-Crisp & Grey- A NZ blog (May Update - I painted a Dragon!)

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**Knightley**

Edit: Yay! page 5, hot diggity

@Dantay - I actually thought about doing that, my GS-fu is a bit lacking for detailed sculpts, maybe in the future I'll give it a try

Late Update:

the Chronus mini-conversion is done.

Front

Back

hopefully I'll get more painting time this week to knock some more models out this week,

**inmygravenimage**

Gorgeous. Love the da helm, too - cracking job matey!

**stonned_astartes**

Loveing the modles! They are pro! is there any chance you could post some pictures of your battle cannon preditor would really like a closer look?

**daxx367**

Great models all of the conversions look great just wondering what rule where you going to use for this army looks like you will have to go with an apocalypse two different army acting as one. o and love the hover bike conversion makes me want to do a dark angles army even more.

**c0un7_z3r0**

Nice color scheme, I've never really liked the "all silver"-scheme, but this looks awesome! Nice objective marker as well!

**Knightley**

@Graven - Cheers matey, I really like those DA mech helmets and this one just screamed out "put me on him, now!"

@stonned - Thanks, RE: predator, I'll mark that one for repaint next so that you can get a closer look at the tank.

@Daxxx367 - Thank you! regarding the army I've got both codex's so that I can choose to have a SM army which can use the Thunderfire cannons etc and I have the GK codex so that I can run a pure GK army, currently if I point up what I have as SM's its at about 6000 points give or take, and if I point up as GK I think its at about 3000 points give or take (I have it in a spreadsheet at home - if anyone is interested I can post the lists up)

@c0un7_z3r0 - Thanks! hopefully the paint scheme I put on the marker does it some justice.

Update - Repainting of the Ironclad well underway, I really dislike repainting large objects...

Dread arms off

Dread arms on

**TheChronoTrigger**

Been a while since i've gone through your blog. Your stuff is coming along amazingly. Your tech marine is awesome. One criticism though (on the marine pictured below), the script on the buckler on his left wrist looks a bit sloppy compared to the rest of your work. I know you could do better

Knightley wrote:

Front

**Knightley**

Good catch Chrono. I have been known to do that on occasion to see if I can get C&C and I'm stoked to see you picked up on it

I will change the scripture as it looks horrible in person.

**TheChronoTrigger**

So i found the hidden easter egg!

**Knightley**

Indeed you did! well done.

there is one more not found. Elbrokendo got the one on page 3

*Hint page 4 has a modeling oddity, not a painting mistake*

**TheChronoTrigger**

i'm stumped lol

**Knightley**

I can't give it all way that quickly.

In the mean time I've tried my hand at another bit of fluff, there's no fighting yet, this is hopefully a build up piece - Please note, I still have issues at naming, but I have an Idea to sort that out shortly.

Spoiler:

Techmarine Koali opened the top hatch doors of the Rhino ‘Rleame’ he surveyed the ruined building they had been ordered to hold till morning. He noticed that the fading light gave the ruined building a blood red glow, foreboding at best, however Koali didn’t have the time to think further about it as there was fortifying to complete. He glanced up at the servitor stopped halfway through the ruined courtyard hauling a large chunk of masonry; irritation grew at having to babysit the mindless zombie. Dismounting the Rhino he moved closer to the court yard, Koali powered up his neural link and sent the move command the servitor to have it drag the masonry to the open doorway to create a roadblock. The blank eyes shifted towards the open door and started to shuffle towards it.

There was a small hiss as his helmet’s vox channel opened up and Koali recognized the familiar voice of Captain Lirael “This is Captain Lirael of the Dark Angels, I am in command of this defense as per Brother Captain Stern’s direct orders. Send sitrep for all attached squads” First to report in was the half strength command squad’s Veteran Sargent Lokni “Captain, command squad has the second level floor completed for defense, our heavy bolter is set up covering the street advance to the north and the building to the west has been set for demolitions”

Second to report in was the “Black swords” tactical squad Sargent Emorej “Captain, Black Swords has split into combat squads we are covering the left approach and the north approach” Koali regretted that he did not have enough time to repair the Black Swords heavy Plasma cannon after the energy cell had burned out after three days of fighting the previous week, if only he had more time.

Third to report was the “Devil Tails” tactical squad Sargent Cromat “Captain, Devil Tails are ready to reinforce any of our attacked flanks.”

The next voice Koali didn’t recognize however the Marine was reporting in for the assault squad. Koali quickly remembered that the power coils for that squad jump packs were on board the strike cruiser ‘Intolerance’ getting charged, “Looks like they are going to be on foot.” He had to silently chuckled, it didn't seem to bother them, and any half strength assault squad was something to be feared. Koali waited for the report to finish then opened a private channel to the new Sargent of the assault squad. “Hail Sargent, Techmarine Koali here, I offer my rhino transport to you for the nights defense” Sargent Kahui’s response came after a brief pause “Praise the Emporer Koali, I will be happy to accept your offer, and I promised to bring it back to you in working order”

Just catching the last part of the fifth report Koali heard the very familiar voice of the tank commander from the Predator tank “Gir”. Prior to moving to this location he had repaired the drive train on the tank and remembered the machine spirit had been quite unhappy with the hasty repairs. Koali uttered the prayer of endurance to the Omnissiah trusting that his repairs would hold and when given a moment he would fix the tank’s sponsons to get the vehicle back to full fighting potential. He recalled that while completing the repairs he had checked out Senior Techmarine Onox’s battle cannon modification and had been quite impressed with the innovation he had put into getting the massive cannon mounted to the hull, he made a quick mental note to speak to the Onox to get more knowledge on how he had achieved such a feat.

Lastly it was time for his report. “Captain, fortifying our position is progressing, Thunderfire cannon ‘Validus’ is in position to support our northern advance. Current ammunition stocks will only be sufficient for a five volleys of air burst and four volleys of surface impact“

The captain's response was “Emperor Protects!” then the vox link went silent. The force only had to last till morning.

Time crawled for the defenders. Every thirty minutes situation reports were sent in, they were always clear. The communications marine from the command squad used his Auspex every hour to check for movement on the advance front. So for now they waited.

Please let me know what you think.

**TheChronoTrigger**

Some real interesting stuff there Knightly. Needs some grammar and spelling editing. Other than that it's a good read. I think in paragraph one or two you used the phrase "set up" twice in the same sentence and it's a bit awkward.

I feel it could use a bit more dialogue as well. Not sure exactly but it feels too distant, more of the perspective of someone watching from a distance than being right there with the tech marine listening to his vox cast. Also maybe throw something in about a prayer to the machine spirit of the rhino he was repairing? Just my two cents. But your almost ready For the black library!

**Knightley**

Now that's some C&C thank you!!

I've re-written what I can, for both pieces of fluff (check page 4 for the other) I've got names now for the most of the featured marines. I must confess, I never passed English as a subject so if some one read's something and it comes out weird or spelling/grammar is off please let me know (PM is fine or post here) and I would be happy to adjust it.

**Chomo-Uri**

Easter egg? I like easter eggs. Interceptor squads painted as white moths?

Is it the smoke launcher on the Rhino? I actually don't know how smoke launchers work. I saw a Rhino with the smoke launcher barrel covered and not drilled or painted as a barrel, as if it was a canister that got launched and not a barrel that shot a canister, if that makes any sense. It turned my world upside down.

Anyway, keep it up Knightley. You're churning these out like there's no tomorrow. Very impressive considering how high quality they are. I'll have to read the fluff later on tonight, although I might not be the best for constructive criticism when it comes to English and creative writing. My command of the English language is convoluted at the best of times and down right ridiculous otherwise.

**TheChronoTrigger**

Knightly, your writing has improved a lot. Dialogue is really quite tricky, I think you did a great job. I began writing a novel years back, got about 5 chapters in and life got in the way. I then lost the file which was unfortunate. Never picked it back up. It's encouraging to see you plugging away. I haven't had the time to read the fluff on page 4. When I get the time I will read it over. I did read some things in the fluff above that I would change/correct. But I'm on my phone right now and that sort of thing is best for a pm. I'll try to read it tomorrow.

**Knightley**

Sorry for the delay this weekend, had my birthday and spent a lot of it away from home, eating and drunk.

@Chomo-Uri - Cheers! I guess I have been putting out a fair few models, perhaps I should slow down a bit and see if the painting improves? at this point I believe I'm suffering from a bit of shock (see the below pictures) so I might just have to keep churning them out for the mean time.
My interceptors will be a squad of old metal PAGK's with the teleporter backpacks, but white moths would be quite interesting. the easter egg? not quite sorry, however you have an interesting point with the smoke launchers, I would assume that my ones are internally fired canisters (through the tube) I do have some of the eternally fired ones, not sure where I'll put them though.

@Chrono - Thanks man, I'd be pretty gutted if I had lost five chapters worth of writing, lucky for me all my stuff is online

Did you have a chance to critique the writing yet?

Update time:

So turns out I have pretty awesome family! My parents called to say happy birthday and that they had transferred money to my bank account for me to spend it on what ever I wanted! sweet time for some models! My partner then dragged me out to the FLGS and said pick something, cha-ching! I'll have this box and brought another one. Then later that night my brother pop's over with a present, woot another box! so I also decided to spend a bit more money on something for myself and ordered a spray gun, Razorback and venerable dread (because they had run out) spoils below -

I decided to take stock of the mounting boxes as well, I got a little spooked at the amount of converting/painting ahead of me.

I did manage to get some painting done this afternoon though, heres an almost complete repaint of the Ironclad.

**daxx367**

Love the Ironclad. Whats the points stand at now?
Also are you going with the redeemer or crusader LR?

**Knightley**

Cheers Daxx,

Going with a hybrid, landraider, with extra armour, chainguns for the front turret, looking at throwing a predator turret on top and using all available side sponson ports for redeemer set and a lascannon set.

Points wise if I use a SM codex it's about 5500ish points (list was created about three months ago) and if I use a GK codex I could squeeze in about 3700ish

One day soon I'll put together a combined list for giggles.

**Knightley**

Ironclad Dread completed; the fallen battle brother Thranos.

Before

and after

Front

Rear

Pic of the siege hammer

**dantay_xv**

Absolutely beautiful, your paint work has really come on nicely, very crisp. Your base looks so much better too

**c0un7_z3r0**

Hehe, that dread looks brutal! Nice painting as well! I especially like all the inscriptions (not sure if that's the right word), they are nicely done and makes it look very Grey Knightish!

**whalemusic360**

Approved

**inmygravenimage**

Yowser. Nice one chief!

**Knightley**

@Dantay - Thanks mate, I have been quite proud of how the painting has come along! and yes I agree basing models make the whole thing come together.

@Count - Brutal is as brutal does

I thought putting up a before and after would help show the progress from how I used to paint to how I'm painting now.

@WM - Cheers mate

@Graven - Thank you!

Update: the last two days have gone mighty quick so minimal done on the painting front. The only update is a WIP of a metal GK interceptor

If I could go back and do all my models again I'd have the base coat done with the GW foundation paint Astronomicion Grey (spelling?) and only gone up to Codex Grey I think it looks much more foreboding as a dark grey instead of a medium/light Grey

**Revenent Reiko**

Hey Knightley, great work so far keep it up!
I havent read the whole thing yet (sorry

), but i wanted to say that Stern has easily one of the most realistic looking faces ive ever seen!!
Well played sir!

**TheChronoTrigger**

Looks good Knightly, is he darker than your other GK? or is it just lighting

**Knightley**

@Rev. Reiko - Cheers! I put a lot of effort into trying to learn how to do faces. No worries about reading the whole thing either, most forum dwellers I think like to look at pictures and there's plenty of that in here, and for those who want to read a bit I've got fluff stories

@Chrono - Thanks mate, Your eye is keen my friend, I tried a base of Astronomicon Grey instead of Fortress Grey followed up with a black wash and I found that the recessed areas are now left much darker. I also find that the Fortress Grey has much better coverage with the new base, so while in WIP the models will look much darker, never fear though I bring them back up to the same colour as the rest of the force.

No Pic update today, I left my camera's SD card at work so didn't get any pictures done. I have however made a new larger light box, large enough for land raiders and larger squads, so I will be test driving it tonight with my older land raider crusader. Expect pic updates tomorrow!

**TheChronoTrigger**

Ahhh. Makes sense. I need to make/buy a lightbox. Gotta figure out which would be cheaper.

**Revenent Reiko**

Knightley wrote:@Rev. Reiko - Cheers! I put a lot of effort into trying to learn how to do faces. No worries about reading the whole thing either, most forum dwellers I think like to look at pictures and there's plenty of that in here, and for those who want to read a bit I've got fluff stories

O dont worry, ill read it (i read Gits's Plog start to finish when i first joined

), just wanted to post to say nice job, and im looking forwad to the fluff too, always a fan of home-made fluff.

@Chrono - Thanks mate, Your eye is keen my friend, I tried a base of Astronomicon Grey instead of Fortress Grey followed up with a black wash and I found that the recessed areas are now left much darker. I also find that the Fortress Grey has much better coverage with the new base, so while in WIP the models will look much darker, never fear though I bring them back up to the same colour as the rest of the force.

U know, i like that they are a bit blue/grey instead of silver, the new marine looks ace, but much, much darker, much more 'traditional'. Its a good look though