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Hi all! Sorry for the lack of updates. Things have been super hectic all the time forever. Happy Halloween by the way! I have a game coming up next weekend, so look for a battle report by next Monday, and due to said battle, I have been catching up on painting! I decided to start with the Troops. I will try to get the larger beasties up on here as well, a family portrait as it were, probably just pre-game.

For now, here's a little preview of what I have been up to the last few evenings... Batch painting!

Termagants!


And as a group:



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I'm still working on getting the arms for Carnifexes painted, though I've finished building them. Magnetization has been completed as well, so it's just a matter of primer, paint, and one more evening.

The last model for the list that is unpainted is built and ready for primer; this one will be a surprise as it's been a real challenge to magnetize properly (but a worthwhile end result has come of it). If it gets finished before the battle then I'll put it up here right away! I have a love affair with magnetization, this particular MC used around 16 magnets to do.

Final news: New foam incoming! I sourced some new foam, it's suitable for the hordes of minis that I have, and I now need to spend hours plucking cubes out and fitting each mini into its new home. Tedious but worth it, especially since the Raveners and Lictors have just been sitting out in the open - a recipe for disaster. Now they're safely packed away...

Look for that upcoming batrep! Cheers everyone!

Nice to see you again SBG

As a fellow member of the hive I don't envy the task of batch painting all those troops. They are looking good though.

Looking forward to seeing the batrep and the above mentioned big beastie! Good luck with the game

Thanks! It's good to be back at the painting table. Just been so busy this summer, now that it's getting colder out and I'm inside the igloo more often, I will be painting much more.

Batch painting will continue at full capacity, with 24-ish Raveners, 6 Warriors, 4 Venomthropes, 20 something Ripper bases, dozens of spore mines, and over 100 more gants of varying types all waiting for paint... I had better be done before the Spring thaw! Good thing you're all here to keep me accountable!

Nice work. Batch painting looms painful but you've made an excellent job of it.

EDC

It's a labour of love, even though it takes so much time, it's worth seeing the end result. I am hoping for a new army picture soon... There's incentive! Still hoping to put primer on the new MC tonight, and maybe, just maybe, have a fully painted force for Saturday's game.

You just gotta get into a zen place and bang them out.

And the little people need to be asleep. Otherwise I end up with superglue in hair, missing pieces and other fun things.

Last minute painting underway... Not likely to be done by game time, but no bare plastic or visible primer is a win in my book.

Carnifex arms will probably be done though. Magnetization is great except when you have way too many extra arms to paint!

Pics incoming...

What a great game, against a great opponent.

The fog of war lifts over the field of battle, as both armies prepare for combat... (I'm attacking the darkness).




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Belligerents:

Tyranid Hive Fleet (unknown designation): 2500 points
Dark Angels CAD: 2500 points


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Army composition:

Dark Angels: (forgiveness for errors or omissions: I am no DA player.)

HQ: Azrael on foot, attached to...
Veteran Squad x6, plasma pistols, mounted in...
Razorback with no upgrades.
Techmarine and servitor with heavy bolter.

Elites(count as troops): 6x Terminators, chainfists, mounted in...
A Land Raider! With Assault Cannons and Flamestorm cannons!
2 Dreadnoughts with multi-meltas.

Troops: Tactical squad with heavy bolter and flamer, in...
A rhino. There's a second rhino as well.

FA: 6 bikes, with plasmaguns.
10 assault marines, with minor upgrades.
One Land Speeder (counts as troops) with an assault cannon and heavy bolter.

Heavy: Devastators with plasma cannon, missile launchers and bolters.
Predator.
Whirlwind.

Aegis Defence Line, with quad gun.

\/\/\/\/\/-----\/\/\/\/\/-----

Tyranids:

CAD:
HQ: The Swarmlord.
Troops: Termagants x10
10 more gants
10 more gants

Elites: Venomthrope x1
Venomthrope X1
Venomthrope x1

Living Aritillery Node:
Exocrine
Biovore x3
Warriors x4, venom cannon

Bioblast Node:
Dakkafex x1
Dakkafex x1
Dakkafex x1
Tyrannofex, ESG, Acid spray
Warriors x4, Barbed Strangler, 1 rending claws

Bioblast Node:
Dakkafex x1
Dakkafex x1
Dakkafex x1
Tyrannofex, ESG, Acid spray
Warriors x4, Barbed Strangler, 1 rending claws

What a fun list... Fluffy, full of Warriors, and I finally took an Exocrine, proxied by a Tervigon, and the Swarmlord (who both performed very well!)

Proper batrep on its way... A close game, to be sure, and well matched armies.

After setup - we played Crusade, with 5 objectives. One centre, one in each DZ, and one on the far right flank as well as a second in the DA DZ.

Both armies began to advance... The Nids moved to the centre.



Shooting immobilized the Dreadnought.



The left flank took some Termagant casualties... And advanced through terrain. Slowly. Dark Angel shooting for the first turn was good for a few gants and a wound or two on the right flank's Tyrannofex.







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Another view of the Biovore brood.




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The LAN were all-stars this game, with the Exocrine taking out 3 Terminators and wrecking the Dreadnought. Preferred Enemy from the Swarmlord really helped with re-rolls here, as did staying still for the +1 BS. Biovores completely trashed the assault squad in the back with multiple, deadly accurate barrages.


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Here is the left flank: one wrecked Dread, glanced to death by TL-Devs. Dark Angel shooting for the first two turns managed a few wounds on scattered MCs and about 60% casualties on the Termagants. Cover saves from the Venomthropes were absolutely vital this game, with krak missiles, melta guns and autocannons scoring plenty of hits that were saved away...




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The right flank advances into the teeth of the enemy, TL-Devs shredding the bike squad that had unfortunately been unable to make a dent in the Carnifex-led lines.



And the Termagants are compelled to move ever closer to their impending doom, in order to protect their larger brethren.



While the Whirlwind and AA gun blast away at, well, everything that moves, the Termagants experience new sensations.





Many Termagants die in service to the Hive Mind. On a brighter note, the Assault Marines declare a charge into the Tyrannofex, losing 3 of their number to Overwatch and failing the charge.




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The Terminators take stunning damage from the Exocrine, Termagants and Carnifexes, with only one remaining. He passes his LD check, of course!



Sacrifices must be made to ensure success.



The Razorback dies to 5 s9 hits, and explodes 6" - causing no damage.




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The Carnifex in the centre of the right flank charges the lone Terminator, and they remain locked in completely ineffective combat for the remainder of the game.


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The Land Raider takes aim at the Tyrannofex, along with most of the DA army, and removes it from existence.



The Swarmlord bravely observes from cover.






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The left flank suffers moderate Termagant casualties and a few Carnifex wounds from the DA Tac squad, rhino and Predator.






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The Devastators are surprisingly throughout the game, suffering only a few wounds on Bolter guys (and the plasma cannon).


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The DA warlord and crew declare a charge...



And take one wound from the barrage of devourer shots.




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At this point we had to call it on time, as we had 4 hours in.

DA controlled 2 objectives...
Tyranids controlled 2 objectives...
And Tyranids had First Blood.

Tyranid victory, 7-6!

What a great game. I will be using the BioBlast node again, as the extra Fexes really came in handy. I found the Warrior perk, Shrouded bubble, and Synapse to be a bit limiting movement wise, but with so many MCs with brutal close-in firepower, it wasn't a huge deal.

The Dark Angels performed well; they just didn't have quite enough heavy weapons to take down all the MCs before they careened into the Marine's lines. No pinning or leadership checks were failed! And I must commend the generalship - my opponent played well and we had a great time.

Nice batrep, and a good win for the Hive Fleet!

Good to see the LAN did some good work as well, because I was looking at using my Hive Guard as Biovore proxies and give it a run.

It's an amazing formation, the rerolls just make it that much more useable. They hit every time that game, and the Exocrine is now going to be an auto-take for me. The whole LAN actually.

Alright everyone, what models should I build and paint next? I would love to incorporate some of your ideas!

1. Finish Flyrant (clearcoat and basing): I have a bit of a theme going on with bases, incorporating rocky sections and, on special models, Marine equipment and/or armour. Tell me what you want to see on this Flyrant's base! If you want to trade a few bits, let me know and let's make something awesome happen. Different army bits would be too cool.

2. Build remaining Raveners, about 7 of them. Then prime, paint, and base all of them... that's 22 total. :0

3. Finish Lictors. Really all that's left is some clearcoat and a few bases...

4. Strip and re-paint a Tervigon.

5. Build a third Trygon from its new on sprue state. Then paint and base it creatively... Taking suggestions!

6. Repair and reconstruct a badly damaged Mawloc. As above, paint and base it.

7. Build 6 Warriors, potentially magnetizing them. I have Boneswords, Lash Whip/Bonesword combos, and a variety of guns... Magnets are fun and these would be the first Warriors to have a magnetized CC loadout.

I'd like to see you finish the flyrant and lictors as both just need clear coat and basing.

For a basing idea, not sure who the most common enemy you fight against is but you could get some pieces of your normal opponents and have bits of them on your bases. Taunt the opposition with your models I say. Personally I have bits from my two brothers armies (Tau and Chaos) and I have them on the bases of my bigger bugs.

Once You have finished them, then my vote goes to... 4. Repaint the Tervigon.

Just my 2c.

It appears that you will get your way my good man! Since no one else has any opinion, Flyrant and Lictor-spam will receive first treatment... And I just might have the bits and pieces needed to accent their bases.

I think a nice ruined spire would go well on the Flyrant. We shall see...

My votes goes to the Trygon.

Nice bat rep btw.

EDC

Trygon eh? It seems we need a tie breaker!!

Thanks for the kind words Will keep putting them up as I get games in (which is infrequently!)

Finish the Tyrant and Lictors.... then Trygon!

Always good to see more subterranean beasties and the Tervigon is already painted

It has been far too long since our last irregularly scheduled update! Carrying on as normal, though. Just busy.

I managed to source some great foam and made a few trays, and am working on getting all models into this one size... Requires some crafting and gluing, so a good time overall.

I went ahead and pulled out the 'misc box'... It's been accumulating items for a while now and this was the evening to sort it out. Where did the resin boneswords come from? Why is there another tyrant guard? Do I really need 11 lictors?

(GW, 'Because', and of course).

Found some cool stuff. Organized it a bit better, and here are some shots of the before and after.

Original (crowded) organization system and extra models:





9 infantry trays... Need a few more yet. :0



And the current tray I'm working on - Elites and HQ. Will need to do up a few deep Heavy Support trays soon - all the Fexes are being left out so far.

I opened up a few old blister packs, and bought some 40mm bases, and now have 5 Shrikes to build. Found an old pack of Harpy (whfb) wings and some boneswords with lash whips from Tyrant Guard, it will be fun to mix up a few kits and see what happens.

Loadout will be cc; lw/bs and scything talons on 3 of them, rending claws (terminator insurance?) and talons on the other 2... Though I do have some bonesword pairs as well if that's a better option. Adrenals and toxin might have to be included but I don't generally use them - but I don't usually use dedicated elite CC units, either.

Has anyone had experience with Shrikes? Suggestions?

Welcome back.

That is some collection you have got there! What foam trays are you using?

That's one impressive collection.

EDC

It's good to be back! I've missed hobbying and haven't had the time this year :/ but will be making more time from here on in. Helps that the little people are getting to be more reasonable - I did some painting today with them running around and no significant damage resulted!

You asked for Lictors... So finally, here they are!

Codex grey drybrush- only on carapaces.


Purple wash over top...


And the clear coat (humbrol clear).


And a group shot while they dry... A better picture will come along after they cure for a day or two.





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Still need to hit the bases with Army Painter wash and paint black rims on them. Otherwise they're done... Feels good to have that little project finished.


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Mad, I actually found these trays at a local household hardware shop! Weirdly enough, they have pluck foam for tools/equipment, and it is perfect for my purposes. I have to do a bit more work than buying ready made, but this is so much cheaper at $10 CAD per tray.

So many stealthy lictors... love it!

Hmmm, I might have to have a look see next time I'm in the hardware shop to see what sort of storage options they might have... nice find!

As promised, some completed Lictors.







So, I kind of want to finish the Raveners but the Shrikes call my name... And the Trygon's still half built. That Flyrant, though, only needs clear coat and basing. Might have to do that first.

I have a game coming up (1200 points) and want to use these shiny new ones. Any list suggestions for heavy-duty Lictor spam?


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I just realized it took 18 months to finish 7 models. Sigh. :p

Nice work on the lictors, in particular the carapace on the scything talons looks great!

If I was looking at going heavy lictor spam, I'd look at one of the lictor based formations, Deathleapers assassin brood or the lictor forest brood.

18 months for 7 models... considering new born baby and all the fun stuff that comes along with that it is forgiven

I'd go with the Tyrant to finish it off and then move onto the others.

Thanks bud!

I'm definitely considering the assassin brood. Looks pretty decent.

I finished the Flyrant, save for the basing as I plan on putting some ruined Dark Angels bits on it. I can't sort out how I want to do it, though; perhaps a helmet and a bolter, and misc. battlefield debris - will go through the bits box today if I get a chance. I do have a spare chapter master (?) and librarian from Dark Vengeance box so perhaps I could use them. Will just have to mess about with the model until something just looks right.

The humbrol oil based clear is amazing. I've compared it to the GW water based clear ('ardcoat?) and the difference is huge. While the GW stuff dries to a latex-like finish - moderately hard - and has a noticeable film thickness, the humbrol clear, once dried, appears to be significantly thinner to the point of being unnoticeable (aside from being full gloss, that is).

The clarity is better, as well, and the colours beneath are sharper and more enhanced when covered with the oil based product. The major benefit to the water based stuff is clean up, though the detriments outweigh the positives in my opinion. I will keep the GW clear around as it's really useful in a pinch, but the carapaces and larger areas will be getting oil from here on in.

Trygon's built now. Subterraneanean swarm is now feasible, hmm...

With the Flyrant needing only basing, and a Trygon and Mawloc needing some paint, it sounds like I'm priming tonight! Then maybe a base coat, and Friday will have to go buy more foam for heavy support. I like how this is coming together so far, though I want to mix up the basing a bit. It's getting repetitive after several hundred, maybe it's time to consider doing a small allied hive fleet...


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When the Trygon was built, I didn't take a picture. I did however get a shot of tonight's efforts: A repaired Mawloc, and 5 Raveners. Planning on one more rending claw Ravener (total 10) and the remainder being Scytals (around 16).

The repairs to the Mawloc went well, it had been built strangely and many bits had been broken in shipping. I repaired several spikes, spines, feelers and mouth bits, and now it's looking the way it should.

It really feels good to be back into the hobby routine. Thanks again everyone for looking and as always comments are appreciated. Cheers!

Tonight's work: basing! I glued a few Raveners together as well, talons and the like, but primarily focussed on getting some nifty basing materials down.

My regular opponent is a Dark Angels player, so I fit in a few Marine 'trophies'.