tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57998631031348809912024-03-05T16:35:22.349+11:00Concepts to RealitiesEvolution of My HobbyMephistopheleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17004126516680807567noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799863103134880991.post-49425123640827577992012-05-27T01:48:00.000+10:002012-05-27T01:48:49.282+10:00Greetings all!<br /><br />Though long, my absence from the blog-o-sphere has been still some what productive, in more ways than 1.<br /><br />In the past few months since my last post, I have:<br />- Moved out of home with my girlfriend of nearing on 3yrs,<br />- Got myself a new job<br />- Become a god father<br />- and many things I have more than likely forgotten.<br /><br />Hobby wise though, much more progress has been done, and even more projects side lined.<br />For now, the Tyranids and the Dark Elves are side lined indefinitely until I get the inspiration to continue with the projects.<br />The Bloodpact on the other hand... much has been done and continues to be done, with many projects underway, planned or completed.<br /><br />Units completed for the Bloodpact include:<br />- Harker with Vet squad consisting of 3 meltas and 6 shotguns, 1 of which also carries a demolition charge,<br />- 2 snipers and heavy bolter team to swap in/out of Harkers squad as needed,<br />- Scout Sentinel with autocannon and hunter killer missile<br />- Guardsmen Marbo<br /><br />New units started/underway include:<br />- Iron Hand Straken with Comm squad consisting of cc weapons,<br />- Salamander-style Chimera with multi-laser and heavy bolter,<br />- Mutant/Renegade squad with 3 plasma guns, autocannon team and 4 lasguns, 1 of which also carries a demolition charge,<br />- Bull-dozer styled Chimera with multi-laser and heavy bolter,<br />- Leman Russ Executioner with hull lascannon,<br />- Macharius with 2 vanquisher cannons, 2 heavy flamers and heavy stubber,<br />- Malcador with battle cannon, and as yet to decide on sponson and hull weapons,<br />- Drop Sentinel with multi-melta<br />- Leman Russ/AT-70 Reaver conversion with hull heavy bolter<br /><br />Still on the work bench from before include:<br />- Vendetta/Dark Eldar Raven conversion,<br />- Valkyrie/Locust conversion,<br />- Heavy Weapon squad of 3 autocannons,<br />- Heavy Weapon squad of 3 lascannons,<br />- Squad of 10 guardsmen with a flamer,<br />- Platoon Command squad,<br />- Medusa/N20 Half-track conversion<br />- Squad of 5 Rough Riders<br />- Astropath<br /><br />Yet to start include:<br />- Colossus/Usurper conversion<br />- Hydra flak tank<br /><br />Unfortunately I have yet to take any pictures as the camera is still packed away, and been rather slack in getting it out. Soon as I get some pics up I will go into more detail with everything.<br /><br />Also, during this time away I went to the Australian Games Day 2011.<br />Considering it was the first Games day we have had since early 2000, it was alot of fun, and got a few books signed by Graham McNeil as well as a photo with him. Being 1 of my favorite writers from the black library, was very happy to get the chance to meet him.<br /><br />I also entered Golden Daemon last year, and made it right through to the finals at games day.<br />The miniature I entered was my <a href="http://conceptstorealities.blogspot.com.au/2011/02/bloodpact-looted-truck-finished-pics.html" target="_blank">Truck Transport</a> that I built from the designs put out to the public by the renowned <a href="http://davetaylorminiatures.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Dave Taylor</a> a few years back.<br />Unfortunately I didn't place in the top 3, not even in the 6 that get recognized for making it to the finals.<br />I did manage to find out why that is too; the truck is too realistic.<br />Honestly I think its a bit BS, as the guy that won had an average paint job, yet it was a fully scratch built executioner, but then, that is a fully scratch built truck I entered.<br />All in all it was a learning experience, and so now I am working on melding my realistic style in with the artistic style that Golden Daemon requires.<br /><br />Well that's all for now, no promises as to when I will be able to post/get the pictures up, but until then, all the best with your hobby.Mephistopheleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17004126516680807567noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799863103134880991.post-84412428142792700952011-07-17T13:53:00.000+10:002011-07-17T13:53:32.328+10:00Its been that long...?Dang...<br />
<br />
Didn't realise how long it has been since I last posted...<br />
I feel rather ashamed about this...<br />
<br />
Last few months have seen minimal hobby work done, due to purchasing a new computer and getting all that sorted out, as well as a long and tedious work lift that kinda saps out the will to be creative...<br />
<br />
Yet, I do have some things to report on the hobby front! <br />
I have made progress production wise, and also made some decisions about how I will be approaching my hobby work for now.<br />
Though I am lacking pictures at this point in time...<br />
<br />
1. The half-track has been sidelined atm, as I really should finish the list I have written up before I start adding extras to it...<br />
Thus I have started converting the following:<br />
- HQ squad<br />
- Sly Marbo<br />
- 2 squads for the transports<br />
- 2nd heavy weapons squad<br />
- 2nd transport<br />
Almost finished, just requiring minor details and basing include:<br />
- 2nd squad on foot<br />
- Platoon command squad<br />
- 1st heavy weapons squad<br />
Everything else Bloodpact wise is on the sidelines til those are completed, so i can get the first 1k list done and get them on the table before i branch out to the extra 850pts..<br />
<br />
2. The Dark Elves though only mentioned in passing months and months back are slowly taking shape after months of list writing and re-writing.<br />
So far I believe I have about 750 or so points worth assembled, perhaps more, and a paint scheme decided on, and started to paint them up.<br />
So far the following are assembled/started painting:<br />
- Master on foot<br />
- 9 Spearmen retinue<br />
- 15 Corsairs<br />
- 5 Dark Riders<br />
- 5 Shades<br />
- Assassin<br />
Yet to be started include:<br />
- Additional 10 Spearmen<br />
- 15 Corsairs<br />
- Lord on Cold One<br />
- 9 Cold Ones retinue<br />
- 10 Cold Ones<br />
- 5 Shades<br />
- 2 Reaper Bolt Throwers<br />
- Sorceress<br />
Should prove an effective force when used right, and once all painted up will hopefully look stunning on the table top.<br />
<br />
3. Tyranids have been sidelined near indefinitely.<br />
I have yet to actually do any work on the actual army since the coming of the current codex, the only things that have been done to the army have been due to entering modeling/painting comps at the local GW and nothing more.<br />
Once I have finished what I have on the table atm, then I will be resurrecting them.<br />
<br />
4. Easterlings have joined the Tyranids on the sideline.<br />
Hearts just not there atm, and waiting for some finecast captains to hopefully come out, as after looking at what I have to do to make my current white metal captains look decent... I may as well just use them as paper weights the quality of the miniatures is that poor.<br />
<br />
Thats about all I have in the way of updates atm, not much considering the time between last post and now, but I am trying!<br />
<br />
Til next time allMephistopheleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17004126516680807567noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799863103134880991.post-34976922742322792232011-04-15T16:11:00.001+10:002011-04-15T16:24:24.631+10:00Bloodpact N20 Half-track -Your input pleaseHey all,<br />
<br />
Today is not a post of pictures and all that jazz, but today is a post asking for input from those Gaunts Ghosts fans out there for the fluff side of things, but also for gamers in general for the playability side.<br />
<br />
As this title suggests, I am currently working on a N20 half track conversion for my Bloodpact. Where I used the ork truck as a basis for the transports (counts as chimeras) I am using the ork battlewagon for the basis of this conversion. No WIP pics as yet, but currently the base of the wagon is built (that's all I am using from the kit in terms of structure) and I am currently making the plasticard body for it.<br />
<br />
So far I'm happy with the progress, but I've come to a point where I didn't do much thinking beyond. In order to really keep building this thing, I need to know what I will be using it as in game terms. In the book, Honour Guard, the N20's that I'm basing this model on are armed with 70 mil Anti-Tank cannons. This leaves me with 2 most fitting options:<br />
<br />
1. use this to represent a Leman Russ Vanquisher.<br />
Armour 14, 13, 10 Rng 72" Str 8 Ap 2 Heavy 1* *extra d6 for armour pen<br />
155pts<br />
<br />
Or-<br />
<br />
2. use this to represent a Medusa Siege Cannon with Bastion Breacher shells.<br />
Armour 12, 10, 10 Rng 48" Str 10 Ap 1 Heavy 1* Blast *extra d6 for armour pen<br />
140pts (155 if I give it enclosed crew compartment)<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
Now, that doesn't seem like much of a big deal, but in terms of how I go about making it, it brings up a few dilemmas...<br />
<br />
My army is very strongly themed on the books, but in a few areas there is minimal detail given on certain units and vehicles beyond a minor description. When it comes to these things, like all hobbyists doing armies based on novels, movies, etc I try to keep as true to the source as I can. In the book it doesn't specify if the N20 has a fixed gun (like the Medusa) or a gun that can rotate like a turret or even if it has a turret (like the Vanquisher). It doesn't even state whether its open topped or not. In terms of reading its great, leaves a lot to the imagination. In terms of hobby design its good cause gives some freedom to go with what you think. In terms of building a unit for gaming, its giving me headaches....</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ2rSBkC1h_6mozLsuL6qgIjxXLWRzF6ZS72GNVA4_ALg2ARUMJZ-JTZ8MmI3YRJoa2RpoBq9JeSXKt8LICMqU1ll6S5xHlCzRBCex-hQ3YpEPgbdTTvBEnjmK5SHQvMaqopbhQQ8jtCs/s1600/sdkfz-251-22-ausf-d-afv-club.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ2rSBkC1h_6mozLsuL6qgIjxXLWRzF6ZS72GNVA4_ALg2ARUMJZ-JTZ8MmI3YRJoa2RpoBq9JeSXKt8LICMqU1ll6S5xHlCzRBCex-hQ3YpEPgbdTTvBEnjmK5SHQvMaqopbhQQ8jtCs/s320/sdkfz-251-22-ausf-d-afv-club.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sd.Kfz. 251/22 Ausf. D</td></tr>
</tbody></table>This is pretty similar to what I have in my mind when I think of the N20 half-track:<br />
<br />
Unfortunately it is a model, but its the clearest/best picture showing the gun mount. Its not so much a turret as a pivot point, as the gun only has a 90 degree fire ark.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6cW4pe68Q7zo-B0c0aNSQhXDtco7DeIIP1HhCq2Z1Zulm6-C_VfAb0tC65QyyGTEuTeYmOVLuI36hkesHAN5lccxRL1cM6ObRLweGF8QvwCSUgtpK-qF9j93h_M2M5JfENeDb9LCd22s/s1600/02578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="188" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6cW4pe68Q7zo-B0c0aNSQhXDtco7DeIIP1HhCq2Z1Zulm6-C_VfAb0tC65QyyGTEuTeYmOVLuI36hkesHAN5lccxRL1cM6ObRLweGF8QvwCSUgtpK-qF9j93h_M2M5JfENeDb9LCd22s/s320/02578.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sd.Kfz 250/9</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The other option, which I'm not too keen on to be honest is to have the turret, such as this:<br />
<br />
This gives off too much of an armoured car feel in my opinion, and not a tank killer like the previous.<br />
<br />
In terms of what looks like what, the first picture I feel best represents what would be the 'counts-as Medusa' with the 2nd picture best representing (though with a much smaller barrel) a 'counts-as Vanquisher'.<br />
<br />
Personally I am more drawn to the Medusa style look of the half-track, though perhaps making the gun smaller and more centrally mounted, so it has the full rotation ark, as well as keeping the shield around the gun.<br />
<br />
And so I throw it out to the masses for some input on the following:<br />
<br />
1. What do you feel this should count as in game terms<br />
2. Model it based around the 251/22 or the 250/9<br />
3. Any other input for the project.<br />
<br />
Let me know your thoughts and will hopefully have some WIP pics up in my next post.<br />
<br />
Til then.<br />
<br />
----- I will be taking a picture of all the pieces, with list of parts (labeled by number), the quantity of each part, as well as the dimensions prior to assembly so I can make more of these, and pass on the info for anyone who wants to make 1 after seeing the finished product. Instructions of assembly with step-by-step will also be compiled into a doc. Will post up on my blog if requested. -----Mephistopheleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17004126516680807567noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799863103134880991.post-57994806398816385082011-04-11T19:52:00.000+10:002011-04-11T19:52:24.299+10:00Bloodpact Primaris PsykerHey all,<br />
<br />
I seem to be failing dramatically with the whole "1 post every 1-2weeks" I made a few months back... Life has a habit of getting in the way of things I must say. But despite all this I have made more progress with my Bloodpact, though not so much in the way of pictures... <br />
<br />
Anyway back on track now. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1OpRlAeCugMliW1b6uGQOlHAaF0KB1oib6Ap-a0ODsj2IMJzk7AowKEJfkZaiWhP3gnG0eJUynyqIsqLgNeNVuglXw0R2iPVxKflT3L9ngbdG5x7TGaHkc-P2PXucOJp5GfxkCgfUPWQ/s1600/Bloodpact+Primaris+Psyker+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1OpRlAeCugMliW1b6uGQOlHAaF0KB1oib6Ap-a0ODsj2IMJzk7AowKEJfkZaiWhP3gnG0eJUynyqIsqLgNeNVuglXw0R2iPVxKflT3L9ngbdG5x7TGaHkc-P2PXucOJp5GfxkCgfUPWQ/s320/Bloodpact+Primaris+Psyker+1.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>I'm sure the Gaunts Ghosts fans out there will remember in the book 'Only in death', where they enter Hinzerhaus and Wes Maggs points out the portrait of the lady in the black dress, and that she is described in a very similar fashion to that of Ulrike, the 'witch' in the Bloodpact team sent to Balhaut in the novel 'Bloodpact'. This character is who I chose to base my Primaris Psyker on.<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">When it came to deciding on whether to pick a miniature to base the psyker on, or convert my own, I thought back to an old White Dwarf back when the Daemon Hunters codex first came out. In this issue of which I cannot remember the issue number, there were many examples of the WD teams own Inquisitor with henchmen units. 1 of these units included what looked like a witch in portable stocks. I went through the GW online store and there miniatures catalogues searching for what that miniature was based on. <br />
<br />
After a hr or so I found it. It was based on 1 of the Undead Banshee miniatures from the WHFB range. I just so happened to be going through the GW online store at the terminal in my local store, so went straight over to the wall that the fantasy range was on. And as luck would have it, they had 1 last banshee in stock, and it was the 1 I wanted.<br />
<br />
<img height="64" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF9dwPLPOA5-VEUEeQdP5T3ho6H06xPyc1IZB493dxIsZ-x70LvPMVIcsiXRWTZZeN2Yso_rMZUdRCivf3dNy9pbzkQu4JlXOpFHE8alhMIkbedj8AD3RP6sFsS14KP2YfR1ki1feTSiQ/s320/Bloodpact+Primaris+Psyker+Base.jpg" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 48px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 759px; visibility: hidden;" width="96" /> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">This miniature looks so good out of the pack, that there was no conversion work needed to achieve the look I was after. All it needed was to be repositioned slightly once on the base, so instead of looking like she is gliding forward, she looks like the power of the warp is surging through her and lifting her into the air. The next thing I had to work out was that she needed was a base that helped her look the part of a 'witch' rather than a banshee. This was done simply by using a small pile of skulls from the Skulls pack that GW sells. Placing her on top of the pile of skulls has raised her a decent amount higher than the rest of my infantry, as well as helping the base to not be as crowded as it would be had she been standing next to it. The rest of the base is done in the same agricultural/industrial area broken concrete and earth look.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF9dwPLPOA5-VEUEeQdP5T3ho6H06xPyc1IZB493dxIsZ-x70LvPMVIcsiXRWTZZeN2Yso_rMZUdRCivf3dNy9pbzkQu4JlXOpFHE8alhMIkbedj8AD3RP6sFsS14KP2YfR1ki1feTSiQ/s1600/Bloodpact+Primaris+Psyker+Base.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF9dwPLPOA5-VEUEeQdP5T3ho6H06xPyc1IZB493dxIsZ-x70LvPMVIcsiXRWTZZeN2Yso_rMZUdRCivf3dNy9pbzkQu4JlXOpFHE8alhMIkbedj8AD3RP6sFsS14KP2YfR1ki1feTSiQ/s320/Bloodpact+Primaris+Psyker+Base.jpg" width="320" /></a>When it came to painting her, I didn't want to go down the same road as others have when it comes to highlighting black. All the black highlighting I have seen uses grey tones for the highlighting. That may be well and good for Marines, but when it comes to cloth and material, I think about how real black fabrics are dyed. The dye for making material black will always have a base colour (the colour the black turns to when it fades is the base colour) which will be 1 of these 3 colours- red is more often than not the base colour, blue and green. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">As much as using red would help tie in the miniature with the army, that's not what I wanted. Green wouldn't look right with the rest of the army. What I was after was the deep, dark look of a funeral gown. Deep, cold, black. So Blue was the way I had to go. To do this the whole gown was done in black to begin with. Then using enchanted blue I picked out the raised areas on the main gown, and did the same on the under garment using midnight blue. To draw all the colours together I used the Asuryman and Badab washes. Don't let the picture fool you though, it is actually a lot darker than it appears, the flash is just really bright for some reason.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWfVOsgH7FKoWWgRR3Es_ZIvCPqsbUXZ54jlonJNgX7y9TCEmC5DrmIEyUZX4A3R8_nBqLSWbRIzYHydXiPY_UPWfhyphenhyphenfzq2pMNLXtJkghTM8oNnXOPUiIIU5WdxAmtYAtnVZQwImKmbs/s1600/Bloodpact+Primaris+Psyker+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWfVOsgH7FKoWWgRR3Es_ZIvCPqsbUXZ54jlonJNgX7y9TCEmC5DrmIEyUZX4A3R8_nBqLSWbRIzYHydXiPY_UPWfhyphenhyphenfzq2pMNLXtJkghTM8oNnXOPUiIIU5WdxAmtYAtnVZQwImKmbs/s320/Bloodpact+Primaris+Psyker+2.jpg" width="213" /></a>This miniature, being an undead banshee to begin with, has holes in it as little spots of decay, as well as an eye missing. Rather than fill these in, I opted for painting them with a green glow look, to help reflect the raw energy flowing through her. I know its normally depicted as purple/pink in the books, but this small amount of bright green I feel gives off a better quality to the miniature than using purple or pink would. <br />
<br />
The hair was done using my airbrush with thinned out skull white. Starting with a black base colour, and working my way from the tips towards the head, I slowly built up the colour, so the hair became darker at the roots. I couldn't remember if her hair colour was mentioned in the books, but I feel that white is fitting. Once that was done, a wash of badab was done to help make individual clumps of hair stand out, then a highlight with a brush was done to pick out the raised areas.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">When it came to doing the skulls, I wanted an aged look, similar to that of an animal skeleton you may come across in the bush or forest. Also similar to those of human remains you see in museums and the like. To achieve this, I went with chardon granite as a base, leaving the recessed areas I covered the rest with bleached bone then a fine highlight of skull white to pick up the raised areas only. This was then washed with devlan mud then gryphone sepia. To give the impression of ritual blood magic being done or some such, each skull has had a marking made in my blood mix done to it. Each symbol is different to the next.<br />
<br />
The gem on the necklace was picked out in red gore with a blood red highlight, with the necklace itself as well as the bracelet being done in shining gold. Unfortunately at this time I cannot remember how I did the skin, but as I post more of my Bloodpact up I'm sure I will stumble across the method in my notes and so post it then. Once all this was done, and the miniature attached to the base (pinned on through a hole that goes right through the skull pile and out the base, so the whole thing is 1 solid piece), I coated it in Army Painter quickshade strong tone, and once that was dry I sprayed it with some matte varnish.<br />
<br />
And there you have it, Ulrike the Witch, my Bloodpact Primaris Psyker.<br />
<br />
After such a delay between posts, I wont state what I will blog about next or when, I will just do my best to keep feeding my stuff to you.<br />
<br />
Til next time.</div>Mephistopheleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17004126516680807567noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799863103134880991.post-36868731902415233262011-03-13T17:41:00.001+11:002011-03-13T22:38:29.399+11:00Bloodpact Baneblade Completed Pics<div style="border: medium none;">Hey all,<br />
Sorry it took longer than expected, but they are now here, the pictures of my completed Baneblade!<br />
<br />
As mentioned in my first post about the Bloodpact Baneblade <a href="http://conceptstorealities.blogspot.com/2011/02/teaser-origins-of-my-bloodpact.html">here</a>, this beast is the first unit I ever did for my Bloodpact. Originally I was just doing it up for something that looked cool, but then as time went on, and my local GW store had a tank camo scheme comp for the release of the current (new at the time) IG codex, the project went from a concept piece right through to the start of a growing Bloodpact force.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNV6fflTH3b67DceOE_EpWs_IUCblySW4IWvhHzH-l7PUFYcsghdS1u8ocqIBTYtom6FIkSabELJ1CZd6YuIvAWz1yn2QzC64L2VMROC-GR_8xSvXeHqZeGcysworvCOxvhwQAriMnZiI/s1600/Bloodpact+Baneblade+Front+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNV6fflTH3b67DceOE_EpWs_IUCblySW4IWvhHzH-l7PUFYcsghdS1u8ocqIBTYtom6FIkSabELJ1CZd6YuIvAWz1yn2QzC64L2VMROC-GR_8xSvXeHqZeGcysworvCOxvhwQAriMnZiI/s320/Bloodpact+Baneblade+Front+2.jpg" width="320" /></a>Now, the Baneblade kit has a lot to offer for both imperial and traitors alike, but not so much so in the case of the imperial symbols everywhere and the machine spirit shrine at the rear. So first thing I did during the assembly of this beast was to defile all those pieces of Imperial belief adorning it. To further add to the traitorous feel, the vehicles lascannaon, autocannon and heavy bolter barrels have all been modified with pieces from multiple Chaos Vehicle Accessoriess sprue. Spikes made out of paperclips twisted together were added to the hull at random intervals at odd angels to serve as mounting points for the barbed wire I would add later on.<br />
<br />
The smoke launchers were replaced with havok launchers, and a tank trap from the Battle Field Accessories Set was attached across the front, not as a dozer blade, but more as a trophy collection point for when the this tank goes on 'crowd control' duties. Extra communication arrays have been added to the side of the turret, with the normally short aerials being replaced with longer lengths of wire.</div><img height="64" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4OqfrItbMk7oEd8erqY0F-CqNeL0NhTkxJlLPu8P_o3bDNOSBAM77DhArbCba9Ltehyphenhyphen9XKVJTT7fYsh3KVO-2zDqRAJMmudcjJ76Gj6GKerkHDlhSEDGGD9yC-ycRk1Ch_PONuKOdaE/s320/Bloodpact+Baneblade+Battle+Cannon+Barrel.jpg" style="left: 153px; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 514px; visibility: hidden;" width="96" /><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4OqfrItbMk7oEd8erqY0F-CqNeL0NhTkxJlLPu8P_o3bDNOSBAM77DhArbCba9Ltehyphenhyphen9XKVJTT7fYsh3KVO-2zDqRAJMmudcjJ76Gj6GKerkHDlhSEDGGD9yC-ycRk1Ch_PONuKOdaE/s1600/Bloodpact+Baneblade+Battle+Cannon+Barrel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4OqfrItbMk7oEd8erqY0F-CqNeL0NhTkxJlLPu8P_o3bDNOSBAM77DhArbCba9Ltehyphenhyphen9XKVJTT7fYsh3KVO-2zDqRAJMmudcjJ76Gj6GKerkHDlhSEDGGD9yC-ycRk1Ch_PONuKOdaE/s320/Bloodpact+Baneblade+Battle+Cannon+Barrel.jpg" width="320" /></a>To make it stand out from other traitor Baneblades, I cut off the battle cannons end, and attached it to the demolisher cannon, more that doubling its length. As my battle cannon now no longer had a barrel end, I attached the Hellhammer cannon barrel end in place of the old 1. To me it makes the tank look that much more deadly, and to emphasis the point that when this cannon fires there is going to be carnage, using a scene from Dan Abnetts book 'Honour Guard', a corpse has been attached to the end of the barrel so that it looks like this guy was attached over the cannon mouth when it fired, leaving his remains dangling, serving as both a message and a trophy. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjonZ7E7v3J-2PXykyRWbVIBZSlezzJ9VWtfqd1rMJ5N0uQrZ0zFuLdHI8hm4MSROMMPjVjQPwdq5NhoEDItpSE0V_q9mV4V0velyldqmzqRNCjfRnTmRp6tZhmYO048dcKWImuo6j3oA/s1600/Bloodpact+Baneblade+Rear+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjonZ7E7v3J-2PXykyRWbVIBZSlezzJ9VWtfqd1rMJ5N0uQrZ0zFuLdHI8hm4MSROMMPjVjQPwdq5NhoEDItpSE0V_q9mV4V0velyldqmzqRNCjfRnTmRp6tZhmYO048dcKWImuo6j3oA/s320/Bloodpact+Baneblade+Rear+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>When it came to trophies and defiling, I kept everything in theme to chaos and more specifically the Bloodpact. So copious amounts of blood, gore, and corpses had to be used. Across the front as seen before I had piled up a mound of guard helmets, and over the machine shrine, I have attached a mutilated guardsmen. I chose to paint him in the same colours as the helmets on the front. Using a knife from the Cadian Heavy Weapons team sprue, and a piece of parchment made out of green stuff, I attached it to his chest, with some line work to make it look like a message is written on it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_hThYrdXbrEktYDVk14ANBUGoEa-eyp25JNpVzrTTfc3uPsWhonvELNvySLKsDk1ao64LykXdTNLUG_stCFoRV6Z1HegfcVTDsYJT1xD2A-dEOTFV3QrVAE3K1VEWSPJIT9lxSo7vAA/s1600/Bloodpact+Baneblade+Right+Side+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_hThYrdXbrEktYDVk14ANBUGoEa-eyp25JNpVzrTTfc3uPsWhonvELNvySLKsDk1ao64LykXdTNLUG_stCFoRV6Z1HegfcVTDsYJT1xD2A-dEOTFV3QrVAE3K1VEWSPJIT9lxSo7vAA/s320/Bloodpact+Baneblade+Right+Side+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>To keep with the theme of the Bloodpact recruiting from defeated units of Imperial guard, and to tie it in with the rest of the ground vehicles ive got on the go, the tank was first painted in a 3 colour urban camo scheme. Then once that was completed, I painted on my own blood effect recipe to look like blood has been brushed on by the Bloodpact, as well as spray ups from the corpses crushed under its tracks. Liberal coats were added to the front to emphasis the carnage dealt by this behemoth when it goes on a rampage.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGQqWf5c_2nPTCqj8cuchViXeyYyxdjRZHKnAGsTvs02rv8PELd3rZ-127MshvlC73yT3Kxi7D4lCxpA2fLXdpQQM83vP5fOffY8Gs2VD-96zkzqQk72nINWnTsrrn8fdtd6Qyam734w/s1600/Bloodpact+Baneblade+Left+Side+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGQqWf5c_2nPTCqj8cuchViXeyYyxdjRZHKnAGsTvs02rv8PELd3rZ-127MshvlC73yT3Kxi7D4lCxpA2fLXdpQQM83vP5fOffY8Gs2VD-96zkzqQk72nINWnTsrrn8fdtd6Qyam734w/s320/Bloodpact+Baneblade+Left+Side+4.jpg" width="320" /></a>To add to the look that its wet blood splattered over the sides of the tank, I added bloody hand and foot prints leading up and away from each ladder, in the case of the ladder on the tanks side, they lead right up the side of the turret and into the first hatch.<br />
<br />
After all the painting was done the barbed wire was added and coated with brown ink to give the rusted look, and the tank commander with hatch were attached into place. I painted this guy seperately as its hard to airbrush his colour on when attached to the tank. Its alot easier to mask up just his hatch rather than the whole turrent piece.<br />
<br />
And there you have it, the completed Bloodpact Baneblade in all its traitorous glory.<br />
<br />
Until next time all.Mephistopheleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17004126516680807567noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799863103134880991.post-7359962263267185282011-03-02T16:56:00.001+11:002011-03-03T15:19:24.371+11:00Tervigon WIP (still)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeJN84J8uspJA9oqogsGu2hZV0TPuNTqWV73e8a5I780zTU9RXgK_MveOIwfCcqhiN6SnvjufOOT190n74r9A3Nh2pVWwwMk9t6QOcZLVDPRibQYC9dAz0S8sHVdt6NIB8WzEdaksKpgo/s1600/28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeJN84J8uspJA9oqogsGu2hZV0TPuNTqWV73e8a5I780zTU9RXgK_MveOIwfCcqhiN6SnvjufOOT190n74r9A3Nh2pVWwwMk9t6QOcZLVDPRibQYC9dAz0S8sHVdt6NIB8WzEdaksKpgo/s200/28.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Hello fellow hobbyists!<br />
<br />
Yet more WIP pics only, the edited pictures of the completed Baneblade I was to post have been 'misplaced' somewhere on my girlfriends laptop so currently am waiting for the raw pictures to be re-done.<br />
<br />
So in the mean time I figured, since there's a lot of hype atm about the Tervigon thanks to the release of the Arachnarok Spider from GW, and over at <a href="http://darkfuturegaming.blogspot.com/">Dark Future Games</a> <span class="fn">Old School Terminator</span> has a Tervigon Scratch Build for $25 going on (currently in parts <a href="http://darkfuturegaming.blogspot.com/2011/02/25-tervigon-project-part-1.html">1</a> and <a href="http://darkfuturegaming.blogspot.com/2011/02/25-tervigon-project-part-2-baby-got.html">2</a>) as well as having built 1 from combining the Arachnarok Spider with a Carnifex (can be found in parts <a href="http://darkfuturegaming.blogspot.com/2011/02/converting-arachnarok-into-tervigon.html">1</a> and <a href="http://darkfuturegaming.blogspot.com/2011/02/converting-arachnarok-into-tervigon_23.html">2</a>), I figured it was about time my beast graced the realm of bloggers.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHkqI69uGGUG5g57EZ7Wn1s1hKBlX67wIqHjYeCuHeCCDEII7LaQAR9ira-tbI4fs3RdCmNA5EGZ5P6CURMOPiRF3DGBnl_7tEl3f8bRyPjAa2NSY85Ovq1nGYAyaxq8j4DyEaX09YcHA/s1600/22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHkqI69uGGUG5g57EZ7Wn1s1hKBlX67wIqHjYeCuHeCCDEII7LaQAR9ira-tbI4fs3RdCmNA5EGZ5P6CURMOPiRF3DGBnl_7tEl3f8bRyPjAa2NSY85Ovq1nGYAyaxq8j4DyEaX09YcHA/s200/22.jpg" width="200" /></a>Now, originally this bug was going to be made into something else, something much MUCH bigger (though the leg-span width of this bug is almost equal to the length of a Baneblade, and its as long as a Baneblade is wide), which I still aim to build as soon as I find a polystyrene ball that matches the size of a 1kg Easter egg, but using that design, along with reference pictures of queen ants and spiders, I was able to turn the design away from utter destruction to baby production.<br />
<br />
What I needed to do this conversion was the following:<br />
2 x Carnifex kits<br />
Left over Termagaunt<br />
Polystyrene Ball <br />
Florist Wire<br />
Green Stuff<br />
Automotive body filler<br />
Water based Sealer<br />
Hubba Bubba bubble gum wrapper (intact, not ripped apart)<br />
<br />
Essentially, the front half is a normally assembled Carnifex, with the exception being that I ground off the nob poking out about its head on the back carapace, and attached a 2nd carapace on the top (after grinding out the insides) with the gap left over being filled with greenstuff and shaped to look like a fleshy sponge of sorts.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMvFpP1qKVt33UWGI2r1pKjZs-8gFwYFhC3zOvA9Pq3knf4wBOVQDD-0z6KSbeQ6Ts_AHybDvIVrWSPWa2OqihwQMY1YEQIp-Vc6TrXoMhT-0nBRH5TQdDbTZjzMMConVgwN2sEmkfzog/s1600/27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMvFpP1qKVt33UWGI2r1pKjZs-8gFwYFhC3zOvA9Pq3knf4wBOVQDD-0z6KSbeQ6Ts_AHybDvIVrWSPWa2OqihwQMY1YEQIp-Vc6TrXoMhT-0nBRH5TQdDbTZjzMMConVgwN2sEmkfzog/s200/27.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">At the hip joint, it uses the Carnifex hip, but I have ground off the guide pin and flipped it upside down. This required a bit more thinking than I first thought it would. Once that was done, the tail had to be trimmed off and shaped into a point that I used to stick into the styrene ball. This was then glued on with super glue (prior to this i had coated the ball in many coats of sealer), and then modified 2 Carnifex spine backs to fit around. I put the spine backs on the abdomen rather than the thorax after looking at some footage of tarantulas flicking hairs off there abdomens to dissuade predators, so followed in suit with a similar idea.<br />
<br />
Once the body was put together I worked on the legs. For the positioning of the legs, I used the lower of the sets of arm sockets on the Carnifex torso for the front 2 legs, and for the back I created 2 new sockets. So that the legs would support the weight, I had to work out the right stance to put the legs in. For this, I turned to reference pictures of queen ants. Generally they will have 2 longer legs following the length of the body towards the read, with the next set up being more centralized, followed by the front 2 legs being close to the centre also.<br />
<br />
I made the legs using a length of florist wire for each as the core, then coated the outside with greenstuff for strength and body, then to make the carapace portion I used and shaped some Body fill from an Automotive Body Repairs shop.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1yQar0U5bkwAuhqI-Ep8ld-xKzlWrXtjCZhBm1CLW6taiS62oNP_4g7zf2r-G0M4zsjaf3kyMj0UtyLmPF8YhC7gokOP7iGRPGmWLNtMIrLcBEuKrKztAZc7bQrXkZbybkjzW2g7TBmY/s1600/23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1yQar0U5bkwAuhqI-Ep8ld-xKzlWrXtjCZhBm1CLW6taiS62oNP_4g7zf2r-G0M4zsjaf3kyMj0UtyLmPF8YhC7gokOP7iGRPGmWLNtMIrLcBEuKrKztAZc7bQrXkZbybkjzW2g7TBmY/s200/23.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The birthing tube was made using the old wrapper of a bubble gum packet i had lying around. Originally I had emptied the packet from both ends, and sprayed it silver to use in a piece of building terrain hanging down out of the ceiling, but this seemed more a fitting use. I glued 1 end in place, then bent it down over itself, gluing as I went, to form the final shape. Once done and dried in place i coated it with a layer of greenstuff to mold the fleshy look. Once done I then glued in the majority of a Termagaunt body. At this stage I also covered the abdomen of the Tervigon with bulging veins.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This step isn't all that important, but it will explain how I got the shape of the abdomen, considering it started as a ball seeing as I had no polystyrene eggs of the size i needed at the time. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDiy4ed_ujSmxuK2FvOYWy2UCFjCeKwx-ECwD-s7MUsBmHjhHLy_fBo5Et5JilTUDb3uKu6k2REAxOS3PEZksykK-GgXfWQYC8l9xB2xBdnZ2g-3COekSHG9S6KqMeow77w9UUp68D_ds/s1600/24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDiy4ed_ujSmxuK2FvOYWy2UCFjCeKwx-ECwD-s7MUsBmHjhHLy_fBo5Et5JilTUDb3uKu6k2REAxOS3PEZksykK-GgXfWQYC8l9xB2xBdnZ2g-3COekSHG9S6KqMeow77w9UUp68D_ds/s200/24.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Simply I started to carve an oval shape, using a lemon off the tree for reference, as I didn't want a perfect oval or ending up with an egg. Once I had the general shape I wanted, I took my sisters lighter (she shouldn't be smoking as shes my sister, other people can do what they want) and then using a back and forth motion, moved the ball towards and away from the flame. I did this as the intention wasn't to burn or melt, but to shrink the polystyrene, and doing it in this fashion creates all the random lumps and dints. </div><br />
<br />
Once this was done, I did a positioning on the hip joint, cut a portion off the newly created abdomen so it sat flush once stuck on over the spike I created when making the hip joint. The whole abdomen was then coated in 3-4 good coats of a water based sealer so i could then spray it ready for painting at a later date without damaging the polystyrene.<br />
<br />
And there it is, a free standing gaunt producing Tervigon.<br />
<br />
The main downside for this thing is that unless the cover is enough to hide a Baneblade, everyone is going to see this thing. It wasn't made for gaming purposes as much as for a conversion comp GW had running for the release of the current Tyranid codex, of which I ended up winning and scoring another Carnifex for my efforts! As it stands, it is still to be painted, as many other projects have gotten in the way, but ill get there eventually.<br />
<br />
Til next time all, hope you enjoyed this post.Mephistopheleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17004126516680807567noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799863103134880991.post-63839939463138813292011-02-24T16:42:00.003+11:002011-03-14T20:29:02.146+11:00Bloodpact army list: Reached a crossroads...Hey all,<br />
<br />
a non-picture/progress report today yet still something of interest, though maybe more so for me than for you, as I am seeking some opinions on what road to go down with a part of my army...<br />
<br />
First off, I will type up the list as it stands in its fullness, and then the junction point I am at.<br />
<br />
My list is as follows, starting with a 1000pt army for my FLGS monthly tournament, then with the 850pt expansion I have added on to it (turns out Australian tournaments aren't as big as 1850pts, but meh, gives me more to play with).<br />
<br />
1000pt list:<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">HQ- </span><br />
<span style="color: red;">Command Squad- Commander with B/P and P/S</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"> - 4x Guardsmen with L/P and CC/W</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"> - Astropath</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"> - Fleet Officer</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Elites-</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">Marbo</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Troops-</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">Vet. Squad 1- Harker</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"> - 3x Snipers</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"> - H/W team consisting of H/B and L/G</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"> - 4x Vet. with L/G</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Vet. Squad 2- Vet. Sarge with B/P and P/S</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"> - 2x Vet. with Melta</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"> - Vet. with Heavy Flamer</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"> - 6x Vet. with shotguns</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"> - Grenadiers doctrine</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Platoon Com- P. Comm with with B/P and P/S</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"> - 2x Guardsmen with Flamers</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"> - 2x Guardsmen with L/P and CC/W</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Plat. Squad 1- Commissar</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"> - Sarge with B/P and CC/W</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"> - Guardsmen with Flamer</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"> - 8x Guardsmen with L/G</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">Plat. Squad 2- Sarge with B/P and CC/W</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"> - Guardsmen with Flamer</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"> - 8x Guardsmen with L/G</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">Squads formed together into a single squad of 21</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Plat. H/W Squad-3x H/W team each consisting of A/C and L/G</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Fast Attack-</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">Valkyrie- H/B sponsons</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"> - L/C</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"> - Missile Pods</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">S.S.S.- 2x Scout Sentinels</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"> - 2x Autocannons</span><br />
<br />
<br />
Total of 1000pts<br />
<br />
That is my current 1000pt army list, and this is the 850pt expansion for it:<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Troops-</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">Plat. Squad 3- Sarge with L/P and CCW</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"> - 7x Guardsmen with L/G</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"> - H/W team consisting of M/L and L/G</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"> + Chimera transport- 2x H/B</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Plat. Squad 4- Sarge with L/P and CCW</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"> - 7x Guardsmen with L/G</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"> - H/W team consisting of M/L and L/G</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"> + Chimera transport- 2x H/B</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Plat. H/W Squad-3x H/W team each consisting of L/C and L/G</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Fast Attack-</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">Rough Riders- 2x Extra Riders</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"> - 2x Riders with Meltas</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Heavy Support-</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">LRBTS- 2x LRBT not upgraded</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Art. Bat.- 1x Colossus</span><br />
<br />
<br />
Total of 850pts<br />
<br />
Now, as the sidebar shows, a lot of this is either still under construction or as yet not started. The extras at the bottom of the list on the sidebar are just that, things that I did either for the sake of fluff, the idea just popped into my head, or because of painting comps/re-thinking my army list.<br />
<br />
I'm open up to peoples general views of the list, I have done a few trial games and it seems to run rather well, though I admit it has been a limited arena of versing Daemons and Eldar so far. The general idea behind the list is id rather assault than be assaulted, so the first 1000pt is designed to get in fast and get the job done. <br />
<br />
You would be surprised how well a squad of 20 guardsmen with a commissar does in an assault, and the amount of squads they can tie up in an assault at a time. Harker and his boys infiltrating ahead (along with Marbo popping out somewhere) to cause some disruption, the heavier vets being dropped in close to/behind enemy lines to deal some damage, with the main command squad staying out of the way to keep my reserves coming quicker and my opponents more slowly.<br />
<br />
The 850 expansion is the armoured follow up, with the squads to move in and secure objectives, some rough riders give a lil extra support vs flanking armour, and some armoured might to push back anyone that's gotten in too close.<br />
<br />
My dilemma is as follows:<br />
My army is entirely based on fluff, loosely with the rough riders (you will see why once I have the squad completed, atm very happy with the trial mini), and its the rough riders I'm not too sure about, as well as the sentinels. <br />
<br />
The sentinels fit the fluff, as they are being converted into SteG 4 Light Armoured Cars, yet I'm unsure as whether to keep the sentinels, or swap them out for another squad of rough riders, or even swap out the rough riders for more sentinels....<br />
<br />
Anyone able to give me some feedback on this, its got me rather stuck...Mephistopheleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17004126516680807567noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799863103134880991.post-36465416198071019262011-02-23T16:25:00.003+11:002011-03-13T17:41:51.658+11:00Teaser: Origins of my Bloodpact<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDpsvE0AaQv96GJOccOJNwVc-xHR_zDPfE8tIz9KtpKDNp7-ARUQ1ilqlAoKU9EHgCeKEOgfxmS-jWUEapUmuyEqYeZmzirkiUmycnY4mqJ4-9FiAZBvGki0qdcRgR7gptFfGXGZ8tbUc/s1600/DSC00127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDpsvE0AaQv96GJOccOJNwVc-xHR_zDPfE8tIz9KtpKDNp7-ARUQ1ilqlAoKU9EHgCeKEOgfxmS-jWUEapUmuyEqYeZmzirkiUmycnY4mqJ4-9FiAZBvGki0qdcRgR7gptFfGXGZ8tbUc/s320/DSC00127.JPG" width="320" /></a>Hi all,<br />
its time for more Bloodpact pics but unfortunately yet again I have no finished work pics...<br />
This time I forgot to transfer every pic off the USB my girlfriend gave me before she took it back to put more onto...<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
So today I dug through my computers archives in search of pics from a project I started when the kit first came out yet didn't finish about a year ago, a year before any actual work on my Bloodpact started.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2P3NMfNh3GFgjJw6qht4pvhJcEjeuAklARzCSAYGnp3d-j_D3UfX9Ou-06sCCLnw7UEOhAm70uMTBZUGGzzmKxOw04iRvrPEUwy6bxd4wN66bizebsyPDYFzA8UINXxgmONB8yOYhUZc/s1600/DSC00128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2P3NMfNh3GFgjJw6qht4pvhJcEjeuAklARzCSAYGnp3d-j_D3UfX9Ou-06sCCLnw7UEOhAm70uMTBZUGGzzmKxOw04iRvrPEUwy6bxd4wN66bizebsyPDYFzA8UINXxgmONB8yOYhUZc/s320/DSC00128.JPG" style="cursor: move;" unselectable="on" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This is purely a teaser post today for what you should expect in my next post on this, and also hopefully work towards giving insight in to the origins of my Bloodpact forces theme and style.</div><br />
Til next time!<br />
<img height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2P3NMfNh3GFgjJw6qht4pvhJcEjeuAklARzCSAYGnp3d-j_D3UfX9Ou-06sCCLnw7UEOhAm70uMTBZUGGzzmKxOw04iRvrPEUwy6bxd4wN66bizebsyPDYFzA8UINXxgmONB8yOYhUZc/s320/DSC00128.JPG" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 171px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 338px; visibility: hidden;" width="96" />Mephistopheleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17004126516680807567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799863103134880991.post-32840237961011107022011-02-08T16:12:00.021+11:002011-03-08T15:38:53.217+11:00Bloodpact Looted Truck Finished pics<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ty3IYR8Sgc5jQqdTQ1FySCERFI9_PV1sQhtQEe76m-UDqg_yP8xraDehwxutvqsdzwdBmVQavKUejLlXRRV5rIyvomeICQeALeU-AIoX3BlQVbUpGF_ePSOXob9cqc-3aXcgXrLVx3k/s1600/Bloodpact+Truck+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ty3IYR8Sgc5jQqdTQ1FySCERFI9_PV1sQhtQEe76m-UDqg_yP8xraDehwxutvqsdzwdBmVQavKUejLlXRRV5rIyvomeICQeALeU-AIoX3BlQVbUpGF_ePSOXob9cqc-3aXcgXrLVx3k/s320/Bloodpact+Truck+Front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Hello again fellow hobbyists,<br />
I have returned with what was promised, pictures of the completed truck!<br />
<br />
I'll run through a list of the additions that were made before and after I started painting that aren't shown in the WIP pictures in the previous blog, and if theres anything I haven't listed that takes your interest just comment me. I can't quite recall how I achieved the colours atm but if asked I'm sure I can go dig up some paints list from somewhere.<br />
<br />
First off is the obvious barbed wire, which was added right in the final stages of painting. Its the standard GW wire with just brown ink dabbed on straight out of the pot. I do this with the barbed wire on my other vehicles and on the bases of my infantry also, as I find it gives a better aged look to the wire compared to if i watered it down. Also in this picture you can clearly see the grill at the front of the engine bay. This was achieved by sticking in bits of wire I had cut to size.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-zkJpMkzUv33RyASh8-FldxPU9W6lryvV6itLi87JALZ4YlPMjNtTgc236cN3s4A8v46tWZ-BNo3vBtIq0sK6veyBAQ5QCb4EZVsBvjECfc6CRa7CpaDgDXA5oH64cuP6tuHIVJclhQ/s1600/Bloodpact+Truck+Front+Detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-zkJpMkzUv33RyASh8-FldxPU9W6lryvV6itLi87JALZ4YlPMjNtTgc236cN3s4A8v46tWZ-BNo3vBtIq0sK6veyBAQ5QCb4EZVsBvjECfc6CRa7CpaDgDXA5oH64cuP6tuHIVJclhQ/s320/Bloodpact+Truck+Front+Detail.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Second of the extra bits of detail is the rivets, the truck is literally covered in them. I did these following the instructions in the tutorial done by the Painting Corps, the link of which is <a href="http://thepaintingcorps.blogspot.com/2010/07/friday-quick-tip-glass-bead-rivets.html">here</a>. Its not as hard as you would think, and no where near as time consuming as it looks. The instructions they give are very clear and easy to follow, so as long as you don't rush yourself it will come up great.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-f8lmuXV5VZxen5bvM3x8yASWdcLKZDFJWIhfX8-d7j6aHuY0melD-dCOjOTyt_47u200oCHjmb60BfMKZCS6EWjin528VJVtWEWrL1Qh0UhDwjhC1Ol7ogZ8-7gcNpUf-8IIPsOHjvI/s1600/Bloodpact+Truck+L-Side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-f8lmuXV5VZxen5bvM3x8yASWdcLKZDFJWIhfX8-d7j6aHuY0melD-dCOjOTyt_47u200oCHjmb60BfMKZCS6EWjin528VJVtWEWrL1Qh0UhDwjhC1Ol7ogZ8-7gcNpUf-8IIPsOHjvI/s320/Bloodpact+Truck+L-Side.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The next addition on the list was added after the main portion of the painting was done, and that's the patches of rust that cover the vehicle. Every place that has the potential to rust, has portions of rust on it. Where the rust is coming through the paint, I have used the rust effects to stain the paint. The chains holding the bench seats up, the hinges on the pintle heavy bolter, on the wheel hubs, metal plates on the wheels, everywhere. This was achieved by using a product called Scenic Rust made by <a href="http://www.deluxematerials.com/">Deluxe Materials</a>. I will do a tutorial on how to use this stuff soon, as I'll soon have a few things ready to get rusted up.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRII2j66wcgkAp0e9xceuZWMbg5_qL3_HjGm2JSl2yi3A24zQP5Q-RStsg5d_UkhyX5m28HLFihBIRwxWrmsoUkOO3I0ZTfiAoQDrRuhr4MGX2IQWkext_bo6D8ZtKSGcoxgcxh0pS4A/s1600/Bloodpact+Truck+R-Side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRII2j66wcgkAp0e9xceuZWMbg5_qL3_HjGm2JSl2yi3A24zQP5Q-RStsg5d_UkhyX5m28HLFihBIRwxWrmsoUkOO3I0ZTfiAoQDrRuhr4MGX2IQWkext_bo6D8ZtKSGcoxgcxh0pS4A/s320/Bloodpact+Truck+R-Side.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This vehicle is definitely a veteran of the years, so along with the rust and old looking paint job, when it came to doing the tyres and the camo tarp I made sure that they looked old and weathered. I wanted this vehicle to look like its been neglected, perhaps salvaged after a battle or when its driver turned traitor he bought the truck into the bargain, and definitely not like its fresh off the assembly line.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV22RmchzI5nnHVlWjs8uGT4V5Hf2lXQU4iTW3amUvK8mPXvSrY76hb02r2S7KtD0gIVFl_oKPhJSnjkDGNH35uKNvDY4LZbfYn_Mp4yy9hrqZui11qTwR9k7WwlZXSJKjWbuk4cm3bds/s1600/Bloodpact+Truck+Tray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV22RmchzI5nnHVlWjs8uGT4V5Hf2lXQU4iTW3amUvK8mPXvSrY76hb02r2S7KtD0gIVFl_oKPhJSnjkDGNH35uKNvDY4LZbfYn_Mp4yy9hrqZui11qTwR9k7WwlZXSJKjWbuk4cm3bds/s320/Bloodpact+Truck+Tray.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The final touch to firmly place this vehicle in the Bloodpact parking lot is the addition of the most defining aspect about them: blood. Across the front is blood splatter from all the victims too slow to get out of its way, on the handles and steps is blood from boots and hands, and the tray has clotted blood strewn across the mesh, be it from the transported troops or slaughtered victims is any ones guess. The clotted look was achieved thanks to the contact adhesive i used to attach the mesh. It clumped up and leaked through the mesh and settled on top, and added into the bargain, it did so randomly.<br />
<br />
There you have it, the completed Bloodpact looted truck, which will be used to represent a Chimera in my Bloodpact force. Comments and questions as always are welcomed.<br />
<span id="goog_819938449"></span><span id="goog_819938450"></span>Mephistopheleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17004126516680807567noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799863103134880991.post-15103087140291976742011-02-03T16:09:00.002+11:002011-03-08T16:15:52.571+11:00Bloodpact Looted Truck WIP pics<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXUT467Vs5T5IxEKdo6Thonc_Vxwol4i3Gb_jhDlQqgpdCYsggbcqbbWg2Hxrjd9ePyxORWUKZuyu_ojpRW0PgMt5YRf3ZDY1NYpaymfGQJVMinI1DB5fPr7dyVTDQoL53iTLy56UIJI/s1600/Bloodpact+Truck+WIP+Front+Detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXUT467Vs5T5IxEKdo6Thonc_Vxwol4i3Gb_jhDlQqgpdCYsggbcqbbWg2Hxrjd9ePyxORWUKZuyu_ojpRW0PgMt5YRf3ZDY1NYpaymfGQJVMinI1DB5fPr7dyVTDQoL53iTLy56UIJI/s320/Bloodpact+Truck+WIP+Front+Detail.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Hey all,<br />
I finally got some pics off my girlfriends laptop, not any of my finished product pics but in fact some WIP of the Bloodpact truck I finished a few months back, plans courtesy of <a href="http://davetaylorminiatures.blogspot.com/">Dave Taylors</a> blog, just search under the lable 'Truck' for the templates i believe it is.<br />
<br />
I followed the instructions and used the templates for the most part, but found that after i had started painting it, that i had forgotten to put a few of the extra armour and the access into the engine bay! Oh well....<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">During assembly, modified the plans to suit my vision of what I wanted the truck to look like. The modicifactions I made include the following:</div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYHwtq1LVwsBGnMeIwI_CUCIgohagBZYQI_j20Df5r6Jf8iKJQ0skJCkz8BlyTVPHf8U0ezXeC42VF79AVug_dT6eKwll-a75a79jJwfjsIkAlYoM1OiZFj5NsVVk-N9xxbVyfrIHuZw/s1600/Bloodpact+Truck+WIP+Tray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYHwtq1LVwsBGnMeIwI_CUCIgohagBZYQI_j20Df5r6Jf8iKJQ0skJCkz8BlyTVPHf8U0ezXeC42VF79AVug_dT6eKwll-a75a79jJwfjsIkAlYoM1OiZFj5NsVVk-N9xxbVyfrIHuZw/s320/Bloodpact+Truck+WIP+Tray.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK978Wumzd36fgzi0bUQjrHgLD8nRwbxx9jbPBdvB5bptSExoS4E9u7EYXNvs9uxgpAPr0vJyRGbsIsGgvfZDKsVi0p-zlBJtPMByz2mC4FfFFH0X8iNBtrDhxEEYg37wuiB3I729ZQ2M/s1600/55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK978Wumzd36fgzi0bUQjrHgLD8nRwbxx9jbPBdvB5bptSExoS4E9u7EYXNvs9uxgpAPr0vJyRGbsIsGgvfZDKsVi0p-zlBJtPMByz2mC4FfFFH0X8iNBtrDhxEEYg37wuiB3I729ZQ2M/s320/55.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">- I made the benches fold down benches rather than fixed, as I didnt want this to look purely like a troop transport vehicle.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">- I made the canopy casing over the tray of the truck more like 1 of the troop carriers from WW2, having a skeleton frame going from 1 side to the other, so when the tarp is pulled over the top it creates a box effect over the tray.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">- Rather than a plank style floor in the back, I have used plastic fly-wire to represent a metal grated floor, for extra grip when moving around. I also used this material bundled up on 1 side of the tray to represent the roof tarp, which can also be used in game as camo netting if desired.</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">- More handles poking out of the sides of the truck and tray, and a small ladder to 1 side of the trays rear, like transport trucks of today, allowing for a trailer to be towed if the driver was so inclined.<br />
- No lights on the truck except for the search light on top, but this was purely due to a lack of lights in my bits box I must say.<br />
- And a piece of mesh on 1 side for some extra armour.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVlMWtMlR2fSlnDya5vAEXIHQglO0Do-NqdackOc8rwUpEVkzT_BZkSnvm37vrzZqXB7CEkRFPXHeFKzyQnYtS2JudKN1I7SSRRr5KNwgjzCkYvItRGQh6bT03MS2t_SoXQaXlA-5NfU/s1600/Bloodpact+Truck+WIP+L-Side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVlMWtMlR2fSlnDya5vAEXIHQglO0Do-NqdackOc8rwUpEVkzT_BZkSnvm37vrzZqXB7CEkRFPXHeFKzyQnYtS2JudKN1I7SSRRr5KNwgjzCkYvItRGQh6bT03MS2t_SoXQaXlA-5NfU/s320/Bloodpact+Truck+WIP+L-Side.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The weapons on there are purely cause im not much of a fan of the multilaser, not sure why really, but felt that since im doing a looted ministorum (hope I spelt that right) transport, that the Bloodpact would have afixed weapons to the vehicle in a some what unprofessional manner, so all heavy bolters.</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">There is more done do it, but not applicable to the WIP pictures, as the other touches were added during and after the painting process.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Other than those few little details, the whole thing was constructed as the instructions said to do so. Thanks to Dave for the templates and instructions on how to build this beast, couldnt of figured out how to do 1 without them.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Next time, pictures of the fully painted up Blootpact Looted Truck.</div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div>Mephistopheleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17004126516680807567noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799863103134880991.post-1915639072082914002011-01-26T11:56:00.002+11:002011-02-04T15:29:13.279+11:00New Years Hobby Resolution (Belated)<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg6NUuEIaw3mRngKMsmcdfw55wQ7W3_5_p-CkwKoyRC4gfSBUCc9s806XZBYGub9QjPyRkiXNMYRM3iTA5mGz8e-XuW6ufjCGST4OF22bWP_Yn8n_CYZIVKDmYi6KtRbGyslhcIwCpfvE/s1600/calvin-hobbes-new-years-resolutions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg6NUuEIaw3mRngKMsmcdfw55wQ7W3_5_p-CkwKoyRC4gfSBUCc9s806XZBYGub9QjPyRkiXNMYRM3iTA5mGz8e-XuW6ufjCGST4OF22bWP_Yn8n_CYZIVKDmYi6KtRbGyslhcIwCpfvE/s320/calvin-hobbes-new-years-resolutions.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Heya all,<br />
<br />
My sincere apologies for lack of posts on here of late, getting up at 3:30am for work leads to much of the time once I'm back home being used for lounging or hobby followed by much sleep. As you can see, not much room for blogging in there at all, if any.<br />
<br />
Alas as yet i have no pictures to show... It turns out my camera believes that zoom is for distance shots, not for close ups, so i am awaiting the time when my lovely girl-friend has a spare moment to snap up a few pics with her more competent camera...<br />
<br />
Now that's out of the way its down to business!<br />
<br />
As the title suggests, like many others out there i am resolving to make some changes in how my hobby is being approached, IE getting stuff either started/finished with pics taken along the way, with more regular blogging added into the bargain.<br />
<br />
I already have a list on my main page of the current projects i have under way, yet even that is incomplete...<br />
So here i will list briefly what i aim to do this year, and some deadlines i can hopefully live up to.<br />
<br />
#1 is my Bloodpact Traitor Guard.<br />
i have many units started or planned out, and a few finished, all yet to have pictures taken and posted up. My first goal here is going to be to finish off my 2 veteran squads assembly, and then post some pics up as i have a few test models done for the paint scheme of 1 squad, and the other just needs 2 more guys assembled and painted as the rest are already done but for basing.<br />
After that, i will endeavour to get 1 unit/vehicle assembled/painted a week, with pictures happening regularly.<br />
<br />
#2 is my Tyranid Vanguard swarm<br />
i haven't worked on this army since the last edition of the codex, kinda lost interest once it became apparent my whole army couldn't start off board via the scouting rules. A whole army of genestealers, all in assault range as soon as they came on the board. That army had a total of 7/7 wins, in games ranging from 750 points 1v1 to a big 1500pt each 1v1v1v1 game.<br />
With the current codex i have had to include new units and revamp my strategies a fair bit. So first on the agenda there is to work out what i will take in this force and to modify my to do list to reflect that.<br />
<br />
#3 is my Dark Elves raiding force<br />
A few weeks ago i started a Dark Elves force based around a campaign of raiding the warhammer fantasy globe. So the army consists of lots of corsairs, a few spearmen n repeater crossbows, dark riders and shades for the vanguard, and reaper bolt throwers for ship based artillery, all led by Felheart and some other lordly master funding the campaign.<br />
That of course is just a basic run down, the force is full of conversion ideas i am yet to put to paper, suffice to say trophies from around the globe will be very apparent.<br />
<br />
As more ideas and projects come along i will of course add them to the list.<br />
<br />
As for time line, I'm hoping to work to this:<br />
<br />
March - Finished off assembling Bloodpact as bare minimum<br />
April/May - Bloodpact completely finished<br />
- Tyranids finished assembly<br />
June/July - Tyranids finished completely<br />
- Dark Elves finished assembly<br />
September - Dark Elves finished completely<br />
<br />
A very rough guide line, but 1 i can hopefully live to if not beat!<br />
<br />
Til next time, hopefully within a week or 2, AND with stuff to blog about.Mephistopheleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17004126516680807567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799863103134880991.post-87724617289088438922010-12-14T14:21:00.009+11:002010-12-14T16:03:30.339+11:00Attention to Detail - Eye Catcher or Aneurysm waiting to happen?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaDWphcLSL5ro2O82BycDlq0wNR4TM4-AGYuj-7baO-wpI2B3eHg2kDWpcsvalSA_emVsZSP6H3CuN6cGJ0LXXAXeFHxdeYsB4Onx8BvosHlzLY_9g4CdjyfUIGZavCpEzEYTqz4aiitg/s1600/1239031416764_jpg_%255Broflposters_com%255D_myspace.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 256px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550379120496467890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaDWphcLSL5ro2O82BycDlq0wNR4TM4-AGYuj-7baO-wpI2B3eHg2kDWpcsvalSA_emVsZSP6H3CuN6cGJ0LXXAXeFHxdeYsB4Onx8BvosHlzLY_9g4CdjyfUIGZavCpEzEYTqz4aiitg/s320/1239031416764_jpg_%255Broflposters_com%255D_myspace.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Hi all,<br /><br />today I thought i would talk about something that has been going through my mind ever since I started the hobby, something I'm sure a lot of you have thought about at 1 time or another. Its something that plagues many a painter and even a converter, and can lead to many head aches and hours of frustration.<br /><br />What I'm talking about is details.<br /><br />How much is too much?<br />Will it detract from the overall appearance of the miniature?<br />Will it adequately portray what i intended to achieve?<br /><br />There are many ways of putting the question down to the masses, but simply its a matter of 'Where do you draw the line'. When do all the finer details take away from the miniature as a whole, and leave you looking at a mosaic that will give you an aneurysm if you look at it for more than 2 minutes.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.coolminiornot.com/">Cool Mini or Not</a> is an excellent site for showing both sides of this debate, where we can see how many of us either don't know when to stop or when to keep at it. The ability to leave a comment and a score on someones work on the site is a great way of getting positive and constructive feedback. The downside being its also a means of others bagging the hell out of beginners.<br /><br />Personally I am still struggling to find that balance between too much and not enough, more so struggling to get out of the not enough area of things, without going into the cartoon painting style that seems to rule the competition painting seen.<br /><br />This leads to another debate, NMM (non-metal metal), the 'art' of making an object look metallic or reflective through use of many many layers of blending slightly lighter/darker colours together to give the effect of light source and/reflection.<br /><br />Is NMM the way to go with metals, or does this technique fuel the fire for the cartoon styled painting technique?<br /><br />How do you determine what is too much or too little?<br />Do you believe NMM is the direction we should head towards?<br />Am i the only 1 out there who dislikes the cartoon style approach?Mephistopheleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17004126516680807567noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799863103134880991.post-62137678486211759822010-11-30T14:41:00.004+11:002010-12-01T12:28:43.648+11:00A Step Forward<div>Hey all,<br />its been way too long since my last post and I do apologise, life tends to get in the way of some good hobby work, more so in the way of blogging about it.<br />Unfortunately I have no pictures as yet to put up, they are all still on my girlfriends camera, but I do have updates none the less.<br /><br />First off, thanks to the input from The GunGrave, the font on my blog will no longer hurt your eyes. See, chaotic symbols hurt your eyes at first, but once you give in, everything will be O.K! :)<br /><br />The next piece of news is on the 25th i turned 25, and despite me telling her not to do anything, my girlfriend baked me a cake, which to my surprise she had decorated to match the basing of my Bloodpact army. She even went to the extent of taking molds from some of my works in progress to make chocolate terrain out of! I will be posting pics of this as soon as i get them.<br /><br />Now into the hobby side of things. As it stands, I have a lot underway and no much to show for it in terms of completed items.<br /><br />A few months back i had finished my Baneblade (and forgot to post about it completely), and entered it in a tank painting competition being held in honor of the spear head expansion release. I am very happy to say I took the win for that 1, and walked away with a GW spray gun and a propellant can.<br />As it stands i am yet to use it, preferring to use my Anest Iwata LPH-80 spray gun or Iwata eclipse HP-CS airbrush with my Iwata Studio Series mini compressor (I will be discussing these items in a future post) for any mass painting jobs.<br />Until i get some pictures up, all i can say to describe this beast is that it looks the part of a traitor tank, not a tank that was built for the service of the true gods.<br /><br />Yet another vehicle, my truck transport has been finished, and is atm in GW Southland for the boxing day conversion competition, of which the name eludes me atm. This is also done up to look like a scavenged/traitor vehicle, covered in rust and gore, with a well worn paint job.<br /><br />Whats on my desk being worked on atm is a whole other, much larger, kettle of fish entirely.<br /><br />Harker and his boys are nearly done, I have but to convert/assemble 3 snipers for his squad, then start/finish off painting the squad and they are ready to lay down good cover fire. With the squad having 2 heavy bolters and 3 sniper rifles that shouldn't be hard to do.<br /><br />My 2nd vet squad, heavily armoured in there carapace armour is coming along well. I have finished converting the remaining shotties for the squad, and assembled all the bodies. Now all that remains is to attach the shotties to the bodies, convert another melta and another squads worth of heads, then its all onto the painting table. ive painted up the main parts on 3 completed models already, and I must say im very pleased with how they will turn out.<br /><br />The Primaris Psyker i believe will be the only model in the army that is not converted in 1 way or another, other than bringing it over from 1 GW gaming system to another. I wont give away any details on this project, you will have to wait to see this 1.<br /><br />Sooo many troops! As it stands i have 3 basic troop squads under way, as well as a heavy weapons squad, platoon command, and some of the company command squads additional members... So I have about 40 foot slogers on the go atm.<br /><br />The Rough Riders i have done very little to atm, as these boys will take a lot of prior planning of the bases prior to assembly, so i get the look just right. The inspiration for these miniatures came to me from reading Dan Abnetts "Traitor General" a few years back, and the images are still vivid in my mind.<br /><br />Back into the vehicles, I am half way through the first of my Urdeshi produced AT-70 Reavers. Being faster, lighter armoured and lower tech versions of Leman Russ Battle Tanks, they are heavily converted, and loosely based on images of the WWII German Panzer IV. Seeing as these tanks were produced by the captured Urdesh Forgeworld, these tanks will be in full Bloodpact livery.<br /><br />The Locust fighter (counts as a Valkyrie) has not progressed further than being chromed atm. I hit a mental block with this 1, so am taking some time away before coming back to it with a fresh mind. In terms of basing, rather than a huge styrene ball painted as a rock, i have begun the construction of a open portal. Made to look like fire hovering in mid-air, with daemonic faves and arms reaching and leering out of it. I am also sculpting a Bloodpact trooper walking out through the flames, to make it clear its a portal.<br /><br /><br />Well i think that about wraps it up. All projects are accounted for outside of terrain (which i will leave for another day, my hands are tired from all this typing, editing, etc etc...), and anything else i have missed can wait for the next post.<br /><br />Til then :)</div>Mephistopheleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17004126516680807567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799863103134880991.post-85010904697527967192010-10-21T16:44:00.005+11:002010-12-14T17:07:08.126+11:00Paint and YouWhen it comes down to it, it doesnt matter how good a painter you are if the materials you are working with wont co-operate with you, you wont be happy with the final piece.<br />In my time i have read many blogs on the topics of 'how to blend' and 'paint smoothly' and all those such topics, and so thought id do my own based on my own experiences.<br /><br />So to begin with lets take a step back from the painting step, and delve into the preparation of the material you will be applying to your pre-cleaned/treated and assembled miniature.<br />For many people starting out with miniatures of the Games Workshop range, and even some veterans out there, they will be using Citadel paints. As most have or will find out, Citadel paints as a whole (Foundation paints being a prime example) and very binder-heavy, so the paint is very thick and has little flow to it "NOTE: this DOES NOT mean that the paint has good coverage/pigmentation". Using these paints straight out of the pot and onto your miniature is highly unrecommended for many reasons that i really dont need to go into, just dont do it. Prior to using any citadel paints, i will use this:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DLPFA5RwfAXxjij3cHbEG90sYHDFn3d15p8nyWYWUonUZM1wo61JAdpqq7SADrYolUh8i6s8LwB8L2iYsmmVtxZ6H-2uVQkTn9ovdyxtR7WxWiBmXTgQWpURvwiwurKcqdmmQVS4bDQ/s1600/Jo_Sonja_Flow_Medium.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 90px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530372866540531474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DLPFA5RwfAXxjij3cHbEG90sYHDFn3d15p8nyWYWUonUZM1wo61JAdpqq7SADrYolUh8i6s8LwB8L2iYsmmVtxZ6H-2uVQkTn9ovdyxtR7WxWiBmXTgQWpURvwiwurKcqdmmQVS4bDQ/s320/Jo_Sonja_Flow_Medium.jpg" /></a> - FLOW MEDIUM - one of the best things you can go out and purchase for yourself for a good few solid reasons:<br />1. Longevity - adding this stuff to your paint, as well as making it easier to paint with, actually increases the shelf life of your paint.<br />2. Flow - as the name suggests, this product aids in the ability to evenly spread the paint out on the miniature, with the benefit of keeping coverage AND it also prevents the paint from beading up on you.<br />3. Cost - lets face it, paints in general are expensive, maybe not individually, but over time they add up. Using this product reduces the amount of paint i use each time i paint my miniatures, so while i did have to fork out for the product in the first place (roughly the same cost as 4 pots of Citadel paint), it increases the amount of workable paint i have by almost double.<br /><br />When i first started out using this product i would top up the remaining space of a new pot of paint til it was almost completely full, close the top and give it a good shake for a minute or 2 to mix it, and then the paint is set for use.<br />After experimentation with the product and various colours, i have found that, depending on the opacity of the colour, you can pretty much add equal amount Flow Medium to paint, and get the same coverage. As I said though, this is colour specific, so some experimentation on your own part will give you the amount you need to add. Also for this reason, as well as for convenience, I have begun to transfer all my paints to dropper bottles, as this helps reduce waste and helps increase shelf life of the paint itself.<br /><br />Now my paints are ready to use, its time to start painting!<br /><br />When it comes to painting, even with the use of the Flow Medium i still will thin down my paints on a pallet prior to painting. And the way i go about it is using this:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFRX65z9tLZNSB5LbGDEqdeDz7vYjPaUprPILtfk8BSGZBLkZmDgjcVoOAUW9hwoWi_rlqzMnEWY38fqze7wMgQghv6t5ru31e_gEDDc_i2B-R7HIgBxyn0ekFiyhC4mbtyseTdL7u1rQ/s1600/41wx4Z1bmzL__SL500_.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530372865528584418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFRX65z9tLZNSB5LbGDEqdeDz7vYjPaUprPILtfk8BSGZBLkZmDgjcVoOAUW9hwoWi_rlqzMnEWY38fqze7wMgQghv6t5ru31e_gEDDc_i2B-R7HIgBxyn0ekFiyhC4mbtyseTdL7u1rQ/s320/41wx4Z1bmzL__SL500_.jpg" /></a><br />- WINDEX - another of the 'tools of the trade' I personally recommend to up and coming painters, as well as some veterans out there too.<br />Now i know a lot of you will be thinking to yourself "wtf is this guy thinking" and i assure you, when I first heard about this i was of much the same opinion "that guys whacked out or something", but believe me, its a great material to add to your shelf for the following reasons:<br />1. unlike water, Windex dries quickly and thus helps the paint to do so, but not so quick as to affect what your working with on the pallet, so you can get more miniatures done in a shorter period of time.<br />2. when water is mixed with the paint, even after using fluid medium, it does affect how the paint will flow onto the miniature, resulting in poor coverage and/or visible brush strokes.<br />3. the layers of paint you put on become very thin, but will still have the same amount of coverage, so your using less paint again, also saving you money.<br /><br />Im not sure about the range of Windex products out there, so i stick to using "Windex Glass Original", and i use it like so:<br />First off, instead of placing a cup of water in front of myself, I have a cup with an amount of Windex relevant to the amount of cleaning i will need to do, 2 if i am doing metallic colours. I also place a small shot glass size amount of Windex in front of myself also, for use of application.<br />Once I am ready to paint I will dip my brush into the Windex (either glass at this point) to moisten it ready for use, but I wont remove the excess from the bristles, and i then gently massage the tip of the brush into the colour I intend to paint. Once done with that colour, I rinse well in the larger "cleaning glass", dry it off, then dip into the "application glass" ready for the next colour.<br /><br />When using paints with added Flow Medium in conjunction with windex, you will find your paint will flow out evenly across the painted surface, and dry quickly leaving a surface thats brush stroke free. You can also mix paints with added Fluid Medium with some Windex at a ratio of 1:1 for use in an airbrush, but keep in mind when using an airbrush to build up the paint coverage, not to go all out in 1 hit. You dont want to get runs or build up on your miniature.<br /><br />Well, thats my tutorial on using Fluid Medium and Windex to increase productivity with your painting, as well as keeping that lil extra cash in your pocket. If I havent covered anything in enough detail, or even if you have a better way of doing this, please let me know.Mephistopheleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17004126516680807567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799863103134880991.post-31841734674534117432010-10-20T20:26:00.009+11:002011-03-14T20:21:45.747+11:00CHARGE!<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNOpwiwj6EfsEXuT47KNnECT823lRlCvY5DpookcFHk61dEFS39JdT4nBlhIvSB-gCQeExee6Z1NjaWH_BAV0OmnTwTgJNe3Qs9BDLzrZ3JAiaZ8mLkVXwGH4OT_HgVc-xE50vQrMThwk/s1600/Bloodpact+Golden+Daemon+Entry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNOpwiwj6EfsEXuT47KNnECT823lRlCvY5DpookcFHk61dEFS39JdT4nBlhIvSB-gCQeExee6Z1NjaWH_BAV0OmnTwTgJNe3Qs9BDLzrZ3JAiaZ8mLkVXwGH4OT_HgVc-xE50vQrMThwk/s200/Bloodpact+Golden+Daemon+Entry.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> Finally managed to get some pics up of my finished squad, along with the display base i made to go with them for my 40k squad entry into this years Australian Golden Daemon.<br />
The competition closed and first round judged 2 weeks ago (thats how slow i am), and these guys made it through!<br />
I dont know how golden daemon works in other countries, but here we enter at store level, winners then get judged at a state level, winners of that go to nationals where 1st 2nd 3rd winners and the slayer sword winner is judged. This saturday (3 away including today) is the state level judging, so fingers crossed!<br />
So without any further delay i present my first completed squad, and a few of my favorites within it.<br />
Please feel free to comment constructively and ask any relevant questions :)<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXt4rploOyrFSOm_yXwueH0x_RJOT_vAUlr_J5Tn9h2ajph18ogbBSsGDBwaw0F29M9Me0Mx4H7oEomnNVp4GfuSmbNy1lFTwpWMtsRTz92yw4bhNpVH3R4Ep88Q4FLt5dVhoUmCzqtyA/s1600/Bloodpact+Sarge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXt4rploOyrFSOm_yXwueH0x_RJOT_vAUlr_J5Tn9h2ajph18ogbBSsGDBwaw0F29M9Me0Mx4H7oEomnNVp4GfuSmbNy1lFTwpWMtsRTz92yw4bhNpVH3R4Ep88Q4FLt5dVhoUmCzqtyA/s200/Bloodpact+Sarge.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Squad Sarge with his over-sized chain sword</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRECxxNwy5pkdCxdQG-MyFNGXqLce2lY_lIG5d1rkfTZNNuaKq_mflyaqRA8QT2AmQV5xXuXx1BSabPYUBm51KRp1hEHtxZG08NZTB3vKdA_VHqtEDhClRI0dAu1Z_SEtSDFF-Jcfpds/s1600/Bloodpact+Comms+Guy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRECxxNwy5pkdCxdQG-MyFNGXqLce2lY_lIG5d1rkfTZNNuaKq_mflyaqRA8QT2AmQV5xXuXx1BSabPYUBm51KRp1hEHtxZG08NZTB3vKdA_VHqtEDhClRI0dAu1Z_SEtSDFF-Jcfpds/s200/Bloodpact+Comms+Guy.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Squad comms guy<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The 2 shovel wielders<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOGDzKCXDQxmN__iZ3d0vijE_MravzGHJvcleqmFVUAzp8NzDqGdqOFcDpwFXTgFW4b5xisruOZVHlHPAVLHhSEtACmA1laqtbYPtxOw_u_VjaIW0RHQEacpPu7Pw7VH4rAjTV7SZaJ4o/s1600/Bloodpact+Shovel+Guy+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOGDzKCXDQxmN__iZ3d0vijE_MravzGHJvcleqmFVUAzp8NzDqGdqOFcDpwFXTgFW4b5xisruOZVHlHPAVLHhSEtACmA1laqtbYPtxOw_u_VjaIW0RHQEacpPu7Pw7VH4rAjTV7SZaJ4o/s200/Bloodpact+Shovel+Guy+1.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe90EeKFEJ8aIfBDcFf0v9B9s2F4VrAA78rXVPlibyS1lXfuvZ6p7QESqSETZEpuw3FpEKADF_IlZq5GmRbQMTNvp8BMajuDAA0q7kGkGhJy-PcN29edOEomX5a5tQh_FJav8MH5vdeo4/s1600/Bloodpact+Shovel+Guy+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe90EeKFEJ8aIfBDcFf0v9B9s2F4VrAA78rXVPlibyS1lXfuvZ6p7QESqSETZEpuw3FpEKADF_IlZq5GmRbQMTNvp8BMajuDAA0q7kGkGhJy-PcN29edOEomX5a5tQh_FJav8MH5vdeo4/s200/Bloodpact+Shovel+Guy+2.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>Mephistopheleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17004126516680807567noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799863103134880991.post-22952149129261535052010-09-23T17:06:00.003+10:002010-09-23T17:35:08.639+10:00Review of Ronin Miniatures "Horus"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mF9LevgEV6R0XGn5zxssp0YSmkdlnMZj4-fSProihK9bj78g3ex9NQtXJh78aiFPgZiheozqzjSBp7n2hrFuEiB8ZtjHfGHpCabuBgR7yYfeFvnje-0gm1a_TI0FOD42vhHmwMy0caQ/s1600/DaK_unassembled.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 183px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520008191905111170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mF9LevgEV6R0XGn5zxssp0YSmkdlnMZj4-fSProihK9bj78g3ex9NQtXJh78aiFPgZiheozqzjSBp7n2hrFuEiB8ZtjHfGHpCabuBgR7yYfeFvnje-0gm1a_TI0FOD42vhHmwMy0caQ/s320/DaK_unassembled.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Today i recieved 1 of the highly sought after Ronin Miniatures "Horus" figures,<br />number 99/200 to be precise (according to the packaging anyway...),<br />so i figured i should probably give a review on it.<br /><br />First off its easy to see the size of the model in comparrison to 1 of the current standard terminator models... Horus stands a good head and a bit higher than the terminator,<br />so already the scale of the miniature is pretty much correct to the art books.<br /><br />After having a dry run at assembly and looking the miniature over,<br />the miniature is clearly designed for easy assembly,<br />as each piece is obvious to place and the positioning is clear through the good use of locator pins and corresponding holes on the pieces (something i must admit i find lacking in GWs miniatures, they generally require more work to assemble than should be needed),<br />and as for mold lines.... there pretty much arent any!<br />This has got to be the cleanest molding of a miniature outside of plastics,<br />especially for an underground company.<br />Very well made indeed.<br /><br />The miniature is covered in all the finer details pictured too,<br />with next to no obstructions,<br />so painting up all the details will be a breeze,<br />and will make for a stunning finished product i must say.<br /><br />The scenic resin base it comes with is unfortunately too big for a 40mm base,<br />but the right size for a 50mm base,<br />so unless used without the resin base,<br />or given his own "house-rules" for use in Apocalypse,<br />it would be best to use him to represent a daemon prince,<br />or just do it up for a good display/collectors piece and not much more...<br /><br />The only issue i have with the miniature from an aesthetic point of view is the shoulder guards...<br />Like a pre-heresy terminator the miniature has the rolled-out looking shoulder guard on its left shoulder,<br />but on the right it has a standard post-heresy terminator shoulder guard...<br />Its not really a major concern,<br />except for those who have a lil OCD in them....<br /><br />Its a very well done model,<br />and definately worth the money spent on it if you can find 1 online,<br />or any of the other Ronin Miniatures primarchs.</div>Mephistopheleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17004126516680807567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799863103134880991.post-62584276603133271502010-09-10T19:23:00.002+10:002010-09-10T19:34:48.413+10:00Latest Purchase<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XQ1X2tvN5anfBeHvuvASPefKrWzI2SpgKqRduTidyQ1SHN7yr_LkV3HHGv_2Mpedk_8zIWfz6zB8ElQSxp48VLxll0k-13JQ0CuDQ2vn8KXPzGGSO0kmhPhNp98RULECUNPc2s2Wslc/s1600/Horus.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 319px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515213755627246242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XQ1X2tvN5anfBeHvuvASPefKrWzI2SpgKqRduTidyQ1SHN7yr_LkV3HHGv_2Mpedk_8zIWfz6zB8ElQSxp48VLxll0k-13JQ0CuDQ2vn8KXPzGGSO0kmhPhNp98RULECUNPc2s2Wslc/s320/Horus.jpg" /></a>So i was cruising the forums, and every so often i would come across the mention of the elusive and shockingly expensive unofficial primarch miniatures that have been slowly making there way around the world, and thought i would take a crack at finding 1.<br /><br />Low and behold, the 1 i stumble across is 1 of the few i like of the primachs, and what a stunning miniature it is, let alone once its painted up as pictured here (not by my hand, mine is still in the post currently).<br /><br />The Warmaster Horus is rather a fitting center piece for a mid-heresy themed Black Legion army, with, should i find them, Fulgrim Mortarion and Angron with a squad or 2 from there corresponding legions to go along with him.<br /><br />A rather good find i must say, now i just have to get my skills up to scratch so i can paint him to a standard worthy of a Warmaster!Mephistopheleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17004126516680807567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799863103134880991.post-64162359543626586072010-08-16T15:03:00.004+10:002010-09-28T16:23:37.571+10:00Distracted Again...Been a while since had a chance to post, and i still am lacking time, so i will make this brief and to the point.<br />Currently on my work bench is:<br /><br />Being assembled/converted to bloodpact<br />- Hardened Vet squad in carapace armour<br />- AT-70 Reaver (leman russ conversion)<br />- Harkers Devils squad<br />- Another troop transport truck<br />- Heavy weapons team of autocannons<br /><br />Being Painted<br />- 1st basic squad of Bloodpact<br />- Locust Interceptor (valkyrie conversion)<br />- 1st troop transport truck<br />- Harker<br /><br />A side project being done is also a Dark Mechanicum based 'Lord of Change'. If this conversion wins the competition im entering it in, i will gain free entry into this years Australian Golden Daemon, which would be very appealing.<br />The down side is i still have to complete about 5 of my 7 entries, but hey, just means more of a challenge! :D<br /><br />Pics will be up as soon as i can arrange it.<br /><br />Well, back to the grind stone...Mephistopheleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17004126516680807567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799863103134880991.post-42729296146537919012010-06-29T16:06:00.003+10:002010-06-29T16:52:38.393+10:00BUGS!Thought id leave my Bloodpact on the sideline for a post, mainly due to the fact i havent gotten around to taking pics of the newer developements, and a lack of MYO grotesk mask pics :S<br /><br />Today i have decided to post a start-to-finish on my converted lictors, mainly focusing on the 1 that required the most amount of work.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggyyDJCLBw9pdvq1eTI90K1MpJtSJVIrJRGs41_PCrhPGynj-aUm47qzYSVrQGJMjjOx9LYd9unQvrne8SQKKvHhQocScl7guMAypyh0TDOSuPz28Tum0I_kQM43imAEqZxl209_0Q4VI/s1600/DSC00118.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488075269087573122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggyyDJCLBw9pdvq1eTI90K1MpJtSJVIrJRGs41_PCrhPGynj-aUm47qzYSVrQGJMjjOx9LYd9unQvrne8SQKKvHhQocScl7guMAypyh0TDOSuPz28Tum0I_kQM43imAEqZxl209_0Q4VI/s320/DSC00118.JPG" /></a><br />As many Australians will remember (im not sure if the US guys got to see what im refering to), a few years back when the Laius Rift campaign was running, in the White Dwarf 3 part mini campaign, Laurie Goodridge was building a small 'nyd force, and converting it along the way. In those articles related to the campaign he showed a very basic shot of his lictors prior to paint and assembly, as well as a small bit on where he cut to reposition his lictors.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bc8pVwlKoXJ_5stqYoMBh79Y86xmptHhcj4Q1KUzVXL9NVXNeyoAyYxTOCp9JMHdZyGha9w6_tILsREfI8EMsmCLc3IGuNqFTO0vjOLKwYqPmWlXa7kIZg34fV3noCMtX2PTvKnsxJU/s1600/DSC00123.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488075276745319570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bc8pVwlKoXJ_5stqYoMBh79Y86xmptHhcj4Q1KUzVXL9NVXNeyoAyYxTOCp9JMHdZyGha9w6_tILsREfI8EMsmCLc3IGuNqFTO0vjOLKwYqPmWlXa7kIZg34fV3noCMtX2PTvKnsxJU/s320/DSC00123.JPG" /></a><br />I followed a similar path as Laurie had done, changing along the wait to suit my needs. Where as Laurie had based his conversions around a 'tunnel rats' style force, with all the lictors crouched down as if crawling through tunnels, my force has been based around swamp terrain, where there is more room to move, but no completely stable surface to purch on. So while my lictor is still crouched over, it is still standing rather that crawling on its hands and needs.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUAyt6hj7s37YiG7pUdmZKajEZUjUFbUHaKzUyV_zPk1QHwdgCbptfYPdRJPnk-UR_erRVKQ_X4vFU4iljQiCHqepFMdscln6n64L5mO58WvjEsCPCTg9ghdGDbY2ryBkNvTgQAPij4Ko/s1600/DSC00141.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488075285149990946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUAyt6hj7s37YiG7pUdmZKajEZUjUFbUHaKzUyV_zPk1QHwdgCbptfYPdRJPnk-UR_erRVKQ_X4vFU4iljQiCHqepFMdscln6n64L5mO58WvjEsCPCTg9ghdGDbY2ryBkNvTgQAPij4Ko/s320/DSC00141.JPG" /></a><br />When it came to positioning of the arms, i looked to my learnings from when i did Shinjitsu. I based the lictors scythe arms around the dual wielding of the short swords we learnt to use, ninjato i believe they were called (im sorry if i spelt that wrong sensai!). 1 of the stances had 1 sword in a guard position near head hight with the other held down either still in or out and next to the sheath, both swords being held blade facing down if you held your arms infront of you thumbs up. This is also a common pose used in pictures depicting ninjas with 2 swords, referance can be made to Azumi 1 and 2, Ruroni Kenshin (samurai x), and other such films and series...<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGOVK7QqSmwjEXmQVMeeDuhWL3jnWtY04DZ4GRplJ5tFpDw1KDrKNnyZ9lBfKADOZgEW2axSgIkj92faDOe6ku6f4h3h2yeuR2QxawVs-UHK1cYkCQfTEhuukIAuqRzBWtj5ALiGhTEhI/s1600/DSC00241.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488075289685119794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGOVK7QqSmwjEXmQVMeeDuhWL3jnWtY04DZ4GRplJ5tFpDw1KDrKNnyZ9lBfKADOZgEW2axSgIkj92faDOe6ku6f4h3h2yeuR2QxawVs-UHK1cYkCQfTEhuukIAuqRzBWtj5ALiGhTEhI/s320/DSC00241.JPG" /></a><br />The claw arms have been positioned in a ready to strike stance, with the arm thats drawn back being on the same side as the trailing foot, giving the impression the beast is about to lunge out from the right side of its body.The whole body has been angled to give that effect a solid foundation.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1a5HLOoLod7A-kIeb1lz5AuBRvuX3yldRMiguW5ZBONER_dB7q0duCiSE5xuP7wyfp_tmMsfGbAQyo_SEOuFNrF1GbOaPN3rLCNxpqKPIS_gVF-sLBfeAczKOie-VjiBaG24m_0fGQM/s1600/DSC00242.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488075298154040066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1a5HLOoLod7A-kIeb1lz5AuBRvuX3yldRMiguW5ZBONER_dB7q0duCiSE5xuP7wyfp_tmMsfGbAQyo_SEOuFNrF1GbOaPN3rLCNxpqKPIS_gVF-sLBfeAczKOie-VjiBaG24m_0fGQM/s320/DSC00242.JPG" /></a><br />To tie the tyranids and theme together i painted the carapace in a dark shade of blue which shows as near black under lack of lighting, to better portray the sinister death from the shadows feeling that is given in there fluff. I also used metalic and pearl paints in painting the carapace, to emphasis the chamelionic ability of the creatures.<br />The main bulk of the body is done in multiple layers of green, each being lighter than the previous, but all layering done wet, with a final wash of blue to the body while the paint is still wet. this helped the paint to blend in together as well as mottle in some areas, also emphasising the chamelionic ability of lictors.<br /><br />CnC are welcome as are any questions.</div>Mephistopheleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17004126516680807567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799863103134880991.post-2166685124442064122010-05-15T13:08:00.003+10:002010-05-15T13:48:32.974+10:00A Bloody Short BlogThis blog is going to be short and sweet, as i woke up not that long ago and its already 2pm!!!<br />Have so much to do it isnt funny, so this is just simple basics, mainly due to 5pic max post it seems :S<br /><br />First up is my commisar and vet sarge for my current WIP Bloodpact squad.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3kuvJa8NOr26mgAarCi-E2lKWRXbchGlIAvr25_cwAGzyZ0S21rGvIaCtAueie8tMQI_TXlqwWEQncdqJoxOCbzDxqBBwPl4mKWfOSCkw8MIhm_ot0wqAzOPbljVDEfx1b5tXuNoK90E/s1600/42.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471331998557993730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3kuvJa8NOr26mgAarCi-E2lKWRXbchGlIAvr25_cwAGzyZ0S21rGvIaCtAueie8tMQI_TXlqwWEQncdqJoxOCbzDxqBBwPl4mKWfOSCkw8MIhm_ot0wqAzOPbljVDEfx1b5tXuNoK90E/s320/42.jpg" /></a>As you can see, instead of a simple grotesque mask i have given him a full face hood, something which will be used to pic out all my commisars, along with the possibility of giving them storm coats (opinions on that are most wanted).<br />To represent the khornate side of the army, he is carrying an extended khorne beserker axe. considering the size in comparrison to the model, i think it represents his power weapon perfectly.<br /><br />Here we have my vet sarge.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1c2L-VbYQ0a2X76XrGGxkicGb-JERW4-emiot0AQpTh4Kkuic-4xCJfU7FO_phZJcDEi8FkP58fXESGuau4-Mo6JnliDifJUpjNcnvYU4cltskhyMTOqHrs6a-RG5bMJO2Csvx8e56Og/s1600/36.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471331986523849874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1c2L-VbYQ0a2X76XrGGxkicGb-JERW4-emiot0AQpTh4Kkuic-4xCJfU7FO_phZJcDEi8FkP58fXESGuau4-Mo6JnliDifJUpjNcnvYU4cltskhyMTOqHrs6a-RG5bMJO2Csvx8e56Og/s320/36.jpg" /></a> I swaped his standard chain sword with a khornate 1 from the beserker sprues also. As this is also oversized, in the games where i give him a power weapon it wont need to be hacked up and changed, a sword that big should be a far compromise.<br />As with all my standard troopers, he has the standard grotesque mask (i will do a blog on how i make these soon).<br />All the Bloodpact have every single imperial logo carved off there armour and weapons.<br />To further define the pact from normal guardsmen i have sliced off all the protrutions from there helmets to leave them with the bowel style helmet as described in the books. it also helps to show off the mask as the head is less busy this way.<br /><br />I will have more infantry up within the coming days, so to finish off today are some more WIP of the locust fighter (aka valkyrie)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXssaO4H2w4T6EaQheyiGuqmPXzLXSH9w6sVCd0KIxhHQxx_VSKKeONKlkUJ4CLTQ0YAy6MtESFpGv25Dh6hhVmTEECNdqG080oaqtcCAQOl14tc6Tm2yNGSo_5Q6uNzMw5SswpnpZhVY/s1600/19.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471331980237562530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXssaO4H2w4T6EaQheyiGuqmPXzLXSH9w6sVCd0KIxhHQxx_VSKKeONKlkUJ4CLTQ0YAy6MtESFpGv25Dh6hhVmTEECNdqG080oaqtcCAQOl14tc6Tm2yNGSo_5Q6uNzMw5SswpnpZhVY/s320/19.jpg" /></a> I was originally goin to go with the 'giant rock/crystal warp portal' idea, but after seein it on the base... its crap. At least in the way i have done it. Either i will just create a warp rift/reality tear to hover above the base, or perhaps a tunnel entrance on the ground.<br />Either way theres alot more to do to satisfy me in that regard...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1WHikUh7oVOy4DU2NIUvJTy9oZFaEPFcbtQSUMQmsYS3Wu025kmV1CnNvFlBpl2s0A5pdgNJXtcgePSYBX7Prxi70jm6Xzn-_Zo-hno5E5eyVktcx0PK1JrRedphk-msHsnqbxEgkKA/s1600/15.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471331972924805298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1WHikUh7oVOy4DU2NIUvJTy9oZFaEPFcbtQSUMQmsYS3Wu025kmV1CnNvFlBpl2s0A5pdgNJXtcgePSYBX7Prxi70jm6Xzn-_Zo-hno5E5eyVktcx0PK1JrRedphk-msHsnqbxEgkKA/s320/15.jpg" /></a> Here we have a view of the first armament i have assembled and magnatized for the fighter.<br />At first i thought the rocket pods would be too big, but after seeing it all put together, it just makes it look more threatening.<br />Also you can see how i have used 2 of the rather old hunter killer tubes to create my air intakes for the engine.<br /><br />Off topic, 1 thing i have noticed many times is people assembling that tube and placing it on the vehicle backwards... The flap portion of the assembly is actually the front, not the rear. If you look at modern SAM and SSM batteries, that flap opens when the missile is primed after the target has been painted. The hole end of the assembly is at the rear so the jet wash from the missile has somewhere to go, as the missile itself is resting on a mount on the otherside of that hole. (I think i will post up some pictures of this)<br /><br /><div><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471331962966221106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtF_fPO77FJlH8QeiZ6GMWBYmC7cFqOklr20kjibpec6FYVYqnxfsYvTHI-UWcoksmJerqaZA7Gv-GAZT146tUQ1ia7tKWGzHzRdJ3d9QFXk0JwRbZbDUbJD8Ri7kUlles3YjNqWrnsXA/s320/13.jpg" />And here we have the tail view of the locust.<br />On either side near the rear of the fuselage i have place 1 of the vents from the same hunter killer missile tubes. These are go go with the fact i have left the jets on the wings. While those jets would help this baby take off/land and do very sharp bank turns, these rear side jets would turn the jet while hovering.<br />A lil too much though, but hey, we all love our hobby dont we :)<br /><br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div>That is for another post, next post will cover more of the WIP infantry squad, including WIP autocannons heavy weapons squad if time permits.<br /><br /><br /></div><div></div>Mephistopheleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17004126516680807567noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799863103134880991.post-77164343010702134052010-05-11T16:16:00.004+10:002010-09-28T16:17:26.490+10:00Delays, delays, delaysSince my last post i have been very busy,<br />both in and out of work hrs...<br />I have many new photos taken thanks to the help of my partner with her camera and laptop.<br />Unfortunately i have yet to get the pictures off her laptop to post here.<br /><br />So far i have completed the assembly/conversion of the following:<br />- 1 full squad of Bloodpact troopers, complete with masks, consisting of:<br />-Commisar with bolt pistol and power weapon<br />-Vet Sarge with bolt pistol and cc weapon<br />-Flamer carrying guardsmen<br />-Vox operator with lasgun<br />-7 guardsmen with lasguns and cc weapons<br />- Truck transport (to be used as a chimera)<br />- The main assembly and magnetisation of my locust fighter<br /><br />This squad of 11 is half of what will be a 22 man combined assault squad, with the other half being identical in armament. I have yet to decide whether or not to add a priest in there or not, as all those rerolls will come in handy.<br /><br />The truck is goin to be used to transport what ever i deem required at the time, which will most likely be another squad of 11 troopers, but with a HB in there this time.<br /><br />All that is to be done on my locust fighter is to assemble the new mounting point for the HB sponsons and for its single lascannon, and then to complete the scenic base. As mentioned in an earlier post, since it is a fighter craft and not a transport, i will be using reference from the book 'His last command' to create portals on the bases as a means for troopers to embark and disembark from the fleet in orbit/where ever it is they come from.<br /><br />Thats it for today,<br />will hopefully have pictures up by weeks end for all these developements.Mephistopheleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17004126516680807567noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799863103134880991.post-37541459723248072732010-04-24T16:31:00.007+10:002010-04-24T17:26:03.828+10:00As promised...In my first post about a week ago i promised to put up some photos of my work in progress, in which i also promised to take them with a decent camera....<br />Failing the decent camera part, my phone will have to suffice for now.<br />So with out further delay here are my current WIPs of my Bloodpact.<br /><br />First up is my Locust fighter (Valkyrie substitute)-<br /><br /><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk7-8MV78KHfD3AhU6xv2mBvGs9gml_hbJN5b9InFo5O9gw01f7xKLy6ItaCvhGzTrElEJjfdBNitNrPfNUZMXsQVmcEcWYH2r1ydOY2BioHuiw_tNVXMIN0ZgoOtMvrRaWohp_2DDrQc/s1600/Photo0021.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463597696214246578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk7-8MV78KHfD3AhU6xv2mBvGs9gml_hbJN5b9InFo5O9gw01f7xKLy6ItaCvhGzTrElEJjfdBNitNrPfNUZMXsQVmcEcWYH2r1ydOY2BioHuiw_tNVXMIN0ZgoOtMvrRaWohp_2DDrQc/s320/Photo0021.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHiL9hB7gXKQdk70ctPWDrZGQztjU3vVbSCq9RDcqZNikodOuJqbhVUzhISGAl8wBP-_lDLy-sQQ3byG6gjuxSn_EmfHg0U4rmIKfls0hqDq9U1jSYmPoGnCWSW6HaJM5joJEuRG7K_q4/s1600/Photo0022.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463597710681580802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHiL9hB7gXKQdk70ctPWDrZGQztjU3vVbSCq9RDcqZNikodOuJqbhVUzhISGAl8wBP-_lDLy-sQQ3byG6gjuxSn_EmfHg0U4rmIKfls0hqDq9U1jSYmPoGnCWSW6HaJM5joJEuRG7K_q4/s320/Photo0022.jpg" /></a><br /><div><div><div><div><div>This is clearly my first time arranging pictures in a blog so please forgive the mess...<br /><br />As you can see i have yet to attach the wings, armaments and landing gear.<br />All of which should be done by tonight for the most part.<br />All parts used are from the Valkyrie kit,<br />following the instructions from <a href="http://blog.spikeybits.com/2009/12/on-steel-horse-i-ride-valkyrie-jet.html">Spikey Bits Jet Instructions</a> with a few minor adjustments-<br />I continued to cut out the fuselage beyond that stated so i could fit in a singular engine, which is made up of the 4 quarter pieces you get in the kit (2 per engine), and mirrored that cutout into the undercarriage.<br />The air intakes are from the old hunter killer missile tube, cut from 1 corner to the opposing corner lengthways.<br />(Im not all that good with instructions so please let me know if i failed to be clear)<br /><br />This beauty will be painted up to have the same white pearl look as in the book 'Double Eagle',<br />as the look described in 'Sabbat Matyr' i dont think is all that fitting...<br />Using a similar process but with a diferent pallet, I will be using a similar process as outlined by Dave Taylor in his post <a href="http://davetaylorminiatures.blogspot.com/2010/02/rapid-assault-force-approaches.html">The Rapid Assault Force Approaches</a>.<br />While a choice selection was used in his pallet, i will be aiming for a more final colour than bone, purely for a stronger contrast.<br /><br />The next in line for this post is a troop transport for 1 of my hardened vet squads-<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Ay5-19nxMHXNrbVAA444UEScEOfav0FaWorLaCpCYLEqlHI6IA4wy4FivyO6ZlFdecOpdDLZEL0NJU9mH1iINWZhKSIK4tDdiTRKqSEgFhZFOE6pGacc-1kkHutGZLRBK75RSUSfyAw/s1600/Photo0024.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463597729687486866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Ay5-19nxMHXNrbVAA444UEScEOfav0FaWorLaCpCYLEqlHI6IA4wy4FivyO6ZlFdecOpdDLZEL0NJU9mH1iINWZhKSIK4tDdiTRKqSEgFhZFOE6pGacc-1kkHutGZLRBK75RSUSfyAw/s320/Photo0024.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1thX7OKDPxzAmc2TJbCoyXlSkwMOBheoz-3XVYMcw4A4Zy-UY_f3l0zq9qNJBWV7O0KbIpj34ktB7dK7glX5EXVcQ_zyMHT4xPjewBca1bkH2LVL5cyY-ubZJJsKMOuhBJ3zkeqzF2EE/s1600/Photo0025.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463597744697400322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1thX7OKDPxzAmc2TJbCoyXlSkwMOBheoz-3XVYMcw4A4Zy-UY_f3l0zq9qNJBWV7O0KbIpj34ktB7dK7glX5EXVcQ_zyMHT4xPjewBca1bkH2LVL5cyY-ubZJJsKMOuhBJ3zkeqzF2EE/s320/Photo0025.jpg" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAoWubDaVA1iG-r6a2anuitjyzyGhaQ-bU9A_tGiMYSYL91M4wrmOiWUAzMnguQxcEUL9AAQCKWDjhTJwmOTSQpGCj7StncgTHC55wm8vnYIA_mxEaABMwFz2nCDS1QH1wgg39apjPUvM/s1600/Photo0023.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463597716565538754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAoWubDaVA1iG-r6a2anuitjyzyGhaQ-bU9A_tGiMYSYL91M4wrmOiWUAzMnguQxcEUL9AAQCKWDjhTJwmOTSQpGCj7StncgTHC55wm8vnYIA_mxEaABMwFz2nCDS1QH1wgg39apjPUvM/s320/Photo0023.jpg" /></a><br />This was made following all the instructions posted by Dave Taylor, which can both be found in <a href="http://davetaylorminiatures.blogspot.com/2009/06/troop-transport-truck-tutorial-part-one.html">part 1</a> and <a href="http://davetaylorminiatures.blogspot.com/2009/06/troop-transport-truck-tutorial-part-two.html">part 2</a> using the templates posted up <a href="http://davetaylorminiatures.blogspot.com/2009/08/wait-is-over.html">here</a>.<br /><br />The only changes i made were to use florist wire to make a small 2 step ladder into the back of the truck on the rear left, used chains to hold the bench seats in place (fixed seats dont work in a work horse vehicle tray imo), and made the frame for the canopy out of florist wire too.<br />Extra handles and support bars are also made using florist wire.<br />The floor of the tray was roughly covered in contact adhesive before a cut to size piece of plastic fly screen was layed over the top. This uneven surface will be used to effect as i would expect there to be gore from the troops it transports all over the place.<br />There is still alot to be done before i start painting, more tidbits to attach, refining of some details, and possible battle damage/field repairs.<br /><br />It will be painted up to look like an Imperial Transport, then i will attack it with my blood and gore mix to show it has been looted by the pact.<br /><br />Thats it for now,<br />any constructive comments or extra ideas appreciated.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Mephistopheleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17004126516680807567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799863103134880991.post-77430496005333443522010-04-20T15:50:00.007+10:002010-09-28T16:21:28.451+10:00How the blood came to flow...Ok,<br />i have yet to get any decent pictures taken,<br />but thought id run through the concept for the look and feel of my Bloodpact,<br />as well as discuss a few sources of inspiration for future and previous projects.<br /><br />Like many people who have read the Gaunts Ghosts series,<br />i was inspired to create a Bloodpact force.<br />At the time i was an Imperial Guard player,<br />and the idea of stopping guard to start a Bloodpact army pretty much stopped any ideas eventuating into reality.<br /><br />At the time of the release of Apocalypse i had stopped working on my guard for several years,<br />and had started a 1000pt army for $400,<br />and seeing as it had to be a new army i had chosen 'nyds (of which the whole army list had to be re-worked due to new codex).<br />It was during this time that something major caught my eye,<br />and so i started assembling a Baneblade (which i have still yet to complete...) for the purpose of a guard tank to get my interest back into them and finish them off (never happened).<br /><br />After a new release of Gaunts Ghosts (Only in death i believe it was),<br />the urge for blood came back in full force.<br />This was when the perfect idea hit me,<br />why bother starting a new army when i can convert an incomplete guard army into the Blood pact army i had been wanting to do.<br /><br />So,<br />loyalty out the window and in with the powers of chaos.<br /><br />First thing i had to do,<br />outline what seperated the guard from Blood pact from a standard guard army,<br />aside from the obvious aesthetics of the infantry,<br />it all came down to vehicles, the powers of the warp and xenos.<br />So i looked through all my novels,<br />and through my sabbat crusades book (bought for $30 AUS at the time),<br />for all vehicles and creatures and such that were used by the dark powers.<br /><br />Aside from scavenged tanks and traitors,<br />i came up with the following-<br />Usurper self propelled howitzers<br />SteG4 armoured cars<br />AT 70 Reavers<br />AT 83 Brigand<br />N20 and N22 Half tracks<br />Stalk tanks<br />Locust aircraft<br />Loxatyl xenos mercinaries<br />Wirewolves<br />Bay Hounds<br /><br />(i may have forgotten some of what i came across,<br />as well as some spelling).<br /><br />The next step was to work out how i would include these units into my army...<br />-Usurpers clearly had to be a form of artillery (based around ww2 german artillery, similar to the basis of <a href="http://davetaylorminiatures.blogspot.com/2009/10/expanding-motor-pool.html">Dave Taylors 'Priest'</a>, but with a central cannon based more towards the rear with a longer barrel<br />-SteG 4s as sentinels (as its not mentioned that they are transports. I cant remember where i got the inspiration from for these, so once posted if anyone knows please tell me so credit can be given)<br />-Locust aircraft as valkyries/vendettas (the problem was how the troops would be transported, but after seeing how this issue was overcome by <a href="http://davetaylorminiatures.blogspot.com/2010/04/what-smashing-week.html">Dave Taylors Warp Locator </a>, i was reminded of the huge pink crystals in 'Only in Death' that the Bloodpact were teleporting in from, as well as giant ogryn and human mutations, and so they will be placed on the bases of the craft. The concept for converting the aircraft i found thanks to <a href="http://blog.spikeybits.com/2009/12/on-steel-horse-i-ride-valkyrie-jet.html">Spikey Bits jet fighter</a>)<br />-Loxatyl would be my Ogryns<br />-A lone Wirewolve would represent Sly Marbo<br />-AT 70 Reavers would be a form of Leman Russ, as would the AT 83 and the Stalk tanks (all will make sense once the conversions are done, but the idea did click in from seeing the <a href="http://davetaylorminiatures.blogspot.com/2009/03/completely-menacing.html">Stalk tank by Dave Taylor</a> and the <a href="http://pickadamnarmy.blogspot.com/2009/10/at70-bloodpact-tank-scratch-built.html">AT 70 thanks to Rabidchild</a>)<br />-N20 and N22 Halftracks would likely be chimeras, hellhounds, and light artillery.<br />-Bay Hounds... they would just be an upgrade option for the N20 and N22s, representing there search lights (idea based on events in Traitor General)<br /><br />Thats about all i can remember for now,<br />its all written down somewhere,<br />will post more when i remember more.<br /><br />After that,<br />colour scheme was next on the agenda...<br />Seeing as how the Bloodpact are made up from recruited units as well as traitor units,<br />a portion of the army would be done in loylalist guard camo and uniforms with a suitable goreish reworking done to them,<br />while the rest would be purely done in a scheme suiting the pure Bloodpact.<br />Im a spray painter by trade,<br />so through work i have access to a whole tinter machine as well as certain types of sealer for spraying on cars,<br />of which i have found a mix that once sprayed out at EXTREMELY low pressure with high fluid settings creates the look that someone choaking on there own blood just coughed all over your army.<br />Looks great and oh so fitting too.<br />Down side being you have to let certain mixtures sit for a few days prior to adding it all together or you lose the whole dried clotted blood effect.<br />Its also very shinny so you must either put in matting agent with the mix,<br />or spray over it with mat varnish.<br /><br />That settled,<br />where should they be fighting?<br />After long deliberation,<br />and a chance watching of Behind Enemy Lines,<br />i decided on the look of an Eastern Europe industrial complex thats gone to ruin.<br />So blackened and greyed rocks and rubble,<br />dark coloured mud,<br />with scorched and dead grass and weeds.<br />Perhaps some pools of oil and water too.<br />Similar to the scene depicted in the area around the spoils outside Vervunhive in the book Necropolis,<br />just with more vegetation,<br />or at least signs it was there...<br /><br />Well thats the concept behind the look and feel of my army,<br />once i have the photos together i will go through the basis of my army make up,<br />force organisation and the reasoning behind my choices.Mephistopheleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17004126516680807567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799863103134880991.post-18999963040000567912010-04-18T18:12:00.000+10:002010-04-18T18:24:06.520+10:00From Humble Beginings...Gha...<br />Cant think of how to start off blogging all this,<br />so forgive me please if this seems rather lacking.<br />This is the start of a series of blogs detailing the progress of my 40k armies,<br />and any other random happenings along the way of worth.<br />Soon as i get photos up of my progress i will post,<br />and hopefully will be able to include a step by step for those that request it.<br />So far i have yet to finish an army of any sizable force,<br />as i am very easily distracted by new ideas,<br />but for now i am focusing on converting my Imp Guard over to Blood pact traitors,<br />and a re-vamped 'nyd swarm.<br /><br />So...<br />1 week from now i will put up some pics and info on my current progress,<br />as to which army will be put on show first...<br />Well...<br />Guess that will have to be seen.<br /><br />Til then,<br />keep making your concepts into realities :)Mephistopheleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17004126516680807567noreply@blogger.com0