Back from GD Chicago

It's been 6 years since my last GD Chicago. This time I didn't come home empty handed. I took home a gold, a silver and a bronze trophy. The gold was my first 40K Single trophy, and that's the only category where all 3 slayer swords were the winners. I'm feelin' pretty good about that one :-)

My LOTR Single, Arwen, took 2nd place and Forge World model, Malus Darkblade (which has been discontinued) took 3rd place in Large model category.

The sword went to Jeffrey H. Bowden with his High Elf hero model. Congrats Jeff!

GD Chicago was great! Met with new people and others that I haven't seen in ages. Took a good look at Bennett's last year slayer sword winner piece and it was mindblowingly full of awesomeness! The symmetry of the freehand is uncanny. I also met with Dylan who took the sword this year at Baltimore. His works are amazingly smooth and I think he's the youngest of all of us over there. *sigh*

Anyway, I will post my entries later this weekend into the Gallery section. Toedeloe!

Oh Yeah! Oh No! Oh Crap!

The Good News: I'm finally getting an iPhone 3GS. Kirk and I went to the AT&T store and pre-ordered it today. I would've gotten it last year, but I couldn't because I refused to pay extra $200 for it. Somehow I sure feel good that I waited. The new iPhone 3GS with iPhone OS 3.0 sure is sweeter than the iPhone 3G. It has a better camera with autofocus and video recording to boot. Bigger storage - yes, Kirk bought me the 32GB White iPhone. Longer battery and faster processor.

The Bad News: I won't get it till Friday next week.

The Ugly News: I'm stuck with my GD Chicago project. Arg!!! >.<

Hell Dorado and CMON minis

A couple of days ago my Hell Dorado miniatures order arrived. That concludes my purchase for that series unless they decide to continue producing and distributing the line. I'm really impressed with the models from the Immortals line. I forgot how tiny they are (true 25mm). I have been painting large models lately, this could be a problem. Hmmm...

A couple weeks ago, I purchased a couple limited edition minis from CMON shop. While they're very nice models, I found it very challenging to clean because of the mold line that run across the face, hair strands and the finely detailed torso.

I'm so excited with these models but sadly I have to put them aside until later time as I need to focus on my entries for Games Day Chicago. :( I've started to work on the entries, but the progress has been very slow. Hopefully I can get one entry done soon. < crossing my fingers >

Periscopio Advanced Figure Modeling Book

After reading and listening to the rave reviews from everyone else who has read or own it, I decided to order the Advanced Figure Modeling book, published by Periscopio (a Greek company). FedEx delivered the book on Friday and as soon as I got home, I immediately opened the package.

It's a thick book. It has 185 pages full with articles, step-by-step (SBS) and pictures. Quickly flipped the pages and scanning the content, I felt rather disappointed. The quality of the pictures are not superb and did not do the award-winning figures justice. From the first glance, I felt my other book written by Danilo Cartacci is much better, but I digress.

Yesterday, I read the book from the beginning, and I finally realized what makes this book worthy of all the praises. Not only it has a good number of references, but also color recipes and detailed SBS on painting faces.

Now I really recommend getting this book, if you're into painting historical models.

Pegaso, Romeo Models, Elite Miniatures, Oh My!

Yes!!! My order from Pegaso Models arrived today. Minerva from Romeo Models, Kuvar Reaper from Pegaso - Gehenna series, 7th Hussar Officer's - Great Britain 1815 from Pegaso and Achilles from Elite Miniatures.



The box for Romeo Models has Pegaso seal on it. From what I heard, Romeo Models is actually a sister company of Pegaso and that they share the same sculptor, painter and even casting facility. Unfortunately if you bought Romeo Models product, it won't count towards your 5% off your 75 euro order. That's a bummer :-\

I'll write an in depth review for each models that I purchased. I need to work on the Hussar immediately for my Tacticon entry this year. For modelers who live in Colorado, this year's theme for Tacticon is any model wearing the Hussar uniform. It can be fantasy or historical, as long as the miniature is wearing a dolman and/or pelisse (the short-waisted overjacket often worn slung over one shoulder)

Till Next Time...

New Mini and Stuff...

It's March already and I felt like I just celebrated New Year yesterday. How time flew by so fast. Calvin (my dog) has recovered from surgery and now he's gradually destroying the house by chewing anything he could find/reach. He's still a sweet and cute puppy, so I forgive him (so far...)

Genghis Con has come and go and I had a blast. Meeting Jen Haley, Marike and CMPA members, teaching a couple of painting classes, judging, goofing off and just simply had fun. I even finished up painting a JMD Miniature bust to give away as a door prize at the con. As soon as it was over, this nasty cold hit me big time. I still have it, my voice has not 100% returned yet and it has already been 3 weeks.

As for the Avalonian Bust from Kraken that I started months ago, I have repainted him like hmmm... 3 times? Still not happy with him. I surely fall in love painting larger figures now. They are so full of expressions and I can paint realistic eyes and not just a simple black with white dots :-)

Nuff said...now back to the real life. Cheers!

Year 2009...

Year 2009 started off with me taking Calvin, my newly adopted pup to the vet surgeon to have an FHO procedure. It's a procedure where they cut off part of the head and neck of his thigh bone due to severe bilateral hip dysplasia. Poor pup! Kirk noticed he has been limping since November but I thought it's just because he kept slipping on the tile floor. Now he's in a strict crate confinement and it has been a *fun* week taking care of him. He's not happy at all to be confined in a crate.

I did some painting a couple of weeks ago on the Avalonian bust from Art de factory. Maybe I could paint some more this weekend - thanks to Martin Luther King holidays, I have Monday off :-)