MODELLING: Khorne Lord on Juggernaut built

I've crossed my first task off my to do list. The Khorne Lord on Juggernaut is built.

I just love the aesthetics of this model - it's a real Jes Goodwin classic. As soon as I saw it I knew I had to have it! Of course this year I made a New Year resolution not to buy any new models so I knew I'd have to wait until 2010. Lo and behold I open a birthday present from my girlfriend and I'm holding the model in my hand. Result!

The only bad thing about the model is that it is all metal. Having come off the back of putting together the Ork Deff Dread, Killa Kanz and Meganobz I knew what a pain assembling metal models could be. This was no exception!

I think I must invented a dozen or more new swearwords as I tried to get the skulls on spikes stuck to the shoulders of the Jugger.

But why now? Good question.

I think it's because I've been listening to a lot of Warhammer Fantasy Battle podcasts lately (why are there no really good 40k podcasts out there?) and the Games Workshop tournament heats were played recently. I'd really like to return to my Warriors of Chaos army and finish painting the models and add a handful of new ones.

Having said that, I have now learned that WFB 8th edition is due out next summer. It makes sense then to hold off for a few months until the main rulebook is released.

At least I can show it to my girlfriend and she'll know her present was appreciated!

OPINION: On magnets

I don't magnetise my models.

Many people do, nowadays. There are lots of tutorials on blogs and websites across the 'net showing you how to do it. There is one here on Mini Wargaming and a video here on Way of Saim-Hann. It's reasonably simple to do and doesn't cost much. In fact it saves you money in the long run.

The main reason for magnetising your model is to maximise your investment in the model; you can buy one Predator tank, for example, and fit it with heavy bolter sponsons, but then switch those out for lascannon sponsons without having to buy another tank. This also gives you greater tactical flexibility too, as you can tailor your army to your plan and opposition.

So it's easy to do, saves money and gives you a more competitive army. What's not to like?

The reason I don't magnetise my models is because I care about personality, theme and background.

I don't view models as just playing pieces in the game, but as part of a living breathing army in the 41st millennium. Those armies are defined by their weaknesses as much as their strengths.

A Predator tank in my Blood Angels army is not just a tank, it is Sacrum, a two century old vehicle which has fought in numerous campaigns. It is armed with an autocannon, heavy bolter sponsons and a pintle storm bolter. It earned it's name after it's first engagement against an Ork Waaagh. Leading from the front, it allowed several rhino troop transports to reach the Ork lines and despite being immobilised and drawing heavy fire, it spat a hail of death back into the greenskins. Without the sacrifice of that Predator, the Blood Angels may not have won the battle. Since then then, Sacrum has fought in countless battles, always utilising the same tactics, getting stuck in to the heart of the fighting and somehow surviving to fight another day.

Would it still be Sacrum if I swapped out the sponsons? I don't think so. It's the same with the weapons I choose for characters. Their weapons, wargear and armour become a defining part of them so I couldn't choose any others. It would seem like a betrayal!

I'd rather have the stones to pick the model as is, and try and make the tactics fit my force and the way my models are equipped. That might not be the 'best' choice for a game but at least you keep the background of your force pure and intact. I just think it's the start of a slippery slope switching between magnetised kit options. I don't want to start thinking of my models as just playing pieces. If I really want a certain combination I'll buy and paint a new model.

Besides, you never remember when your Predator with lascannons blows up an enemy vehicle because that's what you expect it to do, but you always remember when your Predator with heavy bolters does the same because the odds are against it. That would earn Sacrum a great honour, perhaps worthy of some extra painting on the model, a purity seal or maybe a write up in a battle report.

Anyway, it's often surprising how often I think I really need a particular combination of weapons only to find that I don't when I start playing the game. If after a few games it's clear I really do need a particular model or weapon then I build a specific model for that purpose. I will write up it's own history and then develop it further as I play some games with it.

I don't hate those who do magnetise their models, in fact I admire their ingenuity, but it's not for me.

MODELLING: Orks ready for painting

As you can see in the above photograph, I have finished the assembly of my Ork horde. Top right we have the big man himself, Ghaz, with three of his Meganobs in tow. One has a kombi-scorcha and two have kombi-rokkits. To their left we have a large mob of Nobz. Some of them will need additional powerklaws and/or kombi-weapons which I plan to add from an additional Nobz plastic box set next year. A painted Painboy is next, then there are two big shoota boys which are so far unallocated to units.

The bulk of the army is on the cutting mat. Front left are the Deff Dread with two big shootas, and three Killa Kans - two have rokkit launchas and the third has a big shoota. Cheap and cheerful.

Behind them are 10 'Ard boyz with a Nob and rokkit launcha. 20 Shoota boyz are lurking behind them with another Nob and two big shootas. I have enough parts to turn some of the Shoota boyz into 'Ard boyz if I want to at a later date.

My Assault on Black Reach Warboss is standing next to the walkers with two large Slugga boy units to his left. One is 20 strong with a Nob and two rokkit launchas, while the second is 16 strong with a Nob and big shoota. Again, I may play about with the exact size of these units later on.

The Deff Koptas are lined up far right. I've left them armed with rokkit launchas.

Finally, my Stormboyz are at the front right, partly undercoated. Ideally I'd like to increase the size of this unit and add a Nob so I may well buy a new plastic box of Stormboyz at some point.

The obvious next step is to base the army. With all of the army built I can do it all in one go, which should save a lot of time.

Then, finally, I'll be able to break out my paintbrush again...

MODELLING: Assault on Black Ork Reach

I spent an hour or two during the week clipping all of my Assault on Black Reach Orks from their sprues and snap fitting them together. You may also notice there are six Nobs rather than five; the extra Nob came free on the cover of White Dwarf. My next big task is to scrape off all the mould lines and glue them together.

It's the first time I've had a decent look at the models and I have to say I'm impressed. The Boyz look mean and sufficiently different from each other to convey the chaotic horde of Orks vibe, the Nobs are big and bulky and the Warboss is enormous. The Deffkoptas are simply stunning and much bigger than I expected. All in all I already have an impressive core to my new Ork army.

I have also been stripping some Old Ork models in my Dettol bath. The Killer Kanz and Deff Dread are in there at the moment along with an assortment of rokkit boyz, big shoota boyz and Nobs of every description. I have such a range of models spread across several different troop types and editions of the game I'm seriously considering constructing the whole army first and then painting them up. That way I'll have a far better idea of how to split the models between units effectively. It'll be a big job but it would mean I could paint other things in the meantime, such as my Planetary Empires tiles and my Planetstrike terrain.

Destroy the Gargant campaign
Speaking of Orks, I've just uploaded my eighth campaign game where my Daemonhunters took on Gary's greenskins. This was another Cityfight mission called Relief Force. Inquisitor Lord Severus is cornered by Warboss Snitchtongue - will his reinforcements arrive in time? Find out here.

GENERAL: 500 not out

Lone pilgrim has hit another major milestone with it's 500th blog post. This is a pretty good total given my battle reports blog is marching on toward 200 posts. Anyway, I'm not going to blather on too much about it other than to say I still have the blog bug and it will continue for the foreseeable future.

The U2 gig was great on Thursday night, I made it back to Newcastle to go out for a meal and some drinks last night and I've booked tickets for Inglourious Basterds tonight. The Ashes are being played all day and Newcastle are playing Cystal Palace this afternoon and I'll be trying to follow both on Sky Sports and on the radio. I'm now trying to fit in a bit of hobby time around my busy social schedule.

Wait a minute Mr Postman...
I was in a really foul mood with the Post Office this morning. When I came back from Sheffield on Friday I had a note through the door saying the postman had tried to deliver a parcel but had missed me. I suspect this is the latest Siege of Vraks book along with IA4 which I ordered. I had a drive down to the sorting office to pick it up only to find it is still on the van. As the Post Office is shut on Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday, the earliest opportunity I'll have to pick up the parcel is Monday night after work. That means I've lost my 'reading window' over this weekend. Rats.

This is the thing about ordering stuff online and is one of the reasons I don't get most of my GW stuff delivered. Sure, it's great to get a discount and in theory I might get stuff a few days early but I'm out most of the time when it is delivered so more often than not I have to go and pick up the stuff from the sorting office. The office is nowhere near where I live or work so it's a real hassle to get to and there is no guarantee it'll be there when I go, unless I leave it 48 hours. That means I also lose out on slightly earlier release dates. It's so frustrating that I often prefer to wait until the product is in the shops so I can buy it when it's convenient for me. Ho hum.

Ork bath
Anyway, the first thing I've done today is take my Blood Bowl models out of their Dettol bath and scrape all the paint off. It's worked a treat again and I'd definitely recommend using it if you haven't already done so.

I've now put a trukkload of Orks in the bath. There are several Killer Kanz, a Dread and numerous Nobz. They will be joining the Assault on Black Reach models I've already started to put together.

Destroy the Gargant
I'm now writing up more of my Destroy the Gargant battle reports. You can read about the seventh game here. It's a Cityfight scenario with the Orks and Daemonhunters scrapping for the high ground.

MODELLING AND PAINTING: Orks

With the end of my Blood Angels army painting in sight I've begun to think more and more about painting my Ork army.

I plan to paint 1500 points by August 2010 and I want to use my existing models as my core. In fact I may even be able to complete the whole army without buying a single extra model. Of course it will probably be pants on the tabletop but hey, even I can't complain about getting a whole army on the battlefield for no additional expense!

The army will be built around Ghazghkull as I already own his model. Naturally he will be accompanied by a horde of Boyz on foot. This is for three reasons; first I already own the models, second it's fluffy and third they work well with Ghaz's special rules. I own a mix of slugga boyz, shoota boyz and 'ard boyz.

I have three Mega armoured Nobz who will act as Ghaz's personal body guard.

I plan to have a second HQ choice of the Warboss from the Black Reach set. He will take to the battlefield with 6 Nobz also from Black Reach, with one free with White Dwarf. I think I have a Painboy model kicking around somewhere so I may add him to this unit.

The three Deff Koptas round out the selections from Black Reach. My second Fast Attack slot will be filled by a unit of Stormboyz I have had kicking around for an age. I believe I have eight of them.

Heavy Support will come in the shape of three Killa Kans which I'll have to dredge out of my bits box.

That should make quite a formidable horde on the tabletop. The tactics would be to advance the boyz behind the Killa Kanz and maybe the 'ard boyz for a turn or two then get Ghaz to unleash his souped up Waaagh so everyone achieves combat. The Deff Koptas and Stormboyz have the speed to act as mobile reserves plugging whatever gaps appear. Ghaz and the Warboss with their retinues would be tasked with taking down the toughest parts of the enemy army.

If I was to buy models to add to the army they would be Trukks and Battlewaggons because mechanised is the way to go in 5th edition, and Kommandos, Gretchin and Warbikes just because I like the models. I'd also like to add a Stompa right at the end for Apocalypse games.

None of those are essential by any means, though, so I may go all the way through 2010 without buying a new model as I did in 2009!

PAINTING AND MODELLING: Dip and strip

I feel like I'm making progress.

I finished work early today and started on my Dreadnought as soon as I got home. I had already done some work on the base so I moved onto my standard second phase for my Blood Angels; the metallics.

It's the usual recipe of Boltgun Metal and a heavy wash of Badab Black. When that dries I'll start on the copper/brass/gold metallics.

Over the past few weeks I've also been experimenting with stripping plastic metals with Dettol. I'm pleased to say it seems to be working and for a modest outlay of £1.50 per bottle I can strip over fifty models. The first in the pot were my Catachans. I had so many of them I had to strip them in four batches.

Here is the result:

The paint has come off really well. Some of the plastic became very soft and snapped on some of the models I had in the Dettol for more than a week so I'd recommend between two and four days as ideal. I'll still need to wash them in warm soapy water to ensure the rest of the Dettol is gone before I paint them.

Emboldened by my success I decided to strip some more important models.

I've had these Storm Troopers for a long time but they were very badly painted. The problem was that up until now I had never found a reliable way to strip plastic models. The Dettol worked a treat and this photo was taken soon after they were taken out of the pot.

Now I just need to work out what to do with the heavy weapon teams which can't be purchased for Storm Troopers any more. eBay perhaps?

PAINTING AND MODELLING: Decals

To do list:

• DONE - Convert and post up another battle report
• DONE - Complete my Dreadnought conversion
• DONE - Undercoat the interior of my Land Raider Crusader
• DONE - Start stripping my plastic Catachans
• DONE - Sort out my podcasts on iTunes
• DONE - Check my IG listings on eBay and link to the auction from this blog
• Paint the metallics on my Terminators
• DONE - Apply transfers to my Techmarine and Death Company
• Sort out my Blood Angels photographs on Picasa

I've finished adding transfers to my Techmarine and Death Company.

The Techmarine was tricky because I needed a Blood Angel chapter badge but due to the detailing on the shoulder pad it had to be smaller than the ones I usually use. I dug around my bag of decals and finally found the yellow one you can see on the pic. I had also decided I need a transfer on his kneepad but this was a smaller space again. I've put a transfer on there from my first edition Space Marines - a tiny Blood Angels blood drop and wings surrounded by a black circle. It was still a bit big and I had trouble curling it round the pad so I just hope it sticks!

Rather predictably I added lots of skulls to the Death Company as well as a campaign badge to the Chaplain. I figured the Death Company wouldn't have campaign badges because their armour has been overpainted just before the battle and they wouldn't be expected to survive long enough to need one.

And that's it from me today. I didn't get round to painting my Terminators or sorting out my photos on Picasa but I have finished off a lot of those niggly little things on the list so I'm happy enough.

The Chinese food is ordered, I'm going to open a bottle of wine and watch some telly.

Seeya

MODELLING: Dreadnought weapon refit

To do list:

• Convert and post up another battle report
• DONE - Complete my Dreadnought conversion
• DONE - Undercoat the interior of my Land Raider Crusader
• DONE - Start stripping my plastic Catachans
• DONE - Sort out my podcasts on iTunes
• Check my IG listings on eBay and link to the auction from this blog
• Paint the metallics on my Terminators
• Apply transfers to my Techmarine and Death Company
• Sort out my Blood Angels photographs on Picasa

The Dreadnought conversion is a strange one. The model comes from the Assault on Black Reach boxed set and GW gave it a multi-melta arm because their regular plastic Dread doesn't have that option. However I don't own a plastic Dreadnought. I have two metals ones; a Furioso and a very old Blood Angels specific one which is armed with a multi-melta.

Back in the day this was a great weapon as it could be shot as a character or vehicle killer, much as now OR it could be shot with a flame template. This made it very flexible. Now it is just a short ranged single shot weapon and virtually all of the other weapon fits are better, either because of their range, rate of fire or accuracy. Despite this I've kept my metal Dread's multi-melta but when it came to this plastic model I wanted something else.

I settled on the assault cannon because I had one spare from an old Baal predator.


The gun barrels were easy to swap out but I had a devil of a job getting the ammo feed on there. After experimenting with greenstuff I settled on using feeds left over from my Defiler/Brass Scorpion/Mantis Stalk Tank conversion.

I had also planned to convert the storm bolter to a heavy flamer but it is built right into the arm and it would take a massive effort to swap. What I'll do is leave the arms unglued so that I can remove them. I'm sure at some point in the future I'll acquire a plastic dreadnought kit and I'll be able to swap the arms out as I wish.

At least the storm bolter and assault cannon complement each somewhat.

Righto - onwards and upwards.

PAINTING AND MODELLING: Naked Catachans

To do list:

• Convert and post up another battle report
• Complete my Dreadnought conversion
• DONE - Undercoat the interior of my Land Raider Crusader
• DONE - Start stripping my plastic Catachans
• DONE - Sort out my podcasts on iTunes
• Check my IG listings on eBay and link to the auction from this blog
• Paint the metallics on my Terminators
• Apply transfers to my Techmarine and Death Company
• Sort out my Blood Angels photographs on Picasa

I did a little homework on the Internet yesterday and discovered that Dettol can be used to strip plastic models. I had already used Nitro Mors to strip metal models many times before but I have never stripped plastic models successfully. The usual advice is to use Simple Green but I think this must be an American product because I've never seen it up for sale anywhere in the UK. Therefore I was pleased when I heard about using Dettol instead because it is readily available.

The first models I want to strip are my Catachan Imperial Guardsmen.


I know, I know, the models aren't great, but I want to make use of them. This is for three main reasons.

The first reason is that I actually quite like the look of them, contrary to public opinion. I remember well when they first appeared along with the Perry twins other metal IG regiments and I fell in love with the Guard immediately. I especially liked the meltagun model, replete with bandanna. Maybe it's because I watched too many Vietnam war movies at a suggestible age - movies like Apocalypse Now, Platoon, Rambo and Hamburger Hill. I just love the aesthetic.

The second is that I already have an absolute tonne of them! I bought a bunch of Catachans second hand for a pittance many, many years ago and I could probably put together a 1500 point army without buying a single new model. Having said that I would need to buy more models to make the army more effective on the tabletop. Games Workshop have continued to support the Catachan plastics with new releases and with the new IG codex out within the month it's an ideal time to finish the army.

The third reason is that lots of people dislike the models so they sell poorly on eBay. It wouldn't be worth my while to try and sell them, so I might as well keep them.

So I've dumped a handful in the Dettol and I'll keep you all posted to see if it works.

Fingers crossed!

GENERAL: Spray away

To do list:

• Convert and post up another battle report
• Complete my Dreadnought conversion
• DONE - Undercoat the interior of my Land Raider Crusader
• Start stripping my plastic Catachans
• Sort out my podcasts on iTunes
• Check my IG listings on eBay and link to the auction from this blog
• Paint the metallics on my Terminators
• Apply transfers to my Techmarine and Death Company
• Sort out my Blood Angels photographs on Picasa

Here's the proof.

I used Halford's white primer for the interior rather than Game's Workshop's own brand Skull White. It was £6.99 for 500ml instead of £8 for 400ml. I had to spray indoors because it is so windy outside and then had to open a window to get rid of the fumes. I think this has roughed up the undercoat a little. It's not bad though, and will certainly be good enough for a quick paintjob on the inside of the vehicle.

I wasn't brave enough to buy the black car primer at the same time so I plumped for my regular GW Chaos Black. I used this on the engine block and again it didn't dry smoothly. Again, I can live with it.

I've put the Land Raider sprues back in the box for now and update you on the painting of it soon. But now, on to my podcasts.

PAINTING AND MODELLING: Complete Ass

The Blood Angels Assault Squad is complete!

I've been very busy at work this week, finishing late and working six days, so my free time was severely restricted. I had a direct choice to make between updating my blog and painting my models. I went for the models.

I took a leaf out of my own book and painted in short bursts each night. One night I finished the Sergeant's power sword. The next I highlighted the helmets. On the third night I detailed the helmets. The fourth I highlighted the jump pack harnesses and weapons. Next I painted the barbed wire and added it to the bases. The plasma pistols came next. Today I painted the melta-bomb on the Sergeant.

Individually, each step seems insignificant but by doing a task each day at least I felt like I was making progress. And here I am with a finished unit.

So with the Assault Squad done I began to put together my Dreadnought.

It's the Dread from the Assault on Black Reach boxed set. I already own a Blood Angel specific Dreadnought armed with a multi-melta and storm bolter so I decided I would hack up this plastic version to give it an Assault cannon and heavy flamer. You can see from the photo that so far I have removed the multi-melta barrels and replaced them with an assault cannon from an old Baal predator. My next task will be to detail the rest of the arm with an ammo feed and something to disguise the multi-melta ammunition.

Going berzerk
I've written up another battle report from 40k 4th edition involving my Imperial Guard. It was a 1500 point games against Gary's Khorne Berzerker Chaos Space Marine army. It was a bit of an experiment for me as I tried out the drop troops doctrine for the first time.

PAINTING AND MODELLING: Heavy assault

I had a few hours to dedicate to my Blood Angels yesterday. I had already put together my scenic Terminator bases so I decided to stick the Assault on Black Reach Terminators on there.

The more observant of you will have noticed that there are six Terminators rather than five. The last guy on the right came free on the front of White Dwarf and I only remembered I had him when I was halfway through assembling the other models. Of course the Blood Angel codex only allows Terminator squad sizes of five models, unlike the Space Marine codex which allows the player to add extra models at 40 points a pop. Grrr!

I'll still paint him up as in future versions of the rules my BA may be allowed variable size squads again or I could swap him out for the assault cannon Terminator if I want.

Speaking of the assault cannon, this is a very straightforward weapon swap. I had originally tried to fit an old Baal Predator assault cannon on the model to make a meaty Assault cannon but I couldn't figure out a way to build a convincing harness around the arm. Instead I found a really old assault cannon arm and simply glued that on as it was. This bit is so I old I think it's actually lead - it certainly feels very soft and bends relatively easily. The gun itself is smaller than I would have liked but I was pleasantly surprised that the hand was the same size as the new Terminators. The arm itself sits further down the arm so I had to build it up a little to get it right. To help disguise the join, and to bulk the model up a little bit, I added a shield above the cannon.

I plan to paint these models next, right after my Assault squad.

I had hoped that it would only take about an hour or so to finish the Terminators but it took closer to three, so I had little time to devote to my Assault squad.

Still, as you can hopefully see in the photo, I have managed to finally get the last highlight onto the armour. The next step for these five models is to paint all the black details such as the jump pack harnesses and weapons.

Turn by turn action
I ported over a couple more Imperial Guard battle reports yesterday in between modelling projects. The first of these is a turn by turn report of a 2000 point game against Gary's Biel-Tan Eldar. Scope it out here.

MODELLING AND PAINTING: Taking stock

Two years ago I blogged a big painting and modelling 'to do' list. I included every single model I owned. I thought it might be fun to revisit that list and see how I've done.

NEW items are models I've bought. Those marked SELL are models I plan to sell so will not build or paint. SOLD models have already been sold. Built items have been put together but not painted. Painted items have been constructed and fully painted. If there are no notes next to the item then it's probably just sat in it's box! Some models may be built and painted to a very basic level but need stripping and starting over.

Space Marines

• Techmarine and 4 servitors built
  
• Whirlwind built
  
• Rhino painted
  
• Landraider painted
  
• Landraider Crusader
• 16 Scouts
• 5 Honour Guard
• 30 RTB01 plastic Marines
• NEW 10 Tactical Marines from the Assault on Black Reach set
• NEW Dreadnought from the Assault on Black Reach set
• NEW 6 Terminators from the Assault on Black Reach set (one free from White Dwarf)
• NEW Captain from the Assault on Black Reach set
• NEW 10 Tactical Marines from the Battle for Macragge set
• NEW Chaplain Lemartes
  

Orks

• 8 'Ardboyz
• Dreadnought
• 3 Killa Kanz
• 3 Mega armoured Nobs
• NEW Warboss from the Assault on Black Reach set
• NEW 3 Deffkoptas from the Assault on Black Reach set
• NEW 20 Ork Boyz from the Assault on Black Reach set
• NEW Ork Warboss from the Assault on Black Reach set
• NEW 6 Ork Nobz from the Assault on Black Reach set (one free from White Dwarf)
• Warlord Ghazghkull Mag Uruk Thraka
• Warboss, slugga, choppa
• 6 Nobz 1 powerclaw with slugga, 4 choppa with slugga
  
• Painboy
• Wartrukk with big shoota
• Warboss, big choppa
• 14 Shoota boyz, rokkit, nob with powerklaw
• 21 Slugga boyz, nob with powerklaw
• 13 Slugga boyz, nob
  
• 17 Shoota boyz, big shoota, nob with choppa
• 12 Shoota boyz, rokkit
• 30 Gretchin, runtherd
  
• 20 Gretchin, runtherd
• 12 Gretchin, runtherd
• 10 Gretchin, runtherd
• 5 Warbikes
• 1 Wartrakk, twin linked big shoota
• Dreadnought, rokkit launcha, big shoota

Chaos

• 9 Plaguebearers painted
  
• 8 Deathguard painted
• 8 Khorne Berzerkers painted
• Fabius Bile
• 9 Bloodletters painted
• 6 Daemonettes painted
• Keeper of Secrets painted
• Terminator Lord painted
• 20 Chaos Renegade Militia
  

Sisters of Battle

• 4 Arbites
• Saint Celestine
• 2 Vindicare assassins
• Culexus assassin
• Callidus assassin
• Eversor assassin
  
• Inquisitor
• Uriah Jacobus
• 3 Henchmen
  
• Immolator
• 20 Sisters

Tau

• 2 Crisis suits
• 16 Kroot
• Hammerhead
• 6 Vespid
• 2 Broadsides
• 3 Stealth suits (new plastics)
• Sniper drone team
• 3 Aircaste (forgeworld)
• 10 Kroot hounds
• Commander Crisis suit
• 3 Pirhana
• 24 Firewarriors

Eldar

• Vyper
• 4 Jetbikes
• 30 Harlequins
• 6 Guardians
• Jain Zar

Imperial Guard

Praetorians

• SELL 5 Lascannon
• SELL Autocannon
• SELL 70 Infantry
• SELL 4 Command
• SELL Mortar

Catachan

• 4 Lascannon
• 6 Mortars
• 72 Infantry

Cadian

• Creed and Kell
• Commissar
• Rough Rider (converted)
• Company Standard
• 3 Psykers
• Lieutenant
• 2 Medics
• Chimera
• 13 Stormtroopers (part painted)
• 12 Infantry

Others

• SELL 8 Vostroyans
• SELL 5 Tanith

Tyranids

• 10 Termagants from the Battle for Macragge set
• 6 Genestealers from the Battle for Macragge set
• 8 Spore Mines from the Battle for Macragge set

Warhammer Fantasy

• 77 Wood Elves
• Nurgle Palanquin
• Beast of Nurgle
• 5 Marauder Horsemen
• 1 Chaos Knight
  

Necromunda

• 3 Bounty Hunters
• 8 Ratskins
• 9 Escher gangers
  
• Orlock ganger
• Delaque ganger
• Van Saar ganger

Bloodbowl

• 2 Goblin cheerleaders
• Jordell Freshbreeze
• Dwarf Death Roller
• Dwarf Coach
• Goblin Coach
• Dark Elf assassin

Battlefleet Gothic

• Plastic boxed set

Inquisitor

• Daemonhost
• Death Cult assassin

Aeronautica Imperialis

• NEW 4 Thunderbolts
• NEW 2 Lightnings
• NEW Marauder Bomber
• NEW Marauder Destroyer
• NEW 6 Fightas
• NEW 4 Fighta Bommers
• NEW Bommer
• NEW Grot bombs.
  

Miscellaneous

• Squat
• Pilot
• Navigator
• Imperial Pilot from the Battle for Macragge set
• Forgeworld abandoned Chimera
• SELL Forgeworld Chaos Marine bust
• SELL Forgeworld Bloodletter daemon bust
• SOLD Limited edition Space Marine 'Iwo Jima' diorama
• SOLD Limited edition Ultramarine standard bearer

Phew, that's one hell of a 'to do' list. It should reduce considerably in 2009, though, as I have made a resolution not to buy a single new model.

I'm hoping that a big chunk of my Space Marine models will get built and painted as I continue with my painting pledge until August. After that my plan is to get cracking with my Orks.

After some deliberation I have decided that I want to strip the paint from all my old models and then re-do them for my new army. They have been painted over a 20 year period and are wildly varying in colours and quality. The main problem with the models is that they are from every edition of the game!

I've got Thrugg's Bullneck Raiders from Rogue Trader, the 2nd edition Goff Boyz and Gretchins, late 2nd/early third plastic Ork Boyz and 4th edition plastics. Then I've got the brand new 5th edition models to paint. The models are all different sizes too.

I might just whack them all in the stripping pot together and see what comes out!

Alternatively I could possible sell some of the unsuitable Orks as they are, probably for a tiny amount, just to get rid.

Decisions, decisions...

PAINTING AND MODELLING: Black Reach and Battle for MaCragge

Some time off work and feeling energised following the completion of my Praying Mantis Superheavy have combined to produce a spurt of modelling and painting creativity in me. Here's what's on my workbench.

The pledge
The main thing I need to get cracking on is painting my Blood Angels. I'm a little behind in my painting pledge over on Warseer (although I have eventually managed to get my Chaplain and Death Company on there).

My target for the end of January is to complete this 10 man Assault Squad. It has two plasma pistols and the Veteran Sergeant has a power weapon and melta bombs. It would count as a hefty 300 points towards my 2000 point army and would also be great on the tabletop as they count as Troops in a Blood Angels army.

They were already painted up to a very basic standard, essentially with just the base colours, so the first thing I did was to wash the yellow helmets with Gryphonne Sepia and wash the armour with Baal Red. I took the photo while the ink was still wet, so while it was drying I busied myself with some base building.

Captain Lazarus
The Black Reach boxed set has been cluttering up my games room for a while now, stuffed with new models for my Blood Angels and Orks. I decided to take the models from the box and put together the Marines both to save some space and to give me something to paint later in the year. The fist model I put together was the Commander.

This model is a stunning sculpt for a snap fit. It only consists of four components; the legs and back, the torso and head, the sword arm and the backpack and standard. I put it together as it was, without conversion. I didn't mind the lack of a jump pack or bike because it will fit into my mechanised Blood Angels just fine - he'll be deployed in a Rhino, Razorback or Land Raider.

More problematic is his weapon loadout. The power weapon is fine but the boltgun is a problem. Can you believe that the Blood Angel codex doesn't allow a Captain to have a boltgun? I'll have to ponder my options; I could count it as a storm bolter or bolt pistol or I could take a knife to the model. The problem with that is the way the model is carrying the gun. I can't just cut it off his hand because he's holding it underneath and it's all molded together into his hand, arm and hip. Aaaarggghhh! Anyone got any ideas?

Terminator Squad Sanctarin
The next model I took off the sprue was the Terminator Sergeant. You might be able to make him out at the front of the group shot. As I was cleaning him up I remembered that the Terminators now come on the larger bases and I had lots of resin basing bits that would fit on there perfectly. So I stopped putting the model together and created the five Terminator bases.

Dreadnought Osiander
Since I already had all my basing gear out I cast about for other stuff to base. I had an even bigger piece of resin which fit onto the Dreadnought base perfectly.

What are we fighting for?
Next I dug out some objective markers which originate from the previous 40k boxed set. They aren't the best objective markers, and they aren't themed specifically for my Blood Angels but they are better than using a die. They should paint up very quickly too.


Okay, the ink on my Assault Squad should have dried by now so I'm off to start detailing them.

Back through the mists of time
My latest Imperial Guard battle report was a game against my gaming nemesis Gary. He was trying out his Eldar ahead of the Gauntlet Tournament 2004.

Yep, 2004.

Please remember that these battle reports have all been republished from my old, defunct website so are from 40k third and fourth edition. That's why the army lists may seem a bit odd, the tactics are strange and rules may be off. It's not my bad gameplay, honest!

MODELLING AND PAINTING: The pledge, month one

I've selected the next five Blood Angels to join my 2nd company first squad. Here they are.


As you can see they include a heavy weapon in the shape of a missile launcher. They also have a rhino transport vehicle.

Once I get these models painted they will thicken my Troops choices nicely, and add some much needed scoring ability. They will also give me more rapid firing bolters which I desperately need to take on Gary's Chaos Daemons. The missile launcher will give me some longer range firepower and the rhino adds mobility.

I plan to paint these models throughout August as part of my commitment to the Tale of 40k Painters thread on Warseer. My pledge is to paint 2000 points of Blood Angels in one year. That's about 170 points per month. Since my Tacticals and rhino only add up to 125 points I had to find something else to paint up. After some thought I plumped for a Landspeeder.

This model was bought second hand already constructed. I just need to scrape off the mold lines and give it another undercoat. Altogether, if I get everything painted, I will have completed 190 points.

I reckon I'll need a week to paint each vehicle and two weeks to complete the Marines. My blog here will continue to track my progress in detail and I'll periodically add updates to the Warseer thread too.

And here we go...

MODELLING: Quick win

In a recent game with my Blood Angels I played my old Dreadnought Rueben. The model was released in late 2nd edition, or maybe very early 3rd edition 40k and came without a base. I improvised with two square Warhammer Fantasy bases joined together with Milliput. Here's how he looked.

He served me well for maybe 10 years but square bases are now a definite no-no in 40k and besides, there are new dedicated Dreadnought bases. I mail-ordered a new base from GW and painted it up to give me a 'quick win' in updating my Blood Angels for 5th edition.

I'm sure you'll agree it looks a lot better. It will also now match my other Dreadnought base (although that one could probably do with a repaint).

One of my favourite things about Dreadnought Rueben is his custom banner. I drew and painted it myself, freehand, to represent the drop pod massacre incident when Brother Rueben was hideously injured and subsequently interred in his death dealing sarcophagus. If you look closely you can see how old this model is by the shape of the drop pods - that's what they originally looked like.

MODELLING: Mr Fixit

I broke out the modelling files and superglue yesterday to build my Techmarine and Servitors.

The common consensus is that the Techmarine is a characterful but poor choice for a competitive Marine army list. It's a real shame because the model is looks great. The thing I wasn't prepared for was just how large he was with the servo-harness. Emperor knows how any enemy model will actually fit into base-to-base with the Techmarine!

The servitors are pretty average lookswise but have a great utility in that I can use them in my Blood Angel army and my Inquisition army retinues.

Righto - I'm off to muster some more Tactical Marines.

MODELLING: Force Lazarus to do list

Over the past few days I've been really enthusiastic about putting together my Blood Angels models. I had a day off work today so I've had a good few hours to devote to organising my army. The first thing I did was pull out all of the models I could find. It was an impressive haul and I have easily enough models to cover the 2000 points I have promised to paint for the Warseer Tale of 40k Gamers.

After I'd put the models into some kind of order I used the Space Marine Force Lazarus chart in Apocalypse to sketch out my own version of the Blood Angels 2nd Company. He's what I plan to collect:

HQ

• Captain Lazarus
• Honourguard (jump packs)
  
• Chaplain Arillus
• Epistolary Angelus
• Honourguard (Razorback)
  

Elites

• Techmarine Kadeon
• 4 Servitors (Razorback)
• Terminator Squad Sanctarin
• Terminator Squad Kalastin
• Scout Squad Versos
• Scout Squad Valera
• Furiso Dreadnought Blackblood
• Dreadnought Rueben
• Dreadnought Osiander

Troops

• Tactical squad Zephrus (Rhino)
  
• Tactical Squad Tabbris (Rhino)
  
• Tactical squad Tarasque (Rhino)
  
• Tactical squad Volturnus (Rhino)
  
• Tactical Squad Favonius (Drop Pod)
  
• Tactical squad Notus (Drop Pod)
  
• Assault squad Solaris (jump packs)
  
• Assault squad Ombra (jump packs)
  

Fast Attack

• Land Speeder

Heavy Support

• Devastator squad Ignatius (Rhino)
  
• Devastator squad Tarsarus (Rhino)
  
• Whirlwind
• Land Raider
• Land Raider Crusader
• Baal Predator
• Predator Destructor
• Predator Annihilator

If I collect and paint all that lot I can expand it further with Apocalypse by buying say another Land Raider to make an Armoured Spearhead, maybe another Whirlwind to make a Suppression Force and I'll certainly have a Battle Company.

In any case I'm completely occupied with gluing together all the models I have already got so expect to see quite a few assembled squads over the coming days. That means I can hit the ground coming for the start of the painting challenge.

MODELLING: Blood Angels Veterans muster

I enjoyed putting my Blood Angels Assault squad together so much yesterday that I decided to dig out the rest of my unassembled Blood Angles models and see what I had. I found a Veteran squad, a Tactical squad, a Techmarine with servo-harness and four servitors and a Whirlwind. They will go alongside the Land Raider, Land Raider Crusader, Land Speeder, 15 Tactical Marines, Command squad with jump packs, Captain and 20 or so Scouts that I already knew about. That's one hell of an army I'll have when everything is built and painted.

I knocked one unit off that to do list when I constructed my Veterans.

From left to right they are armed with power sword and plasma pistol, power axe and plasma pistol, lightning claw, boltgun and finally powerfist. Like the Assault squad I used resin extras and slate to liven up the bases, although a couple of the models already came with their own rocks to stand on.

Rather than use these models as a squad in their own right I think I'll use them as Veteran sergeants in my Tactical and Devastator squads. My tentative plan so far is to model up the entire Blood Angels 2nd company based upon the organisational chart in the Apocalypse rulebook, led by Captain Lazarus. As you can see from above, I already own a fair chunk of the figures.

Anyway, I'm off work on Friday so I plan to get all of my stuff, painted and unpainted, assembled and unassembled, together in one place and make some final decisions then.