MDF is for Mordheim

Some more progress on the simple MDF kits I picked up from Red Vectors (Sold via Minibits) for Mordheim.  Simple kits, and not the best, but very good for filling up avenues or fire and adding some "bulk" to finish out my table.  Will be adding more debris and rubble to them as time permits.

Replacing Old West terrain.

A while ago I sold off a large lot of my general purpose Old West terrain with the intention of replacing it.  I started doing so yesterday.  Here is my replacement water-tower.  The barrel itself is separate so I can use the platform for other games and it'll store easier.  Nothing special, just some wood dowels and a ton of coffee stirrers.

Chaos Manguything!

So, in 8th edition Warhammer 40K the Chaos Space Marines include a new unit which is sorta/kinda a Chaosified Space Marine Chaplain - called a Dark Disciple or somesuch.

They're a decent little unit and I was cruising the eBays a couple days ago and saw the lovely little Kurtha Sed (a model I've sold off on several occasions...)

It struck me that with a few modifications he'd be a good Dark Disciple fella.  After quickly modifying and painting him I may find a variety of uses for him (sorcerer, lord, champion, etc.)

I'm really pleased with the result.  Just a simple backpack/head/arm swap.  Armed with a combi-plasma and a power maul.

Jain Zar, Storm of Silence

Well, I tried to paint Jain Zar.  It just didn't work out the way I wanted, but I'm not overly fond of her anyway, so I'll leave it as is.  I don't know how much table-time she'll see.

Chaos Lord and Obliterators?

So I had a box of Tartaros terminators standing by and I was about to create another Terminator squad when I decided...not to.

I made up a version of my as-of-yet-unnamed Chaos Lord in Terminator armour instead...

Then I had four more terminator bodies.  I decided I'd make some Obliterators.  Unfortunately I hate the GW models so I thought I could kit-bash ones I'd like. Turns out I was somewhat disillusioned with my kit-bashing abilities.

I'm not stoked with the results.  I painted them weird-agent just for fun, and wasn't even that thrilled with the paintjob.  However, they're done and I'll use them until I get fed-up and eBay them.

Assault Marines (who don't fly so well...)

<Performs rage reduction exercises...>

So I finally broke out of my painting slump.  I was excited yesterday to get some work in on some Chaos Assault Marines yesterday - I decided to use up the old resin jump packs I had laying around and I finished these guys this morning.

Then I dropped them. 

Outside.

On a brick staircase.

I broke four of them...and my ire was well and truly raised.  I also have a chainsword hiding somewhere in the grass in my back yard.  I was able to superglue the resin backpacks on and replace a chainsword, but I'm secretly angry that I broke so many of them.  I think they're fixed, but I've marked some on the base which may need further attention.  I tried to stress test the rest of the arms and jump packs and I think I found all of the broken stuff.  This kind of thing really puts me in a foul mood so I'm glad I was able to fix them quick enough.

Keen-eyed geeks will notice the colour shift.  I was going to make these into a separate chapter for the Lead Adventure forum, but I got lazy and just made them into my Chaos force.  They are Skeleton Bone based as opposed to Necrotic Flesh but they fit in fine I think.

Warhammer 8th tokens - test batch.

Created some tokens for use with Warhammer 40K 8th edition (and for use with a variety of science fiction games, including older 2nd ed. 40K games).  The test batch arrived, will be making some revisions and adding a few.

New arrivals and a 40K 8th ed. Score Card.

Some new eBay finds showed up for me to flesh out a few Eldar units.  I also whipped up an 8th ed. score card for the local group that plays 40K locally.

And here's the score card:

Warhammer 40K 8th ed. Score Card

Hobby Tips: Hobby Tools

Pardon me, for this will be a bit of a public service announcement.  I don't know how much of this blog's traffic is new gamers/modelers, but I'll be trying to add some minor advice bits in here and there.

In this blog post:

Getting Started: Tools

I discuss the basic tools every modeler/gamer will likely need (or you'll end up with them eventually).  However, I didn't mention the vast variety and disparity you can find when searching for these hobby tools.

A common mistake amongst new modelers/gamers is that they frequently buy hobby tools from the manufacturer of their chosen game(s).  This is frequently a HUGE mistake.  It's normally because the newer gamer isn't aware of the market.

General rule: Do not buy branded hobby supplies from the manufacturer of your chosen game. 

Let's look at the Games Workshop hobby knife.

A quick glance and the casual gamer will say "Hmmm, looks an awful lot like a run-of-the-mill X-acto knife."  It even uses X-acto branded blades.

X-Acto is "the" name in craft knives.  Has been for decades.  They're nothing special, but they're reliable and they work.

X-Acto Knife Cost: $3.40-$5.20 (depending on retailer)

Games Workshop Knife Cost: $32

Yep, you read that right.  $32.00 USD.  For an X-Acto knife which is available for almost 10% of the cost.  X-Actos can be purchased in large sets with numerous handles and dozens of blades for $20-25.00.

How about the pin-vice drill --- a common tool which uses various bits to allow you to hand drill small holes into models (for all types of purposes).

The Games Workshop branded drill?  $26 USD.  Available from other retails, all day long (yep, on Amazon) for between $7-12 dollars.

Games Workshop "PVA Glue"?  News for ya...it's Elmer's Glue (and is not quite as good as something like Elmer's Wood Glue Max - my preferred glue).  Pay $8 USD for 4 oz. from GW or $12-13 for a gallon from Elmers.

In closing, if you're new to the hobby, do not pay extra for something just because it has a brand name on the label.  This is the usual retail trickery and you get nothing better for your money.  This is an easy way to throw out a lot of money for no reason.  I picked on Games Workshop here because they're one of the most egregious practictioners - but you'll find the same stuff from many companies.  Skip all that nonsense, find the type of product you need and do a little research.  Your hobby tools will last you 10-15 years if treated well, so just look a bit harder before you  plunk down the cash!

Chaos Dice Gods, hear me!

So, hot on the trail of my custom Eldar dice (which have rolled...mediocre so far!) my customized Chessex dice showed up for my Chaos army.  Sadly no colours in their line-up really properly match my army, but these look Chaos-y(?) enough.

A steal of a Falcon!

After years of not having a proper Falcon (I don't know that I've ever owned one which wasn't converted into a Wave Serpent) I landed on a NIB one for a steal on eBay.  Snatched it up and painted it today.

Eldar Pirate Support (Vyper)

Decided to do up some of my future vehicles, weapon platforms and Eldar to go with the Pirate scheme I did on some of my figures earlier.  This will be a webway portal based force, so no heavy tanks or dreadnoughts.  It'll also give me a small side-force to use for story and narrative purposes - and the models will allow me to go into narrative games line Inquisimunda and I'll probably use them for Shadow War Armageddon if I get back into that at any point.

Games! Warhammer 40K 2nd Edition

Had the great pleasure of rolling up to Charlotte this past weekend to see a friend of mine and get some games in.  We played Warhammer 40K, 2nd Edition.  We're still in the process of revising/editing some of the rules for stream-lining and increased playability.

I'll have a bunch more pictures ready when my friend sends me her stash.  I only snapped a few before the two games.  In both cases my Yderis Eldar faced off with the Tyranids.

The first game is set up!

 

A Shining Spear aims for the Hive Tyrant (failing miserably!)

 

 Having failed the first game, the Yderis Eldar set up to defend a trio of Farseers and Warlocks inside the main structure - busy trying to break through the null cloud of the Tyranids swarm --- hoping to get a message through to the Craftworld ships in the system.

 

Maugan Ra leads the defense in aid to the Craftworld.

 

Dire Avengers and Dark Reapers dig in for the waves of the Tyranid assault.

 

Fire Dragons prepare to repel the Tyranid horde.

 

Wayward Eldar Pirates return to aid in their moment of need.  Guardian grav batteries prepare for combat.

 

 Turn five of seven, the Tyranids break into the ritual, attacking the Warlocks and Farseer

As the Eldar defense crumbles, Dire Avengers run into the aid the Farseer as the Warlocks are consumed.

 

I lost my first game handily.  The second game came down to the very last activation on turn seven, where I managed to avoid being blasted into cinders by the Carnifex's bio-plasma (my opponent rolled a '1' sparing me!).  It was a "victory" but the Farseer would have been consumed shortly after - the message finally sent!

A different sort of plague...

I ended up with an odd white based scheme for my plague marines (kit-bashed from various parts).  Not overly pleased with them, but I'll cope.

Gladiator Dice

Just posting this up so I can link the photo to a forum - some custom dice I made for playtesting a buddy's rather excellent Gladiator game.