Ogre Matt's Gnoblog

Thought I'd start a diary to chart my progress as a gamer returning to the hobby.

So I haven't played 8th, am seriously out of practice with painting and have never used green stuff... All things that need fixing. Especially the green stuff. Some of the maneater conversions people have posted are amazing, if I can get anywhere remotely close I'd be happy. I'm also not a massive fan of the GW butcher model so either want to convert something or find a decent alternative.

The armies I'm likely to play are Skaven, High Elves and Chaos.

At the moment I own quite a few bits from when Ogres were first released. Doubt it makes for a competitive or balanced list though and fairly sure I'm a bit sparse and also missing some units that I shouldn't leave home without. I have:

11 Ogres
4 Ironguts
4 Leadbelchers
4 Maneaters
1 Butcher
2 Sabretusks
1 Hunter
10 Trappers
3 Gorgers
BSB

Any thoughts what I should prioritise adding next?

Mournfang!.

I would say you need to add some Mournfang and an Ironblaster. Either bump up the bulls or Ironguts units as well as they are a bit sparse, numbers-wise.

You need a character/ lord for that lot too. Opinions vary, but either a slaughtermaster or a tyrant. Depends on how you want the army to go and what opponents you may be facing.

For smaller to mid games I would also suggest a Firebelly. For me I would say get the core sorted, find a theme then get the lords/hero's sorted. Mournfang cav are a must, as is the Ironblaster.

G_H

Awesome, that puts me on the right track, thank you G_H.

I've got my eye on the Scibor Slaughterer for a general. I hadn't even considered a theme though.

Was in London yesterday for a friend's stag and managed to pop into Dark Sphere beforehand. Hadn't been before but it's a cool place. Intended to pick up the Scibor slaughterer and some of their ancient ruins bases. The ogre stuff was in storage so they didn't have it on the day. Did however have a Ironblaster for £16.40 so went for that instead. Oops.

Hoping to post some pictures of the ogres I'm painting later, providing I don't get distracted and build the ironblaster...

Have made very little progress with painting unfortunately. Flesh has never been my strong point. Wasn't going well so instead have been attempting a few things with milliput and green stuff.

Started with filling gaps. Now working on what I hope will be a butcher model. Pictures definitely to follow.

Have seen some ogre flesh done with a white undercoat and gradually building up blue washes followed with highlighting. Going to start a test model today, will see how it goes.

Well don't be disheartened just yet! Flesh is one of those things where practice is the key. I spent ages getting it right and to this day my Slaughtermaster looks like an anaemic albino or a member of the undead. It's just a case of practicing.

Test model is a great idea this way you can spend any amount of time on it and keep playing with it until your happy. I often do two at a time. That way I can compare things like washes etc as they do make a considerable difference. To this day I am still discovering things that look better than the stuff I considered to be good (an example of this is using a "....camonshade" wash over pink skin to give it a more dead look. Worked a treat).

Would love to see some pictures of the work as it progresses. It is much easier to give some encouraging advice or suggestions when you can actually see the model.

There are some amazing "blue skinned" ogres on the forum. Zolas's are pretty damn awesome, and if you scheck his Gnoblog I think he describes how he did the skin for his fatties. Also take a look at Ibisson's Gnoblog, again blue skinned ogres that look really good.

Keep at it, can't wait to see some progress pics

G_H

Well don't be disheartened just yet! Flesh is one of those things where practice is the key. I spent ages getting it right and to this day my Slaughtermaster looks like an anaemic albino or a member of the undead. It's just a case of practicing.

Test model is a great idea this way you can spend any amount of time on it and keep playing with it until your happy. I often do two at a time. That way I can compare things like washes etc as they do make a considerable difference. To this day I am still discovering things that look better than the stuff I considered to be good (an example of this is using a "....camonshade" wash over pink skin to give it a more dead look. Worked a treat).

Would love to see some pictures of the work as it progresses. It is much easier to give some encouraging advice or suggestions when you can actually see the model.

There are some amazing "blue skinned" ogres on the forum. Zolas's are pretty damn awesome, and if you scheck his Gnoblog I think he describes how he did the skin for his fatties. Also take a look at Ibisson's Gnoblog, again blue skinned ogres that look really good.

Keep at it, can't wait to see some progress pics

G_H

Sound advice from G_H there.  I'm am learning new things all the time, and test models can really help you to decide what route you wish to take.  But generally the more you practice the better.  I started painting regular bulls at first and with the large amount of flesh there you get loads of practice quick.

Hope to see some pics up soon!

Also cheers G_H for directing Ogre_Matt to my Gnoblog and I'm glad that my work work is helping new comers to ogre's in their inspiration! +1 Gnoblar for you G_H!

Kind regards Zolas

Finally have pictures:

First is the butcher I've been working on:

I've also thought of a very rough theme for the army. Not sure how original it is but along the lines of an arctic fishing tribe. Harpoons, furs, weapons and armour made from animal parts etc. I had a go at making fish scale patterns on some gut plates and ironfists earlier. I think some turned out ok and some didn't.

Well don't be disheartened just yet! Flesh is one of those things where practice is the key. I spent ages getting it right and to this day my Slaughtermaster looks like an anaemic albino or a member of the undead. It's just a case of practicing.

Test model is a great idea this way you can spend any amount of time on it and keep playing with it until your happy. I often do two at a time.

Thanks for the advice, as always much appreciated. I was getting somewhat disheartened but back on track now. I'm working on a couple of test models at the moment

Oh and thanks for the gnoblar, that's my first one!

Matt

Cant wait to see some more painting pictures. You seem very talented, and those scale shields looks top notch.

Keep up the good work!

~ConOgre

Cant wait to see some more painting pictures. You seem very talented, and those scale shields looks top notch.

Keep up the good work!

~ConOgre

Thanks ConOgre! I'm not sure about that but going to put some serious painting practice in! Hopefully have some painting pics up in the next couple of days

There were quite a few failed attempts with various knife blades and other tools last night. Ended up using a drinking straw.

Matt

Hey Matt,
I like your theme idea and nice work on the scales.  I haven't done scales myself but I wonder what it would look like if you actually flattened out the green stuff and cut out individual scales, then places them on gutplates etc overlapping them as you go.  That might give it some depth and texture.  Just a thought.

I am sure the technique you used here will look great when you get some paint on it too.

Cheers and welcome to the Stronghold!

Cool stuff coming out here Ogre_Matt.

Those scales are quite nice in my opinion!  Really like the way you have them on Iron fists and gut plates alike. 

Look forward to seeing more.

Kind regards Zolas

Hey Matt,
I like your theme idea and nice work on the scales.  I haven't done scales myself but I wonder what it would look like if you actually flattened out the green stuff and cut out individual scales, then places them on gutplates etc overlapping them as you go.  That might give it some depth and texture.  Just a thought.

Thanks Ibisson, I will try that once I've had a bit more practice I think could be a great option for a cloak or banner. At the moment based on the problems I had last night it's beyond my skill level. My greenstuff hasn't turned up yet so at the moment everything has been done with milliput. Maybe that will make a difference too.

Oh and hello!

Matt

Cool stuff coming out here Ogre_Matt.

Those scales are quite nice in my opinion!  Really like the way you have them on Iron fists and gut plates alike. 

Look forward to seeing more.

Kind regards Zolas

Thank you It's quick which I like. Tried it on a few spares to see what it would look like.

Matt

Looking good so far mate. I like the theme idea; the whole arctic hunters thing sounds pretty cool. I think the scales on the gut plates and ironfists looks good.

As I have said in the past I am not a huge fan of Milliput, but it can be worked to a really good effect. In the case of doing individual scales I would save that for command models unless you are feeling very adventurous. It would be quite allot of work when you first get started doing them and it is something that I imagine could become more of a trial than a pleasure really quickly. Especially if you want this theme to be spread across the entire army.

I'm not saying don't do it, but until you could get a technique off and be able to do it as second nature then I would stick with the way you are doing the scales at present. They look great and paint always makes everything look better and more detailed anyway.

If you really were deciding to do layered scales then I would use greenstuff and do it as a one piece and layer them from one bit of GS rather than do individual scales.
If it were me I would cover the gutplate with a blob of greenstuff, starting at the bottom cut lines into it from left to right in even(ish) rows from bottom to top. Cut them in at and angle /l /l /l kind of like that if your looking sideways on. Then mould each scale from the bottom up to the top so they look as if they overlap.

Anyway, there is no need but if you were in the mood to experiment.

G_H

Looking good so far mate. I like the theme idea; the whole arctic hunters thing sounds pretty cool. I think the scales on the gut plates and ironfists looks good.

As I have said in the past I am not a huge fan of Milliput, but it can be worked to a really good effect. In the case of doing individual scales I would save that for command models unless you are feeling very adventurous. It would be quite allot of work when you first get started doing them and it is something that I imagine could become more of a trial than a pleasure really quickly. Especially if you want this theme to be spread across the entire army.

I'm not saying don't do it, but until you could get a technique off and be able to do it as second nature then I would stick with the way you are doing the scales at present. They look great and paint always makes everything look better and more detailed anyway.

If you really were deciding to do layered scales then I would use greenstuff and do it as a one piece and layer them from one bit of GS rather than do individual scales.
If it were me I would cover the gutplate with a blob of greenstuff, starting at the bottom cut lines into it from left to right in even(ish) rows from bottom to top. Cut them in at and angle /l /l /l kind of like that if your looking sideways on. Then mould each scale from the bottom up to the top so they look as if they overlap.

I will give that a go, thanks G_H. My greenstuff arrived and is waiting in the sorting office.

Matt

Sorry not a great picture but one of my blue skinned test models wip.

Tomorrow going to have a bash at modelling masks on a couple of ogre heads for a firebelly conversion. I'm aiming for some sort of sun shape mask. From the few bits I've read about inuits they worshipped sun and moon gods/goddesses. Thinking that would give me a good excuse to have a firebelly in an ice tribe and a possible future lore of heavens butcher.

Matt

Well even through the blurred pic he really looks like he has a nice iced theme to him and certainly got the layers down.  If you can get a more clear pic that would be great!

Can't wait to see more! 

Kind regards Zolas

Hi Matt, I'm with Zolas.  Looking cool 

Can't wait to see more of your blue skins.

Ah! Now i see...the premier purveyors of blue skinned ogres all banding together! I'm onto you three; Zolas, Ibisson and you Matt, slowly populating the mountains of Mourn with the blue terror 

G_H

Thanks Zolas and Ibisson. Phone camera in anything other than daylight doesn't seem to cut it. Could probably have done with a better base coat and may have gone a bit overboard with the highlighting... I'll finish the other test one I'm doing for comparison and I'll take some better pictures.

Matt

Ah! Now i see...the premier purveyors of blue skinned ogres all banding together! I'm onto you three; Zolas, Ibisson and you Matt, slowly populating the mountains of Mourn with the blue terror 

G_H

I know nothing of Operation Iceshard...

you weren't supposed to tell them the name 

Ah! Now i see...the premier purveyors of blue skinned ogres all banding together! I'm onto you three; Zolas, Ibisson and you Matt, slowly populating the mountains of Mourn with the blue terror 

G_H

I know nothing of Operation Iceshard...

The First rule about operation Iceshard is you do not talk about operation Iceshard!

The Second rule about operation Iceshard is you do NOT talk about oeration Iceshard!

Hehe Love Fight club couldn't resist! 

Kind regards Zolas

The First rule about operation Iceshard is you do not talk about operation Iceshard!

The Second rule about operation Iceshard is you do NOT talk about oeration Iceshard!

Hehe Love Fight club couldn't resist! 

Sorry, sorry Ibisson. I don't think anyone has noticed though. On the plus side Zolas got to quote Fight Club. I was trying to figure out a way of working in: "We didn't receive any messages, and Captain Blackadder definitely did not shoot this delicious plump-breasted pigeon, sir."

Matt

Well played men!

Finally have pictures of a couple of test models:











I'm quite out of practice so mainly been focused on the skin and finding a colour I'm happy with. May have gone a bit overboard and I've still got two more test models to come... One with space wolves grey and the other with a darker blue (I forget which for the moment).

Once I have an idea on the skin colour I'm going to concentrate on finishing my butcher/slaughtermaster.

Matt

Prefer the lightone so far (2nd pic) the white line sharp highlight has come out really well.

Kind regards Zolas

I like the lighter tone as well.  Since it looks like you are ready to put some considerable time in painting these guys, you may want to take the extra time to scrape of the mold lines on the models.  It is time consuming but worth it in the end IMHO.

Overall looking good, keep up the good work.

Prefer the lightone so far (2nd pic) the white line sharp highlight has come out really well.

Kind regards Zolas

That's the one I'm leaning towards I'll see what the others turn out like this evening first but I liked how frosty he looks.

I like the lighter tone as well.  Since it looks like you are ready to put some considerable time in painting these guys, you may want to take the extra time to scrape of the mold lines on the models.  It is time consuming but worth it in the end

I got too caught up in a colour scheme and hadn't even noticed! Yes you're right, I will do that from now on.

Thank you both for your input. It's much appreciated from premier blue skinned tribes.

Matt