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Hi there.

Myself and Panic are competing in the Gamesfest 40k Doubles Tournament next weekend, and decided to start some new forces for the game. Panic's gonna use this as an excuse to start his long-awaited Rebel Grot army, and I'm gonna dig out what remains of my old Squats, and any old Dwarf models lying around, and convert myself a little Squat army. We're going for proper squat weapon choices here, so this is an IG army with as much plasma as possible, the odd Heavy Bolter, and Mole Mortars (Mortars)!

Here's the list...

HQ: Engineer Guildmaster in Exo Armour
1 Techpriest Enginseer @ 45 pts (Laspistol, Power Weapon, Power Armour)

Elites: Squat Rangers
3 Ratlings @ 30 pts (Sniper Rifles)

Troops: Brotherhood Infantry
1 Command HQ @ 55 pts (5#, Lasguns, 1 Plasmagun, 1 Heavy Bolter)
1 Infantry Squad @ 70 pts (10#, Lasguns, 1 Plasmagun, 1 Mortar)
1 Infantry Squad @ 70 pts (10#, Lasguns, 1 Plasmagun, 1 Mortar)

Heavy Support: Leman Russ Squadron
1 Leman Russ Executioner @ 230 pts (Plasma Sponsons

And you can see Panic's P&M Blog here - http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/261148.page

Thing is, the tournament is next weekend, I'm incredibly busy this week, and so I've only got THIS WEEKEND to build and paint the force. So, all building today, hopefully spray undercoat this evening, and then paint everything tomorrow!

Here's the current models, after assembly this morning..


Here are some basic Brotherhood infantry conversions. Dwarf warrior bodies, Cadian arms, and an Enforcer Plasmagun


Here's some old Dwarf Rangers converted to have Sniper Rifles for my mandatory Ratlings. I need to sort out the drooping barrel!


Old fashioned Mole Mortar


Heavy Bolter guy with oversized gun!


And the Engineer himself, made from a Exo-squat, Chaos Terminator Chainaxe, Space Marine Arms, Techmarine Servo-Arm, and an old Imperial Assassin laspistol/boltpistol weapon.

Wheres the Leman Russ?

Cool project.

Heh. Awesome. Go forth and pawn, army of midgets!

Lord-Loss wrote:Wheres the Leman Russ?

Cool project.

Leman Russ is being assembled RIGHT NOW. Posts in a couple of hours...

Just a heads up, a Tech Priest doesn't count as a HQ choice.

Dexy wrote:Just a heads up, a Tech Priest doesn't count as a HQ choice.

Thanks, yup, I know - it's just for this tournament. I've checked with the organisers, and there's also a similar thread about this from a few weeks ago in YMDC. The wording is...

Guard Codex wrote:Techpriest Enginseers do not use up any Force Organisation chart selections, but are otherwise treated as separate HQ units

The Techpriest does count as a HQ choice, and is a valid HQ choice. What he doesn't do is take up a slot on the Force Organisation Chart. This means that, in any mission where forces are chosen using the FOC, you can't use the Techpriest as your compulsory HQ.

However, if you're playing a scenario which doesn't use the FOC, then it's just fine. This tournament has it's own rules, and specifically states that you don't use the FOC. So it's ok!!




Automatically Appended Next Post:
Look! A SQUAT Leman Russ. I've taken inspiration for this army from Matt Varnish's fantastic Squat IG ( http://www.dakkadakka.com/gallery/user/71-Matt%20Varnish.html )
and I really liked his 'short' tanks. I've tried to do the same here, albeit with much less planning and skill...

So here's my Leman Russ Executioner, built in about two hours from random bits of mounting board, some Chimera track sections, Leman Russ turret and sponsons, Sentinel Heavy Plasmas and power supplies, and a ton of tank extras.

Also, I've started the spray undercoating, as you can see.

yeah,
dude that Leman Looks awesome.
What stats does the main cannon have?

The guys look great too. I like the mole mortars.
Maybe you can nick Matts other idea and use Spacemarine backpack vents to add shoulder lamps?

Also When you've base coated your guys using the humbrol green grass spray, check out the base trim, I think old school green bases will save a fair bit of time?
all that's needed is gluing some flock on! do you have the sawdust type green flock?

Or do you want to put a bit of extra time in and go for AshWaste bases?

Anyway Looking forward to the next update!

Panic...

Now dont go getting killed by a tyranid player now

I still maintain that some type of Squat should be in the IG list anyway

I've got 10 Squat bikers I need to get on with to use as Marine Bikers - I do love me a bit of Squat.

This looks like my dream 40K army, nothing but little guys! The Halflings and weedy greenskins have always been my favorite.

That being said, where's the fluff? Panic mentioned you'd be filling us in on the reasons for this unusual team-up. Are the grots inslaved to the stunties, like the Chaos Dwarfs and Hobgoblins?

Your stunties look great. I aspecially like the over sized bolt gun, it almost looks like he's on his tiptoes.

ArbitorIan wrote:The Techpriest does count as a HQ choice, and is a valid HQ choice. What he doesn't do is take up a slot on the Force Organisation Chart. This means that, in any mission where forces are chosen using the FOC, you can't use the Techpriest as your compulsory HQ.

However, if you're playing a scenario which doesn't use the FOC, then it's just fine. This tournament has it's own rules, and specifically states that you don't use the FOC. So it's ok!!

yeah,
I just had a look at the rules.
They say that we share one FOC, so as long as I have the Mek, he uses a HQ slot the FOC is happy.
we also have to take one HQ choice each, So the TechPriest makes Ians Force happy too.

Panic...

Lord-Loss wrote:Wheres the Leman Russ?

Cool project.

Leman Russ vanished into the warp soon after the Heresy. The Space Wolves sometimes get visions of him and call a 'great hunt' to follow the visions. This is covered in their new codex.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
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Seriously now, I love the idea for the Leman but I think the sponsons don't really work. If you revisit it cut off the engine boxes and mount them higher on the tracks.

nice work on the Clanwarriors, simple but effective!

Kid_Kyoto wrote:

Lord-Loss wrote:Wheres the Leman Russ?

Cool project.

Leman Russ vanished into the warp soon after the Heresy. The Space Wolves sometimes get visions of him and call a 'great hunt' to follow the visions. This is covered in their new codex.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
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Seriously now, I love the idea for the Leman but I think the sponsons don't really work. If you revisit it cut off the engine boxes and mount them higher on the tracks.

I think the low sponsons make it share some characteristics with the land raider, which looks kinda cool. My only beef would be the turret weapon; I would've bulked it up a bit to mkae it look heavy 3. I also used a sentinel plasma cannon as a base, but added lots of gubbins. If you have the time ArbitorIan, this maye be something to consider.

Other then that: lovely work, you're crazy to try this, and I'll be dropping in looking for updates!

Looking forward to seeing these in the flesh next week at gamesfest, will keep my eyes open when i look round the tourny tables.
go squats and grots

Gah! Camera Meltdown! - It's on charge, I'll update in the morning.

I've managed to get all the base colors on, and I've just had my first experience of Army Painter Quickshade dip. The army is now lying in my basement, drying post-dip. I'll post pics tomorrow once the camera has charged.

Technically, they're useable (3 colors and a green base) so I guess my two day limit is completed, but I want to do some highlighting and detail work before the tourney, so I'll find a few hours in the week so touch them up.

Hurrah! And pics tomorrow, promise!

ArbitorIan wrote:Here's some old Dwarf Rangers converted to have Sniper Rifles for my mandatory Ratlings. I need to sort out the drooping barrel!

I immediately thought of this.


Rico...

So results of the dipping are in - I dipped the whole army last night in Army Painter Quickshade Dark Tone (http://www.thearmypainter.com/product_presentation.php?page=1&ProductgroupId=1&ProductgroupName=Quickshade) - It's basically a dark varnish/stain that you can apply to pretty much anything - obviously it's REALLY unsubtle, but then I did only have the one weekend.

After painting all the basic colors on the models, I initially thought "This looks RUBBISH". It's really not the way I'd usually paint - and the models with just a flat flesh, grey, and green looked really amateurish. Anyway, I went ahead and dipped them, and the dip was a lot thicker than i expected. It says to shake them three or four times, but that didn't remove all of the heavier pools, so i dabbed away all the excess with tissues.

I then left them to dry overnight. Ten hours later, they're still pretty tacky, but that might just be my basement. I've moved them to the paint station to dry out futher today. They're also INCREDIBLY SHINY! However, this will hopefully go once I've done all the highlighting and given them a light coat of matt spray varnish at the end.

The results were actually better than I expected. Here's some standard guys...



But I think the best results were on the old-style Squats, who have really bulky features (like backpacks and stuff)



The tank was a bit more difficult - it needed to be brudhed with the varnish, as it wouldn't fit in the tin. I did it in four parts - turret, hull, left, right. There's a bit of streaking on the sections that are made from Mounting Board - but I think I can clean this up with the highlighting.


Originally, I thought the dip had completely obscured the vents on the Plasma Cannons, but after drying a bit the blue still shines through.


Cool, now to highlight and detail everything....

hahaha I got a kick out of those. Great idea keep up the fun work.

Awesome. That is so cool that you have decided to bust out a small army for that event.

Try to get a coupla pics of them on the table vs. an opponent!

- Blackbone

I love learning about all of these speed painting techniques. It seems really fun! What with the "Yeah, well... That'll do!" sort o' thing. I was looking at The Army Painter's website the other day. It's nice to learn that there's other ways of doing things apart from GW's propaganda. I think that these guys are going to receive allot of attention from the other dudes/dudesses at the tourney! BTW, are you and Panic on the same team by any chance?

Keep on painting man!

Those are amazing!! I wish they would bring Squats back *sigh*

DUDE those look AWESOME.

Love that you went with the old classical green color scheme,, I ALMOST went that route, but at the time was painting a friend's Dark Angel army, and the idea of painting more regular green just was more than I could stand.

Also, I sent to JonnyDelta a platoon's worth of squat bits (dwarf parts mainly) so we have another warlord in the brotherhood!

Keep up the good work.

Matt Varnish wrote:DUDE those look AWESOME.

Love that you went with the old classical green color scheme,, I ALMOST went that route, but at the time was painting a friend's Dark Angel army, and the idea of painting more regular green just was more than I could stand.

Also, I sent to JonnyDelta a platoon's worth of squat bits (dwarf parts mainly) so we have another warlord in the brotherhood!

Keep up the good work.

Hurrah! Thanks!

As i said, your fantastic army was the inspiration behind this one. I would never have had enough real Squat models to do it - the Dwarf conversions are great ideas.

I chose the color scheme to fit in with Panic's army - he's gonna actually expand his force, so I thought it best if I just painted it mine the same way. But now you mention it, the green and yellow scheme IS rather Rogue Trader, isn't it?

Alls I can say is

DINNER!!!

So, I managed to find a bit of time this morning to do some basic highlighting, just to brighten up the faces and beards, and put a bit of work in on the Engineer. Here's the army as it stands at the moment.





I think a few white details - pouches and stuff - would be good, to tie in with Panic's grots, and maybe some shoulder pad markings. Then basing, and a coat of non-gloss varnish to stop them being so shiny.

Anyone have any experience trying to de-shine? Do you think a quick coat of Purity Seal will get them down to an acceptable level?

The army is shaping up fast, and I think the dip looks great with the colors you've chosen. For the tank, you simply brushed the dip on? Lightly I guess, as you aren't able to shake it off afterwards? I've got some big models in the pipes for my dipped skaven, and not having to plunk a bell into the can of dip would be nice ...

For de-shining (I personally like the shine for my nurgley applications), I've heard hitting them with a whole hell of dullcote will do the job. Dullcote is pretty fantastic stuff anyway, I'd be curious if it's indeed up to the task.

- Salvage

Interesting take on the Stunties there. Love the paint job and mini tank.

My own squat force is essentially done as an "as if" SM Scout force, heavy with sniper rifles.
For all but Command, Elites and some fast attack elements (a pair of squat heavy trikes), I use the scout armor profile.
Last time I fielded them, my opponant nearly fainted at seeing 30 snipers and 10 bikes on the table.

You got some really nice Squat conversions there mate good work!!!!

Boss_Salvage wrote:The army is shaping up fast, and I think the dip looks great with the colors you've chosen. For the tank, you simply brushed the dip on? Lightly I guess, as you aren't able to shake it off afterwards? I've got some big models in the pipes for my dipped skaven, and not having to plunk a bell into the can of dip would be nice ...

For de-shining (I personally like the shine for my nurgley applications), I've heard hitting them with a whole hell of dullcote will do the job. Dullcote is pretty fantastic stuff anyway, I'd be curious if it's indeed up to the task.

- Salvage

Thanks

Yup, I had to brush it onto the tank. And then dab it off with tissue from the raised areas. Sounds like a pain, but the whole thing only took a few minutes. I dipped the turret separately, and you can't really see any difference between the two processes.

I've acquired a can of Humbrol Matt Varnish spray. I'll see if this does the job later today...!