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Sunday 29 August 2010

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.
 killzone dow style 4
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
DSC_5896
DSC_5899  DSC_5897 DSC_5898
AssCannon
 DSC_5901
DSC_5900DSC_5902 DSC_5903
Did I mention? I hate the smoke launchers on these things!
Thanks for reading and for helping me to 200 readers!

Tuesday 17 August 2010

The Last Wolfguard

Ohh, good title for a short story :P
DSC_5895
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!

Monday 16 August 2010

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..)
DSC_5886
All the “file troops” were modelled with chainsword and Bolter, really so that it’s obvious that they have that dual-role.
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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.
 DSC_5891
Their Wolf Guard with a home-made combi-melta.
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Melta and two file troops for squad two. again here and there I’ve used tac squad bitz to get the pose I wanted.
DSC_5894
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!

Sunday 15 August 2010

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.
 DSC_5874
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
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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.
 DSC_5876
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.
 DSC_5877
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 :)
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Once you’ve worked out the foot that will have the most surface contact, we drill a hole for the pin.
 DSC_5879
and glue that pin in place
DSC_5880
DSC_5881
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.
 DSC_5882
Then drill that hole.
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Last thing, glue the guy down.
 DSC_5885
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!

Friday 13 August 2010

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..
DSC_5871
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.

Thursday 12 August 2010

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)
IMG00030-20100812-2119 
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)
IMG00031-20100812-2119
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)
 DSC_5849 DSC_5850 DSC_5851 DSC_5852
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 :)
DSC_5858   DSC_5856 DSC_5857  DSC_5855
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)
DSC_5865 DSC_5869DSC_5866 DSC_5867 DSC_5868
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!

Sunday 8 August 2010

The road to better photography, and a Wolf!

Always open with a picture they say, though I rarely do
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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 -
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DSC_5829 DSC_5830 DSC_5831 DSC_5832
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.
 DSC_5825 
This first one has the best colour reproduction, but is far too dark.
DSC_5827
much better with a lamp on, but a bit one-sided, and very “yellow”
DSC_5826
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!
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