Everything’s gone Guard

In the spirit of the last post, and taking stock a little after the release of the DH/WH PDF’s I find I want to put my DH on hold.
I love the army, their play style and so on, but I am first and foremost a modeller and painter, second a player. Any army I have in my sights will be being worked on, developed and added to.
with an army that is clearly due for an update, how ever far away that is, I begin to feel like any work I do could be superseded and written off at any time.
To that end, I’m focussing on my guard and my orks, as I love both model ranges and enjoy the different painting and modelling challenges thrown up by each army.
Guard are in my sights at the moment because they are the most built/playable force out of the two.
I have a rather nice, but hopelessly “un-optimal” list for about 2k, it goes something like this -
Company Command Squad
3 Company Command Squad Medi-pack; Vox Caster; Plasmagun x1; Colour Sergeant Kell; Colonel 'Iron Hand' Straken)
Chimera Heavy Flamer; Camo Netting; Dozer Blade; Pintle Heavy Stubber
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Veteran Squad Vox Caster; Shotgun x6; Flamer x2; Heavy Flamer; Sergeant Bastonne; Demolitions; Forward Sentries; Grenadiers
Ministorum Priest Eviscerator, Shotgun
Lord Commissar Power weapon, Bolt Pistol
Chimera Heavy Flamer; Camo Netting; Dozer Blade; Pintle Heavy Stubber
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Veteran Squad Lasgun x6; Demolition Charge; Melta Bombs; Vox Caster; Plasmagun x3; Gunnery Sergeant Harker; Demolitions
Ministorum Priest Eviscerator, Shotgun
Chimera Heavy Flamer; Camo Netting; Dozer Blade; Pintle Heavy Stubber
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Leman Russ Demolisher Camo Netting; Heavy Flamer; Heavy Bolter Sponsons x2; Dozer Blade;
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Leman Russ Executioner Camo Netting Lascannon; Dozer Blade
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Valkyrie Lascannon, Multiple Rocket Pods x2
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Storm Trooper Squad Grenade Launcher Storm Trooper Sergeant
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Guardsman Marbo   
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Total Roster Cost: 2050
Dropping Marbo or a few optional extras will put it under 2k.
In order to play this list I did need a few characters, and I really don't like catachans, so I had to make my own :)
I started with a couple more Priests
 
 


Then moved on to the notables. I already had this Harker built

 
But Had the devil of a time getting my Kell to hold his flag.

 

My Marbo – all out of demopacks in the bitzbix dagnabbit. I’ll get him one.


My Straken. the shotgun arm wouldnt play ball, the resin was terribly crumbly and the superglue crystalised. so thats a future repair job. for now though I’m okay with him


I have done my usual trick of seeing a lot of missed flash and tweaks once they are photographed so I’ll get to fixing those before paint.
So there you have it another update. I seem to be managing to keep up at the moment, so Fingers crossed :)

100 posts, and some questions.

So this is the 100th post.
I didn't make a fuss when I passed the year of being back in the hobby milestone. Nor when I passed the year of blogging milestone, so why 100 posts.
Well I didn't really know with the previous markers what to do to “make a fuss”. I let 150 followers slip by uncommented too.
I see a lot of blogs doing giveaways, but I don't know what I’d give away, and what if the winner lives somewhere like Kuala Lumpur?
I suppose I've some things I could part with, or do.
I could offer to make a “winner” a guard character (orgryn excluded) in my own kitbashed style.. or make them a priest to my new template :)
I’ve enough bits to build someone a Mordheim warband or two.
I could put almost a greatsword regiment together, or almost an empire militia band (I've nicked a few bits but largely the boxes are intact) I might even be able to manage a marauder horseman unit.
but most of those are Fantasy units, and this blog is 90% 40k, so it wouldn't feel quite right I don't think.
So I guess the first question is.. what would you guys like me to do? anything? nothing? something I’ve suggested above? something you’ve thought of?
Obviously anything out of range of my current funds will have to be disregarded. I’d love to be able to offer up a baneblade but I don't earn that kind if cash:) but anything else will be given serious consideration. and if there's a few good ideas I’ll put up a poll.
I want to get this going quick though as the original intention was to give it away on my birthday (no, I’m not a hobbit) but I'll settle for as close to it as I can get.
the other part of the line of questioning is thus -
there are 155 people following this. that’s amazing, it tells me I must be doing something worth reading, BUT I’m sure there's stuff I can do better.
I want you to tell me.
help me make the next 100 posts more readable, more interesting.. just.. more. :)

Daemonhunter and Witchhunter Codices

Well.

I'm not sure what the wider DH/WH  community was expecting from this, I had heard talk of a points re-balance, or someting in line with the old BA codex.

What we seem to have got is exactly what we already have, minus the fluff and pictures and in digital format and free.

I'm a little underwhelmed if I'm honest.

Commissar

I’ve had this guy a while, and thought I’d paint him up to round out the 12 seats in the Chimera for my Vet squad.

 


I know, lots of points and kp in one chimera, again, fluffy list, not an optimal one, If i really want to win I’m fairly confident I can do that sat in front of army builder before a single die is cast most of the time, but that’s not what these blokes are for.

This chap’s paint turned out well, though he looks shiny in the picture because I klear coated him, but hadn't dullcoted yet. oops.

And I have no idea what’s going on with that smear on his lapel, but I’m looking at him and that just isn't there on the model. must be a reflection or something.

Anyway that finishes off this small guard contingent for now. time to get the Orks to 550, which means some bikers, a biker mek, paint on the trukk and another Deffkopta. oh and a buggy or two to convert to modern ork crew. Fun.

Ministorium Priest Conversion

I finished this guy on Sunday, but I’d already posted a few times over the weekend, and I’m not giving people time to comment :P

So I tried something I hadn't done before – scheduling a post. If you’re reading this on Monday night, then it worked.

 

I know these guys aren’t popular to play, but I love the idea, and this small – high value IG list isn’t built to win, but to enjoy.

Some of the paint is a little shaky, I’ve been in a bit of a painting frenzy, after a month of not getting much chance I wanted to enjoy painting as much as possible this weekend, and I have, so results be damned.
He looks okay on the table with his unit anyway.

Five more Orks, Please

I knocked these out today. nothing astounding, but a few touches I quite like.

 
I call this fellow “Orkus Fenix” – the second I built that gun I knew I had to give him a do-rag.
I’m also not usually a fan of bloody weapons, but if ever there was a time…..

I did a few tattos on these orks and I must say I’m very pleased with the result of throwing a little more complimentary blue into these Bad Moonz.


And I’m still loving the checks, dags and “flames” these guys like so much.

so there we are, nothing earth-shattering, but it completes the unit.

Now I just need to paint their trukk. still, I might tackle a biker first, then move up :)

Bad Moonz Armour Painting Tutorial Videos

These should have gone up a while ago but I had a few issues. – namely I used “weapon of choice” as the tune, and Youtube spanked me for it and banned the vids, so I had to find some royalty free music, as a result it isn't stunning.
But these Videos have no dialogue on them, so feel free to mute them and use winamp for the tune of your choice :)

This first one is the armour colour itself. these steps would work with any colour.

This technique works for any metal surface. I use it on marines and tanks. sometimes with a highlight on the lower edge.
At the moment of writing these are a bit low resolution, but I believe youtube does that. If there aren't higher res ones available tomorrow I may have to re-upload them.
one last note.
I think I’ve improved this video over the last ones. but ultimately I am making these for you guys to get something from, so if there’s anything you want to see, or want me to try and do differently in the making of them, please let me know.

Veteran Squad, Chimera, Leman Russ Demolisher and more!

I had a day off work yesterday, and with a little finishing up today got a LOT done.
This picture represents a 500 point IG army

Consisting of a single Veteran squad upgraded like crazy, a Leman Russ Demolisher and a Chimera dedicated transport.
Yes, I know its a stupid army. I know if I want to win I build for numbers blah blah. but you know what?
I win a good amount. And it’s not why I play.
I enjoy being outnumbered, I like it to be difficult. (its why I play DH after all) so I’m building two counter intuitive lists at the moment, Guard and Orks with low model counts in both. I want them to be modelled as well as I can, and to be difficult to play. and
I’m starting both at 500 points (550ish anyway) because I really like small games, combat patrols, kill team I love it.
And I fully expect to lose. a lot. But I’m confident that I will enjoy losing, and I figure those two vehicles and embarked men represent a nicely fluffy combat patrol type force.
plan is for another set, – squad, vets, tank, but all long ranged, where these are close up.
Anyway, I’ve bored you long enough, brace yourself for a heck of a lot of pictures.
The Russ

  
The Chimera

       
The Squad
Sergeant
 
Flamer

Shotgun

Demo Charge

Vox

Flamer and Meltabomb

Shotgun and Meltabomb

Heavy Flamer
 
Shotgun and spare ammo

Shotgun and spare ammo

There they are , wow, it’s not until you step back and take close up pics that you see those annoying missed mould lines, the wonky paint job and the barrels you forgot to drill. heh still, they look okay for the table.
And for anyone who’s still reading, a little something more.
I had a brainwave last night and set about to build myself a Ministorium Priest. I’d be very interested to hear what anyone thinks of him.


He’s come out a little tall, but just about on the edge of acceptably describable in fluff as a “very tall man” :)
That’s all for now, I’m going to see If I cant get some paint on this fellow.
I really should split my posts up more If I want to hit 100 before the end of June. :)