Yet more auto-awesome snow fun, watch out for the 'Polar Vortex' missile someone set off!

With Escalation setting off Polar Vortex missiles everywhere, stay toasty from the lonely Marine at Games Workshop HQ.

'nids part 118 - Scratchbuilt Tyranid Capillary Towers pt11.

There's not a lot that can be said about the painting of these that hasn't already been said before so I hope I'm excused that these pictures show a much further update than you would usually expect. I've primed and base coated everything, washed with Army Painter Soft and Strong Tones. Also of note is despite these two towers both being three tier is the subtle difference in height thanks to the different shaped foamboard cores which I'll release as a template soon.

The bases were painted with my now ubiquitous Red Planet Basing technique, only the upscaled version for larger structures, i.e. with the Docrafts Artiste Pumpkin craft acrylic mixed with the £1 Vermilion craft acrylic. It goes a long way. I also painted the Bonewhite chips on one of these bases but instantly got bored so didn't do the remaining five - I'll get to them when I do the Bonewhite highlights. I have to say though, particularly on these bigger bases those Bonewhite chips really do make a massive difference to an otherwise mediocre base.

Also all the fleshy musculature has been highlighted. Simple drybrushing of Vermilion over the shaded Vermilion then some white mixed in, drybrush, and then one final extra drop of white for extreme highlights. Considering the orangey nature of Vermilion I'm surprised how pink this comes out, I'd have thought more salmon coloured but no it's quite pleasant and does not suffer from the chalky nature adding white usually does.  

Lastly, the two bigger towers, it's also nice to see the Bonewhite spikes. It's funny how the Forgeworld models actually had these pointing upwards. They should look quite neat once the highlights go on, perhaps not as sharp and dangerous looking as I'd hoped but they still look menacing from a distance.

And a close up of all the textures. Once all the Chitin plates are turquoised up I'll do the Bonewhite and then the flesh sacks and finally the tendril vines. Lots still to do.

Lastly varnishes and then the fun of the fair with Tamiya Clear Red X-27 and try and work out some 'reclamation pool' style sludge in the three male towers crater...

Tyranid Capillary Towers | part 1. | part 2. | part 3. | part 4. | part 5. | part 6. | part 7. | part 8. | part 9. |

part 10. |

Wrap up warm, 'cos it's frighteningly cold outside!

For my North American friends [that's about 50% of the folk who come to the blog] watch out for that cold weather, keep it tight and stay toasty, there's worse things out in that blizzard than just snow.

To Done - Adeptus Titanicus Epic Reaver Titan

Officially this fella isn't on my 2013/14 'To Do List' but it's been an extra thing to do to keep my mojo up by not OD'ing on just 'nids and other stuff. In truth I wimped out as I should have put some chevrons on it. I think some nice black and white ones on the carapace would have made it that bit better but I think then it would have strayed into an existing Titan Legion.

As it stands it seems a bit 'Word Bearer-ish' I know they're not a Titan Legion but I'm pleased I was able to make a new red scheme that wasn't as bright as the ones on my Chaos Cultists and I think I learned from some of my mistakes on the OSL glows. Tristan M's advice about less is more worked out a bit better, especially on the eyes.

And the white hot green glowing plasma reactor is also quite neat. The litany on the Titan breaks up the flat colours and I'm really surprised how effective that can be. I've always wanted to do battle damage but haven't been brave enough to do it. Pseudo etchings and paint work seems to be something similar but also I have a lot more control over so it may well become my 'cheat' instead.

With this colour scheme I may well try and add some darker red guys into the genestealer-cultists just to add a bit more variety.

Whilst doing all this I had a seed of fluff begin to grow in my head. This will be Ferron Proxima's own Titan Legion. They will not be a Traitor Legion but in fact during the Horus Heresy did go rogue. This will be due to some devious behaviour on behalf of the Alpha Legion that fed them lies about what was going on. This will explain any Epic battles that PeteB and I have with him using it against my War Griffons.

Once the Heresy was resolved much like the Dark Angels seeking to absolve their failings the Ferron Legion will go about trying to redeem themselves, under the watchful eye of the Inquisition. I'll write some more decent fluff  when I get the chance.

Here's my big blue tick anyway, for getting it done.

To Done - Dark Angel Tactical Squad

My first post on these was September 11th 2011, but as I don't recall if I'd already posted about them I may well have been working on them for months prior. Suffice to say after about 2.5 years I'm more than a little relieved to finally painting my first ever Dark Angel Tactical Squad.

I've finished them up with freehand Dark Angel symbols, pencilled in first and then painted Vallejo Stonewall Grey followed by some highlights in white.

The green is something I'm happy with, not overly highlighted, still dark in places and still obviously green in places. Thankfully these pics aren't too saturated but I think they give a decent enough representation of their true colours.

The symbols aren't spectacular but they're not bad, certainly they weren't as difficult as I expected and there isn't one that looks awful even if there are slight differentiations between the lengths of the wings on the swords. But I like that, it gives them some variety. You can also see some litanies written on to the armour. I've some awesome fluff yo go with this and why all their weapons are tarnished. When I get chance I'll tell you the tale of the 'Shards of Caliban'.

The Sergeant is perhaps my least favourite model. I wanted him dark skinned and I think it almost works but his eyes are a bit odd.

And the red Dark Angel symbol on his tabbard just sucks, the folds dont help recognising the symbols but I couldn't think of anything else so it'll have to do.

To help identify the two combat squads should I split them I put litanies on the left vent on five marines. I'd actually put quite a lot of 'text' already on the power armour and feel this may have been a bit too far but I did have fun making some strange 'illuminated' characters and typography as if each marine has decorated his armour with an oath or message from one of the many teachings important to the Dark Angels. It ties in that vibe of a knightly order - warrior priests, versed in the art of scripture as well as fighting. 

And Litanies on the right vent of the remaining five. The second from left has his litany in a spiral, to represent the Dark Angel obsession with such a shape. Don't know how they'll be perceived should I ever take them to Throne of Skulls. Not sure they'll stand out quite like my Tyranids do, even if they've been slaved over considerably more per model, we'll just have to see.

And here's there new home, a handy £2.49 craft box from Home Bargains.

All decked out with laminate floor cushioning foam, stuck in with double sided tape. Unfortunately it only takes 18 models, just short of two tactical squads :( Still, better than nothing.

Here's my big blue tick, for getting it done. Finally some Dark Angels in the bag a momentous occasion!

Dark Angel Tactical Squad update

It's been another 6 months since my last update but I've covered the why's and wherefors. Unfortunately these pics look worse than the model does in the flesh [or is that Ceramite?]. Usually the oversaturated colours make the models look very bright but in this instance it enhances the subtleties too much. However I'm sure when I do the final pics in daylight they'll look better.

Freehand DA symbol, it's but of a 'kipper' sword but I'm still quite pleased with my efforts. Penciled in forst then grey with some white highlights.

I really like the Verdigris now, glad I did it. When these are all complete I'll let you in on some fluff about it too.

FREE - Battle Mission - Ephemeral Scuffle - Knowledge is Power

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The other week at 1:30 in the morning as I struggled to get to sleep, following my epic confrontation with Ben and his Necrons, my mind was racing and in a brief epiphany I had an idea for a Battle Mission. Not only that, but I could give it away, like for FREE! Once again, who doesn't like free stuff? I do and it's the season for giving afterall. So to see out 2013 [good riddance!] and hopefully usher in a new more benevolent and fun 2014 I thought I'd make it a reality.

For all I know this mission may already exist, it's probably not the most original idea, but then again, what is? Anyway, in my typical fashion of coming up with a suitably flippant 'Aldi' naming convention for the flipside of an Eternal War mission [GW like their wordplay too] I came up with these alternative titles [and you can tell which one I chose but let me know if you prefer another]

• Ephemeral Tussle
• Ephemeral Tiff
• Ephemeral Scrap
• Ephemeral Ruckus
• Ephemeral Struggle
• Ephemeral Skirmish
• Ephemeral Scuffle
• Ephemeral Conflict

To download the first Ephemeral Scuffle mission data-blurt, point your Cogitator here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B97Rk-BalgZbOFpKamx3eDZmYkE

Let me know what you think, if I'm visited by the voices again maybe they'll come up with another FREE mission?