Knight Models Fun Batman Painting Contest

Knight Models have announced a fun painting contest for the end of the year on the Official Batman Forum.
Alternate schemes, conversions or anything you like really.

As you can see above, the contest will run via the @Knightmodels Twitter account and won't be based on pure painting skill like most events like this but more on imagination and creativity.

Are you going to take part?
What sort of thing are you planning?

I have gathered a few ideas below to get you started.

- Hendybadger

Little Heroes Charity Fundraiser is now LIVE!

Hi all and welcome to the Little Heroes for Little Heroes charity fundraiser for the Downs Syndrome Association.

As some of you may know, almost two years ago our son Nathan was born with Downs Syndrome. He also had several linked medical conditions. This made the first year, to put it bluntly, hard and terrifying! Not knowing what the doctors were going to say next.

But, we have had an AMAZING support network around us for Nathan. Doctors, nurses, therapists, Portage workers and more. They have supported our family through everything that has happened over the last couple of years and helped understand Nathan's needs.
Because of this we wanted to do something in return. Little Heroes was then born!

So, What is Little Heroes?
For this fundraiser we are asking for people to paint up some Hero or Villain miniatures and donate them. These will then be gathered up and auctioned off here on ToaTS with ALL proceeds going to the Downs Syndrome Association.

We also have the backing of a few gaming companies that have donated some great prizes for those taking part.
Lots of MDF Scenery from Multiverse Gaming
2 Paint Racks from Impudent Mortal
Bases and minis from Fenris Games
Harley Crew, Killer Frost and Arkham Inmates from Knight Models
Deathstroke Metallic Funko Pop from Limited Edition Comix
Marvel Figure Pods from Delabole Spar
TTCombat Digicore tower, Court of Owls + Markers, Hush, Firefly and Lobo from Andrew Bruce
Batman Mini Game Rulebook,  Arkham Legends AK Batmobile from Tales of a Tabletop Skirmisher
Ironman x2 from Andrew Campbell

These won't be for the usual 1st, 2nd etc though. They will go for things like most models donated, most fitting model, most raised at auction, most spent at auction and so on.

If you want to take part by painting a Hero, the deadline to get them in is November 27th and they need to be sent to-
Hendybadger
Tales of a Tabletop Skirmisher
Grain Cottage
Pengelly
Delabole
Cornwall
PL33 9AN

If you would like to get in touch or maybe you run a company that would like to take part, you can contact via email at hendybadger@btinternet.com or via the Facebook page in the box on the top right.

Once the models are in, the auctions will go live on November 28th for a week. More info on that closer to the time.

The original deadline before the extension did have meaning. October is international Downs Syndrome Awareness Month and the 21st is because of chromosome 21, the cause of Downs Syndrome.
But letting more people get involved is much more important than having it on the right day.

To get everyone started, we already have our first donations. Arkham Origins Deathstroke from Luke Tickle.

Mega Man from Andrew Brown

Two Face crew plus extra Henchmen from Adam Russell Reeves.

Metal Man, Hellboy, TMNT, Rocket and Groot by WJ

Club BURNZ by Phil

Comic Harley by ZAB

Thing by Neil

I really hope this goes well and PLEASE spread this around as much as possible.

Back with more on this soon. I need to decide what to paint!
- Hendybadger

Arkham City Limits - Batman Game Community Update

Adam Reeves Titan Joker crew ready to cause mayhem

With the release of the Batman rulebook from Knight Models, the popularity of the game has shot up!
Along with this, the official Facebook group Arkham City Limits has shot up in size as well.
With all these new players, painters and general Batman lovers, I thought it would be good to do another update on the ACL with the sort of thing that has been posted there recently.

In my option, its one of the best gaming communities I have ever been part of.
Check out all of these awesome projects.......

Ian Morton has gone for the TV colours for his Arrow.

Aaron Emerson has done great work on the Green Arrow, Speedy and the Flash.

Andrew Campbell has gone with a classic costume look on his Nightwing and Catwoman

Andrew Morgan John can do fantastic things with bases. Superman taking off and flying over water.

This Batman crew was Andy Leightons entry into a recent ACL painting competition.

Bear Smith has used a Black Mask body and Superman head t create a killer Frank Miller Joker

These Sarissa buildings have been 'Gothamed' by Chris Dalton

Dan Halstead has finsihed up a great looking Penguin crew

The book preorder models are starting to show up.

Elizabeth Beckley is painting the most stunning Huntress I have ever seen.

The Suicdice Squad hit the table. Repaints and conversions by Evolved Intelligence

These Watchmen were painted by James Hinton as his entry in the ACL painting competition

Kaylee Anderson is going very green with her comic Poison Ivy

Matt Prior's Batman crew with a great Red Robin conversion

Matthew Malcomson is getting ready for the release of a Scarecrow crew with some themed Henchmen and Free Agents

MonNom EstRien is testing out World Works printed tiles

Got a spare Joker? Niels Jochems turned his into a statue.

Phil Atherton has gone for an alternate green and purple scheme for his Joker crew

Damien Wayne is looking as smug as ever. Great work by Simon Lazyfimfim

Do villains fear the Bat? They will now thanks to Stuart Lacy's Yellow Lantern Batman.

Matthew Malcomson has decided to 'reverse' the colours on the Flash

Pete Smith's great looking team  of Arrow, Speedy and Huntress

It's not just DC though. Here's Laurent Parmentier's Avengers

Head over to Arkham City Limits to see even more great work.

- Hendybadger

Citadel Painting Reference Scrapbook

Hi all!

Today I thought I would show you a little side project I have been pottering away with for a while.

As I haven't painted very much in the past, I want to learn different skills and styles to try and do justice to the Batman sculpts.
My main set of paints are the current Citadel / GW set. I know some people don't like them but I have the whole range so it would be silly not to use them.

When I picked up the paints, I was still playing 40K so grabbed the painting book and some of the monthly White Dwarf mags at the same time. Digging those out again I found loads of fantastic 'Paint Splatter' tutorials using the exact colours I have.
This gave me an idea.......

I proceeded to cut up all the Paint Splatter pages and split them into colours for easy reference. I also managed to get my hands on most of the new weekly White Dwarf mags to add those Paint Splatters to the pile as well.

A hardback notebook and about 3 Pritt sticks later and I had my very own Citadel Painting Reference Guide!

Below and some samples pages from the book. I know it's not all by shade, but they were just stuck in where they fit.

What do you think?
I may even scan all of the pages and crate a PDF at some point.

I am still looking to improve it though.
If you have, or know anyone that has any issues of White Dwarf spare from the time between the current paint release and when they went weekly, let me know in the comment below.