Firewarrior Squad one

I am proud to present the first firewarrior squad out of their passing out parade. I've just called them Squad One for now while I dream up something more imaginative and some background info. 

As mentioned previously I went with the urban camouflage scheme.

As I am a cheapskate, I went with Vallejo paints as the majority of my Citadel paints (the mega paint set I bought aeons ago) have long since dried up. I sourced these from Wayland Games as they are cheap for the amount you get and offer great coverage, I was impressed!

To begin with I sprayed them Chaos Black to undercoat them.
I then painted the armour in Sombre Grey ( Citadel: Shadow Grey).

 For the camouflage, I painted in the black stripes. I tried to form the helmet in the shape of an arrow head. The stripes were then bordered with Bone White ( Citadel: Bleached bone) to complete the camouflage.

The Guns and extras like the scanner were painted with a mix of Stonewall Grey and a few drops of black to give a more non-metallic gunmetal paint job.

This is the Unit Leader "Shas'ui" for the squad.

I admit that they need basing but this will have to wait until I can grab some appropriate basing materials. Probably gravel that can be painted grey to simulate concrete debris.

I think for the next squad I will paint the Black areas of the more cloth like materials in a grey colour as I plan to paint the Pathfinder teams cloth material in Bonewhite ( Citadel: Bleached Bone) and I want this to separate the squads as different elements of the force. 

Also, I know that the Citadel Paint range has undergone some radical changes in their names and types of pigments ( ££££££££ sorry, but the cynic in me sees the extraction of more money, hence I went with Vallejo ) so the equivalent paints that I have given may now be different. If you know what the equivalent Citadel Paint is now called please let me know so that I can change it. 

Much to meditate on, may the camel of misfortune never give you the hump.

Over and out.  

Picking up where I left off....

Hello again T'interweb people!

Been a busy month with Christmas and all! Wishing everyone a happy new year!

A lot of my modelling gear that I own is (until today) at the Iron Lady's house tucked up in the loft/attic somewhere awaiting liberation!

Realising I needed the bulk of my gear I decided to brave the foul daemon's lurking within the upper house space! I was disappointed, I was sure there were daemon's up there but boy did I have a nostalgia trip!
I have a heck of a lot of minis that I never completed. Half finished squads, nearly done minis with missing arms. From Space Marines to Eldar to Vampire Counts to Tau - Ah, the Tau. My unfinished business!
I had originally bought a battle force of these not long after they were released into the 40k universe and every piece in the end, ended up in a bits-box! So I bought another of the battle forces plus some extras about 5-ish years later and it was intact! I'd found the army I should be doing and I had a stack load of minis to build the core of my army ( and then some!).

Digging a little deeper I found my half done and abandoned Tau minis (I am sure there are more lurking around!) and boy did I have a nostalgia trip!

I found these guys to the left resplendent in black and orange. Okay, they have arms missing but I was mighty proud of these guys! I wondered why they had been left unfinished and I think that maybe it was the period I figured they would never get used so I packed them up! :-(




I am quite pleased with the Firewarrior with the more prominent orange helmet (left). Kind of a cross between the Tron-like scheme and my own scheme!

I also liked the striping on this Firewarrior. Simple but effective, although for sure they are not winning competitions any time soon!






Then I came across these guys;

These are the XV-15 Stealthsuits which I believe I bought before the new codex. I also remember buying a pathfinder team with railgun rifles but I have yet to dig those out. I went for an urban camouflage scheme inspired by the Cities of Death expansion for 40k. I wondered why I chose those particular colours and then I found out why.

 Yes that was the reason why it was an inversion of colours to make the black more dominant (black is stealth right?). I remember a Tau colour scheme in the first edition Codex (2003 I think) that had similar camouflage pattern. I Just changed the colours.

One of the gun drones with the camouflage scheme.

I liked the idea of the bleached bone pants, reminds me of Star Wars for some reason!

The Colour scheme was Undercoat: Black, then paint Shadow Grey, paint black camouflage stripes. Then line either side of black stripes with Bleached Bone. I tried to imagine the stripe on the top of helmet as an arrow and the body armour as jagged lines or maybe thunderbolts!


Inspired by all this nostalgia and the fact I have heaps of Tau minis and bits for them I have shelved the Necrons for now to continue by unfinished business. I have decided to go with the urban camouflage scheme for my first squad of Firewarriors. A box of Firewarriors that are untouched! If anything this is a big bonus reducing the price of entry into the GW side of the hobby!

Much to Meditate on, enjoy the grass where it is the greenest.

Over and out.

Dire avengers paint blog 4

Helmets. Fiddly things which do not do shaking hands any justice. As can be seen by my black paint detail work. However, after painting bits black, and highlighting the pipe-lines to the sides silver, I worked on the mohicans, which I like the results of. Simply a base of dark blue and a dry brush towards the tips with the off red (both blue and red are as per the armour colour scheme), and then a final tip paint of red.

The exarch I thought required some superior plumage. So out came the bronze and I instantly related to the results. Happy with these so far. So lets move on....

Dire Avengers paint log 3

Having painted a few models by now I am trying a new approach to the basing. Was in my local hobby store recently and found a box of warhammer basing material for £4.00. So I snapped it up, bit of a find because it was the only one and in a random location in the shop. Anyway, this time I have prepped the bases seperate to the model, thus forgoing the need to work around the feet. The bases are undercoat from the previous post. I proceed by painting he feet of each model black, and placing these on the base to mark out the feet positions. Why? I want this area of base free from sand to maintain the bond upon assembly. Next, I applied general adhesive to the tops of the base, avoiding the feet prints. Then, I sprinkled with the fine slate from the basing kit, followed by a good dunk in modelling terrain sand, and left to dry. I also applied a skull plaque to the exarch's base for added detail.

Once set I sealed the deal with a good spray of earth brown. Hopefully this will hold the basing in place along with the adhesive. I finished with a light spray of green to give it some depth, and painted the skull plaque metallic silver, highlights with bronze, and some rust pigment to dull it down. These are now ready to stick the figures to.

As an additional thought, I find these figures light and easy to knock over on the table. I am contemplating stuffing a but of air-drying clay into the base recess to add some weight. I'll think over that a bit.

Dire Avengers paint log 2

I have now applied a first, second, and ink wash coat for my Dire Avengers. Although red, white, and black is my traditional line of colour scheme, I like to think of these guys as a more proffesional outfit, suited to war and not a lot else. More devout I guess. I thus started by applying a crimson or off red first colour coat. This gave them a rich colour which I instantly liked. However, have sprayer, must spray (and practice it would appear). So, I tried to highlight them with my sprayer, using a darker blue/purple. Not the brightest idea, but through mis-adventure I stumbled upon an almost two-tone finish which gave a resin cast appearance. This I liked, so I have progressed with this as my second colour coat. I finished off with an ink-wash which I cannot do. Gave it a go though and so far I am happy to see these models develop.

Note, Before applying the colour coats, I stuck the torsoe into the trousers. I left the mould stubs on the feet and stuck these to makeshift bases. Why? I hate glue residue. Glue first, then paint over to hide the marks. I also find the glue fills unsightly gaps where the castings just don't work out (come on GW, we pay good money for these!!).

First colour coat

second quick spray coat and inkwash

Dire avengers paint log

Yesterday I began assembling and painting the Dire Avengers Dquad, inkeeping with the storyline below. I am still pretty new to the painting etiquette and appreciate my work is not pristene, but thought I would pop it on here anyway. Please feedback any productive feedback on how to improve if necessary.

The first photos here are of the raw plastic parts. Is it me or is the flashing on these a bit of a p*ss take given the initial cost of the sets? I digress. After de-flashing I assembled some of the components, for example the rear of the legs, and the back piece to the chest piece.

Once assembled I used my sprayer (still new to using this so I apologise for the cowboy results) to give a quick basecoat of matt white. I find it easier to see what I am doing with the coloured coats when working against a matt white instead of the grey plastic. Im sure this helps key- in the paints too.

Homeland Dire Avengers background

Finally got some time to start putting together my Dire Avengers. Desperately need these to work for my armed strength. I am following in with the Engarbian storyline with these. So, as mentioned, each part of the Engarbian kingdom has a tradition of crudely painting the "symbol" of their region on their helmets. As with my second Guardian squad who sport a white cross on their helmets, so it will be with these professional soldiers of the Dire Avenger descent.
 

Jagge Guardian force

When the call to arms is signalled across the Communities of Jagge, the towns offer up their finest residents to the Gods of war. Fishermen, sailors, and tradesmen drop their tools of production, don the colours of Engarb and proudly face the threat with fearless grimace and a precise weapon skill bred into the Eldar from Birth.

Jagge Guardians often paint the symbol of a fish onto their helmets, and proudly sport green life gems on their armour. This is one of the main Guardian forces available during the hour of need.

Jagge Guardian with symbol of fish on helmet

10 Jagge guardian from the Engarbian world

Eldar background

Ok, so here it is, an very brief background debrief on my Eldar battleforce. Firstly I will begin by stating that I have broke the mould and re-wrote my eldar history as a side chapter to the "guide of warhammer 40 000."

In short, as the eldar micro-communities or factions disperced further into the universe, and as these factions began to engage in war, overcome death's torment of famine, disaster, and brutal torture, the universe became a place of wondering nomadic fragments. One such fragment was fortunate enough to blunder upon a planet not so dissimilar to that of our own. In fact the lush green plains, and sandy deserts held many ruins and artifacts which displayed the qualities of a race who bolstered success with seeminlgy impossible structures, beyond any logic as to how ancient folk could engineer such displays of superiority. Many say that our own ancient Egyptians must have had a line of comunication with this planet, and thus similarities prevailed. Could it be the intervention of a third party power or race? But I digress.

Our nomads soon settled on this fruitful planet, taking a nice island of land for their own. As time continued, thus more fragments of Eldar ruined craftworlds appeared. It wasn't long before communities formed, and then whole towns of Eldar, both new and native to this land. Immigrant skills brought in the pathstones for industry, commerce, power, and of course, WAR. Soon, each community held it's own army, and inter-community wars began to errupt over disputes of a neighbourly function.

It was only when an until then unknown force attacked the shores of this land, did the Eldar quickly realise it was all for 1 or nothing. A capital was established, a common hub for all communities to report to and from. A standard uniform of red, black and white was adopted across all communites, and this became the armour of the eldar. Ech community often adopted a symbol of their own to mark them out as the porud army of that region (for example at the coast of Jagge the helmets bore the symbol of a fish, the staple life support for that community). This was the founding of Engarbian society as it became known (no records show how or why).

The unknown force that attacjed the shores? it appears that the Eldar where not alone o nthis world. Passed their shoreline lay a whole other world. That, however is a different story.

Skip to today  -  The Engarbian race is going strong, has a good army, and still accepts nomadic Eldar from broken craftworlds. It also accepts those from other races, but is very careful of who to trust. Outlaws, bandits, those left behind after wars lost, all pass through at some time or another. But the Engarbian's know what they have is precious to their existance, and only those who show loyalty or offer some adavantage to their security are alowed in. All others are a threat (as is often the case) and are expelled. War is always on their doorstep, and sometimes, for preservation, is also on yours.

Commander Darbs

Which army to choose?

Well after deciding to plump for 40k, me and Comrade Darbs had a lengthy discussion about the price of wargaming and the frankly extortionate prices that are Games Workshop products.
I already have 3rd and 4th edition 40k rules and boxes of minis that we could harvest, so that reduced the cost burden somewhat. We would still have to buy a few bits and pieces like HQ’s and some more elite troops choices but the bulk of what we would need, I had.

We had a gander in our local GW store and found the Necrons. I always fancied the Necrons (not in a lustful way, or maybe…?) as an army but was not keen on some of the back story and the “star gods” but I was seduced by these guys;



I really love the look of the Deathmarks and can fully imagine them rising from their slumber, these ancient machines wrought out of strange almost arcane materials!

I also found this as their HQ;



I looked at the Citadel Paints and they have changed! :-O Where was the Ultramarines blue? Very pricey too, so buying online from Wayland Games instead. The Vallejo paints range seem good value and have heard a lot of good things about them.
As for Darbs he decided to take my mostly unused Eldar battleforce and the older Eldar codex. I noticed that the latest battleforce box set in the GW store was quite a lot leaner then the one I had bought around 8 years ago and a rise in price too.
There was also a quick demo of the game by the GW store manager, which was highly entertaining and also entered into a competition to win a store army each for stopping by and having a run through of the rules.

So far Darbs forces are Eldar, my force is the Necrons. The 4th edition rules will be the ones used as the 6th edition is just out of reach right now but the basics should be similar giving us the opportunity to grasp the concepts and get us started. This should suffice for the time being (I am aware  that I am lacking the Codex Necrons book which is an eye-popping £20!).

Onwards: slightly concerned that I may be out matched by Darbs as he has a slight advantage in quantity of miniatures for his force and with working on a budget, my Necrons are not likely to be expanded any time soon.
Well that’s something for the old logic unit to think about, until next time watch those snakes in the grass!

Wargaming, a new beginning?

Wargaming for me has been a long journey. I have shelled out probably thousands on GW product over the years and on some other manufacturers and you know, I never completed an army or used my minis in anger.
I started out maybe 1998 ( or maybe 1997) with my copy of White Dwarf 223 got my parents to get me the 3rd edition Warhammer 40k so that I can battle it out with my friend, Darbs. Well sounds good but didn’t end up that way, opinions change and those battles never happened! I carried on painting over 10 years but never met anyone to actually game with. Did some painting with a few people but never got the gaming off the ground.

So I shelved the modelling for a while, working life got turned upside down and my mind was focussed on other things. Since then I have reconnected with my friend Darbs who I lost touch with since maybe 2004/2005 and you know that 4-5 year gap feels like last week. It’s like we never stopped talking, that’s a great sign of a good friendship but we both came to the conclusion that we would like to get wargaming back on the table (pardon the pun) and so this year we have been studying the WH40k rule book, painting and modelling around our busy lives but we are having a blast doing it and I think it is a good excuse for a beer too!

So what is this blog about?

The blog is about wargaming (no way!) and just chronicling my adventures in various hobby related realms. I am starting at 40k ( jeez, the prices have sky rocketed!) on a budget, reusing my old models and the ones that never got finished which amounts to a lot of product!
I intend to do fantasy wargaming as well and may pass on Warhammer and head over to Mantic for this side of gaming. Please let me know any decent 28mm fantasy ranges that you know are good value for money I will be glad of your input.
I will also cover 15mm which I am dabbling in but these will be on the back burner for a while, I will attempt to bring updates as often as I can though.
I am not the fastest painter so posts will probably not be every week but I aim to eventually do this as a way of encouraging myself and to keep focussed.
I  have tried to get Darbs to write his own blog but he may just post on this blog instead.

So there you are, a little bit of detail. Thanks for stopping by, hope you enjoy it and feel free to leave comments. Ciao!