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I've taken an interest in Tyranids with the release of the new Space Hulk edition, and started building my own 'Nid force. I was kind of dismayed when I learned that they are due a new codex in January, because I don't want anybody to think I'm a bandwagon jumper (ok maybe I am anyway). Oh, well. I have wanted to do 'Nids since learning about them when I started playing. If they still had them in the new starter set I would have kept them along with the marines.

But, enough rambling. On to the test model-

This model is about 80% done. I'd still like to do the teeth, add some highlighting to the hooves, clean up the spine ridges, finish the base, etc., but I think this is a good start.

I like it , because mine is same color too xD

Kind of looks rusty and thus, awesome.

Heya Fox, I'm not a Nid player but have painted and coverted them and they are FUN!! So many possibilites to create horrific alien monstrosities, besides Orks they are most interesting models to build especially the Fexs and Tyrants.

Look forward to see what you come up with.

Thanks for the replies! I have 2 carnifexes and a box of warriors due in the mail, so we'll see where this goes. I plan on making a very assault-oriented nid army, with a mix of swarm and nidzilla tactics. This isn't my competitive army, so I want to have fun with it.

Reinforcements have arrived! Here are the newly-assembled 'fexes and Warrior brood:

Looking good. Now get some paint on them.

Nice , now slap some paint ! *whips*

Ok, they've been trimmed and primed, and my Lictor came today. I got that assembled but not primed yet. Gotta go run for some groceries, but I might be able to get some pics up tonight.

Some gameplay is getting in the way tonight: A friend wants to play my new Blood Angel terminators from the space hulk set. These shots were taken after deployment before the first turn:


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For those interested: I won my game, losing the broodlord and retinue, 3 genestealers, a warrior, and a carnifex. I wiped the SM player to the man by turn 5.

Observations made during this game:

Carnifexes are nice against terminators, but genestealers actually are more effective against the same target due to the sheer number of attacks on the charge, their initiative, and their rending claws. I must have killed 2 terminators with genestealers to every 1 downed by the carnifex.

A single Lictor, by itself, is not a very efficient expenditure of 80 points. I would have benefitted more from either Regeneration and Toxic Miasma for my Carnifexes, or by adding more genestealers to the existing brood and broodlord's retinue.

A broodlord infiltrating with his retinue = dead stuff by end of turn 1.

Genestealers also rip up light to medium vehicles pretty effectively, especially if they catch them while immobile or before they get a chance to move (see above observation).



The lictor model looks really cool, but I think I'll just paint him up and leave him on my shelf until I play larger games or buy more buddies for him.

Deepstriking into area terrain = dangerous terrain test = me cursing my bad luck as a "1" comes up, halving his wounds.

It is a good start.

Are your genestealers going to match the color scheme of the rest?

I had planned on it, but I may yet change my mind. I'm open to suggestions however.

the lictors are great units for what they're good for... tying up a unit from shooting for a turn or two until it dies or runs away from fighting.

like, when the opposition deploys a devastator squad, i get my lictor there asap and just eat up time for a turn or two until i can close with the 'stealers or hormagaunts.

Yeah, the lictor did something similar by hopping a low wall to murder a couple tactical marines that were intending to fire their big weapons at my advancing carnifex, I just am not impressed with how they do the deepstrike into area terrain. I would have preferred the lictor to have deployment rules more like marbo, just a little toned down from that. Getting wounded because you deepstruck into area terrain is pretty lousy though.

think of the bright side, the lictor gets a +2 to cover save when in cover and no matter what it can't scatter outside of the terrain. then it's just stalk and kill or deploy them into the same terrain as the thing you want to attack.

Quick Update: started work on the carnifex... expect an picture update later tonight. I also got my new glasses yesterday, so maybe my painting will improve! Ok, maybe not :(

Halfway done! Got the first layer of bleached bone, the first highlight on the carapace, and even the adrenal glands hashed out. Still needs a lot of work but not too bad for 2 hours of painting tonight. I'll try to finish more when I get home from work tomorrow.

do you put a gloss finish on them? i did to mine - ive been getting mixed reviews from it - the shine that is

Nope, no gloss, but I do make sure to coat the entire thing with the GW wash... that gives it a semi-gloss finish. I probably will use Hardcoat though to make the paintjob more durable, if not slimier looking.

That's a good colour scheme! I'm stuck on ideas for what to do on mine :( May yoink this

Oh noes! I can't compete with another blog of yours, infilTraitor! J/k. Steal away, god knows I did it enough to you with my IG army

Got the 'fex done, pics to follow as soon as I take them!

Ok here he is in all of his terrifying glory! Just needs basing and he's done.

lookin good so far any ideas for the bases ?

Eh, I'm pretty lame on bases. I'll probably just stick to using the GW crushed slate (small) and make it look like ash like my other armies.

Place unused tyranid bits on the base ,
it'll look organic and alienish like er...

Aliens.

I want to know how you can afford all of these

Just put PVA glue + sand + primer * drybrush = Simple yet good enough looking bases

@Luna: That may work. I may give it a shot!

@InfilTRAITOR: I got a pretty cool new job as a portrait photographer... I get a bonus for big sales (like a commission but not quite the same). I also just got my PFD (permanent fund dividend) which is a payout of 1000 bucks this year... look it up on the internet if you are interested (alaska PFD). I budgeted 100 bucks to spend on 'nids.

@gretar: I use the materials from the GW 40k basing kit, since I won it in a tournament a few months back. It basically gets the same effect as the sand but it looks a little more flakey, which is perfect for the ash effect I normally go for. I probably will just do the same with these because I am a lazy git

You have an awesome job then O.O

Yeah I am really liking it. I get to deal with kids, which is awesome, and I get to make a fair wage doing it. Also, learning about portrait photography might help out when I am photographing my own miniatures (both of the table-top variety and the toddler kind).