Dark Angels - Tanks - Predator - Moar pics

I occassionally question the validity of taking these 'moar' shots but the Veliva filter often helps create the pictures I use most often to share what I've done on forums and social media.

I love the richness and high contrast, I can never quite tell which is the most accurate representation of the model, but these pics definitely made my Predator look cool.

Which might suggest these aren't the most representative of colours...

Regardless I love the results.

And I love the tank too. I perhaps would have liked some form of spiked ram at the front. Not sure where the original ended up. It's fine without and I think the weathering on that leading edge is 'neat' but I just envisage these with something to run folk over with ;)

Company badge again was well executed. I could have gone with the stick on disc but I actually like how I've managed to make soemthing that could almost be a decal. If anyone ever asks then I'll know the effort was justified.

Again the laser lenses just came out so well. They totally look like those glass electricity insulators and add that touch of colour.

The rear drop pod Chapter symbol - it does the job. The big number 5 though, yummy

Rear lights, perhaps could have done the two outer ones as indicators, which would have amused me.

Anda a minimal amount of devotional script and litany, just to break up the expanse.

And the slightly more understated verdigris, in the darker turquoise just seems right.

The Heavy Support symbol is OK, probably the least convincing addition for me but I don't dislike it.

I'm pleased I didn't go too OTT with the scratches and weathering, certainly not like Euronymous.

It'll be cool to have this on the battlefield but I suspect it won't last long against Ben's own armoured division, sadly.

But love the fact it just looks like a WWII tank, which suggests I should probably be playing Bolt Action with them!

And the Camera360 pics on a white background, giving a different green altogether, make of these what you will...

Next up will be my 1984 Citadel Samurai, completed for the 'Eavier Metal Facebook group competition. It's far from winning standard but I just wanted to join in. Then its my old skool/nu skool Razorback and then time to take stock...

Dark Angels - Tanks - Predator - TO DONE!

It's extremely difficult to express the feeling I got from completing this original Predator. Interestingly it's only really at the end that I felt so moved by the fact this 25+ year old model has finally been painted.

I can't recall whether it was late 80's or early 90's I picked this up but aroudn that time my Mum and Dad had a caravan and we would regularly have trips away. I recall this being purchased on one of those trips.

I have a vivid memory of opening it up in the back of the car as we drove around somewhere, possibly in Wales. I think we'd been to some shopping centre and I'd hunted down the nearest GW or hobby shop so I could make a purchase.

Now it's complete, so many years later and although the textured paint effect looks both wholly appropriate and also like I don't thin my paints and just slapped it on thick on top of an existing paint job I've somehow come to terms with it because it's complete.

And aside from that issue I think the result is pretty good. Perhaps a bigger Chapter symbol would have been nice, the very small ones seem a little understated but also makes my armoured 'wing' stand out a little more.

I also toned down the patina and the las-cannon lense coils just came out so well with the Tamiya Clear Red X-27.

I'm just so pleased with it that although I like the current pattern of Rhino/Razorback/Predator I can't imagine anything but original Deimos on my Dark Angels army.

Thanfully I've another Razorback to finish and the 'Crayola' Whirlwind.

I doubt I'll repaint my 'Number 13' Rhino as I just don't see the point at this stage. Fitting these tanks into my army is a challenge already so one complete 2018 Rhino/Razorback should be enough for my current needs.

Anyway, here are all the white background shots just to look at, no more chat.

And the Great Big Gamboge Stamp of Approval for a job well done.

Goggle Adsense @ 60 - FREE Money!

February marked my third magic £60 mark in my Google Adsense revenue. The first time took four years, the next time it was 9 months [the increase I won't go into for legal reasons ;) ]. This time just under two years which is really appreciated. Coincidentally I also received a Wayland Games Affiliate payment of around 65p through Paypal the other week too. Amazing considering I stopped adding their links on the site years ago!

As I discussed in this post about monetising your blog this is really the only thing I’ll entertain as it doesn’t cost readers of the blog anything. As AdSense is based on each users internet history and preferences, the adverts should be geared to your interests and that way people will click of their own volition because in no way would I solicit clicks. I'm even less inclined to worry about ads as I see many YouTubers using patreon now, which again is fine but not something I want to do at this stage. The blog has always been about helping people out, the last thing I want is followers of the blog  dipping into their own pockets, Adsense achieves that without inconvenience. I know some disagree with them but I don't really notice them on my own blog. Those other blogs I know use them only stand out to me because I know they're there and I want to see if there's anything I'll happily click on to support that blog.

Once again the breakdown of those that have clicked and viewed is quite interesting, I’ve had 3 page views from someone in Grenadines & St. Vincent which resulted in a click. UK still tops the charts [211] with my American friends next, followed by Canada, Australia, Germany, Spain and Brazil. Interestingly even with blog viewing figures of 2015 levels I still made £14 off ad views alone. It might be just 1, 2 or 3p a day but it clearly adds up.

I'm not entirely sure what I will spend my fortune on, quite fancy some of those new mini Knight Armigers that are due to come out. Indeed natfka recently posted rumours of more to come my Knight army is only two models at the moment and I would look to fill out more of house Corvus.

Meanwhile I do actually have some Amazon Vouchers to spend. I'd been saving them since Christmas and together with some on my birthday I can actually get these. That means I can then attempt my kitbash of all the Deathwatch Overkill models using these components while also kitbashing the Flagellants. I'd still need to purchase resin bases and some more bits though and I'm pretty tied up with projects on my 'to-do list' so I'm questioning the purchase at this point.

 It would leave me with some vouchers or I could just blow the lot on another of these:

But that would be another 3 month project that would be delayed by what I already have on my plate. decisons, decisions. Back to AdSense, thanks again for your support we'll see how long it takes next time.

Warhammer World GT3 - Game 0 Tyranids v Nurgle Space Marines

Game 0 of GT3 as we went early we arrived at Warhammer World at lunch time, ate and then had tables booked for two, half-two. I'd played Otty and Ben in the run up so it was only right I rocked up against Liam's Nurgle Chaos Space Marines and Deamons

The low down:

• XXX [Chapter Approved mission]
• Dawn of War - Table ends pointy deployment
• I chose deployment zone, but I deployed last unit [giving Liam +1 to win first turn]

Bizarrely I had almost zero recollection of this battle by the end of the weekend. In fact I had such a bad memory I had to ask Liam if he could write some notes for the battle report after looking at the pictures. Of course I was so pleased he took up the offer I'm just going to share what he wrote in his words because I find it that much more entertaining :) So this is the game from Liam's perspective and as far as I'm concerned the best battle report I've never written:

TURN 1

I went first moved all the pox walkers up onto the objective (middle board) and the same for the Landraider and the Daemon prince (my right of the board), moved up Mortarian on the left.

Las-cannon took 6 wounds off the spawning beastie…..

4 OBJECTIVE MARKERS HELD (Total=4)

Deep striked Deathshroud terminators in your deployment area.

-1 to hit on Deathshroud terminators and warp speed did not work.

Warlord deep striked to shoot Mortarian caused 1 wound

You moved one of the flying things to assault the Deathshroud.

Shot one and killed another in CC.

I caused loads of wounds back 4 I think

Large wormy thing deep striked behind my lines and with the genestealers assaulted the Landraider.

The Landraider was left with 1 wound but in overwatch it caused 6 wounds.

In the assault phase caused another to the wormy thing.

Other large wormy thing deep striked in the centre of the board the termy things shot 1 million times and caused 12 wounds on the pox walkers.

Giant genestealer took objective on your left.

2 OBJECTIVE MARKERS HELD (Total = 2)

TURN 2

Morty assaulted your flying thing with the Deathshroud and insta killed him twice over.

CP caused the dead walk again and the 20 cultists shot and killed 6 termi things which ended up as pox walkers, then the pox walkers assaulted the termie things and caused 6 wounds and lost 4 in return so 2 up on the deal. First blood.

Landraider left combat and the Daemon prince assaulted your giant genestealer and was promptly despatched by him Booooo but until your turn.

3 OBJECTIVE MARKERS HELD (Total=7)

Other wormy thing and warlord assaulted Morty killed the Deathshrouds in the shooting phase and did a healthy amount of wounds down to 9 I think in CC, but he killed wormy thing in response.

Genestealers charged towards pox walkers caused loads of wounds but 16 I think but Typhus joined in and killed 10 with the help of the pox walkers extra pox walkers appeared.

Wormie thing assaulted Landraider again but died to overwatch I rolled another 6 to hit 6 to would and 6 to damage lucky lucky...

giant genestealer killed Daemon prince in CC

Termie and pox fight, loads died but all were replaced by both sides this was not going to end any time soon.

2 OBJECTIVE MARKERS HELD (Total = 4)

TURN 3 

Yours and mine it was very rushed and blurry

Deep striked Beast of Nurgle and assaulted the giant genestealer killed him and got the objective.

Landraider shot the spawnie beast down to 2 wounds.

Morty killed the warlord.

Typhus and the pox killed all the genestealers through “plague wind” and pistol shooting and assault. Finished off in your turn. The second unit of termie things attacked the pox walkers in the middle this was going to go on forever I was upto 25 pox by now.

4 OBJECTIVE MARKERS HELD (Total=11) + warlord, first blood and behind enemy lines

1 OBJECTIVE MARKERS HELD (total=5)

So there you go, I think Liam was particularly incensed by some particularly fortuitous dice rolling on my part. He also managed to 'troll me' good style when he insisted on using my dead Termagants as recently raised Poxwalkers and I was artfully riled as I was expecting to re-spawn them with my Tervigon and I'd only brought enough gaunts to cover my own needs, certainly not donate them for his use! I also got a bit shouty with him, to my shame, as I was trying to play as a 'tournament simulation' and be pacey and quick to better match the conditions we would face over the weekend. Often we ended up perussing our rule books for clarification, which resulted in our game lasting aorund four hours - so much for tournament simulation! Regardless, we had a laugh and as usual there were plenty of good and even epic moments, I just can't understand why I can't recall them!