of the left over torsos and married it with Mantic fantasy zombie legs. Again to get around the problem of the ragged clothing, I painted it orange to look like a prison overall.

THESE LOOK ANNOYINGLY OUT OF FOCUS.

The second is a Mantic fantasy zombie torso, head and arms together with a Studio plastic set of legs. Cutting the Studio mini in half and cutting the torso to fit after. I have to thank Vampifan for the inspiration for this idea, following one of his recent posts, where he did it to a couple of Zombicide runners. Cheers Dude!

I really don't have anything else this time, dudes and dudettes. So until next time try and be like the DUDE and "take it easy".

ZOMBTOBER 2014 WEEK 2

WOW! Doesn't a week fly by when you've got a deadline to stick to. Time management was never one of my strong points, I'd just rather pootle along at my own pace, having breaks when I want. Having a deadline almost takes the fun out of painting, almost. Lot's to do so let's get on with it.

First order of business, to bring culture to the world of zombies. This shall be accomplished by the strategic use of zombie art. That's art with zombies in it for you at the back. This is another fine piece from my current favourite zombie artist GRIMBRO.

GIVE US A KISS!

Some of you may recognise the zombie nicknamed "Dr. Tongue" by Tom Savini from the opening scenes of the 1985 movie Day of the Dead. Despite a fair bit of research, I've been unable to find out who played him. If anybody knows the answer, let me know. Completeness is the watch word.

Second order of business, welcomes. So let's drag the welcome wagon back out of storage, we have a few to get through. This seems to be a direct result of participating in this years Zombtober. Which is a great reason to join in, finding like minded bloggers is always a bonus.
So let's welcome aboard my latest followers. First is cedric mauvielle, he runs the Lost Wargamer in HK blog where amongst other things you'll find the excellent "Reich of a thousand dead" , a Weird World War 2 campaign. WELCOME CEDRIC!
Second is Finch, who runs the Minis by Finch blog. WELCOME FINCH!
Thirdly is Blaxkleric who runs the Fantorical blog. WELCOME BLAXKLERIC!
I haven't yet had much of a chance to check out these two blogs in any detail yet, but what I have seen looks pretty good to me. You should all pop along to these and check them out, I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
Two more followers who seemed to have slipped in under the radar are Mike Collard and David Churchill. I can't find blogs for these guys, so if you have one let me know. WELCOME MIKE! WELCOME DAVID!

Official duties taken care of, on to the fun bit.
Zombie painting. Two more Deadzone zombies for you this time. (I'm still not back up to full production speed, that may take some time.)

TWO MORE SHOW UP FOR ZOMBTOBER ROLLCALL

THE OBLIGATORY BACK SHOT

So we have another hazmat zombie again this week, pretty similar to the other one TBH. We'll call him Dr. Teirnon. The other zombie is dressed in some kind of future military uniform, akin to that worn by the Colonial Marines in Aliens, this didn't really fit with my contemporary setting so I painted him as a SWAT team member instead. I present Officer Ifor Jones.
( I think I got away with it.)

SWAT guy was a simple conversion. Using an arm with no hand (for another pose), I added a piece of bone to wrist area. He was also given a holster from a german WW2 figure, to complete his "cop-ness".

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

ZOMBTOBER 2014. WEEK 1.

What's 'appening? Long time no post! Things at the bunker have slowed to a glacial rate recently, my humblest apologies loyal readers. Real life must take a front seat now and again, no matter how much you don't want it to.

This is my first Zombtober so not quite sure what to expect exactly. I had to jump at the chance because with my card modelling adventures the last couple of months, my painting has fallen way behind schedule. I couldn't believe I hadn't painted a mini for almost 8 weeks, until yesterday.

We still have the usual rounds of business to get through before I reveal my woefully inadequate offering. So let's get on with it!

Continuing my attempt to bring some culture to the proceedings I shall yet again show some zombie art. This is another great piece by my current favourite zombie artist GRIMBRO.

RATHER MORE COLOURFUL THAN HE APPEARED ON SCREEN.

Some of you may recognise the zombie pictured (officially credited as Zombie #1) as the one that attacks Barbara in the cemetery,  at the beginning of Night of the Living Dead. The 1968 original, directed by George A. Romero, not one of the many remakes. Zombie #1 was played by Bill Hinzman.
I remember watching this at a very young age, I was probably around 10 or 11, it did two things. Firstly, it scared the shit out of me, second it started my lifelong romance with zombies.

Second order of business is to get the welcome wagon back out of the shed, it's been a while so I had to oil it and dust it, to welcome my latest follower. As is now traditional a big BZA welcome goes out to r.a.e. gingerbhoy. WELCOME ABOARD GINGERBHOY! Settle in, this is taking ages.

Third order of business. It has been brought to my attention that we have surpassed nine thousand pageviews since my last post. (And gingerbhoy makes it thirty followers). I find this news absolutely astounding and must take this oppurtunity to thank my followers, commentors and those of you who just drop by to check out the nonsense I continue to post. A MASSIVE THANKS TO YOU ALL.

Right then, enough bloody waffle, on with the show and tell. As I mentioned earlier, I was shocked at the realisation that I hadn't painted a mini for about 8 weeks. So please excuse, what I feel is a rather rusty couple of figures.

A LITTLE RUSHED, BUT THEY MADE IT.

INSERT YOUR OWN ARSE JOKE!

The zombie is from a sprue of Deadzone zombies by Mantic. Whilst not quite as crisp as their fantasy zombies, I love the fact that some of them are dressed in what I took to be hazmat suits. Of course they could equally be space suits. He's called Elgan Evans.
The survivor is Josh, (based on Jessie Pinkman, a character from smash hit TV show Breaking Bad) from Zombicide season 1. He's my first non-zombie mini in quite some time, it was hard to resist the urge to cover him in gore.

Hopefully, I'll get a week to paint some more, instead of just a day.

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

REAL CRATES AND ZOMBTOBER PREVIEW.

As has become usual we'll be kicking off with a piece of zombie art. This weeks piece is again by the fabulous GRIMBRO.

THE LOVABLE BUB.

I'm sure you'll all recognise the zombie as Bub (played by Howard Sherman) from the 1985 movie Day of the Dead. Again directed by the maestro himself George A. Romero.

Right that's enough culture for now, we have a post to get on with. So crates, real crates this time, you know wooden boxes. Anyway my lovely Stoelzel's disused warehouse needs some contents, bing (lightbulb moment). What would fit a warehouse better than crates, well nothing. Nothing I could think of, anyway.

So with the goal of covering the table for free in mind, search the internet and ye shall find. And find I did. Firstly I found Stones Edge's free samples. Result !

A FINE EXAMPLE OF FREE CRATES.

I had the square wooden crates I was looking for, but they were all the same. At this point some of you might think, Bob you have crates whats the problem, well you lovely people I'm a little more demanding than that. I want variety, so after a little more interwebbery, I came across Daemonfae's Printable Terrain Emporium in a thread on Warseer. Guess what, yes different kinds of crates. Square ones, rectangular ones and even flat crates. More importantly free. Result!

MORE VARIETY BUT STILL FREE.

As you can see I now have my crate issue covered. Stoelzel's warehouse will no longer remain empty.

ALL TOGETHER NOW!

Enough with the terrain already! Let's move on to the second part of this post's title, a Zombtober preview. To be honest, I wasn't even considering joining in, I mean every month here is Zombwhatever. That and I had pretty much run out of zombies to paint. That's when fate threw some in my lap so to speak.

You see, Sheldon had backed Deadzone (by Mantic) on Kickstarter. Well wave 2 has just been dispatched, in wave 2 was zombies, lots of zombies. Sheldon brought a sprue along to show us, the WNI, on Wednesday. What could I do? Well for one I couldn't let him leave with it, so I managed to purloin said sprue.

The zombies you see below are what I made out of that sprue, there were seven bodies but only five sets of legs (I feel conversions coming on),all ready for Zombtober. So it looks like I'm taking part.!?!

FIVE MANTIC DEADZONE ZOMBIES.

That's all I got for now dudes and dudettes. So until next time, follow the DUDE'S example and "take it easy".

DRAMASCAPE'S CRATES AND CONTAINERS

Another piece of art from the fantastic artist GRIMBRO, I'm sure most of you will recognise the zombie as Big Daddy (played by Eugene Clark) from the 2005 film Land of the Dead. Directed by the maestro himself George A. Romero. Enjoy!

OK, enough culture on with the fun. More card modelling adventures again this time. Nothing spectacular just some scatter terrain to provide a little cover and to block line of sight. These are from Dramascape via the Wargame Vault and is again free to download. The goal is to cover as much of the table as possible for free.

REMEMBER TO READ THE INSTRUCTIONS.

This is a relatively simple kit, they are after all just boxes, big boxes but still just boxes. Even though it's a simple kit, I still urge you to read the instructions before you start assembly. (This cannot be stressed enough).

CONTAINERS!

So you get three different container textures, they are pretty generic so could be used in a sci-fi or near future setting as well as a modern one. Nothing much to say about them, they are big rectangular boxes, nuff said.

CRATES!

You also get three different textures for what are descibed as crates. Although not like your traditional crate, these things are huge. Again quite generic so can be utilised in a variety of settings. Basically three big square boxes.

A BIG ASS PIECE OF COVER.

A final shot of everything together, I'm sure these will get a lot of use filling in spaces between and around buildings. Always handy to have I suppose.

That's all I got for this time dudes and dudettes, so until next time heed the DUDE and "take it easy".

STOELZEL'S DERELICT COMMERCIAL BUILDING. THE THING CONTINUES.

More card scenery fun again this time dudes and dudettes, but first some art. This is another piece by GRIMBRO, I neglected to mention this last time, my humble apologies.

You may recognise the zombie as the boat owning dick head Steve (played by Ty Burrell) from the 2004 remake of Dawn of the Dead.

Ramping up the skill level this time, by far my biggest project yet is Stoelzel's Structures Derelict Commercial Building. A massive 28 pages including the instructions, but don't let that put you off, this kit is amazing. Up until now I have only built a couple of Microtactix's building and I was impressed with those. Stoelzel's is in a different league, fully detailed interior, it's damn impressive for a free download.

REMEMBER TO READ THE INSTRUCTIONS

After reading the instructions several times,(there are three different ways to build it), I decided to use The Sliced House method of assembly, for ease of gaming. Basically each floor is a different box which stack on top of each other.

ISOMETRIC - FRONT AND RIGHT SIDE.

I much prefer this configuration as it takes away the need to get fingers into awkward spaces knocking figures over and such. Although you then need to disguise the cuts between floors, this is easily achieved by painting the exposed foamcore an appropriate colour.

ISOMETRIC - BACK AND LEFT SIDE.

I still haven't tried to cut out the windows or doors yet, that's another skill step for another time. This was a step up in skills as it was, I'm glad I built the display base first to get used to rabbeting, a technique used throughout this build.

CLOSE UP OF SOME OF THE POSTERS.

The outside has been decorated with lots of posters, I don't know exactly where on the internet these came from as they were kindly donated to the cause by WNI regular The Tollman. To be honest the less I know about The Tollman's internet usage the better. He's weird!

WARNING SIGN FOR UNWANTED VISITORS.

The posters cover all kinds of subjects from bands and pop culture to humorous sayings. Like I said they were chosen by The Tollman.

MORE POSTERS COURTESY OF THE TOLLMAN.

The interiors are fully detailed, very nicely too. It was little nerve wracking lining up the exterior and interior print outs, but I think I got the hang of it in the end.

INTERIOR GROUND FLOOR.

The only thing I had any real difficulty with was the stairs. My first staircase, but it turned out OK in the end, I just had to leave off a step as I had stuck mine to foamcore.

INTERIOR FIRST FLOOR.

All in all, I was very pleased with how this kit turned out and would recommend Stoelzel's Derelict Commercial Property to everybody, it's a large building and would make a great base for your survivors.

THE ROOF TOP. (NOTE LADDER ACCESS).

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