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Agree on the firstborn thing. There's a reason I haven't gone and gotten a Vindicator or three for my Dark Angels even though they are the hotness now, as I kind of expect them to go to Legends next edition.

I did paint some Centurions waaaay back in 7th, and I did them in a Blood Ravens scheme (back then DA couldn't take them and grav Cents were the hotness). They weren't awful to paint, but the models are pretty goofy. I actually like the T-shirt launcher guys better (Desolation Marines), and they're kind of silly too.

Tanks like vindis at least have a home in 30k. The specialized non-30k firstborn stuff is in a perilous space. Especially when they didn’t have a role to start with. Thematically cents filled a similar space to terminators. (My personal headcannon is they were developed to fill a similar role that didn’t require the rare and hard to make TDA suits). But now they also have to compete with gravis units in the “slow, tough, loaded with guns” niche.
The only reason they exist was to sell old SM players new models. And it was their rules that did that, not the models. I’d honestly be fine with them getting the axe to help trim some of the bloat out of the codex. But still need to paint the ones I have.

Speaking of which, got some more basecoats down on the one on the bench. Silver and some purity seals, then onto the drybrush/wash steps.

Based and finished the neurogaunts, off to the YTD shelf for them.

Edit: did the highlights on the coms trooper over lunch. He should just need decals and to be based.

Got the purple on one swarm. Cent just needs his red basecoat.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
So, a the phobos KT box showed up today. Been trying to think of how I want to assemble things.

Let’s start with what we have:



I got 10 new bodies, and one spare body from before. Some extra reiver arms/bits.

And what we need:

1 PHOBOS STRIKE TEAM from the following list:
operative selected
• INFILTRATORSERGEANT
• INCURSORSERGEANT
• REIVER SERGEANT with one of the
following options:
○ Special issue bolt pistol; combat knife
○ Bolt carbine; fists

5 PHOBOS STRIKE TEAM operatives selected from the following list:
• INFILTRATOR COMMSMAN
• INFILTRATOR HELIXADEPT
• INFILTRATOR SABOTEUR
• INFILTRATOR VETERAN
• INFILTRATOR VOXBREAKER
• INFILTRATOR WARRIOR

• INCURSOR MARKSMAN
• INCURSOR MINELAYER
• INCURSOR WARRIOR

• REIVER WARRIOR with one of the
following options:
○ Special issue bolt pistol; combat knife
○ Bolt carbine; fists
Full team rules on WarCom

The dad I played last week was fielding this KT, and advocated an infiltrator heavy team. I think the only incursor he had was the marksman, and no reivers. I think he was medic/coms/vet/sarge from the infiltrators. Not sure what his last guy was.

One question is if I want to try to get some 40k units out of this. To which the answer is yes. But will I have enough bodies? I’d also like to flesh out the 40k squads I have now with more options.

Each 40k Infiltrator squad can have one medic, one coms, one sarge, and 2-7 warriors
Each 40k Incursor squad can have one minelayer, one sarge, and 3-8 warriors.

While I acknowledge that they most likely are going to hit the field in 5 man MSU squads, I like them as full 10s on the shelf. This is flexable.

Preliminary thoughts:
5 Man Incursor squad. Sarge, Mine, Marksmen, 2 mooks. This gives me the specialist I want for the KT, plus another full squad for 40k.
5 Man Infiltrator squad. Sarge, Medic, Coms, Vet, Voxbreaker
Spare body - Reiver Warror.

This leaves me without the saboteur. Alternatively, I could skip the sarge. I have an existing one, and the vet could step up as needed for 40k. I could even mag a shoulderpad with the correct marking if I felt frisky. Because frankly the saboteur looks pretty cool.

While I was warned off about the reiver, I still want one. The mobility tricks seem like they would help get around the map, even if he’s not particularly effective once he gets there. Probably knife/pistol, as I like a little CC in my forces.

Part of me also wants to kit together a phobos captain.

Both the cent and random marine should be ready for their clean up blue.

Rippers are good for their flesh wash.

Continue to build the gladiator. Turret needs the launchers, but main gun is maged. Next is to do the front guns. Last time I made it so I could use either stormbolters or MMs. IIRC the MMs and tempest bolters shared a bit, and I did not think it was worth it/possible to mag for all 3 options. I’ll swap it up this time, so it will be both storm/tempest bolters. So I can do one fully WYSWYG reaper/valiant, and will be good for 2 lancer/impulsors.

Lancer is done with the build. Need to do up the bits for the alt builds. Might not do them all up right now, but at least finish the sponsons.

Put the second blue on the intercessor, ink next for him. Cent still needs his blue cleanup. Put the flesh wash on the rippers, next up is their reds.

Plugging away. Have a good weekend all.

Do you assembled ripper swarm first then paint?

 kabaakaba wrote:
Do you assembled ripper swarm first then paint?

Regretting it, but yes.

It’s not been an issue before, but these are the first ones I’ve had 5 rippers per base. Previously I’ve numbered coded them to keep squads separate. So I’ve got 6 bases with 3 rippers each, amd 6 bases with 4 each. They were spaced well enough I could get a brush where I needed to. These guys are a little to tightly packed for ease of paint. To be fair, they were designed for 4x rippers, I added the extra.

Excited to see the gaunts, been wanting some for a while (Not that i know anything about their rules, i just think they'd be fun to paint). Gonna paint another ripper swarm relatively soon myself. I too fell into the pitfall of having to paint them while already assembled, makes it so much harder to pick out the eyes.

I don’t do full eyes on rippers. Normally I do yellow, with a cats-eye vertical black slit. Rippers just get a dot of yellow.

 Nevelon wrote:
I don’t do full eyes on rippers. Normally I do yellow, with a cats-eye vertical black slit. Rippers just get a dot of yellow.

I don't really do pupils on nids. I like it more as a pure yellow orb, I think they look creepier that way. I do see the appeal of a slit pupil though, as it achieves a different aesthetic that I also really like. It'd definitely be more difficult to do that on rippers though.

 Solarnopsis wrote:

 Nevelon wrote:
I don’t do full eyes on rippers. Normally I do yellow, with a cats-eye vertical black slit. Rippers just get a dot of yellow.

I don't really do pupils on nids. I like it more as a pure yellow orb, I think they look creepier that way. I do see the appeal of a slit pupil though, as it achieves a different aesthetic that I also really like. It'd definitely be more difficult to do that on rippers though.

IIRC I tried it for the first one I did, and just noped out for the rest.



Making progress. Actually got the black wash down after this pic. Bit of cleanup next.


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Edit:
New assault terminators announced. I’ll need a box of those, maybe two. Ancient as well, although that’s fuzzy. Not sure there in enough in the release box to temp me. We’ll see what the price looks like. But I suspect it will sell about in 2 nanoseconds, so probably a moot point.

I too am tempted by the terminators, but I need to finish the Black Templar Sword Bretheren first, and that is just not happening in the near future. Love the progress on all the minis, and those snow phobos marines look wonderful. So full of character and snow bases are hard to make look great.

 blockade23 wrote:
I too am tempted by the terminators, but I need to finish the Black Templar Sword Bretheren first, and that is just not happening in the near future. Love the progress on all the minis, and those snow phobos marines look wonderful. So full of character and snow bases are hard to make look great.

Thanks.

The problem of being a marine player is they keep releasing stuff. I’d be fine is they slowed it down a bit. But GW is gonna GW, and it’s the cash cow. A box or two of assault terminators, a box or two of victrix guard, maybe a new character or two. Suddenly my hobby budget is giving me funny looks. And if we keep to the 3 year plan, 11th should drop next summer, with all that implies. With all the veterans releasing, the 1st company is probably going to end up happening. I really need to finish up the 3rd first though.

Some people do much fancier bases than me. I keep them fairly basic. Enough to set the scene, give a frame for the mini, and check the box.

--

Speaking of which:


Rippers off the handles and ready for basing. Need the black on the rims, maybe a tuft or two, then flock. They are already pretty crammed on the base, don’t want to add too much clutter.

Moved 4 spinefist gaunts down to start getting work, put their grey seer coat on. Might try to get more work done on the marines tonight, we’ll see how my back feels.

Idk how marine players cope with endless releases. Feels like uncontrollable money sink.

Swarms looks nice. I also prefer simple bases it's don't stealing attention from miniature

 kabaakaba wrote:
Idk how marine players cope with endless releases. Feels like uncontrollable money sink.

Swarms looks nice. I also prefer simple bases it's don't stealing attention from miniature

Mostly we deal with it poorly.

It’s not as bad as it seems actually. A lot of non-marine players just lump all marines together. And there is a lot of overlap. But I’m an Ultramarines player. I don’t need characters or special units from all the other chapters. Unless I’m going to poach them for parts. Which has happened a few times over the years. At least one SW, DA, 2xGK. Not common, but it happens.

Also an awareness of self and pace helps. Unless it’s a FOMO splash release, I can wait. The Pile of Shame has enough to keep me painting for years. I can wait to get the new thing.

And at this point the marine range is so bloated with every role covered by a number of different units. Oh look, another unit good at clearing tanks/hordes/elites while being tough/fast/tricksy. Circle as needed. Sure, the latest hotness might be slight more point efficient, or synergise better with a certain detachment. But the stuff on the shelf will get the job done. Takes a lot of the “gotta have it” feels down a notch.

Yeah, we Marine players have to learn to pace ourselves. Thankfully with this new Terminator box, I can safely skip it as the only thing I want from it is the banner guy, so I'll wait for him to come out separately (and honestly I can probably live without him too, I've got a Deathwing Ancient already, but I do love Marines with flags). Dark Angels already have better Assault Terminators, we just call them Deathwing Knights.

I suspect the new terminators will end up on my “I’ll grab it in a discount box” where I want more of what’s in there. Or I thin out the Pile of Shame a bit more.



So got the ink on the marine. Needs edge work and cleanup next.

Gaunts are ready for their reds.

Started to clip another phobos. Going to make the vet next. W+ diorama showed up. Going to try to get it built for Nov. might be able to mag the seer so he can pop off the base.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Between my morning break and lunch, for the reds and then the black on the gaunts. Next up is faces, then the cleanup pass. Did a little touch ups on the marine, but not the edges. Worked a little on the phobos vet. Core body is built, rest of the bits for him clipped. Doing a head swap. Might look into more options when not rushing on break.

Gaunts off to be based. Will move 4 more up for work.

Looking at him now, might add some grenades/pouches to the vet. And start clipping the next guy.

Edit: 4 down on the handles, grey seer down.

Edit 2: marine is highlighted and gun glued on. Will need a final pass to double-check, then off to base/decal.

Edit 3: marine down, ready to decal/base. Purple on gaunts.

Rocked and tufted. Coms is clipped. 4 gaunts got their purple trimmed, ready for flesh wash. Free handle got another gaunt, who got his grey seer.

Stuck some grenades on the vet. His shoulder pad is just sticky tacked on. Although thinking about it, I could give him a TWV transfer, so it would be different from the squad, but not a sarge’s skull. Also appropriate for his job. If I end up doing that, I’ll just glue the pad on. But those are post-paint decisions.

Hope everyone’s weekends are off to a good start.

Finally got around to giving the cent his cclean up blue pass. Next up is blue ink. Getting there.

All 5 gaunts on the handles are ready for their reds.

Flocked everyone who needed it. Marines still need their decals, but 3 rippers and 4 gaunts off to the YTD shelf.

Coms is done being built. Need to figure out who is next and get them clipped.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Back from the FLGS, got a game of KT in. Vs Deathwatch. I was playing the Angels of Death (basic marine team) but had swapped out the HB for a sniper, and regular to stalker bolt rifles.

Opponent was also new, but we were trying to use the full rules. TacOps, etc. Lots more fun, more stuff to do on objectives, good time was had. I won 16-14, so pretty close game. Still so much stuff I need to remember. Need to make some cheat sheets.

If you make one share with us. I'd try play with my brother when he came for few days and it's turned a lots of bookkeeping.

 kabaakaba wrote:
If you make one share with us. I'd try play with my brother when he came for few days and it's turned a lots of bookkeeping.

Wrapping my brain around how to format. They guy I was playing today had the actual official cards. But was still flipping around amd trying to figure stuff out. You’ve got 5-6 cards for your operatives. 4-6ish each for strategic and tac ploys. Equipment you have 4 picks from the list.

Instead of cards I think it might just be easier to have a sheet of paper with all the command point stuff on it.

Might be the same for gear. Although cards might suit that better. In theory you can pick get to match the table/opponent.

GW has all the cards ready to print on their website, but on my black and white laster printer, half the cards are unreadable, due to the graphics. The operatives are fine, it’s just the gear and ops. I should see if I can just suck the text out and drop it into Magic Set Editor. Which is the progeam I use to make play aids.

GW is not making things easy.

So new UM upgrade frame, and Combat Patrol.

Upgrades: I’m more interested in the transfers then the plastic. There are some fun bits on there, but to be honest, a lot of the shoulder pads are just not needed.

CP:
5 intercessors - I could use a few more bodies for the company.
5 reivers - don’t actually have any for my UMs. They kinda suck, but could work as action monkeys. And more phobos bodies are good for fleshing out the KT.
3 aggressors - mechanically, a strong unit. I have 3, being able to field a double sized brick would not be a bad thing. Massive PITA to build and paint.
3 BGV. I’ve got a box unbuilt. Lovely models, but do I need more? And the Victrix guard look to be the chapter specific version of them.
Tiggy. - don’t actually have him. Not opposed.

It looks like it would be actually fun to play in CP. nice mix of units. For me to do so without getting the box I’d need Tig and the reivers. Add the upgrade frame because I’m a sucker, and that’s $142. CPs sell for $170.

Sigh. This is probably going to happen. It’s not a FOMO, so I can wait to get it at a discount.

—

Gaunts are ready for their blackwash. Almost done. Also put some blue on a Mk.2 HH marine I picked up at the FLGS. One week paint comp. The top 6 winners will get to paint one of the terminators from the set. The winner of that comp gets to paint and keep the dreadnought. Not expecting to make it that far, but will see what happens.

Gaunts need their cleanup, cent needs ink, 30k needs more basecoats.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Gaunts are done, need to be based. Quickly popped one off the handle and put the grey seer on the last guy in the squad. Let’s see if I can get him done in time to enter the full 10 man squad in the month’s comp.

Edit 2
Snuck enough time through the day to get the last guy to his reds. Next is the grey for the rubble on his base, black wash, and eyes/teeth/tongue. And then cleanup and baseing. Might actually be able to get that all done. We have an extension, so an extra day. So I don’t need to push things tonight.

Gaunts are based on on the YTD shelf. Will do a photoshoot after work. Stared painting barrow guard for October.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Just a quick update for a Q3 report:


Not a good YTD pic, as a lot of stuff (mostly the soulblight) is packed up for games.

Goal reminder:

I wrote:
1 Paint 12 members for the primaris battle company 1/12
2 Paint at least 24 Tyranids, and strive to keep them PoS neutral. 42/24
3 Paint more than I buy. 140/54
4 Paint at least 3 units that have been in the primed pile/Pile of Shame for 3+ years
5 Update my blog at least once a week, and maintain a consistent pace of work (1 mini a week).
6 Paint at least two units for 4 different factions. 8/8
7 Enter and finish an entry every month for the painting challenge. If the monthly challenge stops, enter at least one comp in the year.
8 Paint a tank. 0/1
9 Get more games in. At least 6. -Done

Goals 2,3,5,6,7, and 9 are all set.

1 - This is bad, but not “still at 1” bad. I’ve got 2 guys just waiting for me to do decals. Next month I plan on doing a single large based model, so the normal handels should be free. Plan is to get 5 men done then, and then 5 done as my Dec open project. Still doable.

4 - The cent on the handle is almost done. I can work the last one across this month, and finish in Dec if needed. behind, but promising.

8 - Primed and ready to go. I just need to pick up the brush and start...

Decal time. Finished the legion trooper. Bring him down tomorrow for the comp.

Started to put color on the tank, did half the hull a few days ago on a break. progress.

4 of the KT built.

Love the bases on those UMs, the tufts go great with the snow. I rarely if ever find myself touching up shoes/feet 'cause texture paint got on them, since it I think it gives it a really nice effect like they've actually been trudging through mud.

The snow up the legs is not fixed, but just part of the process. I like it, but not enough to take a needle and apply glue to make it stay.

Quick proof of life; been slacking. Had a lot of stuff going on, plus getting sucked into No Man’s Sky.

Cent is done with paint, including guns. Needs decals and base. Next one is down, but not started.

3 wights have their first 2nbasecoats down, still a ways to go.

Building the W+ spirit seer. About halfway done with the elf.

So he could be stand alone. There is a little bit of rubble under one foot that could be shaved off/worked into a new base. Not sure how easy it would be to magnetize him to swap between a game base and the decorative one. Angles for the magnets would be rough. Potentially doable though.

I'll suggest remove his tactical pebble and replace it with something wider but same height and put magnets inside so you cam switch bases

That new Raven Guard Chapter Master mini has the same problem. It's a great display mini, but it's too big for gaming in that it's harder to hide behind terrain.