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Day 11, 11th January 2026

Sunday Roast kicked arse. Though still prefer a nice smoked gammon joint over any other meat.

Waddled up to the Hobby Grotto, and finished off the Super Heavies (two of each tank, four Mastodons) and made a start on the Thunderhawk and Fire Raptors.

In case anyone is wondering? The stuff between the drying models and the desk top is a pre-cut grease proof baking sheet. It works a treat!

And decided to stop farting around the poop, and did the Saturnine Infantry in Grim Black.

Slap Chop (Mech Std Grey spray, zenithal dry brush Gun Metal, then the Grim Black speed paint) really worked on them. Well chuffed.

In the zone. So started the Araknae platforms. Zone has faded, so if you’ll excuse me? I’m off to continue watching Murder, She Wrote.

YES DOC we love to see it! Looking forward to seeing what you conjure for us in 2026. Loving the plog so far. I've always had an eye on Epic scale, and plogs like yours make it look veryyy intriguing

Thanks dude. I’d say it’s a lovely scale to paint but……

Day 12, 12th January 2026.

I. Hate. Drop. Pods.

Oh they’ll get finished, as I ain’t no quitter. But I’m not buying any more. Absolute pain in the arse to paint. Have I painted the doors shut? Dunno. Mebbes. Do I care? No.

But that’s the Araknae finished and obvs, the horrible Drop Pods underway.

Might just glue them shut and be done with it to be honest.

Ugh. Fine. Sculpting tool used to flip them open. Might as well do it “right”. Interior I think I’m just gonna use a strategic wash.

Day 12a. 12a January 2026

And finally, more or less just in time? My new paints have arrived.

Will get in the Grotto later though. Chippy Tea for dinner as I can’t be arsed to cook, so hopefully can thrash out a load of metallics. Don’t want to set myself a specific target. But I hope to do the tracks and or/weapons on a bunch of the tanks.

And here’s tonight’s progress, finishing off Grim Black on the Drop Pods. Petals need a touch up as the Speed Paint does love to flow into ribbed surfaces.

As MSG’s tone is different between spray can and pot? I think I want to find a suitable receptacle and spray straight into it, creating a small pool I can take a brush to for said touch up.

For my next trick, starting probably tomorrow? Doing all the metal bits.

What is it thaat's so frustrating about the Drop Pods, Doc? And, from a rules perspective, would it matter if they were glued closed or not?

Just fiddly. And because vertical, Contrast-a-like paints tend to puddle, so they’re messy to work with.

They are gonna look decent when I’m done though. Experimented on one of the Dreadnought ones, painting the ribbing of the ramps/petals/doors in a simple Gun Metal. I reckon that, with a Wash (part brown, part black, thinned) will pop them nicely.

Day 14, 14th January 2026

Metallics on the Dreadnought Drop Pods. Can’t really be arsed to do more tonight.

Murder she wrote…. Ah brings back memories!

Great progress Doc, they are coming along nicely, just imagine how good you will feel when the drop pods are all finished!!

Murder, She Wrote is proper comfort tv. A bit camp, but usually really well written with a cast that’s fully onboard with the intended vibe.

Drop Pods I can’t promised won’t end up in the bin out of sheer counter spite when I’m done ?

Day 15, 15 January 2026

Pretty tired today, so not a huge amount done. First Infantry drop pod has its metallics done. And I did a bit of red on two of the Dread Pods.

I like the concept of drop pods, but practically they are such a pain.

Only bought them because it felt silly having a huge Space Marine force without any.

Starting to feel I’d have been better off feeling a bit silly!

Day 16, 16 January 2025

With my move to another (hopefully more interesting) department at work confirmed? I’m taking today as a half day, on account I Genuinely Have Nothing To Do.

I intend to have a shower, then go visit the homeware store to get a bin for bedroom and bin for hobby room (been meaning to do this for months, but always forget when I’m there)

After that? More on the Drop Pods, with the possibility a Hobby Frenzy might ensue and I blitz loads of stuff, making up for only little bits being done the past two evenings.

But that’s a “nice to happen” not a “must happen”. Because remember. All progress, however small or modest, is still progress.

Not my finest work, but just top coat of red away from calling this experience over. Might still return with a thing wash for the petals and interiors.

Day 17, 17th January 2026

With the misery of Drop Pods behind me (barring a wash some time)? It’s time to, aha, Make Tracks.

Far more enjoyable!

Day 18, 18th January 2026

Currently still languishing in my fart sack. But about to get up, get showered then nick off to my local GW to sign up for the 1,000,000 Miniatures Challenge, which began yesterday,

I intend to use that to drive me on through my Astartes Infantry. The four sealed boxes I have get me pretty much all the way there, coming in at 88 finished bases. But, I don’t need and so likely won’t use all the command stand stuff. So it won’t be that many. Probably closer to 20 per box. Though I may finagle an additional base from the leftovers so I can add Apothecaries to my Tactical Units.

But being an overachiever? I think I’ll also use it to drive me to get my Big Scale (28mm, 32mm, who knows!) done. And that is the bulk of this year’s current pile of opporchancity.

Currently stands at..erm….60 MkII, 20 MkIII, 40 MkVI and 12 Saturnine Terminators. There’s also a brace of Saturnine Dreadnoughts, and my third Leviathan which I guess would come under infantry, as they’re propelled by feets.

I’ll also advance my painting pile. I want to at least finish off painting the underside metallics on the LI tanks. Ideally, by this time next week? I’d like to have the tanks and Araknae platforms all done and dusted (Drop Pods are there, but really do just need a thin wash).

From there? I know I can knock out a whole box of Astartes Infantry in an evening. Especially if I’m sensible and do the undercoat spray throughout working hours (maybe 10 minutes per session to tack down the sprue strips and spray). Next week is a particular window of opportunity there, as I’m moving team and workstream in a week, so right now don’t have a huge amount on. So..laptop in the hobby room, and I can potentially multitask.

That, depending on weather, could be done in the garden, or via spray box with the hose out a window or out the back door.

Super keen to get all the LI backlog done. Not only is it super sweet to have an entire collection painted? But I want to see it’s greatly expanded numbers in the display cabinet.

We'll definitely want to see updated army/cabinet pics once everything is done, Doc.

Oh you’ll get them! Spesh if I end up with a third cabinet.

I mean, it’s feeling pretty inevitable right now.

And today’s progress.

Tomorrow I think I’ll focus on the Rhino chassis tanks. At least get their metallics done, maybe the begin the reddening.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Dysartes wrote:
We'll definitely want to see updated army/cabinet pics once everything is done, Doc.

Sorry for quoting when I’ve already resonded. But your comment lead me to check Argos, make sure the same model (or near as dammit) is still available. And it is. And a 20% off offer.

Yep. Cabinet Number 3 has been ordered! https://www.argos.co.uk/product/2253130

Let’s try that again, not sure if Dakka is under siege again or my interwebs am be rubbish.

Day 19, 19th January 2025

Only a wee bit today. But Reading Glasses FTW. Look at how well I did on the teensy tiny details on the Heavy Bolter!

Tanks are looking good Doc, the detail on the heavy bolster is impressive - you planning on doing that for all the tanks?

How much did you end up pledging for the challenge, and did you get the free model? I signed up for 25, which I should probably manage (considering doing a few epic models to boost my numbers!)

I’ve signed up for 100. 80 or so will be infantry stands for LI. The rest 28mm.

And yup, going for the fine detail on the various pintel mounts. I mean, I know I can do it now. So I have to do it.

Day 20, 20th January 2026

Bashed out the metallics on 6 heavy boys.

And in doing so, have found I didn’t trim the sprue joins on the tracks anywhere near enough. Ah well.

Day 21, 21st January 2026

Modest progress again. Final Typhon and both Glaives, in the Metallica.

Day 22, 22 January 2026.

A late start today, but maybe 45 minutes later? 8 Scorpius and 4 out of 16 Vindicators done in metallic.

Really enjoyed this session, but got a super early start tomorrow, so want to be winding down for tonight now.

Day 23, 23rd January 2026

Remaining 12 Vindicators and a Fellblade done in metallics tonight.

Discovered I’d managed to build one Vindicaroe with the barrel upside down and the Bolters on the wonk.

Oh well, not really noticable.

Day 24, 24th January 2026\

Forearm a bit hurty after yesterday’s tattoo session. But still got some progress in.

Day 25, 25th January 2026\

Half the Whirlwinds and the remaining Falchion done in gun metal. It really in the mood for more today.

Day 26, 26th January 2026

Last four Whirlwinds, wee bit on the first of four Mastodons.

Day 27, 27th January 2026

Currently taking my time, as I’ve new pots of my preferred red paint on the way, but as they’re coming from France? Need to pace myself here.

But two Mastodons done in Metallic.

Hey Doc, it’s an impressive pace and quality that you are managing to maintain, you certainly seem to be getting through the tanks. How many more do you think you have to complete now?