Into Every Life a Little Paint Must Fall

Out club has recently taken up a Journeyman League, which is a slow-growth Battle-box based painting and playing hybrid league.  It's a peer pressure perfect opportunity for beginners to get into the hobby and for pewter-pushing generals to get some paint on the board.

Years and years ago I used to paint – mostly 1:72 scale aircraft models, but also model rockets and some BattleTech miniatures.  Over three years in this hobby and I haven't once put brush to mini.  My excuses seemed reasonable: small children in the house don't mix with mineral spirits and paint thinner and I'd prefer to spend unallocated with the kids.  But, social competition is compelling, so I did some research.  And – Great googly moogly!  The paints are acrylic now!  No more bowls of liquid petroleum.  And, frankly, I'm tired of being that guy.


Legion had been singing its siren song to me, so I took what I'd budgeted for an Absylonia tier list and invested it in paint, brushes, mixing trays, and a wet palette.  Exciting!

Retribution of Scyrah "Battle Box"

The Journeyman League requires all participants begin with an official Battle Box (or equivalent).  For Retribution, this is:

Kaelyssa, Night's Whisper
- Manticore
- Chimera
- Griffon

Like most (all?) battle boxes, it's an odd mix, but the models are appealing and I already have them all.  There's a nice write up on Lyoss is Burning covering its strengths and weaknesses.  Normally fascinating, but right then all I could see was large areas of smooth white, which even the club's expert painters are still trying to master.

Kaelyssa herself looks like the perfect (read: "most challenging") piece to begin with.  The studio paint scheme requires twenty-seven pots of paint and ink to blend the colors on her.   Her model contains most materials I might encounter in the army.  I'll need to learn how to paint:

The Studio Kaelyssa

- sallow flesh
- eyes
- white armor
- tiny concave areas
- cloth
- leather
- metallic sword
- gems
- glass goggles
- freehand Iosan runes



It's a week in and I have about Kaelyssa coming along.  I've knocked off tons of rust.  The acrylics and the wet palette make the work so much easier.

The last three colors arrived today from Miniature Market, so I can now finish the last few areas: her hair, sword, and gun.  Then more shading, more shading, a wash, fixup, etc.  You know the drill.  I'll post photos when she's ready.

Having such a good time painting!