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Well, since I plan on buying 3 boxes of skitarii infantry, that should give me a full set of each specialty weapon. The plasma guns are pretty suicidal, though if used carefully with the right war doctrine they might prove really effective. Still pretty circumstantial though. I'll pick up the dex again tonight and continue reading. I only got through the fluff section and fluffy unit descriptions before I had to set it down. You can buy bits on e-bay to make up for what you're missing, but the prices are insane at the moment. You're almost better off just buying another box and building what you need from that.

Can you airbrush both, by masking, I'm not familiar with the kit, so I don't know how difficult it would be. Airbrush the metal with the cloth masked off then airbrush the reds touching up the metal after?

Subbed, and definitely looking forward to some bright red!

Honestly the figures are ' Necon warrior' thin. I'm guessing masking might be more work than you want to get into. still we will be suprised and amazed. We expect no less!

You might be right about the bits. Still I can hope they do a better job on making options available in future Kits.. sorry did that sound right? oh.. too funny!

Not experienced super experienced, but I have good luck with hand painting GW reds. Granted, it'll be multiple layers (ie, base, layer 1, layer 2, highlight) but I'd doubt you'd be satisfied with a single layer of color anyway.

Actually SL, I think you've got to give it to them for at least making one of each option available in this kit. In the past, they've had kits that did not included the listed options, and even kits where the listed options were not available at all! This is a step in the right direction as far as I'm concerned. Though it would be nice to have an official way to buy the extra minis from GW rather than having to go through some third party.


As to airbrushing & reds...

I don't think I'll have any issues with hand painting reds... if I can do yellow, I can do red. To some degree I'm pretty sure I can wet blend the effects I need with the red, plus it'll allow me to do some things (like highlighting & shading the individual cloak folds) that I'm not sure I have the control for with an airbrush on that tiny scale. Those are my thoughts anyway. I am willing to be convinced otherwise though... my mind (such as it is), is still open.

If you are trying to cut down on effort it depends on how you do your metals compared to colours.

For me, I'd likely airbrush the red (and have just tried out my new airbrush on red today) and then hand-paint the metal.

This is because my metal technique is really simple and easy: Base black, then gunmetal, wash black (or brown), then dry-brush silver. Done.

Painting colours, I go all in for wet-blending and layers and layers of paint. And that's a lot more effort than my metals.

Airbrushing would save me more time on the colours than on the metal (due to them being so quick anyway).

On the other hand, as you mention the shading on the cloaks, It can be done with an airbrush, but you need that control (I've not tried that kind of thing with an AB yet, so can't help).

Maybe try 2 test models. Build two similar models and paint them in the two possible ways and see which is quicker...

I cant help on the painting side as I'm hands on only man.

I'm sure you will work out the best way to make the most of airbrushing to save time.

Been reading a lot of Skitarii discussion. I think I've formulated a plan for my infantry troops. This may change as I get more info... but it seems sound for now.

6 units of troops
- 2x 10-man skitarii vanguard units, stock. maybe with minor improvements to the sgt These advance with Titans giving them protection from annoying assaults and pounding infantry with their guns (and they're cheap)
- 2x 5-man skitarii ranger units w/ 2x arquebus each (sits on objectives and provides supporting fire)
- 2x 5-man or 1x 10-man skitarii vanguard w/ maxxed out plasma or arc weaponry (follows behind titans as rear-guard with teeth)

Can be done with 4 boxes. Not sure of points cost, but I think pretty decent for 40 infantry.

Add knight titans, the rest goes into rust stalkers & infiltrators. One of the vanguard units can be pulled if the need to points to boost the RS/I.

Gits + AdMech? Count me subscribed

I'll be lurking in the shadows behind as plasma vent waiting to see what you do.

First box of Sicarians is MINE! Victory for Zim!!



Well, slowly but surely I'm accumulating my modes. These things (meaning any of the skitarii infantry) are like gold out here... nearly impossible to get!


I just realized how ridiculous the poses on these models are. I can just see them vibrating, shaking and wavering unsteadily as they walk... like any second some bolt is going to come loose and they're just going to collapse into a heap of scrap!

now that you mention it, it´s un- seeable again...
and i was so looking forward to get me a box of these too

The heads kind of look like the aliens from Batteries Not Included.



Which is a good thing.

 Gitsplitta wrote:
First box of Sicarians is MINE! Victory for Zim!!



Well, slowly but surely I'm accumulating my modes. These things (meaning any of the skitarii infantry) are like gold out here... nearly impossible to get!


I just realized how ridiculous the poses on these models are. I can just see them vibrating, shaking and wavering unsteadily as they walk... like any second some bolt is going to come loose and they're just going to collapse into a heap of scrap!

Why do you ruin things sometimes?

Nah, GW did this, they ought to have given them more solid legs, or even treads!

Isn't a tread unit coming out for them?

Nice to see a new blog, I'll keep tabs on this.

Lots of teasing, but very few pictures. :(

Supposedly. I'll reserve judgement on any new units... but my "vision" is skitarii with Knights in support. That could be changed by awesome figures or rules though. We'll see. Sorry the blogs taken so long to get going, I've had a heck of a time getting figures and I really want to finish some other projects so I can throw myself into the skitarii without worrying about a back-log of half-finished projects.

*finds a quiet corner and sits down to watch*

 Gitsplitta wrote:
First box of Sicarians is MINE! Victory for Zim!!



Well, slowly but surely I'm accumulating my modes. These things (meaning any of the skitarii infantry) are like gold out here... nearly impossible to get!


I just realized how ridiculous the poses on these models are. I can just see them vibrating, shaking and wavering unsteadily as they walk... like any second some bolt is going to come loose and they're just going to collapse into a heap of scrap!

Eh, they look good to me. I've been binge watching Clone Wars so they remind me of the droid commandos. I'm just imagining them stepping out of landing a triple front flip.

What we really want to see is a nice warhound to go with them.

You and me both brother... you and me both.

For the normal troops I would assemble minus the cloaks.
Black prime metal.
White prime cloaks.
Airbrush separately.
Tape-off inside of cloak and hit outside with red.
Wash with darker red (some flesh based wash?), milky wash of base red with a drop of white on larger raised areas, highlight with a dark orange.
Metal: spray from underneath a brief blast of a rust based metallic, zenithol highlight from above with a dark metallic, quick burst of silver.
Use a sepia (brown) wash over it all, edge highlight (dry brush) with the darkest silver you can.
Detail as you see fit... thinking black/yellow hazard stripe might be good but not to get confused with cult of redemption scheme.

This is my plan.

<edit> Just read "Lords of Mars" got a whole different outlook on hound titans now.
Being in the shadow of one of these is still not a comforting thing...

Very interesting Talizvar. I'll keep that in mind when I'm getting ready to begin my models.

 Gitsplitta wrote:
Very interesting Talizvar. I'll keep that in mind when I'm getting ready to begin my models.

I am rather... torn.
My main skill is brush painting but the diffused painting of airbrush is too fast and too good to argue.
The cloaks I think will mainly see brush for highlighting but the metal I feel must be done by airbrush.
Oddly in theme of machine precision with human craft.

Have you decided on a colour scheme yet, Gits?

Oh yes, Mars. Not very interesting I know... but it seemed to suit the best.

Just started assmebling my Dragoon. Finicky wee bugger....lovely fig though. Can't wait to get all painty painty

I can send you a couple of boxes of Vanguard/ Rangers since I'm holding off for a possible cybernetica

 Gitsplitta wrote:
The plasma guns are pretty suicidal, though if used carefully with the right war doctrine they might prove really effective.

In the 6 or 7 games I've used them in so far, I've only had one die, Doctrines or not, and that really only happened cause I got the dreaded Triple One to hit.

@Januine: There seems to be a lot of excitement about the military possibilities of the Dragoons. Be interesting to see how they play.

@SL: Hold off on that until Friday to see if the boxes I've ordered came in (don't want to stick my FLGS with them). If not, I'll buy them from you.