Where TF have I been?

Hi. I know. Again? I took a little hiatus from the hobby. Actually, I took on a part time retail gig to help support the household with the bills and such. That gig kinda ended on its own as the store closed up shop. Close to 800 stores nationwide where I am from. It puts a lot of things in life in perspective. It gave me some clarity on what I have been doing, what I want to do, and where do I go from here. I have been thinking about my remaining parent. I lost my spouse’s parents a while back, but I think I hit harder with my own blood and my surviving family dynamics (drama).

So what have I been doing with this hobby blog of mine? I last left you all with a nearly completed homebrew set of Mordheim starter terrain. I look at it every other day or so and tell myself to just finish it can place it on a shelf as completed. Note to self, hand some shelves in this hobby space. Get that out of the queue and work on painting up some 32mm minis I purchased a while back as my starter warband. I was thinking a Reiklander warband – tbd.

What do I want to do? Well, hobbywise, I want to start building more of my own terrain inspired by the different genres out in the netherspace. Or something generic enough that can be used in any scenario or universe. I even thought about recreating Counter Strike Maps in 28/32mm scale. I have a couple of ideas for a “simple” WW2-ish skirmish casual tabletop game as well. I have plenty of WW2 1/35 scale models (in addition to gunpla, LEGOs, misc trinkets) that I need to get out of the box, built and completed. I want to improve my workflow to the point I can make content for socials again (mainly YouTube). I know, I know. Most advise I have heard in the past is to just start and get over it. The first couple of times will suck (again), but the goal is improve on every iteration. Or at least make each moment a learning one…

Where do I go from here. I guess the short answer is to just start and get over it. In addition to my pile of shame is actually a pile of clutter on my hobby space floor. I hate to look at every time I go in here, but it needs to go. Which means, I need to clean up in here. Little by little. I want to monetize this small hobby in some way. I have been helping my spouse get their hobby business off the ground in the meantime (thru Etsy and local in-person pop-up markets). I feel the need to get a separate thing of my own going. I don’t want to go back to the corporate grind. I just want my family and I to be free of financial hardships for the rest of my short life and for my offspring and their generations to come. I was never really into the 9-to-5 scene anyways. Maybe reboot ALBOG altogether? Just start and get over it. It will be painful, like hearing the same question from different customers 100+ times a day over that past couple of months.

Just start (again). Breathe.

Happy crafting.

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Yes! A new LOWER price for a limited time only on my Journal For Wargamers. You are not only getting a cool gaming aide, but you are also supporting my small endeavor allowing me to provide you with more hobby and crafting content for your information and entertainment.

Thanks a bunch! You are awesome!

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Checking In Please.

Hi. Just checking in. I hope YOU are doing well out there in the cold, dark vastness of the interwebs. I have been m.i.a. for a little bit. I had to get back into the workforce to scrounge up some cash to cover the bills and this crazy little hobby of mine. It’s not much, but you got to do what you got to do, am I right? (holding up my hand for a high-5).

My Mordheim Starter Terrain build still sits on my worktable…whispering… waiting… wanting. I will complete you. I promise. Just getting my life in order first. That’s all.

Hope. To see you soon.

Happy crafting.

Back from the brink(-ish)

Hi. After a brief hobby hiatus for a medical procedure and recovering (still) from the flu (even though I had my shots), I am back working on the project. I managed to complete the second of the Corner House builds. I present Corner House 2. Now with weathering, posters and graffiti.

I even added a small nest to one of the ruins. It looked like a nest in the images from the original cardboard ruins from the box set terrain, so I thought an IRL one would be a nice touch. Simple made by cutting some cardboard and using some PVA on parchment paper to create a mound/nest, Wait for the glue to dry. Paint. Then peel cleanly away and place on model. Quick. Easy. Fun!

Happy crafting!

More Coats of Paint and the Home-stretch

Hi. What can I say? Life somehow manages to pull me away. But, I am back with an update. I made more progress on the Mordheim Starter Box Terrain (my take on this iconic set). I managed to put some paint on the Bridge House, the Chimney and Monument. Hooray!

It’s the first Sunday in February 2025. After a month into the new year, snow has finally fallen in my area for the first time. It’s a light dusting in comparison to other parts of this state or parts of the US for that matter. I am content looking out my hobby room window while I work on the final pieces.

Please keep in mind, I have yet to add the details, like ruble and debris, let alone final paint touches like graffiti, posters and blood splatters. Soon. Yes. Soon.

The Bridge House got some paint on the walls and after the initial paint on the “wooden” portions like the flooring and trim. I had to look up some reference pics again to find out what the original colors were and try to pay homage to them in my build.

Here are a couple of the scatter terrain pieces – the Chimney and the Monument. I basically just dry-brushed light gray over the black primer.

And finally, I realize these terrain pieces actually take up a lot of space in my cramped hobby room. I have to find a solution. What do you guys do with your terrain and boards? I’ve seen examples of hobbyists hanging their creations on their walls as well as the standard solution of the good ol’ book shelf.

Anyways. Until next post. Happy crafting!

Color on Parade Continues…

Hi. The color parade continues. I present the Long House and the Tavern. Now with some color.

I continued to work on the Mordheim Starter Box terrain project (my take on the original). I added some color to the Long House of which I added a “stonework” floor/base. Although the terrain pieces are not “completed”, I think the added color definitely shows some progress.

The Tavern is (was) open for business as I applied a coat of simple maroon/muted red to the exterior walls. I coated the flooring as normal with simple wood tones. I coated the inner walls with a cream color later to be detailed with cracks, graffiti, and maybe some blood splatters.

Be sure to check out this and my other socials for updates on this project as well as other happenings in my hobby space.

BTW – can anyone suggest a recipe for how to paint wood better? I am currently using this sequence – prime black, dark brown, mid brow, (sometimes) orange or yellow, (sometimes) drybrush white, (usually end with) black wash. No sealant at any point of the layering.

Until next time. Happy Crafting!

Color me Mordheim Starter Terrain

Hi. It’s past midnight on Jan 21, 2025. The US Inauguration is in the history books. I have been putting this project off for some time now. I want…no…I need to finish this for Me. I am tired of looking at the black primed Mordheim Starter Box Terrain (my take on this) sitting in my home office. Time to add some color.

Although this is my take on the starter terrain, I wanted to pay homage to the original cardboard terrain colors by trying to paint with similar tones. I am starting with the Corner House 1 and 2 pieces. Specifically, I added some wood tones to the “wooden” portions of the structures like the flooring and side wall beams.

Next, I added some color to the stonework and walls. Remember, I am just using basic craft paint and cheap brushes (similar to those found at Walmart) – If you want to try some craft paints and basic brushes for your Mordheim terrain (or any other craft painting project), check out my affiliate links on the TOOLS and MATERIALS page.

There it is, no washes yet. Just some progress. I wanted to get back into the swing of things.

What’s on your hobby workbench? I’d love to hear about it in the comments.

Until next time…Happy Crafting!

Welcome 2025

Hi. Happy New Year. Welcome to 2025. Welcome back to returning hobby enthusiasts and thrill seekers. Welcome to any new folks just joining us. Hope we all have some goals to look forward to and accomplish this year.

As far as the hobby side of my life, it’s time to get things done from last year and embark on new adventures. The “My Take on the Mordheim Starter Set Terrain” project is ready for more paint. The minis I use for my scale reference in my pics are waiting to be properly based and add some paint. I plan to start with a 2ft x 2ft playing board as a playing surface for the terrain I have been building. One of the larger comic convention in my area is coming up – not sure if I still want to cosplay or simply just enjoy the event in my civies.

For my non-hobby life, there are plenty of things on the “Honey, Do” list to actually do. I also need to start (and thrive) some new side gigs – my past affiliate activities are not really panning out. Just keep swimming, right?!

Just need a couple of small wins to help fill my sails. Come back soon to check out the progress. Feel free to share your accomplishments, hopes and dreams as well. That’s all for now.

Happy crafting!

Chim Chimney, Chim Chim Cher-ee and The Monument Too

Hi. Oh boy. A number of days have transpired for sure. In the little time slice I gave to this hobby of mine, I was able to get ready some scatter terrain for my version of the Mordheim Starter Box Terrain. Namely, the Chimney and the Monument.

I said to myself as I was looking over the Build Instructions from the original box starter set those famous last words, “How hard can it be?” Well. Not too hard. I started with the Chimney. I did the usually perusing the interwebs for inspiration and referencing the build instructions and scans of the official card version. I thought maybe I could just cut out the front and back and use the scrap cutoffs for the sides/crumbled wall. I would then use some foamcore/foamboard for the base or even some cardboard as I have been doing with the previous structures in this series.

I would then simply use a ball-point pen to engrave the stonework into the soft foam. Nah. I decided to clad the structure in even more foamcore stones/bricks. That did take a while to complete, but I feel gave the structure more “beefy-ness” it needed to survive the twin-tailed comet’s path of destruction. Towards the end of this session, I did end up drawing stones for the hearth.

The Monument was also another structure I thought was going to be a simple build. I decided to use cardboard for the base and foamcore for the rest of the structure.

In looking at the build instructions and scans of the original cardboard cutouts, I saw there were etchings on the sides of the monument. Since the foamcore took drawn lines well, I decided to freehand the images of what I am calling the “demon face” and “time of the comet” with a ballpoint pen. I think it turned out OK. What do you think?

I then added some cardstock “tiles” to dress up the base. I added some foamcore also to trim out the base edges. I finally added some remnant statue feet. Don’t ask where the rest of the statue went. I don’t know.

I think both builds turned out OK. The last item from the Build Instructions is a “Bridge” which I thought was kind of weird since there was already a bridge as part of the Bridge House structure. I may or may not get to that one.

Now, it’s long overdue time to add some pigment to these structures. Sounds like fun times ahead. What hobby projects are you working on? Care to share in the comments?

Until next post, Happy Crafting!

The Bridge House Ready(ish) for Paint

Hi. It’s been a busy past couple of days. A lot of last minute prep for an event. My progeny reaching a a couple of milestones. Some lingering illness (not me), but the weekend is nearing a satisfying conclusion. I have gotten to a point where I can begin to lay some paint on my version of the Mordheim Starter Box Terrain. Corner House 1 & Corner House 2. The Long House. The Tavern. And, this evening, the Bridge House.

The Bridge House did pose a slight challenge for me. Mainly in figuring out how the “bridge” portion would connect the two adjacent structures. I also wanted to make it slightly modular for multiple gameplay configurations as well as more compact storage. TBH – the multi-level structures have removeable flooring that I can nest the structures where there is room. At some point I will be making a gameboard, but that is a challenge for future me.

I had fun making this Bridge House, although it took me longer than I would have liked. Such is the ebb and flow of life. I even laid out the structures with my 2 previous Mordheim inspired builds. 4ft x 4ft is a decent sized gaming area considering the 28/32mm scale of it all.

Oh. And if you are wondering. I did find the Build Instructions posted online (broheim.net) that I used to help me construct the structures as well as numerous inspirations from others that have taken on the seemingly simple challenge.

For now enjoy the pre-paint pics of the Bridge House. BTW – what are you working on that is Mordheim related?

Happy crafting!