Breaking: Astra Militarum

So I promise not to be 'that guy' when it comes to rumors, but this is an IG blog. I imagine you have all seen the cover of the new book, the new Militarum Tempestus supplement, the Astra Militarum cover, as well as all the new models.

The interwebs are awash with opinion on the new vehicle and figures. For the record: I think the new transport thing has potential only for an Ork army; the Ogryns really weren't doing it for me and I took a second look, it was the guns. These new ripper guns look like out-sized bolters. The Hydra and Militarum Tempestus figures I like overall. There is lots of conversion potential across the range, as ever, and I am sure that once I get a look at the transport thing I can come up with something...

What about these rumors that there will be no Rough Riders in the new book? I certainly hope this bears false, since the idea of the Rough Riders embodies a part of 40k that I love, that crazy side of it. Main battle tanks and troop transports supported by suicidally reckless cavalry on the flanks.At least the guys in the Taros are in a go-kart. On the other hand, if they do phase Rough Riders out of the main Astra Militarum book, I will have an excuse to buy enough Azogs to make a DKoK list. Hmmm...

Cheers,
CJ

(I'll not post pictures because I don't need the headache from certain companies which don't know how to publicly relate.)

PS: You did see the pictures of the Warmaster, right?

Azog Treadbikes Completed!

Building these models and painting them has been a blast.

Without further delay, here they are.

I can't wait to get these guys on the table for my next game.

I'd like to thank the gentlemen over on the WIP forum that kicked around the ideas that birthed these beauties one more time, and also, a big thanks to Steve at Mad Robot Miniatures.

Cheers,

Xi

Azog Update 005

With the bases for my Rough Riders complete, it was time to turn my attention to the bikes themselves.  I painted them in the manner that I used to paint my armour.  Once upon a time it was a nice, clean shadow grey, and all the rivets picked out painstakingly.  That gave way to the scheme I currently use in 2009.  It has really lent itself to a more grim dark feel for my army as opposed to the fresh from founding look they had.

I started by first washing the models in warm soapy water.  This will remove any leftover release oil from the resin parts.  I didn't do this when working with my first ever resin miniatures, and ended up having to strip the model and start over.  The painting process begins with a coat of flat black, followed thin coats of Shadow Grey.  This allows for the coverage to be smooth and even, keeping brushstrokes from showing through.  Then the models were drybrushed with Codex Grey, and washed with black wash.  This is a custom mix, made from Delta black and a 1:4 mix of Future to water.  It acts a lot like the Badab Black wash from Citadel's old line up.  The bikes were then given a drybrush of Space Wolves Grey, and the metallic areas painted with Gunmetal Metal.

The ID plates really pop on these models.  Hell, everything really pops about these models.

Once the bike bodies were complete, I set to the saddlebags.  These began with a coat of Graveyard Earth, then an overbrush of Kommando Khaki.  This is followed by the picking out the straps and buckles with Graveyard Earth and Gunmetal Metal respectively.  A black wash over the saddlebags and they are complete.  The headlights got a coat of Space Wolves Grey followed by a coat of Skull White.

I begin the riders by blocking in all the base colours: Shadow Grey, Codex Grey, Scorched Brown for the gloves.  Then the faces were painted Tallarn Flesh, washed with Ogryn Flesh, and drybrushed Elf Flesh.  The web gear was painted in the same formula as the saddlebags.  Finally, the boots were painted black, and I cleaned up any mistakes.

The riders were next given an overall black wash.  The Shadow Grey and Codex Grey areas were then given drybrushes of the same colours.  The gloves were drybrushed with a mixture of 1:1 Scorched Brown to Graveyard Earth.  The flamer muzzles were drybrushed with Beaten Copper for two thirds the length, and then Tin Bitz for one third.  The whole area was then given a wash of Asurmen Blue, which makes the burnt metal effect look that much better.

The next installment of these boys will see them added to their bases and weathered.

Cheers,

Xi

Azog Update 004

My Azogs need some special attention for their bases.  These are the first 40k cavalry bases I've worked on, but with so much space I'm sure it should be easy to customize them.

I score the bases, it helps things adhere better.  The bricks I'm using are from my resin terrain tile project (still not finished).  I cut and shaped the pieces with a hobby saw and a file.  Follow all appropriate safety procedures when working with resin since it is hazardous to your health.  This is the Sergeant's base, and will be the only one with a big swath of bricks.  All the bases will be finished with sand, and ultimately static grass.

I started the channel here with glue before deciding that greenstuff is much more effective for this.  The bikes will be weathered with sand and grass to match the terrain they will be set in.

The remaining three bike bases.

Sand added, and some drybrush layers.  Then for some ink and the final drybrush.

The completed bases.  While I'm posting this, the Azogs are on station for completion on my desk.

Cheers,
Xi

Azog Update 003

The squad sergeant is complete!  With him done, I can move onto bases for the unit.

The group shot.  Just waiting for bases, now.

Cheers, Xi

Azog Update 002

More Azog bikes have been completed over the weekend.  I finished a second flamer bike, as well as two standard riders.  The grenade launcher counts as the hunting lance for my purposes.

Here is the second of the flamer armed bikes.

Here are the two armed with hunting lances.  I might as well call them redshirts one and two...

...and the whole squad so far.  There remains just the squad sergeant to complete.  Oh, and las-carbines for the two most recent additions.

And here is what is left after assembling the bikes.  I just sweep it off my desk and into my rubble container, and it makes an interesting addition to bog standard clipped sprue.

Cheers,

Xi

Azog Update 001

Greetings!  I've been hard at work and haven't had a whole lot of time for the hobby lately.  Good news is that I finally got my work station all put back together.

I began work on the Azog Treadbikes a couple weeks ago, but besides getting a set of saddlebags glued down, not much has been happening.  Partly because of the work schedule, and partly because I want my Rough Riders to be effective on the field.  So I plan to take a squad with two flamers to begin.  With this decided, I then had to work out how to deploy said flame weapons on my Azogs.

Here is what I came up with:

The flamer is made from the grenade launcher that is included with the kit, the end of a Cadian flamer, and a bit of plasticard rod.

I decided to go with the Cadian torsos and heads for the squad.  This will help maintain cohesion across my army.  I'm saving the stock heads and torsos for something else, but I'm not sure what that may end up being.

I gave the rider the means to defend himself in the event that he is forced from his mount.  The bayonet is part of the webbing included with the Cadian Shocktroops box.  The las carbine is converted from the spare lasgun in the Heavy Weapons box.

Cheers,
Xi

Reinforcements, First Wave!

Hello everyone, and if you're still watching this space, thanks.

So, while completely ignoring my hobby projects for the most part, I have been active on the WIP forum.  One of the guys who shares the forum with us is none other than Steve Stodden, owner of Mad Robot Miniatures.  Steve tasked us to come up with ideas for a community project, much like the projects taken on by the Phoenix Club a few years ago.

We came up with this, the Azog treadbike.  Steve put in a lot of work to get this awesome model produced for the community.  I ordered five myself, and plan to use them as Rough Riders for my Imperial Force.  Rough Riders are one of those units that I've always wanted in my army, but could never really get behind these guys.  And while I absolutely love the FW Death Riders, they're also not quite what I was looking for.  The Azog treadbike fits my army style perfectly, and I happily pre-ordered over Memorial Day weekend.

When I got home today, there was a package waiting for me.  Inside were my Azogs.  I immediately set to work to see how well they scaled to the rest of my troops, and how they will look on a base.

Here are the pieces for one bike.

Here is the bike body on a base, and then with a Cadian torso on the stock legs.  The size is right on.

To be continued.

-Xi