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Blog full of my sporadic hobbying. Mostly 40k but WHFB and even Blood Bowl or Infinity might crop up at some stage. I tend to take time off from the hobby but I'll return back to it sooner or later.

Original Post:
With my latest conversion (technically just a kitbash), comes my quest to rectify my painting habits and get on with stuff. No idea how successful this will be (and I apologise for the crappy pics), but without further ado; my Siege Lords Chaplain!

And the Siege Lords at their current status (if you want close ups just ask and I'll get them up asap)

Oh and the obligatory workstation shot

C&C will of course be welcome and appreciated throughout the blog
Cheers,
BP

Figured starting with all grey models wasn't the best way to go about the opening post to my P&M blog, so here's some of the models I've painted in the past (hopefully with better images this time around). Unfortunately I can't show some of my better stuff as it's all in a display case at the local GW...

So firstly my first attempt at Golden Demon from a few years ago. It was actually a finalist in its category (Young Bloods)

Then my second go at the same model (the Emperor's Champion is my favorite mini to date) - this time to represent Castellan Crowe (with no storm bolter ). Not particularly happy (at all) with this guy's face/helmet, but oh well, it was more to try out the armour scheme than anything else.

Finally my latest model, the plastic Herald of Nurgle (who looks a little more green in real life). This model was actually a technique experiment for using washes over a white undercoat. The only "painted" layers are the bleached bone basecoat for the horns and claws, and the silver highlights in the metal - everything else is using GW's washes range!

Coming up next will be the plastic Farseer

I'm loving it so far, that chaplain kitbash is awesome!

The painting on the Nurgle herald is superb, I'm truly jealous sir!

You sound a lot like me, I can never get stuff done/completed either

This is some interesting work so far. The kitbash is nice, and I'd like to see some closer shots of the individual squads you've got on deck.

While the first Champion is a cleaner, more professional paint job, the second one caught my eye because the color choices used in the armor made it look like boiled leather rather than metal at first glance. It's an interesting idea, though probably not what you were going for. I agree with you that the helm on that one, and all the white for that matter, are not quite up to par. If you want I could go over my methods for painting white, assuming you haven't already improved on it since that model was painted (no clue how long ago it was).

Painted it around 6 months ago so many improvements have followed. I'll get some close ups and a WHIP on the Farseer up sometime tomorrow

Sorry about the delay in promised pics, I received an unexpected invite to Ballarat (smallish town NW of Melbourne). @Bossfearless, here are some close ups of the more interesting of the units:

First up, Captain Romulous - 4th Company Captain and Master of the Fleet.

Then the tac squad (the other 5 guys are on my table waiting to be stuck together)

...and their Rhino.

And here's my vanguard.

I'm sure you'll all have noticed the lack of cork on some units. This because... Well basically I gave up the cork basing was just too much work. The fact that my sniper scouts weren't getting cover saves due to them being less than 25% concealed also had an impact on the decision.

Finally here's the farseer WIP.


How do you guys think it's all going (in particular the farseer)? Next update should include more work on the seer and some more Siege Lords stuff, but then I'm extremely prone to distractions and for all I know we may end up with a Stompa!
'Til next time!

Been just over a week since I last posted here - unfortunately I haven't had much time for hobby lately... Anyway here's a small update for today.

So I bought a pack of centurions earlier in the week. Now originally these were for my Siege Lords... (two of them still are ) but as you'll see I got a bit side tracked. You see I was looking through one of my 4L ice cream tubs of bits for a suitable head (really not a fan of the standard centurion heads), when I came across the bare head from the metal WoC lord on Juggernaut. Figured I may as we'll see how it looks even though the daemonic horns clearly weren't going to fit in w the rest if the army, and it just happened to work out!

As a result I know have a WIP Abaddon count as. Now I had some fluff and stuff for him on my phone but for the moment it's just (crappy) pics as it probably won't make sense w/out the fluff for the rest of the army.

So here he is: (sorry about the lighting)

Now I kind of hit a wall when I got to the arms. As you can see I'm using DP shoulder pad (coz they look absolutely awesome!) and as such regular termi arms are too small (they otherwise would've looked fine). I also have the issues of what to give him. At the moment I'm kind of being forced into going w the termi arms and having him look like the armless Abaddon we all know and "love" (the centurion arms are no better in case you were wondering). Here's what I've got at the moment - the sword/staff thingo will be cut off that fist and put onto a regular termi fist to make the sizing look slightly better.

Next time I'll post the rest of the AL stuff plus some AL fluff


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Oh and I forgot to mention; the storm bolter in the second pic is going to be a shoulder mount that sits behind his left shoulder

I remember reading the first HH novel and seeing members of the Mournival making fun of Abaddon, saying that he would never get a suit of terminator plate because he was too big to fit in it. Centurion plate seems like a good fix :3

Can I be critical for a minute?

Imma be critical for a minute.

The concept is there, and it's a great concept. But the execution needs some improvement. The legs of Centurions can be chopped and reposed into a more dynamic walking forward pose, and a model like this needs that illusion of motion to really sell the power and ferocity of it. If you don't model him moving, he's going to look like a guy whose armor is too bulky to function.

The other thing this needs is an air of grandiosity. You've got some neat adornments on the armor, but they all seem like they're within reasonable limits. A centurion-based Abaddon needs to be so over the top as to leave no room for doubt--this is the guy who's in charge. The torch on top of the suit is a good concept, but I think that needs to get crazier. There are some really excellent flames on the Flamespyre Phoenix model from the High Elves. I don't advocate you buying a whole one of those, but maybe go on eBay to a bits seller and get one or two of the flame bits separately, and it should be enough (with creative cutting) to have him wreathed head to toe in flames.

Look at your guy as he is now. And now imagine him storming forward with the billowing fires of damnation spilling from his armor.

I see what you mean, but the thing is (kinda forgot to explain this), he's for my Alpha Legion force. With the current force I'm trying to stay away from going full chaosy. It should be clearer when I post up fluff and stuff (I'll try and get that done with more pics by the end of the week).

Legs is definitely a good idea; I'll see what I can do.

Edit: forgot to add he's not actually Abaddon. Basic fluff is he's second in command to Omegon (seeing as Alpharius is a DP) - more on that later though

Edit2: also critical is good

I can dig you not wanting to go demonic, but still, the model needs more gravitas, more pomp and a certain panache that it's missing right now. Would sculpting some kind of enormous fur cloak hanging off one shoulder all regal and such be within your skill set? Sorry I'm not being more helpful but I'm drawing a blank on what you could really add to it. Then again, he does already have horns. How pure could he really be?

Wow, you're releasing all the fluff spoilers for me! Haha. I'll see what I can come up though, massive cloak is a possibility... We'll see how it goes

A warband led by Lord Kaumar, the Hydras are the remnants of the mighty Alpha Legion 3rd Chapter and have recently been push out further into the Eastern Fringe after facing near annihilation against the Phalanx Imperial Guard. Believing that they may stray his Legion from their ultimate mission, Lord Kaumar shuns utter devotion and worshipping of the Chaos Gods - using and manipulating them only as a true Alpha Legionnaire would (or so he thinks).

Haven't got a whole load to update today, just more grey (and badly lit) models, namely my Alpha Legion. The force currently consists of only the DV contents w the addition of a 10 CSM squad (below). There ofc Abaddon of the way, as well as 2 Heldrakes
To start of with: Lord Kaumar himself (hand came off the c/c cultist champ)

Here's the CSM squad

Plus the only two other conversions (if you can even call them that)

Bought some black spray too so hopefully some painting gets done

Oh and I built a basilica (well two actually) so here's the gallery link: http://www.dakkadakka.com/gallery/images-79241-39517_Basilica%20Administratum.html

While I must say that I am enjoying all of the work here so far, the Farseer is stunning. The contrast in light and dark color is just stunning.

How did you paint that? I would love to see a step by step if you have time.

Unfortunately with all the hobby backlog I don't have time to paint an example at the moment, however I'd be more than happy to explain the process.

Started with a black undercoat (rather obviously), then blended from 1:1 Kalabite Green, Chaos Black up to pure Kalabite. From there I blended up into pretty much pure White Scar (actually I think I went pure in some place...).

Main thing to keep in mind is to keep your paints really thin. I mean almost a wash kind of thing. Then if you mix very gradually and take your time you should end up w something like that

Welcome aboard!

So not much hobby been happening at my end unfortunately however I did get onto some painting done this morning. Yes, some actual painting!
Only got round to doing a couple of tests, but I might get onto some more models later.

So here's the two test models. My (very rushed) Siege Lord on the left and Legionnaire on the right.

Don't think I ever got round to showing you guy the colour scheme I have/had planned for my SLs so here it is:

And captains will look like this:

Note: the crux on both of those will actually be a BT symbol on the opposite shoulder. Also the "4" on the knee pads will be replaced with a diagonal stripe of the corresponding company colour (eg. These guys'll have a green one)

Finally I also got round to building a heldrake (well I've started). Got a bit creative here so I didn't have to hold the wings in place while it dries

Well hello!
Been away from the hobby for a while but I've been roped back in with the prospect of an upcoming escalation league. So here we have the Phalanx (some of you know may know them from the short story "Hell Night" in Legends of the Space Marines.

Originally a Cadian contingent, the Phalanx are posted on the Eastern Fringe to ward against a number of Chaos attacks in the surrounding sectors. Now a separate regiment, the Phalanx recruit from the monsoon world, Vaporis. Vaporis is shrouded in an eternal night and was the original battlefield for the Phalanx's campaign against Chaos. The planet is also home the Phalanx 135th's headquarters, Mercy Rock, an enormous bastion situated with the mountain peaks of Mon'Rah on one side and one of the planet's many flood planes on the other. The Phalanx specialise in trench warfare and favour worlds such as their own as battlegrounds.

Currently under the command of Lord Commissar Loth, the Phalanx 135th are in campaign against an Alpha Legion warband known as the Hydras. With the aid of Brother Pyriel and a small Salamander strike force the Phalanx have recently driven the Hyrdas back further having inflicting heavy losses upon the traitors.

Today I started off with a box of Tempestus Militarum that I'm using to build my carapace-armoured Cmpany Command Squad. I plan on getting the Cadian battle force later this week and then maybe a vehicle in order to make up the 500pts for the first battle. (Commissar Loth and the Salamanders will likely come in at around 1500pts).

Firstly, here's the squad as a whole:
Commander Harver on the phone (just imagine Tom Cruise in Tropic Thunder and that phone call ):
Then the unnamed flamer guy:

And finally something a tad unrelated; the first of a (non-Nurgle) 5-man Plague Marines squad for my Alpha Legion:

Okay so the Escalation League pretty much entirely fell through because too many people pulled out As a result the guard kinda got put on hold (I have got some Bullgryns waiting for undercoat though).

In the mean time I've started putting paint to my Alpha Legion, most notably this guy:



I'm also halfway through my chosen and I'm about to start on The Lord

In other news - I've got another Siege Lords tac squad halfway through assembly

Feedback always welcome,
BP

Will keep tabs on this!
Love that farseers cloak!

Good to hear! Unfortunately Mr. Space Elf got put on hold because I couldn't work out where to go next with his scheme - I knew the colours I wanted but not the technique/s I wanted to use. Luckily enough I've worked out what I'm going to do so he should be getting some more paint pretty soon.

Pretty much all my paint has been put on hold this week as I've go to 2340pt game coming up (don't ask) and I'm trying to build everything in time! "All" that's left to do now is a Drop Pod, 5 Sternguard, 5 Dev Centurions (grav cannons ftw!) and a vindi to fix...

Aaaanyway; I just finished a second tac squad for the upcoming game. Pretty standard except for this guy (credit to Padagrim for the idea ). Basically I gut the flamer nozzle and the tube connecting the weapon to the backpack off the Sternguard heavy flamer and then stuff a couple of meltagun barrels on the front. Pretty simple but it looks cool (imo anyway)


CnC always welcome,
BP


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May as well show you the rest of the squad while I'm at it:

Quick update (no pics sorry).

Trying to make headway on the Farseer here, but I've run into some trouble w the black... Does anyone have a good way to blend black into a light grey? It's just not working out

Cheers in advance,
BP

Well I got demolished in our 2k-and-a-bit game my friend took 2 Heldrakes ( ) and basically burnt everything I had off the objectives... It didn't help that we were playing the mission where fast attack choices were scoring It was my first time fielding Centurions too - I took 5 w omniscope, grav cannons and missiles (a whopping 470pts!). Unfortunately I was thoroughly disappointed with them as they killed next to nothing - no thanks to all my targets being plague marines behind an Aegis ( ) - except for one of the heldrakes after two turns of shooting (each turn w 25 grav cannon shots and 5 krak missiles ), thus effectively tying up my unit for 2 turns. On the other hand - with the aid of allied Bullgryns - they survived 5 turns of the Oblits shoot at them w/out taking a single casualty.

... Then his vindicator got in range, the heldrakes burnt 4 units off the board in a single turn and I conceded at the end of the 5th. So yeah - that was that.

In the meantime - I managed to get some actual painting done! Got a test mini done for my Tau (no basing yet):

And made some progress on one of my Siege Lords tac squads (they're by no means finished yet):


CnC always welcome and happy 4th of July for all you Americans out there!
BP

Painting the chosen I've found put that the Alpha Legion scheme is a and a half to paint so I may have put them on hold...

I did however get some more work done on the Siege Lords squad, most notable I've finished (for now) the plas gun. Tried my hand at some OSL, I think it worked out okay. And I also got the bases done - technical paint make my life so much easier!

In the meantime, I've drowned my alpha legion sorrows in a box of crons. I am now thoroughly convinced that the warriors kit is the best value-for-money box out there (especially as a starter), cos it includes enough parts to make 2 minimum troops, a fast attack unit (the scarabs) and then you have 2 guys left over to convert an HQ (or to stick in the warrior units). All for just AU$55! GW would have a fit if they realised this! Anyway...


Also got some work done on the farseer but I couldn't get any picks good enough to be worth putting up. Let me know what you think as always!

Cheers,
BP

I'm going to get these chosen done dammit. All I've done so far is the armour (the hard part):


Got the crons built too - decided to hold back on converting a lord just to prove my point, instead I'm planning on getting an annihilation barge and using the overlord from that. That might get put on hold however because I'm strongly considering getting the new SW v Orks box set that comes out in a couple of weeks.

Cheers,
BP

Not getting many responses here but oh well...

Finished the my Lord and the Chosen! The colour scheme changed a bit from the test model I showed a while ago, I basically just added more red into the scheme:

But yeah; here are the actual dudes:


On a new topic; I went into my flgs this morning and they had two Games Day minis on their second-hand table! Both of which were untouched and still in their packaging Unfortunately I only had the cash for one so the choice was between the 2005 SM Captain (storm bolter/power fist - that guy) and the Orc Warboss from '07. With the upcoming release of the Stormclaw set (SW vs Orks in case you've been living some backwater planet with a typically lazy governor to keep you informed), I decided to go with the Warboss.

I still can't decide what to put on his back - originally I had a IG vox-caster, but now I'm thinking a Big Choppa from the Nob kit. Anyway, here's my initial mockup, all blu-tacked atm. (Note the SW termi shoulder pad).



Let me know what you think!
BP

Okay I'm back! Took some time off once again, but hey! I got those chosen finished up! (A while ago actually...)

The Champion:



And the rest



I ended up painting Lord Kaumar too

Pretty pleased with how his cloak turned out actually


That was all before I went away to America. Since I've got back I've put some effort into a Warpsmith conversion I've been doing. Using terminator legs and a power armoured toso and pack i think I've got a 2+ armour save worthy look. I didn't want to do the classic Techmarine harness so instead if given him a pintle-mounted flamer (just a regular flamer on a hook I found from I think a Leman Russ kit) and a combi-melta which I'm counting as a meltagun and bolt pistol.

Warpsmith Drakis

His power field generator - a count-as Aure of Dark Glory and actually a piece from a tau kit stuck on an apothecary's pack

And finally a pic of the OSL I tried on his power source