Thursday 29 April 2010

GIVEAWAY Reminder - Your Taking the Pith (Part 1)



Just a reminder that there is little over 48hours to go until I'll draw a winner for my latest giveaway of a set of the new 28mm resin Pith Helmets now available from TrooperPX on bartertown.



If you'd like to get your hands on these you'll need to be a Follower of the blog, using the widgit which can be found towards the bottom of the right hand column and to leave a comment in THIS earlier post, from those left one will be chosen at random by random.org.

The winner will be picked on Saturday 1st of May at 18:00 GMT leaving you just under 48hours to go!

Good luck!

Wednesday 28 April 2010

2010 Season Tourny List - 1000pts

4th Praetorian Foot 'The Lord Governor's Own'

HQ

Company Command Squad @75pts
inc. Company Standard, Autocannon

TROOPS

Platoon Command Squad @50pts
inc. Autocannon, 2 Flamers
Infantry Squad @85pts
inc. Lascannon, Plasma Gun
Infantry Squad @85pts
inc. Lascannon, Plasma Gun
Infantry Squad @65pts
inc. Grenade Launcher, Heavy Bolter
Infantry Squad @65pts
inc. Grenade Launcher, Heavy Bolter
Heavy Weapons Squad @105pts
inc. 3 Lascannon

Veteran Squad @100pts
inc. 3 Meltaguns

FAST ATTACK

Valkyrie @130pts
inc. Multilaser, Missile Pods

Roughrider Squad @55pts
inc. 5 Roughriders

HEAVY SUPPORT

Leman Russ Demolisher @185pts
inc. Hull & Sponson Heavy Bolters

Total = 1000pts

Friday 23 April 2010

Commission - Praetorian Ogryn Squad (Part 15)

At long last an update on the Ogryns.

A few days ago I recieved a package from TrooperPX, it's contents, the Ripper Guns.



I've got straight down to work adding the guns to the majority of the squad, there's a fair bit of gap filling and minor adjustments still to make, but all of aa sudden they've gone from work in progress to very nearly finished.



Finally the last two Ogryns are now underway properly, with the guns for fitting I've added the arms and am now working on the muscles (mostly on the back), so they look 'right' at the new angles, the first will be bare chested and is very nearly at the same stage as the first eight, while the second will be getting a vest making him the one with the most work to go.


Tuesday 20 April 2010

GIVEAWAY - Your Taking the Pith (Part 1)



With the Pith Helmets now available from TrooperPX through Bartertown as detailed in the previous post I thought I'd do another little giveaway, the first of two in fact in the comming month!

In 'Your Taking the Pith!' up for grabs is a set of the new Pith Helmets as shown below.



If you'd like to get your hands on these you'll need to be a Follower of the blog, using the widgit which can be found towards the bottom of the right hand column and to leave a comment in this post, from those left one will be chosen at random by random.org.

The winner will be picked on Saturday 1st of May at 18:00 GMT leaving you just under two weeks, but why wait?

Good luck!

Now for Sale - Resin 28mm Pith Helmets

Please note this product is no longer available for sale.


As quite a few people who have read the blog in the past will be aware I'm in the process of working on a sculpted Pith Helmetted Head sprue suitable for Heroic Scale 28mm figures, they've been in the pipeline for sometime and will be a bit longer yet due to plans afoot for a new venture.

However due to demand, for the time being through TrooperPX's Resin Casting Service the basic Helmets will be made available in sets of 10 at a cost of $4.00 (US) per set. Please note that these sets can only be purchased through TrooperPX, I am not handling any of the monies of casting for this project so you will need to contact him through the Bartertown website HERE.



These helmets are ideal for conversions, here is a quick example with a Games Workshop Imperial Guard Catachan head mounted on a Tank Commander Torso.

Shown below is one such helmet, it has had the pour channel removed and any flash has also been trimmed away.



The top of the head can then be removed using a scapel, and then filed down to fit the line of the helmet base.



Depending on the head and how cleanly you prepare it you may need to fill some gaps as here, a little greenstuff work adding just a little hair or ears.



And here is the finished, painted, result.

Wednesday 7 April 2010

Commission - Space Marine Shoulder Pads (Part 2)

A little later then planned but the third and forth Marine Pads are now finished.

The first of these is one for the Scythes of the Emperor Chapter, this has given me some trouble despite being one I've done before, the first attempt came out rather thick however the second attempt has worked out much better with a more 'delicate' design for want of a better word. It was done in three stages, first the shafts upto the point where they cross, then the upper part of the shafts and finally the blades.




The second of this batch is for the Storm Lords, this consists of two elements, the central skull which was done first and allowed to cure, and then the three lightning bolts which project from the skull, these were the trickiest bits to do as they need to be identical, a small pair of callipers proved useful to enable this.




Commission complete.

Commission - Praetorian Officers & Sergeants (Part 2)

I've made a fiar bit of progress on the current batch of Praetorian 'Characters' I've been working on for a commission (I really must get round to working on some of my own models sometime soon!)

The first model is very nearly finished, with just a little tweaking and tidying of his holster to go, there really was very little to do with this one, simply combining parts from two models.



The second conversion while probably the most challenging is also infact realitively simple, taking a standard bearer which was incomplete I've added a cloak over his back and across one side, this is almost but not quite finished, the bottom needs finishing and again there is some tidying to do, it's then a simple matter of picking out a suitable weapon for his remaining free arm.

Sorry for the blury picture!



Next up is something I've not tried before, sculpting a power fist, this is simply an arm swap of one of the basic Sergeant models, there is a little bit more work to go on the fist and I also want to tweak the braiding before I call it a day with this one.



The final one is the only one which I've changed slightly from my original plan, switching what were going to be magnoculars for a Laspistol from the bits box in a eureka type moment! I'm really pleased with the look of this model, just need to sculpt his pointing arm and tidy him now.

Tuesday 6 April 2010

Vanquish 2010 Report

Well it's been a bit busy of late, hence the lack of posts, despite that I have been cracking away at the hobby stuff and this weekend just past went along to Bristol Vanguards Vanquish 2010 Tournament.

Vanquish is probably the largest tournament event in the region, and certainly is one of the best, I can honestly say the terrain and tables they provide are the best I've ever had the pleasure to game on - far far better then anything to be found at the GW HQ even, there is'nt random terrain, the tables are themed and the quality of the painting on them puts many of the armies to shame with an unrivaled attention to detail. This combined with a great atmosphere, some great players and good organisation - I won't say great because I think admittedly there were a few glitches especially in the last round where I was moved twice before finally getting in my game - makes for a brilliant event, one of the best.

I fielded my Guard List B, as I took to PAW and the GT Final earlier in the year.

Game 1 -
Dawn of War, Annilation

I had the pleasure to play against the Spiky Clubs James Karch with his beautifully painted Space Wolves which went on to win best painted at the event, the list included a Wolf Lord with Wolf Guard Terminator Bodyguard, a Dreadnought, three units of Grey Hunters with Rune Priests all in Drop Pods.

Giving him first turn I deployed nothing instead arriving in full on turn one to face his Terminators and two units of Grey Hunters, I took out most of the nearer squad of Grey Hunters while the Roughriders with a little Fire Support wiped out the Terminators, though crucially not the Wolf Lord. With the arrival of a second unit of Grey Hunters he then proceaded to tackle my Infantry successfully wiping out my left hand deployment over the course of the game.



However with the failiure of the remaining unit of Grey Hunters to reach my tanks and remaining Infantry he was left unable to reach my left hand deployment without exposing himself to significant fire given he was effectively now a foot slogging force, the Dreadnought arrived though it did'nt last long and with his remaining Infantry going to ground I set about targetting his pods. Thanks to the game going on to a full 7 turns I was able to take out just about all of them resulting in a final score of 11KPs to 10 in my favour.

Game 2 -
Spearhead, Cleanse (Yes the old 3rd/4th Edition Table Quarter Capture Mission)

Embassressingly I can't remember much about my second game, except that I was playing against a nicely themed Crimson Fist's force with Cantor some Assault Terminators and a number of basic Marines Squads in transports.

It was a close run thing right through the game, helped along by exploding tanks my Infantry took a real pounding, however so did his. Both our own table quarters were contested his my by Valkyrie, mine by his Terminator Assault unit bearing down on some rather scared looking Veterans (whose eventual survival scored me a secret objective bonus), that to the right of me was contested with two mauled squads of Infantry facing off against a Marine Combat Squad, however to the left a plucky Guardsman too many had survived and was unopposed winning me the quarter and the game.

UPDATE - Had an email from Tom the chap behind the army (hello!), I missed off the Sternguard Veterans from his list of unit, they met a slightly sticky end at the end of some Hunting Lances before they could do too much damage leaving Cantor alone, it's still rather hazey I'm afraid, being a little while back now, but I seem to remember Cantor then laughed off several Lascannon and Plasma shots only to be brough down by a lone Lasgun, though of course the game was far from over then! Thanks for the great game Tom!

Game 3 -
Pitched Battle, Recon (Yes another of the old 3rd/4th Edition Missions, this time with the aim of getting into your opponents table quarter)

My opponent for this game was from the other local Club to me, Mark Packer-Hughes of Ryga's Roughnecks with Tyranids, not perhaps exactly what a Guardsman would want to advance towards! With a couple of big units of Gaunts, one of Hormagaunts who outflanked, three units of two Zonathropes, two in pods, a Tervigon and a Hive Tyrant with two Guard and a big unit of Gargoyles I was'nt I'll admit particularly confident, despite gaining first turn. However despite the Veterans fluffing on a unit of Zonathropes the total destruction of the Gargoyles by a combination of Tank and Mortar fire was a good start, over the following turns he pushed hard on my right flank but I was able to repel the Gaunts as they approached, finally intercepting the last of one unit with Roughriders, the Hormagaunts arrived taking an infantry squad and going to ground in a building from where I was then unable to shift them as the Tervigon advanced though critcally at a slow pace, throughout the game the Zonathropes tried in vain to bust open my tanks, but through a combination of bad luck on my opponents part including a silly number of Perils of the Warp Tests (though I dont think they actually resulted in any wounds) and rapid counter strikes from myself I only ended up losing weapons from my tanks.

By the late stages of the game my Infantry on the left was in full advance one squad already in his deployment zone courtasy of the Valkyrie with three more on foot close behind my Heavy Weapons having finished off the Hive Tyrant (allowing me to complete my Vanquish Secret Objective of wiping out his HQs while keeping my own alive) the game ended on turn 5 with one unit in each zone, turn 6 would probably have continued the draw with the Tervigon and one of my Infantry units both unopposed, turn 7 alas would have seen a win for me with the other two units arriving. However I certainly have no complaints, pulling a draw in a mission which I considered difficult at the best of times for Guard, even more so against Tyranids was an unexpected bonus!

Game 4 -
Spearhead, Capture & Control

Day two started with me facing off against a fairly balanced Chaos Marine list with two units of mounted Plague Marines, one of Berzerks in a Landraider a Daemon Prince with Lash and a couple of units of Obliterators. With first turn things started well the Veterans blowing the Landraider to pieces, though I lost both them and the Valkyrie in return, however there in I faced an unstopable Rhino, the Plague Marine occupants piled out of it to secure his base while the Berserks jump aboard and I simply could'nt stop it, knocking off the Storm Bolter and eventually immobilising it but by then it was already too late, assisted by my exploding Demolisher (it killed more of my own men then his!) my Infantry were cut to shreds and all posibility of denying him his quarter evaporated as I struggled to hold onto mine, placing rapidly dwindling numbers of guardsmen in a defensive position, forgoing shooting which would of been desoltory in favour of moving to stall him I was almost able too stall him, however a last victorious combat saw him sweep into contesting range with a couple of units (and to be honest by this point I only had two understrength units left), the game ended with a painful loss for me but I drew consolation if actually having anything left on the board! My inability to stall his Rhino a turn or two earlier definately cost me the game, though it's immpossible to say how exactly it would have panned out had I managed it, I suspect perhaps a draw at best still.

Game 5 -
Pitched Battle, Seize Ground

My final opponent was the Traitor Guard of Nick Cox, the same Traitor army which won Best Painted at the UK GT Heat 3 earlier in the year. I must admit to having been critical of it in the past on account that there are a few rough edges where things are'nt assembled properly such as the Valkyrie canopies, however I can't reinforce how lovely an army it is overal beautifully painted and converted and well deserving of the award and praise it has recieved. It was a pleasure to face it across the table and Nick is a brilliantly fun opponent to play against, I do hope I have the pleasure of a rematch one day!



I deployed in almost full force with just my Valkyrie with the Veterans outflanking, Nick meanwhile held much of his army in reserve, only a few infantry squads deployed in buildings, on turn two the first of these came crashing down the squad inside quickly cut down while my Mortars plugged away at another unit, however on his turn two reinforcements started to arrive, my Valkryie was immoblised by his Vendetta the Veterans smashed by Banewolf and Veterans, while his Leman Russ and Hydra began to chew on my Infantry, my return fire was similarly effective the Hydra blown to pieces and his Valkyrie and Banewolf immobilised (at this point there were three Immobilished vehicles in a space less then 1 foot square), the Medusa and his Valkyrie with a Special Weapons Squad arrived the following turn more Infantry died and one unit of Roughriders was sent running as we both started pushing towards the objectives, in the center two units contested one in a building one outside, one objective was securely mine, another held by his Veterans and a lay open, I was able to cut down his Veterans with my second unit of Roughriders while four Guardsmen then moved ot hold it before being countered by the arrival of his Pyskers, as I pushed for the forth his Valkyrie with the Special Weapons Squads swooped in and took despite being shot down (opps I forgot to run :( ), unopposed the Special Weapons Squad was able to spend a turn taking pot shots on my suad contesting the central objective, one last casualty forced a test on them which I promptly failed at which point we ran out of time, it could have gone onto turn 7, though I doubt at that point I could of changed the outcome, though I was able to succead in my final secret objective by defending my deployment area with a Heavy Support choice uncontested).

It was a brilliant fast paced, fun, friendly and quite bloody way to finished the weekend, though actual VPs on both sides were quite low as the only things to die were mostly cheap infantry - gota love Guard on Guard!

In the end with two wins, a draw, and three of my five 'secret objectives' (additional cards of which one could be played each game, successfully completing giving you a bonus point) left me with 12pts overal putting me in 23rd place overal in a field of 67, not earth shattering, but enough to make me happy!

More pictures and the full results can be found on the Bristol Vanguard Website HERE.

Next up fighting on the home turf at Exeter Legionary!

Bring it on!

Thursday 1 April 2010

Hobby Fund (1st April)

Not a bad month, zero purchases, and a reasonable number of sales, though I'll admit not quite as many as I'd hoped having chucked a chunk of my Praetorian spares on the For Sale list. I may just chance my luck with the whims of ebay towards the end of next month, will see how it goes, as I'd like to try an finish paying off the Reaver Fund, hopefully though I'll be seeing the rest of the income from the sale of my Space Marines and from a few commissions which would get me most of the way there.

I've also, as I'm sure you may have noticed, succumbed to adding a single Google Ads banner to the top of the posts section, I hope this is'nt too detracting from the blog, I do have plans for any funds this brings in, but google ads terms & conditions means I can't elaborate on them which is a shame really.

Once the Reaver is paid off I'll be saving up with the Hobby Fund for the purchase of a Realm of Battle Gaming Table and the equipment to begin metal casting for a future endevour, time to practice my boat building skills...

  • Starting Balance 1st March = £3.26

  • Sales in March = £71.46

  • Sales Fee's in March = -£3.87

  • Purchases in March = £0.00

  • Misc Income/Outgoings = £0.00

  • Reaver Fund Repayment = -£58.00

  • Balance 1st April = £12.85


  • Reaver Fund Outstanding = £150.00