You can never have too much metal.

Trying to get caught up with my Blog Wars painting, this week has seen my finish a Russ, two Hydras and a Bane Wolf. I also finally got round to using two of the metal crewmen I’ve had for a while.

   

The Russ, nothing special, in it’s normal configuration here, but this is the one you saw me magnetise fully the other day.

Told you those magnets on the side wouldn't look too weird :)

 

Bane Wolf. again this is magnetised, but photographed in its Blog Wars configuration. I tried to branch out a little with my markings here, while still making everything thing feel like it belongs to the same force.

 

And the Hydra. pig of a model to build, but decent looking once finished.

Again I mixed up the markings, and am quite pleased with them, and again used a metal crewman in emulation of the build on the FE website.

These vehicles have had my usual paint and weathering treatment which can be found by clicking the links.

This leaves me just with twenty single minis to paint and another russ.

I can do that. *ulp*

Thanks for reading :)

Gunnery Sgt Harker – Conversion 2.0

If you remember last year, I made Cadian versions of a few of the character models from the Guard Codex.

This was my Harker -

 

Well With Blog wars looming and my plan being to take Harker as my Unique, I thought I’d revisit the concept and see if I couldn't manage something a bit more dynamic and interesting than just “guardsman with a Hvy Bolter”

Here's 2.0

Some of the pics are a tad shaky, but I think you can just about make out what’s been attempted.

Yes, that is a green beard.

he’s more dynamic that he predecessor, leading his men on, which I feel is apt for an assault squad, I’m not toally happy with the angle on the ammo belt, but bolter round sized ammo belts are hard to come by (these are from the dark angel ravenwing bike sprues.)

I’m not adverse to tweaking if anyone has any recommendations.

I’d even take a “why bother the first one is better” ;)

Primer

 

Having built a few new things recently seemed a good time to address this question I’ve been asked a few times.

“What primer do you use?”

Well, I don’t use anything fancy, although in the past I’ve used Vallejo and citadel aerosols, Japanese smelly airbrush stuff, and Gesso.

Now I just use Halfords automotive primer, in Grey.

It has a good spray, behaves well in all conditions, sticks well due to its high solvent content and never goes powdery on me.

I make sure to hold the pieces I’m spraying with a glove, and to use a respirator, especially is doing multiple pieces.

 

I usually rack them up in an old tray and spray them in the garage.

Here’s a bunch ready for spraying. The primer dries very fast, finger dry in 15 mins, but I usually try to leave it 24hrs before paint to ensure the solvent is entirely gone.

 

And this is how it behaves, you can see it on (left to right) Pewter, Plastic and Resin. there's no loss of detail, the colour is a nice neutral grey and there's decent coverage.

I use grey as default now as I like the neutral, flat undertone. There are occasions I would either use white, or apply zenithal white, but I can’t think of a reason to use black anymore.

Anyway, that’s what I do, hope you found it worth your time to read.

Cheers!

Blog Wars list

lots to do, oh my, oh my.

1. Primaris Psyker

2. Veteran Squad with 3xMelta guns and Chimera (Hull flamer)

3. Veteran squad with 3xFlamers led by Harker in chimera (Hull flamer)

4. Veteran Squad with 3xGrenade Launchers

5. Vendetta Squadron

6. Leman Russ MBT, Hull Flamer

7. Bane wolf (hull flamer)

8. Veteran Squad with 3xPlasma Guns

9. Scout Sentinels (Autocannons)

10. Hydra Flak Battery (Hull flamers)

11. Storm Trooper Squad (2x Melta)

12. Storm Trooper Squad (2x Melta)

There’s a second russ in this list, but not appearing in the shot.

It’s exactly 1750.

I expect to get my ass kicked.

I’m not a tournament player. With the frequency of my games I’m barely a player, but I intend to turn up, roll some dice and have some fun. I know it’s too many kill points, I know I’m lacking redundancy and I cant deal well with termies, and hordes will tear me a new one etc etc, but I don't care.

Alright, I care a bit. I cared enough to drop the silly 400+pt strakenstar, as its too specialised for an all comers list. and I care enough to pack a bit more melta than usual and trim some fat. but that's it, you wont see me “castling” or using silly formations or any of that, I’m going to play.

And I’m going to spend the next two weeks painting my ass off :)

Leman Russ Smoke Launcher tweak

After Commissar Dave’s comment pointing out what I already knew, –( that my placement of the smoke launcher on the most recent Russ looked daft :) ) I set out in search of a solution.

I hacked it up to look more like a “proper” one, as the supplied part looks daft to me, and that monstrously big thing sat on my track covers usually offends me so much i dont use it.

I felt I had to put this one on tho as I’m off to a tourney and want to try for wysiwyg as much as possible, at least as far as weapons and gadgets go. I’m not about to start pulling dozer blades off tho. :)

Cheers!