Category Archives: Spin-o-matic

Malifaux: Malifaux Child

I almost always use Totems, but Karina is meh, especially without the models to be able to using the summoning upgrade. I scored a translucent Malifaux Child in a promo, but I’m not a big fan of the translucent models unless I want to do something with the effect. I traded with a friend for the regular gray plastic version and set to work.

Malifaux Child
Malifaux Child

I’ll give Wyrd credit, the design on the rolled up sleeves hides the seam pretty well. The model is otherwise a bit unexciting, and the three contact points (butt and each foot) makes positioning it on a not-completely-flat base a bit interesting.

I’ve played a game with the Child chasing Tara. I was somewhat underwhelmed, but it didn’t help that I had forgotten about the healing ability. Needing a 7 of Rams is tricky though, especially without any built in way to generate the Ram.

Malifaux: Desolation Engine and Abominations

I managed not to notice Bigger Better Games, a local shop, until more than a year after they opened. When I finally did stop in, it seemed that their Malifaux hadn’t been moving too quickly, so it was being offered at 40% off. I couldn’t resist, and picked up some beasties to play with my small Tara crew. Then the boxes sat in the queue for half a year before I got around to them.

Desolation Engine
Desolation Engine

The Desolation Engine ended up with some nasty seams running down the center of the arms, but I was mostly able to clean them up. I’m pretty pleased with the flesh tones (achieved with an offwhite base and SW Sepia wash), and especially the sores around the implants.

Since killing the Desolation Engine causes Abominations to pop out, I had to get them too. This violated one of my guiding principals to Malifaux purchasing: don’t buy minions outside of crew boxes. But it seemed like if I ever wanted to go with Leveticus I might want more than the four Aboms anyway, due to all the summoning that can happen. So I took the plunge. They each have their own character, which is a lot of fun. I kept similar colors with the Desolation Engine, and greens to coordinate with the void creatures in the Tara crew.

In one of the few games that I’ve played with the Desolation Engine, I was able to surprise my opponent by charging my own damaged Engine, killing it to summon two Abominations, other opposite sides of a table quarter line, giving me points for both in Recon. Score one for attacking your own guys.

Now I’ve got a bunch of big Outcast hitters (Desolation Engine, plus Killjoy, Bishop, Aionus, and the Nothing Beast), I’m feeling a real lack of mid-point models.

Arena Rex: Stheno

Having bought all the then-available Zephyri models, I figured I’d pick up an Arena Rex Gorgon. I decided this late in the Adepticon weekend, and Stheno was the only one left. Why not let fate decide?

Stheno
Stheno

Stheno reminded me why I don’t really like resin. On a hot day, she got droopy. Very droopy.

Droopy Stheno
Droopy Stheno

A hairdryer softed up the leg again, but it kept getting droopy. The model is just too damn top heavy. In retrospect, I should have pinned a rod through the calf to give it some more structure. I tried to do it through the base, but couldn’t aim it well enough.

I’ll cut some custom foam so the model doesn’t have to support itself, but it’s still a bummer. At least it’s pretty.

I really love these models, and the game feels good, but I don’t know too many other people with any models. If they come to Adepticon next year, I’ll probably pick up another faction. I’ll just have to be sure to pull the trigger early in the weekend, before they start selling out!