OT: Incoming!

For those of you that read this blog and not the baby one.  I'm sitting in the hospital waiting for the wife to hurry up and deliver the #2 tax deduction.  I'll be quite for a while on this one.  If you wish to get baby updates - http://round-anew.blogspot.com

First Hydra built...

I sat down last night and built the first Hydra last night.  The quad guns were easy - Aegis Defense Lines Quad Guns.  The base it sits on fits perfectly on the turret ring of the Chimera.  Here's the test fit.

This last weekend I was using the quad guns on a "normal" Chimera.  But I wanted to shove the guns back a little bit.  Two friends of mine, RabidChild and Rain have both built these (for Inquisitorial Armies, IIRC) several years ago, for their command Chimera's.   When I asked both of them if they still had pictures (armies are long gone), RabidChild responded with this link to theback40k.  Which added some juice to the brain puree to make it.

I did it a little differently than he did though.  Here are some pictures of it in progress.

This is the section of top hatch that needed to be cut - basically the back section is right about where the angled bit comes up on the back of the Chimera.  I used the two nubbins as a guide for razor saw.  With the back end of the Chimera covered, I then took the rest of the top plate and figured "about" where it needed to be - using those rivets as the guide for that side.

As you can see from the roughed in green stuff - that makes the angled bits slide in nicely with the back.  I glued the two pieces together using sprue and the plate that comes with the kit when you build a basalik/griffon out of it.  All the raised bits were trimmed off the back plate - the lasgun portals, rivets, and raised lip for the top hatch.  Greenstuff was then added to the holes for filler.

I had to then fill in the hole left from where the angled top plate hits the chassis.  More bits of griffon plate (for the rivits) and a support strut (bit of the "missing" top plate - aka garbage) to hold it in place.

Here's the "complete" model.

Since these pictures were taken, I've done some sanding and cleaning on the greenstuff and seam line.  The top plate still isn't glued in (waiting till I'm happy with the seam.  The flak cannon bit sits on the turret ring nicely, but I think I'm going to magnetize it just so it won't fall off too often.

First game in...

and it was good.

Got a 1750 game in (basically what I had "done" today vs. a Grots of Battle (Sisters of Battle) army.  We played the "Prepared Assault"mission from the new "Battle Missions" book.   Great fun was had by all.  Not a lot left on the board when done - on either side.

I really need to get a better handle on the synergy of the army.  Stacking the Psyker Battle Squad better with the Ratlings - that type of thing.  I'll get it.

Right, onto pictures!

One special weapons squad.  They died - they did kill the Callidus before being cut down by heavy bolters.

One Ogyrn with Ripper Gun.  They did a little parody of a three-year old playing soccer, before contributing their mass to wiping out the last two Sisters sitting on an objective to bring the tie back (at that point - I had no Troops left).

One of the 4 Penal Legion Squads.  Two of them had the assault 2 lasguns, and the other 2 were Psychopaths.  The mission didn't allow Reserves - so I didn't get to outflank with them... Most of the 40 died to heavy flamer... one squad did whither his combined Infantry Squad down to 1 guy before the last remaining squad came in to clean up.  That squad then caught fire on the next turn.  All of them.

Primarus Psyker.  Got swept up with the Ogyrns, and then the "remaining squad" (see above) before dying.  Did some fun stuff.  But need to get a better grasp on his use.

The (not pictured) Leman Russ Demolisher distracted my opponent for a few turns before catching a meltagun up close and personal like.   It had a lovely shot with the Demolisher Cannon and one Plasma Cannon - putting 12 wounds on to a 10-"man" squad.  He rolled a "10" for the act of faith to make his Power Armor save Inv.  Only 2 died.  Grrrr....

With the eminent birth of the second spaw.... errr, child. I'm not sure if I'm going to get another game in with this army before Kubla.  Oh well, learn by doing.  :)

OT: "The world's oldest profession"

You know its a funny news story when you damn near spit soda out your nose because of a quote.  The quote goes like this:

"If the Louisiana Republican Party is uncomfortable with a Republican challenger who has a history of selling sex, I would suggest they reconsider standing by an incumbent with a history of paying for it,"

It's a response to a story about an adult film actress (look ma, no quotes!) contemplating running in a primary race against an incumbent Senator.  The full story is here at the Boston Herald.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled gaming blog.

Have I mentioned that my wife rocks?

She's currently sitting behind me... 6 days shy of her due date for our second kid, sick with a crappy cold, hasn't really slept in days (ok, months... years maybe)...  painting the last Penal Legion Squad.  That squad should be done tonite.  That just leaves the Rough Riders for me to finish building (and then her paint).

She finished the pre-dip work for the Infantry Platoon last night, which allowed me to dip them last night and then seal them this afternoon.  I'll try and get a picture of the done army this weekend..   (edit)  Fine.  Pictures for the masses... not the greatest, they're from the phone, at night, in the man tower.

Infantry Platoon paint job.

One meltagunner for the special weapons squad of my Infantry Platoon.  The platoon should be done by tomorrow night.  That's going to leave a few vehicles, one Penal Legion squad and the Rough Riders.   I'm still at a slight mental empass for the Rough Riders.

The issue is as follows.  The "original" idea for this army a Tzeentch "flavored" prison break.  So, lots of Penal Legions, mutants and scum all in squads of 9, that sort of thing.  The Rough Riders were supposed to be riding Screamers.  I've got the Screamers - I just need the riders.  The original plan was to use Cadians (to match the Infantry Platoon) with some "chaos-ifying" from the Maruaders (my base for the Penal Legion).  Here's the problem - I don't have any more Cadians - and the arms from Marauders don't fit (Cadian chests are narrower).  So, I'm thinking picking up a box of Catachans - they should match....   But then, why buy something new, I've got enough Marauders to make it work - I could just "de-chaosify" them a little bit... less "desperado" more "wild bunch"....

Sigh.  The choices.  :)

...and miles to go before I sleep.

Right.  No pictures on this one - sorry.  Here's where I sit with 6 weeks left before Kublacon.

Events I'm planning on participating in and where I sit for the things.

Bloodbowl Championship Series - I'm halfway through the redo of the pitches.  I've gone with 40mm square "super-sized" pitches.  Team is painted, sealed, and good to go.

Civil War in Hawkshold - Still need to figure out which army I'm going to bring.  Since it's Battleground... cake.

Zombie Bash! - Rezolution.  My crew's not painted... and honestly, I'm not worried about it.  I only get to play this game at Kubla...

Macharian Heresy - This would be what the Guard Army is for.  The army is all built except for 3 of the tanks (waiting for the kits) and the rough riders (about half built).  About half of the army is fully painted (thanks to the wife) - the HQ is done.  Elites are done.  Troops are just shy of half done.  Infantry Platoon is base coated, 2 of the Penal Legions are done, 1 is about an hour from done, and the 4th is primed.  Fast Attack is the Rough Riders, and Heavy Support is the Demolisher and 2 Hydras.  Demolisher is done, Hydra's haven't even started.

I'll get some more pictures up this weekend (or, will try at least - no guarantee's... the wife may pop at any moment.  :)