Dark Angel Tactical Squad update

Dear Lord, nearly two years since I had something of worth to show on these guys and sadly that's had an effect on them. Since last time I added the weapons and coated them with Badab Black to try and tone the green down but I just can't accept that as their 'finished' look. In no way does a black washed base coat represent the quality I was hoping for, hence the hiatus. The downside is all the nooks and crannies are now coated with dust but hopefully I can cover that up.

In the mean time the solution to my problems with green was solved with a recent trip to GW where I asked if I could try out their new Dark Angels Green - Caliban Green and a young lad who was gaming offered to lend me his own paint to try out +1 to the community there [although the manager was also keen to offer too]. Anyway, I tried it and was impressed enough to purchase a pot there and then. So far the guys below have just had their helms 'updated'.

However, these guys are fully Caliban Greened. It actually works like paint should, unlike my Vallejo equivalent. Application of water thins it sufficiently to blend on the model and although I seem to be randomly making up where the highlights would hit I don't mind so much because this initial finish is something I'm happy with.

You will also note I've added some Verdigris to the bronze bits. I know I was really happy with what I'd done previously and it kind of doesn't make sense - why would the Marines allow their weapons to become weathered and certainly not on the arid landscape of of Ferron Proxima? But the 40k universe is awash with anachronism and ungents used to placate machine spirits. Why wouldn't these warrior monks also revere the aged patina of their venerable weapons? They're totally clean on the inside for functionality, just ancient on the outside. At least it'll tie them in with the Deathwing.

This guy was my initial test model of Caliban Green and has actually had a set of extra highlights added that resulted in my happiness and continued progress with the rest of the squad. I then went back again with Badab Black/Army Painter Hard Tone and washed all the darker areas to bring back the effect I wanted and cover up the dust. There's definitely a richness now, I hope it comes across as I realised that it takes a while to do but that's OK. If a model takes three times longer than a Termagant, that makes sense as they're worth three times more. 

I obviously did all the bases and will probably do all the bases on the Dark Vengeance squad immediately after base coating so everything can be tidy. Additionally there's the freehand Chapter badge which is something to look forward to [NOT!] and I'll pick out a number of other details as well as trying to achieve a decent lens effect on the sniper scopes.

MOAR from my mate Liam - kit-bashed Typhus

If you're bored of my mate Liam's work then what's wrong with you? I've still got another couple of posts worth of his work but here's his continuing Nurgle efforts for his Chaos Space Marines. I like the sneaky way he chose CSMs so he can have his Khorne army then introduce Nurgle elements and then end up with a Nurgle army too. I wouldn't put it past him to start seeing either of the the other two ruinous powers turn up.

Anyway he's tweaked Typhus a bit. I believe he was underwhelmed by his apparent stature so has gone about 'engorging' the model.

He's obviously introduced a victim for the Lord to take out his vengeance upon and mounted it on cork with some of his cast chaos symbol floor tiles.

Also some pestilential smoke billowing from his back vents and some grey stuff added to achieve the pose.

Can't say I envy the Guardsman.

As you can see Liam's managed to create something that represents millennia of fighting on behalf of the chaos powers, a beast of gigantic proportions compared to even a Chaos Lord. 

Can't wait to see these models painted.

What's on my palette?

 

I may have mentioned the other day I'm on the crest of a hobby wave, in fact waves - too many perfect things that are keeping a big old grin on my face. Unfortunately I just haven't the time to tackle them all and I desperately want to share what I'm doing but with the time being the most precious of commodities I haven't got the buffer of scheduled posts I would like. Not that it should impact the blog mind, I'm compelled to continue business as usual I probably just need to adopt some micro-blogging techniques that will satisfy my urge to share with my limited time constraints.

 

 

There's a number of things I need to take stock of, I didn't want to review my 'to do' list until it's annual check up but I already have a separate 'to do' list on my phone that covers some of those elements but has prioritised a number of items not on my blog list above and beyond those I'd set out to do. Currently the top four items on this list are

• Dark Angels AoBR Tactical Squad
• Dark Angels DV Librarian
• Inquisitorial vault
• Tyranid Bastion

I was managing to flit between these projects quite happily but since the Bastion has started to grow and the sculpting has been broken up into bite-size chunks. I can now time-manage the build and estimate a deadline for each part. So when I'm saying it's going to take four days for the walls I want to spend those four days doing the walls not swap to the Vault and delay the Bastion by another 24 hours.

 

 

Additionally, my Throne of Skulls crew has arranged a mini ToS style tournament at Ben's so my awesome Mother-in-law has agreed to look after the kids so I can go play as my wife will be going to see Bon Jovi [it makes her happy]. So I should have another three battle reports if I can spare the time.

 

 

Also I popped into GW Southport the other day, the new managers a decent bloke and as I was showing off my pics of my Bastion he asked if I was going to enter Armies on Parade and then stated 'I was entering something into Armies on Parade'/ Apparently Southport Store has never entered anything and he wanted to change that. I didn't really understand the rules I thought it was just new armies and a bespoke 2'x2' board but it seems it can be as simple as a Warlord and HQ, so why not?

 

Admittedly what I will attempt will in no way compare with last years winner, I just don't have the time to go to those lengths. I will be doing a basic 2'x2' square, maybe create some hills if my modular ones don't give me the effect I'm after and then fill it with my Ferron Splinter fleet, terrain and Tyranid fortifications, just like I did for the ToS nominations. I actually had a great idea for something OTT but I'll hang fire on that for the future. So that's another 'thing' to do but I will use it as a prototype for attempting my own gaming table and there are now prizes in each store not just the top three so there are definite reasons to do this not reasons to prevent me doing other stuff.

 

 

Lastly in this random musing I just wanted to throw out an invitation to anyone with a blog who might want a bit of promotion I'm sure that's the sort of quick win that people like to see. Recently we've seen a number of the big names in 40k blogging take a break/forced to take a break and they were often the source of most of our readers and new followers. I've nearly been blogging for 3 years now, built a steady following and traffic but there are blogs out there just starting up who may have some great content to share and need a hand to take it to a wider audience than their blog currently enjoys. So feel free to leave a link in the comments section, perhaps a link to an image, maybe a description and I'll put some of them up and see if it helps.

Realm of Warhammer 40k: Downloads

Over at Realm of Warhammer 40k which I discovered through Imperius Dominatus there are a number of free downloads including vehicle damaged markers. If my own efforts are not your bag then maybe these are and they also use a similar sorting/storage system so they know they're stuff or are hobby OCD mentalists like myself. Regardless I'm sure there will be more free hobby stuff available in time so keep an eye on them:

Realm of Warhammer 40k: Downloads: Here you will find a comprehensive list of all downloads featured on the site, please feel free to download, print for your own ...

MOAR from my mate Liam - kit-bashed Nurgle Heldrake

Heldrakes are kind of a big deal and you'll find that a lot of Chaos players want more than one and when it comes to that second robot daemon dragon a Nurgle variety becomes very appealing. I've seen some awesome attempts ranging from a straight scratchbuild to the inventive kitbashes that have been achieved with the Arachnarok Spider, enter stage right for my mate Liam's take on this beast.

As you can see Liam has managed to combine many of the Arachnarok Spider parts with elements of the Heldrake and I think the Storm Talon too. He's managed to blend the various components with some quality sculpting and his own cast resin elements for the custom flying base.

The rear view shows some artfully positioned plasticard triangles that will create a chaotic mark out of the beasts abdomen.

A close up of the Heldrake's head really gives the impression it's a giant robotic daemon engine.

For some reason I couldn't judge the scale of it though, the oval base didn't convey the sheer size of his endeavour so I asked him to include a miniature so it can be judged and I think you'll agree it really fits the bill for a Nurgle Heldrake. 

No doubt I'll have painted pictures in my in-box soon, can't wait to see them although I could quite happily wait a really long time before I see it gracing the battlefield!

'nids part 81 - Tyranid Bastion growth pt2.

The last post on my Tyranid Bastion had me pleasantly surprised that the surface area of my small crater was roughly equivalent to the rooftop area of an Imperial Bastion. However, I was unconvinced that the end result would match my concept. So I looked at the larger double crater and this is how the roof would fit, giving me some scope to taper the tower. Now, the base is big and it'll be a slightly more imposing structure than an Imperial Bastion but there's 'the rule of cool' and if my mate Otty can build a Mycetic Spore Pod that is 20x12x12cm I think I can get away with a Fortification of similar proportions!

This is the skeletal beginnings. You can see the height to the roof is 150mm and then you have a 20mm wall that will go round the roof with some ridges that will add a centimetre up to the 180mm max height with the Tyranid Capillary styled towers that form the compass points.

Here you can see it with miniatures for scale, including my Quad Gun. The rooftop currently will hold the 15 25mm bases or 5 40mm bases an Imperial Bastion can support but that may be reduced once the walls and sculpting has finished. Probably a small price to pay particularly as the occupiers gain most benefit when inside the Bastion as opposed to occupying the roof.

Here you can see the difference between the large crater on the left and small crater on the right. If I'd chosen the latter I may as well have mounted it on MDF as I'll get little benefit of the crater effect to add to the design.

Here's the top-down view on the small crater. I think this crater would also emphasise it's vertical dimensions.

Whereas a substantial base at least would not automatically draw the eye upwards as there will be horizontal elements to compete. You can also see where the two additional cross-members that will help define the structure are to be placed.

Next up I'll be adding the cross-members and probably be cutting slots in the crater base so that I can have it glued straight to the mounting card base underneath. Then I have to decide how to fill out the gaps between the frame and how to create the Capillary Towers.

 

Tyranid Bastion | Foamboard core template | part 1.

MOAR from my mate Liam - Scratchbuilt Warhound Titan

Otty's Bio-titan and Liam's Warhound go toe-to-toe

I've been carping on about my mate Liam [y'see I've dropped the links to his scratchbuilds there, seeing as they never worked anyway!] for a couple of years now. He's a mad genius when it comes to painting and his abilities outstrip mine by a long way [although I do recall I got a higher grade than him in A-level art :P ] but it's more than that he's prolific on an industrial scale. Back in the day he had many, many armies for Epic, 40k, and Fantasy. Now he's down to just Crimson Fists, Dark Eldar, Tau, Chaos Marines, and I've seen Elves and Vampire counts too although I think that's still the tip of the ice berg.

Anyway, he's renowned for his scratchbuilt Warhound and Warlord Titans and I managed to get some pics of his Warhound build, maybe one day I can bully him into starting his own blog or joining with me on this one, what do you think? Well, here's the Warhound:

"She's got legs...

... and knows how to use 'em"

Some heavy duty carving of Plasticard for the scrollwork.

and in close-up.

Weapons are scratchbuilt too.

Plasma blast gun.

Vulcan mega-bolter.

Altogether

And the whole thing complete, non-metallic metals everywhere - I guess that's one way to get some practice doing it, paint 20m² of Titan!

Still plenty MOAR to come from Liam, the guy is a hobby machine!