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Update July 18 - 2 Batreps on P.4. Finally getting some games in again!
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Hello to all! Thanks for dropping in to check out my Tyranid blog. I've been working on my hive fleet for over 5 years, and I think it's now time for a regularly updated page! I've accrued a number of models over the years - now around 350 Nids, and I've got quite a few painted now. I'll share what I have completed, and what I'm working on at the moment. I usually get a little done at a time every week or two, so expect updates bimonthly, give or take

Here's a few shots from when I had out most of the bugs:



The pewter Raveners are fun, but I have a few more plastic ones underway.



These guys haven't seen much table time.



The horror... the horror.





My current project is a few ravener broods - I scored 19 unbuilt raveners (amongst other bits) for a great price a while back, so I have recently begun construction.

Good stuff, they look.... sticky!

 SJM wrote:
Good stuff, they look.... sticky!

They look like candy because they look like that

Otherwise they look like a great army and you have put on some great washes which has added a great effect.

Thanks, the idea was that the chitin was 'slimy'. I've also made sure that external tubing has the same effect, and the teeth/mouths on the larger monsters as well. I use Humbrol clear gloss - nothing looks quite like the oil does.
I tried using the water-based 'Ardcoat that GW puts out, and it goes on nicely - cleanup is easier - but the final coat is noticeably thicker.

The wash that I use used to be Devlan Mud, but after it was discontinued, I found Agrax Earthshade to be a poor replacement. After much deliberation, I tried Army Painter 'strong tone' - it's superior to even the original Devlan Mud! As a bonus, it's more than twice the product for a lower price.

I won't say too much about my method for the carapaces, other than the fact that it takes the most time and involves a minimum of 6 steps - and up to 9, in some cases. The final effect is worth it!

Here's a Venomthrope - on a 2+, he successfully hugs you.

So, a minor update: Basecoated 3 Warriors, 2 Raveners, 5 Termagants, and started in on the second (carapace) coat on another Finecast Venomthrope. I prefer the metal Venomthropes in most circumstances - just not assembly

We can see the beginnings of the candy coating here...



And what's the best thing to have while painting miniatures?

Carrot cake, with cream cheese icing.



More later!

I've begun work on my list for an upcoming 1500 point tournament, and realized that many of the models I need are not quite finished. I'm also lacking several pairs of MC Devourers - so I decided to make my own! How about a quick rundown of how I did it, and if you want more details, feel free to ask. Sounds good? Great!

Acquire a Heavy Venom Cannon. You probably have 9 of them, waiting to see the light of day once again. You also have approximately 437 infantry Devourers: take out three two. That's it for bits... Cut the HVC thusly. 3 plate sections down is far enough.



As you see here, the devourers need to be shaved down and trimmed so they sit flush against one another and the body of the HVC. Don't cut the tips of your fingers off.



The angle has to be just right - we're keeping the armoured plating on the lower devourer, but not the top one. Note the slight trimming of the lower part of the HVC barrel on the lower (assembled) unit. The top is not yet trimmed here.



Two completed units! They still require a small mount of greenstuff, but are otherwise 'functional'.



And here's the crowd waiting for their arms.



I've got a little painting to do on them yet, but it's coming along... the Pyrovores are being used as Biovores, of course, and I'm procrastinating painting them. Questions, comments, just ask!

Nailed down a game for the weekend, so I need to make sure I have at least a majority of models finished by then! Some quick progress shots of the Carnifexes and Venomthrope, with new pink paint and basing, as well as the basecoat on the TL-Devourers. I'm hoping to have those completed tomorrow, but we'll see. I also magnetized both of them, along with a set of normal TL Devourers... never know when a swap will be needed. Easy magnetization, only 3 magnets per set, and the Fexes have already been done.



The Venomthrope is in dire need of a wash, which will be happening ASAP.



Basecoats look so plain, I'm anxious to see how these look when complete. They need some purple and brown.

Update time...

I've done a number of small, semi-inconsequential things (base rims, greenstuff, etc) and made a few more large devourers. I liked the look of them so much, especially compared to the teeny-tiny ones that come in the kit, that I determined to make one for each Fex.



Not terrible. Here's some in progress, you can see the GS drying.



I've got some plans for these 5.



I'll get some shots of all of them together with their devourer arms once the three new ones are painted up. I've also got to paint up my newest Tyrannofex - fully magnetized, of course! Any interest in a quick walkthrough of how I magnetized the Tyrannofex?

I've decided to use some pink paint. It's a good accent colour, and seems to work well with the purple.



I've yet to finish up the carapaces and use washes - you can see here how I've blotted grey on the purple basecoat. After I hit it with a purple wash, the grey shows through as lighter purple, and results in a mottled look. Then when the gloss coat goes on, it's accentuated rather a lot resulting in a very natural, multi-hued carapace.

Hi SBG.

Your hive scheme looks really nice. I like the shiny effect (I also use gloss on nids) and that purple chitin contrasts really well with the skin colour.

Thanks for sharing how you make the TL devourers. Nice and easy to follow and they look good as well, I'll give them a whirl for my newest carnifex

You planning on using those pyrovores as biovores? Or you actually going to roll some pyrovores onto the table?

I'm now subscribed so I can keep an eye out on further updates!

Thanks and I'll try to keep those updates coming as regularly as possible! Glad to hear that the mini-tutorial is useful - I'll try to put in more 'how I do it' things if you like.

The Pyrovores are definitely standing in as Biovores - though I've used Pyrovores before, that was when we had access to Mycetic Spores. I like the stats and weapon for the model, it just never survives long enough to use it. Perhaps against drop pod armies... but Biovores are just so useful against everything!

Thanks for subscribing!

Alright! So busy this past week - new baby born, you know, the usual - Hence, I've been unable to accomplish much hobby-related stuff, except:

Drilled/cut hormagaunt arms off of 30 Termagants. Why they were there, I don't know - but those are the perils of buying used/unseen. Cleaned hot glue (!) off of ~5 bases, prepared the now-armless horde for their new fleshborers/devourers. Should I convert some spike rifles?

Bought about 2,000 points of Tyranids 'used' - a bunch were new in box! I finally have a flyrant, so that's neat. Also, I believe I am now at 160 gaunts... with almost half in need of (re)painting.

I'll get photos up of the new addition to the horde once I get them on display!

Congratulations on the new arrival!

Good luck getting all those gribblies painted up with the new distraction

Thank you very much! I'm very pleased with my new baby. He's pretty well behaved for a newborn! Hasn't even tried to borrow the car yet.

Finally went through the entire collection to condense it into 'only' 5 medium boxes. This prompted commentary from my wife regarding hoarding, and a healthy (if one-sided) discussion on the finer points of Tyranid list creation. It's important to own 9 Carnifexes, just in case.

I've got a ridiculously large number of models to paint now, which is fantastic! I'm probably going to assembly line all the gaunts at once after the Carnifex project is complete - that is, if any sleep is forthcoming. Further, I need to:

Strip a Flyrant
Re-pin 2 metal Hive Guard and one Venomthrope
Build about 10 Ripper bases
Strip the Swarmlord
Strip a Tervigon
Strip 40+ gants

So the dip bucket will get some super clean action soon.

Pictures as soon as possible!

So, the terrible thing about batch painting is that it takes forever to get anything actually completed.

The great thing is, when something gets done, everything is done. I sat down tonight and finished up 5 Carnifexes, a Hive Tyrant and one Pyrovore! Very happy to have the space cleared off my painting table now. I just have to drag out the 60+ magnetized arms and guns and get to gloss coating those too...

So shiny.



Why does the base look so terrible? We'll never know. Gotta touch that up Also, less flash next time...



And these guys just look lost. And somewhat armless.

Carnifex get lost when there is no synapse

Nice work there, coming along well, must feel good to get that many big bugs finished, and I don't envy you playing around with that many arms... I know and feel your pain

Do you find its hard to get decent pictures when the model is glossed because of the mirror effect from the flash? I'm finding I'm having to take a bunch to try and get half decent pictures to share.

Thank you, it's been a few months of looking at the whole lot wondering when they'd be finished. Very happy about it. I've got the majority of the arms basecoated, at least, so it'll be a quick feathering, wash, and gloss to finish those up.

Pictures can be very frustrating due to the shine. I've found that natural outdoor light is excellent, especially when indirect - indoors, the flash washes out the flesh while making the carapaces reflect most of the light. Ends up looking less than ideal... the Tyrant and Carnifexes above, for example, are rather a lot darker and less 'cartoony' in person.

Maybe try some shots outdoors with some light cloud cover, and see how those work for you? You may have to use the flash to get some of the shadowed areas, or you could try large white posterboard 'reflectors' for less harsh lighting. Cheers!

I was able to get enough of my wits about me to wash a Venomthrope and base a Ripper swarm last night. Also got started on those MC arms...

I really need to strip that Flyrant so I can get it painted ASAP.

SBG wrote:
Pictures can be very frustrating due to the shine. I've found that natural outdoor light is excellent, especially when indirect - indoors, the flash washes out the flesh while making the carapaces reflect most of the light. Ends up looking less than ideal... the Tyrant and Carnifexes above, for example, are rather a lot darker and less 'cartoony' in person.

Maybe try some shots outdoors with some light cloud cover, and see how those work for you? You may have to use the flash to get some of the shadowed areas, or you could try large white posterboard 'reflectors' for less harsh lighting. Cheers!

Hmmm, ok I'll give that a go, got a couple of ideal places outside that might work. Well give some photo sessions a whirl there and see if I can up the quality I'm getting.

What colour is the flyrant at the moment? I'm looking forward to see what you do with the wings on the big guy

The Flyrant is currently brown and green and ugly. Secondhand purchases are the best purchases... I'll try to get him ready for paint this week but it's going to be hard with all these creatures on my painting table right now.





Not pictured are the multiple bags of arms, 16 spore mines (unpainted, of course), second Carnifex (where do these keep coming from!?) and miscellaneous Nids that are in need of various types of painting. I've got magnetized heads/arms/tails and guns for days... And 2 more TL Devourers to build.

I'm going to blast through these guys, the Rippers, Carnifex, Venomthrope and Pyrovore only need a gloss coat now, and I can then get the Flyrant started. I'm quite excited to do so.

I may have the beginnings of a Skyblight Swarm going, if rumours are to be believed. Harpy/Crone kits might be birthday material, apparently. Building, magnetizing and painting 3 or 4 of those in one go? Sounds like fun to me!


Automatically Appended Next Post:
And why do my bases look so terrible!? Camera, you disappoint me...

Day 1,264.

No visual data available for the period of 22/09/14 through 29/09/14: I suspect the Lictors have stolen the imaging equipment.

SBG wrote:
No visual data available for the period of 22/09/14 through 29/09/14: I suspect the Lictors have stolen the imaging equipment.

Pesky lictors... need to get some more synapse to keep them in line

Well, I found the lair where the skulkers had hidden my camera, and they made me promise to paint them next. So, we'll see... Maybe Lictors will be on the menu for next week!

For now... Finished stuff! Mostly.



Where did they get that combat knife?



Oh. They ate the owner.



One of these bases does need finishing...



And again with the Pyrovores! (Biovores)



So, good progress, soon the Flyrant and Lictors will be coming up! Thinking of custom base ideas for the Tyrant, maybe some pillar that he's bounding over? Not sure yet. Thanks for looking!

The flash really washes things out. Next up: proper pictures!

These guys look rockin! I'm a fan of the gloss carapace!

Thanks! I'm working on better pics, to get the full effect of the candy coating effect... need to do up a light box.

This evening I was lazy and only finished basing one Carnifex. I'm going to get pics of all 7 completed ones when I have the scything talons done; there are 4 sets of Mawloc talons for me to magnetize and paint now.

I have 2 fexes with scytals glued, and am thinking of ripping them apart for the magnet treatment as well - 9 interchangeable fexes sounds kinda fun. Should I risk the damage?

The old me would have said yes, but I've been known to over magnetise single models. I'd probably still risk it for the sake of continuity with his brood

I was productive! Just waiting for the superglue to dry. Then it's time for heads and talons! Still need 9 pairs of Warrior rending claws and 4 bases, so those might be a bit of a wait until I source some. But otherwise, these critters will be seeing paint soon! Thanks again for reading!




Automatically Appended Next Post:

StolleMan wrote:
The old me would have said yes, but I've been known to over magnetise single models. I'd probably still risk it for the sake of continuity with his brood

Totally going to magnetize them. cheers!

Which gloss varnish are you using?
I MUST KNOW!

Humbrol oil based - full gloss, I think it's #40. Small metal tin, and it's really hard on the brushes unless you have some good thinner on hand to clean with. I use lacquer thinner because it works the best.