The third quarter of 2024 has ended, and the new one has just begun. Like the previous quarters, it’s time to review how the unfinished projects are progressing. Overall, things are going well. Let’s focus on one project that has carried over from the past two quarters: the Forest Guard.

I started this project in the second quarter, and it continued into the third. It looks like it will spill over into the fourth quarter as well. Why is that? There isn’t a simple answer. Primarily, I think the issue lies in the overall vision for the piece and the models I’m working with. Let me explain: Several of the pewter models I chose to use for this unit have integral bases, which are larger than I would like. This makes it difficult to fit the necessary number of models to qualify for a regiment according to the game rules. So, while this is primarily a painting project, the end result will also expand my Kings of War army, which must adhere to the required rules and model counts.

Right now, I have three fixed models on the base, and I’m happy with their placement. I’ve primed a few more models and started painting them, including the ones with integral bases. Additionally, I had some Last Sword elf models printed, which got me thinking more about the overall look and setup of the diorama base. There’s still a blank space in the upper left quarter of the base, and I need to fill it in with some terrain.

Part of the challenge in planning out this diorama came from the models with larger base sizes. I tried removing the metal minis from their integral bases, but the results were mixed—some were successful, while others were ruined. However, with the new elf models I’ve printed, I now have more flexibility. As a result, I’ve decided to drop the two models with integral bases for now. I’ll revisit them later. With these new options, I’m already seeing a better approach to both the regiment’s composition and the terrain. I’m hopeful I’ll finish this project by the end of the fourth quarter.

In the meantime, I did complete the other two projects for the quarter: Ironskull’s Boyz Orcs from Warhammer Underworlds and the Cyclops from the Massive Darkness board game. Given all the other painting-related commitments in my life, including commissions and the mini painting class I teach on Fridays, it feels like quite an accomplishment.

The Ironskull’s Boyz orcs took a bit longer to finish. As I mentioned last quarter, these orcs (regardless of what GW calls them) are much larger than most other minis. On top of that, the color scheme I chose for the armor made the painting process take a little longer. But in the end, they turned out stunning. For the leader’s cloak, I went with tanned skin, most likely from a giant, given its size and lack of stitching. Since the weapons are wielded by orcs, I gave them a weathered, rusted, and bloodied appearance.

The Cyclops from Massive Darkness presented its own set of challenges and highlighted areas where I still need to improve. I purchased this model separately after seeing the Watch It/Paint It YouTube video featuring the same model. In that video, the skin tone was painted Caucasian, so I primed it with Army Painter’s Barbarian Flesh primer. However, as time passed, I decided I wanted to take the model in a different direction.

I opted for a two-tone skin scheme. The majority of the body would be painted a dark green, with an initial purple undercoat. For the face, neck, chest, and abdomen, I laid down a base of grey and light grey. Then, I applied a Speed Paint called Pastel Seafoam, which is essentially a very light bluish-green, over the grey areas.

The purple base went on without much trouble, but the dark green took several thin layers to achieve even coverage. This step was a bit tedious, but fairly routine. The more difficult part came during the highlighting phase, especially on the arms and upper body muscles. The exaggerated muscle definition made it trickier to highlight effectively. I’m not entirely sure why, but the result left me feeling… not dissatisfied, but not fully satisfied either. It’s a reminder that I need to spend more time working on highlighting muscle details. The process has been a learning experience—sometimes things don’t go as planned, and when that happens, I try to view it as an opportunity to practice and improve.

As mentioned earlier, the Forest Guard project will continue to be a focus for this new quarter. Along with that, I have two other main projects planned for Quarter 4. The first is the giantess model I put together in my first YouTube video, which was voted on by some of my followers. The second project is to complete the remaining heroes from the Dragons Don’t Share set by Reaper Miniatures. Last year, I finished the terrain and the Dwarven priest. Last quarter, I completed the dragon. To fully finish the set, I just need to paint the last four models.

These are the goals for the quarter, and I’m excited to see what I can accomplish. Until then, paint fearlessly—remember, it’s just paint, and you can fix anything!