Sunday, December 27, 2015

Showcase: Grimgore Ironhide


 Well here it is the first newly painted Orcs and Goblins model in the better part of 3 years.  Icy Orcs Grimgore Ironhide.   Really enjoyed painting it. Used some blue tint on the dead skin to make it look dead and lots of Blood for the Blood God. 



Working on spider riders.  Hopefully I'll be able to afford some new 40k models soon.

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Showcase: Custom Sammael

Yes, it's been a while since I did my last models but I finally finished my next (reluctant) project, my custom Sammael model.  I didn't really want to start this guy until I had at least some bikes to go with him, but I really didn't have anything else to do!

The real Sammael model is like $50, finecast and really old. Didn't want to invest that much on something that really wasn't a priority.  But I found this resin bike on ebay for $20 and it's designed for GW miniatures so I gave it a try.

Not only is the model a perfect fit for a GW rider, it just looks amazing.

I didn't quite get the feathers the way I wanted, but doing better would have required a dunk and repaint, and I wasn't up for that at all. It's good enough.

Other then that I'm pretty darn happy with how it came out.

Anyway, pics!






Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Age of Sigmar

So I finally played a game of AoS, my Orcs vs Gorn Lizardmen Seraphon.  It was a heck of a lot of fun, and I really enjoyed it...despite obvious balance issues.

So after just one game I already have some thoughts. That's the nice thing about a simple ruleset, it does not take long to get a grasp on it.

1. The roll each turn to see who goes first can be rough, especially on turn 2.  however I think if you know that your opponent might get 2 turns in a row, you can plan for that more easily. I didn't know it, so I was super aggressive and it cost me.

2. There is no unit balance. Sure you can play with a framework, like limiting wounds per unit, duplicates, etc but it does not help because some units are simply better then others.  There are comp systems out there, I'll have to look into it..

3. Shooting into/out of combat.  There is no rule that says you can't, but we played it like it does.   I think that really helped especially since I was facing some really potent shooting.

4. A game of remembering!  So many rules in each warscroll that it takes time to remember everything you can do. 

5.  Monsters. I *love* how monsters get weaker as they take wounds. It's a great mechanic I've wanted in 40k for a long time.

6. Multiple combats.  I think this is where the game really shines.  Because you do not resolve each combat separately, but pick units to attack in turn and then resolve the results after everyone is done. This means when involved in multiple combats you can only be sure of having the advantage when it's your turn and then only in the first unit you pick.  You're opponent can pick any other unit involved in other combats, giving him the advantage in that one. It's bloody brilliant if you ask me and ads so much challenge to the game.

I don't know if or when I'll pick it up again, especially how much better the Seraphon are then my O&G, and I don't have another army to play. My cousin does, tomb kings, but that has plenty of broken stuff in it as well..

Anyway that's it for now.

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Showcase: Ork Promethium Relay Pipes

Sorry I only had 1 post in November.  For most of the month between recovering from hernia surgery and still getting use to my new diet, I didn't have much energy.

I did get a couple things done though. First was the promethium relay pipes. More of a "repaired" look then a real "looted" look, I went with lots of corrosion, pigments, etc.

Pretty happy with it, even if I don't have any plans to use it in a game.





I also modified one of my unused Nob bikers for use as a mek with KFF and Big Bosspole for the modified warbike-star.



Both the pole and KFF are magnetized.

so that's about it for now, I am really running low on things to work on so I'm not sure what's next.

Friday, November 6, 2015

Orks in the ITC

After a month of muckin' about with da fisheads' it's time to get back to da Waagghh!

Well, to be honest it's because I don't have the models to play the Tau as competitive as I would like..so ya.

Anyway I'm still trying to build up an Ork list for playing in competitive ITC tournaments.  Watching the other lists play I've started to build up my own version, and so far so good.

First, I have to admit I've been totally missing out on the amazeballs that is Tankbustas. Not for any particular reason, but just..well..dunno lol.

Sure, the first game I tried them they didn't have much to do, but that may change.  Also, I need more of them. Right now I have 1 unit of 12, and another unit being worked on. Plus 9 rokkit boys from my 3 main infantry squads.  So since I have 3 units, that's the way I'm going.  Backed up with some lootas as well.

The sad thing is really the start of any competitive Ork list must be Zhadsnark.  You must have the speed to avoid being shot off the table before you can get where you need to be.  A green tide may work, but you'll be investing so much there isn't much left to get objectives, IMO.

Bikes as ObSec troops though is nothing to laugh at..with the speed and survivability to grab those maelstrom points. A unit of 3 can be quite the thorn especially for the low low price of 54 pts..especially doing things like absorbing overwatch.

Anyway those are my thoughts, now the list:

Ork Horde Detachment:
HQ: (warlord) Zhadsnark "Da Rippa"
HQ: Painboy, warbike  *goes without saying
HQ: Warboss, warbike, Da Lucky Stikk, bosspole  *the whole unit at WS5, wee!

Troops: 15 warbikes, nob w/PK&BP
Troops: 6 warbikes, nob w/PK&BP *after the big unit goes down, gives me a little redundancy
Troops: 3 warbikes

Elite: 8 tankbustas, Trukk w/ram
Elite: 8 tankbustas, Trukk w/ram

Heavy: 15 lootas

Fortification: Aegis

Great Waggh! Detachment:
HQ: Big Mek, Warbike, Big Bosspole, KFF, PK *gets a little spendy, but having the KFF (even the normal one) could add just enough resiliency against ignore cover.  Also, fearless FTW!
HQ: Painboy *I had the points, couldn't figure out what to use them on. Giving FNP to the lootas or maybe a tankbusta unit will be nice.

Troops: 10 Grots *little cheaper with the warbikes, and they can sit with the lootas or other objective.
Troops: 3 Warbikes

Elite: 8 tankbustas, Trukk w/ram

So that's it.  A bit different then what I played last week but much better overall.   We'll see how it goes. I still have no answer for a Centstar but meh whatever.

Saturday, October 31, 2015

Tau-riffic Tau-tober! - Final thoughts

As my kids gorge on candy and October draws to a close, the Tau codex hits shelves.

- The lack of a completely new codex is very disturbing.  Points needed adjustments almost everywhere, Broadsides needed to be S10 again and maybe some D-weapons for "balance".

- The new detachments and formations look pretty good, but like most some are way better then others.

- Seems like GW is up to the old tricks of limited rules. 

http://www.games-workshop.com/en-US/Tidewall-Counterstrike-Cadre

Now I don't mind having a whole playable dataslate in a box, but the rules need to be available separately..especially when you consider they are making only 200 copies of the rules..period.

It's really 30 firewarriors, 10 pathfinders and then the fortifications, which isn't much. But what kind of benefits it gives it what matters.   It may not be a Skyhammer Annihilation force, but it may be just as bad.

- Will Tau make it back into high-level tournament play?  Probably not. The one thing Tau does better then anyone is interceptor - which kills a lot of the high level lists (including the aforementioned Skyhammer Annihilation force) but skyfire gets super expensive very quick..especially trying to fight 5+ FMC's.

What's next? I'll probably be messing around with Tau for the next month.

With allies.  Sure, I can't do Orks (Zhadsnark backed up by broadsides? FUCK YA) in ITC rules but I can do...CHAOS!!!

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Getting back into hobby time..Bad Moonz Tankbustas

Surgery, 2 days in hospital, 2 more days in bed doped up on Oxycontin, and now finally enough energy to sorta return to normal.

Started these guys before I went under the knife, and was able to finish them over the last 2 days.  12 tankbustas which will be Bad Moonz to go along with my Bad Moonz Trukk.

I only had 3 "normal" rokkets so I had to build the rest. I used mostly the combi-rokket bits from the Meganobz kitz, along with some of the kombi-rokkets from the plastic nobs.  And built a few with pistols.

Pretty darn happy with them, I'll slowly start painting over the next few days...energy still isn't 100% and I have to get back to work.



Tuesday, October 20, 2015

From zero to Goff in nothing flat...

A little while ago I didn't have any "official" Goff units in my army. I count my Tin Bitz colored meganobz and Goff but they aren't black.  That all changed when I decided after much debate to paint my last Trukk Goff.  I really liked how it came out. I've avoided Goffs before because all black can get really boring. But mixing clans helps solve that.


While putting away my Trukk into the "these units suck" box, I dug through it and looked a full unit of 30 boys I had muckin' about at the bottom.  They needed refurbishing.  I needed some Goff boys to go with their shiny new Trukk.  So away I went with a full refurbish painting the cloth black, stripes white and a layer/highlight on the skin.
 


Now the boys are back in the bottom of the box, but if I ever decide to play trukks they might see the light of the game table.

But that's not the end of it.  I got a small bonus at work (in Amazon gift cards) and after much more indecision went with an Ork flyer. Sure I have 3 Dakkajets but I've been wanting to fly Wingnutz' Air Armada for a while now...so I needed bombers.

And here is the result: A Goff Burna-bomber. First time using pigments to "dirty" up the windows, and I think they came out pretty good. I also used pigments in the panel lines to bring them out instead of highlighting the edges of everything. I love how the bombs came out, but I broke my airbrush after finishing them. 




Ran out of the blue I used on the underside of my other planes, so I might go back over it someday, somehow.

So now in a short couple of weeks I've gone from zero Goff models in my Army to about 500pts.  When I do get the last plane for the Blitza-bomber, I'll have a whole new chance to be indecisive on clan!!

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Showcase: Goff Trukk





The last of my Trukks is now complete.  Basically I had nothing else to paint!  But I'm VERY happy with this one, after taking a while to decide on Goff.   As a consequence I am now refurbishing a unit of boys I've had collecting dust in the bottom of a box for years - all Black Reach - as Goffs with black leather and white straps.  I will probably also paint my Burna Bomber as Goff, just to add more of that clan into my army.  I count my Meganobz as Goff but they aren't black but Tin Bitz.

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Showcase: Nurgle Rhino





Very proud of this model, love everything about it.  Now I have a cool ride for the Plaguemarines.

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Tau-riffic Tau-tober! A "beer and pretzels" list?

Trying to make a fun list..something not too competitive. So I immediately ruled out the Buff-commander and massive markerlight support. 

CAD -2000pts
HQ: Ethereal
HQ: Cadre Fireblade; 2x shield drones

Troops: 6 Firewarriors; pulse carbines, emp grenades
Devilfish; SMS, pods
Troops: 6 Firewarriors
Devilfish; SMS, pods
Troops: 12 Firewarriors; Sash'ui, 2x shield drones

Elite: Riptide; FNP, early warning
Elite: 2x XV8; TL missile pods, early warning
Elite: 3x XV8; 6x plasma rifles

Fast: 8 Pathfinders
Fast: 2 Piranha; fusion blasters, pods
Fast: Barracuda; pods

Heavy: Hammerhead, Longstrike, sub munition, pods, SMS
Heavy: 2x XV88, missile pods
Heavy: 2x XV88, rail rifles

Aegis, quad gun

basically the Fireblade sits behind the ageis and fires the quad gun while giving  his unit extra shots.  The Ethereal can join the unit or ride in a Devilfish.

I only have 1 Riptide I went ahead and included it anyway.

A couple of interceptor missile pod suits and 6 plasma rifles to drop down somewhere.

Only 1 unit of markerlights, I figured I might as well paint a "first blood!" target on them.

Lastly, limiting the number of missile pod broadsides.

Still has a bit of firepower, and the flying battlecannon (Barracuda) is always a lot of "gets hot" rolls.

I'm going to be playing at 1500pts this month, so I will be dropping the hammerhead and riptide to get there.

Anyway, the first Tau-riffic Tau-tober! battle report soon!

Monday, October 5, 2015

It's Tau-riffic Tau-tober!

With a new codex just around the corner, it's time to celebrate all things Tau!

Tau was just my 2nd army after Orks and I started off buying a collection all the way back in 2009. I do love me some Tau as being a completely different army then my Orks.  I also loved having Tau and Ork allies back in 6th edition..Nob bikers backed up with S10 railgun broadsides..whoohoo!

Anyway my first video of Tau-tober is up, going over the KV128 Stormsurge. Enjoy!



Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Nurgle Rhino build complete.

Finished the 2nd session of greenstuff and I'm even more happy with the results. 

Going to get painting on this asap.







This is quickly becoming one of my favorite models.

Monday, September 28, 2015

Chaos Rhino partial scratch build #1

This is how you define "more time then money".

I've been wanting a Chaos Rhino to go along with the DV marines I just finished, but I'm saving all I can right now because I'm going to lose some work due to surgery next month.

Anyway I remembered I had the rhino sides and tracks in my bits box. Don't remember where I got them though lol.

Since I'm doing a Nurgle Rhino anyway, and it's going to get some bits and GS work, and I had some plastic sheets already, I figured I could just build the missing top and bottom.




After a 2nd day of work the basic Rhino shape is done, and I've started to "Chaos-ify" it.  Using bits left over from a few sprues that were given to me, I was able to make good progress.



So in a couple days I'll get to some GS work.  we'll see how it goes.

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Showcase: Nurgle Dark Vengeance Chaos Space Marines.

So it's been not quite a year since I converted up a set of Dark Vengeance CSM guys to be a stand alone CSM or Plaguemarine unit.

For some reason over the last couple of days I've been inspired to paint them, and now they are all done.  I also went with 32mm bases.  I really do think the aesthetic of the 32mm base is just amazing.  They are, of course, based to match my Ork army.






I'm very happy with them!  I think they've earned a Rhino, but that might have to wait until I can get some Black Knights going.

Anyway I'm starting to pile through my back log of unpainted models.  First the BA, then the Space Wolves, now the CSM and I even got out the 2nd group of Cultists and primed them!  I'm even looking at the Hellbrute with eye on a paint brush lol.

I've got a lot of commission work coming up, finishing a 2nd unit of assault marines, a unit or 2 of Grav devastators and at least 2 more drop pods, but waiting on money for that.

Friday, September 18, 2015

The KX139 is here..and look out the Tau are coming for your candy.

Forgeworld officially released the KX139 Ta'unar-Supremacy-Armour.

And it's pure beatdown.

The rules are free to download so I'm free to talk about them.

First, it's a gargantuan creature not a super-heavy walker.  Even though it is T9 with 10 wounds, that is actually a bad thing, as it makes it very vulnerable to Grav weapons. A single unit of Centurions could kill it in a single volley.  That's the only thing keeping it from being completely over the top.  Even at that it still has 4++ and FNP so even grav can be mitigated..

But if you don't have a unit or two of Grav Centurions, it will completely wreck your day.

First, the primary weapon has 2 fire modes.  First shot is a 7" D-weapon blast.  7 inch. blast. d-weapon...
The 2nd mode is Apoc Barrage 3, S8 AP3 ignores cover.  Pretty good against almost everything..

The arm guns have 2 choices. The first, has ..again 2 fire modes.
Either 6 shots at S7 AP3..Each.  or 3 shots at S9 AP2..each.

The other weapon option is a 5-shot Multi-melta...each.

And of course being a GC means it can fire them all at different targets.

And it's actually WS3 not 2..a huge bonus in CC.

To top it all off it's got 2 TL burst cannons and 2 SMS's which it can fire on overwatch..at BS2 none the less.

At 600points it's a huge investment in a 40k game..but worth it.  Add in the other new Tau units that have been spotted in the wild and a new codex and you have Tau once again coming to take your candy and there isn't a damn thing you can do about it.


Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Blood Angels "fun" list.

You don't see too much pure Blood Angels around, pretty much because most of the book is really underwhelming.  Once you add in some allies they can be a great addition but pure BA is tough.

Since I'm playing in a more "casual" league (that my shooty ork list just dominated) I figured going pure BA would be the way to go.  Mid-tier, not too powerful not too weak.

One of my favorite models I've ever done for my BA is my Captain with dual lightning claws.  So I started with that because he's awesome.

HQ: Captain: The Angel's Wings, 2 LC, artificer armor
HQ: Sanguinary Priest: jump pack, bolt pistol, meltabombs

Troops: 10 Tactical Marines: Melta, combi-melta, heavy flamer, drop pod
Troops: 10 Tactical Marines: Plasma, combi-plasma, lascannon, Las-Plas Razorback

Elites: 10 Death Company: bolters, drop pod
Elites: 10 Sternguard: heavy flamer, 3x combi-plasma, 3x combi-melta, drop pod

Fast: 4 Bikes: combi-grav, 2x grav gun, Attack bikes with MM
Fast: 10 Assault Marines: 2x melta, Vet Sgt, power fist
Fast: 5 Assault Marines, melta, Rhino

LoW: Dante

Lots of power armor, lots of drop pod action and one assault unit. It's fun, sorta aggressive, and damn pretty if I don't say so myself.

Saturday, September 5, 2015

Showcase: Death Company

As I draw closer to the end of my quest to complete all my Imperial army stuff, I present to you 5 Death Company.

The backpacks/jump packs are magnetized and 1 guy has 3 each magnetized pistol and ccw options.





These are all the new(er) plastic box and the models are just fantastic.   This gives me 20 of them now, 10 have magnetized jump packs/back packs and 10 are fixed backpacks.  Pretty darn happy with the results.

Now just 4 Grey Hunters left for Power Armor guys.

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Showcase: Imperial Fists Drop Pods

Another completed commission to go with the rest of the army I've painted.  One more drop pod to go - which is currently in the stripper.




Unlike the rest of the models I've done for this customer, he wanted a bit of weathering on these, but not a lot.  So some black smoke marks from the vents on the doors and I mixed some black and white into a grey for a bit of carbon scoring.

In between steps on these I've been working on the last of my power armor models, and I've made some darn good progress with 4 Grey Hunters and 3 Death Company now complete.  Once again, need more 32mm bases!

That's it for now!

Monday, August 24, 2015

Quick take: Blood Angels Sternguard group shot

While putting away the 2nd set of Sternguard I got everyone out.


That's the problem with magnets - it makes it so there is so much more to paint!

That's it, more updates soon!