Forgeworld Updates and You!

Or more specifically, Forgeworld's latest PDF releases and what it does to my list. Armenneus Valthex is still the same price, points wise, but his warlord traits and bonuses only count for units with Chapter Tactics: Astral Claws. I'll go back to using a generic Master of the Forge with conversion beamer now, and keep using Chapter Tactics: Iron Hands.

In case you might have missed the Forgeworld updates, they are here:

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Downloads/Product/PDF/C/Charcterupdate.pdf

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Downloads/Product/PDF/F/FWchaptertactics.pdf

Cheers.

September Update

Just a brief shot to show where I'm at.

Going into September, I have completed the first squad of Techmarines for my Adeptus Mechanicus themed Space Marine force. I have also finished my first ever Contemptor pattern Dreadnought. The next step is to take some decent pictures of the completed squad and their custom bases so I can show off.

I mean, you do deserve better pictures than these.

I have also finished making moulds for the aforementioned custom bases, and a related post is forthcoming.

Next on the workbench is another unit of Techmarines. I've already began assembly.

With what I learned from the last squad, assembly of servo-arms should be easier, and construction smoother.

Cheers,
Xi

Adeptus Mechanicus 003

I finally got the servo-arms settled for the first squad of Techmarines. Now that they are complete, I am able to move on to painting them. I started with a basecoat of Testors Flat Black, and then a coat of Mechrite Red.

Once that dried I applied a drybrush of Red Gore, then Blood Red, and topped it off with a wash of Devlan Mud.

After the Devlan Mud dried, I went back with the drybrush and added a layer of Blood Red, followed by Blazing Orange, and another wash; this time it was Baal Red.

Once the red was completed, I painted all the metallic bits with Gunmetal Metal, and then gave them a wash of black.

They really look like Word Bearers at first glance (to me, anyway), and make me want to get moving on a CSM army (again).

C&C welcome,
Cheers!

-Xi

Adeptus Mechanicus 002

I've been working on my Space Marine allies lately, making bases and constructing servo-arms.  I've also been getting my Contemptor ready for paint.

First, I finished the task of magnetizing the close combat arm.  Then I added cog tooth embellishments to the shoulders using .030x.060 sheet styrene.  I plan to add the same detail to the knee pads.

I've also put together a bunch of servo-arms.  With each one I build, the next becomes easier and a bit more ambitious.  I'm working hard at making sure they have that Mechanicus feel, as well as not being too oversized for the models.  I use a selection of sheet styrene from Evergreen that includes .030x.060, .060x.120, .0625dia rod, .125dia tube, and .1875dia rod.  The power cables are made in my usual fashion, wrapping floral wire.

Some of my sergeants will have a full servo harness.  I've since completed this one, stay tuned for the finished product.

Remember this base?  I really liked it at the time when I produced it, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized it wouldn't fit with my other bases I've been building for this force...

...so I had to make a new one.

Much better.  I'll keep the old one for a Heavy Weapon Team or a Sentinel.

Cheers,

Xi

Tech Marine Sergeant

I present the first figure of my Allies Contingent, Brother Magos Rickard.  The base of the figure is the Tech Marine that came with the 3rd ed Command Squad box.  I removed the arm that held the signature cog toothed axe, and added the chainblade arm from the Puppetswar.eu Mechanical Implants and Weapons pack.  The cog axe was saved for another project, of course.  Here is a picture of this guy while getting painted.  I must beg forgiveness in advance, right now the only available camera is a cell phone camera.

The model got a base coat of Mechrite Red, followed by a coat of Devlin Mud wash.  Once dry, a heavy drybrush of Blood Red was applied, followed by a coat of Baal Red wash.  I should mention that I cut all my washes with a few drops of Future floor wax, which you can learn all about here.  It really is amazing.

The reverse side.  The next step was to pick out all the metallic detail that I wanted with Chainmail, and then that washed with black ink, and drybrushed with Mithril Silver.  The select bits of gold on the figure were first painted with Scorched Brown, then Burnished Gold with a wash of Delvan Mud.  The highlight was applied with Shining Gold.  The exposed cabled were then pained with Kommando Khaki, and washed with Delvan Mud.  The skin of the face was last.  While I got close to what I wanted, its not quite there.  I based the area with Kommando Khaki, then washed it with Baal Red.  I then drybrushed the area with a 1:1 Kommando Khaki to Rotting Flesh.  Finally, the eye and mouth were given a dash of Delvan Mud.  That wash seems to have been the star here...

Here is the completed figure.  Brother Magos Rickard, armed with a bolt pistol and a chainsword.  Soon to be added is his Servo Arm.  He will lead a Tactical Squad.  I will be adding some different Heavy Support options to this group, mostly since the conversion possibilities are so broad.  I have some plans for heavy combat servitors that count as Terminators.

Cheers,
-Xi

Horus Heresy

So for a few years now, Forgeworld has been dribbling out Pre-Heresy goodies, including the Conteptor pattern Dreadnought.  I've heard yes and no, from high to low, for the whole time, including definitive evidence that the next book would be X vs Y countless times.  Today I've gotten this lovely little teaser from the gents at the resin works.

Horus Heresy Announcement

I'm excited.  This coupled with the new rules set and the pending release of Codex: CSM...

Anyone else excited?  I mean, if the word on the street is correct and the FW lists gain legitimacy, then there could be all kinds of amazing allies combinations on the horizon.

Allies and Collecting

So one of my favorite parts of 6th ed is the new Allies rules.  This is a great excuse to collect more awesome for my shelves.  To reflect this, I'd like to repost a bit I offered about collecting from circa 2009.

"I got a large armoured reinforcement for my Imperial Guard over this most recent weekend. One of my gaming acquaintance who is leaving the 40k hobby sold them to me. I got six Leman Russ tanks with a variety of turrets, five Chimeras, four Sentinels, two Hell Hounds, a Thunderer Siege tank, a Laser Destroyer, a Medusa Siege gun, a Salamander scout, and an Earthshaker platform. Well now I'm not gloating (not too much), but this month's Standard Bearer in White Dwarf magazine was about the collection aspect of the hobby. With this new armoured influx, my collection of Imperial Guard now numbers over 40 vehicles, including a mighty Bane Blade. What do I do with them? Play Apocalypse games? Not really, actually. Right now I look for an out of the way place to stash them so they aren't underfoot or in reach of my toddler daughter. I am ever so slowly working through the process of painting and repairing them all, since most of them I have gotten in trade. This last batch I bought outright, but at a serious discount. Where was I? Collecting, that's right. Most of my friends in the hobby collect exactly what they need for their army and thats it. If they find a unit that works better, they replace something and shelf it from their army until it can be traded away or sold. My Imperial Guard collection has been growing since the release of the codex in 2003. I have Steel Legion, Cadians, Stormtroopers, and Death Korps of Krieg, and Adeptus Mechanicus models. There are lots of conversions in my army since I can't seem to leave well enough alone, and I expect it will be true of my Orks as well. I'm all about my collection. It's what does it for me about the hobby. I've played one whole game since the launch of 5th edition. I hope to play more with my Orks and I have high hopes for the new Guard codex release in May. More for me to add to my collection. I guess my point is, don't be afraid to collect the figures that you like from what ever you play. Even if you never use them, as long as they make you happy, go with it."


Since then around 99% of my hobby stuff was lost to me.  I'm slowly working on my forces, but instead of collecting a pile of work that needs to be done, now I'm finishing the bits I have before collecting more.  Getting into this habit has helped me follow the mantra some hobbyists try to achieve: one unit at a time.

Now everywhere you look on the web, people are offering different power lists made of the myriad of combos available on the new allies matrix.  These are great for the competitive gamer, but I'm looking for something a little more fluffy.  So besides thinking what I could add, I am also considering how I can cast it in the allies role.  For example, Adeptus Mechanicus-counts-as-Space Marines.

6th Edition Launches

Here are some shots of the guys getting their first look at the new rules.  One dedicated gamer read the rules front to back while others read for games in progress, and the whole lot put their heads together to come to a consensus on how some of the rules play.

Adam directs Ork fire against Joe's Crimson Fists

Necrons vs Orks and Marines

Eldar vs Tau vs Orks

Another gamer was assembling his new Chaos Daemon Horrors for his allied contingent to his Chaos Space Marines.

And one of the employees demonstrated proper tool safety...

...don't do what he did.

Cheers,

Xi