Reading You Loud and Clear, Over.

“Ludo is a former Tech Ganger from one Hive World or another that singed on to join the 108^th Expeditionary Fleet Corps. His knowledge of most things technology-based has helped him show that he is worth far more than a regular Guardsman. Commander Tholme, commanding officer of the 1^st Platoon, 1^st Battalion took note during a recent exercise against Kroot mercenaries as Ludo’s swift repair and well timed usage of his Vox Unit to bring in a timely airstrike and recommended that the trooper be awarded “Chosen Man” rank and stand as the Trader Prince’s personal Vox’man. From lowly Ganger to Company Command Squad, Ludo has risen far higher in station than he would ever have dreamt. Little does the youth realise, that he is the Trader’s 4^th Vox’man this year…”

So here's another ancient Confrontation fig that I bought as a child. This is his second paint job, far better than his goopy first. Started his skin as a light grey and used some red inks and lightened with flesh-tones to hopefully make him look like he's lead a life of one who had never seen an actual "sun" much less get tanned by a sun's rays.



Trying to show his family tatt....



Finishing Ludo marks my Company Command Squad as completed! Am well happy with the results - yes, maybe could have put in a little more work here and there, but they are far better looking than I was expecting. I think I caught the right feel with these lot to effect a Rogue Trader's mixed-bag retinue.

Click for bigger pic

The Trader and his advisors.

This time with his freaks.

Chosen Men protect their Lord.

Trader Brothers, tho they show no love for each other.

And as mentioned some posts back, I went and purchased four armoured cars from http://littlegreenmentoys.com/Tim-Mee-Tan-Armored-Car-02-0001.htm to convert some and have as my Chimeras for my armoured Infantry Platoon.

Original guns removed and I'll be shaving off all but on of those sculpted cables on the front to put my own stowage.

 Just a quick mock-up of a basic set up for how these will turn out. Many super huge thanks to Col. Scipio for his kind gift of some Multi-Lasers (and Autocannons - these for my Squat Trikes, Sentinals counts-as.) which with some plasticard will end up looking great I think. The heavy flamers on the hull will also get some green stuffing to end up looking like some WW2 canvas style coaxial effect mounting thingie. Lastly, you don't need to tell me, those wheels have GOT to go. (sister) I have already found some replacement beefy wheels from Secret Weapon Miniatures and will order maybe next month.

Think I'll lose the flag. heh.



Promises promises

Wrote a little while back that I'd show my small painted Guard section and to be honest, forgot just how small the amount of painted figs were. But here they are regardless. Hope you like. They are the troops of a personal army belonging to a Rogue Trader of House Draquon. As well as the stuff pictured below, I also have about 7 or 8 infantry, veteran and/or heavy squads of both Rogue Trader plastic Guard and metal and plastic Squat models. I used the idea that the Trader Prince had rescued the dwarf contingent from a Tyranid threatened base during the Squad purge. So lots not pictured below. One day I'll look into buying them a tank or two. :)

Also there is a small WIP of what I've been adding a little lick of paint too for my =][=munda project.

Commander Isiah Tholme, Pay Master Scheiner (Commissar) and Gorrt, Mutant Standard Bearer and Trusted Protector of the Lord Trader Draquon's family crest. The Commander will probably end up being a 3rd Pay Master.

Armaud Destrierre, trusted Astropath on board the Lord Draquon's trading vessel,  Sergeant Lorch, overseer of the Beastmen Penitents and Ukko, Gretchin member of the Ratling sniper squad.



This squad was my tester squad for the Burgundy and cream scheme. I like it as it seemed the kind of thing a showy Rogue Trader would have his ship bound troops wear.

Squat command group with unpainted beastmen penitents in background. Squats will be stripped and repainted as they have a 14-year-old-me paintjob right now. :)

Trying to fit these Grotz in the list. Was thinking some sort of veterans or bodyguards to the Rogue Trader.

Creed model is my Rogue Trader along with his Command group. The two "white" no arms figs will be removed I think and added to a normal infantry squad so I can fit in the above Grotz. The Fleet advisor will be stripped also in order to be painted in the correct colours.

Washed out pic of (Left to right) Ratlings snipers, 2nd Platoon command, Catachan squad who will be painted as ship's hands and the start of another infantry squad.

Why so much infantry? Well, fair question, seeing as how tanks are the thing right now with Guard. but I always LOVED seeing pics of the masses of RT guard marching across a battlefield with titans in the background and little else to help them aside from their numbers. So I always wanted a Guard force made in such a way. All praise the meat grinder!

Lastly a wee WIP of what I've been painting of late. (Commissions aside.)

Test Run

No pics. No pics.

Instead, some small paragraphs to detail that last night was the first properjob testrun of the game. Had four of my Friday Night Gamers group come over so they could get to try out the rules set and get an idea of what their teams can do. It also allowed me to get a better grip on the rules as far as GM'ing the show went.

Needless to say it went really well. Slow, of course (2am finish....) and we really didn't finish the game, but it seemed everyone had fun and I did too. I had forgotten just how deadly the Necromunda rules were! (Prime example being an Ogryn being taken out of the game by one burst from a Heavy Bolter or some such, or a plasma pistol one-shotting a Cultist.) All this effort painting mini's and the cahracters are liable to be defunct after their first proper game!

There were a few things I think I'll change as far as the rules. I don't like the phases, or at least being so strict with them. A fighter should be able to walk a little take a shot and use of the rest of his move, or shoot then move. It'll add more tactical options for the players. I also think Close combat needs tweaking somehow... The Nurgle Magos was stuck in combat with an Interrogator for 3 rounds. 3... long... rounds.

I also now need to get on with making scenerey - namely multi-level scenery. Whilst the few sniping spots I had were muchly abused, there seriously needed to be more to offer more options for the teams than pretty much two levels to play on - on the little scenery I have or off it on the table top.

Anyway, hopefully this weekend will see me completeing the Nurgle Big Mutie and then it's on to the Inquisition forces. Very exciting stuff!

All in all, I'm glad I started this project. So far, it's proven rewarding and confidence boosting where my painting and modelling abilitied are concerned. I also like to see my display cabinet getting it's shelves filled up, meaning I'm getting a LOT more done these days. Now if only I didn't have to also try to fit in my Plague Marines, my Raven Guard and my mate's Malifaux projects into the limited time I have to paint! (Not to mention the NEW commission job I recently took on.... my 1st Grey Knight in 15 years.)

*O and lastly, I had a forum-mate ninja me that amazing new Forge World Enforcer and Cyber Mastiff from their recent 1st April open day thing. I can't wait to get that and somehow fit it into this game. *

Cheeky Sod

I've not been very good at sticking to my plan of updating at least once a week.

A hobby funk had descended upon me and my will to paint whithered like a frog's leg in hot oil. So basically, no painting, no work, no updates.

But.....

There's light at the end of this rotten tunnel. Last night saw in a recharge in the ol' hobby cells (Due to a demo game being run tonight.) and I found myself up late desperately painting the badges on Renzer's coat and other details, glueing the arms upon the Kroot and setting my targets upon the next poor plastic sap in line to suffer my brush lead attentions.

So keep the faith whoever's out there, there will be more coming soon with a small report as to how the game (Nurgle Coven vs Rogue Trader Cerw) went. Can't promise pics of the game though as I've little scenery to show right now, but that will change in time.

Sailing the 7 Galax-seas

Antolio Etcheverria de Dios Otero Antormarchi in all his finery. I really had to force myself to paint this bugger and it shows. (But I wanted the Rogue trader Crew finished.) And so, with him done, my first player team is ready to go forth and search for plunder amidst the storylines in my head. For some reason the camera couldn't take a good pic of his eyes and so they look like pants, which they actually don't in real life. What's a mediocre painter to do?

Any who might remember Hersus Vorden, the 3-armed mutant illegitimate son of this fellow, may well recall the mutie had orange scarves/bandannas? Well, they are directly related to the poor dissociated youth's attempt to show his loyalty to his father and match Antolio's sash.

Enjoy!

And to celebrate the completion of the Rogue Trader Crew, here's a group shot of how sexy they think they are!