Pre heresy Salamanders - finally

Yep, it's another one of those "I haven't posted in ages, real life got in the way" blog posts that seem to be everywhere, pretty much all of the time. A combination of lost painting mojo, nothing inspiring and launching myself on a couple of large projects with no end in sight has meant that I haven't posted completed figures since March...... And they were just base coat + wash level bystanders.

But a week or so ago, I was moving the box with my salamanders in around the garage for the umpteenth time when I said to myself "you know, I should just get these done" and I was away!

So, first up are the rapiers. Up to three in a battery in 30k, so of course, I had to get three. That's one of the attractions of 30k for me, large formations and batteries of things as opposed to one on its own.

The same weathering tricks as the salamanders that I've already completed and the three laser destroyers give them the long range anti-tank punch that they were lacking.

These next chaps have been sitting around to the stage of not having left arms, weapons or heads for an absolute age. I couldn't work out what weapons to give them...... Then I just decided that it had to be flamers as that's the signature salamander weapon. Now, these aren't the 30k flamers, I like the newer ones and decided that if anyone would be pushing the boundaries of flame weapons and coming up with new options, it would be the salamanders (and it saved me a few quid too!)

Next was a bit of housekeeping, two sargeants, made possible by the two spare crested helmets that I didn't have to use on the rapiers (each pair of crew comes with one). These are for the two infantry squads I've already completed and I hope you'll forgive me for converting a newer mark of armour..... But then it will be artificer armour after all!

One has the shield from some Warhammer skink riders on his chest, mostly to cover the eagle. Combi flamers and power fists for both as the signature weapon and the power first to represent the slow and purposeful nature of the legion.

Saving the best 'til last, this is my HQ figure. Now, the silverback was a jolly nice chap when he was at Salute and picked up the "show only" HH figures for myself and Eddie. Mine happened to be an alpha legion leader, so whilst I seriously toyed with the idea of starting an alpha legion force to use him in (seriously, I need help), a flick through the HH legion rules for salamanders provided my answer though. The model had a snake and skull motif, so a chaplain sounded like just the ticket. There is a special salamanders character who is the first chaplain and holds a thunder hammer made of a single block of obsidian, wears artificer armour and rocks a dragonscale cloak. Here is my take on him

The head is the most ornate one from the salamanders helmet sprue that forge world do, most of the thunder hammer is from a standard 40k termie one and the head of the hammer is from the alternate dwarf weapon in the first 1980's box of 60 plastic Warhammer warriors (10 identical warriors from 6 different races). The dragonscale cloak is the neck of a warhammer troglodon........

I tried to capture the realy ornate shoulder pad here (excuse my hand being in the photo, it was the only way I could find, not being very good with cameras, to dim the shot enough to try to catch it with out too much glare)

There we have it, enough salamanders for a decent sized army now and hopefully I'll remain inspired to get yet more done very shortly!

Get Well Soon!

One of the Gogs is currently under the Doctor.

It would be indelicate of me to discuss the nature of his current health woes so I'll just take this opportunity to wish the BFG well and hope that he has a speedy recovery.

One mean Mo' Fo'!

A Terminator Marine captain for my Iron Hands.

Another lovely Scibor figure.

I've cleared off the detailing from the armour plates all ready for lots of nice transfers once he is painted.

TTFN

22000pts

So the day of the Mega game arrived with much excitement! We had something in the region of 22,000 points on the table

The board had been set up on Saturday with many of the forces unboxed and ready to go on Sunday morning. We mustered, for the most part (eh Urn? ;-), just after nine but it still took us a while to deploy. The orks deployed first and it was a horrible sight to behold especially as BFG & the Silverback were using the Green Tide formation.

'Orrible right?

And that was just one sector of the four set up along the table. massed Orks supported by a stompa, grot guns, squiggoths and herdz of grotz to sit on the objectives on their side of the table.

The Eldar's knees were trembling somewhat as they camped across from the horde.

Thankfully the IG had brought there ever so courageous Ogryn to act as a fantastic distraction and speed bump slowing the tide of green down.

Mean while in the center sectors....

....it was quite-ish in the fields but in the city.....

....a fight was brewing up with a stompa led charge of Killer Kans supported by non-other than Ghazaghull and some of his equally ugly friends!

The fighting spilled out of the city into the sparsely populated Badlands where the IG and Eldar struggled to contain a grot battle tank and some Killer Kans with the forces they had in the region.

A win for the Orks 28 - 20 at the end of turn three. We played the Eldar turn four, as we had a bit of time, but they only pulled back to 28 - 25 so it is safe to say that even with more turns the Orks would have had it in the bag.

Great game and always great to get the big toys out!

'Til the next one!

TTFN.

Almost there!

I've only now got the Fire Prism to finish with a bit more red on the prism and after that I just need to paint the base for the Scorpion.

PEW PEW PEW!!!

Time to bag some Orkies!!!!

TTFN!

A Little Progress

Layering the drybrushing has taken its sweet time but I am still hoping that these bad boys will be finished for Sundays game.

I just need to paint some of the details with contrast colours and pick out the Fire Prism's crystal sections which I think I shall do in a yellow/orange/red ink.

TTFN.

A Big Game....

..is always good motivation to get things done!

I've had the Fire Prism sat on my shelf undercoated for months and the poor old Scorpion has been languishing under my desk at work. Not a fitting place for such a lovely model. Anyhoo, plans for a mega game have galvanized me into getting these done. Its always the way that once you actually get started these things don't take long.

Saturday night I applied the dark blue mass dry brush to both of them and last night I introduced the blue and light blue drybrushes. Tonight I'll add the white to finish the look and get them matching the general theme for my Eldar.

Part of me is a little worried that the white will overpower the effect the blue has but I need to do it or they will look too dissimilar.

TTFN!