Imperial Knight - in manufactorum pt 13

With Double Trouble fast approaching I've started to get a little anxious about completing my Ravenwing. I think the bikes are achievable but the Dark Talon is looking less likely, but I'll give it a go. With that in mind when I went into the ManCave intent on 2nd highlights on the Marines I immediately found a diversion task and started highlighting the black on my Imperial Knight! But I go with the flow, so however much I'm telling myself this is not a priority I do it anyway as that's where my muse is. So I was working on the shin pads, I've done the 1st and 2nd highlights and with the shin on the right you should just be able to see how far down the highlight goes. Whereas the shin on the left has since been shadow blended, with a mix of thinned black and dry brushing, admittedly the picture isn't perfect but you should be able to see the difference.

As I was about to get back onto the bikes I thought it was a unfair not to do the Pauldrons as well. This time the shadow blended one is on the right and the highlighted one on the left.

Sure, its very subtle but it's definitely better with the shadow blend.

Luckily after this I was able to bring myself to highlight some Ravenwing, I was able to complete three sets of 2nd Dark Reaper highlights and work on the cloak of the second Sarge so I wasn't completely naughty. Now I just have two marines to highlight and I can move on to a new stage, hopefully without any detours, at least not just yet.

Parts: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |

Dark Angels - Ravenwing bike squad

Having stalled so close to the finish line on the Sergeant I thought bringing the rest of the bikes up to speed was important. Despite the enjoyment I had with the Sarge there was definitely some hesitancy in moving these forward. I found Sarge really easy to do and I was constantly saying to myself how can I have been put off painting these bikes and yet here I am a few days later with exactly the same mind-set. Whether this is to do with the fact there are five of these I'm not sure but to try to push on through the inertia I decided to break the process down. All I would do here is the first set of highlights on the bikes in the first sitting and then then next session was the marine.

As you can see these broad strokes on the large areas are pretty easy to do. Although they take up more than half the surface area of the model with so few highlights they're quick to do. The Marine is probably about 30% of the model, but the extra detail and smaller parts means they represent about 70% of the effort. The problem with making this realisation is that once I achieve the bike highlights I still know I've 70% remaining to do, which again is not good for my mental approach. I mean I'm sure I've explained this before but half the battle in painting is mental. When one is sat alone in a shed late at night surrounded by unpainted figures and projects 'in progress' the mind wanders and you have to try to contain these doubts and fears, even if they're about trivial toy soldiers. The challenge for the hobbyist is overcoming these hurdles and the rewards are that rush of achievement when you do beat them

That said I will push on with the Dark Reaper 2nd set of highlighting next. Then pick out any details, like the Ravenwing symbol with their first base colour. With these details blocked in I will undertake the task I enjoyed most on the Sarge - shadow blending. Trying to use black to shade the highlights so they blend into the black better. The detalis already in place the shadow blending will help tidy up any edges. Then it'll be on to the pin highlights and all the rest of the details, can I get it done for Double Trouble? Probably yes for the bikes but the Jetfighter...?

Double Trouble

I've mentioned it a few times but Alex from From the Fang has a new [replacement] tournament for Blog Wars on June 11th. Its called Double Trouble and tickets are still available, although currently there are only four left. It's a doubles tournament and I'll leave Alex to describe why it's a 'doubles tournament with a difference':

What is Double Trouble?
Double Trouble is a Warhammer 40,000 doubles tournament with a difference. Instead of writing an army list together with a partner, each player will write their own 750pt army list from a single faction of their choice which becomes their "Force". Before the first round you will be randomly assigned a doubles partner combining your "Force" with theirs to form an "Army". You'll then play against another random pairing and their "Army". The allies chart will not be used, therefore all combinations will be treated as Battle Brothers.

At the start of the next two rounds you will be assigned a new random partner. This means you'll get to play three games with 9 different people and hopefully a good variety of armies.

OK, so that may or may not float your boat, I can understand that a doubles tournament with your mate is one thing but here you're going to be paired up with strangers and not just one but three of them and face other strangers too, six of them, urgh! No, not urgh, but yay! I have to say I love this concept, for someone who often finds the social interaction at tournaments a little frought I'm looking forward to this opportunity immensely.

Let me explain, I'm not shy by any means and much like my endless prose I can talk the hind leg off a donkey. However, in a tournament situation, even the relaxed ones, that kind of goes out the window. I get pre-occupied in running my army, making sure I don't forget what I'm doing, what needs to happen, recording the battle for reports, transporting the horde from one table to another etc. All the time I'm running on nervous energy, being clumsy and trying to have a good time too, which involves a lot of stupid jokes and silly narratives forged at my expense. On top of that I'll have people pass by and casually praise my army which then feels a little awkward because I don't feel I can respond much, as it's rude to my opponent.

Then inbetween games I don't really get to spend time with other hobbyists because usually I'm last to finish and any spare time I do have I'm ringing the wife or actually looking at the armies on display or trying to buy something from an on-site store [there usually is one].

So the reason I'm doing this is because I've kind of done it before, back in July 2013 I did some 'blind gaming', not gaming without sight, gaming with someone I'd never met before. I'd spotted a thread on Warpshadow asking for a Battle Brother. Someone had a pair of tickets to Warhammer Worlds pairs tournament and his wife was unavailable and regular gaming buddies could potentially be working. So I made a leap of faith, travelled all the way to Nottingham to meet a guy I didn't know and spend the day gaming with him. We had an amazing time, we came second overall, got nominated for best army and we've since kept in touch on Facebook. Best of all Dan is actually going to Double Trouble so it's going to be great to meet up with him and see his new Adeptus Mechanicus Army. I expect our reunion to be somewhat like this ;)

Now, there is definitely a chance that you could be paired with someone you may not get on with but Alex's format does mean that might only be for th one game, of course it also means you would have to give up a great partner too, if you get on really well. Either way I think this is a really cool way to meet more people and mingle a bit more than usual and given the very limited points and army options [no LoW or fortifications] you have at your disposal it seems much harder to take obscene lists.

So I'm really looking forward to this, none of my gaming crew can make it but given the nature of the event, and seeing Dan again, well I'm hoping to come away with some great games and interaction [lets face it my Dark Angels aren't going to rule the battlefield so I'll take my enjoyment where I can get it!]

40kaddict terrain competition prize arrives

Marc has just sent me this picture of him holding the 40kaddict terrain competition prize. He's already started to discuss his plans for the beast on his blog - http://oldschoolg4m1ng.blogspot.co.uk so if you haven't already hop on over and check it out. Personally I think he should paint it in the colour of his son's PJs they're pretty dapper!

Anyway, Marc will be doing an unboxing of the Knight, he's been after one for a long while so he's justifiably excited and I can't wait to see the crazy things he's got planned for it. A big thank you once again for all those that entered, voted and clicked on the adverts - you all made this competition happen and I look forward to doing some more in the future.

Dark Angels - Ravenwing bike squad

So the Sergeant hit a wall, darned object source lighting, it seems to be hit and miss

The problem with this is the opacity of the paint. The Acrylic Vermilion has some very weird properties, it thins down with water but doesn't actually become more transparent. Unfortunately those areas where it's applied thickest also behave oddly in that when you try to manipulate the paint it actually peels off like some fluidic skin, leaving the lighter coated areas tinted [as intended] but those areas that require more colour strip back to the black almost. Of course my impatience got the better of me and I just kept on at it until I'd put too much paint on. I mean it's not bad, but it's not right either. It's too red, too opaque, less like a red head lamp and more like someone's daubed the bonnet with Hammer Horror fake blood!

But overall it's definitely within the same palette as this picture, so if I can fix the OSL I'll be happy.

I'll take a break from finishing him off, do the rest of the bikers and hopefully refine the OSL process so I'm happy.

The bad thing... ebay purchases I won't regret

When we left it last I'd traded one of the very first models that formed part of my son's army, that I since 'appropriated' [look, I let him live in my house I donlt owe him anything!]. I knew that Otty was just a little uncomfortable to take something that was painted, he'd said that these Broodlords were seeling for quite a bit on ebay, hence why he'd asked me to trade, so I took it as a challenge.

I managed to see this lot at auction and put in a bid for £5.10 [with £4 postage]. I honestly though I'd missed out becuase even when you;re a winner it asks you if you want to  make a higher bid and at first glance I'd assumed I'd lost and moved onto looking at something else by the same seller. The fact was I'd won, so I can swap this Broodlord for the one I already gave Otty and I've also got 14 Genestealers... yay!? Oh crap, add that to the 31 I'm painting the 50+ cultists and my eventual plan to get the complete set of Space Hulk ones... too many Stealers. I did think to sell them but they're already shadow-washed in my colours! We'll see what happens.

Anyway, the other lot I was looking as was a double sized Citadel case, just with no foam inserts. I was only interested in it because there was a couple of minutes to go and it was only at a tenner.

The foam isn;t an issue as I'll eventually be getting different foam sizes to try to accommodate some of my weirder shaped models and this was going to be perfect. Postage was £6 but if I got the Stealers combined postage would be awesome :) then I thought I'd missed the Stealers :( then I was notified just as this was closing I'd got them :) I put my bid in and got it for £10.50!

I contacted the seller to see about combined postage and the next day he'd slashed the Stealer postage so it was going to cost me just £6 delivery with a grand total of £21.60! That's pretty cool, he didn't have to do that [although that's what I would have done]. I'll be sure to write him a glowing review.

Eight Genestealers new are £15 from Element Games so I consider this a pretty cool bargain. However, how on earth do I explain this to the wife? This is coming in the post and I can't explain it away like Renegade - 'it's not mine, half is Liam's and half is some guy's in Australia! 'Sure it is husband dear...'

Hopefully I can re-jig stuff in the Mancave to accommodate this...

1500pts battle report - Dark Angels v Tyranids!

I got a chance to pop round to Otty's for a game and unusually I got to face his Tyranids, but using my Dark Angels. We were Playing a Maelstrom game and struggling to come to terms with a lot of the new FAQs in a bid to getting ready for when they're official. Personally given the extent of the FAQs I actually feel we'd be better off with a new rulebook, loathe as I am to suggest 8th Edition but a lot of these things go beyond a simple clarification.

Anyway we set up opposite [as you do when you play 40k!]

I love this modular table that Otty made, it's always packed full of realistic touches and surprisingly is quite forgiving for wobbly model syndrome [I know it doesn't look it but honestly it really]

Army list wise I took the Cerastus, two Deathwing squads, Bastion and Devs, Dark Talon and 9 Tacticals with my Scouts and my Techmarine leading. Otty had two maxed out broods of Stealers, a maxed Hormagaunt brood, a couple of Venomthropes for cover, a Broodlord, a Tyranid Prime, Harpy, Tyrannofex, one Hive Guard and Mr Tickle - the Toxicrene.

Otty got first turn, and surged forwards. He only managed to kill one Devastator with Missile Launcher but I needed all my firepower to halt the surging horde. He tried to use most of his Warp Charge to cast Dominion on the Broodlord making everything under Synapse but I easily denied. Now with level 1 psykers only allowed to cast one power the rest of his warp charge was wasted [much like the vaunted Psychic phase!]

"These are Genestealers, you may be unfamiliar with them, they're the 'premier' close combat unit in 40k"

My response was to meet him head on with the Lancer leading the way. My Devastators fragged the Hormagaunts, which broke and ran for the board. The Lancer fried some also. In Otty's turn two the Harpy arrived, I managed to wound it two or three times with my Quad Gun, but he put two wounds on the Lancer. I was saving my Ion Shield for the Tfex and Hive Guard. The Hormagaunts rallied and by the end of the turn were 2 inches in front of where they'd been at the end of turn 1. The Stealers failed to negotiate the woods, clearly stalking their prey more effectively. The Tfex whiffed and the Hive Guard targeted the Devastators again!

The Stealers charged first, but it was through the difficult terrain of the trenches so would assault last. Mr Tickle and the Tfex also got in on the action.

Mr Tickle struck first, ordinarily his S5 would have meant nothing but with the Harpy having torn chunks from the lancer the Sentient Spore Cloud surrounding the beast found vulnerable spots in his armour resulting with seven Armourbane attacks!

Somehow the Lancer survived with one wound left. The Tfex failed to hit with his Smash and the Stealer couldn't do enough damage.

In return the Lancer stomped on just a few Stealers. He was then torn apart by Mr Tickle in my turn blowing up and killing all but one Genestealer and the Prime. Mr Tickle and the Tfex just stood and watched, untouched by the catastrophic explosion! Meanwhile the Harpy swooped past the bastion but was unable to fire it's Spore Cysts due to jinking in a previous turn. My Techmarine could only look on with horror as he arrived too late to try and repair the Knight

My dark Talon arrived but did very little, the Scouts could see their position was about to be over-run but perhaps it was already too late.

As my forces were being swept asunder I suddenly became captivated with this element of Otty's Tyranid Bastion, the colours and effect was really quite outstanding.

Back to the carnage and the Genestealer managed to reach the Scouts, it was a bad day to be wearing red camo cloaks on a green battlefield!

Who couldn't possible survive against such overwhelming odds [Lost Patrol anyone?]

Mr Tickle dispatched the now exposed Techmarine with ease, but in return I was able to take the Harpy down with my Dark Talon.

The Tyranid Prime and the lone Stealer assaulted the Tactical Squad defending their ammo reserves.

They lost the combat by two, failed their morale, broke and were over-run leaving the Objective in filthy Xenos hands. OK, I realised afterwards this did not happen, that 'And they shall know no fear' prevents Sweeping Advances but I'm still getting the hang of the rules, it was 1am and do you know what? They bloomin' deserved to die given their pathetic performance.

End result was an 8:4 loss but an interesting game and it certainly allowed Otty to reconfigure his list - putting the Prime with the Hormagaunts would have prevented them breaking. And Mr Tickle was awesome, I could see him scything through unit of Terminators, or even a Vehicle Squadron if they'd taken a bit of damage. As it was he did the Knight in with ease, thanks to the Harpy damage. 

Meanwhile we also traded some bits, Otty had needed a metal Broodlord  to make some Purestrain Genestealers. He's making an 'organic' genecult, making hybrids and Aberrants out of all sorts of donor models and the Broodlord is what he's using for the Prince's. He then discovered I was trading 'Broodlord in a body warmer'. I think that didn't quite sit right with him and so swamped me with bits and even gave me a metal Azrael and Watcher in the Dark, so I've got some really interesting stuff to play around with once I can get my other jobs done.

That said the next day I did a bad thing...