This Great Design Sketch Of An Imperial Knight Is As Close As I'll Get To Owning One For Quite A While

Courtesy of GW Cardiff's Facebook page. Oh, for a cash windfall!

3D Printing, Toys, And Hints Towards The Future

A 3D printed action figure - from ToyArk

There's an interesting article in the Guardian today about 3D printing and toys. I repost it here in full because I think it hints at some interesting ramifications for the wargaming community. Principally this could be a way that the market leaders - e.g. GW, PP - choose to go, although I imagine plenty of resistance from a company that still depends on a high street and shopping mall presence. Also I wonder how it would influence the future of crowd funded projects - it would certainly cut out the manufacturing and shipping times, so maybe we'd see more adventurous or diverse projects (allowing of course for the limitations of home printing).

From the Guardian, 17th Feb 2014:

The prospect of children printing their own Transformers and My Little Pony toys is a step closer, after toy firm Hasbro revealed a partnership with 3D printing company 3D Systems. 

The two companies are working together to “co-develop and commercialise innovative play printers and platforms later this year” according to their announcement, which refers to the “entirety of Hasbro’s world-renowned brands” without mentioning specific details for the latter. 

“We believe 3D printing offers endless potential to bring incredible new play experiences for kids and we’re excited to work with 3D Systems, a recognised industry leader in this space,” said Hasbro’s president and chief executive Brian Goldner. 

It’s the latest high-profile partnership for 3D Systems, which sells a range of 3D printers and related services. In January, the company announced that it was working with The Hershey Company to explore the potential of 3D-printed chocolate, while also appointing musician Will.i.am as its “chief creative officer”. 

The new partnership is part of a wider interest in the potential for 3D printing and toys. Disney has developed software to turn animated characters into 3D-printed mechanical toys, for example, while British charity Kids Company worked with agency AMV BBDO and 3D printing firm Ultimaker on a pop-up shop in London printing toys for vulnerable children when visitors made a donation. 

British startup MakieLab has been making waves in the toy industry with its Makies dolls, which children design themselves using its website or app, before their parent orders the physical versions. 

“There will be plenty of emerging-tech types in toy companies saying this is part of the future, but as a big company it takes a long time to change course,” chief executive Alice Taylor told The Guardian in March 2013. 

Some large toy companies have since talked publicly about the challenges of adopting 3D printing. That June, Mattel told the Wall Street Journal that while its engineers used the technology to create prototype toys for brands including Barbie and Hot Wheels, it was steering clear of letting consumers print out their own toys for safety reasons. 

Lego press officer Roar Rude Trangbæk expressed similar sentiments inan interview with trade website 3D Printing Industry in December 2013. “Currently we do not see 3D printing as a viable replacement for the moulded LEGO elements of today due to the fact that we have very strict demands for the quality, durability and safety of our products,” said Trangbæk “3D printing does not currently live up to these requirements. In addition there is a high production cost involved, which currently does not make it commercially viable for us – except for prototyping purposes.”

3D printing technology is changing fast though, including the cost and quality of consumer printers. Hasbro’s partnership with 3D Systems – and the public commitment to release products later this year – indicates that it has taken a more optimistic view of the technology’s potential.

Imperial Knight Errant Inbound

My goodness me, this big chap will be hard to resist. What a marvelous addition this will be to my year of mech and monsters - a mechy monster! I know plenty of people will think this is just a money grab by GW - and let's be under no illusion, it IS (primary detachment of SIX of these anyone?) - but for a modeller/painter such as me, this is a great opportunity because it's the first big kit that actually fits into one of my playable armies. The only thing that might hold me back for a while will be the price tag... Roll on March. 

Further Progress With The Genestealer Cult Heavies In The Year Of Mech And Monsters

Some miniatures in an advanced work-in-progress state. As usual of course, plenty of tinkering is still likely here, as I never really finish painting anything - I just abandon and return to things on an ad hoc basis. 

Well, that's only partly true now as I aim to finish the year with two completely painted forces: my Genestealer Cult and my Realm of Chaos Slaanesh army. It is tempting to augment the Cult with more Tyranids given the ability to put together what I believe is called a 'Nidzilla' list of big nasties. 

Maybe I'll do that. 2014 is certainly turning into the year of 'mech and monsters'. I have another Leman Russ in front of me right now and a couple of other tanks that are looking rather cool as Cult Limos. Pictures and details on the weekend.

Darling, I Think We Should Decorate The Bathroom

Anyone else ever tried to do some sneaky quick spraying in the bathroom on a rainy day only to have the can go haywire and squirt all over the walls and floor? Or is it just my lucky day!

Creature Caster Scale Reference Video - Big Nasties In Comparison to Regular Miniatures

Take a look at this short video from the guys at Creature Caster. It shows the launch models from their upcoming Kickstarter in comparison to some miniatures from GW and some other manufacturers. And don't they look great? It's impressive how they've managed to get these mega-villans to fit snugly on playable-sized bases. 

With only a week left to go until this launches I'm going to forecast that this project will get full funding within a matter of hours. It's also worth noting that on their facebook feed they've told people that there a further as-yet-unrevealed models that will be added as stretch goals if the funding goes high enough. Exciting. 

Rather Splendid Realistic Fantasy Monster Dolls

Take a look at these mini monster dolls that were created by an artist called Santani, a 'deviant artist' from Russia. I've often wondered about the possibility of doing something in 3D art myself and I find these really inspiring. Perhaps if I'm ever able to wean myself off the plastic crack...

Discovered at The Meta Picture.

Games Workshop In Danger, OR, A Storm In A Teacup? What I Would Do (For What It's Worth)

There's a huge amount of chin scratching and pondering going on at the moment in the blogosphere about the future of Games Workshop, given their substantial dip in profits. So here's a very brief summary of what I would do if I was in charge:

• Increase the number of miniatures available in each box as a way of reducing prices across the whole range. This would include multiple unit boxes and by-on-mass deals.
• Employ real writers who would develop the narrative of the universe (both 40k and fantasy) and feed this into the development of the range [this idea was discussed recently with Andy Bartlett, who should take some credit]. This would make everything 'click', make it a true hobby once more, and bring gaming and collecting to the fore... as opposed to simply trying to sell bigger armies for bigger profit.
• Change the retail side of things so that the shops sell miniatures from other manufacturers, possibly (I'd say definitely) even other game systems. This would mean taking the big step to not being total dicks about the reality of other game systems and models existing out there! 

Well, there are just a few ideas jotted down during a lecture on cyber security, just because these things were on my mind today. Any thoughts? What might be more realistic? 

Creature Caster Kickstarter

The guys behind Ultraforge Miniatures are starting a new company called Creature Caster and will be launching a Kickstarter on February 1st. The idea will be something along the lines of pledging for one of the large models with, one would assume, the option to buy into others. Here are some of the mockups on their website. I'm sure you'll agree with me that this is the most tempting Kickstarter in a long while - possibly ever. These are by far the best greater deamons I've ever seen. And check out that treeman! Incredible work. 

My Little Cthulhu

Cute, eh?!

Discovered at GeekTyrant.

Obi-Wan's Jedi Starfighter - Revell Easykit

When I started this blog my son was around two years old. A two year old can be delightful and tons of fun - my daughter is two and she's endlessly entertaining - but the toys of two year olds are, well, rather simplistic. Now that my son is four and a half he's started to get really cool toys for the first time - toys he'll actually play with and we can both enjoy together. So let's take a look at the first one:

This is Obi-Wan's Jedi Starfighter from the Revell Easykit range. These kits come pre-painted and the idea is that they just slot together without the need for glue. As T is a little too young to have the dexterity to put something like this together, I did it for him, and I must admit I glued a few of the major parts together - I suppose it's just habit!

Overall this is a neat little range and I imagine for older kids this is a great way to get them into the model building hobby. It's a short and satisfying project with a reasonable result - from this particular kit at least. The paint job is fine on the ship but the tiny pilot looks quite crap so I was tempted to leave him out. But hey, this isn't my toy!

I was also tempted to give the thing a spray and have a go at giving it a proper paint job. But again, this isn't my toy so I'll have to wait until I get one myself, or I can convince T to let me give it a shot. I was also thinking about how this might be converted into a very cheap alternative to Forge World's Chaos Hell Blade fighter. The scale though isn't quite right and it's not as if I need another crazy project to distract me right now!

A Couple of Properly Grimy And Gothic Tyranid Images

For me, the Tyranids should be grimy and gothic. They certainly shouldn't have the bizarrely clean look that GW seem to like giving them. They're a heaving biomass of death - they shouldn't look like they've just had a shower. So I was pleased to see these images on the GW site today, which capture the kind of aesthetic I like. Grabbed, copied and shared for your enjoyment.

Slaanesh Chaos Spawn, Probably

These are great miniatures, a couple of 'brutes' from Mierce Miniatures. They have a very gladiatorial look, as if they've been rebuilt by some utterly twisted mind, with the sole aim of a short and extremely brutal life in some wretched fighting pit. The sacks over their heads make them look all the more perverted. Lovely! I'm planning on using them as Slaanesh Chaos Spawn in my Realm of Chaos army so here they are in some of the basic colours I'm using - it's a nice palette to work with (also pinks and flesh tones), very different from both my Nurgle work and the colours for my Genestealer Cult. I'd like to have a fully painted playable RoC army finished by the summer. I suppose that almost counts as a new year's goal! That'll never come to pass then ;-) 

They would also make excellent Dark Eldar Grotesques.

Geek Crafts For Long Winter Nights

As today is supposedly the most depressing of 2014 - and with all the grim weather we've been having it's likely this mood will persist - here are some potential projects to stave off the black dog. I found these little gems in Waterstones recently while browsing for craft books with my wife. Does anything here take your fancy? I'm sure I've seen some of those Zombie Felties for sale on Etsy before. Some of the projects in the Star Wars craft book are wonderfully amateur! 

Happy New Hobby Year To All

Welcome one and all to the new hobby year. I trust you all have plenty of plans for the months ahead?

I myself have begun by tidying up the blog a little as it was rather cluttered. I hope you approve.

As for 2014 I have three simple resolutions:

1) More hobby in general. Now I'm more accustomed to my split living arrangements - and studying again - I'm going to get more modelling and painting done while in Oxford.

2) Regular gaming. Particularly with my brother, who has amassed a collection large enough to stock a small GW store. So I hope you'll see pictures of my armies against Marines and Eldar and Realm of Chaos battles with Khorne warbands. 

3) To GM and play RPGs. My regular Cardiff group should continue and I'll mostly play via Google hangouts or FaceTime. In Oxford I plan to take advantage of a willing gaming community among my cohort to launch a sandbox campaign in the latest edition of RuneQuest.

Let's have some fun :-)