Eldar Warlock WiP.

Okay, it’s almost Friday and I’ve found some time to take a picture of Warlock that I have been painting on for the past week. Just something that’s been lying around for a while and deserved a little attention.

It's about half done and I wasn’t trying to do anything fancy. My palette is very limited until I can get some new paints. Most of them did not survive the long and extended break. This may be blessing as GW went and redid the whole line again from what I understand.

Anyone have some feedback on what these new paints are like? Are the pots different from the last set or did the stick with old ones? The new ones seemed to aimed at people who hate mixing paint and most of line is just repeated shades and tones of the primary set. Are the washes still the same? I’d be a sad Larry if they were different. 

 Any insight would be helpful; I’ve never strayed outside of Apple Barrel and Games workshops paints and wonder if this would be a good time to make a switch.  Any recommendations for an outside company would be great otherwise I’ve got some research ahead of me.

V is for Vyper.

Who would think that these tiny craft would be the cornerstone for my army reaching 2k. If there's one thing I've learned about Av. 10 skimmers is that one is never enough! The only survivability they have on the table is in pure numbers and lucky saves.

That's why I got two...

One big decision will be what rides in these craft. It's something that's going to need worked out as I finalize the list. Beyond the three blaster set-up, I'm open to any suggestions to what would be the ideal unit? I'd like to try a unit of High Born with Splinter Cannons for just the right amount of overkill. It seems like it could be a great follow up unit to what the dark lances manage to crack open. Anyways, I'll post up some progress in the next few days, but it's going to a little bit of time to finish off these models.
 

Worst. Blog. Ever.

What else can be said for the lack of activity that’s occurred over the summer?

I’m not going to waste time with excuses.... The best part about the hobby is when you take a break, no matter how long; everything will be there when you get back from hobby holiday. Besides, the internet seemed just fine during my absence.

Sure, the paints may be a little dry out and you can’t find the glue, but ya’ gotta start somewhere! Let’s begin with something small and see where the inspiration takes us.

Mr. Z really wants to start heading down to the LGS to drum up some 40k games. Not that big of deal, but it seems they play bigger games in that neck of the woods. The Dark Eldar sit close the 2k mark, yet the list leaves much to be desired. It’s not really even a list, more like everything that I have painted and some extra gear. Just a few more units would fill out the ranks nicely and make the army stronger.

The other side project is some new terrain pieces for the Mordheim table. The summer campaign that I had wished for never happened, (I blame myself) but that’s not going to stop me from giving some more love to one of my favorite games.

So I'm going to make some new lists, build some models, paint them, and continue to lose miserably... while blogging about it all for your enjoyment!

Soon…

Well hey we did get some games in though didn't we? And we have warbands ready to go now, should the interest spark in some new players. After we paint up the rest of this terrain we should get another game or two in before we dive into this 2k 40k malarkey :p
- mr editor zealot

Honored Imperium

What's up gang?

The end of May is usually a busy time for me and it always cuts into my hobby time. Things are starting to settle down around here and it's time to work. There are still a few terrain projects I want/need to wrap up before the crazy bionic bird-men make the scene next week.

Project #1 more Craters for the table. The Blastscape looked all lonely and a battlefield can never have too much devastation. The #2 Project is the infamous Space Marine Statue and it's other components. What 40k table is complete with-out this grim reminder of the Imperial might? I'm hoping to work on the stuff over the next few days and will post something up over the holiday.

Warhammer 40k Blastscape: Finished

The hobby time was plentiful this week and it made painting up the set rather easy task. I went with the neutral Grey scheme so the pieces would blend on both tables. After a Heavy Ink Wash and allot of Dry-Brushing, all there was left to do was add a bit of color. Nothing fancy, but I wanted it to contrast with the Grey. Overall, they turned out decent and add some flare to the Ice world. I could even use a few of them for for Warhammer Games.

Don't forget about the Give-away.....

Warhammer 40k Blastscape

Well, it's been a quiet week here around the hobby table. I haven't the time to sit down to do anything major due to numerous outside distractions. Yesterday was the only real chance I had to "hobby" and did not let it go to waste.

I stopped the by the LGS, earlier in the week to find this buried and forgotten gem. I thought it was just the regular Crater Set, but I was wrong. It turned out to be the limited edition BlastScape from the PlanetStrike Expansion. No matter, the rest of my Sunday was spent basing and priming. Hopefully, I will find some time to work on them over this week and I'll post up the progress.

Also don't forget to join up for the Give-Away before this Saturday!!!

Space Marine Test Model Pt. 2

Instead of me fooling around with more test models, I decided to sit down and paint up one of the Magnet Marines. As wisely suggested, I took pictures at different angles this time around, so you can see the whole mini. 

I must admit this single model was quite a pain in my @$$. The Magnets would spin around, so my answer was to glued them in place with the tiniest dab of glue on the joints.  Later I would drop it and the most of the Magnets popped out super glued the arms and not the torso.

Despite the set-backs, I finished out the model. For the most part, I’m pretty pleased with how it looks. It would take a long time to build up an entire army this way, but I think the effort would equal the reward. Now I just have to paint up his other set of war-gear and we can call this model finished.

Space Marine Test Model

I'm not sure where I was going with this scheme. I wanted something metallic, but not silver. I wanted a color that would stand out on the table and at the same time would lend well to my wash-style of painting. After a few tests, we have the model that you see here. What I was trying to go for was... something regal or majestic, but it looks like it’s been in service for a very long time.

I started out with a brown base coat, then follow by Shining gold, then a liberal wash of Leviathan Purple. Next, the highlights, going back to the Shining gold, and then layered with Burnished gold… A little bit of Mithril Silver along all the edges, and finally a coat of Gryphonne Sepia to blend it all together. A few lite coats of Devlan Mud to start the shading, in the final stages, I layered with purple and black wash to help further define and add tint.

The little bit of color on the left shoulder pad is something to add more flair. I may just go back and make it all one solid color or keep it gold. The one thing is... the other marines are hybrids between the stranded kits and the new Death Company set. So, the next one will have more contrast with help of the shoulder pads and other details in the armor.

Any comments or criticisms are always appreciated.

City of Death Repaint Pt.3

It’s been a rather quiet week around the painting table.  Outside powers conspire to steal away my hobby time, but I still managed to finish off these two buildings.  That only leaves me two more to go.  Then this little vanity project can come to a close. 

I may end up building one kit, but I’m a little torn. I just don’t have the motivation to paint up more right now. I’d hate build it and then give it a half-a$$ed paint job. It would look some what out of place after all the time that’s been sunk into the other structures. Plus, I couldn’t just build one. That would give me an even number of buildings for the table. I don’t know why in the world that bothers me, but it does. Call me a bit odd, I guess.

So, if everything goes according to plan, I’ll finish this all up over the next week and we can move onto something more interesting.

City of Death Repaint Pt.1

Despite my various setbacks over the past week, I have managed to start one project that is long overdue.  My City of Death buildings have been in dire need of attention. Back when I first got the kits, I was in a hurry to get them together and on the table as soon as possible. That was like over 3 years ago...

If I had my way, I’d be cutting and hacking up some new Styrofoam hills for the table, but it’s not that nice outside. Instead, we’ll just spruce up the buildings for now. I didn’t want to start over completely; I’d already done some work on the gold skulls and other details. It was better to just bust out the Metallic paints and washes and have a go. 

 

These two are what I’ve managed to finish so far and I still four more to paint up. It’s a bit sloppy, but I’m just trying to drag out more contrast in the models and not spend the time it would actually take to paint up these insanely detailed kits. 

Dark Eldar Army Complete! 1.5k.

Unfortunately my time is rather limited today, so you get to miss out on all my usual typos and grammar mistakes. I meant to post this up yesterday, along with a list, but I was way too busy doing “The Celebratory Booty Dance” with confirmation of the Dark Eldar in the month of June.

They almost had me (Stupid Sexy Grey Knights) but I should be okay now. 

So, here's the Dark Eldar army as it stands. Just about 1.5k in models all painted up and ready to play. I can’t wait to add some Venoms and Scourges! Until the new stuff gets here, I'm going to focus on my table and get to work on some Trueborn to ride around in the skiffs.

Also, if you want a chance to win a big bag of free Bitz or old Rouge Trader Hybrids, don’t forget to join the Blog before the end of Wednesday!

Warhammer 40k Battlescape

Well, after a weekend of paint work the Battlescape is complete. Something about a wreaked out Rhino, just appeals to the old Xenos player in me. I tried to keep the paint job as natural as possible that way it would blend on the table. The Rhino is painted up as a defunct Space Marine Chapter.(Really, just any old excuse to use Rotting Flesh and Devlan Mud.) I also used a little bit of static grass to cover up any major gaps between the trees and the base and I might add some more later on. 

I only a few comments on this kit... the mold lines on the trees too forevermore and day to scrap off. After all the effort it took to get them cleaned up, I still missed one or two. The kit has just the right amount of detail on it, but not a single bullet casing to be found. Not that big of deal, but I just found that a bit odd.

Hmm... Grey Knights...

1. The Dread Knight is just preview of how smooth a some New Tau Battle-suits might be...

2. Games Workshop is marketing genius to cram 4 different squad lay-outs into the power armor set.

Get yer' wallets ready!

Dark Eldar Ravager Painted

I had some free time over the weekend and I had already assembled the model. So, I proceed to set my paint brushes on "Insane". 4 hours later.... we have Ze' painted Ravager. Instead of gluing everything down on the last one. I left it in separate components and that made the job go allot quicker. It also helped, that this was the 6th Raider chassis I've painted for the army. So, I guess a little repetition is a good thing sometimes.

However, this is the last thing I'm painting for the army until the next wave. As it stands, the army is sitting a 1.5k. and I don't see the point of expanding it any further. Ya' know what would be really keen right about now?  A few Venoms or a evil airplane, but all that is going to have to wait until the summer. (Lousy G.W.)

Anyways, do not fear, the painting madness will continue. I've been thinking some terrain kits are in order. I need to spruce up my 40k table a bit. Oh, and I changed my blog template, I wanted to test my patience and inexperience with the HTML code. Not everything is the way it should be yet, but I'm learning and that's kinda the point.

Hellions: WiP.

This past week was my Daughter's 15th. Birthday, so understandably my painting time was a little less than usual. 

I tried not to let the time go waste and focused it on the unit of Hellions. Neat models but are they incredibly fiddly and annoying. I still have to work on the riders and put some markings on the sky-boards but that shouldn't take very long.   Once that's done, the only unit remaining is a second Ravager to round out the army list to a solid 1.5k.

If I could find the energy and motivation to finish out this last vehicle...

Dark Eldar Reavers

Well, all I can say is they are done. It’s a really neat model kit but the price makes amassing a huge unit unfeasible.  This new ball joint on the flying stands is nice change from the old one. After a few coats of paint the bikers sit on the stand with little or no problems. I can’t say that for the Hellions.  So, now they are painted what to do with them?

The Internet makes it sound so easy, but I’ve got a sneaky suspicion that it’s going to take a lot of trial and error to use this unit properly.  I’m not expecting great things from my bikers; I just want to get the maximum effect. Next up on the painting table... Hellions. 

Homunculi. Is there anything they can't do?

This is just a quick post. The fact is that I don’t have much to show off this time around.  I’ve been feverishly working on the trio of Jet bikes and the same time painted up this second homunculus. These two maybe the only remaining models from the original range and did they have the mold lines to prove it.  I also touched up the first homunculus.  Now they both look reasonably sinister.

Since, you get up to three for a single HQ choice, down the road I’ll have to grab a third one. Right now, I have them riding in my Warrior units until I can put some Trueborn models together.  They rate pretty high in my book. They remind me of  MacGyver as they seem to have an answer for everything.  Both of mine use the venom blade and liquefier gun set up. For the cost and the pain token it’s well worth it.

On a side note: Does anyone have a strong opinions on Baron Shazz-butts or whatever his name is? The guy who rides the sky board, gets the chicks, and the +1 to deployment roll. I keep seesawing between him and The Duke, but I can't decide.

What to do about Mandrakes?

In last weekend’s post, I mentioned something about Jet Bikes, but the local stores were not cooperating. Unfortunately, I could only snag one box of bikes because that’s all they had in stock.  After that little set back, I decided to paint something else.  This week’s efforts yielded the Mandrakes.

Like most of community, I've pondering the overall worth of this unit. Even if they aren’t outstanding on the table, they do add the element of paranoia that all outflanking units do.There is always that risk of the maneuver backfiring, but the enemy should be scrambling after the Portal comes into effect. Mandrakes seem like a unit of opportunity. Taking advantage of weak deployments, disrupting strong zones or helping out with your own aggressive set-up; these are the strengths of the unit.

Sure, the Mandrakes won’t be smashing Land Raiders anytime soon, but with some practice and some Pain Tokens, I feel they can perform and have something to contribute.

Dark Eldar Warriors and Beastmasters

This weeks post is a little late, normally I like to post stuff over the weekend, but I got distracted over the past few days and couldn't find the time to sit down at the computer.


From the complete lack of comments, I guess no one really cared for the Wychs from the last post. So, I thought it would be a good time to post up my other Warrior squad. They are kitted out with the same gear as the other unit-- the Blaster and Splinter Cannon combo. All together, I have 3 completed infantry units now. All there is left to paint?
3 vehicles and my 2 homunculus. Then everything will be sitting pretty a 1,000 points.

 

Finally, we have my Beast-master pack. I love this unit. It's a prefect excuse to use some of my older Xenos models on the table. The Snake-men have been posing a Kroot Hounds in my Tau Strike-force, while the Star-Spawn Wannabe has been sitting pretty on the shelf, after the disbanding of my very unlucky/short-lived Hrud army. All that needed painted was the trio of Hellions to act a Beast-masters until the actual models are released.

Thanks to new book, these models can take on new roles and add some uniqueness to my army. Besides, for all the work I did on these models, they deserve more game time and I plan on playing my new army for the most of next year. They will count as Khymeras and a Klawed Fiend then will deploy out of a Warp Portal carried by one of the Homunculus.

The project is entering the final phases!