Curryman

It turns out (somewhat unexpectedly) that I get to go to GenCon Indy after all! I'll be doing as much coverage from the con floor as I can possibly manage. Is there anything in particular that the community would like to see get some attention? I'll do my best to get all the pics and inside dirt I can dig up for you. You can post suggestions here or leave them as comments on my site. Just follow the link. Thanks. And yes, I'll be hitting the Wyrd booth first! Like you had to ask... http://thescreamingalpha.com/2009/08/09/the-alpha-is-packing-for-gencon/

I hear what you're saying. They aren't my favorite zeds either, and they certainly aren't in the same artistic universe as the beautiful Studio minis. But I think that on balance they're OK figs. -1 point for the ugly hooker and +1 for the cool through-and-through wound because I;m a sucker for that kind of thing. My grading philosophy starts every product off at a three, and they gain and lose rank from there. The result is that plenty of mediocre minis end up as threes. I'm always a bit reluctant to hand out a two or (god forbid) a one absent some truly glaring flaws. Left to my own devices I wouldn't have a numerical score at all, but people expect it. I'm always interested in hearing feedback from readers, regardless of whether we agree or not, as I feel it helps keep me grounded. One of the reasons I started my blog was as a sort of existential protest against the kind of facile and mean-spirited claptrap one sees passed off as criticism, especially from movie critics. I vowed that I could do better, and judging from the response, a lot of people seem to think I have. I feel pretty good about that. Man, this kind of turned into a screed. Sorry about that, Mr. M. Didn't mean anything bad by it...

I'm definitely interested to try some of Army Painter's stuff, but there's just no way I'm plunking down the $30. I just can't. Maybe I can score a review sample or something. I'm sure there'd be a lot of interest in a head-to-head comparison between Minwax and Army Painter. Honestly, though, I should have seen the problem developing, but the change was so gradual that it reached crisis before I realized it. C'est la guerre, I suppose. At least it was only one mini that was truly messed up, and I learned a valuable lesson in the process. Cheap wisdom, I think. I forget what the context was, but a wise man once said that we learn more from our failures than from our successes. That's always rung true for me.

Reaper's sprawling Chronoscope line covers every other genre, so why not zombies? The Screaming Alpha reviews a three-pack of big 30mm zeds sporting some wicked, gory wounds. Are they worthy of joining your horde? Read the review and find out. http://thescreamingalpha.com/2009/08/07/review-urban-zombies-by-reaper-miniatures/

I'm a big fan of the famous "Dip" technique. I use it a lot because I need to get a lot of minis painted fairly quickly for my website reviews. Well, I just discovered (to my sorrow) that this super-easy method can have a super-big flaw that leads to blotchy, ugly-looking minis that may be ruined forever! If you're a Dip user you owe it to your minis to check out this article: http://thescreamingalpha.com/2009/08/07/the-dark-side-of-the-dip/ Melodramatic enough lead for you? I always wanted to do one of those. Long story short, the Minwax can gradually thicken up until it ends up glopping your minis instead of shading them.

Want some? Come get some! Masked luchador El Diablo leaps into The Screaming Alpha ring direct from Reaper Miniatures' eclectic Chronoscope line. Is he a world champ in the making or just another jabroni? Read the review and find out http://thescreamingalpha.com/2009/07/31/review-el-diablo-pro-wrestler-by-reaper-miniatures/

They're cute, they're Japanese, and they have katanas and AK-47s, or at least they can. This week The Screaming Alpha takes a look at a pack of four customizable metal schoolgirl minis. Each girl comes with three options for her right arm, civilian (like a satchel), ancient weapon (like a katana) or modern (like an AK-47). The flexibility lets you use them as zombie hunters, zombie victims, or just about any other role you heart desires. Check out the link for the review and more pics. http://thescreamingalpha.com/2009/07/31/review-niban-high-school-girls-by-left-hand-miniatures/

The talented Andy Foster of Heresy Miniatures has graciously consented to be my next interview subject. As I did last time, I'd like to solicit interview questions from the community. I can't promise all of them will be asked or answered, but here's your chance to throw a query or two in the hopper. Deadline in 12pm EST on Friday, July 31st. Now let's hear those questions! [braces self] For examples of past questions, check out my previous interview with John Hamilton of Studio Miniatures. http://thescreamingalpha.com/2009/07/09/the-alpha-interview-with-john-hamilton-of-studio-miniatures/

It's great fun to be able to cover your tabletop with a vast horde of zombies, but the pricetag can start to add up pretty quickly. Wargames Factory offers an interesting alternative (or maybe supplement) to pricey metal zeds with this pack of 24 multipart hard plastic zombies. Allegedly there are 936 unique combinations possible, more than enough for even the largest swarm. How do these plastic interlopers stand up against the metal figs that have always ruled the zombie roost in the past? Pretty darn well. Follow the link for the full review and pics. http://thescreamingalpha.com/2009/07/24/review-zombie-horde-by-wargames-factory/

If your workspace is anything like mine, you have a zillion paint pots either scattered all over the place or jammed into a shoebox. Either way when you need a specific paint, it's often an ordeal to track it down. A while back I found a terrific solution to this problem: The Paintier 80 Carrousel .Essentially it's a series of round tiers with slots to hold paint bottles mounted vertically on a "lazy susan" type turntable. You can easily see the labels of every jar and there is no "back corner" for things to disappear into. My whole paint collection is accessible with a flick of the wrist. I can't believe it took me this long to write a review of something I've used almost every day for the last five years, but here we are. Check the link for the review and pics. http://thescreamingalpha.com/2009/07/21/review-paintier-80-carrousel-organizer-by-paintier-products/

I must agree with Supervike. I've been quite impressed with Copplestone's work. It's interesting that these old sculpts are so consistent with his style today and are of such good quality. To me that says that he really found his "voice" early, which seems extraordinary. Usually it takes quite a while for a sculptor to refine their style and hone their skills and you can see that evolution in their work. I guess Mr. Copplestone is just one heck of a talent.

Moving big block of troops (especially for Warhammer) can be awkward, even with movement trays. A slightly inclined hill or a top-heavy mini like a metal standard bearer can easily tip over, causing mayhem among the rest of the unit. This problem is easily solved by constructing your own magnetic move trays. There's a bit of work involved, but it's an easy project for anybody who's managed to assemble a whole army. Follow the link for the lavishly-illustrated step-by-step tutorial. It's really written with Warhammer players in mind, but I imagine that the technique would be useful for any game that uses a lot of ranked troops. http://thescreamingalpha.com/2009/07/17/do-it-yourself-magnetic-movement-trays/

Bikers by em4 As promised some time ago in the wake of my West Wind biker gang review, this week's Screaming Alpha update includes a review of several of em4's bikers on foot. These are the old sculpts that Mark Copplestone did for Grenadier some time back, and his trademark attention to detail is very much in evidence. Despite some strange choices of weapons and almost orklike level of beefiness, these are some first rate minis. http://thescreamingalpha.com/2009/07/17/review-bikers-by-em4/ Devil's Knight by Four Color Figs This week The Screaming Alpha reviews the terrifying Devil's Knight, a Halloween-themed Superfig. With his scowling Jack-O-Lantern head and curving daggers DK is more than ready to bring some Samhain-style mayhem to a tabletop near you. http://thescreamingalpha.com/2009/07/18/review-devils-knight-by-four-color-figures/

My Studio minis were ordered direct from the company for delivery to the US and the process was quick and painless. I think I had my minis in a week or ten days from when I placed my order. I do a good deal of business with makers in the UK, and have found the experience a pleasant one almost without exception. No customs hassles, no shipping delays, no exorbitant shipping costs. I only ever had trouble with an order from Griffon, but that's down to their somewhat questionable organizational skills, not the Royal Mail. I say order with confidence.

Thanks, Baron. One would think that the terrible beating the clans took at Culloden would have buried Scottish nationalism for good, but I gather this is far from true. One of the most fascinating aspects of European history for me is the sheer length of time that grudges can be maintained. It would be as if the US was still experiencing factional tensions between Loyalist and Rebel supporters today. Of course there IS still some residual regional resentment over our Civil War, but that was a mere 150 years ago, so perhaps I'm just full of hot air. In any event, I shall make a note of the proper usage of "British" for future reference. Thanks again.

Okay, the English/Scottish thing was a bit of a wobbler, but in my defense, as a colonial I had no idea that "Ayr" was up by Edinburgh. The vast majority of my geographically-challenged countrymen wouldn't even understand the nature of that mistake. For those in the know, is "British" an all-encompassing descriptor for people and things from the UK?

We all know that the dog is man’s best friend, but is that still true after they’re both turned into zombies? We take a look at a unique zombie mini from Reaper’s idiosyncratic Chronoscope line. Does this pair deserve Best in Show or should they be put to sleep? Read the review and find out. http://thescreamingalpha.com/2009/07/09/review-zombie-dog-handler-by-reaper-miniatures/ Everybody likes robots. Automatons of various kinds are commonplace in many genres, but Jeeves the Clockwork Robot seems peculiarly suited to both VSF and pulp applications given his Baroque, non-electronic aesthetic. When I saw him in Reaper’s eclectic Chronoscope line I knew I had to review him for my blog, so I have. If interested parties would be so kind as to follow the link, you may read the review and marvel at the pics of the painted mini. http://thescreamingalpha.com/2009/07/07/review-jeeves-the-clockwork-robot-by-reaper-miniatures/ I use a lot of cardstock and foamcore terrain on my tabletops, but I really like resin for scenics and props because of its weight and 3D detail. I thus have a lot of little fiddly resin bits in my collection, so I decided to write reviews of some of my favorites. This set of crates from longtime resin casters Armorcast can find a use in almost an genre from pulp to WWII to espionage to SciFi and beyond. They make great cover or mission objectives, they paint up quickly and they look good on the table. Overall a pretty useful bit of kit. Check out the link for the full review and pics. http://thescreamingalpha.com/2009/07/07/review-small-wood-crate-set-by-armorcast/

The Screaming Alpha is proud to present a lengthy Q&A session with John Hamilton, the man behind noted UK zombie maker Studio Miniatures. Topics include: The identity and background of the sculptor who produced Studio's marvelous line zeds. Who does the amazing paint jobs seen on Studio's website. Future release plans for the zombie line, including a few survivors. Plans for the further development of the EVE setting, including potential game and even comic book tie-ins. The startling fact that Scotland is not technically part of England. Follow the link to read about all these bombshells, plus a whole lot more! http://thescreamingalpha.com/2009/07/09/the-alpha-interview-with-john-hamilton-of-studio-miniatures/

I wrote this little piece some time back after a really intense dream about one of my all-time favorite RPG characters. He's a cyborg working for a clandestine agency fighting the forces of darkness in an effort to stave off the Apocalypse. In the "current" campaign world (2035 or so) the good guys have failed and civilization has been pulverized by Judgement Day (the T2 style NBC kind with magic thrown in, not the Second Coming kind). Despite the loss of his agency and his other allies, Cutter continues to fight the good fight and does his best to help the survivors put things back together. This story is is a flashback before the war, and describes a little "extracurricular" activity he got up to one dark night when he needed to blow off some steam. I hope it makes sense to a reader unfamiliar with either the game or character background. I guess this is the acid test, eh? Comments, suggestions, and criticism of all kinds would be most welcome. I hope you enjoy it. http://thescreamingalpha.com/2009/01/08/fiction-cutters-night-out/

If it's Friday it must be time for new Screaming Alpha reviews, so here we go: Zombie Mob 002 by Studio Miniatures Last month I reviewed the first zombie mob from UK newcomer Studio Miniatures and pretty much gushed over them, thus imperiling my rep as a tough-as-nails no-mercy critic. Well, it's time to do it again with a review of their sister set, Zombie Mob 002. Do the new kids on the block measure up to their top-rated siblings? How will the zed in the chicken suit affect the final verdict? Check out the new lavishly illustrated review for the answer. Also included is coverage of Studio's special bonus mini that looks an awful lot like George Romero... http://thescreamingalpha.com/2009/06/26/review-zombie-mob-002-by-studio-miniatures/ Stone Bridge by Armorcast Everybody needs some nice terrain to dress up a battlefield, and while cut-up felt can do in a pinch, there's nothing like a fancy resin piece or two to make things more interesting. My newest review takes a look at a very nice stone bridge produced by respected US resin makers Armorcast. Suitable for just about any battlefield from the Fantasy Era onwards, it paints up quickly and makes a worthwhile addition to almost any terrain collection. Follow the link for more info and painted photos. http://thescreamingalpha.com/2009/06/25/review-stone-bridge-by-armorcast/ Adding Heft to 25mm Bases At one time or another everybody's had to struggle with a top-heavy mini that just keep falling over again and again. Usually it's a big metal mini in a dynamic pose mounted on a lightweight plastic slottabase. The best way to fix the problem is to add weight to the base, but just what's the best way to do that without adding unwanted height or messing with the aesthetic of your painstakingly-based minis? Check out this tutorial for a comparison of several methods and a photo-illustrated guide to solving the problem quickly and easily. http://thescreamingalpha.com/2009/06/23/heft-for-25mm-bases/ A Memento of Battle Neither review nor tutorial, the rediscovery of an old Warhammer 40k trophy prompts an essay looking back on my colorful, intense, but somewhat shameful past as a GW fanatic. http://thescreamingalpha.com/2009/06/23/a-memento-of-battle/

Thanks for the warm welcome, guys. It's kind of humbling (but extremely gratifying) to read that my reputation has preceded me. Hopefully I can add a few of the amazing Wyrd Minis to my review list one of these days.

Thanks for the kind words, Malebolgia. It's funny, I'm still getting used to the interconnectedness of the minis community. I keep running into familiar handles on different boards, and I suppose I should be used to it by now. I suppose it still feels odd because my last major experience was many moons ago in the Usenet era, where each group of users kept pretty much to itself. I like the modern way much better, as I keep running into old friends even in new virtual places. Anyhow, thanks for the welcome. I was kinda nervous about posting links here, not wanting to step on toes.

A mega-update at my blog, The Screaming Alpha, sees a slew of new reviews added. Meet the Glock-Roach! The world of superhero minis is filled with variations on the same old themes. Guy with cape. guy with wings, big muscle guy, all these we’ve seen ad nausem. But how many minis have you seen that portray a seven-foot cockroach packing four automatic pistols and wearing a trenchcoat “disguise?” Enter The Glock=Roach, from the Superfigs line produced by Four-Color Figures. He’s one of the most unique minis I’ve ever seen, and you need to see the pictures to understand his surreal majesty. Follow the link for the review and pics. http://thescreamingalpha.com/2009/06/18/review-the-glock-roach-by-four-color-figures/ Review: Peter and Katie by Hasslefree There has always be a curious dearth of children in the world of gaming miniatures. Kids have always feature prominently in adventure fiction and games of all kinds, but finding decent minis for them has been a bit of a slog. Fortunately, Hasslefree counts a pair of plucky poppets among its excellent Adventurers range, armed and readu to take on zombies or raiders or what have you. More details and painted pics are available by following the link. http://thescreamingalpha.com/2009/06/18/review-peter-and-katie-by-hasslefree/ Review: Jeanette the Ranger by Mannequin Miniatures I was recently sent a review copy of Jeanette, a ranger/fighter type by relatively new UK maker Mannequin Miniatures. She’s a nicely detailed mini with a selection of three different left arms to permit customization according to one’s needs. It’s a good start for a new company. I wrote a full review, with accompanying pics, which is available by following the link. http://thescreamingalpha.com/2009/06/16/review-jeannette-the-ranger-by-mannequin-miniatures/ All this plus coverage of Sigma Team’s PC game Zombie Shooter, and even a craft tutorial on making your own painting station. Come on by and check it out.

Hello. I'm Curryman. I'm a writer, RPG nut, and painting addict from Louisville, KY. I write a miniatures and RPG review blog called The Screaming Alpha. My favorite RPG is Savage Worlds, and in the minis realm I've been playing a lot of All Things Zombie lately. This seems like a cool comunity, and I look forward to meeting everybody. -Curry