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The Breakdown: A tourney at the flgs on the 16th. 2k, must be all painted.

The Problem: I barely own 2k let alone have it all painted.

The Mission: Take my 2k list (sad as it is). Get it ready to go by the 16th.

Your Job: Flame and berate me when my enthusiasm inevitably stalls and I stop making progress.
The ToDo List

- Librarian :: Passable but needs re-painting if I get time. (Update: I won't have time, he will attend the tourney gakky.)
- Chaplain :: Done
- Sternguard :: Done
- Vanguard :: Done
- Two Dreads :: 3/4 Done
- Devastators :: Done
- Assault Squad :: Done
- Three Tactical Squads :: Done
- Rhino :: Eh...

And that should do me. Possible? No idea. I tend to be pretty slow so we'll see, but even if I don't get it done in time this should at least light a fire under my ass.

And just because I feel like I gotta have a picture or two to start this off, here's what I accomplished today, not much but it's a start.

Finished (for the most part) an assault squad. They still need basing of course, and the sergeant's power axe needs painted but I'm planning on giving wet blending a second try on that and it's intimidating. XP


Also did a little work on some members of the command squad.



Oh, yeah. I suppose I should explain the color scheme. Going with a crusade theme. "Venian Crusade." Fluff is still rough, but the theme is "Promer Venia" which is sort of bastardized latin for "to earn grace." Playing with the idea of a force where failed but still living soldiers can go to earn the emperor's forgiveness (via eventual death of course.) Like I said, still playing with the idead...

But anyway, crusade color is gray, so while different units and characters will be from different chapters they'll all have a left arm (or at least some part, but I'm liking the left arm) painted gray for the sake of uniformity.

A red or gold trim on the left shoulder pad indicates veteran status. The crusade differentiates between vets. Gold trim are those who have volunteered to help leading their sorry brothers to redemption. Red trim are those who have sought death long enough to reach veteran status during their time in service of the crusade.e

it can be done, I finished a 2kpoint daemon army in 2 weeks

now why arent you painting right now :-) ???

Seems like a good idea, I wish you luck

And good god man, that command squad will own face in H2H...

RazorMind: Haha, that actually worked. I was being lethargic and thought "I should paint" but got on dakka instead to find you telling me to go paint.

starbomber109: Yeah... especially since I think I'm going to sink even more points into them by trading extra armour on the one dread for a standard for them. The problem is getting them there to redeem the investment... : /


So, Anyhow:

Today's progress was heavy weapons. Got enough done to cover my Devestators and the heavies in my Tac Squads. Though I did have to change my list because the devestators set only comes with pieces for one Multi-Melta. I guess I just figured one of the most used weapons in 5th edition would be well covered but... *shrug* I don't mind an excuse to throw in a heavy bolter. It looks cool and matches the range of the other dev's weapons. Anyway, pics. Far too many for the rushed paint job but oh well.










And for something that might actually be worth sharing...

Necessity is the mother of invention right? Well I needed three lascannons. I only had two. But I did have a spare Missile Launcher from a black reach set. In fact, It was a spare Missile Launcher to whom I had promised a conversion long ago when he pretty much won the game for me against a friend who's crons I'd never beat by taking out the monolith on turn one. (He was also representing a Lascannon back then, as I didn't own any yet.) So I figured it was time he got his due and decided to convert him into my third las.

Since the other two are hanging back with the devs and he'll be accompanying a tac squad I figured it wouldn't be too inappropriate for his weapon to look different. A sleeker more portable version or something like that. This matched the bitz I had well enough so here's my "tactical lascannon" conversion. Pretty simple but I like it. Will have to back and paint him nicer sometime.









Edit: Now that I think about it really think I should go back back and change his final highlight to something less yellow-sand and more white-sand. Hm...

Moar Edit: I'm also being driven crazy now by the little gap that I didn't notice I missed until I saw this last shot this big from this angle. It must be patched. I need to stop looking at these pictures or I'll hate everything...

Teh Updates!

So... progress has been lacking in the last two days. But I claim excuses! Yesterday I wasn't painting because I got a chance to get together with three friends and actually play, which is always a priority. ; )

Today I got nothing done because it's been snowing like mad and I spent the whole day skiing. First real time I've been out this year. So great.

What I did manage to do was actually set myself further behind in general paint completion by buying a new tac squad. Not to be a tac squad of course, but to provide parts to build a sternguard. (Because honestly, after the feeling I got when I realized I had actually spent money on GW's vanguard... Let's say I have an aversion to metal anything.) I had been thinking about converting a plastic sternguard as it was, and then I saw two or three threads on it pop up in the P&M forum and the desire was just too great.

So I'm re-working my list to include them, considering dropping the vanguard and chappy for a stern and libby, and adding them to my paint in the next (now 9) days queue. (Though, good news, I hear word I can still participate in the tournament without everything painted, there will just be penalties.)

I've wanted to try an Iron Hands Sternguard so I'm playing around with some modeling options for these guys. Had a sprue with some cron legs lying around for some reason and tried cutting some of that up. Wanted two meltas in the squad so I started with them. I don't want the whole squad to have "bot bits" or anything too crazy, just something a little "extra tech" on each to set them apart.

The arm I like, even if it is a bit long, but the leg just didn't come out well... The contrast just makes it way to skinny and combined with the beaky helmet I just think "chicken leg." I think I'm gonna try to GS a little more of a foot onto him and see if that balances out.



Also playing with a modified backpack for a couple of them to have. Again, just going for a slightly "extra tech" feel.



Now, I love the Iron Hands fluff... but I hate they're color scheme. So I'm playing around with ideas. I want the power armor to have a metal look without being shiny. I played with a few things and did a quick mock-up of my favourite so far on a BR tactical. It's a gray base with a thin brown overcoat and then heavy light gray drybrushing. It's okay, but not there yet. Also, I really need a better light source for pictures as these colors are not very true.



Any suggestions for color would be awesome. I plan on spending some more time tonight on the modeling and start painting the first of them tomorrow.

This looks cool.

While you have some interesting poses and gritty paint schemes, the fact that you didn't take time to file down all the mold lines and drill out your bolter barrels doeth offend.

The converted lascannon looks like a video camera , and the thing sticking out looks like a mic >.<

LunaHound wrote:The converted lascannon looks like a video camera , and the thing sticking out looks like a mic >.<

Hah, too true.

Yeah, i cannot say that i am a fan of the converted lascannon.

@Breotan: Yeah... I know... I'm being lazy with the mold lines. I need to be more diligent about that. All I have is a fingernail clipper file though and I often get frustrated and decide to screw it. But you're right, I can't skip on that, especially those gaping obvious ones on the legs. As far as drilling out bolter barrels goes... Nah, sorry, I'm not that hardcore. XP

@everyone else: Teehee... It does look like a camera. "In the grimdark future of video journalism... there is only war documentaries."



Man, have gotten way behind schedule on this. Days are just getting to busy. But there has been some meager progress to report.

Yesterday I decided that the "counts as" librarian I put together was cool enough for games with friends but just not authentic looking enough for a tournament. So I found the only decent model in terminator armor I had (the black reach termi captain) and converted him (rather hastily I must admit) into a passable librarian. I got into a weird groove and really screwed some aspects of this paintjob up... so I decided to set it aside and come back sometime when I'm fresh.



Today's accomplishment was a chaplain that's just been primed and waiting for paint for ages. Actually I had already painted him twice back when I was just starting and both times wound up stripping it in frustration. So today he became my project and it's far from my best paint job but not awful either. I like it well enough. Face still needs work. I picked up the model from a guy who was playing a game at the flgs one day. I noticed it in his box and he said he never used it. I remembered it from back in the days when I'd play a game or two a year with friend's borrowed figures. I had to have him. I assume, based on the iconography, that it's a blood angel's model. And really, if I'm gonna have a chaplain represented in my crusade, is there a better chapter for him to hail from than the blood angel's? I don't think so. Especially if I plan on running him with a jump pack and some assault marines/vanguard to hop around with.

By the by, the combination of the chappy's already highly adorned body and the vanguard jump pack meant this model has more skulls and purity seals on it than an entire tactical squad put together. XP






So my army has it's HQ choices now. And speaking of which I've reworked the list a bit since I picked up the sternguard (which are all modeled now, and are on tomorrow's roster along with starting the vanguard. It'll be veteran's day. ) so that it has a little more mobility. I'll change my "to do" list accordingly.

Oh and this is what the "replaced" librarian looked like:

but the guy you replaced looks awesome!!

good work on the painting. Keep it up!

The lascannon looks like an autocannon to me, but I'm not sure that Devs can take them and the cords should stray any arguements.

@MikeV37: Haha, glad you like him, I do too, but in this tourney he just will not fly.

So far today all I've done is painted the first of my vanguard. Man these metal figures take me so long.... But he's done minus the jump pack (going to do them all together at the end), the base stuff and the trim on the left arm, as I haven't decided yet whether I want my Van to be red vets, gold vets or a mix. Sorry for the dark pictures.







I also have a character I made as a special captain I had made up a bit of fluff for. Sort of a 40k take on the WHFB Dwarf Slayers. But for this list he'll be playing the part of my Vanguard's sergeant w/storm shield and relic blade. He's another one that I painted back about a year ago so he could use some touching up for sure, but he'll be good enough if I don't wind up getting time to revisit him.

Man, when this tourny is over repaint your models, this time with primer.

Um... I prime everything black, so I'm not sure what you mean.

You really think they're that bad huh?

Oh, sorry it just looks kind of dull which happens when you don't have primer. Maybe you should try taking the pics outside or in a very bright room?

Ohh yeah. My lighting situation is awful. Took my painting lamp up to school and left it there. So this was with living room lighting, and the sun had set so no window light to benefit from. That's why the pics are so dark and the colors not always very "true."

Thanks for the advice anyway though I s'pose? If I hadn't known to use primer I would've wanted someone to tell me.


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So my vanguard has grown by one more. That's all I got in me for the night. Anybody got tips on avoiding a terribly sore back from hunching over minis?


I tried to get some better lighting on these guys to no avail. This was directly under a lamp but it was yellow light... You really can't see the highlights at all. Tomorrow I'll have to remember to take some pics during the day and see if I can take advantage of the natural light from our big picture window.

I actually tried letting Dakka do it's "Auto Adjust" thing on the first one here but I actually think that just made it even harder to see.



Oh yeah, and I put these together when I was new to the hobby. Had no idea at the time that the fist I grabbed from a friend's bitz box was meant for a terminator.



Tomorrow evening I'm going over to a friend's house for an all night painting session. I won't have much time to paint on Friday, so here's hoping we get a lot done and don't just decide to play the whole time instead. XP

On a side note I've found out some more about the tourney and I'm getting pretty excited. When I signed up all I had heard was "2k all painted." But they're actually going pretty hardcore with this. Sportsmanship and army comp scores and the works, prizes for 1st, 2nd and third, best painted, best sportsmanship, and door prizes! ($15 entry fee, ten people, so that's a ~ $150 prize pool.) This is gonna be a blast!


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Oh, and despite the fact that you can't see them in that exceptionally dark photo, I did realize I had missed the blue vet's eyes and they are red now.

And the Vanguard grows slowly but surely...

It's funny the things you don't notice until you see your minis huge. For example I completely missed the fact that the one skull on his forehead is still left brown. Will go take care of that right now I think...



Friend's on his way over for our all-night-force-eachother-to-keep-painting session. I think to give myself a break from all the detail I'm gonna start with speed painting the last Black Reach Tactical squad I need. Then either put the final touches on the almost done rhino or start on the stern guard.

Tonight and tomorrow. It's gonna be close...

Bet you any money I'm still painting saturday morning.

Well I'm allowing myself a quick break to post a little update and boil some water for tea. (Gonna need the caffeine. And the morale boost.)

I leave for the tourney in 12 hours.

What's left:

The tacticals are finally all done. The sternguard are about 1/4 done. I have two vanguard models left to paint. One dread still needs paint. And the rhino just needs highlights, some detail work, and a little mud on the tracks if I get ambitious.

And almost everything still needs basing....

Will not be getting much sleep. Wish me luck.

Good luck!

And regardless of where you get up to, we want army pics

Dysartes wrote:Good luck!

And regardless of where you get up to, we want army pics

Haha, ask and you shall receive. The time has come. I'm leaving in half an hour, the tourney starts at one and I gotta pick up some friends on the way.

Okay, let's get the disappointment out of the way first:
- Vangaurd: One had to be cut from the list, just couldn't get to him. And the jumppacks are just primed. Heresy. Otherwise they're my best painted models. Hopefully that balances out?
- Sternguard: Look cool, but was really racing the clock when I started them. Quality is not fitting of veterans.
- One dread is still just plain unpainted! D: Will be docked points for sure.
- Might loose points on the rhino too, can barely be considered three color.
- Didn't get time to go back and do the details (seals and such) on the devastators.
- Never had time to fix the awful Librarian.
- No one that wasn't already based got based.

There. Got that out of the way. Bummed about some of it, and will definitely not do well on the "painted" portion of the score. But you know what? I'm still about to head out the door to my first tournament. I'm pretty pumped.

And here you go, I cringe at some of the quality (and forgive the shaky four hours of sleep meets caffeine overload photography), but here's the pics. For posterity.

Hell, I love this stuff. So much better with the light!

what is that xeno dread? it's frikkin heresy..

Isn't the fluff for the army that they are repenting for their sins before the emperor? The dread could be one such sin.

Yeah, eventually I plan to model a psyker on the base of the dread to sort of "control" it. So... it could sort of be a daemonhost kind of deal. Radical, yes. Heresy? ....depends on which Inquisitor you ask. :p

But really I started making it a while ago without thinking about fluff because I just wanted to see if I could make Nid parts fit a dread somehow.

The tourney, btw, was awesome! So much fun. Played three games. First one against orks, nearly tied but lost. Second against blood angels. They had lots of armour, and I played very poorly. Got wiped. Third game against tau, capture and control, I won 1-0.

Also won a codex of my choice in a random drawing. I already own the marines codex and the only other one I'm interested in was Daemonhunters but they didn't have that. So I just took an extra copy of the marines and I'll sell it on ebay or something. XP

All in all, fun time. And a great motivator to get some stuff painted.

Cool! So what do you have planned for the future?

Well I'm heading back up to school tomorrow, so with the start of the new semester things'll be busy and progress will slow. I'll be bringing the crusade up with me of course, now that painting can go back to being a way to relax.

As far as what I'll paint I'll probably finish what I didn't get done with this list and then move on to the few things I have left over. I think that's some scouts, a command squad... I'll also be going back a unit at a time and "pretty-ing" up the things that I rushed for this. The devastators being at the top of that queue for sure. Then there's basing everything... I'll have plenty of stuff to keep me busy during this semester's study breaks. : )

I also didn't think anyone up at school played, but I ran into two people that had a game going in one of the rec-rooms a few days before I left. So maybe I'll even get a few games in.