Zombicide: TCM - up close!

Thought I'd upload some up close individual shots of the characters from Toxic City Mall since it's quite hard to see them in the group photos in the previous post.

Characters from Season 1 - their Zombivor versions:

New characters from TCM:

 

Season 2 of Zombicide! Well sort of...

Unfortunately, like a lot of Zombicide backers, we still haven't received our pledge package yet. However, one of lucky clients in the UK did receive Toxic City Mall and sent them straight over to be painted. And here they are all completed!



We went with a bright green "toxic" effect for the zombies which is quite distinctive and lends well to the theme of the new expansion. They'll be no worries trying to tell the normal painted zombies and these new ones apart!

For the Survivors, it was business as usual - make them look good and grungy! And if they were of the female variety, hand them over to the wife so she can do her finishing touches on their faces. Seriously I don't get how she can do the make-up so well. The treatment for the Zombivors was much of the same, except add in some more gruesome blood effects and give them a deranged look in their eyes.




Keeping our fingers crossed we get our zombies and get them all painted up so we can feature them on the blog for you soon! But in the meantime enjoy these photos. :)

Another Zombicide commission complete!

Here's the latest Zombicide models I've painted for a client in Singapore! Must say I was pretty flattered when he chose me for the commission, as I'm sure there are plenty of miniature painters a lot close to him than Ireland!

Sadly the photographs don't do these models justice but the overall effect is there. My D60 is out of commission at the mo, in for repair and a much needed clean, so I had to make do with the wife's ipad... and it's a bit awkard trying to take pics with that thing to say the least. Or maybe me and technology just don't mix and I should just stick to painting. :)

In the past I've kept the bases pretty simple; a road tarmac effect with a simple black edge or the added on Dark Age deep bases, but this time around, as per the client's request, I painted the edges of the bases the appropriate designated colours of the Survivors and Zombivors. And I have to admit it looks pretty darn cool. Definitely makes them stand out a little more and will be easier to pick out on the gaming table.

Anyway who's excited for season 2!? I've got a whole horde of them on order and I'm hoping we get the "dispatched" notices this week and with a bit of luck be able to get painting by the beginning of September. I'm looking forward to the new sculpts of the zombies, that's not to say I'm not excited for the characters - but there are sooooo many to chose from - and since you have to paint more zombies that characters it'll be nice to have more variety.

Oh and yes, I am already accepting commissions for season 2 - so if you were thinking of getting your models painted you'd better get in before the rush if you want them painted before Christmas!

Latest wave of Zombies

We've been painting and blogging a lot about boardgame related miniatures lately, and we will be getting back to normal soon - a High Elf commission will be featuring once it's completed - but for now a quick, picture heavy, update on the latest exclusive Zombicide models from Season 1 that recently arrived.

And OMG Season 2 is just around the corner! O.o

From set #1 Survivors and Zombivors

 Kickstarter optionals:

A client of ours also made a video of the Zombicide models we painted up for him, he also posts gameplay videos too - check his channel out Lycan oftheunderworld:

Back to painting I go! Till next time. :)

ZOMBICIDE: Re-basing

Zombicide! It's Popularity keeps on increasing. With over three million funding during two Kickstarter projects the number of zombies produced will, this September, reach epidemic proportions. This is in part due to the fantastically generous Coolminiornot Kickstarter projects, they haven't ceased to provide a bucket full of models for anyone purchasing their game publications through Kickstarter. Anyone simply investing in both seasons of Zombicide could probably swim in a vault filled with zombie miniatures Scrooge McDuck style (though I found it was not as fun as it looked).

But I am here to talk about basing, or rather re-basing. As an old time wargamer and painter I am unshakably aware of the impact decent basing can have on a model. This is no less true for miniature boardgames, the atmosphere and investment in such a game is highly dependant on the pieces you are pushing around. You can weight up the urgency of shooting a grey lump of plastic to shooting a crazed rotten zombie dripping with blood, his lifeless yet fierce eyes bearing down on you, hungry for any taste of your flesh. To take it one step further, the imminent danger posed by a crazed rotten zombie stood on grey plastic is perhaps less than one stood on the same patch of tarmac as your alter ego survivor. Obviously there is only subtle shades of realism involved, but the more visual indicators the greater the experience must be, consciously or otherwise.

Besides, some of the bases are utterly wobbly and just a pain to keep upright. From the get go I coated Zombicide bases in fine sand to provide a subtle texture that was painted in greys for an urban look. But had always considered fully re-basing the models. Unfortunately this is hampered, as the model and base for these figures is all one piece. Removing any one of these models is difficult and potentially disastrous re-basing any quantity of these models was a terrifying prospect in terms of time and modelling. So I wanted to base the models to look consistent and professional while maintaining the structural integrity of the models.

But don't fret, the answer is at hand!

Strangely enough the answer also appears to be produced by Coolminiornot, or at least produced in conjunction with Coolmini for Dark Age. So step forward ye delightful Dark Age 30mm Deep Bases. While these may be similar in overall design to Warmachine (they are in fact subtitled as such) and many other rounded 30 mm bases, they differ enough to be absolutely perfect for Zombicide.

The Zombicide models do not fit inside the top of a Warmachine base as their base is larger than the indent, even if you were to trim it the Zombicide base it would protrude noticeably. However the entire disc of a Zombicide model base fits inside the indent of these deep bases with unerring accuracy. \o/

The fit is so ideal the models can almost snap-fit into place. With a touch of glue (Polycement was used in this instance, rigid plastic or super glue would likely also do the job) an entire set of Zombicide can be based in minutes.

While the bases can be easily glued I wanted to ensure that any of the troublesome and wobbly bases were completed levelled. With the help of a few Bullclips each models bases could be viced in place while the glue would weld securely; I just left them overnight.

I ensured that the Zombicide bases were textured and painted (including the edging) before attaching them. This kept the rounded bases pristine as new avoiding any undercoating, paint, or basing materials. The level and flat stability these bases provide is a joy on the boardgame. Although, I have yet to test if a full Zombie swarm might be oversized for the board since packs of zombies form on certain street sections. I also need to test the larger 40mm Deep Base, the Abomination look fantastic on these! Photos of them coming soon.

So here we have my latest almost finished painted Survivors (last minute details & shading needed) including shiny bases! Hopefully this will help peeps out there who were considering re-basing but wasn't sure how to go about it. These bases will also feature as a option on my price list for any future Zombicide commissions.

Zombicide Commission OFFER!

This month I am offering a pretty substantial discount on Zombicide commissions. I normally charge £235 to have the base game painted up to a "high gaming standard" but for April this has been reduced to a whopping £150! P&P is not included, but I do ship worldwide.

Any extra Zombicide models (Kickstarter abomination sets etc) are also discounted:
£2 per Zombie - normally £3
£3.50 per Survivor/Abomination/Zombivor - normally £5

If anyone is interested in this offer please contact me via email: theminikingdom@gmail.com to discuss it further. :)

First come, first served! As I'll only be able to take on a limited number of these commissions.

For more examples of the Zombicide models I've painted take a look these previous Zombicide posts and this cool video, made by one of my clients.

Zombicide Survivors

Rather busy painting at the moment, hence the lack of posts. More Flames of War and Malifaux on the way imminently. For the moment a quick preview of these completed Zombicide Survivor models.