This week I painted up all of the Sinister Birds for Hellboy Board Game. These were tricky to come up with a color scheme for. Originally, I wanted to paint them like purplish ravens, mostly because I really wanted to use the title of “Quoth the Raven Never’more”. I also feel that Mike Mignola has taken inspiration from Edgar Allen Poe in his comics. Unfortunately, these birds don’t look close enough to Ravens to quite make that work. I tried to look up eagle color patterns but couldn’t find anything too interesting, so ultimately, I just painted them as close as I could to the comics. In the comics, they’re basically just dark gray which is a bit boring but I added some other colors as I could to balance out warm and cold colors. These are from the most exciting or the best thing I’ve painted but they’re done and can be used in Hellboy one day which is the important thing.
I worked on a couple of other things this week but none of them are finished unfortunately so that is it for hobby progress from me. Its probably just as well because I’m pretty tired as I write this from having to get up early the last couple of days so that two bathrooms in my condo could be re-grouted and re-caulked. I look forward to sleeping this weekend and getting back to normal. Well that, and hopefully letting my wallet recover from this latest expense. I’m learning all kinds of things about home ownership in 2023!
While I got my hobby mojo back, slow shipping threatens to derail it again. I ordered paint and some new miniatures I want to paint from Games Workshop. They shipped relatively quickly but GW split my order into two. I got one package a couple of days ago and it was a large enough box that I expected it to have miniatures and some of the paint I ordered. I opened it and was shocked to see it contained a single pot of paint! I have no idea why GW would be that wasteful (seems like something Amazon would do to me honestly) but ever since then I’ve been anticipating getting the rest of my order and it hasn’t showed up yet. GW kindly shipped it using UPS Smart Post which should probably be called Worst Post. It is really slow and the tracking is non-existent. Conceptually, it makes no sense to me because UPS takes the item from whoever is sending it and then takes it to your city, hands it off to USPS who then take their sweet time actually delivering it. I would like to think that non-Americans’ heads are spinning trying to make sense of this! I certainly can’t.
On a happier note, Adepticon is three weeks away. Its kind of hard to believe but I’m looking forward to it.
Kuribo's Painting 
Nice work on the birds, Jeff! 🙂 I like that colour scheme! Good idea using a scheme that ties them into published images, since those are definitely not ravens (and I’m betting Dave Stone will know which member of the hawk family they’re closest to in appearance, although it’s difficult to tell what size they are from the photo)!
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Thank you, John! In the comics, the birds are huge. Pretty much as tall as a person so that made it hard to judge what the inspiration for them was. I think you’re right that they’re meant to look like evil hawks. I’m glad you like color scheme as well because I put quite a bit of thought into it. More than usual I would say.
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Excellent work on the birds Jeff, I think going the comic book route was the best call, as the birds have elements from multiple birds of prey, but too generic to be one specific. In answer to Johns question I would have to say they are closest resembling a Peregrin Falcon, but the tail is wrong for that bird.
Hope your sleep pattern can now return to normal, and houses like cars can throw you curveballs all the time !
Hope your parcel arrives soon, and we have similar problems with some couriers in the UK
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Thanks, Dave and I think you’re spot-on with the Peregrin Falcon observation. Ironically, those are pretty small and these miniatures are meant to be nearly human-sized so they took a few liberties there, I would say!
I got a good night’s rest last night so that certainly helps. No sign of the package yet but hopefully it arrives early next week and I can get started on those new minis!
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Birdemic, anybody? xD For real though these look fantastic.
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Haha, that is perfect, Mick! Thank you for the kind words as well.
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“The things you own, end up owning you.” Though, I think that should be the things you have…because kids definitely end up owning you too! 🤪 Nice job on the birds and I think those colors will fit in with a Mignola art style game for sure!
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Haha, those are very true words! Thanks for the kind words on the birds as well. Its nice to have them done and ready for usage in Hellboy.
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Interesting colors, I really need to hit the comic book store and look at some Hellboys.
Just looked at my library system, they have Hellboy, the Complete Short Stories. Volume 1. Just put a hold on it.
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I had to look it up to see what that contained and it will certainly give you taste of what Hellboy is like. From what I can tell, the Complete Short Stories seems to contains=s 1-2 issue long stories which can be pretty good. If you can get your hands on the four Omnibus, those are even better as they contain longer and shorter stories. I personally like the longer stories better but only just. I hope you enjoy reading it and discovering Hellboy!
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The library seems to have others also, what can I say, you’re a bad influence. Next I’ll be playing Fallout.
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Hellboy has been around long enough that there are a number of ways to read the various stories. It isn’t overly complicated though and I’m sure you’ll find a way to navigate it. You might be able to get Fallout from the library too… 😉
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They certainly look sinister mate. I’m glad you’ve got your mojo back. Mine has waned a little
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I’m glad to hear you think so, mate! Sorry to hear about your mojo though (that is a strange thing to type, isn’t it!?) and I hope you get it back soon. You’re the only one among us who can tackle crazy ambitious projects in short order!
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Haha. Thanks man. I’m going to start with tidying up the hobby cabin this evening and go from there. However, there will be whiskey involved so things may come to a standstill pretty quickly.
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Haha, that sounds like a plan. Maybe cleaning will get you unstuck hobby-wise if you don’t drink too fast 🙂
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I like the colours scheme on the birds, definitely look sinister! We’ve been having shipping issues in Australia too, one order I’ve been waiting on for over three months at this stage! I’ve been told it’s coming soon though which is good. Fingers crossed you get your soon and can make that paint pot work!
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Thanks, Nic! Three months!? That really puts things into perspective for me. My order has been delayed about 4-5 days at this point. I’ve got my fingers crossed as well. I’m wrapping up a few lingering things but I’m ready to paint something Middle Earth! 😀
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Those are some menacing looking birds. Nice job.
Home ownership is the pits when things need fixing. And my family is always breaking something. I keep telling them when I am gone they should all just sit still bc not touch anything till I get back. It’s always “daddy will fix it.” Well I can’t! I have miniatures to paint. 😀
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Thanks, Stew! I would have to agree with you on home ownership. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that your family gets the message and leaves you alone 😉
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Looking good as always mate! Nice depth of detailing on the heads. 🦅 👍
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Thanks, mate! I’m glad to hear you like them.
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As others have stated well, the birds came our well. May your mojo stay strong and I do get the postal challenge issue – but as with all things, it too shall pass. Just not your mojo of course.
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Thanks, Mark! Getting my postal issues sorted would be really helpful but no luck so far. I think the hobby mojo will stick around regardless, thankfully.
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I hope so!
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Sinister Birds, great. GW Packaging, not so!😃
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Cheers, Justin! When you put it like that, it makes me think I could have made this post much shorter 😀
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Short and concise, something that isn’t usually me, but it shows I can drag something out of the bang when I’m in a hurry 😁
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