Small Business Saturday

Here in the US we celebrate Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November. I've always viewed it as a great time to come together as family and friends, sit down over a great meal, and have no further expectations or actions associated with it.

In short, it's my favorite holiday of the year. Simple, warm, and full of friends.

The day after (or, more increasingly, the day of) Thanksgiving is the most commercial of the year - Black Friday. This is the day of the "big box stores" who deeply discount a handful of items (typically televisions) in order draw in the shopping crowds. In recent years there have been efforts to remind people of the small businesses out there that serve their communities in various ways. Businesses that rely on the custom of families and friends to stay open. Small Business Saturday.

Well, this year I thought Small Business Saturday would be the ideal time this for this small business to start planning out work for the following year. So, I urge anyone who needs some work in the tabletop wargaming and miniatures world to contact me to book some of my time. I'm taking bookings from March 2018 onwards, so if there's something that needs doing, let's talk about it.

Dave Taylor Miniatures provides a wide array of services:

Marketing and Promotions 
From planning to execution, I've worked with quite a few companies to build there presence in the marketplace, and target those customers who are most likely to be interested in their offering. Marketing and promotional planning offer an opportunity for me to flex my knowledge of the industry, the community, and the avenues to bring them both together.

Design and Layout
Over the last four years I've worked on various rulebook layout projects including: This Is Not A Test for World's End Publishing, Disposable Heroes II for Sinister Laboratories, Exiles for Mindworm Games, and Heroic for Winged Hussar Publishing. I have also put together a lot of articles and adverts for Wargames Illustrated and other magazines and online sources to help promote various games and miniatures ranges.

Photography
I've really enjoyed doing photography for rulebooks and other promotional needs, so I am always ready to do some more. My miniatures photography is featured in This Is Not A Test for World's End Publishing, Disposable Heroes II for Sinister Laboratories, and numerous Wargames Illustrated event coverage articles.

Hobby Content and Painting Commissions
I have built terrain and painted miniatures for both companies and private collectors. Where appropriate, I have also turned those projects into hobby content for websites. The prime examples of this are the work I have done for Ninja Division's Relic Knights, and the painting guides I created for Bolt Action from Warlord Games.

And a lot more...
In addition to all these things, I have also co-ordinated events, run retail booths at conventions, initiated licensing conversations, developed Kickstarter plans and supporting graphics, and created exciting touchstone items to excite communities.

When it comes down to it, my small business is all about helping other companies bring new product to market, or helping them sell more of their existing product. If you think your business could use my help, I'm happy to chat about the possibilities! Contact me here (in the comments below), via my Facebook page, or via email - tanithtaylor@gmail.com

Let's make 2018 a great year!

Let's talk about the elephant in the room...

Well, as you've hopefully noticed, I've been conspicuously absent from this blog for a little while now. Life has been busy, there have been other outlets for the hobby content I create, and I've been working on an odd assortment of things - those are all true and convenient excuses for my absence.

I think, however, the main reason I haven't posted any hobby progress here for a while is that I have fallen out of the blogging rhythm. Those of you with blogs will know that there's a certain rhythm to the way you post. Some post after each big hobby session, some post on the completion of a project, some when they have some great ideas to lay out for the world. For me it was a mix of the first two approaches, and I just haven't had too many cool things to show/talk to you all about.

I hope to remedy that in the future, but won't promise too much.

Anyway, if you'd like to see/hear some of the things I have been up to while I haven't been posting here, you can check out the weekly podcast that I'm guest co-hosting - Combat Phase - that typically releases every Thursday/Friday (although we are taking a break this week). You can find the Combat Phase website HERE, and our Facebook page HERE.

I've also joined Rick Ankney on the Game Trade Media Facebook Live show "Painting Happy Li'l Minis" each Tuesday and Thursday afternoon (2-3pm EST). This should be a fun chance to sit down and paint in a different environment and help folks in a different way. You can find the Game Trade Media Facebook page HERE, and the Painting Happy Li'l Minis Facebook group HERE.

Additionally I've written an article series for my mates at Beasts Of War. The first article published last week (HERE) and the second should be due out anytime now. This is the start of something larger I'm working towards for next year. Hopefully I can provide more concrete details in the next month or so : )

And if you'd like to see what I'm working on commission-wise, head to my Instagram account to see some fun WIP photos of the massive Legio Custodes force.

Thanks for your patience, dear blogging world. Speak to you soon.

Cheers
Dave

CHARITY - Our new Fall Raffles!

 The NOCF is pleased to announce its first-ever Fall Raffle Season, which launches on Friday, October 13, 2017. The season opens with another HUGE army and three models that define the timeless collectible artistry which exists within the tabletop wargaming community.

THE FALL RAFFLE SEASON

o Six Weeks Only!
o Tickets go on sale Friday, October 13, 2017, at 12:01 AM EDT (So, open now!)
o Sales will close on Thursday, November 23, 2017, at 12:00 Midnight EDT
(or at any time prior to if tickets in all four raffles are sold out)
o Winners will be posted at NOCF website on Friday, November 24, 2017, at 12:00 Noon EDT
o 95 cents of every dollar raised in 2017 Fall Season Raffles benefits Doctors Without Borders
o NEED NOT BE PRESENT TO WIN – NOCF SHIPS WORLDWIDE

THE DEATHWATCH

This Warhammer 40,000 army was created and donated by 27 volunteer painters who came together in a Facebook group. Long-time sponsor, KR MULTICASE, will be providing custom transport for The Deathwatch!

ONLY 1000 TICKETS WILL BE SOLD!
GREATEST ODDS OF WINNING AN NOCF ARMY RAFFLE EVER!
$5 per ticket ~Minimum purchase of $10 required at checkout

A list of the painters and more photographs are posted on the website (http://novaopenfoundation.org/archives/11165).

THE ARMY LIST:

o 3 Characters
o 34 Veterans
o 13 Terminators
o 2 Rhinos
o Land Raider Crusader
o Land Raider Redeemer
o 2 Drop Pods
o Dreadnought Drop Pod
o 5 Dreadnoughts

THE MODELS:

The three models being raffled in the 2017 Fall Raffle were all generously donated by three of the most renowned miniature artists in the worldwide community:

ADEPTUS MECHANICUS TECH-PRIEST DOMINUS

Warhammer 40,000 model donated by Dave Taylor
Model photographs and more information at http://novaopenfoundation.org/archives/11330 

ONLY 750 TICKETS WILL BE SOLD
BUY 25 & HAVE A 1 in 30 CHANCE OF WINNING!
$2 per ticket ~Minimum purchase of $10 required at checkout

40K ASTRA MILITARUM COMMISSAR

Warhammer 40,000 model donated by David Faust https://www.facebook.com/david.f.sablon 

Model photographs and more information at http://novaopenfoundation.org/archives/11361 

ONLY 750 TICKETS WILL BE SOLD

BUY 25 & HAVE A 1 in 30 CHANCE OF WINNING!

$2 per ticket ~Minimum purchase of $10 required at checkout

BOLT ACTION MEDIUM TANK T-34/85

Bolt Action model donated by James Wappel http://wappellious.blogspot.com/
Model photographs and more information at http://novaopenfoundation.org/archives/11300 

ONLY 750 TICKETS WILL BE SOLD
BUY 25 & HAVE A 1 in 30 CHANCE OF WINNING!
$2 per ticket ~Minimum purchase of $10 required at checkout


BUY TICKETS HERE

Questions? Write to us: novaopencharities@gmail.com

PHOTOGRAPHS:
Please feel free to use photographs in promotion of the NOCF’s exciting new Fall raffle season!

CHARITY - There are just 10 days left for you to purchase your raffle tickets!

That's right. It has been a hectic summer, so much going on that it has been tough to keep track of everything (and I have completely failed to write anything of note for you, faithful reader). But I do know that there are 10 days left to buy your raffle tickets for this year's NOVA Open Charitable Foundation 2017 Summer Raffles.

In case you didn't know, we have NINE armies/teams/collections up for grabs, with raffle tickets starting at $2 each (minimum $10 purchase). Click on any of the banners on this page to find out more about the various prizes!

Also note that we'll be dividing the money up between four different causes this year:
• Doctors Without Borders
• The Breast Cancer Research Foundation
• The Fisher House Foundation
• The International Rescue Committee

We thank you all for your support for these efforts, year after year.

HORUS HERESY - The Mechanicum - Hammer of the Omnissiah

I know that a lot of you have already checked out the raffles for the NOCF this year. We have literally dozens of raffles running in order to raise a ton of money for wonderful causes (Doctors Without Borders, The International Rescue Committee, The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, and The Fisher House Foundation). 

Among the offerings is this wonderful Mechanicum army. Designed by Marc Raley, one of the 30K event leads at NOVA Open and AdeptiCon, this army is a walking and crawling, and hovering edifice to the Machine God. 

First up is the Arch Magos on his Abeyant. He is ready to lay low the enemies of the Omnissiah and take their technology for further study. This beautiful model was painted by Jake Landis.

The elites of this force are the deadly Myrmidons. This squad are equipped for ranged combat with a variety of dangerous and esoteric weaponry. Painted by Andrew Gray.

This is a very elite, compact force, and the Troop slots are filled by these deadly Thallax. Two units, both painted by Joel Moon.

Such a small, elite force, needs to be able to meet a lot of opposing threats head on, and this Krios can certainly pack a punch when pointed in the right direction. Model painted by Max Dubois.

The leader of the Mechanicum team was Marc Raley, the man who devised the lists for the 30K armies, and the guy who is doing so much to raise extra funds for the NOCF and their causes. He also contributed to the army by painting up this excellent Vulturax!

 

The massive Thanatar Automata, with its mind-blowing, shoulder-mounted plasma mortar, stands ready to stride across the battlefield and get stuck in. This one was painted by newcomer to the team, David Sampson.

And finally we have the wonderfully towering Cerastus Knight Atropos, able to lay down some heavy firepower from range against the enemies of the Mechanicum. Veteran team member John Steining applied the paint to this big project.

So, there you have it. I hope you love this as much as I do, and will click on the link HERE to buy some (more) tickets in the raffle to win this army! Things are looking very good so far this summer, let's help them look even better : )

HORUS HERESY - The NOCF 2017 Sons of Horus army!

I have no doubt that a lot of you have already checked out the raffles for the NOCF this year. We have literally dozens of raffles running in order to raise a ton of money for wonderful causes (Doctors Without Borders, The International Rescue Committee, The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, and The Fisher House Foundation). 

Among the offerings is this wonderful Sons of Horus army. Designed by Marc Raley, one of the 30K event leads at NOVA Open and AdeptiCon, this army is ready to hit, and hit hard! Everything is tucked away in a drop pod of some sort and ready to rain death and destruction down upon the lackeys of the False Emperor. Below are a slew of photos so you can get to see everything up close (and personal). 

The Warmaster, Horus Lupercal, was painted by Michelle Blastenbrei. At the start of the project, Michelle asked if she could paint the Warmaster in gold armor. I'm typically a stickler for canon paint jobs on characters, but decided that when someone as talented as Michelle has an idea about creating a unique model, I should listen. As you can see, she has absolutely nailed the deep gold look that is a loud echo of Horus' "canon armor" but brings new life and depth to it.

Veteran contributor Ken Webb painted up this Terminator Captain (above) and these Justerian Terminators (below). Ken was concerned about painting so much black armor on the Justerian, but he did an absolutely wonderful job.

This squad of Marines was painted by yours truly. I really enjoyed messing around with the SOH green that we chose (VPA USMC Tank Crew Green).

AJ Taflan painted up our second 10-man squad and went for a silver trim on the shoulders to help differentiate the two squads.

Sean Fulton painted up this Quad Mortar Rapier and did an absolutely spectacular job. Typically Sean works on one of the commanders or centerpiece models. He brought the same level of attention to this support piece AND these were the first models to arrive at my house for photography : )

Brian Moll joined the NOCF Artists' Consortium this year, and knocked it out of the park with this great Leviathan Dreadnought. The weapons are all magnetized, so the winner will be able to switch in new weapons if they so choose!

Another new member of the team, Ryan Kimmel not only painted this Dreadnought Drop Pod, but he also donated this ultra rare model when we were struggling to track one down. Thanks, Ryan!

The army called for three regular Drop Pods (one for each of the Marine squads and one for the Quad Mortar). As with previous charity armies, I volunteered to paint these up too. There's something about all those interior hazard stripes I just can't resist (there are about 270 black stripes hand-painted on these three pods).

And finally, the Kharybdis Assault Claw. This monster of a kit was built and painted by Joe Johnson. Not only that, Joe used kits from Powered Play and lit the whole thing up with over 20 LEDs. Three AA batteries can be slid into the center of the pod and the engine ports start to light up. It is absolutely fantastic!

So there you have the first of two Horus Heresy armies. If you'd like to buy tickets for this army, please click HERE. And please tell all of your friends about it!