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I invited a stanger I met on the internet into my home, lured him to the basement, and nobody got brutally murdered*. Well, except a lot of marines. Quite a few of them met some unpleasant ends.



That’s the deployment. I’ve got pictures of the whole thing (in my gallery if you want a sneak peak), so expect a full, all formal like Battle Report later. Once I recover from all the time I spent in the summer heat in my broken AC car. blarg.

We also played a pair of games of Conquest, which was quite fun. If there are people who play in your local area, look into getting into it. I won both games, which is either a case of beginer’s luck, or prof that Ultramarines are superior to Orks.

* results may not be typical, don’t try this at home.

Can't wait!

Cool, looking forward to it!

Once again, thanks Nevlon for the hospitality! The games we played were great, and the shortbread is even better!

 Zambro wrote:
Once again, thanks Nevlon for the hospitality! The games we played were great, and the shortbread is even better!

Thanks for taking the time to drop by. I know it was a lot of travel to get a game in, but it was great to meet you in person and push some plastic around. Next time you need to bring your own armies though! Card games were a lot of fun as well. If all it took was a batch of cookies to get a game in, I’d spend more time in the kitchen, glad you like them.

Here is the battle report. Feel free to correct me if I got any details wrong, I might have messed something up. I tried to spice a little flavor text in there, hope everyone enjoys it!

Just read that battle report, sounded like a lot of fun. Didn't realise the mysterious stranger off the interwebs was Zambro of the Scars/Fists. Glad it was only models and armies that ended up murdered in the basement

 Adamski Alders wrote:
Didn't realise the mysterious stranger off the interwebs was Zambro of the Scars/Fists.

A stranger is a friend you haven't met yet.
A stranger could also be a murderer. So be careful

Yeah, I've been in the states for a while now, and was in the area (sort of). Glad to have put a face to a name, and play some games after so long

Thanks for writing that battle report up, too! I'll link it over into my blog when I'm back in the UK and ready to go with hobby related things.

I was fiddling around with my phone’s camera, and was experimenting with the panoramic feature. Thought I’d share some pics of the places where the magic happens:

(and yes, I know I’m a disorganized slob)




Seeing the table bent like that makes me think of battles in non-Euclidean warp space.

Many boxes, such monies.

 Ratius wrote:
Many boxes, such monies.

The shelf of dead cards. It’s not as much money as you think. Most were purchased at wholesale, when I was working for a mail order card company. Some even lower, at “please make it go away” prices (case of boosters for $15? Sure). And purchased in my golden age of hobbying, where I had a big-boy job, but was still single living like a starving college student. These days it would probably cost more to ship them to someone who wanted them then they would be worth. Some of the games have been rebooted (deadlands, netrunner) others have different issues, like 95% of my L5R cards being the old backs. Or just dead, or never really took off. (Dune, Legend of the Burning Sands, Over the Edge) Some that you probably never heard of, even if they were fun games. (Shadowfist) There are also a lot that I have a few starters and a fistfull of boosters for, just to try the game out.

The MtG cards were the ones with value, and they are already sold. Just a lot of ancient flat crack taking up space at this point. But if it was a CCG at some point, odds are there is a little (or a lot) of it on that shelf.

One nice thing about painting familiar things in your comfort zone is how quick and easy it is! No debates about schemes, worrying about how well that paint is going to cover, etc. I think I spent two evenings on this guy to get him to this point. His legs are also done, but there is very little going there. Next to to do his belt, and then the massive chainsword. As a quick note to all my fellow Ultramarines, if you have not picked up the accessory sprue you are doing yourself, and The Chapter, a massive disservice. It is full of awesome.

(For those of you just joining us, or who don’t recognize who I’m working on, it’s the guy the left here)


In my ongoing effort to clean up spare weapon options, I also put paint to the VenDread’s assault cannon.


I am sorely tempted to include three dreads in a squadron, all with AsCs, and just have them stomp up the table. Worth the points? Probably not. Fun as all get out? Yup!

I hope everyone enjoys their weekends, Labor Day or not. I’m off to go grocery shopping an mow a couple of lawns, take care all.

Looking good, especially the gold!

 Paradigm wrote:
Looking good, especially the gold!

Thanks. The gold is stupidly easy to do for the results it gives.

Step 1: basecoat (I use an old pot of shining gold, some of the AoS golds they came out with look to be a very close match)
Step 2: chestnut wash (slightly diluted)(Not sure what the brown wash is called these days)
Step 3: (optional) drybrush the base gold to help with the highlights.

That’s it. If I could suggest only one technique for a new painter, it would be washes. Followed closely by drybrushing. Simple techniques, easy to learn, and they can give excellent results.

I used a silver drybrush on the Ultramarine iconography. I didn’t want pristine white for most of it (but will do pure white on the belt/shoulder s though)

The details on that Captain look fantastic, I'm really digging the work you've done on him.

That looks great!

Thanks guys. I just put down some subtle edge highlights on him, not something I normally do. Also the first layer of black for the sword.

I also found him a friend to fight for the “Never tell me the Odds” challenge. Not endless hordes, but something big and mean:

Looks cool

I'm considering toning down my entry too. I wanna bash out a bunch of some stuff, but I tend to get squirrely when I have deadlines and have to *make* myself do something. I may end up backing down to a showdown too, we'll see.

I forgot to get a new shot from the paintbench, but I put some blue down on the arms, and brown and gold down on the belt. So plugging along.

From the workbench:


Oni is cleaned up and ready to prime. Might need to put a little more greenstuff in the base/stand thing so it stands up better. I was musing on materials as I was cleaning and posing her. While metal is often faulted for being hard to work with for conversions, in some senses it’s actually better. If you had a resin/plastic mini, you can’t easily bend parts. With metal, I was able to curl some fingers, adjust the angles of the lower arms, and coil the tentacles around a bit. I still prefer plastic, but it was kinda fun to work in the classic medium again.

Land Speeder is going together. I just glued the TML on. I’m sure in a few editions I’ll regret it, as what’s hot shifts around. But I’ve been fielding them a lot lately, and have two other speeders that can be kitted out with whatever the FOTM is down the road. Had to stop work for the evening, as I jabbed my thumb with the knife hard enough to draw blood. I took a short break and thought it was fine, but when I was drilling out the HB it started oozing a little, so I’m taking that as my cue to stop for the night. Just need to finish cleaning and assembling the pilot and gunner, and then it will be ready to prime. It’s been on the hot and humid side lately, so I’m not sure exactly when that is going to be.

I find land speeders to be very useful... as much for the threat of what they can do as what they can actually do.

I always liked them aesthetically too, especially with those twin missile pods.

Gitsplitta wrote:I find land speeders to be very useful... as much for the threat of what they can do as what they can actually do.

I’ve found the threat factor worked best when I fielded them with a MM. Nothing like a fast speeder with an anti-tank gun to declare a 2 foot circle of the table dangerous terrain. Tanks didn’t instantly explode once they crossed the threshold, but they needed to respect the zone of control. Once the MM speeder was committed though, it was done. The TML/HB speeder lacks the threat impact of the MM speeder, but does a good job of tossing moderate amounts of fire downrange all game.

GrimDork wrote:I always liked them aesthetically too, especially with those twin missile pods.

There is so much to love about them. I’ve always had a soft spot for anti-grav armor. And while not the sleek Eldar tanks, the humble LS makes a nice little recon skimmer. Nice looks, and helps make it feel sci-fi. Because let’s be honest, most other things in the SM army would not be out of place on a WWI/II battlefield. This is the first one I’ve put together actually using the proper TML parts. Well, the ones from the Ravenwing sprue on the old LS hull. I’ve still not put together a “modern” speeder. My other speeders borrow CMLs from the terminators for their missile racks.

Here it is all ready to prime:


Edit:

Me from the future wrote:
<SLAP>
While it might be ready to prime, you should have been more careful when putting the hull together. Massive gaps. It might be a crappy kit, but you can do better. Even 2015 me should have known better.

From the paintbench:


Haven’t done anything since yesterday, but did remember the camera this time.

Also, summer is officially over. Yesterday was The Boy’s first day back at school (4th Grade). This is my first totally free day, as The Wife had taken Monday off. So now I can hopefully pick up the pace on the hobby stuff, and get ready for winter. And all those other projects around the house that need work...

If I were ever going to legitimately play 40k again, and if it were *remotely* viable, I would totally run LSS scouts (they get it as a DT now, right?) and play the space marines like they were Dark Eldar

Ehh, I've got a soft spot for Land Raiders too just because they're so big and smashy. I'll probably wind up painting mine eventually to be the relic zombie marine delivery system for my corporation guys.

Grats on some extra hobby time Mine is almost ready for preschool but we've got another baby, go figure.

 GrimDork wrote:
If I were ever going to legitimately play 40k again, and if it were *remotely* viable, I would totally run LSS scouts (they get it as a DT now, right?) and play the space marines like they were Dark Eldar

Ehh, I've got a soft spot for Land Raiders too just because they're so big and smashy. I'll probably wind up painting mine eventually to be the relic zombie marine delivery system for my corporation guys.

Grats on some extra hobby time Mine is almost ready for preschool but we've got another baby, go figure.

While putting this guy together I was thinking if I could build an entire list where nobody needs to touch the ground. 4 speeders, the scouts in their dedicated transport LSS, and my two flyers. Tac squad in the raven. Should be able to do 1,000 points easy. If I want to branch out into JP units (they only occasionally get muddy) I could probably bump up to 1,500, although the FOC starts to get restrictive at that point.

Of course, that theme is central to my Eldar. Saim-Hann; because getting dirty is for lesser races.

I do enjoy my LR as well. Because while being fast and zippy is entertaining, so is ramming a giant armored box of pain right up the center of the board.

Yeah, if you've already got a flighty alien race, no need for the marines to follow suit. Land raiders are amusing.

Can't say I've ever seen anybody put a Land Speeder together in those stages before. Can't wait to see more of that foot captain

 Adamski Alders wrote:
Can't say I've ever seen anybody put a Land Speeder together in those stages before. Can't wait to see more of that foot captain

Have you only seen the modern speeders put together? There are/were two speeders sold. The original plastic speeder came out with 3rd, in 98. Not sure when the other one came out. The original speeder was still in production up until a few years ago (and still might be, not sure) as part of of the old ravenwing battleforce. Unlike the new speeder, the old one has the top shell all in one part. Top, sides, front; all one piece of (usually slightly bent/warped) plastic. I know I needed to add a cut on one of my old speeders so the warped bit would sit flat. It also only came with a single HB and MM. If you wanted more options you needed to kit bash them, or buy the RW sprue (which I have 3 of from the battleforce). The RW bits gave you option for the AsC and the TML. Also to make the master of the ravenwing’s fancy speeder and a host of other things.

So it makes sense to assemble the speeder in that fashion, at least for the model I have. I try to get things into a few prices I as can before I prime them, just for simplicity. I got this one down to 5. Top, bottom, gunner (w/HB), pilot (mostly), and the pilot’s arm.

I’ll try to get more work done on the good captain. I’m excited about working on him, but have a number of chores I need to take care of first. Plus he’s at the detail level that I need to make sure I’m not over caffeinated when working on him. Shakes are bad, m’kay?

Went up to the FLGS yesterday. Didn’t manage to get a game in, but finally was able to meet up with a guy for a bits swap. He needed a JP and some running legs, but I also gave him some GK bits I didn’t need and the parts for an apothocary (and a few other odds and bobs). In return I got some very needed bits:

Two grav cannons and a pair of MMs, some new bolters for some sternguard, and a handful of cables from the centurion kit that might find their way to a techmarine conversion.

So added to my workbench build list, 4 more heavy weapon marines and 5 sternguard. The SG will be a good spot to use more of the bits from the UM upgrade sprue as well.

 Nevelon wrote:

 Adamski Alders wrote:
Can't say I've ever seen anybody put a Land Speeder together in those stages before. Can't wait to see more of that foot captain

Have you only seen the modern speeders put together? There are/were two speeders sold. The original plastic speeder came out with 3rd, in 98. Not sure when the other one came out. The original speeder was still in production up until a few years ago (and still might be, not sure) as part of of the old ravenwing battleforce. Unlike the new speeder, the old one has the top shell all in one part. Top, sides, front; all one piece of (usually slightly bent/warped) plastic. I know I needed to add a cut on one of my old speeders so the warped bit would sit flat. It also only came with a single HB and MM. If you wanted more options you needed to kit bash them, or buy the RW sprue (which I have 3 of from the battleforce). The RW bits gave you option for the AsC and the TML. Also to make the master of the ravenwing’s fancy speeder and a host of other things.

So it makes sense to assemble the speeder in that fashion, at least for the model I have.

There's a newer Land Speeder? I only know of the 3rd edition plastic version with the all in one top shell, which you are right and it is in the old Ravenwing Battleforce as I noticed it earlier when I was checking mine for parts when I was talking to somebody else about the winged fairings for bikes. Those Ravenwing sprues are awesome for bitz and I did like the options of building Tornados and Typhoons in plastic.

Shakes are definitely bad, I agree. We don't want them ruining your excellent work on your foot captain.

 Adamski Alders wrote:

There's a newer Land Speeder? I only know of the 3rd edition plastic version with the all in one top shell, which you are right and it is in the old Ravenwing Battleforce as I noticed it earlier when I was checking mine for parts when I was talking to somebody else about the winged fairings for bikes. Those Ravenwing sprues are awesome for bitz and I did like the options of building Tornados and Typhoons in plastic.

Shakes are definitely bad, I agree. We don't want them ruining your excellent work on your foot captain.

http://www.heresy-online.net/forums/sprues/showgallery.php?cat=993

Their collection has some gaps, but that’s my go-to for sprue pics not on GW’s site. Link is to the new speeder. It’s got more weapon options, and a saner construction. I kinda covet one, but honestly, I’m fine with my LSS, 3x classic 98’s, and a 2nd ed chunk of lead tornado. If I get another speeder, it will probably be a second storm.

All the base colors are down on the captain, and I did a clean up pass on the belt. Next step is to tidy up the gold on the arms, and then washes. Then the blue touchup/wash, and baseing. But first, grocery shopping. I’ll try to get some fresh pics tomorrow.

Cheers for that Nev, can honestly say I did not know that about the Land Speeder. You learn something new every day.

I glued a little grass and rock to his base, just need to do the flocking thing and he’s done. He deserves better pictures, so I snap some of him solo, even if I do work up a dio of him vs. the demon.