Passmossis's Mudmaw Tribe - Tree Terrain Guide

This is my first Gnoblog to record the progress of the Mudmaw Tribe's progress.  I've done a bit of work to get started and have a long road ahead of me.  Note I'm no great painter, don't do much fancy modifications, or anything crazy.      This gnoblog is a work in progress, obviously.  I am currently working out the background of the tribe so some written material here is subject to change.


The Background
From within the Mountains of Mourn lies a valley devoted to the filthiest of the brutes.  Here the staple traditions of the Ogres finds itself in an odd pickle against the will of a half-crazed tyrant.  Forged on the belief of finding a true connection to the Maw itself, the Mudmaw tribe fiercely protect their territory as their homeland.  Stripped of their nomadic exploration tendencies the tribe thrives on causing chaos to any who venture within their small realm within the Mountains of Mourn.  While it has been known for the hunger of the Pit to grow to such extreme needs that even the Mudmaw tribe must venture out.  Placing the Mudmaw tribe in search for even the strangest of objects 'n meats to attempt to sate the Pits current needs. 


Pit of the Maw
Within the homeland of the Mudmaw tribe lies a massive pit of bubbling muck 'n mud.  Breathed to life from the chaotic will of the Maw itself; the pit brings forth miraculous boons to the Mudmaw tribe.  As with anything tied to the very will of the Maw, the pit has an insatiable hunger for anything and everything.  To the likes that even the tribe suffers to sate the will of the Pit. 

Many objects of power and value has surfaced to the very mouth of the Pit.  Tinted metals of past feasts rise up from the depths of the pit, proven to be worthy of use for the strongest of the filthiest ogres around.  This granting the ogres the means of forging great armor and weapons to further fight to feed the need of the Pit. 

Society
With the finest of the ogre warriors holding the largest sums of mud-metal, some bits do find their way into the bull populace.  These bits are commonly used for currency within the tribe to outfit weapons, barter goods, food, gnoblars, and the like.  Another tendency these bits cause amongst the bulls is bloody duels on the outer rinks of the Pit.  The loser forfeit their life and their bits of mud-metal, all that remains beyond that is fed into the Pit.  In personal disputes it is not too uncommon for the vanquished ogre's gnoblar to be sacrificed to the pit.



The Army
Legend:
C - Complete
I - In Progress, painting currently
X - Constructed, unpainted

Skragg - X
Tyrant - X
Bruiser - X
Butcher - X
2 Hunters - XX

72 Gnoblars - IIIIIIII, X*46


18 Bulls - X*18
17 Ironguts - I*11, X*6

9 Leadbelchers - X*9
4 Maneaters - XXX
3 Yhetees - XXX
3 Gorgers - XX
Scraplauncher - X
Ironblaster - I
Rhinox Rider - X
Mournfang Cav - XX
Slave Giant - X
Stonehorn -


Ogre Achievements

1. Gettin Started - Play a game of warhammer using the new ogre book
6. look what we can do! - have a mornfang rider successfully parry an attack
7. Oooo, shiny! - buy one of the models new to the ogre range
9. Sigh! - lose more than 3 ogres to any one casting of a spell that involved you taking an initiative test as part of it's resolution
12. Say hello to my little friend! - field an ironblaster in your army
22. Here Kitty! - field 1 or more lone sabretusks in your army
23. Win a game using ogres vs. beastmen.
49. the maw the merrier! - have the large template version ofmaw spell roll a misfire and kill one or more of your ogres.
56. Start a gnoblog for your ogre army
57. Update pics into your ogre gnoblog on at least 4 seperate occasions.


8th Ed. Battle Record:
Mudmaw vs HE - W2 L0 D0
Mudmaw vs OnG - W2 L0 D0
Mudmaw vs Beast - W1 L0 D0
Mudmaw vs Scaven - W1 L0 D0
Mudmaw vs Lizardmen - W1 L0 D0
Mudmaw & HE vs Lizardmen & WE - W1 L0 D0

Currently I am working on two units of Ironguts to forge the way into this army.  I've never been any type of artist, never picked up a paint brush before working on a few gnoblars and these ogres.  All pics in this blog are taken with my cell phone, so hopefully they come out alright. 

Welcome to the wonderful world of painting!

 I think you have a good skin base color there!  Something you may want to try after you get your base colors on your guys is using the new GW washes.  They are pretty easy to use in the fact you  pretty much just heavily brush them on and it gives great definition with little effort!   Works great for ogres since with all their muscles, pants and craggy metal.     
 Especially using either a brown or black wash on the metal will make it stand out and look all battleworn.  Or something else to try might be dabbing browns and dark orange on small areas of the metal if you want the rusty look.  I see there's multiple hues on your guys armor plates which can work fine, though it may get a little patchy busy over the entire unit.  If you want to continue with the different metals I definitely recommend a wash over them to tie them together.

Most importantly have fun while your painting!

Thanks for the comments and suggestions!  Yea, I really like that base for the skin.  I have a few washes I will be using once I have a few of the guts done so I can do some messing around.  The different hue metals are going to be a trend throughout the army, especially on guts due to their superior equipment.  The mud pit they feed rarely (but often enough lol) spits out metal that the ogres find as superior to normal metals.  The pit itself is made up of various colors and changes from time to time.  So when these metals surface they are infused with the color and thus found worthy for ogre use, the more pit forged metal the ogre wears the more impressive they are. 

I'll give it a shot to see how well I can make it look with a wash if they look off when placed in rank.  I'm def making it a fun time to relax an just see what comes out.  Here's updates on Irongut #2:









Pictures def make it easy to see spots I need to touch up.   

they look really good already.
to make it even better try this.
1st try to trim up the mold lines.
second try to use some washes that really gives it a great effect already.
maybe you siad this stuff inn your text already but im lazy so i berlly read.

but great love to see more 

Did some more work on the third gut, still has a ways to go but so far I'm liking how its going.  Notice the camera is pushing out some of the color but its alright. 

Did a bit of work on various Ironguts but mostly on the third.
Number 3 is bit more along, done for now so here he is to date:











Once the pants are squared I plan on giving them a dark wash to give them a faded worn feel.  Feel free to leave comments and suggestions!  Appreciated.

Yea You should really try out GW's washes they look great and are real easy. 

Painting has been on hold as a new addition has found its way into the Mudmaw tribe.  Recently enslaved from the Beastman tribes, brandished in the remains of the recently fallen Lizardmen.  You can't see it from the shot below, but he's rocking the slave collar so I'm not sure if I'll be dangling anything from it.





I could use some help finding a chain for him to hold in his left hand, just something to possibly wrap around and drape or something similar.  I'll check my local hardware and craft stores to see if I can find anything suitable.

Let me know if you want any Lizardmen Bits, I have plenty. 

Love the patchwork pants on the irongut! So cool.  Just needs a quick brown wash.

Been a while since last update but work has been progressing.  Pretty big news for this army is I will be building my two 4'x4' tables this week.  They will be join-able to create a 4'x8' table for larger games and split so two games can take place at once at my place.  With this I've (and my GF;) started a massive terrain building initiative which will also be covered under this Gnoblog!  With that, I leave you my first small hill rough design (not fully completed), feed back always appreciated!






This is a size comparision so the height/visual aspects can be seen.  From left to right you have a Rhinox rider, an Irongut, a skeleton warrior, and barely visible on the far right is a ghoul.








I also found a well suited chain for my slave giant:



I will be making the chain not so shiny once the model is painted, but for now he is at least rocking the chain.

this army is really cool, especially this dude!

Everyone likes the Patchwork, thanks!  He's almost done, I'll post up finished pics once he is.  Have to figure out how I'm going to base these guts.

Awesome to hear that you are building some tables.
I got a shed full of Styrofoam if you guys run out.
The chains are a good look for the giant. 

Oh how about basing them in something that looks like mud. 

Yep, I'm still going over how I'm going to base them.  We'll see once I have more models in the ready mode.



Today, started and finished constructing the first of two 4'x4' table to be my gaming tables.  This table is sturdy!  Weighting in at least 100lb total in weight, has a very solid feel and shouldn't send models scattering if someone accidentally bumps into it.


Here are some shots as me and my step-dad built it up!

The decking board is 6''x1'' to give a sturdy table top base. 


The legs are 4''x4'' screwed into the surface and 4''x1'' binding boards.


A 6''x1'' is placed on two of the sides finishing up the 4' length.


The table standing without the surface.


Cutting the surface 4'x4'.


Table length (width matched)


Table height


Fully constructed!




We'll be constructing the second table tomorrow and transporting them to my gaming shed.  Then the fun of basing and applying the surface coat!

Wow.  That's fantastic! Keep up the good work!

i agree with Chito, well done! i hope that making those tables works out for you

Second table done, perfect pair!



8' on the money


Transported back to my place and already in the gaming shed.


Thanks goes out to my step dad Bill for making this happen!

Sweet 
Don't forget to paint them,
you know for water protection.

Salt treated lumber, so should be fine there.  The surface has been sand coated with glue and there will be a layer of paint going on top.  That way she'll have a good look, another binding agent to keep the sand, and protect against moisture. 

They look really good!  I'll start setting up some game days post 10th so we play under 8th N810.

Having tables to play on at my place now, I need to kick up my terrain.  The project I worked on tonight was the Ogre Tower!  I completed the base floor and the start of the second floor.  This tower will have two internal levels and a top area capable of hosting a unit. 

This tower is made fit for Ogres, by ogres (presumably).  It is large enough to house a 4x3 unit of ogres and each level can be lifted off to provide easy access to the models within.  The porting on the structure is fit for ogre use (leadbelchers!).

Here are the shots from tonight:

Starting it off, making sure my setup is good fit for leadies to fire from.


The first floor with all ports in, notice there is no base yet, that will come soon.


With the base of the second floor overhead, cannons peering out the windows.


Unit of bulls chilling within, note that ironguts wont be so fortunate when the roof is overhead.


Reinforced with the pop-sickle sticks, the second floor base feels solid.



So right now it is more like an ogre bunker, but hey even that would be field-able!

Love it!

Woah Nice tower. 

Looking forward to getting my new rule book 

Tables have been surfaced and based in brown paint, ready to see some action!

Tables covered in glue n' sand to give the texture.


With brown paint over top, it looks pretty darn good to me!







I think I'll flock some areas to give different appearance  but most of it will be changed up via terrain placed down.

Nicely done the texture looks great. 

Good stuff!

Hey guess what I got in the mail today,
I;ll give you a hint, it's heavy an red...   

Me too, me too.  Think Rich got his too, but his isn't so red...

That sand table looks really good.
What'd you make the tower from? Hirst Arts?

Update on progress.

Constructed and cleaned up molding lines on 14 gnoblars I had found in a baggy, a good recent addition.
Cleaned up mold lines on 8 of my Bulls.

Played my first 8th ed game last Sat.  2k match.  Mudmaw vs High Elves,

I brought a Skragg lead army with three gorgers, two units of 10 bulls, two units of 23 gnoblars, and scraplauncher.

I have to say running bulls in such large blocks is pretty awesome.  The High Elf army was setup with some major shooting, having a hoard of Sea Guard and two balista's looking to take out some ogres!  Most of the HE firing took place on a 3x3 bull unit and still managed to meet close combat with full support attacks.  The second block of bulls (with a bruiser BSB) made short work of a unit of 10 guards (Ward save/halberd unit) in the first round of close combat.  Running ogres in actual beefy units, impact hits were 3str 7 and 1 str 6.  Love it!

I really like the stomp attack, especially on my gorgers.  My first turn of shooting, scraplauncher hit 31 Sea Guard on a direct hit killing 14 of them.  A personal best, those gnobbos were on point!



Reg, I'll put a picture up of what those blocks are.  They are made of Styrofoam and are really easy to work with (cut with exact-o knife or melt with heat, bind with low heat glue gun).  It is about $14 USD for 300 blocks, found two boxes of them at Michaels craft store locally.

Been working on my BSB Bruiser, have a look see and let me know what you think.

Wrist isn't perfect, but I'm satisfied.  I'm prolly the worst person to work with green stuff lol.

Next to his twin


With two Ironguts

Looks great! Get some paint on there!

Been forever since I've posted an update. 

Reg06, the bricks i used for the 'ogre tower' now 'ogre bunker' are called Project Bricks. 
Here is a link to the company that made them:
 http://www.floracraft.com/products/styrofoam/kits/project-bricks/
So it only took me a year...  lol


Since my last update:

I've moved, with less room to work with than before.  My nice tables are now being stored away on some family property  . 

I've gained a few more Ironguts, 70% of those Ironguts I have are wearing some paint.

I've started painting up Ogres (bulls) as well, will update with pictures soon.

Just patched up my Tyrant and Slaughtermaster with greenstuff to make them a bit more appealing.



It's good to make progress.

I've been working on some terrain pieces for my gaming group, and I've decided to do a little guide on how to create these trees I've come up with.



This guide focus's on creating the tree terrain pictured below.  All materials used for this project were obtained from Michaels.



For starters, this is the base for my terrain:


I found these at Michaels for about $3.00 a piece.


The first part of the process is creating your trees.  With that, I normally start by making my tree tops. 


What you see here is basic thin gauge wire and a black and white fabric (the kind designed for fluffy scarfs).  I went with the black and white to give a natural lighting and cause a contrast in color beyond the dyeing process.




After knotting the fabric to the end of a short stretch of wire (7'' to 9''), I began to twirl the fabric around the wire.  Be careful not to pull the fabric too tight, the intention here is to scrunch the fabric around the starting point as you progress, giving you a thick stretch of stringy wire.  A trick I use at each end is to take a pair of needle-nose pliers and roll the wire into itself to cap each end (once it has been covered by the string).

Once I have created a batch of 10 tree tops, I created a pool of dye to color the fabric.





I leave them in the saturated state for about three hours.  After that amount of time I thin the water down to half.



From there I let the dye dry on the tree tops, typically with some aid from a fan.  Making sure to swirl them around and rotate every so often.

The end product should come out looking like this:



With the tree tops completed, it's now time to create the tree trunks.  I went with a wild/chaos style forest and found these to be perfect.



Cut to the preferred size:


Duplicated for the number of trees to create:


Now comes the part where tree top merges with tree trunk.  Tightly wrap the tree top to one end of the tree trunk.  I use a glue gun so only one full twist is required.



The end result should be:



With your tree created, it is time to put it on its base.  Here you'll use an x-acto knife to make life a little easier.  First I pick out a spot of where my tree will be placed.



Pierce the spot with the x-acto knife and twist, creating a hole for the tree trunk.  Note this should be a tight fit to help keep the tree in place.



Push the tree trunk through the base, allowing 1cm to show on the opposite side. 



Now using a hot-glue gun, cover the protruding tree trunk with glue and proceed to twist the trunk up and down into the terrain base.  This is to help ensure the glue takes hold within the base and not just on the bottom surface.  After a short moments the glue will dry, be sure to have the tree trunk flush with the bottom of the terrain base and in a position that satisfies you.



Once the glue has dried, you have successfully created and rooted your first tree into the terrain base.  Now all that is left is planting more trees!





As an extra step, I highly suggest you create a base template for your terrain to make it very game friendly.

Here I've added magnets on the base of my terrain.  I then sliced a small piece of dense foam sheet to mirror the outline the terrain base.  After lining the base phone up against the terrain base, I allow additional magnets to hold the foam in place.  I then proceed to glue them in place for a perfect fit.







Here you can view the finished product:




If you have any comments or suggestions please feel free.