Two Hundred!

Wow.
wow.
Really. wow.
Two hundred followers. Cool. Thanks :)
Okay, I’ve been a bit slow posting because, well progress has been slow. I got myself Involved with Big Jim and am contributing to the Special Operations: Killzone rules he’s working on with a bunch of other people.
 
It’s been very rewarding so far, and I’m looking forward to getting some play testing in soon. Check Jim’s blog and the work in progress rules out Here
On the modelling front I have been working on more wolves, – Some razorrides for my Grey hunters, and some other models, which I won’t be sharing just yet :)
In the interests of interest, here’s the Razors, both with extra bitz and modded turrets.:
Las/Plas

 
AssCannon
 

Did I mention? I hate the smoke launchers on these things!
Thanks for reading and for helping me to 200 readers!

The Last Wolfguard

Ohh, good title for a short story :P

This is the last troop for my small Wolf force, with two razorback transports to follow.
Another home made combi melta and power weapon. Now, on my last post it was pointed out to me that I could save points and have more attacks with a different Loadout, and while I did briefly consider it, I didn't change the setup. Partly because I’m not really about that level of tweaking, but also because I had intended for this force to pop vehicles efficiently (fist plus two melta, plus las transport) and slaughter troops mercilessly, – and I think the extra power weapon attack does more to the troops, which is currently weaker, than the extra pfist attack adds to the already strong anti-vehicle. anyway time and play will tell.
Anyhoo, short update as I’m back at work now (boo) so progress will be a little slower during the week :)
Thanks for stopping by!

Grey Hunter Squads built

I’ve also assembled one of the Wolf guard in PA who will accompany them, I’m missing a set of legs for the other guy, so I’ve ordered that. I do have kneeling legs, and tried it, but couldn't make it work. then I realised why.
Space Wolves don’t kneel!
:)
Here they are.
Squad one (I know, they need names..)

All the “file troops” were modelled with chainsword and Bolter, really so that it’s obvious that they have that dual-role.

Powerfist and Meltagunner, This squad was fairly vanilla, again I like to learn my way round a kit before I start converting much. The meltagunner does have normal tac squad legs though.
 
Their Wolf Guard with a home-made combi-melta.

Melta and two file troops for squad two. again here and there I’ve used tac squad bitz to get the pose I wanted.

File troops and Powerfist for squad two. I wanted a different Powerfist so used one from the termie box tagged onto an arm from the ravenwing bike sprue.
Wolf guard two will appear as soon as his legs arrive :)
on the vehicles front the raider is in the paint shop as we speak, the razors have yet to be ordered.
I must say that this kit was also excellent fun to put together, and I look forward greatly to building a huge pack of bloodclaws from it, This and the wolf guard kit offer so much in the way of bitz and options, I can really see why wolves have taken off the way they have, choice, flexibility and character.
Thanks for reading while I build these guys, primer and paint soon!

Wolf Guard terminator basing

There's a lot of different takes on how to make scenic bases, some are easy, some very intricate. In my grey knight posts I covered what I do. It’s mostly wood filler (spackle) with stuff stuck in it :)
These are no different.
 
In this case it’s bits of wood chips from the garden (thoroughly dried and de-bugged) just cut to rock-like shapes and stuck in the wood filler

Here are the normal marine bases I plan to use for the rest of the force.
You could use any material here – whatever your usual rock stand in is, cork, cracked milliput, your call.
The making of the bases is the easy part. it’s getting your guys on them looking good and staying put that seems to present difficulties, and is often never really discussed. so here we go.
 
This is what you’ll need. – a pin vice with a 1mm drill bit, and some 1mm gauge wire (those sizes aren't compulsory, they just have to match and not be bigger than the parts youll be drilling :) ) you’ll also find wire clippers useful.
While it’s tempting to use your sprue cutters, try to resist as the wire WILL put dents in your blades.
 
First thing we do is test fit. one thing to note is that, while assembling your spackle with bits in bases, you should have an eye on level places you intend to put feet :)

Once you’ve worked out the foot that will have the most surface contact, we drill a hole for the pin.
 
and glue that pin in place


Then we return to the base and use the pin itself to mark the next hole. if you like you can place a dab on paint on the pin end to use to make your mark.
 
Then drill that hole.

Last thing, glue the guy down.
 
This is the squad all based.
Not very adventurous I know, but I have this thing where, the first time I build with a kit I like to build it fairly “vanilla” to learn the kit as it were. this one is awesome. imo one of the best kits GW have produced in recent years.
the observant will note that the “rule of cool” has caused some changes in the roster previously posted, and that claws have proliferated :)
Anyway there we have it, pinning 101 I guess, – the same principles apply to pinning heavy components together, though the adhesives required might be different. oh and apologies for the pics, I used my phone and they aren't great, but I( think the steps are still legible.
Thanks for reading, I’ll post results when the grey hunters are assembled!

So much for restraint

I’d promised myself I’d offload my Ultramarines before I started this Lupine project, but I’ve failed.
These arrived today, and form the core of my 1000 point wolf force. well, let’s be honest, first 1000 points..

The current plan is something like this -
HQ: Wolf Guard Battle Leader in Terminator Armour 
   1 Wolf Guard Battle Leader in Terminator Armour (Unit Type: Infantry; Terminator Armour; Thunder Hammer; Storm Shield; Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Counter-attack; Independent Character)
Troops: Grey Hunters Pack 
   5 Grey Hunters Pack (Unit Type: Infantry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Bolt Pistol x5; Bolter x4; Close Combat Weapon x4; Meltagun; Power Weapon; Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Counter-attack; Razorback)
      1 Razorback (Unit Type: Vehicle (Tank); Transport Capacity: 6 models; Access Points: 3; Searchlight; Smoke Launchers; Lascannon and TL Plasmagun)

Troops: Grey Hunters Pack 
   5 Grey Hunters Pack (Unit Type: Infantry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Bolt Pistol x5; Bolter x4; Close Combat Weapon x4; Meltagun; Power Weapon; Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Counter-attack; Razorback)
      1 Razorback (Unit Type: Vehicle (Tank); Transport Capacity: 6 models; Access Points: 3; Searchlight; Smoke Launchers; Lascannon and TL Plasmagun)
Elite: Wolf Guard Pack 
   1 Wolf Guard Pack 
      1 Wolf Guard in Power Armour (Unit Type: Infantry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Combi-Meltagun x1; Power Weapon x1; Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Counter-attack)
      1 Wolf Guard in Power Armour (Unit Type: Infantry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Combi-Meltagun x1; Power Weapon x1; Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Counter-attack)
      1 Wolf Guard in Terminator Armour (Unit Type: Infantry; Terminator Armour; Power Fist; Assault Cannon; Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Counter-attack)
      1 Wolf Guard in Terminator Armour (Unit Type: Infantry; Terminator Armour; Power Weapon; Storm Bolter; Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Counter-attack)
      1 Wolf Guard in Terminator Armour (Unit Type: Infantry; Terminator Armour; Power Weapon; Power Fist; Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Counter-attack)
      1 Wolf Guard in Terminator Armour (Unit Type: Infantry; Terminator Armour; Power Weapon; Storm Bolter; Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Counter-attack)
      1 Land Raider Crusader (Unit Type: Vehicle (Tank); Transport Capacity: 16 models; Access Points: 3; Frag Assault Launchers; Searchlight; Smoke Launchers; Multi-Melta; 2x Hurricane Bolters; Twin Linked Assault Cannon; Assault Vehicle; Power of the Machine Spirit)
The two WG in PA go with the Grey Hunters, the rest pile in the Raider with the boss, three vehicles, lots of shooty and offensive power and no, not many units for a thousand points. and yeah I know I could make a lot more competetive list with no Termies or raider, lots of long fangs, some more Razor spam, but I’m not about competetive, I’m about fun, and this looks like fun to play and great fun to model.
the journey to 1500/2k probably involved another raider and some bikes – maybe dreads, but the point is to keep the model count low. I considered Loganwing, but hunters in razors seemed more viable.
I’ll post shots as I build and paint these fellows over the coming weeks.

Miniature Photography, Massive Voodoo style

So my bulbs arrived :)
I now have lovely cold daylight all over my painting area, even in the dead of night. It’s amazing, I mean – I’ve used daylight bulbs for years, but these fluorescents are sooo bright compared to the old incandescent bulbs.
I’ve taken some pictures with the photo set up suggested by Roman at Massive Voodoo, Its incredibly simple.
Here’s how it looks (photographed from my phone)
 
You see I use my painting desk, and use the two cheap Ikea lamps with good anglepoise arms, and those shiny new bulbs. the glowy white thing is the (also cheap) ikea plastic bin suggested by Roman. The camera, obviously is on a tripod, and set to a 2 second delay (so that my clumsy paws can’t shake the camera, as I wont be touching it when the shutter goes off)

In this closer view you can see some of the interior. I set my white balance manually, and in hindsight that might not have been the perfect thing to do. with the lights this close the white paper I used was a little bright, and the pictures are a tiny bit warm, – shocking as the scene is so cold.
Dave, who commented on my previous post is right to observe that the contrast shift in my current background image is too severe, I’ll print a new one when I’m next able.
anyway, enough procrastination, here are some of the shots taken now that this set up is in effect -
(BIIG pictures all the way this post, as we are celebrating the imagery)
 
Using the same miniatures as other recent experiments, hopefully you can see the difference.
In this guy, some of the details are much clearer, unfortunately some of the rougher areas are also much much clearer :)
    
Chalk this one up as a win however – a lot of the work I’d done on him that just wasn't visible at all in previous photos can be seen now (also, mistakes too :p)

And again, the work is clearer. Whether this is a good thing or not remains to be seen :)
so there we have my photo experiments, I think they've improved, at least to the point where you can see more clearly what I’m trying to do with these more recent figures. I leave you to judge the levels of success for yourselves now that you can see :)
Thanks again for reading!

The road to better photography, and a Wolf!

Always open with a picture they say, though I rarely do

Since this post is largely about pictures though, it seems appropriate. Apropos, here is the home made Space Wolf you saw a few weeks ago.
There are, as always some things I am pleased with, and some that need a great deal of work. I’m very happy with the way my sculpted parts have come together, I’m pleased with the final colour, and I’m happy with his face.
The grey paint I used, well, lets say i need to learn my way round the sombre grey. it was difficult to find the right dilution and as such I had some separation and chalkiness, sadly this is visible on the finished model. but as a “test model” for a small, (hopefully) well painted wolf force I think it’s passable. Oh and that “tattooed leather” needs some rethinking :)
Again, I eschewed metallics totally, and I think the gold came out well. I used oils for the blade and weapon, and wasn't able to be as neat as usual due to the thickness of the paint and the small surface areas, but I think the results here, though rough, show the potential of continuing with this method.
Props must go to  to Eingestellt von Androsch at Tower of Heroes whose painting I admire and from whom I totally stole the idea of contra-coloured shadows for this fig :)
Here are some more pictures -


On the subject of photography, I’m now very happy with the diffuse nature of the light provided by my Ikea bin, so many thanks to Roman at Massive Voodoo for that and many other amazing tips in his tutorial section.
as you can see from these pictures my remaining issue is with the quality of light.
  
This first one has the best colour reproduction, but is far too dark.

much better with a lamp on, but a bit one-sided, and very “yellow”

With two lamps we are approaching the right amount of illumination, but the warm light is terrible.
To that end I have some much colder bulbs on order, which should be close to daylight. once they arrive, I should have cracked the photos *crosses fingers*
Thank you all for reading, I look forward to reading your comments!