I’ve been pretty busy since Xmas but I’ve lacked any real
focus. I just have too many fun projects that I want to work on. This does mean
that I’ve got lots of progress but nothing getting finished.
I’ve wanted to do a siege game for Horus Heresy (HH) ever
since I started collecting an army. I’ve decided to make this a reality,
hopefully this year, and as such I’ve purchased some walls, gun emplacements
and a TTCombat Gothic Garage which I think will make a good gatehouse. I’m planning
to use this on my 3x5 dining room table so this should stretch across the
narrow table side just fine. The plan is to have the attackers play up the
length of the table.
The scenario will need some thinking about but, given the
sterling work being done 30K Heresy Forum to create 8th Edition
rules, I should be able to use the fortification rules from the back of the 8th
edition 40K rulebook as basis for something fun.
The HH setting does inspire me and I want to vary the types
of games we play. Several years ago I’d made some starship interiors scenery.
Sort of my own take on a modular Space Hulk type thing. It got messed around
with a few times but then stored in the loft. It struck me that it would be
pretty good as a Zone Mortalis and this compelled me to bring it down from the
loft.
I hadn’t varnished it at the time of making it, something
that I regret now. My loft is pretty dry but I think the inherent moisture in
the plaster it was made from was enough to let the mould creep in. Sadly some
pieces were lost but most were recovered, repaired and giving two coats of
Varnish. One Gloss and one Matt. Hopefully that will protect it in future. I
also have a plan to add some larger boards to the ZM set so that it can fill an
entire 6x4 table.
All this HH planning has also had the effect of galvanising me
to get more stuff painted for it. I did the Iron Warriors(IW) infantry last
year but they sorely need some reinforcements. Now I like the idea of
dreadnoughts stomping down ZM corridors in support of the troops so the couple
of dreads I had in need of stripping pushed their way to the front of the queue
and got themselves a nice bath in Dettol. They came out pretty clean.
Sitting around for a while has been a tray of terminators
for both the Iron Hands & Iron Warriors. These were kit bashed together
from a bundle of Scibor bodies that I won on Ebay cheap, Anvil heads and Shoulder
Pads all coupled with GW Termie arms and weapons. I like the notion that 30K
was a time of innovation and invention giving rise to lots of variation to the
weapons and armour that were used.
So the IWs have received two coats of Gun
Metal Grey so far. Onto stripes next for them. The IH Termies are started with a
heavy dry brushing of Bronze and then a light dry brush of gold. This picks out
the trims and lots of the details. Next comes the red colour for the main
armour plates to represent the blood of Manus that these surviving IH refuse to
wash off until the traitors have been wiped out we all know how well that
goes!).
I was given, by a very kind soul, some GW scenery at Xmas.
The lovely gothic machinery terrain. It is wonderfully characterful and was one
of the first things I put together once the silliness of Xmas subsided. Love
these models and I’m looking forward to using them with the ZM terrain.
My first wargame of the year was a cracking game with BFG
and I using my Seraphon to thwart the machinations of The Silverback and
Silverfox’s Chaos forces. Cracking game which I neglected to take any photos
of. Still it was enough to spur me on with some additions to my Lizards.
A homemade Dread Saurian has been staring at me from the
shelves of holding for some time now so he was treated to a lick of paint to
get him started. I was also treated to some Seraphon Cavalry for Xmas by
another kind soul and those have been constructed and undercoated. Painting 40
cavalry at once is a bit daunting so I need to get some things cleared before starting
them.
My ongoing endeavours to put together a stonking urban cityscape is still also progressing with the additional of some street furniture
from Blotz.
I picked up lots of additional bits for the city at Colours
and Warfare and decided to get them under way. This is them all washed and they’ve
been spray undercoated now as well. They should add lots of character.
Well I also need some people to populate this city so I’m
working on getting the civvies and heroes finished as well so we can get on and
have some games. I think some of the folks in this part of town may have
dubious professions…..
One of the Hero (or Villian) figures I’ve had for a while
was a suited hitman type of guy but I didn’t want to have him in a plain suit.
Well….there was only one choice really wasn’t there. Let me introduce you to….
Mr Patriot!
It took the best part of two hours but it was worth it. It
still needs neatening up with some white and the colours could do with another
coat but he won’t take much to finish after that.
I seem to have entered one of my more productive phases
again, which is great, but because I’ve not had my painting mojo for a while I
have been concentrating on building. This has meant that the painting queue has
grown considerably. I’m estimating that I have 300+ prepped and undercoated
waiting to be done. I really should address that!
So goals for this year? Well last year I painted 366 figures. Great but I brought loads as well. Time for a new tactic. I’m going to
track Net items painted. So a minus for a painted one and a plus for any new
ones brought.
So the street furniture places me at -15…..but…..
….those 20 mkiii marines I didn’t think I’d win on Ebay but
did takes it back to +5.
So this year I must be productive and also resist buying too
many figures.
Wish me luck.
TTFN
Eddie.
