Finishing up with basing and squad markings...

So, since I'm taking the "renegade guard" to OFCC in two weeks, I figured I probably should get around to basing them and putting squad markings on 'em.  Most of the units don't need anything, they're different enough (1 unit of these, 1 unit of those).  The problem comes in with the 4 units of Penal Legion and the Infantry Platoon (with Special Weapons Squads).  So, what I did was give all the 'legion prison tats on their right arms, and then the infantry platoon got squad markings (roman numerals I and II for the squads, diagonal slashes for the special weapons squad and a + for the command squad.

I'm still trying to figure out what to do for the bases.  I think I just may cheat and use sand, paint, and static grass...  but really, it's because I can't think of anything else.

How I spent my last month...

Wife, kids, house, you know - the usual stuff.

I got a few games of Bloodbowl in with my Dwarf team (we're doing a 1.1M resurrection "tournament").  Game one was a grind against another Dwarf team.  Ended up as a 1-1 tie.  Game two was a win against a Vampire Count, 2-0.  He just couldn't catch a break...

Built a Deathstrike..... mmmmm, Deathstrike.

Other than that - not a lot of gaming stuff going on this month.  Second annual Geek Weekend is coming up - so that'll be fun...

And miles to go before.... wait, what?

Nine days before the departure for KublaCon, let's see where we stand, shall we?

2000pt Imperial Guard Army - Done.  I need to do something for the squad markings on the Penal Legions - cause right now, only the bottom of the bases are differentiated and I can't tell you which one's the Custodian.

Custom Blood Bowl pitches have been re-re-redone (again), and are at the print shop to be printed.

Rezolution Crew is still in it's AT tray.

Battleground "army" is in it's holder.

Corey's Chimera's are done, painted, and in his possession.... they're not quite right on the color scheme, but that happens when you're trying to match paint from a picture.  It can be fixed post Kubla.

Corey's Vendetta's are built - I'm still wrapping my brain around the bases and flight stands for them - but they're playable. 


I will try and get some "family photos" of the army up this week.  Depends on how the munchkins' are doing.

Oye, where does the time go...

My good friend Manny posted this about his day: http://adventuresofacrosscountrygamer.blogspot.com/2010/05/day-in-life-of-slacker.html yesterday.  To which my friend Corey (all the "deleted responses" to Manny's posts...) spent a good hour or so this morning chiding me over IM.  It included the following nugget:

Trenty-poo, you can have whatever you want... ;)  I wouldn't want to hurt your delicate sensibilities and drive you to another whiny blog, so my fuzzy-wuzz-wookieman can whatever he likes...

Corey - consider this the whiny blog post.  :)

Right.  All my tanks are done excecpt for about the back half of the repaint for the demolisher.  What, it was already painted?  I know, it just didn't match the final paint job on the rest of the army, so it had to go in for a respray.

Corey's tanks are built, primed, base-coated and detail started (thank you to the wife).  And his Vendetta #1 is 95% built, and #2 is about 20% built.

Life is adjusting to two rugrats running around.  #2 sleeps (like, I think she slept more in the first two days than #1 slept in the first week)... #1's jealousy issues have just started to surface - for the first two weeks it was very much "I wanna hold baby sister."  We'll work through that.  I think I'm going to take a run to tri-cities tomorrow with #1 in the afternoon (assuming the boss okay's it).  Give mama a little quiet time and maybe, just maybe she'll decide she needs a nap again (going on two weeks now without naps).  Sorry, gaming blog.

I picked up a set of the pre-cut trays from battlefoam for the guard army.  I'm still not 100% sure they're... good (no, not the right word).  The first order from battlefoam was a custom piece I had them do sometime last year (before they started offering their own bags).  It was supposed to be for Sabol's Army Transport - it was about 1/4" too wide on the long side and 1/2" too wide on the short ends.  The foam was nice, don't get me wrong, it still fit in the bag fine - just had to compress it a little - I just think for a "precision laser cut foam insert" the tolerances could have been a little tighter.  And yes, I know, they would have done it again if it was wrong.  These new trays are the precut sabol trays for infantry, that hold 40.  For $10 that's a decent deal.  The holes are nice for guardsmen, not sure marines would have really fit in there (they do make one with larger pre-cuts that will hold 27 I think)... but the tray size was again, a little off.

I think the next trays I'm going to get for my sabol cases will be the precut sabol trays.  Same price as the pull and pluck, hold 36 infantry and 2" thick so I can stand the guys up.

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.  :)

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.  :)

More pictures

First up, a Penal Legion Trooper.

Next up, one Ogryn

Then we have the Priest

Then finally - the Primaris Psyker

Here in about 30 minutes, the final of the Penal Legions will be built.  I've solved the bitz issue for the Infantry Platoon.  Those should be done here real soon like.  Vehicles had a slight shipping delay...

Better pictures...

Liberated a camera from work last weekend.  This is what the pictures should look like using the lightbox.  :)

I need to get more pictures done - I've got to get pictures of other stuff that's done.  The Primarus Psyker, Priest, and Ogryns are all done.  Two of the Penal Legion squads are built and primed (one of which is on it's way to being done already).  I'm still trying to find bitz for the Infantry Platoon.  After the Penal Legions, that's going to leave the tanks and the Rough Riders to build.

Pictures - that means it happened

Apologies for the quality of pictures - camera phone early this morning.  First two pics are the Overseer and one of the Pskyer Battle Squad (or, as I like to think of them, escaped Alpha Level psykers).  Second two are 2 of of the Ratlings.  The Ogryns should be done by Thursday night and I should have at least 2 of the Penal Legion squads built by then.

The priest

There's already been discussion to put a shotgun in the other hand (vs the holstered pistol on his hip that I was planning) and to shorten the haft of the eviserator. 

No pictures today, just an update.

Well, I got the Ogryn's primed as well as the Psyker Battle squad done.  That leaves finishing up the ratlings and the weapons on the custom priest.  I've had to put a hold on the Infantry Platoon while I acquire more meltaguns. 

The wife's offered to help paint the army (have I mentioned I love my wife lately?).  I still need to get a few more things (namely a hellhound kit and the chimara and aegis defence lines to make my hydras.  That's where the tax refund comes in.  :)

I've got a tournament in Post Falls, ID coming up this weekend.  It means a 6am meet-up time in tri-cities (so, I leave here around 4:30am on Saturday), and then a 3 to 3 1/2 hour drive (carpooling).  Three games with my Eldar at 2000pts, and then the drive back.  There are advantages to playing an army you've had for almost 10 years - I don't have to do a lot of thinking with the game (that, and I usually like to turn my brain off for those gaming times... )

Anyway, I'll try and get some pictures up this weekend of the tourney.  I should be able to finish the Priest tomorrow - that will just leave the ratlings to get done by end of day on Sunday to be on (modified) track.

End of two weeks... what have I done?

Well, let's see.  I've got most of the Platoon buillt.  I'm waiting to find some more meltaguns.  Ogryn's are built, but not primed... and Ratlings haven't had a lick of paint applied to them. 

But - I did get a custom Dwarf team finished up to go on eBay (probably tomorrow), as well as a High Elf team for a commission.  I also got a ghetto light box built for pictures. 

First up, an Ogryn:

Next, the coach for the Dwarf BB Team.

For the next two week period - I need to finish the things I said I was supposed to get done, done.  As well as building the Priest and the Psyker Battle Squad and getting them primed.

Weekly update.

I don't know if anyone noticed the widget on the top right there.  Shows what I need to get done in that span.  So.  I've gotten most of the platoon built.  I need to finish up last special weapons squad and they're good to go. 

 

 I'm in the point now where I'm searching for extra melta guns.  Seems like it's going to be a full time job here for a few trying to find melta's.  Even most of the ebay/web bitz store's are out of the Cadian Command Squad melta bit.  Sigh.  I will prevail.  :)

The Ogryns were a reasonably easy build.  Apologies for the blurry picture, I didn't have enough light to make the cell phone camera happy enough last night.

That was the first one I did up yesterday - the rest of them look a little bit better.  I think I want to fix the boots with some greenstuff - but I'm kinda digging the bare-chested Ogryn.  I've had to call in favors to get more shootas though. 

Should be able to finish the Ogryns tonite (except for the missing shootas) and get the last of the bodies to bases for the Infantry Platoon.  That just leaves the final bit of paint on the Ratlings and priming the Ogryns to have my goal completed.  More pictures on Friday, as well as BloodBowl results on Saturday (tournament).

Games in the heat...

I love days when thunderstorms come in. Hot *and* humid. :) Game store's AC's not the best... the only reason it doesn't turn too bad in there - it's a big book store with lots of space to dissipateb the gamer funk.

Anyway, took the bi-weekly pilgrimage west to get some games in this weekend. There was some discussion on the "local" board about a couple of people who were headed out of town next week for a 1999-point Fantasy tournament - they wanted to get a few games in to try some things out. It's a strange point total, a max of 3 heroes, 3 special and 1 rare... but a lot of points available. The odd thing about my current Ogre Kingdom army - it meant combining the leadbelchers from 4 units to 3. That's it. I only had 1 rare (Slave Giant), and I didn't have any lords.

After getting the Empire beat-down - ok, it wasn't a beat-down I did loose, but it was a weird swinging game that saw my right flank disappear (stoopid knights and steam tank), and my left flank sweep through his... swirling masses of brutal combat I tell you. I think I'll do some conversion work to get myself a BSB... could use the Ld boost.

On to the 40k game. A 1500 point Plague Marine list. Sorcerer with some upgrades, 5 units of plague marines, 1 unit of daemons and an obliterator. Playing against an Iron Warriors inspired (DP, Terminator Lord, Terminator Squad, 2x10 CSM, Predator, Land Raider, and Defilier). Had it not been for the two turns of walking across the open killing field it would have been closer. T5 and FNP doesn't help against the onslought of lascannons... :) Good game anyway.

Right. As for the new guard army - I still need to put 2 more colors on the ratlings and then they're done. I'm hoping to get it done this week - at which point I will post pictures. I promise.

Yawn... *Blink* *Blink* Holy Cra...

Wow, has it really been that long since the last post. Sorry about that guys. Haven't really been working on much gaming wise. Let's see...

Painted an Orrus for a Spyrer gang for Necromunda...

Started building movement trays for my be revived Ogre Kingdom Army...

Built two blisters worth of Imperial Guard Ratling Snipers...

Yeah, that's about it.

What's that? You want pictures? Right, you are a surly bunch this morning. First up - Orrus standing on the movement trays:



No pictures of the the hobbi...err, Ratlings - they're bare metal at this point and really it's not worth wasting the electrons.

Should have more updates (more often) for you guys next week - the wife and child are out of town and I may be able to get a few hours in.

"Reinforcements have arrived!"

Hot D@mn that was fast! I (re) ordered my last two deff koptas from ebay on Thursday. They showed up on Saturday. That means my Orks are now at 2000 points. I think I may have solved the storage issues - more on that as it comes about. Once I get these last two deff kopta's built they get shipped off to the paint factory (I know, I know, I know). I'll get pictures of the completly built army before they go off.

Which brings me to my next project. I've been shamed/badgered/taunted into actually created, painting, and more importantly *finishing* a guard army. Current plan is a Chaos-y tainted guard.

Psyker Lord
Priest (his trusty sidekick)
9 Ratlings
9 Ogyrns
Psyker Battle squad (8+Overseer)
Platoon
-Command: Autocannon and 2 GL
-Squad with Flamer
-Squad with Flamer
-Special weapons (2 melta and 1 demo)
-Special weapons (2 melta and 1 demo)
4x10 Penal Legion
9 Rough Riders
Bane Wolf
Demolisher