Short but sweet

Trying to keep posting every once on a while and well, yeah.

So here's a quickie that Google kindly put together for me. I was trying to get some shots done for a "how to paint a basic Minotaurs symbol" and after uploading it to my account, it ended up getting animated...

Back from the dead - minotaurs

Almost every day as part of my job I tell people they should have goals that are realistic and achievable. Well perhaps I can learn to listen to my own advice and paint something that matches the time I have available for painting!

It's not going to win any prizes (although I will admit that photography at this level does it no favours) BUT, it is a quick paint job to reproduce en-masse with minimal effort. By combining this with ramping down my desire for a successful list  and literally just painting and assembling everything in my space marine box I've actually been able to make quite significant progress.

I traditionally play at around 2000 points and while this army shot is about 500 points short of that it is about two thirds painted and the 500 points of remaining models are waiting in the wings, ready for assembly and a quick paint job. Painting so far was done in three batches - two batches of troops and one of vehicles - with each batch taking a little over a week to complete. At this rate I may actually have a finished army painted inside a year. Inside 6 months even! 

It's not a complete rush job either, there has been time for a few little touches to try and individualise the army. There are NO mark 6 beaky heads to be seen, all the sergeants have  an approximation of mark 8 errant armour and I think the bases look pretty cool compared to my usual rather sparse flock job. Plus all the squads are getting painted squad markings. All in all it's a satisfying experience so far, and as a playable army it looks very nice on the table.

An Apocalyptic Change of Topic...

So I'm playing an apocalypse game in four weeks and counting. I've built myself a nice little Hierodule and its starting to look like it might actually be in a fit state to grace the table. Then Mark says "Build a BIG one."

Nah that's a stupid idea.  In four weeks?

...

About 45 minutes of cutting and carving and we have this. This is a bad idea.  I am sure of it. See the poor little hierodule at the top of the photo? He's not enjoying being second fiddle.

Oh dear. I repeat - THIS IS A BAD IDEA!!!!

Although that appears to be bang on ten inches to the top of the (temporary) spine-funnel-vent thing. Bang on the height given by FW. Maybe it was just meant to be?

I Aten't Dead

Just to prove I aten't dead.

I caved and bought FW bits - only the Red Scorpion armour and some bolters though, so the next time eBay has a free weekend I can (hopefully) get some of my cash back.  I've been spending more time thinking than actually modelling lately (this was MUCH easier before I had a life) but some of it seems to have paid off as I have been able to solve some of the issues I had envisaged with getting the look of the different marks mostly right.

Shoulder pads sorted, just need to plug the gaps.  Might just ignore the fact that the groin plate is the wrong shape on these guys.

You could say this was completely unnecessary, but I think it is close enough for a cursory glance without being an overly convoluted conversion.

This is more necessary (at least I think so) there's something iconic about this mark of pack in my mind and I would like something that looks at least passable. I'm hoping that some way of streamlining the production process will come to me, otherwise it might be quite labour intensive (as this will probably be one of the more common versions in the army)

With all that it looks like I might even manage a half squad sometime soon!  I also had a bit of luck on the shields for my breacher squad

Fixing these on midway down the arm seems to work beautifully - plus I had been eyeing up the minis they came with for ages, so it was a handy excuse to buy a squad of ten (even if they are going to be missing their riot shields)

Not actually Pre Heresy DG

OK, so further reading says that actually this can't be a pre-heresy army - or at least I'll have to go back to the start and create everything in lower marks of armour.  Maybe one day - but definitely not any time soon (barring a sudden windfall)

Now that I've accepted that, its time to move on! Refining my concept for MKV and combining it with some techniques from another blog I've started mass production (if you can call ten guys mass production). Rather than show you lots of boring pics of legs in various states of disrepair (follow the link above to see a step by step guide in any case) I'll show you the one which I've moved further along to try and firm up the army design.

As you can see, I've started raiding my bits box for some scrappier pieces (and I'll have to work on my stud-work on that inside leg).  As well as cleaning up on the technique I've also been reading up a bit more on Death Guard Tactics and re-reading the legion army list and decided on some extra details:

- Death Guard are renowned for self sufficiency, so everyone is going to have pouches to keep stuff in - not HUNDREDS of the things, but each model should have at least one. This should let me vary up the look of the armour a bit more while keeping things simple.

- All marines come with a bolt pistol, so everyone is going to have one!

- Ditto grenades (maybe more than one in some cases)

- All Death Guard carry some kind of blade, so everyone is going to have one. I'm going to cut them down though so they aren't too ridiculous (I hope)

I'm not sure alter this slightly to put them in sheathes instead though - I suppose I can mix and match that too though.

Pre-Heresy DG - AGAIN???

Well I've reached a bit of an impasse as I have ordered some "studs" to continue with this little project, so I can't continue till they arrive. Couldn't resist finishing off our MKVI friend first, so here he is in all his test model glory:

I think I might have to accept that this is the last time I can call a main torso a "test" - so it looks like I'll have to work out squad markings soon....

Pre-Heresy DG (continued)

Good god - another update!

Well yesterday had me so disappointed with the results of my photographic experiments that I decided to hit the books and read up a bit, so here is something that's (hopefully) a little better.

Mk V(ish)

Its not going to win any prizes as far as painting goes (or modelling or that matter) but its clearly recognisable for what it is and that's what will count on the tabletop.  Let's all say thanks to Mortarion for having the only legion not obsessed with polishing its own armour.

I think for the production model I'll add in the nose-guard and maybe file the knee-pads a little flatter.  If I'm going down the mass production route I'll also have to find a better source of studs, sticking them on is bad enough, but after having to MAKE the things as well??

Now this makes me nostalgic....

Can't go pre-heresy stud-happy and not have some of these guys.  I've got enough of the legs to do most of a ten man squad but I'll probably mod some others for a bit of variety.  I'm not sure how much of the colour difference is due to my painting and how much is due to my "mad photo-skillz", but I think I'll need to work on consistency.

 

 

This is probably what needs the most work.  I'm not shelling out for official DG pads for these guys, but to be honest I think a stencilled look (if I can manage to perfect it) would suit better.  Kind of like IG in power armour.