Good luck man! I'm quite interested in your endeavour, very open-minded.

Got the green airbrushing done this morning. Taking a break to play a game with Thing 2... then I'll probably hit it with a coat of satin varnish before lining it. This is just an insanely complicated model. Having one heck of a time trying to get the armor plates to fit correctly on the sides of the track housings.

Those green shades look great, Gits. Have fun in your game with Thing 2! Excited to see this Vindi come together.

Looks good, nice airbrush work!

Painting stuff prior to assembly works fine, you may just need to scrape off a bit of paint where the glue is applied. The vindi is looking good (airbrushes are great aren't they?). I remember building some of the old rhinos and never liked the gap between the track sections and the body. Refurbished an old vindicator for my chaos army and filled them bits in with green stuff to make it look more solid.

Yeah, I have the same issue with the old models. Just not certain if I'm going to bother patching it up at this point. We'll see when I get to the assembly stage.

Looks good. Really shows how you approach your Zenth.. lighting.

I try to green stuff most of the gaps on most of my vehicles. Doesn’t look right that armor would have these gapping seams.. The new kits have gaps as well.

SL

That's a purdy tank

Well, it's not a tank yet, just a collection of bits.

Unfortunately I didn't make any progress over the weekend what with the big game with Thing 2 and mundane commitments. I'll try and make some progress this week in the evenings. Game with Thing 2 went OK. He gets so discouraged when he takes losses that he stops playing, then has to cool down for a bit before being ready to start up again. Of course with Nids, losses are inevitable. If he wanted to be able to slaughter people without taking losses he should have started Space Wolves or something. In any case he toughed it out, came back & suffered a narrow loss to my vanilla marines 5 KP to 7. Granted his army is far from optimized... but so is mine so it's a pretty fair fight. I think we need to get him another Tervigon and paint up at least one of his other Trygons... he's still way too cautious though. If he'd have just charged everything forward and not worried about the casualties, I would have been completely overrun by turn three. He just can't bring himself to do it. Best performers for me were the sternguard, scout bikes and my devs (4xML)... at least until they got eaten by rippers. His accolades were more evenly distributed, but props to his stealers with brood lord who took out two small tac squads and tarpitted my Iron Clad. I just hate Nids... they're such a PITA to run... a million special rules, no consistency. A mess.

Thing 1 is gleefully laying out 3000 pts of his Doom Eagles using the BA dex. I helped him with some of his build based on what I've learned in preparation for Adepticon. I expect to get spanked soundly. To get him to 3000 requires a lot of land raiders and terminators. To get me to 3000 requires a lot of scouts.... ouch.

Hopefully an update tonight. Am going to work on the tracks and major metallic features, we'll see how it goes.

Yeah, it's like playing Guard vs. Orks, Charging with Guard is death, and shooting with Orks is death, gotta know how to play blob armies.

dsteingass wrote:Yeah, it's like playing Guard vs. Orks, Charging with Guard is death, and shooting with Orks is death, gotta know how to play blob armies.

Lol, I've been decimated by Ork shooting and I've done decimating with a power blob guard squad...

Generally (so more than just 1 lucky game) the ork shooting (60 shots from a 30 boy shoota squad) hits about 15 times, and then wounds almost half the time, so 7 or so wounds on a 10 man tac squad, even if I pass half of them I lose 3 marines, which forces a leadership check that I generally make, but it means that next turn I'm going to be assaulted and outnumbered by more than 3 to 1.... But generally, yes Ork shooting isn't that good...

Gits, I know Thing2's pain... I hate seeing models leave the table... and coming back to almost beat you is not a bad way to end the game... He's gotta remember that those 30+ gants aren't worth a kill point each... I'm sure once he's a little older and he better understands the missions, he'll be consistently kicking your butt

He will... he's been more aggressive in the past, I just think he's so attached to his Nids he just can't stand to see them taken off the board. I should play them a few times myself to see if I can adopt a better approach with them that I can teach. Though, he was down 4-0 on turn 3 when I kind of "helped" him with his movement & really got him committed to a massed assault. If he'd hit me on turn 3 with what he hit me with on turn 4 (which he could have), I'd have had fewer KPs and he'd have had more & I think the results would have been flipped.

Question for you Nid players out there. Do Nids have "drop pod assault" like the marines do?? (i.e. half your pods come down on turn 1 automatically)

Yeah, dont discount guard in large blobs in CC, they can be mean, once when i played Elluj i had a power blob with 8 power weapons(4 sarges and 3 comissars and yarrick), with Creed who gave them furious charge and yarrick who let them re roll to hit. Now this is a pretty rare scenario but it can be done.

@Gits: the vindicator looks great so far, i look forward to seeing its completion. But I am not surpised by this, as i have not yet seen anything on this thread an thought "thats ugly" its usually more along the lines of "holy crap, thats raw"

Im pretty sure theres no drop pod assault rule in the nid book, lemme check.

edit: checked, its a no im afraid

Gitsplitta wrote:Do Nids have "drop pod assault" like the marines do?? (i.e. half your pods come down on turn 1 automatically)

No. The best you can get are bonuses to your reserve roll. Tyrant with Hive Commander grants +1 and allows a troop unit to outflank (like a Tervigon). Swarm Lord grants +1 and allows you to reroll which side the units outflanks on. Then lictors grant +1 to reserves and avoid scatter when units are DS near them...However, Lictors must be placed in reserves and must be on the table themselves in order to get any bonus...thus they are bunk.

Personally, I am not the biggest fan of SP. They cost more than DP and are much, much, much more fragile. At T4 and 4+ save they die at the slightest breeze.

OK, we did it right then.

My theory was to put in two pods and the trygon so that he had a fair number of things that didn't have to foot-slog it across the field... they could just appear amongst my troops and it would be brown-trouser time for the Mantis Warriors. Unfortunately the rest of his army was slow to get across the field and he didn't really drop as close as I was hoping he would... so really only the trygon showed up in my backfield. The sternguard, with nothing better to do... blew it to Kingdom come with their combi-weapons.

I think I'll start encouraging him to field his unpainted figures to see if we can't explore some other military options. He has a trygon prime built and ready for painting... if two trygons show up in my backfield I think I'd only be able to deal with one, leaving the other to run amok.

Ah well, really a discussion for one of my other threads.

You've heard that the British wore redcoats to hide the blood when they were advancing right? That the same reason the French wear Brown Trousers too!

LOL!

if two trygons show up in my backfield I think I'd only be able to deal with one, leaving the other to run amok.

Make sure that you pay for the Hive Commander upgrade then. That +1 to reserves will be important in making sure that the Trygons show up at a reasonable time. If reaching for points, then don't pay for the "prime" upgrade...just field it as a normal Trygon.

dsteingass wrote:You've heard that the British wore redcoats to hide the blood when they were advancing right? That the same reason the French wear Brown Trousers too!

Gotta love that myth! (Both of them!)

@dstein: Perhaps, but unfortunately for them they also had a big white "X" across their chests... which apparently made aiming very easy for the colonial forces during the revolution. That part I don't believe is a myth. Not sure how prevalent rifles (meaning guns with rifled barrels) were back then though... aiming a musket is a dicey proposition... good target or not.

More practice would help. very the objective and teach him the strategy behind the objective.

He's young, but catches on quickly. As his skill grows so will his confidence.

SL

Doesn't he have 2 pods?

It was just a joke guys, lets leave it at a "haha" or a an eyeroll!

Its been argued that if the Brits used English Longbows rather than those muskets then they would have been a lot more successful.

Those musket-balls were brutally lethal, but about as accurate as an ork shoota... and about as reliable.

...maybe less.

Solar_lion wrote: More practice would help. very the objective and teach him the strategy behind the objective.

He's young, but catches on quickly. As his skill grows so will his confidence.

SL

Doesn't he have 2 pods?

Yep, took both plus the trygon.

It actually worked decently, he just didn't have enough support to drive in for the kill. Trygon, fex and zoanthropes all showed up in the same turn. I only had the fire power (and position) to deal with one, so I took out the trygon. As a result, the Fex (over 2 turns) took out a dread & the zoey's peeled bits off a razorback & took out a LS Storm. The real difference kill point-wise were two easy pod kills by the devs & two medium sized termigant squads that were taken out by the sternguard & scout bikes respectively.

Look at us, getting into Historical discussion!
Don't worry dstiengass; it was taken in jest. What's done is done!
Looking forward to the new build Gits, I like the gradient idea.

Made a small bit of progress over night (well, really early this morning). Started blacking out the metal bits. With luck, I'll have the metal done by tonight. Internet went down last night so pics might be slow in coming.

Pictures!!!!

Just kidding...

So Gits, I'm about to start a P&M Blog, and I was like "I saw a thread on Dakka about 'what makes a good P&M blog.'" So, I was curious about the advice I saw there, in comparison to what you and a few other threads I subscribe to have." According to some of the advice I saw, they were talking about the OP containing lots of painted images (no one is going to want to read about the painting you plan on doing blah blah blah)... So I noticed you didn't have any painted minis on the first post (updates to that post obviously have since fixed that), but you didn't have anything painted on the first page either... So I did some digging, and found you didn't have any painting until page 4 of your blog. Then it got me thinking about the longevity of this blog, and the community aspect centered around it. Obviously this is just more than your Mantis Warriors, but their development as a community influenced project.

So all of this above tangent lead me to three things 1)This post serves as a bump while we eagerly await the next picture update, 2) I was treated to the best quote from you ever in this thread:

Gitsplitta wrote:As I said before, I'm not a very good marine painter so I'll be going through the "how to's" to try and do a decent job.

and 3) This blog turns 2 years old on April 16th, 2012 (we may even hit 300 pages by that point )

Gitsplitta's blog is a perfect example of a good P&M blog - 76 of those 271 pages you see are just his own posts! 2 pages of those were in the first 2 weeks - ie an average of two posts per day!

And he wasn't the awesome modeller and painter he is today back then either!

Not to mention contributing to many other blogs and community projects. Anyone would do very well to follow his example...

(edit because I realised I tallied up those posts over 2 weeks, not 4 - even more impressive!)

I agree Arakasi, I feel that Gits blog is like the multi cultural lunchroom of Dakka! where friends are made and problems solved!

..And where rivets are riveted.

And Nuka Cola is drunk!..... oh hang on that's your thread! silly me :-)

Arakasi wrote:Gitsplitta's blog is a perfect example of a good P&M blog - 76 of those 271 pages you see are just his own posts! 2 pages of those were in the first 2 weeks - ie an average of two posts per day!

And he wasn't the awesome modeller and painter he is today back then either!

Not to mention contributing to many other blogs and community projects. Anyone would do very well to follow his example...

(edit because I realised I tallied up those posts over 2 weeks, not 4 - even more impressive!)

In the simplest of terms, Gits' blog is a good blog because it makes us WANT to comment and help. The fact that he often takes our ideas, or has little teasers (see his latest GMS marine and the shoulder script) that keep us guessing...

Alf wrote:

So Gits, I'm about to start a P&M Blog, and I was like "I saw a thread on Dakka about 'what makes a good P&M blog.'" So, I was curious about the advice I saw there, in comparison to what you and a few other threads I subscribe to have." According to some of the advice I saw, they were talking about the OP containing lots of painted images (no one is going to want to read about the painting you plan on doing blah blah blah)... So I noticed you didn't have any painted minis on the first post (updates to that post obviously have since fixed that), but you didn't have anything painted on the first page either... So I did some digging, and found you didn't have any painting until page 4 of your blog. Then it got me thinking about the longevity of this blog, and the community aspect centered around it. Obviously this is just more than your Mantis Warriors, but their development as a community influenced project.

Hey Alf, thanks for the comments and compliments... I really appreciate it.

Keep in mind I'm still a relative newbie to the whole blog game. This was only the second blog (or thread) I'd ever done... the first being the thread about my son's Doom Eagle army started a month before this one. So keep in mind that in spite of the size of this particular thread... I'm still pretty much learning as I go.


Generally, my comments have very little to do with content as there are virtually infinite ways of structuring a blog that is interesting, vibrant and engaging. I will however, make a number of comments about things that I think are important as far as content goes.

1) Title: The title of the blog is very important as it is the first, and perhaps only thing that 100% of potential readers will see. Make it as detailed and specific as you can without making it too lengthy. You want to leave room for update announcements. Also, if you can leave a bit of a question in people's minds without being obtuse, or use language that adds a bit of flair... it may pique their curiosity. Make sure to note key updates in the title with a date and brief description.

2) OP: Provide a little information about yourself. Doesn't have to be personal, mainly your gaming/modeling background so people have some context to view your work.

3) OP: Briefly lay out the scope of what you're trying to accomplish and why. Look for a "hook"... something interesting or unique about your project that may cause people to care about following you. For me (I think), it was a combination of the era that I started 40k (i.e. my age) and the fact that at the time I began the blog, the Mantis Warriors were a forgotten chapter along with the entire Badab War. As a reader, you probably know better than I what first attracts folks to this blog.

4) OP: A picture is worth a thousand words. In spite of how I started this blog, I agree with the advice you cite 100%. I don't care what skill level you are, just show me a pic so I can start helping you (or oooh & aaah if you're better than I am). I just got lucky in having an engaging topic... I also started by asking for people's opinions on my background, ideas I had for modeling, etc... at least that's my recollection, that goes back to the hook I mentioned earlier. Note* a blurry pic, is a useless pic.

5) Body: What keeps a blog going is your audience... you're just kind a catalyst that throws fuel on the fire once in a while. It's their ideas, their interest, their willingness to comment & contribute that not only grows the blog but keeps it up near the top of the "recent threads" list, which ultimately gets you more eyeballs. It's also what makes YOU better... so never think that your blog is about you... it's about them. Community is everything with this type of blog.

6) Body: #5 applies unless you are a P&M god... in which case you can just throw your stuff up and let it ride on it's own merits.

7) Body: Engage you listeners as often as possible. Ask opinions on figures *early* in the process, ask questions about painting techniques. BE SPECIFIC!! Don't waste people time by asking questions so broad that they'd need to write a novel to answer them. Questions like: Should I try glowing eyes or clear lens style eyes? Does anyone know of a good OSL tutorial? What's the best way to make rocks for a base? Does this pose look natural or forced? Can someone point me to somewhere to learn about wet blending? Etc. etc.

8) Body: If you're going to ask for CnC, you'd damn well be willing to take it. Nothing is dumber than someone asking for comments and suggestions and then arguing with everyone who makes them. I've seen this more often than you'd imagine.

9) Body: That being said, that doesn't mean you need to accept every suggestion made. Stand up for yourself from time to time and you'll earn your readers respect. However... be nice. Recognize the validity of the suggestion, kick it around a bit, discuss it... even if you don't intend to take the advice, let the reader know that you appreciate the suggestion and will keep it in mind for later projects.

10) Body: Relating to 8 and 9... be honest with your readers. If you're really just showing off a figure or build with no intention of changing it... just post it and say something like "hope you like it!". It's OK to state non-negotiables to your readers... but it helps if you can also state things that your undecided about and are looking for ideas about at the same time. If you read the first few pages of my blog, you've seen me lay out a few non-negotiables right from the onset. They didn't seem to hamper the discussion however, because they were plenty of negotiables for people to chew on.

11) Etiquette: Be polite. Answer your readers posts by name. Don't always quote them, it's cumbersome... just do the "@Alf:" thing and you'll be fine most of the time. Save quotes for when time has passed between post and reply, or if what you say might be of interest to more than just the questioner. Thank people for their contributions. Show them that you're heeding their advice. Welcome new posters warmly and try to give them a bit of insight (in a sentence or two) to help them get caught up.

12) Reciprocate in Kind: Visit other peoples blogs and comment honestly and genuinely on their work. Try to be helpful rather than just "wow" posts (though I admit I do too many of these myself... there's just too many amazingly talented artists on Dakka). I often find that when I post on someone else's blog, they post on mine in return. More importantly it's the give-and-take between blogs that allows you to develop relationships with other Dakkanaughts, which is really what keeps the whole thing humming along.

And finally, lucky number 13...
13) Edit, edit, edit!: I am constantly going back and adjusting my language, adding thoughts, correcting verbage. In a written medium, being clear and concise in expressing your ideas is absolutely critical. Become a wordsmith, it will serve you well on Dakka and in life.

I could go on for hours... (actually I did I guess)... but that's the meat of it from my perspective.


I'd welcome anyone else's comments. They don't have to pertain to MY blog... just things in general that you find really work well or that you really like in a blog.

Interesting to read this. Well put.

The only thing I can add is to agree with some of the comments earlier; this is a really good p&m blog

Keep going.

Hey Gits, looking forward to seeing the 'purdy tank' all stuck together. The airbrushing is look great (as per).

That post about P&M blog is a treasure and should be put as a guide to everyone that want to start a blog for Himself, thank You.

I would add one thing: don't get frustrated if your blog doesn't run fast as You would like, there's plenty of people that looks your job and take inspiration, but don't leave any comment. That's should be enough to keep going anyway!

Some very wise words regarding blogging. I had a look at your front page:

This message was edited 370 times. Last update was at 2012/03/14 10:08:18

370 times since 2010/04/17 quite impressive

Although I think I may be an edit junky

This message was edited 374 times. Last update was at 2012/03/13 17:07:12

374 times since 2011/02/25, I think I may have a problem there.

Not me, I just say "neener neener, it's my blog and I can do what I want to!"

@TaWaaagh: Thank you sir! I certainly will.

@Hits: Soon my friend... will get some work done on it tonight & hopefully will have it assembled in a day or two. The whole zenithal lighting thing is much easier than it looks & if you do it when disassembled, you don't have to mask off anything... which is huge.

@SelvaggioSaky: I'm glad you liked it Selvaggio, I did add it to my OP (just in time for Knightley to give me crap about it! )

@Knightley: LOL! I thought you were kidding... then I double-checked my OP. Ah well, perfection takes practice. In my defense, since I started using my OP as a type of index, it gets lots of edits that do contribute to the overall happiness of the blog.

@dsteingass: You certainly do!

And I quote...

dsteingass wrote:That would cost $100 in plastic dood, it would be a huge waste, with repeatative stuff for what benefit? I'm just not building a power plant or whatever it is.

That's a b**ch slapping if I've ever seen one! (and it was directed at ME)

oh no, just messin bro, sorry!


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Oh man, I sounded bitchy, I am really sorry.

LOL! It's cool dstein. My problem was that I thought it was you who'd posted the original pics of the power plant, so I was a bit confused when you reacted so negatively. I went back and checked and discovered they were someone else's idea... which put your comments into proper perspective.

So, no worries man... it's all good.


Update: Got the metal all blacked out and most of it metalicized (is that a word?? I don't think so.) About one more day of bits painting & lining and I should start the assembly.

Hey Hits, you are constant as the northern star my friend! I really appreciate you showing how you airbrushed the parts pre-assembly, I have been considering that approach for a while not on vehicles and it is encouraging to see.

I used to paint everything on the sprue pretty much, and assemble when done... only later did I really realize I was spending about 40% extra effort painting things that would never be seen... so infantry now gets assembled pre-paint, but I think vehicles will be a different matter. So helpful to minimize masking...

As long as ya dont put a pict up pulling a moonie we all will be happy.

@MajorTom: Really can't say enough about how easy it was to do the separate parts prior to assembly, just had to figure out how to hold them or lay them down for painting, but since I'm either blending light or dark into the mid tone at any time, not both... there was always something to hang on to except on the smallest pieces (self-locking forceps solved that problem). We'll see shortly if it goes together cleanly and stays that way. I suppose I could put it together now, but it's still easier to get the details done with the parts separate, also less handling of the piece in general that way... so I'll hold off for now.

@Dee: Zero possibility of that happening. No worries.

Hey Gits, While browsing (on another forum tsk, Tsk) I came across this Mantis Warriors thread on Bolter and Chainsword
If you haven't seen it before I though it might be instresting to see a different perspective on the Mantis Warriors.

I visit that thread regularly. He's got a nice style, very different from mine, excellent faces. Does good customizing as well. Generates a lot of interest on B&C too, which is good to see. As the BTO song goes... "any love is good love".

Gits, got some Khador up in my new blog I know Warmachine and Hordes aren't your thing, but I've got it up lol... Time to keep it alive

Looks good Alf. Since you're following my advice, if your blog goes belly-up... you can blame me.

One comment. No need to post multiple pics of what is functionally the same view. One pic each works unless your showing the viewer a significantly different view. I wouldn't even recommend showing multiple shots with different lighting... just pick the one you like the best and show that one.

OH... and if you're going to pimp your blog... make sure you give a link in your post. Not nice to make others hunt through your profile for the link.

Just for you...
For the Motherland! A Warmahordes Blog

Gitsplitta wrote:Looks good Alf. Since you're following my advice, if your blog goes belly-up... you can blame me.

One comment. No need to post multiple pics of what is functionally the same view. One pic each works unless your showing the viewer a significantly different view. I wouldn't even recommend showing multiple shots with different lighting... just pick the one you like the best and show that one.

OH... and if you're going to pimp your blog... make sure you give a link in your post. Not nice to make others hunt through your profile for the link.

Just for you...
For the Motherland! A Warmahordes Blog

Yeah, I'll keep the picture count in mind from now on, that way I can show the fronts, and not paint the backs ... I'm actually looking for a banner I can put into my signature to pimp my blog, instead of just a hotlink


Edit: MY blog has been sufficiently pimped (see below), but your blog is swallowing the website with your page rollover issues, and the number of replies and views

Update: Got more painting done last night and started the assembly process. I'm making progress but it is really slow going. Lots of non-gaming related things to do at night and I don't seem to be able to stay up very late. Still, moving along. I'm worried about getting everything done in time, still have a 5-man assault squad to build and paint. Anyway, will have a picture for you tonight.

Try not to rush yourself Git's, I'm sure you will find the time needed to finish the required models.

I just read your post on your guide on Building a better blog. I don't know how I missed it. Its very informative and helpfull.

It makes me want to go back to mine and delete it all!!

Progress on my vindicator, the "Minos". Major problems with gapping due to warped metal plates that I could never get to fit together properly, but I'm not going to stress over it.

Wowza!

looking good. i really like these old models

You know, I've never really thought about it until now...

Does the Rhino Chassis have four engines? Or an engine on each side? And are they built into the corners?

I'm staring at those 4 Exhaust ports going, "Those look good." and then my logic engine tapped me on the shoulder, pointed again, and said, "WTF."

The paint looks good chief. I really like the shock of red on the corners, it adds a lot.

Thew engines are actually on the sides, there are 4 of them, according to one of the Imperial Armor books

Very cool looking Gits!

Excellent work as usual

Is there a giant black and yellow dozer blade missing?

Very nice. looks good even with the gaps. Will blend in well to the overall army.

I'm struggling with how to mount the dozer blade myself. I'd like to magnitize it, but will require super magnets to hold it well enough to the chassis.

SL

Edit:

I agree with S_L it looks great, and it looks like it's been with the previous vehicles in the army.

So may questions...

Here's a quick update showing this morning's work (I'm so productive if I get out of bed and go straight to painting). Nearly done now. Still to do: lining, chapter insignia, dozer blade. There's a lot more I could do, but I'm disinclined to natter away at this too much as I need to get back on my schedule. Want to have the last assault squad built and primed by Monday.



I did fill in one of the gaps with some of GW's liquid green stuff. (top pic, plate on top rear of hull) Not quite as easy to work with as I'd hoped. Might go in and fill in the cracks on the rest of that plate just because it's so glaring. The really big gaps in front might just have to stand pat as it would take real GS work (and a lot of it) to fix. I thought about adding some battle damage to the area in the front as if the tank had taken a hit and the superstructure had been pushed up as a result... but that's too much work for now. Perhaps when I finally get around to weathering all of my tanks, I'll take a look at that possibility.

I've got an idea for magnetizing the blade SL. I'll let you know how it works. I have 1/4" by 1/32" in magnets that I have completely fallen in love with. Insanely strong but very thin so their impact on the figure is minimal.

Try watering down the lgs to get it the consistency you need to get it in cracks. Straight out the pot, it's more for shape building then gap filling.

I really like the reds on that tank.

I like it. You could fill the gaps, but to be honest the excellent paint work takes the eye away from the them in my opinion.

Nice old Vindicator Gits! Just found anther early rhino in my stuff while I was searching for my Necron bits!

@WM: Thanks, I'll give that a shot when I'm fixing the rest of that plate.

@TaWaaagh: Thank you to you too sir! It matches the rest of my vehicles... when the vindi is complete I'll take a pic of them all so you can see how they look together.

@monkeyh: I'm hoping that'll be the case. I think once I get the lining, chapter symbols, dozer blade perhaps a few other details on... there'll be enough going on that the foibles of my build mostly disappear into the background.

@Reaper: Thanks mate. I have amassed quite a collection of older vehicles myself. Have one more of these vindicators and an original LR that are high on the priority list (post-Adepticon). Have several predators too... should probably re-assess what I really need and start shedding some of this stuff, but at the moment I still envision painting them all eventually.


I think this is by far the best edge highlighting job I've done on a vehicle... just had the right paint consistency and control to get really fine lines for the most part. Lets hope putting the shadows in goes just as well.

Very nice work on the vindi gits. Always nice to see someone add more life to some of the old models. Usually the old models get the old paint schemes that doesn't really help their overall appearance but your AB work on this really makes things pop. Keep it up

Blooming Heck!! I disappear for a few months and wowsers!!

You are making some amazing progress and I am really liking the vindicator.

Good luck with Adepticon.

Love it Gits, great work. That old mini is great.

So how did you find painting in pieces then assembling?

@Egg: Thanks mate. You're a big influence on me... if you look at the difference between how the vindi is aribrushed and how last year's razorbacks were done, the change has been inspired by your work on your blood angels. Tough act to follow.

@dantay: Good to have you back Danny... and thanks! Don't be a stranger so long next time, eh?

@Hits: Thanks! Kind of my "thing" don't 'cha know.

@Knightley: Piece of cake. Won't do it any other way from now on. Infantry I think I'll still build first, but with vehicles this is the way to go. Thanks for blazing the trail!


And for SL... here's how I magnetized the dozer blade.



Works just fine. The magnets on the tank are just a little too far apart for a perfect fit. On future Mk-1 vehicles, if I move the tank magnets in as far as they'll go on the track housing, and keep the blade magnets all the way out to the reinforcing bands... I suspect it'll fit near perfectly.

That tank is a beautiful piece of work! I'm grasping to find anything to suggest to improve on - maybe a bit more shading on the metallics? It looks very pristine (well, except for the bullet holes and scratches!)

Are you ever going to try sinking those magnets?

Here's the finished Vindi.



@Arakasi: For some reason this one looks especially new save for the battle damage. I don't want to mess it up too much as none of my other vehicles are weathered at present, but eventually I'll beat them all up pretty good. May muck this one up a bit though as the battle damage on a pristine tank looks odd.

thank you Gits, that is some of your absolute best work you've done imo! looks bloody fantastic and I think you have done an astounding job!

one big Nerd pat on the back for you :-)

NF09

Great finished product Gits! Hey battle damage has got to happen some time! I reckon he has just got in to battle and had a few fresh scrapes!

Very nice finish, very clean and very good

That is definitely your best tank to date. I do, however, agree with Arakasi that the metal (and a few other parts) look very flat compared to the rest of the paint job.

You've gone and done some great lighting effects on the green areas, but form what I can see, the metal areas look like a flat coat of gunmetal with possibly a wash of black and some silver highlights? This is leaving it looking a bit flat in comparison to the dramatic changes in colour in the greens. I'd go back with some darkened boltgun metal and use some M-NMM (NMM using metallic paints) style effects on the metal areas to give them some life.

In addition, the mantis chapter logo has no variation in the yellow... it's just a flat circle on your nice gradient, which makes it stand out .

The red trims could also do with some variation in shade

@NF09: Thanks! And believe it or not I actually did print out your painting faces tutorial.

@Reaper: Must have gotten dinged up in transit from the Forge World.

@bigfish: Thank's mate.

@endtrans: I agree with you both, the metal looks a little flat. There's a bit more to it than you describe, but not a lot... you pretty much nailed it. Generally I get away with that, but the big gun and structures around it are showing the failings of what is otherwise a quick and easy method. I'll have to think on that. Not sure I'm capable of any kind of NMM technique, metalic or otherwise. There is actually a gradient on the yellow, it just doesn't show up very well. Limitations of printing such a small object I guess. Not sure about a gradient on the red. There are darker shades on the sides of the piping and and edge highlight. Unlike the metal bits, the simplicity of the piping is what sets it off against all the zenithal of the armor plates. I'll consider your suggestion though.

If you use the photo of your vindicator as a reference, you can see where it wants to have darker shadows or highlights on the metal already, so it's just a case of laying down a few more layers of black wash in certain areas to achieve a higher contrast.

And of course, you're more than welcome to ignore my morning witterings too

Never ignore. Might decide otherwise, but never ignore.

I'll work on that shading. Thanks.

Good solid AB work, but I think that nobody around the forum was waiting otherwise!

Yes! you're gradient painting is amazing! You know that I must try this now right? I have a newer Rhino awaiting to be pimped out for an Inquisitor!

You *should* try it dstein... it's pretty easy. And it'll help you practice fine control with your airbrush too.

@Selvaggio: Thanks man, appreciate it.

That Vindicator is a thing of beauty. Every time I look at your miniatures I am more and more convinced that my venerable 2nd Edition Dark Angels army is really worth repainting!

The biggest hurdle is really that a lot of those really flimsy exhausts on the old Rhino chassis have broken off and I'll have to come up with something to replace them!

I've had the same issues Jon. There are a couple of ways to approach it. I've modified the pipes to go straight up, you can even put little lids on them like they do on semi truck exhaust, that's if the plastic pipes are still in-tact enough. The other way is to get some copper or brass rod of the appropriate diameter and bend it into the same shape, drill out a hole in the top of the manifold-thingie and insert it in. At least that won't break.

You know, when my eldest first got into 40k a few years back, I gave him all my old RT era vehicles thinking I'd never use them myself. Now I'm having to trade for and buy those very same vehicles at a premium!

Really loving the Vindicator, stunning paintjob that is gits.
On the old rhinos I cut and then pinned small peices of round sprue from the old marine box that i had lying around for the tops on the exhausts.

Ungrateful kids!

I think the finished vindi looks great - as for the kid - sounds like he'll make a good business man!

@Rayvon: Thanks man, great to hear from another Mantis Warrior enthusiast! Did I ever mention that I highly approve of your avatar?

@dstein: You don't know the half of it!

@monkeyh: Well, "finished" might have been premature.


I worked on making the boltgun metal bits a more dynamic as endtrans suggested. OK, decided to try my hand at some weathering and battle damage. There's a good reason I don't do this regularly... as the pic will demonstrate. I didn't want to overwhelm the figure with damage... I actually want it to look like a fairly new (or recently maintained) vehicle that has seen say... a single engagement. Thus all the wear and chipping is focused on the front end, mainly from things like plowing through obstacles and such. Also tried to show scrapes and scratches moving from one part of the vehicle to another in a logical sequence. I did make an attempt at putting a shell impact at the point where the plates don't meet up correctly. You'll notice in the front shot that I haven't done the headlights yet (or the tail lights for that matter). I'm mulling some things over & will see how I sort things out tomorrow.

Too much green in the yellow

Loving the battle damage.

At first Gits, I was like "wtf is the change in metallics?!" And then I noticed the gun barrel seems to be less shiny (in comparison to the old pic) and that there were more paint lines because of the blending, etc...

Top notch good sir!

Looks much better Gits!

Battle damage is looking sick and the shaded metals look a lot easier on the eye with the armour.

Yeah, I got out my weathering powders, mixed up some black and applied oil lines to the moving parts of the gun, deepend the shadows on the wheel edges and tracks as well as the underside of the barrel. Then and some soot on and around the stacks which I softened with a bit of dry gray powder.

I didn't add a bunch of rusty areas as I want this to look like fairly new damage/wear. As for the chips and scratches, most of it went on the dozer blade as that would be the recipient of most of the abuse, then a bit on the leading edges of the body of the vindicator.

I just don't have a really good feel for weathering and chipping, which is why I avoid doing it. I've seen plenty of how-to's but that's not it. My technique will get better with practice, by my "eye" for where to distress and how is lacking. Anyway... it looks fine at table top level, which is how the judges at Adepticon will see it. I'll add a bit of light dist/dirt to the tracks and lower parts of the tank, finish off the lights and *then* we'll call it good.

Somehow, this had dropped off myself sub'd threads?! Lovely work on the vindicator, the transitions from yellow to green are particularly stunning.
I'm inclined to agree with Arakasi about your magnets. They're a bit, well, prominent. How about painting the ones on the front as extra headlights, with a really strong varnish over once done (given you're about to do lights and all).
As for weathering, I find myself examining trucks, vans etc that I'm following on the road for natural patterns and spots. Surprisingly helpful. But I do like the factory fresh feel you've got there. I feel like the MWs are ensuring purity through turtle wax.


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Ps I like the scarring very much too, btw.

I guess I don't really plan on running it without the dozer blade much, so I didn't really worry about hiding the magnets. Just wanted to give myself the option to remove it if I was short for points. I could handle them in a number of ways I guess... recess them, disguise them as something else. Just wasn't a big priority.

Headlights are done. I'm experimenting with doming resin. Won't be able to show you until tomorrow after it cures.

On the front view, I'd neaten up the rogue line on the metal piece to the left of the gun barrel, other than that, it looks much better

For damage, I do the same as Graven and find myself studying trucks and cars on the road. The one thing I've noticed is that vehicles there tends to be more dirt and damage on the back as it kicks up dirt. I can't really say about tanks, but I'd think if you're driving through walls the damage to the front will be mostly dents, with scrapes along the sides where it hits the sides of the newly formed holes.

While applying damage with a brush is fine, it's faster, simpler and more random when you use little pieces of sponge to do nicks and scratches. For damage to the dozer blade you'd be looking at most of the paint being removed along the bottom with scratches going (mostly) vertically up the blade as the rubble and earth builds up against the blade.

I'll keep that in mind endtrans, have lots of vehicles in the "stable" that still need weathering.

Progress tonight! 4 assault marines built, only the flamer guy (which is the easy one) left to go.

Excellent work. Did you mask the bladed to get the stripes?

Marine in the post mate

@SL: Yep, had to touch it up a bit afterwards. I'm OK with the way it turned out. endtransmission is right on all counts and are things I'll try to work on with other vehicles. I was treading this thin line in trying to add a bit of wear and damage without completely banging up the entire model, which would make it look very out of place when compared to the rest of my models. I may mess around with a bit more sponge work on the lower portions of the dozer blade, but at this point that's a vanity project rather than something that must be done.

The doming resin worked fine, it's just difficult to work with in such small spaces as the head and tail lights. I still need more practice with it. Pic's tonight.

@Miss Dee: Thank you! Been looking forward to getting him!



Thought I'd post a bit more on the new assault marine builds as my first post wasn't very informative.

This squad has a totally different character that the first. While that one was charging forward with reckless abandon, this one is a "snap shot" at a position of relative inaction. Not that they're sitting around doing nothing, but it's more of a moment's pause as they assess the battle and decide where they're going to strike next.

I found an old metal assault marine fig that I can use as-is, and built 2 more out of old (but not RT-era) metal beakie marine bodies. I really like how these turned out & came up with some novel arm positions that I think you'll enjoy. Lastly, the sergeant is also complete... he turned out pretty well too, though I wish I'd angled his torso forward a bit more, but I think I can adjust the base to compensate. Very unorthodox pose for him, which I like. A warrior's thinking and calculating pose... if that makes any sense.

How close are you to being finished for Adepticon?

5 assault marines and one character.

And my portion of the "team" presentation effort... which has nothing to do with painting figures.

Gitsplitta wrote:5 assault marines and one character.

And my portion of the "team" presentation effort... which has nothing to do with painting figures.

Are you guys doing the thing we had discussed last year?

I can't remember that far back. SL's doing the display. I'm doing list presentation, Ice is doing what Ice does best, we will hopefully have shirts... pretty standard stuff.

I may also do a smaller, easily mobile movement tray for my army... depends on how the rest of the projects go.

I thought you might be going with the patch idea ala Sons of Anarchy.

Yeah, we did discuss that... I guess it was just too complicated an effort given the circumstances. I'm still not exactly sure what we're doing shirt-wise... not my department.

Why is the terrifying image of you guys running around the room, shirtless, except for some body paint going through my mind right now?

I can tell you... NO ONE want's Solar and I to run around shritless...

I guarantee it. We ain't pretty.

Vindicator is looking nice Git's, looks like its just been in a small skirmish and came away with a few scratches.

Looking forward to the next unit of assault marines.

Update!

Assault Squad #2:


Jump packs will be painted separately.

And the final shot of the Vindicator showing doming resin lenses on lights. My first attempt so it's not perfect... but I'm confident I'll get better with practice.

Looks tip top man, I especially love the pose on the marine with the jump pack (knowing full well they all will have them)...

And it's cool to see the old metal minis in with the rest

Love the Vindi.
Also love the mix ofnew and old skool marines they look sweet.
Peace

Thanks guys. I tell ya, I wish I had about a dozen of the second guy from the left... you don't see many space marines in a legitimate "T" stance. Makes posing easy. The sergeant turned out well (the guy with the pack). I just need to add the chainsaw teeth to the flamer marine and add purity seals to the serg and they'll be ready for priming. OH, and I'll spiff up the bases a bit too. Some rocks and such.

I have one more old vindi thanks to SL... this one turned out well enough I'm going to have to put that one on the short list...

Just noticed you haven't painted the skulls on the side of the big cannon.

Ah... damn. Will get those. Thanks Reaper.

Great looking models. Only you can make old craptastic looking GW models look so damn good. I love the vindicator.

Reaper Man 2020 wrote:Just noticed you haven't painted the skulls on the side of the big cannon.

They're camouflaged

Assault Squad #2 looks awesome, Gits, and the final product of that vindi is beautiful. The shading gradients look really good along the sides, hazards stripes set off the greens perfectly and the understated battle damage adds just enough grit to make it fit in exceptionally with the rest of your vehicles. Solid effort, bud, and it paid off!

Posted some pics of the doming resin when used on a base specifically designed to accomodate water effects. You can find it here.


@PapaPiggy: Thanks man... I do my best.

@Moltar: Very eloquent praise my friend, thank you!

Looking good Gits, that base is tasty! did you only use the effects liquid over an already painted surface or did you mix paint into it and do a couple of layers to get the effect you were after?

Nope, bases have been painted since Christmas, just added the resin in one go two days ago. Takes 24 hrs+ to cure to rock hardness, but cure it did.

Hmmm interesting,......very interesting.

I have a near full bottle of GW water effect at home and only used it once or twice. looks like i may need to start 'sperimentin' again!

Well, this isn't regular water effects. All the water effects I've tried shrink considerably. This is essentially a jewelry making tool... it's very thick and viscous, but as such only really needs to be applied once in most circumstances. It's designed for putting a clear, domed, free-standing surface over an object like a painted cabochon or the like. That's why it works so nicely for headlamps (once you get the hang of it)... it actually forms a convex surface!

Man, it sounds better and better! what's it's packaging look like? or have i missed that somewhere? I may be able to tempt my father into buying some that i can then pilfer from his studio, he makes jewellery as a damn hobby! only started 2 years ago from scratch and now sells custom stuff 'on the weekends' :-) but if this looks like something creative for him to try then i'll use it free of charge!

In the U.S. I get it from Rio Grande Jeweler's Supply. Here's the direct link to their web site: Doming Resin

The bottles are pretty big too... over a beer's worth of doming resin per set. Under $25 for enough resin to last the average gamer a lifetime.



Since BLACKHAND was able to find it, there must be a local provider with something equivalent... in Oz if not NZ.

So I assume you have a decal for the Mantis Symbol?

Not a decal exactly. I made the original (based on the original artwork) and then just print them out on paper. I tried decals for MONTHS on they were all crap. Paper works just fine.

I love this Blog.

As a newer player most of the RT stuff skipped me by, I love seeing all the old models, The painting quality is beautiful,

I love the side by side comparing painted to airbrushed models.

I also love your article of tips on how to run a successful blog, I will be following your advice in my own blog in the coming weeks and months, I am subscribing to this thread.

Hey nereme! Thank you for your kind words! I'm so glad you like what you see and hope the blog continues to be interesting and useful for you. Feel free to contribute a comment any time you'd like.


Update:

Green is done, starting to do some lining and blocking out the black for the metal bits.

I wish I had half the skill of Gits.

Still that vindi is drop dead sexy!

Gits
1-That vindicator picture that was up close was ridiculously cool, very good job
2-I eagerly await the completion of the new assault squad as they already look super cool with those poses.

3- Would you be interested in a rematch sometime? My IG have been craving retribution against the mantis warriors since our last game in september, I was hoping to play you in the tourney but that did not come to fruition. So I was wondering if you would be interested in getting a game in sometime, not necessarily anytime soon as I know that you are busy with work , family and preparing for adepticon, but anytime in the next few months would work for me. Just PM me or reply here if you are interested.

Thanks!!!

Hey Johnny, thanks man. It just takes practice and the willingness to constantly try new stuff. You can get there if you want to.

@Dajobe: Thanks my friend. I'd be delighted to play you again... this time *before* the shop closes around us! I have a favor to ask though. Though I know you have a pension for large battles... I *really* need to practice with my Adepticon army. It has a number of elements that I've never run under 5th Ed (or at all) and I'm desperate to see how they work. I can field (or proxy) everything in the list now that the assault squad is on it's way. I promise you a big game later... but right now I need some trial runs with my current 1000 pt. list.

PM me and we'll talk.

Liked the explanation of the domed resin. Naturally convex you say. So you just apply a small blob and it naturally forms into a domed surface...no having to tease or shape the resin into place?

Oh, and looks like you were right about the popularity of Necrons with thier new codex. You should prolly get a few practice games in against them as well. Maybe another game against some wuffs as well .

Wheres your avatar gone wyoming??

Well, it's really thick, so you need to coax it to get it to spread out at times, but if you pour it clean, it'll dome and stay that way. That's why it works for the headlight lenses on the vindicator (though the two rear taillight lenses are flat... I just didn't add quite enough resin.

I figure out of our 8 total team games... 6 of them will be against necrons, GKs and SWs... in some mix. If you want to put together the most over-powered SW list you can at 1k pts and have some fun blowing me to bits... I'm up for it. I just need to figure out how to use these new units & characters (and codex)... not worried about winning yet.

Vitruvian XVII wrote:Wheres your avatar gone wyoming??

I was a part of that whole "I love Ward" Valentine's gig. So deleted my avatar after the end of the day. Haven't really thought of an appropriate one to use yet. I suppose I could go back to the past and grab a pic of the "Desert Fox", which was my original avatar. Memories.

Haha fair enough! MW day was funny tbf.

Love the new assault marines by the way Gits

Here you go wyfox.... you can use this.




Miss Wyoming, 2011 (get it...)

Not bad considering the population of Wyoming is like... seven?

To quote Garfield and Friends...

"Wyoming is actually Latin for Nothing Here."

I get it, cause she's a wyoming fox >_<

*cheers* *applause* Well done Alf! You have restored my faith in humanity.

Gitsplitta wrote:*cheers* *applause*

I like how I saw the pre-edited message, and when I clicked quote, it gave me the edited version...

Smooth Gits

That was Git's rule #14 for blog creation... be FAST on the editing!

Not the first time... let me tell you.

Gitsplitta wrote:Here you go wyfox.... you can use this.




Miss Wyoming, 2011 (get it...)

Now I have the foxy lady song stuck in my head . But seriously, you know how many PMs I would get per day asking for a date? Think I will pass.

Not my problem. *I* would find the whole situation VERY amusing.

You would

Woo hoo! Now you've got it!

Besides... you're hardly the fist male dakkanaught who has an attractive female avatar.

Gitsplitta wrote:Woo hoo! Now you've got it!

Besides... you're hardly the fist male dakkanaught who has an attractive female avatar.

True, but they're the one's who complain about the PMs in the past .

So let me know when you got some free time for a game.

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AND lastly, I am NOT a sexy, young, single chick who has the hots for nerds who take their little plastic army men and yell “pew-pew” on a table in front of like-minded men

Wyfox's sig

Hey Gits! Love the final shot of the vin, looks great, and the resin is a nice touch.

As for the assault minis, your technique with the air brush just keeps getting better and better. The contrast and shading looks very dynamic, i'm looking forward to see how they turn out.

Iv said it before, and i'm sure I will say it again, your use of RT minis with your painting style really does remind me of the 'Eavy Metal' painting teams of the old days.

Keep it up!

Oh, I guess it worked, sorry!

Gits Let me know when the Marine arrives please.....

@Hits: Thanks mate, still a long way to go on my airbrushing technique... but I do appear to be improving steadily. I'll take that as a good thing. I often have people make comments similar to yours about the old minis. As bad a reputation as they've had over the years, something about how I handle them seems to strike a chord with a lot of folks. If my painting style suits the mini's... that's a good thing... but I'm not sure that it's really a conscious effort on my part as much as it's where I am as a painter. Perhaps good enough to stand with the better painters of old, but not yet able to paint to "modern" standards of the hobby. As long as I keep getting better... I'm OK with that.

Sure will Dee.


Speaking of getting better... I thought I'd post this while I'm in the doldrums of painting things on the assault squad that take time but don't make for a very interesting pic. Here is a shot of the Mantis Warrior motor pool. I think you can really see a difference in the early vehicles (razorbacks and pods) and the more recent LS Storms, and the brand new vindicator. Granted the Storms aren't really finished yet... but the major airbrushing and such is complete... it's just some details that are still lacking.



Amusingly, I never noticed until just now that I'd never finished the yellow on the top of the fins of the left-most pod.

So... how have things changed over time??

1. From the early work to the LS Storms: The colors became much richer and warmer. This is due to a change in my highlight shade from a white-based light green to a yellow-based light green. Also the surfaces are much more dynamic. I owe this to Eggroll & his Blood Angles blog. Take some time to see how he places airbrushed lines of dark shades around objects and seams & how much this improves the dynamism of his figures, especially his vehicles. There is no zenithal technique on the speeders... it's all just done with careful application of dark and light shading over a medium green.

2. From LS Stoms to Vindi: Increased drama and dynamic coloring due strictly to painting prior to assembly. I can treat each piece or surface as a separate entity with it's own unique relationship to the light, thus the results are somewhat startling and were ridiculously easy to achieve. Warmth increased by slight increase in yellow pigment in the final spray.

Hope you like it. Hope to have an update on the assault squad in a day or two.

the one with out the yellow could be for another squad?

Could be... but it's an easy enough fix... just need to take the time.

ya I find those all the time. whole parts I forgot to paint. I usually never get to it tho.

Gitsplitta wrote:
Besides... you're hardly the fist male dakkanaught who has an attractive female avatar.

Represent!

Loving the motorpool Gits... That's some sexy Green n Yella

Gitsplitta: Making the rest of us MW green with envy since 2010.

@Styro: I feel ya on that one... got my MoTF painted "enough" for Adepticon last year and still haven't actually finished him.

@Johnny-C: Thanks man... I do appreciate it!

@graven: Given that massive pictorial update you just did, I'm honored you'd stop by and comment. Thanks bud.



I've got some practice games with Dajobe after work tomorrow, so I really burned the midnight oil to get these to the point where they could be assembled and varnished. Definitely on track for getting these done this weekend.

The love the shade of yellow you always go with, it gives it a super contrast!

Great Job man!

Gold, seals, eyes, sword details, flamer, power sword... that's about all that's left. Then just the edge highlighting & basing and we're all done. Crap... put that way it still sounds like a lot of work!

Really looking forward to this afternoon's game(s) with dajobe. I specifically did not bring my camera in the hope that it would help me concentrate on the game at hand. I expect to get brutalized... but then again I'm not really running a balanced list, it's 1/2 of a balanced list. I just want some practice with my "new" units, commander and rules so I can be comfortable with them during the big dance. As I was looking over my list I realized that I'd given both of my assault sergeants the mini-meltas which I totally forgot to model. Jumped on e-bay, snagged a couple from a bits merchant and will make appropriate switchouts when they arrive. Will probably pin them so they can be exchanged with bolt or plasma pistols in the future.

Good luck, I can't wait to read the Batrep with no pictures

Well... might not be much of a batrep with no pics. I have my phone... if I really feel motivated I'll take a few pictures with that (but they're pretty poor quality).

"... and as you can see this group of yellow blurs arrive on the left flank and destroy the big blue and white blur with melta fire. Then the squad of little blue and white blurs exit from the OTHER blue and white blur and take out half the yellow blurs with combined melta and multi-laser fire..."

I'm *really* looking forward to getting these guys done. Not that I'm sick of them really... it's just to have the last "squad" off my back for Adepticon. I mean that's huge. Once these guys are done, everything else I need to do for Adepticon is pure fun!

Gitsplitta wrote:@Vit: Vallejo Surface Primer. Doesn't say that it's specifically an airbrush primer but it can be loaded directly into an airbrush with no problems what-so-ever. Leaves a nice thin coat that doesn't cover up the details.

Thanks, just picked some up from the War Store, though they call it Auxillary Primer (same model # though). After researching on line, these surface primers were specifically designed by Vallejo to be applied either by brush or airbrush. Guess you just stumbled upon this by trial. They also have a number of sizes of bottles they sell it in from 17ml to over 200ml. They also come in a variety of colors. Pretty sweet actually.

Personally tired of having the random surface flaw from overspray or bubbles from using airolsole cans. Not to mention the smell.

Oh yes! I bought a big bottle of white, and a couple of smaller bottles of other colored primers- it is the BEST primer I have ever used- I'll probably just chuck my unused Armory spray primer cans now, really- there is no need to keep using it...Well, maybe I'll keep it for big terrain jobs, but that is about it.

TLS carries it too. They can hardly keep the white & black in stock. I bought large bottles of white, black, grey, red, green and kind of a slightly greenish tan which I may try to use as a base for orky yellows. I did blend it with some white primer and made a decent starting primer for Thing 2's nids. The assault squad above is primed using the green, which as far as I can tell is exactly the same shade as Vallejo's "field green" airbrush paint.

I didn't really stumble on it as much as Hans talked me into it. Anyway... I'm permanently off the can... these primers are light-years ahead of anything else I've tried... and *very* economical to boot.

Best part is, because they're just liquids you can blend them to get the color that you want... that's pretty impressive when you think about it.

Ah yes, Hans, quite the instigator that one . Oh, and blending...like with normal valejo colors? But wouldn't that mess up the primers ability to bind to the plastic?

gitsplitta wrote:I'm permanently off the can...

Ah, somebody should sig that

Nope! It's a new kind of resin as the binder actually!

Actually, I meant I was blending colors of primers... not mixing regular paints with them... though in small amounts I doubt it would matter.

Like the new avatar BTW wyfox... You should animate that last one and this one exchanging every few seconds.

The Assault Squad is coming together rather nicely Gits! On a related note your package arrived today!

Despite the multi-layers of packaging the axe-hand managed to come off but it was an easy fix. Lovely detailing mate, top quality as should be expected from someone of your skill. I hope it has given you plenty of inspiration for a Chaplain of your own.

Sorry it arrived in bits GS... I double-boxed it with two layers of padding... can't get much more secure than that. Perhaps the glue just failed?

It sure did. It's actually made me consider some alternate schemes when I finally get around to painting my post-crusade army. So yes... from that perspective it was a hugely important figure.

I'm glad you like it. After waiting as long as you did, you deserved something extra-special.

Im loving those old school assault marines, the poses really do make them stand out !

Gitsplitta wrote:Not a decal exactly. I made the original (based on the original artwork) and then just print them out on paper. I tried decals for MONTHS on they were all crap. Paper works just fine.

I had the same problem, the decals just didnt do it for me either as the ones i was doing looked rubbish, so far all the guys i have painted i have missed the markings off, i keep telling myself i will put them on at a later date, when im a bit better at it.
Ive got a mate trying to sculpt me a mantis warriors symbol on an old and new rhino door so i can take castings of that for my vehicles, just hope it looks better then my efforts.
Also i will be getting myself a new camera soon and i can show you what i have done so far, although that are not up to your standard
Im currently trying to get the front half of a mantis on the top of my venerable dread, with some guns from puppetswar though i have not had much time though as of late.



The dread isnt mine, just a pic i found with the right weapons on

That sketch on the dread just makes me smile...

My advice... and feel free to ignore it.... is to spend your time trying to modify the head area so that it looks mantis like. I'm not sure the arms could be done without looking either goofy or over-the-top chaosy. You could however... try to make a CCW arm that looked like a mantis arm, however I think it would still look too much like chaos to be believable as an Imperial construct... even from such a chapter as the Mantis Warriors.

If you can find someone who has some simple GS skills (or you develop your own)... you could mold your own MW symbol on a shoulder pad and resin cast them for yourself. As long as you don't sell them you're covered from an IP perspective. I had Chapterhouse make some pads for my post crusade Mantis Warriors Penitent, but they were my design based on a photograph of a real praying mantis... which has NOTING to do with any of the official GW designs... so there was no IP issue.

Since I do the original design on my Badab era army... I paint it by hand. They're far from perfect but it's a simple design and I can usually pull it off OK. It's not a big enough pain in the butt for me to try to come up with some other alternate system of adding it.


When you start your blog, you're welcome to announce it here. My recommendation is to include a single picture of your work and a link to take people to your blog (along with whatever background you want to add). I'm very happy to lend the popularity of this blog to starting another Mantis Warrior blog!

Gitsplitta wrote:Like the new avatar BTW wyfox... You should animate that last one and this one exchanging every few seconds.

Don't have the computer software, but if one of your fans (wink-wink) felt willing to donate some effort and make it, I would be happy to oblidge .

download The GIMP! no more excuses!

The assault marine squad is looking really nice Git's, I feel the yellow tint on the armour is just right and goes well with the yellow bands on the jump packs.

That dread picture makes me laugh now as it happens haha, it does not really capture the idea very well at all.
Il stick with it and see how it looks and if it ends up as bad as the photo i will probably just do a head on the sarcophagus bit. As it happens that was my original thought.
With respect to the badges i guess its just a case of me doing it over and over until i get the hang of it, i just have a real problem at the moment painting the smaller details, practice makes perfect i guess.
Thanks for letting me put a link up too, i will take you up on that offer when the time comes, Keep up the good work man !

@Gir: Thanks Gir, even unfinished they looked great on the table last night.

@Rayvon: My pleasure, look forward to seeing your efforts!



Battle Report is up! http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/438644.page#4068820

2000 pts total... 2x 1000 pt armies (both BA) vs. melta-vet/mech IG

Hope you like it, fun game.

so when you starting the dreadnought?

O.K. spudkins... you lost me. What dreadnought would that be?

Man, I really look forward to seeing this army in person next month!

Well... kind of a surprise update... not that an update in the midst of Adepticon painting season is a surprise. But I have a project neither you or I were expecting.

As you may know, Knightley made me this awesome GK apothecary that I wanted to use as the sanguinary priest in my Adepticon army. Unfortunately having a chance to see him with the rest of the army... he's awesome... but beautifully "modern" and just looks so out-of-place with all the RT era stuff. He just doesn't fit the feel of the army. So... he'll be part of my post-crusade command squad (or Sang Priest when I play my "lates" as BA). This means however... that I have to concoct another apoth for Adepticon. Well, I spent the day (yes, a day) going through my bits boxes, pulling out possible parts... cutting them up, attaching them to one another, digging up new bits and so fourth.

This is what I came up with. I'll be honest... I'm inordinately proud. I just don't think I could have done a better job in design or construction than this. The left arm alone has 7 different elements to it.



More painting tomorrow.
Gits

What a bugger about the force cohesion with the GMS marine Gits, still the Apoth you've put together looks pretty cool, should be a right looker with a dab of paint eh?

I like it!

Love the extra little details!

The piping is perfect!

Really like the Bits-box mini You put together.
A day browsing in your bits? Who needs the internet? ehehe

Knightley wrote:What a bugger about the force cohesion with the GMS marine Gits, still the Apoth you've put together looks pretty cool, should be a right looker with a dab of paint eh?

It was a really tough decision... I love the apoth you made for me. He's considerably more massive and very high-tech looking and just stands out (in a bad way) when mixed in with all those early edition minis. He looks fantastic when next to my GMS minis though... so he's got a permanent home among the brethren of my post-crusade Mantis Warriors.



@Johnny: Thanks!

@Desert: Thanks mate. That's the fun of kit-bashing... I just spend hours poking around my bits drawers... trying this, modifying that... until I get the pose and look I want. I knew I had to make this one special if it was going to replace the mini knightly made for me, so I took a little extra time and care. The left arm was probably glued on and removed 4 times before I got it right.

@Norn King: Thank you Norn. I like adding the tubes and pipes, but don't get many excuses to do so. After I had to cut off the plastic versions that came with the apoth arm, I had my chance!

@Selvaggio: That's the joy of modeling! Though, a lot of these bits originally came from the internet... or friends who know I'm looking for something specific.

Nice bat.rep. Gits'

Great stuff, love a bit of kitbashing! How do you have time?

It's rough that Knightley's GMS doesn't fit in with the aesthetic, but I have to say I really like the look of that RT era kit bash. Excited to see him get some color.

...I have a feeling that your GMS group shot is missing a (hypothetical) Moltar-painted marine.....

It's missing a couple hypothetical marines... but since other's collections are missing my work... I don't beef.

heya gits thought i would pop on in and say howdy. never seen a rt vindi till yours looks really neat. the kit bash was really cool, so for the back end of the apocs arm is just brass tubing? i agree with the rest of the crowd that he needs some paint.

@alabama: Brass wire and little a little molded cable I got from somewhere.


OK, been busy today. Getting close. Just the airbrushing of the power sword, the eyes and edge highlighting. The list is getting shorter though so I must be making progress.

Cool squad and poses, like the sarge in particular!
Also nice Bat. Rep., for a person that never played I'm looking forward for my first game, It looks really fun.

They're looking ace Gits! And that's a nice group shot of the GMS marines! With the Chaos Mantid lurking in the background! Which reminds me, I'll be using the Chaplain in a game soon! And the Tranquility Vet will be an acting Apothecary

I feel I should get into the GMS game some more, I keep forgetting that I can actually paint half-decently when I put my mind to it and actually spend a good couple of hours of free time on it!

Very nice look to the assault squad. they will fit in nicely. love the unique spots you put the purity seals.

SL

Assault Squad #2 looks really good! I agree with SL, the unique spots on the Sarge's purity seal look awesome when zoomed in. But, I have a question. Why is the guy on the left shaking up my soda can? He must be heretical.

@Selvaggio: Thanks on both counts Sel. You'll love the game. Get someone fun and relaxed to play with who can help you with the rules, and don't expect the figures to play up to the fluff... if they did, it wouldn't be much of a game.

@GS: Take a pic of the chappy & vet in action if you can, would love to see it! Even if they die horribly. I've really enjoyed my GMS trades. Only 3 more figures and I can start looking for new trades again. That'll be nice!

@SL: Thanks brother, appreciate it. I look at the purity seals as illuminated manuscripts, thus try to add little details when I can. Tough though, they're SO small.

@Moltar: It's supposed to be a grenade... but looking at it now... I does kind of look like a coke can. Perhaps I should paint a white swish on it to make it official!

Gits you are a machine! This new squad looks fantastic

The Chappy may die horribly. Knowing my brother, he'll purposefully go out of his way to slay it with one of his blooming Flying Daemon Princes! :O Hopefully the "Apothecary" will survive though, since the retinue he will be placed with will be LARGE, allowing lots of wound allocations! My aim will be for him to survive the match. Hell, it would be nice for the Chappy to survive the match... hmmm... I may have a plan forming! I can use him to lure the Daemon Princes like live bait! That way they won't be as much of a problem! Sort of like a really odd dogfight!

The purity seals are indeed purty seals, are you using a micron pen for that?

The group shot of GMS marines is impressive. I'm inordinately pleased that mine ended up on the front row

The assault squad is looking great. I do love those 2nd ed metal beakies. They were a brilliant evolution of marine that I don't think has actually been exceeded yet

Gathering Storm wrote:The Chappy may die horribly. Knowing my brother, he'll purposefully go out of his way to slay it with one of his blooming Flying Daemon Princes! :O Hopefully the "Apothecary" will survive though, since the retinue he will be placed with will be LARGE, allowing lots of wound allocations! My aim will be for him to survive the match. Hell, it would be nice for the Chappy to survive the match... hmmm... I may have a plan forming! I can use him to lure the Daemon Princes like live bait! That way they won't be as much of a problem! Sort of like a really odd dogfight!

Ah, bait-and-switch... good plan! Good luck, I hope he performs well for you.

inmygravenimage wrote:The purity seals are indeed purty seals, are you using a micron pen for that?

Yessir. (or the most part anyway). I need a thinner pen to really do what I want... but I don't think they make them. My fine brush control isn't what it used to be so it's the best I can do.



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endtransmission wrote:The group shot of GMS marines is impressive. I'm inordinately pleased that mine ended up on the front row

The assault squad is looking great. I do love those 2nd ed metal beakies. They were a brilliant evolution of marine that I don't think has actually been exceeded yet

I agree completely. Was planning on poking around and see if I could snag a couple more here or there.

Cool, good to know. Maybe someone should do a tutorial...

Wow Gits, your blog never ceases to amaze me. I've read this whole blog front and back easily three times, and it never stops me from saying "Wow" every time. You're definitely an inspiration for me to improve my painting and modeling with every army of mine. I hope to one day own a blog such as yours Mr. Gitsplitta! As always, I can't wait to see what else your ingenious hands and mind will make next!


Sadly, it took me this long to finally comment on here

Glad you finally did Demdiddydizzy... this blog is better with you than without you! Welcome!

@Graven: Tutorial?? "I scribble very lightly with a small pen." There ya go... don't say I never gave ya nuthin'.

I'm sure I'll pick up some tips from a master such as yourself along the way!

I'm hardly a master... but this is a good place to learn. Lots of very accomplished folk visit here. Keep your eyes and mind open & visit other people's blogs, ask questions... that's how I did it.

Tutorialol.

so yea the squad looks great gits.

@Gits: I see "The Beast" has claimed another soul! Also, curiously enough that is the advice I myself am now trying, Sensei.

But yeah, Demdiddydizzy, take Gits' advice there, it is wise and will get you far! I have learnt a lot from him and his contemporaries (Graven; WhaleMusic; BLACKHAND etc.). Also, this is generally a really friendly place, even if we sometimes become a distraction during times that Gits should be painting!

Hah! Okay then. I've already been looking around, just not commenting too much. School was my main focus for a while, but then, after having afternoons of nothing... Chaos and the Imperium called to me from their boxes. So, I am now more active on here! I'll be checking out as much as I can!

And that assault squad, by the way, is turning out great Gits!

@'bama: Thanks!

@GS: Distractions, distractions... must feed the blog... Imotep... Imotep...

@D3: Please do, as GS says... it's a friendly place, lots to learn, lots of opportunities to voice your opinion and help people along.


O.K. Last update for a couple of days (parents are visiting). Close... but no cigar. Got the power sword done and the two fancy-schmancy BA melta-pistols done. Just eyes, edge highlighting and bases left now. Might be done by Friday if I'm lucky.

Oh my Emperor... That's a lovely power sword! And I most certainly will! Thanks again!

actually i got a questiona bout the melta pistols are those made or did you get them off a bit merch? and if you did make em can you do a tut?

Bit merchant. Didn't want to waste the melta bits on some kind of conversion.

Just dawned on me that for you guys... there's probably not much of interest in all these photos as there isn't much visual difference. Sorry about that. To a large degree the step-by-step posting is as much about keeping me motivated as it is showing everyone my progress. I may try to work on the eyes tonight after my parents go to bed or perhaps early tomorrow morning, just to keep things moving along. Once the lining of the green gets done, they'll be an obvious change in how they look.

We appreciate the pictures no matter what

So much progress in so few pages! I usually wait 10 or 11 pages before I check to see what you have been up to. Lo and behold, you finish a tank, assault squad and do a cool conversion in the blink of an eye!

Loving that vindi the most, not sure what it is but everything about it screams awesome!

Don't be so modest Gits! You are definately an admired hobbyist all across Dakka! I would even go as far as saying "legendary"!

Legendary...congrats brother!

Adepticon is gonna be a long day!


back on topic... like also how your chainswords also have the same gradiant shading. Very nice look.

SL

@Alf: OK, glad you like them!

@CC: It's brown-trouser time for Adepticon. Things tend to happen very quickly now. And I am getting a wee bit faster at painting.

@dstein: ROFL! Yeah, sure.

@SL: They were just "in the way" when I did the airbrushing... happy circumstance I guess.

Next time you want to do the iterative photos, but make sure the models are all in exactly the same spots so you can do an animation at the end and watch them paint themselves

I really like the power sword Git's, any chance of a top down view of it?

@endtrans:

@Gir: Um... top down? Sure... bit I don't think it'll look much different (since the sword is about on a 45 degree angle). Do you mean a straight shot at the flat of the blade?

Gitsplitta wrote:@endtrans:

@Gir: Um... top down? Sure... bit I don't think it'll look much different (since the sword is about on a 45 degree angle). Do you mean a straight shot at the flat of the blade?

I'd assume this is what he meant.

I enjoy watching your progress, and honestly when you look back on your army, you will feel very proud of the work and time it took!

It's amazing to see in person.. if your attending Adepticon stop over and take a peak . You will not be disapointed.

SL

O.K., finally had a chance to take the shot for Gir. I hate high magnification... makes everything look like crap. Basically it's just an airbrushed gradient with some extra white squiggles coming from the power couplings. I wanted to make lightning... but my lightning sucks... I've got no feel for it. So, I just went with squiggles instead. I'm not entirely happy with it as I think there's too much white at the bottom of the blade. I plan on taking some *very* dilute blue to it and see if I can't tone down the white near the hilt a bit.



@Alf: I've got that whole-army shot as the background on my computer... keeps me motivated & yes, you are correct... it does make me feel good!


Anyone going to Adepticon, please come seek me out. We'll be stuck-in all day Saturday at the team tournament so that's a good place to start. I'll post a pic of the completed Adepticon army when I'm done and may even bring the rest in case there's an off chance for a pick-up battle, so just ask and I'll drag things out for you (not Saturday though... that's a 6 AM - 1 AM affair).

I have a few WD articles that show step-by-step on how to make realistic looking lightning effects. One was for a BA (Space Hulk) power sword and one for a pair of wolf claws.

I actually like the powersword as is.. Definatly a change from most peoples take on them. So I would leave it as is. if it was mine.. 8-)

Still great work as always. Keep it up.

I'm inclined to agree, keep it as is. One is always one's own harshest critic.

inmygravenimage wrote:I'm inclined to agree, keep it as is. One is always one's own harshest critic.

As it should be. Git falls in the catagory as most of us who don't accept our own status que.

I say give it a wash and it should blend in as well a tone down the white.

SL

Solar_lion wrote:I say give it a wash and it should blend in as well a tone down the white.

SL

Ah... perfect! Someone fell into my trap. NOW if I do it and muck it up... it's SL's fault!

Gitsplitta wrote:

Solar_lion wrote:I say give it a wash and it should blend in as well a tone down the white.

SL

Ah... perfect! Someone fell into my trap. NOW if I do it and muck it up... it's SL's fault!

It was a Tarp!

But if it works I'm a Da man!.. I'll take my chances!

What's next on your list?

Gitsplitta wrote:

Solar_lion wrote:I say give it a wash and it should blend in as well a tone down the white.

SL

Ah... perfect! Someone fell into my trap. NOW if I do it and muck it up... it's SL's fault!

That is basically what the WD articles do. Apply lighter color than base...apply glaze...apply progressively lighter color as thinner lines...apply glaze...rinse repeat. And if you fail...blame GW...we all do anyways.

That sword turned out pretty darn good if I do say so myself! I wish I could attend Adepticon to see this army in person and meet you too Gitz! Plus... It's Adepticon. Who wouldn't wanna go?

@SL: Painting the apothecary and fiddling with the Tycho figure.

@wyfox: Truth.

@D3: Also truth!


And... I'm just adding a post in hopes of getting through the page rollover before I have a substantive post with a pic later on. Hint... I'm doing the basing!!



Automatically Appended Next Post:

Assault squad will be done within the half hour... but if you want to see it... someone's got to bump the blog!

Consider yourself bumped!

Bump....Our team will have a lot to post as we get closer as well as you can expect to see a blog about the event. Stay tuned

I can't wait to see the squad!

Thank you gentlemen...

Assault squad #2. Sorry for the delay, but every time I took a pic I noticed something else that needed to be fixed. I'm sick of them now so they're "done" officially.

These had better win some sort of painting price this year, or there'll be trouble... What are you guys doing for a display board this year, btw?

SL is doing a fantastic "outpost"... it's amazing. Totally amazing. You can see a few pics on his blog The Lamenter Priject here: Base Platform and here Base Interior.

And no, they won't... but I'm quite happy with the way they turned out. Very "me"... if you get my drift.

To say I'm jealous of missing out on being a part of this team is nothing compared to how jealous I am of those assault marines Gits.

I'm beginning to notice the "you're your harshest critic" thing... I keep seeing things on my Winterguard I'm not happy with (not just those gun barrels )

Very nice.. I'm quessing that you close to being done! once again you don't disappoint!

An MW exclusive... here is a pic where the MW will be particially hanging out. ( this is a early picture so not all the painting and basing is done.

Alfndrate wrote:To say I'm jealous of missing out on being a part of this team is nothing compared to how jealous I am of those assault marines Gits.

I'm beginning to notice the "you're your harshest critic" thing... I keep seeing things on my Winterguard I'm not happy with (not just those gun barrels )

Well, it's easy to write off my self-criticism as being self-deprecating... but you have to remember... I've entered this army and my best figures in many competitions with no wins & often not even in the top 3. So I'm not just being my harshest critic... I'm stating facts. Personally, I think I'm a good modeler and painter, perhaps even very good... but I'm not the best (not even locally), and to win... you have to be the best. I am still getting better though. The lines on these are cleaner than those on the last assault squad... and the poses explored some new ideas that I've been thinking about for quite some time & turned out just as I'd hoped.

Solar_lion wrote:Very nice.. I'm quessing that you close to being done! once again you don't disappoint!

An MW exclusive... here is a pic where the MW will be particially hanging out. ( this is a early picture so not all the painting and basing is done.

Yep, thy're done. Like the area SL... as long as I'm not next to the gene stealer pit!

Gitsplitta wrote:SL is doing a fantastic "outpost"... it's amazing. Totally amazing. You can see a few pics on his blog The Lamenter Priject here: Base Platform and here Base Interior.

Truely I lament not being able to see the whole project.

Officially awesome You should say Git!
And the board for the display is top notch already, can't wait to see the minis on that.

Yep, thy're done. Like the area SL... as long as I'm not next to the gene stealer pit!

Ironicly.. they seem to be all located next to the so called " loyalist " chapters.
here is what were refrencing..
Way early shot.. this in not where this guy ended up. it was done for scale purposes..

LOL!

Alfndrate wrote:To say I'm jealous of missing out on being a part of this team

Start thinking about next year brother!

SL

So... I have a simple question for you guys. Which squad do you prefer?


The second of the two squads is more technically proficient. It's cleaner, sharper... took a different tactic with the airbrush and even the brush work is tighter. The edge highlights are more subtle and much crisper. However... while a bit cruder, the first (older) squad has major visual impact... primarily because of the much lighter edge highlighting. It really jumps out at you on the table top.

There is also a slight color difference. Squad #1 was washed with Thraka Green (then immediately "rinsed", getting the wash off the high areas), Squad #2 was not.

So... which do you like better?





Comments on the builds are welcome too, but I'm really after assessments of the paint jobs.

Cheers for the sword pic Git's that was what I was after, looks very nice.

As to the above two squads I prefer the bottom squad (the new guys) they look more weathered / blending looks more natural.

The first squads armour looks like its brand new out of the factory.

Nowt bad with either really, as you say its just a different way you painted them.

Both have your painting signature; but of the two I'd say the new ones are a bit more appealing..I think the blending is just a bit cleaner on the 2nd, As for poses ..I really like the 1st one. On the new ones...Special note for me is the placement of the purity seals. they really make the models unique looking.

As with everything you produce Gits, I enjoy it, but when looking at the two squads, we (as viewers of this blog) would love to see the high quality work that we see in the second squad. This is not to say that the first squad is low quality. But as you said, the second one has a more natural blending.

This might be a little odd to say this, but I really think that it depends on the posing of the squad.

In the first squad, I love the extreme edge highlights because they make the squad very aggressive, which is something that works well for the squad, with Mantis Warrior Von Carstein over there .

The second squad has the more "relaxed" highlights, and everything blends in nicely. As you stated earlier in their building, you wanted these guys to look a little more relaxed. Not like "stand down men" but perhaps waiting for the fight to get to them. So the softer blends and color values set this up nicely.

My whole write up boils down to: I can't decide, because they both work for the squads.

I prefer the more blended workup on the highlights. Edge highlighting is a bit too extreme and prevalent for me on the first squad.

Squad number two appears to be more 'modern' in terms of painting, and look 'better' to my eye. But I've always HATED edge highlighting.

--B.

The Thrakka Green wash has a lot of blue in it. So even when you use a diluted form, it deepens the green considerably. A side effect though, is that it actually obscures the blending... which is why the blending on the first squad is inferior to that of the second squad. It wasn't to begin with, just got that way after the wash.

Very interesting insight Alf... thanks.

For once... my formula for the edge highlighting is repeatable. So if the second squad looks like a winner, at least I can repeat the process.

Okay, after taking a second and third look as I put the matte varnish on my winterguard...

I like the muted greens on the second squad, but I do feel like the edge highlighting would still work well on the first squad.

http://www.dakkadakka.com/gallery/347258-Assault%20Squad%2C%20Mantis%20Warriors%2C%20Space%20Marines%2C%20Warhammer%2040%2C000.html

i really like the way that your sergeants sword turned out!!! too bad i have to hate him forever because he wouldnt die! jk, but i like how the Assault squads turned out, good job

wyomingfox wrote:
Truely I lament not being able to see the whole project.

Well Played!


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dajobe wrote:i really like the way that your sergeants sword turned out!!! too bad i have to hate him forever because he wouldnt die! jk, but i like how the Assault squads turned out, good job

talk about tough love!!

SL

Ah dajobe... you just named him... He must be "Sergeant Kent" now as he proved to be the unkillable "man of steel" in our game... protecting a BA victory with his very body!

Gitsplitta wrote:Ah dajobe... you just named him... He must be "Sergeant Kent" now as he proved to be the unkillable "man of steel" in our game... protecting a BA victory with his very body!

you should have him lead every charge for he is favoured by the emperor!!!

isn't Kal-el a more approprate name then?

He should a least get a IG helmet on his base!

Forge World just announced this puppy...



With the option of this turret:



Man would that be great with this army... actually I could probably just get away with ordering the plasma turret (if available) and converting it to work with one of my Mk-1 Preds. (wouldn't be as cool as this though). Problem is I won't do it until I know for certain that I can legally field them in an SM army. (i.e. I'm going to wait & see what 6th has to offer.)


Also... I'm debating pre-ordering the new FW terminators and a contemptor to go with my Badab Era army & picking them up at Adepticon...



What do you guys think?

I think theyre all very sexy, and you should buy as many as Mrs Splitta will let you get away with....

That's one vote in the "for" collumn!

I know there's a lot of mixed reviews with those termies... but I think if run with a contemptor... and with a bit of tweaking of the limbs (and replacing the flamer with a useful weapon)... it could be a seriously impressive unit.

I love the termies. People are against them because theyre not the pre heresy people were expecting. They would fit very well with a contemptor, which i would LOVE to see you paint btw, would look sick pimped out in green n yeller

The flamer is the best bit though Gits!

You gonna get a Storm Eagle?

Yes, the flamer is cool looking, but it's the least useful combat option given the current metagame. That may change with 6th... we'll see. I'd rather have an assault cannon as I've always viewed that as the quintessential terminator heavy weapon.

What's a Storm Eagle? Is it the "fabled" SM flyer??

I say buy them and make them awesome as You usually do.
Assault cannon for the win!

Was found recently hidden on the FW site...

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/90/439735.page

I vote for, but I'm a huge FW fan.

I say a Contemptor would be a great addition to your army!

Those Pred's are fancy. Is that a Conversion Beamer turret?

The Terminators sadly only come with a Heavy flamer, which I don't see as useful as the Assault Cannon. You could purchase them, and throw on an Assault Cannon if that's what you fancy!

I think that the termies are ridiculously cool, but dont really like the plasma turret, i think that plasma turrets should be IG only, SM have termies and LR, and while IG has plenty of good things, the executioner turret should remain IG exlscusive, imho

As to the Storm Eagle...

Out of my price range and not fieldable (as it's FW & I assume IA rule set) in my local events... so no, won't be getting it. Neat though.

@D3: Yes, I was planning on doing my own conversions... both for an assault cannon and probably a cyclone missile launcher as well. The original cyclones would fit perfectly (both thematically and size-wise) on those termies... would just have to make a mold of one minus the terminator body somehow. Not an easy thing... but then I only need one of them.

Home now... just about to start on the apoth!

You could run it as a storm raven?


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Would be interested to see the termis though. I'm not 100% on them yet.

Got this wonderful Sons of Medusa Apothecary by MissDee. Very cool interpretation. I see the tech marine back-pack as a "jaws-of-life" apparatus for getting injured marines out of wrecked vehicles and such.



I find myself with an embarrassment of riches when it comes to apothecaries now... Thanks Dee!



Automatically Appended Next Post:


... and my own Apothecary... WIP #1.

I'll add another vote for those terminators... they are very sexy indeed. Even more so when running in the same list as contemptors... If I weren't getting rid of my marines, I'd be after a set of those! I'd be tempted to replace the heavy flamer with a Reaper autocannon from the chaos marines as (IIRC) Assault cannons weren't all that common during the crusade period. They could be run using the same stats though

I'd missed the Storm Eagle in N&R... damn, that looks so much better than the Stormraven!

Lush. The wip shot of your apothecary really shows off the pad work! I would totally vote for a contemptor, and if you're stuck for useful loadout I have a spare pair of contemptor TLAC arms, just shoot me a pm.

I also love the turtle termies. They rock my little, sad, retro loving world. The idea of a pred with c-beamer is fun, but why would you stick sponsons on it? It's just going to hide at the back of the field, surely. Plasma turret's fun but at that price I'd rather do a IG kitbash. I can testify to the brutal efficiency of executioners generally, though, I occasionally run them in mech-vet as my russ.

Re: the 2 squads, I think I'm on squad 2 for paint, squad 1 for insanely dynamic poses.

@ Gitz Np sweetie

Jaws of life = Win

Well, I *think* I've reserved the terminators and a relic contemptor with FW... though I'm wondering because Solar_lion said they wouldn't let him reserve the termies... so maybe I have to re-read the confirmation I got from FW. There were several things out of stock or that they couldn't reserve (the event only minis) in the letter, so I may have missed it... but I don't recall them mentioning the terminators.


@graven: Doing the should pads the old fashioned way... many layers of wet blending. Kind of fun actually. The figure will be mostly white, so I'm going to start with all the colors first, then touch up the white, then black lining, the reinforcing the white again in dilute layers which I hope will result in a nice, creamy smooth final effect. We'll see. I've only done white really well once before.

@Miss Dee: Very nicely done. Crisp and clean and I love the servo arm backpack. Makes him a specialist's specialist. Going to be a great addition to my Inquisitional forces!

Directly from FW email..."Unfortunately we are not able to reserve the Tartaros pattern Terminators. If possible we will try to add these to your order on the day which will add a further $$$$$$$$$ to the cost of your order. Please bring a copy of this order number with you to the event."

If only I was legendary! (starts cying in Root beer )

@ Solar_lion big huggles


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Gitsplitta wrote:Got this wonderful Sons of Medusa Apothecary by MissDee. Very cool interpretation. I see the tech marine back-pack as a "jaws-of-life" apparatus for getting injured marines out of wrecked vehicles and such.



I find myself with an embarrassment of riches when it comes to apothecaries now... Thanks Dee!

opps I missed a bit or two

I will be interested to see how you are going to shade and highlight the white areas of your apoth

Me too!

@Miss Dee: Well, if you did... it isn't very obvious. I wouldn't worry about it.

Squad 1 and buy those termis Gits!

Dee..Thanks Darlin.. no worries I'm sure they will be available even if Git get his before me.

I love that tech backback.. was always one my favs.
Reminds me of the old tech priest whose helm looked like a mechanized boar. All very old school mech looking.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Gitsplitta wrote:Got this wonderful Sons of Medusa Apothecary by MissDee. Very cool interpretation. I see the tech marine back-pack as a "jaws-of-life" apparatus for getting injured marines out of wrecked vehicles and such.

or holding chaos marines who somehow object to have vital organs removed!

SL - glass always full kinda guy

Spend your money Gits!
So the rest of us don't have to!

I wanna squad fer mah Night Lords I also gonna strip a techmarine .......... toooooooooooooooooo

OK, so... I'm painting and drinking margarita's with the missus after a long, hard week... not sure how far I'll get but so far I can still paint straight. Might be an update later.. might not. We'll see.

Enjoy (both painting and Margaritas)

Update for the evening... unfortunately all the tequila wore off. How disappointing.

Apothecary WIP2:



... and the Tycho conversion begins. That shoulder pad was bloody difficult to replace!

oo interesting in seeing tycho when hes all done, plus i'd love to see you work on those awsome FW termies!

Going back to the previous page - I think both assualt squads look great. Love those new terminators and if I was building a Imperial space marine army I'd definitely go for that new storm eagle (20 space marines - does that mean you can put 10 termies in it? - if so maybe I'll get one and convert it to chaos!) Hope to see everything at the FW open day tomorrow in Nottingham.

hmmm...I am actually suprised you haven't worked up the white armour given so much of the details you are working on are ontop of it (like the purity seals). Or are you done with the white panels? Looks only primed to me. Could be wrong, but I don't see any depth.

Is thier a strategic reason?