Fire from the Skies

Finally got my first Valkyrie kit a couple of weeks ago to start to get the last few points of my 1500 point list done.

Built it over the following week n between moving bits of my house to storage and what a pig this kit is to build. Partly my fault for not reading the instructions properly and checking bits were going on the right side of the model but the tail section would not fit square no matter how much I tweaked, repositioned and faffed about with it. The next couple I build I hope will be better but who knows.

Its taken all that time to get it built and basic colours on it, then I thought I might have a go at paint chipping and kinda went a bit daft. I figured the Imperial Guard/Navy wouldn't take the time to repaint just repair and rearm so I spent about 4-5 hours weathering the edge of the plates. It needs decals, the cockpit painting and I need to get the forge world vendetta kit ordered, painted and fitted then based. I`ll be doing that once I get the other 2 put together and basic paint job on them so I can game with them. I'm playing a League game next Thursday so I have until then to get them done, I might even manage to get some bonus points for having them painted if I make/buy Marbo (what a guy) in time.

I decided to paint the cockpit , I didn't want the glass showing through so I thought some groovy one way glass was the best option (and I didn't have to paint the crew inside which I`ll use on another project I have in mind. A good site to look at is Cammo Specs, I just hope the technique scales up to 28mm.

The basic paint is a mix of 3-1 Chaos Black and Dark Angels Green which I washed with 50/50 water and Badab Black then painted neat Badab Black into the lines between the plates. The paint dried a little bit inconsistent and looks almost a really greenish/blue in some places which adds further to the weathering look. After that the simple, but lengthy job of attacking the raised edges with a thin Bolt Gun Metal/water mix, I think Ill use a thinner brush on the next Valk.

The kit as I said was a swine to assemble and the next one ill paint before I glue the wings on coz painting the damn heavy bolters is proving to be problematic as I just cant get the the damn things.

Gun teams

Since I started this blog I've seen some fantastic painting, conversions, dioramas and some truly lovely armies.

It started me thinking, I've been gaming on and off since I was about 10 and I'm not the ripe old age of 33 and I don't ever remember converting or modelling anything. I think its because I was always worried about making a mistake that would ruin a perfectly good miniature and look like a splat on a base.

I have to say I've been truly inspired by some of the blogs out there of which there are too many to name but if you have posted anything about modelling, painting or converting I'd like to say thank you.

I wanted my weapons teams to be different, to look like they were dug in and going no where, I also wanted them to have a bit of character. This idea started because I was a bit lazy and didn't want to paint the gun crews (I actually gave myself more work) but I'm pleased with the results.

So Below is my first proper attempt at something of my own!!

Colonel Rubin Von Muller and Commisar Hans Von Struder

Ive been painting again. I've been bidding and trying to buy the Original metal Colonel from the old metal command pack and having seen it at daft prices from £15 - £30 I somehow managed to pick him and the whole squad up for £5.50 BARGIN!!!

I tried to paint these two figures at the best of my ability, these really are about as good as I can do at the moment. I tend to paint figures to be looked at at about a foot or two away so I was supprised at how untidy the pictures made my figures look. All in all though I'm happy with the results. I've been following The painting Corps and if you dont read it theres masses and masses of tip, hints and how to`s. It's inspired me to try more modeling rather than just painting and gaming.

He stands out with the white greatcoat and the shoulder pads tie him in to the army nicley.

I painted the Commisar in the usual way, black greatcoat etc, the red makes him "pop", Im not very happy with the gold and I may end up stripping him at some point and repainting. The Bolt pistol has quite obviously been drawn from Regimental stores and again gives him a tie in with the army.

Platoon HQ

Next instalment of my guard is done to gaming standard.

The platoon HQ is;

Platoon Lieutenant

3 x Guardsmen with Flamer

1 x Guardsman with Vox Caster



The troopers are simple to do, nice and easy, very quick and they are at a standard I can game with and go back to at a later date to bring upto a decent quality.

One list to rule them all?

Having finally managed to persuade Captain Yukka to nip round with his camera Ive finally managed to get some pics. I originally was supposed to head out to Vapnartak 2010 but Ive not been able to get the time off of work so my 1000 point painting dead line got extended!!

Myself, Captain Yukka, Cpt_Machine and Bradimus Prime have decided to run a friendly 40k league the reults table is on Captian Yukkas blog.

We decided to start it at 1000 points that needed to be painted by Vapnartak 2010 or by the end of febuary if we couldnt go. After a few lists I think this is the final one, the idea was that one list fits all and it gets built on as we go through the league

Company Command
Vox Caster

Platoon Command
3 Flamers
Vox Caster
Chimera

Commisar
Power Sword

Infantry Squad
Vox Caster

Infantry Squad

Veteran Squad
Melta Gun x 3
Chimera

Veteran Squad
Melta Gun x 3
Chimera

Heavy Weapons Squad
Auto Cannon x 3

Heavy Weapons Squad
LasCannon x 3

Leman Russ Demolisher

Basilisk

I liked the idea of having a bunch of foot sloggers who could rain massed Lasgun fire at dismounted infantry and could sit on an objective with support and using the "first rank second rank order" it gives you 40 shots at 24" or 60 at 12". If you field them as a single unit (which I tend to do), even with the BS3 and S3 thats not bad going, an average round of dice rolling should give a 10 marine squad a problem and lighter units orks, nids etc are going to take a kicking.

I gave them a Commisar in the hope that if they do get into close combat they wont run and gives me time to get some support up from the vets or move my heavy weapons teams to a safer possition if threatened.

Now support that unit with 3 las cannon for anti vehicle and 3 auto cannon for light vehicles, heavy infantry and monsterous creatures. A company command squad in 12" means you now have more options, "Bring it down" Raises the chances of killing or stopping vehicles and hopefully giving my guardsmen a nice target.

The Mech Vet squads speak for themselves, rush 'em forward to objective grab or use meltas and sacrifice them for some spot armour removal. The platoon command squad opperates inbetween the Vets and the Infantry to provide flamer support where they are needed.

I wanted some serious pie plate action so opted for a demolisher, heavy armour S10 AP1 gun should discorage my opponent from getting too close and a basilisk S9 AP 3to reach out and touch my opponents dug in units or clear objectives anywhere on the board.