Boston Brawlcon 2011 Winners!!!!

Alrighty so it has been a while since the last post but I thought I would kick off a few more posts over the next few days with pictures from the Boston Brawlcon 2011. This was one of the closest tournies I have honestly ever run and being that I have done well over 50 events that says a lot. Well with that onto the winners pictures!!!

This was our Best Sports army Tom Greene. Really nice guy and a well deserved trophey as he always had a smile on his face during the whole weekend.

Here's his winners picture with the trophey!!!

On the Right we have our overall winner Ben Molie. Ben won no less then $2000 in prizes to include a plane ticket to Chicago for Adepticon 2012 to compete there and to go with it a 2000pts army to match. This was just the prize support from Battleroad Games and Hobbies, and Ben gets even more via Games Workshop...wow is all I can say. Not to mention that Ben is also the Captain of Team America and will be competing at worlds later on in Switzerland!!!!! On the left we have our 2nd place winner, and Best General to include our first ever Volunteer of the year award. He goes by the name Ragnar Arneson and let me just say he is one top notch player and person to boot. Earlier last month he won best Chaos Space Marine General at the Throne of Skulls held by GW in Vegas! Literally the overall and second place was decided by 1 point and came from a last minute favorite players vote. Ben being a gentlemen to of note is sharing some of his winnings with Ragnar and that too me says a lot:).

Next up we have Bill Souza for players choice. Let me just say this fella has one HELL of a converted demon army and it was no suprise that he secured the players choice with no less then 15 votes!!! I am only too sad that some of the pictures of his army didn't come out so well in the end but what I do have I know will put you all in awww. Bill also took a Silver in our Open format painting comp for a lovely changling. I look forward to seeing what bill presents next year for the brawl as I know it will be something to take notice.

Here's the only picture I could get to work so if anyone has others of his lovely army please pm me!

Here we have Simon Leen and let me just say his army was one too take notice. He had tons of lovely well done free hand over his whole sisters of battle army and it really helped catapult him to the top in the end. I had 4 armies that we in my favorites and in the end it was the averages between the two judges that settled who the winner was.

Well I will post more in the comming days and hopefully I will get off my ass and post more. With that keep painting and thank you too all of the players this year for a great Boston Brawl.
-alex

Preping for GD and other events!

Wow... over a month since my last post... Well first off I tend not to write anything unless I feel I have something of value either to say or show.  Lately since I haven't been that far along on my demon entry (30+ hours only so far on my 40k single) I felt their was little rhime or reason to post pictures.... and I still won't :). I will say that once complete, or even a little further along , I will show pictures of it. Right now I have two progects on the table that I intend to have done intime for GD chicago. Anything further will be gravey:)!.

Now how does this Demon winner prep you may ask? Well that is the point of this post as every painter is different in how they like to handle things as demon is a top notch and well known comp. To hold a trophy in your hands is utterly amazing (trust me) and the rush that comes with it is one of the greatest feelings I have ever been able to encounter.

EARLY PREP
So too start I first need to get inspiration as this is an art compatition for what counts. The end choice comes down to the judges of course and doesn't really matter if I agree or not with their decisions as they have the final say. In last years case I knew I would have time for one entry with little in the way of conversion, so I decided upon Ogre Ironguts. I have always had a major love affair with the GW ogre models as something about them just does it for me. In the case of this year I had had my entries built for months as I was waiting for one time but two, and more importantly the knowledge that I knew what I wanted to go with. The first entry had the weapon completely redone as well as the head. A lot of the resin detail was removed as the model was Librarian Severus from forge world. I determined that he would be great as a emporers childred librarian from the pre-heresy era.  From here I planned out the story he would tell as Mathieu Fontaine once taught me that a model should always tell a story. In this case his name became "Ty're...Last Loyal Librarian of the 3rd Legion". He will be fighting on the steps of the imperial palace.

Planning complete now the building phase
Now knowing the direction I would be heading in I set about preping my model for paint. I went through 4 or 5 different heads before Mathieu told me to try a FW one. I found a bits retailer (saddly not me) on ebay who sold forge world, and purhcased several heads to try out. Ending with kor'vaydea's head as I felt it suited him best. Now some of you may be asking why a FW head, well simple. Mathieu pointed out to me that on a FW model only use FW as normal GW lacks the size and defination that are on the model and really detract overall. So with the model built I know was ready to clean and prime... no not clean the mold as I already did that, but wash the model and clear off any extra shavings I may have missed, or get rid of any remaining chemicals ,I won't want on it, from casting. Now came the priming time. Once the initial white layer of primer is down I decided to double check the model and clean any mold lines I may missed upon initial inspection. This resulted in some extra work on the weapon itself and then a reprime.From here I began the painting aspect. On that note I leave you all with this.. the other entry is the Nurgle FW  ogres!! You all will love these and as usual keep painting.
-Alex

Samurai Army up for grabs!!! Sold

Sold

That's right I have decided to clear out the shelves and start some new progects, but to do that I want to open up some space in the basement. So I figured I would clear out the Perry Miniatures Samurai army I have. This army is pretty massive by any standard comming with at over 200+ models of all perry miniatures. My initial plan was to actually build up several warbands of these for large scale games but I just don't have the money or the time to do it at the moment. I am looking for one of several sales for this. Somone can either buy the whole lot at $1050 or buy the painted units at $200 a unit or the unpainted at $2.00 each. I am for the most part sticking on the overall price, but would be willing to entertain other offers if they are reasonable. If you buy the whole lot I will give free shipping to the buyer, and all of the movement trays and stuff. Also for an extra $50 I am willing to throw in the xboard display base. Alrighty people here it is:

Here is a list of everything in it.
-36 Samurai with katana painted
-72 ashigaru with naginata painted
-1 general on horse with two retainers painted
-1 army standard painted
-1 lord on foot painted with katana
-9 cavalry with katanas cleaned
-8 monks with assorted weapons primed
-11 monks unpainted
-11 models of generals with tokugawa unpainted
-15 civilians with assorted weapons unpainted
-47 ashigaru unpainted
-5 ashigaru with flintlock rifles
-23 sashimo banners
-84 naginatas on sprue
-TONS OF YARI!!!!

Alrighty people if your interested email me at alexanderakers (at) yahoo (dot) com. Their is minor wear but all in all this army is in amazing condition and won me the overall in the doubles at adepticon this year.
-Alex

WHAT DOES EVERYBODY WANT......HEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok if you were a pro-wrestling fan back in the day you would get that, but onto the meaning of the post.  I know I have been awful lately about posting and I truely am sorry. The best part about owning your own business is well your the boss. The worst part about owning your own business is.... yep you guessed it, your the boss!!! Saddly when sales fall behind, or shipping does that means I get longer hours with no extra pay :(. Anyways to throw in some fun news my 90minute entry won me a crystal brush at adepticon, and I also walked away with the Warhammer Ancients doubles overall champion with my impromtu teamate Pat L. We got paired up several weeks prior to adepticon as we were both going to make our wives come and throw dice... neither wife to say the least was interested in this. 7 1/2 hours later, and three great games (the last one on nerves) we walked out with the amazing plaques, and some odd looks. No one thought that Samurai and Macidonians would work... including us but with some lucky dice rolls and great tactics we did it. The best part was that was my first weekend playing with the WAB 2.0 rules so any wins were even better for me. BTW you will not see the model I won with unless you look it up in the crystal brush itself because while walking out I saw an old GW coworker of mine and said "Merry Xmas Jordan".

Well onto the meaning of the title me thinks. I was approached with a request for a commission recently and always happy to make a honest buck said sure. The over all time frame to do the progect wouldn't take long and I love anything that allows me to work on my sculpting skills. The buyer wanted a GW Space Marine head that had to be screaming, since it was for a conversion of his. Normally I take a open faced SM and then remove all details and work up from there, as it is a great dollie, but in this case I had on had a forge world korvadye head that I had bought off ebay for a demon progect, and this was the extra (yes there are FW bits sellers on ebay too people, great way to save some doe so check them out).
I started by first insuring I had a new blade in so it would be extra sharp and made two incisions on his cheeks and one under the jaw (woot doctor shows). After removing that I cleaned the area then had a blast trying to get the jaw to actually stay where I wanted it too. To say the least super glue can really suck for small progects like this.

I then stuck putty in his mouth and began working it around to reform the face, and the mouth. Once that was complete a little shave lined the whole thing up, and I then applied the white putty to smooth it all out.

After the putty a little sanding work and the jaw line was in service. Not the buyer wanted a flat top buzz but saddly that wasn't working out so well so instead I went more with a german military cut from WW2 which I think works much better but in the end it's the clients call so hopefully he likes it.

The hair was easy as I took a lesson from Joe Orteza and made several lines from the top then just started scratching at it. After giving him a little trim and some sanding to clean it all up Whoola!!! We've got head. All told on and off two -three hours namely because of waiting on the putty to dry. Well this fella is up for final approval and if the client likes it then off he goes to his new home. Suprisingly this was a very inexpensive commission so hopefully the word will spread and I will get more. Well as usual "Keep Painting" as I know I will be (Fort Buyaki Inviational just announced). I am going to do my second favorite army of all times..........Grey Knights. After 17 years in this hobby I am finally going to have some real fun planning this army.
-Alex

Disastor Relief

Greetings everyone, I write tonight with a heavy heart. On a personal level this has been a rough few weeks but my household has stuck together like glue and pushed forward through it. I have always believed that through faith a person can get through anything. As such I also believe that a person who is blessed should always give back and have thanks for what they have, and as such have conducted myself as so for the past few years. I have taken part in many charities and plan too do many more before my life is over. From buying several dozen new toys so that a local shelter can give each dog a toy for x-mas, to spending my time publicly speaking out for Veterans rights on the welcome home progect (something near and dear too my heart). Recently I donated some product to help out the floods in Australia (the country of my fathers birth, and his resting place).

As such I bring to you all tonight the start of a month long charity event that I am going to run to raise money to help the red cross send relief aid to the island nation of Japan. When I was in boarding school many years ago I had a roomate from Hokido and he and I were great friends. I send my prayers too him and his family and hope that what money we can raise in this next month will help out in some small way. Here's how it will work:

-Anyone can offer up product, time, money anything, and we will run a raffle. All of the product and the winners will be picked on April 12th that way we can go a full month. At the end of the month anyone who donated will be entered into the drawing and it won't stop until all of the prizes are given away.

-This is very similair to the storm wardens progect except their will be multiple winners and prizes. I will be posting the paypal info to donate next week but I am hoping that you all will spread the word on this.

-Already Jeff Hall has donated a painted battlegroup for warmachine http://www.dakkadakka.com/gallery/79868-Khador%2C%20Privateer%20Press%2C%20Warmachine.html. This is very generous of him.

-I will be donating 2 things for starters a conversion of a 28mm model for 40k or fantasy. The winners choice!!!!

-Also I will donate 1 battleforce NIB winners choice.

Well their it is people, if you want to donate something please let me know at battleroadgames (at) yahoo dot com. I thank you all and watch for the paypal donation widget in the next week.
-Alex

Changes, and apologies

Recently I went too a tourney, and as shown previously the result I was in disagreement over the paint judging. Now straight forward and too the point, though I could have phrased what I said about the demon army in a much nicer context I didn't. I did enjoy the army hence the initial pictures, but like I said I did not feel it the best painted. Recently on my club forums a friend asked a question about it too which a local gamer flew off in a childish rant saying many things that really undermined him more then anything. This person and I chatted as he feels I am a dick and a few other words that will not be mentions. This is fine, I have thick skin and in the end do not care what some individuals think of me, nor will I ever. Where I do care is that even after everything got settled internally others continued in on the issues.

Now I was wrong on several points and for this I do apologise, but not retract. I believe firmly that every action we do we should be held accountable for. Though I was wrong and admit this openly I will not retract for the reasons that I said it and for whatever reason right or wrong I should stand behind my words, and my actions. I live my life with no regret as I learned this overseas, for to have regret is too say that should have never did the action in question. I believe firmly either right or wrong at the time an individual felt that it was right, but when proven wrong own up too your mistakes and that is what I am doing here.

It has been several years since I have done Rogue Traders and the game has changed heavily. My beliefs in painting do not fit with some rogue traders, and that is fine. The beauty of it all is they don't have too because their are those who run events similar too how I enjoy them, and those that don't. Painting is subjective yes, and the difference between gold and bronze in comps is just a little luster as my friend Joe Orteza once told me, but in seriousness it is subjective there.

Many gamers go for the flashy, and oo shinny. I will not now nor will I ever change my style too fit the whims of others. I would be lieing too myself if I did this, and in the future I may not agree with a judging but that's fine, as that is my right. Somone else has their right too and they can disagree with me and I may not like it but as long as they stand up for themselves I will hold respect too them for it. In the end this is just a hobby for many, and for me it is a business but to use abrasive language and you know who you are only brings you down in the eyes of others. Talking behind peoples backs is just high school drama. I have always believed that in saying my gripes too somones face and have no issues repeating myself ever. Though I do not advocate violence any more in my life I do believe in the old addage by Teddy Rosevelt "Speak softly and carry a large stick!".

With that again I am sorry for issues caused to certain affected people to the individual who caused so much drama on the Ardboys forums grow up because it wasn't even about you and you were just trolling. This will be the only time you ever see me post something like this as I will stand by anything I say.

First Tourney in almost a year!!!

Well yesterday I decided too head on down too a Rogue Trader being held at Battleground Games (not too be confused with my store Battleroad Games), and let me say I was happily impressed. The location itself was well lite, nice clean restrooms, open space for gamming and lots of tables ( I mean LOTS!!). Store wise I would honestly say my only gripe would be not as much selection overall. Paint wise he only had GW and model wise his GW was well stocked but everything was lacking severly. Now like I said this is a minor thing in the end as I was there too play in a tounrey. Staff wise I was very impressed with them as they were friendly and helpfull for getting started.

So onto the Main Event!!!! Though the tourney was 1850 I only had 1650 painted as this was my spare time army and all. I would say I haven't even spent 40 hours from building too end on it and the quality is well above many other gamers out there. This is in thanks too my trusty airbrush, but I digress. I ran short because I will not bring an upainted item too an event as this would hurt my chances at best painted. I don't go too tourneys too win anymore as I have won plenty of tropheys years ago but instead concentrate on sportsmanship and painting. The two major things too me that actually take work! My first battl was against an INCREDABLY nice fellow with a Deathwing Army. Very cheerfull and fun too play it was a great start too the day. Sad too say for me he wiped the floor with me as this was the first battle ever for me with the Blood Angels. As a diehard Chaos player this is new grounds too me. Here's some pics of the battle as it unfolded!

As you can see my heavy hitting unit piles out and assaults the bikes. I was stupid and didn't allocate hits against Samael which was a lesson I will not repeat!!! I whiped the rest of the sqd but lost after three rounds fighting him. The Reclusiarch is under heavy scrutany by the inquisition!!!

Ahhhh Big Scary Dred!!!!

This was the last recorded picture of second squad as they went into combat.....none survived :(.

The second Game was far different. I ended with a draw but sad too say the opponent was no where near as fun. To the point he was actually rther stand offish and at times rude. This though can be accounted for his age a bit as he was only a sophmore in highschool, but sad too say he also chipmunked me on sport. In the end it is what it is and my marines fought his Tau too a well won draw. I learned after how too properly use the dreds and had I done right with them could have swayed it in my favor.

Here's a side action shot, and lets just say that Redeemer earned his keep this battle. My Final Battle was against a fellow club mate by the name of Andre, and as he said "That's French for... Andre!!!". I am very much new too my club and don't know too many of the people but this guy has too be one of the best people I have gotten to play in years. He won the day but it was a well stratigised battle on his part. I made several stupid mistakes early on but they wouldn't have helped all that much. He knew what he was doing and even helped me with my rules (again this was now the THIRD game I had played with the army). We were joking, laughing, and just chatting it up more then anything. It was the perfect way too end the day and his army was even rather well painted. It's hard too see in the photographs but their is a lot of maticulous details in his army that you can't see unless you take the time on it.

A whirlwind Melee against the Inquisitor!!!

The inquisitor would fall, but imediately after so too would the Reclusiarch too bolter fire (damn ones on my dice). Like I said I loved playing against Andre and look forward too many more games.

Well I know this has been a longer post but I felt I owed you all. I will post my major gripe though about this tourney. Paint wise many told me I was the best there. In fact the store owner even told me he was suprised when he saw my name because he knows of the awards I have won. Yes I am comming across a little egotistical but I am a demon winner, and more importantly can admit when others are better then me. This was not the case it seems however as the overall winner won best painted as well. It seems his army that was dipped and then drybrushed, and looked like something I could do in a day was better then mine too the paint judge. No rhyme or reason but I lost out too an inferior painter. This did tick me off because I don't feel that just because I have awards of note that I should be expected to spend 100+ hours on every model for an army like I do my show progects. That said maybe I am just out too left field on this so here are several pics you be the judge. If you think I'm wrong then tell me please and say why!!

In the end it is what it is I guess, but it is still a severe kick in the gut too me. Well I will post some show pieces I am working on later this week and good pics of the Army until then Keep Painting people.
-Alex