30 Dec 2013
Spirits be praised
This means I can now try to get the Fire Prism and Crimson (Purple) Hunter completed in their 3 colour basics by end 1st Jan. If I can do that then I can spend a bit more time on the Spiritseer who is demanding non-speed painting as he's in charge...
So what have I achieved so far then? Well see the picture above.
All these models now have 3 colours so could go on to a battlefield near you. They need some tidying up, especially the Wave Serpents around the cockpits, but they are basically ready to go. If time is short then I'll just add some grey basing (same style as my World Eaters) and go with the army as they are above.
Hopefully I can find some time to get the other blues and purples involved and get them highlighted up like the sole Wraithguard below:
So 2013 ends with a hobby bang; let's hope I can continue this once 2014 dawns and work re-enters the frame.
26 days to go
28 Dec 2013
Colouring in Eldar
The weather finally broke on Xmas Eve and out came the spray cans: everything turned a nice shade of Alien Purple courtesy of Army Painter. I'm pretty sure my face also went an interesting shade thanks to the wind...
Since then Christmas has interrupted and I even managed to take this army out for a spin on Boxing Day. Yesterday though was painting day and it took 4 attempts to get the colour scheme anywhere near something I like.
Here's the Wraithguard tester who has about 4 layers of paint on his gun before the blues you can see. Tell you I'm terrible at choosing schemes on the fly.
So yes he's purple and blue. Yellow just didn't want to work properly for me and as I'm speed painting I decided to go for colours I know work together... and I need to sort the cable out.
The body is Alien Purple with highlights of Genestealer Purple and Lucius Lilac (first time trying Citadel Dry paint and it's really rather good). The blues are Caledor Sky, Teclis Blue and then Lothern Blue.
At the minute the score is:
1 Wraithguard to be based
4 Wraithguard to be highlighted
5 Wraithguard to be blued
1 Wave Serpent to be blued
Spiritseer undercoated
Everything else at Alien Purple stage
2 Vypers to be delivered
Aim is to complete the Wraithguard, Wave Serpents and Wraithlord by end of Jan 1. Then I'm back to work so time will become a challenge again!
27 days to go
23 Dec 2013
Rollin, rollin, erm, skimmin, skimmin, skimmin...
I know. Wargame items being purchased and built in the same weekend; I believe Armageddon is next week... poor old shelves didn't even see these boxes and several words were exchanged between these new upstarts and various items that have been sat on said shelves for years.
Anyway, here they are. Have to say the Fire Prism cannon is a monster!
As with the flyer I've decided to stick the canopy down ahead of time so I can paint over it; afterall what self-respecting Ghost army actually uses pilots??
One final question: how the hell do 5 Wraithguard and a Spiritseer fit in the back of a Wave Serpent?!
33 days to go.
20 Dec 2013
I make whooshing noises...
Decided to cheat with the canopy and fix it in place ahead of painting. This way I can save time by not painting the cockpit and pilot.
A fighter plane in the 41st millenium really won't need windows right? Probably use iOS to prevent crashes...
Ahem.
Now to design the base diorama or bits strewn about as we like to call it. Hope some decently dry weather appears over Christmas so I can get this lot sprayed!
37 days to go
19 Dec 2013
Velc-Jenn go Airfix
Nice looking model this Crimson Hunter and has gone together very nicely so far.
Oh and the Wraithguard have now been completed.
Finish off the plane tomorrow and then decide what diorama to build for its base as I have a few spare parts floating about...
38 Days to go
18 Dec 2013
Velc-Jenn Challenge Day 2
Not a bad effort as I didn't get to the hobby table until 10:30pm tonight.
Tomorrow I'll finish this squad and start in on building the Crimson Hunter.
After that it's a trip to Triple Helix on Saturday to pick up any of my order that has arrived including some purple spray. I'm thinking purple and yellow as their main colours and then maybe a touch of blue, black and something else for any jewels. No doubt that will change as time progresses...
39 Days to go.
17 Dec 2013
Trees!
Bravo to the Silverfox for leading the charge by challenging himself. I on the other hand have been (slightly) productive. The Silverback sourced some great little trees that are perfect for DZC and seeing he acquired them it was the least I could do to prep them ready for use. I decide to mount them on to strips for ease of use and they should look pretty good lining the road ways of our city board.
I've also been slightly distracted painting some beasties for some old RPG friends of mine. Nice figs to paint as a change from the normal things that linger in my painting queue.
Next up are the reinforcements for my Shaltari.
Velc-Jenn Craftworld appears from the darkness of space
You'll have noted, possibly, my lack of posting and truth to tell I've not done any hobby stuff for at least 6 weeks possibly longer. Massive hobby slump right now.
I have completed a whole host of PS3 games but that's not really helping to clear the shelves now is it??
Now I'm someone who builds and paints to a deadline. If I set myself a target I find I get motivated and can crack on. In the past this has come from attending tournaments but as they've become less I've kind of dropped off the painting radar...
Until now. Sat on my shelves are parts of a new Eldar army: I've always had a hankering to do an Iyanden Ghost Warriors army and now I needed a target date. What better than a 1250 tournament at the end of January 2014 I hear you ask? What indeed.
So that's my target. A brand new 1250 point Eldar army by the 26 Jan 2014. Now that's a challenge and at least I know what I'll be doing over Christmas! All I need to do now is work out a colour scheme, buy some bits, build it, paint it and learn what the rules are. Easy right?
My army list as it stands (designed to keep the model count down)
Spiritseer
5 Wraithguard + Wave Serpent
5 Wraithguard + Wave Serpent
2 Vypers
Crimson Hunter
Wraithlord
Fire Prism
Here are some of the boxes on Sunday (Day 0):
And here's what I have built as of end Day 1 of the challenge:
So that's 1 squad and my HQ built. Don't get me started on the superglue + finecast excitement involved with the Spiritseer: if you look closely you'll see greenstuff acting as the holding material...
40 Days to go.
15 Nov 2013
Flames of war - airplane special
5 Nov 2013
WWWWHHHHOOOOSSSSHHHH!
I'm not especially happy with how the custom transfers came out as the decal melty stuff seems to have left bubbles and a touch of misting. Oh hum. The ones at the front on the red are the most obvious and they look okay so I'm not going to be too upset about it.
Just the base to do now!
For the Eldar I still have a unit of lovely Shadow Spectres (thanks guys!), a wraithseer, a wraightknight, a fire prism, and some guardians and some Dire Avengers to do. So quite a bit left to do then.
23 Oct 2013
Hoboxes....
Loving these kits. Dinky and fun to put together and paint. Well done Warmill!
TTFN.
21 Oct 2013
Eastern Front re-opened!
So, my forces were going to be attacking 3 objectives and Nick’s elite FJ were going to defend 3 objectives and he got to remove one of them on the 6th, 7th and 8th turns, so I was going to have to get a move on to capture them.
Both our armies set up on the table and I sent a small platoon of 7 bases to sneak up the left flank to keep the defenders there honest and frankly everything else set up threatening the right flank. And then just steamed forward in a Warhammer type formation :) The wood is chock full of infantry and the armour are T-34/85s, SU-57s and SU-122s on the far side.
I did include air support this time and it either didn’t turn up each turn or only had 1 plane arrive – see the blue dice for proof!
Anyway, opposing the Soviet advance was a platoon of dug in FJ, 5 marders (horrible little things) and 4 P4s who appeared out of nowhere in ambush, but fortunately at long range given the Soviets swift advance forcing them back a little.
I couldn’t hit Nick’s forces due to the extra modifier from Hen & Chicks, so over to Nick in the shooting gallery…… which was utterly woeful as Nick’s brand spanking new dice deserted him. The upshot of 16 high calibre shots and an accurate mortar barrage was one wrecked SU-57 and 5 other chaps bailed out across the platoons (you can just see them standing behind their vehicles) as Nick couldn’t buy a Firepower test on 3+ to actually destroy anything….. The P4s, so stunned by their lack of success, failed their stormtrooper roll to get into hiding.
So, the brave Soviets shot back and the T-34s were outstanding – needing 5s to hit from 6 dice, they hit 5 times….. and passed all of their firepower tests on 3+ to add insult to injury. P4s all destroyed (mainly because they failed their Stormtrooper roll on the last turn). The Marders were taken down to the last vehicle, who then failed his morale check and ran for the hills. So, in the middle of turn 2, Nick had all of his armour destroyed and it looked grim….
My planes also decided to turn up and at least pinned the defending FJ platoon and my massive 25 stand infantry unit ran into the open and found themselves in assault range - Losing 5 out of 6 hit bases to defending fire wasn’t great though, but the asssult was on!
Only 3 bases made it close enough to attack and needing 4+ to kill, promptly rolled a 2, 2 & 3. Ah. Oops. The FJ counterattacked and got 7 (!) bases close enough to attack and only needed 3+ to kill bases. This could well embarrass the Soviets and ruin the attack…… but Nick promptly missed with 5 of the 7 attacks! The Soviets took heart and the swirling melee continued for a number of rounds (you keep having rounds until someone breaks off) and the upshot was only an HMG left to the FJ (who also lost their CiC in the melee) and the Soviets down to half strength. The Kommisar having to shoot one stand as an example to the rest of the platoon to make them hold their nerve in the middle of the fight.
As the dust settled, it appeared that my consolidation moves had accidentally claimed me the objective (the two teams in the distance hiding bravely behind the house) and Nick was unable to get anything close enough to the objective to contest it.
So, we got a game in, re-learnt some rules and Nick’s horrible turn of shooting followed by a great turn from my armour really put the FJ in a hole that they couldn’t getout of. Nick’s contempt for the Heer continues to grow as they let the FJ down yet again, the P4s in particular have always done poorly for Nick, so I think his idea of getting the FJ to crew his soon-to-arrive 88s is a good idea :)
Jump the queue.
Special thanks go out to the Silverback on this one. Ain't it a beaut!
11 Oct 2013
Mock not......the OCELOT!!
I got a couple of re-enforcements at Colours and I've finally gotten round to knocking them together so they can take their turn in the painting queue. The dreaded but badly named Ocelot with its uber-gun and the much more intriguingly named Dreamsnare. Hmmmmm mysterious!
I also picked up some Hoboxes. Nope! Not a new skirmish game involving women with dubious pasts locked in hand to hand combat but in fact a set of dinky sci-fi urban scatter designed to keep those annoying homeless 'Hobo' types all neatly tucked out of sight. As with the other WarMill sets I have made I found these to be fun to put together and are just lovely interesting pieces to have for the tabletop!
4 Oct 2013
Welcome to Dreadball Tonight!
“Hi, I’m Bob Johnson”
“And I’m John Bobson, and welcome to another fascinating evening of Dreadball Coverage on the home of Dreadball ISPN1!”
Who’s on the slate tonight John?”
“Well Bob, it’s a double header between the Neutrinos and Dorxmund”
“Wow John, should be a great couple of games, with the fights as the Home and Away fans change places between games almost as entertaining as the action on the pitch!”
“Ha, ha, good point Bob, it’s great for the fans to be able to mix fighting with sports viewing”
“Mixed fortunes for the teams so far John, meaning Dorxmund get a while posse of additional players as the underdogs”
“That’s right Bob, just a shame only Jacks and Guards have turned up, Dorxmund have plenty of those already…..”
“Anyway, without further ado, here’s the first launch!”
“And that’s Garyth Bayull with the great pick up for the Neutrinos…. He runs up the side of the pitch….. he cuts inside…. He shoots for the 3 pointer with the Orx Guard in his face….. And he scores!”
“Wow John, that’s 3-0 to the Neutrinos in almost no time at all!”
“The fans are going crazy Bob and the ball is re-launched……Doxmund happy to have some possession here Bob….. and that’s a well worked move that’s netted the Orx a 1 pointer!”
“Well worth keeping the scoreboard ticking over John, especially with the Jacks needing to score little and often”
“So, on the re-launch, the ball is picked up by Mykul Owain and he’s off into the 3 point zone after a really deft pick up”
“That’s true John, he went longer than we expected there, the intervention of the coach on these first two drives with great play calls (DB cards) has really allowed them to push the envelope”
“And he scores! Another 3 pointer to take it to 5-0 Bob”
“Wow John, this really is quick scoring and Dorxmund appear shell shocked”
“That they do Bob, but they aren’t letting it stop them and they’ve got the ball….. Oh no they haven’t, their jack has spilt it trying to pick it up and the ball is loose!”
“Terrible luck there John, but the neutrinos are onto it in a flash….. they line up the 2 point shot….. And they score for the 7-0 win in 7 drives!”
“I’m not really sure how to sum that one up Bob…..”
“Me neither John, but Dorxmund had better get their heads in the game as it’s the mirror match straight away…..”
“And look at all that cash Dorxmund have generated from this game Bob, that’s enough for more coaching (cards and dice) and leaving them a tidy sum for a rainy day”
“That’s true John, and the Neutrinos get more experience and more coaching (dice) out of the cash from the win”
“Just time for a quick word from our sponsors – Nuka Cola Corp – and we’ll be right back with you………..”
……….
“….. and welcome back Sports fans, it feels like only 5 minutes that we were last with you!”
“Errrrr, that’s because that’s exactly when it was John”
“Good point Bob, let’s get on with the action”
“So, John, with the teams still apart of experience, Dorxmund once again get plenty of help from extra players……but the striker still eludes them with only Jacks and Guards turning up with their boots”
“That’s terrible luck again Bob, they really could have used that striker”
“And the ball is launched!”
“The Neutrinos sat way back this drive Bob, probably worried about a first rush beating from the Orx Guards”
“I should think so too John – and it hasn’t stopped them as the lunatic Orx players have barrelled in and there are a host of players in the injury box and on the floor!”
“Ouch Bob, I don’t think that human jack will be out again”
“Not without his legs that Archibald Merriweather III has ripped off, John”
“Chalk him down as a casualty Bob”
“Lots of ineffective possession here John from both teams”
“Indeed Bob, especially as they’ve both spilled it and the ball is spending plenty of time bouncing around on the floor”
“another crunching tackle there and the Neutrino striker is surely dead after that hit!”
“But wait Bob, he’s got really lucky (skill re-roll) and the lucky rabbit’s foot on his armour has just managed to deflect the worst of that strike leaving him injured for a while”
“but the Neutrinos have it Bob and they’ve gone for a 2 pointer….. It’s in!”
“that’s a small crumb of comfort in a game with the most ineffective scrum of guards in the middle John”
“That’s right Bob, looks more like they’re holding hands and singing Kum-By-Yah as opposed to trying to hurt each other”
“Not what the fans paid to see John”
“That’s right Bob…..But they did pay to see this as the Orx cause another casualty and run the ball up for a 2 pointer to level the scores!”
“Wow, what a play John, the Neutrinos are now two players down and the scores level again….”
“Sounds like it’s time for someone to step up Bob”
“And here’s Mykull Owain John…. He picks the ball up….. dodges a couple of tackles…. Makes his way to the 4 point hex….. and with the coach shouting instructions he nails it!”
“That’s a big score so late in the game Bob – will Dorxmund have time to come back?”
“Let’s find out John… the Ball is re-launched….. and the orx are ignoring the ball and have just taken the head off the neutrino number 5!”
“A third casualty in the game Bob?”
“That it is John, these orx have really brought their A-list pain game to this one”
“And here’s their attempt to score at the death with a deft steal…… But the neutrino player dodges away and the final hooter goes”
“Close one John, only that one score separating the sides”
“True enough Bob, and plenty of neutrino players separated from their limbs too”
“Half a team for the Neutrinos to hire there John, but an absolute avalanche of cash for Dorxmund after that one – those jersey sales really went through the roof as the casualties mounted”
“That they did Bob and Dreadball is all about the money after all…… errrrr, and the game too”
“That’s right John, so here’s us signing off – thanks for tuning in sportsfans”
18 Sept 2013
Latest Dreadball Results
11 Sept 2013
The dreadball season continues!
10 Sept 2013
Olimpik Orxerre in training
6 Sept 2013
It's all to play for!
The trophy stands ready and the only thing left to decide is.............
....who the winner is!!
Good luck to all!
ps COME ON YOU WASPS!!
4 Sept 2013
WHAT A SHOCKER!
3 Sept 2013
LET'S GET READY TO RUUUUUUMBLLLLLLLLE!!!!
20 Aug 2013
Finishing Eldar
Completed are 10 Wraithguard with D-Scythes, 15 Jetbikes and 3 War Walkers. I'm quite please with how the transfers worked on the Jetbikes with the change of colour going on underneath.
I've undercoated a load of Dire Avengers so once I've finished my Crimson Hunter Flyer I'll be starting them and ...........Dun Dun Daaaa....The Wraithknight. Oh yeah!
16 Aug 2013
Bloodletter champ and something for infinity
15 Aug 2013
Yet more daemons!
40k is real, and so is time travel...
Ready for the big kick off!
"And I'm John Bobson"
"and welcome to the Channel 9 pre-season coverage of the GoG worlds' inaugural Dreadball season"
"Thanks Bob"
"No problem John"
"What's on the cards for today Bob?"
"Well John, we have coverage of the newest team, only just formed in time for the pre-season, the Nuka-Cola Neutrinos!"
"Wow Bob, I'm really excited for this new team - can you break down where they came from for us?"
"I sure can John, as a starter, they're sponsored by the Nuka Cola Corp"
"Wow Bob, and their kits match the new bottles of Nuka Cola don't they?"
"They sure do John"
"Errrrrrr... Bright aren't they?"
"They sure are John, but that's the colours that extensive Market Research, and a little industrial espionage, told the Nuka Cola Corp would play really well to the fans and so increase sales of merchandise"
"And they're the important ones aren't they Bob?"
"The Corporations?"
"Errrrr, I meant the fans Bob"
"Errrrr, yes, them too John! Heck, without them, who would buy the merchandising and the great new tasting Nuka Cola?"
"Good point Bob, I might just crack open a refreshing can now"
"Great Idea John, if you need a pick-me-up, just reach for the Teal and Gold!"
"Wise words Bob, this is Channel 9 coverage signing off"
*Burp* "G'Night viewers"
14 Aug 2013
And another unit....
13 Aug 2013
The diseased daemons of the plague god
10 Aug 2013
Dreadball Flies In
Today we will be mainly viewing this little fellow who has turned up with his mates (and a few from the other side). They will soon be blazing a trail through the skies over Rural England.
Have you seen a black and white dog? |
But it's not all about the pre-painted WW1 aircraft, oh no. Please say hello to a couple of members of the newest franchise in the GoG Dreadball League:
Bruisier Dorxmund has arrived and is ready to tear up the opposition, sorry I mean the League.
High Five!!! |
You! Yes you with the funny hat. You're mine! |
Just need to stick them in their hexagonal bases and all will be right with the world.
What's next? Well I have some FoW Fallschirmjaeger that have been very, very patient: time to dig them out and take stock of what needs to be done. That Eastern Front isn't going to fight itself you know...
8 Aug 2013
An Ebay Bargain!!
I took a punt on a couple of auction but was quickly outbid and it became apparent that there was quite a lot of interest in them when one in particular caught my eye. A 28mm scale Invincible class gunship designed to be tabletop scenery.
Now I have any found it annoying that all these Sci-Fi games we play seem to be so devoid of aircraft both in the games and as objectives/scenery. Thankfully this has changed on both counts now with the abundence of flyers in the game and now with HDF scenery making large scenery pieces more viable.
So when I saw the auction for the Invincible I just had to have a punt. To my surprise I won! I also got it for a really good price saving nearly £40 from the listed price. I suspect that, as scenery, it was something that people were not as stressed about compared to some of the other items on the Troll Traders auctions.
anyway......it made me happy! ;-)
As the box says.......570mm long!
Oh yeah baby! I'm feeling a spaceyard themed scenery set coming on!
6 Aug 2013
Some progress.....
The war walkers and jetbikes only really need a few bits picked out and then they are ready for a nice transfer for the front of the bike. I've been scratching around for a design I like but haven't found anything yet.
The Wraithguard are only just started so they'll need their guns, gems and loincloths doing but that shouldn't take long.
This leaves the following still to paint:
2 Spiritseers
28 Dire Avengers
16 Guardians
1 Fire Prism (unconstructed)
1 Wraithknight
1 Crimson Hunter (Started)
10 Rangers
1 Wraithlord (unconstructed)
1 Autarch
1 Fire Dragon Exarch
So...umm...yes. quite a bit to do yet.