A Challenge (Part 5 - Havok Squad start)

With the Herald completed, I can move on to next month's commitment. I've decided to work on my Havok Squad (They've only sat in my Chaos to do box for 3 years..... ).

Here's the squad of 7 pre-prime, they are currently drying after being sprayed black with Krylon in preparation for base coats.

Due to the drying paint, I decided to work on some more of my Brits, this time a Machine Gunner platoon. It's mostly made up of Forged in Battle miniatures (Aside from the platoon command section.) which are not as nicely detailed as the Battlefront sculpts and a little larger, but they were a gift and I'll not be a ponce and not use them just cos they are different. Once on the table they'll look fine as they shred Nazi infantry with the rest of the Tommies. ;)

(Also, my copy of Sedition Wars STILL hasn't arrived..... The FedEx tracker page says it's been in Sacramento since Friday. I'm slightly annoyed to say the least.)

A Challenge

Until recently, I was rather wary of hobby podcasts, considering them to probably be far too nerdy and beardy for the likes of me, full of "inside jokes" and other unfunny childishness. How wrong I was! Thanks for Mr Esty for starting me off, I now have four podcasts that I listen to whenever a new episode is released. Mr Esty suggested I try out The Independent Characters podcast that is run out of the Bay Area, a mere hour and a half or so away from where I live.

Carl and Geoff run a pretty well put together production with better than average sound values and a structured show that rarely goes off track, or if it does, they seem professional enough to get over their fits of giggles quickly. Each episode is dedicated to a certain 40K-esque subject and these chaps are pretty darn knowledgeable on their topics and, should the occasion arise where they don't have said knowledge, they have plenty of guests on hand to bring on board to help them out. If you don't listen to podcasts and have perhaps been curious, then these chaps are a good first option.

(I'll list the other three for any interested at the end of this post.)

Anyhoo, the reason I mention the podcast is because they also have a very friendly message board and are currently running a Challenge to paint up 1850 points of Warhammer 40K figs for a list or some such by November 30th, each month pledging to complete a character, unit or vehicle. For each pledge completed, you get an entry into a draw at the end of the challenge to win something cool. (I believe last year's Challenge prizes were KR Multicases or Black Library publications or some such.) Either way, I'm not really doing this for the prizes, more to see if I can't finally, f i n a l l y have myself a fully painted army. (Which I haven't had since I was an early teen with my old Squats.) I decided my much loved and maligned Nurgle Chaos force needed the love it always deserved and so made up a list with the new Chaos Marine Codex and the old daemons one, both including my models painted thus far and those I plan to do up each month. (the list is below the pics for those interested.)

So, seeing as I got into this Challenge a little late, my first month's pledge is a simple one - to paint a herald of Nurgle for my Daemon Allies contingent. The mini is by Darksword and was a lovely Xmas present from my mate Niko in Minnesota. I hacked off the original bannertop (Which was some sort of naff moon and stars design.) and replaced the left hand which formerly held a compass with handy parts from the new-ish plastic Plague Bearers kit. Since this photo was taken, I've since added sand to his base and given the mini a coating in Krylon primer.

If you got this far then my thanks for sticking with it!

Here's the three other podcasts I keep up with:

1. The Overlords - another 40K podcast, these chaps out of London are a game club with a microphone and make me laugh lots. They also have a good bunch of people who have different takes on the game to the US one I hear more regularly.

2. Deepstrike Radio - this 40K podcast is more fluff oriented, which I like lots. These chaps know their stuff VERY thoroughly and it appeals to my oldschool 40K hobbyist self. They are also more adult with their humour, so keep that in mind before you play them around yer young'ns.

3. WhatWouldPattonDo? - lastly, I also listen to a Flames of War podcast by the wwpd crew. They are a fun bunch and go off topic all the time, but if you like to play Flames of War, they can offer lots on the hobby and also talk about new books and releases

I forgot to add that I've also added to my Flames of War British contingent. A platoon of 6-pdr Anti-tank guns to hopefully help me fend off those dirty Nazi heavy tanks all the better. Painting might take a while though....

And here's the 3000point (Or there abouts) list I'm going by for my Challenge for those that are interested. I WILL still be painting other stuff, eg. my WW2 Brits, etc, but hopefully this challenge will see me more productive with my hobby than ever before. Roll on 2013!

CSM

HQ

Chaos Lord: Mark of Nurgle, Black Mace, Palanquin, Veteran of the Long War, Combi Plasma, Aura of Dark Glory

Daemon Prince of Nurgle: Wings, Power armour, Murder Sword, Aura of Dark Glory

TROOPS
7 x Plague Marines: 2 x Flamers, Lightning Claw

7 x Plague Marines: 2 x Melta Guns, Lightning Claw

7 x Plague Marines: 2 x Plasma Guns, Lightning Claw

7 x Plague Marines: 2 x Plasma Guns, Lightning Claw

ELITES
5 x Terminators: Mark of Nurgle, Heavy Flamer, Power Fist, Twin Lightning Claws, Veterans of the Long War, Land Raider Transport with Combi-bolter and Havoc launcher

Hell Brute: Twin-Linked Heavy Bolter, 2x Combi Bolters

FAST ATTACK
3 x Nurgle Spawn

HEAVY SUPPORT
7 x Havocs: 4 x Missile Launchers with Flakk ammo

2 x Vindicators: Siege Shields

DAEMON ALLIES

HQ
Ku’Gath

Herald of Nurgle

TROOPS
7 x Plague Bearers

7 x Plague Bearers

3 x Nurgling Bases

POINTS TOTAL = 2967

That’s the 3000 (ish), the 1850 (ish) that will be my list for this Challenge are:

The Chaos Lord (That I’ve yet to buy)
2 of the Plague Marine Units
2 Terminators from their squad (I already have 3 painted) and their Land Raider
3 Chaos Spawn (That I’ve yet to put together)
Ku’Gath (A mini that is pretty damned amazing, sculpted by a mate in Denmark)
The Herald of Nurgle (Proxied with a cool mini I got for Xmas)
The 2 Plague bearer units (One of the new plastic sculpts, the other old OOP models I've had for years.)
And the Nurglings (New plastic kit that I’ve yet to buy)

I think all this adds up to about 1860 all told with options included.

One Year

Today is this blog's anniversary I believe. I also passed the 9000 views mark.

Not bad for my lazy arsed self.

Just a quick post to say thanks for coming by, offering advice and being a general all round encouraging bunch. Being the antisocial jerk that I am, it's nice to know my hobby offerings can be presented before you lot and get some fair responses.

So applaud yourself, cos I wouldn't have kept up with this otherwise. Thank you.

I managed to keep my New Years Resolution as well, having 65 total posts and so averaging more than one post a week. I call that progress folks. (You can call is modesty.)

Hopefully in the near future I'll have something exciting to post up included but not restricted to:

1. I've stuck all the RT Guard troopers on their bases aside from Heavy Weapons Squads (I have no 60mm bases - anyone know of a super cheap resource for these?). Heads will be next, then it's time to prime.

2. Creed, his Vox 'porter, the three Plague Marines are all getting wee spots of paint, though still far from done.

3. The big Mutie from the Nurgle Chaos Coven for my Inquisimunda campaign is near complete. Somehow found some enthusiasm for the model, which is nice considering it's been a hard slog to want to paint this up until now.

4. After jumping on the Dreamforge Kickstarter, I find myself now with the impending delivery of a further bunch of miniatures (Couldn't resist, they looked so darn good.) and who knows, I may well dive into the game too once the rules are released.

5. A pal of mine has been asking me to get on board with his Flames of War group. I plan to make my first attendance (For any game in a few years since Warmachine 1.0) on the 12th to see if I like it. If it grabs my attention, then I guess for my birthday (the 20th of this month.) I think I may well put some funds into that new starter set to get a British force going. We'll see though.

That's it. Go drink, paint and be merry and I'll do the same.

Interlude 4

*Disaster Strikes!!!*

My camera died. So no pics and not through my own laziness for once. Would offer Phone Camera pics, but that is more embarrassing than no pics.

But work has been ongoing! The Brother Captain Stern commission is about 75% done. 3rd and 4th rounds of highlights need to be applied and then I'll seal the thing. The end.

Plague Marines are likewise 75% done so soon I'll have two full squads of 7. next up for the Nurgle army I think will be the long neglected Blight Drone.

Ebay auctions revenue surprised the shite out of me, coming up with 200% of expected returns on all the old stuff I put up. This is good for me and bad for my paint queue which will no doubt be suffering from new items needing paint jobs thereafter.

I managed to score one of the 1000 limited edition Chaos Space Marines Codex's. A bout of insomnia had me looking up stuff on the GW website and I saw it on sale and not sold out yet, so I snapped one up with the unapologetic intention of selling on again at a profit to further increase my hobby funds, or perhaps to add to the WiiU fund I am contemplating starting.....

Lastly, whilst nosing about the net, searching for UK Golden Daemon 2012 pics, I came across this relatively new and rather well put together blog. (Their own pics from Games Day were rather well done indeed.) Masterminis.blogspot.com also offer painting tips and other advice for those who want to up their hobbying game and purport to cover most of the upcoming major European hobby events in the future. I look forward to seeing what they will post up. Right now, they have a competition give-away thing for the lovely super-duper Forge World Angron mini just showcased in the latest White Dwarf. If you like it and don't want to have to fork out the 50 quid+ for one, you can win one here - http://masterminis.blogspot.com/2012/09/win-signed-copy-of-forge-worlds-angron.html

(I think a post of blogs I follow more than others might be upcoming. Well, sometime in the future at least.)

Why So Serious?

"Captain Gulliver Bevingham-Nixon is the Trader Prince's ship's captain and advisor on most things star-faring based. Don't mistake his small profile for thinking the man is an easy target, he's more of a Jack Russel in temperament and his men tiptoe lightly about him about the ship for fear of igniting his temper. One of his favourite punishments (For just about any infraction, imagined or otherwise.) is to send the unlucky git down the Ship's massive Bilges with a half full Flamer and combat knife to clear out any unlucky Hrud that might be nesting about. "

This mini has sat half-painted for about a year in my painting queue. I finished him up last night. Before I knew it, he was done. I showed my wife and she laughed at my scheme, asking "Why So Serious?" in reference to the Joker from Batman: the Dark Knight. It hadn't even occurred to me that I had chosen colours to match the Joker until then. I had just thought it was a cool idea to give the mini green hair with some background describing nobles of his planet dye their hair for fashion, or some such.... *facepalm* O well, he stays as is and I tried to describe his personality as being somewhat volatile in a similar vein to the Joker.

I've also finished painting up the Trader Prince's "Chosen Men", Snipers for my Company Command Team. I frikken love these Cadian snipers sculpts- just the right amount of detail and great poses without being too much of a pain to paint up. (My first go at painting up camouflage too in a LONG time on those cloaks.) The gold trim (If you can see it.) on their cuff's denotes their elite status.

And a quick snap of the boys together looking all mean and snipey-like.

And a couple pics of the Company Command Squad completed pieces to date.

Below is a WIP pic of the Trader Prince himself  (LOVE that Creed model! Not bothered by his rules though, so he's just a Commander in effect.) and the Vox Trooper from his Command Squad - yet another old old old Confrontation Tech Ganger I had lying about from my earliest gaming days.

And the poor Master of Ordinance who is still stood about with nothing more than a base coat. (For now.)

 Also some cheeky WIP pics of three remaining Plague Marines for my 2nd squad with arms held on by the amazing spell-like powers of Blu-Tac. They've also been sat all base-coated and no-where to go, so I started a little on them. Still lots to do though before they are done.

Lastly, I worked some more on the Brother Captain Stern commission which is at around 30% done.(Don't know why getting through this one has been such a chore?). Though no picture for him, yet.

Bloody hell this post turned into a super silly long beast. I blame Col. Ackland's Rough Rider WIP post m'self. :P Apologies for the pics' lighting - have too much to get on with today and so the lightbox was not an option. So instead, natural lighting from the stairwell window had to suffice.

Happy Feet - Part 3 (Completed!)

It's done! A late night painting session through until 1am last night (Due to my OCD of not wanting to put a piece down until it is finished.), sees my Dread completed. I'm mostly happy with how she turned out, though agree with a comment regarding the three semi-globes on the chest perhaps needing a little extra highlighting and I'll also go back over a few areas with some gloss varnish to make them look slimy (She's had a matt coat already.). Have to say I'm pretty chuffed with how she came out though.

"The fearsome Nurgle Dreadnought, Grizelda is a nasty piece of work. A former Silent Sister caught and entombed in the sarcophagus on a whim by the Daemon Prince Witherlimb, her rages are terrible to behold. Stomping about the battlefield, she takes out her eternal frustrations on any enemy she is pointed at. "

Happy Feet - Part 2 (WIP)

Some more work on my Nurgle Dreadnought. Torso pretty much done not including some touch-ups here and there. Arms are next.

Happy Feet - Part 1 (WIP)

*insert aussie accent, beard and glasses here (O and "wobble board" TM)*

Can you guess what it is yet?

Just what I've gotten done to date. 2/3's of the beast yet to complete! (This model has intimidated me since it arrived last December. SO.... MUCH.... DETAIL.... and all of it so beautifuly sculpted too. Hope I end up dong this piece justice!)