Hello everyone!
Started getting into
40k after being introduced to the series by a fellow student during college. I started off reading the Horus Heresy and I was captivated. It was not until I finished my service time in the Army that I really started getting into the tabletop side, about 5 years after that fellow introduced me. During those years I was always intimidated by the painting aspects of tabletop and never bothered checking further about it.
I went into my first Games Workshop with my wife (fiance at the time) to look at what was offered. $600 later I was an owner of a new Space Marine army along with loads of supplies, books, and other such nonsense. During our trip my wife opted to go with Sisters of Battle, who at the time had just had the White Dwarf codex released. When we got home we ordered her about 500pts worth of models for her (they are way more expensive than the other armies).
After a short while and lots of painting we played a few games towards the end of summer. We both work in education and have summer/holidays off. We really enjoyed it!
For my birthday I received Lord Kaldor Draigo painted by Blue Table Painting and a box of Grey Knight Terminators to start my Grey Knights. I also bought a second box for 10 Terminators. For Christmas my wife got me a start for a Chaos Space Marine army for us to do 2v1 with. I had her Saint Celestine painted by Blue Table for Christmas.
I painted the Chaos units to completion before starting my Grey Knights to test out magnetization. I wanted to be sure I could do it before I ruined any Grey Knights. I have a grudge against Chaos Marines so I wouldn't be upset if I messed up. It went very well though and they turned out great. The Terminator Chaos Lord was my first real attempt at a good paint job and I surprised myself, it came out great. All my space marines were hit with the large dry brush and gold trim and that was it, didn't try very hard.
I was not prepared for the Grey Knights though.... About maybe 10 hours into the magnets I realized the full scope of what I was doing... 5 models have magnets for the whole left arm (1 apothecary option and 4 heavy weapons exchangeable for plain stormbolters) Every weapon in the box got magnets. I even magnetized the left hands for all the stormbolter arms to allow for falchions or plain hands. So, 2 warding staves, 20 falchions, 9 halberds (accidentaly glued the 10th magnet backwords
), 2 daemon hammers, 10 swords, the brotherhood banner, etc. I won't count but I would guess over 100 magnets were installed. Finally I got it done though, finished the foundation (leadbelcher) and wash ( some blue shade). Almost done with that project! I probably wont do such a heavy magnetization again, that was a nightmare...
I still don't have too much experience playing as there are no clubs or shops in my area (Hesperia,
CA) and the nearest one that I bought my first army has closed. There used to be one really close but that closed before I even moved to this area. Our nearest shop is a very long drive, almost 2 hours away. I hope after relocating for better jobs elsewhere that hobby shops that do
40k are more common.
Anyways, found this site and found it a very useful source of information. Especially since the only other player I know is my wife, hope this can help fill the void of no wargamers nearby.
