Of Dice and Army Men

Saturday, August 29, 2026

Warhammer 40k and Necromunda Cardstock Terrain

Greeting fellow Grognards and New Guard!

Today's project post is about something I have been wanting to do for a LOOOONG TIME!

I've always envied the formal MDF basing on terrain and always made plans to do it for these Warhammer 40K 2nd Ed structures as well as the Necromunda terrain from the original box set and Outlanders supplement.

After many moons of having these, I finally got to basing them. I did build the Imperial Guard Tower from an unpunched set I have had for many moons (only to find out later it is being sold for $300-400 on eBay in that condition...sh*t happens...).

Using a quarter sheet of mdf board purchased at the local DIY store, I began tracing out the base shapes for each structure. I did this to allow for cardstock bridges to be connected from other structures as needed.

Next some safe jigsaw work and some Dremel sanding on the edges to smooth them out and round them off.

After that, I spray painted each base black and let them dry. After drying, came attaching each structure to its base with hot glue

After the hot glue jar cooled and set, I used the white fluffy drywall patch compound to create 'earth' effects between the walls and the base, giving it a natural transition. The fluff also was used to smear lightly on the flat areas on the base.

Going to my standard baring method, I mixed Burnt Umber (think 'happy little trees'...iykyk) and the medium texture paint medium to create my paint on texture on the white fluff and the entire base surface.

Next, once the bases were dry, I used Khaki paint to dry brush on the base paint as well as on the metal bulkheads (they were already based in black and dry brushed in metallic when I built them years ago) to give everything that dusty look.

Now I have a full table of useful sci-fi terrain. There are still kits I would love to add to my collection, but might be cost probative.

Gorkamorka Fort

Imperial Bastion

Imperial Firebase

Imperial Bunker

Below are some pics of my finished terrain.

Well, hope you enjoy! I'm almost ready to start painting minis again. Hope to have some for you soon!

Until then...GAME ON!

PAINTED MINIATURES SCOREBOARD:

2021 Painted Miniatures: 169

2022 Painted Miniatures: 214

2023 Painted Miniatures: 544

2024 Painted Miniatures: 174

2025 Painted Miniatures: 103

2026 Painted Miniatures: 19

Sunday, July 26, 2026

WWII Landing Craft

Greeting Grognards and Young Guard!

In my pursuit to reduce the pile of shame, I finally built some landing craft that were purchased with the intent of recreating the D-Day landings and running a game on the anniversary of the landings.

Well, running a D-Day game continues to be an epic fail, but I have at least finally pulled the models from the pile, assembled and painted them.

I elected to keep them simple and not apply numbers or signage. One detail I did add, was to create ramp templates to signify when the ramps are dropped, because the ramps are glued in place.

The LCVs or Landing Craft, Vehicles are from Old Glory Shipyard. There are 2 models total. I purchased these from Old Glory back in 2009(?) when I went to Fall-In one year. These models easily hold my 1:50 scale Corgi diecast Sherman tanks, one per vessel.

The LCPs or Landing Craft, Personnel are 3D prints purchased from an online eBay vendor. There are 5 models in total. These can 'represent' a 10-man squad but roughly hold 5-6 28mm models without jamming them in the boat. The round figure bases take up a bit of space, but people will get the idea.

I'm currently working on a pair of blasters for a Mandalorian cosplay. I hope to be able to post them next time.

Until then, drop the ramps, hit the beach and GAME ON!

PAINTED MINIATURES SCOREBOARD:

2021 Painted Miniatures: 169

2022 Painted Miniatures: 214

2023 Painted Miniatures: 544

2024 Painted Miniatures: 174

2025 Painted Miniatures: 103

2026 Painted Miniatures: 10

Thundarr revisted

Welcome Grognards and Young Guard!

I'm still playing catch-up in 2026, but I have painted a few things already this year.

I recently revisted the Thundarr, Ookla, and Princess Ariel I had previously posted. I always wanted to add Ookla's bow and quiver but didn't know quite how to do it.

I finally found a bow and quiver from the GW Goblin Wolf Riders set that would work perfectly to place on his back. I also decided to use some cardstock to create a strap for the quiver. It turned out better than I had hoped.

I'm really happy with the touch up, add on, and rewash using Nuln oil.

So, this brings my painted model total for 2026 to a whopping THREE miniatures!

Don't fret as I feel the painting block I have beginning to fade away.

Until next post...Ookla! Ariel! Ride!!!!!! And GAME ON!

PAINTED MINIATURES SCOREBOARD:

2021 Painted Miniatures: 169

2022 Painted Miniatures: 214

2023 Painted Miniatures: 544

2024 Painted Miniatures: 174

2025 Painted Miniatures: 103

2026 Painted Miniatures: 3

2026...First post ...boy, am I behind...

Greeting Fellow Grognards and New Guard!

I know it has been awhile since my last post in 2025. Quite frankly, I have been in a painting funk. Just haven't had the desire to pick up a brush.

Although, that does not mean I have not been hard at work on projects in and outside of the wargaming hobby.

My goal was to get rid of the shelf with 80% of my pile of shame and build them so I can at least see what I bought and begin to realize those project dreams.

I believe I have done well there building hundreds of miniatures, placing them farther down the road to completion.

Most of the miniatures are slatted for Dragon Rampant armies. Others will be used in The Men Who Would be Kings or Fistful of Lead.

Among those projects:

Zulu War - Colonial British and Zulu (Married & Unmarried)

Gnolls - I will be ordering some 3D prints to round out the army consisting of Gnolls on Wargs, Wargs, and a Gnoll Chieftain.

Barbarians - multiple units of Frostgrave miniatures. I envision these supplementing Chaos or Hill/ Frost Giant armies.

Daemons - multiple units of Frostgrave Daemons to fill out my Daemon army.

Reaper Gargoyles - some to add to my Stone Giant army, others to fill in as Daemons for the Daemon army.

Karnophages - use for Daemons.

Goblin Wolf Riders: adding a cavalry element to my Orc Dragon Rampant army.

'Ree Yees' Army - finally finished converting the 'Ree Yees' WOTC models into alien marines to fight my beakie nose Space Marines

Rogue Trader 'beakie' Space Marines - three squads of eBay rescues.

WWII LCV - two LCV (Landing Craft, Vehicle) I have had on my pile of shame since somewhere around 2008?

I have since painted them so will show them in a follow-up post

WWII LCP - five LCP (Landing Craft Personnel). Part of my plan to do a D-Day Landing battle.

I have since painted them so will show them in a follow-up post.

Groundlings on motorcycles - basically Skaven on Hot Wheels motorcycles. Part of my project to create Thundarr the Barbarian episode one for Fistful of Lead. Conversions almost complete. I didn't have any tails so needed to make some with wire. I will green-stuff them soon.

Groundlings - converted Skaven.

Thundarr, Ookla, and Princess Ariel - repaint and added a bow, quiver and strap to Ookla.

I will be showing these in a follow-up post.

The Wizard Gemini and his Knights of animated armor

Tabaxi Army - 3D Tabaxi and Tabaxi on Tigers with Deus Vault Berber Infantry to round out the forces

Robotech Battlesuits - two built, six more to go.

MDF farm - ordered this a LONG time ago a finally built it. Still needs work

Skaven Archers - two units converted.

Vietnam - US Marines and NVA/ Viet Cong including vehicles

Dwarf Warmachines - four, two organ guns and two bolt throwers

I'm sure I missed something built in there but at least they are no longer in boxes, unassembled.

PAINTED MINIATURES SCOREBOARD:

2021 Painted Miniatures: 169

2022 Painted Miniatures: 214

2023 Painted Miniatures: 544

2024 Painted Miniatures: 174

2025 Painted Miniatures: 103

2026 Painted Miniatures: 0

2026 is off to a slow start with painted minis, but that will start changing with my next posts.

Until then, as hundreds of gray, unpainted eyes stare at me, silently calling out to be painted, I hope you are having better progress with your pile of shame and as always.....

GAME ON!