Starting a new force....Eldar

With a friend of mine getting into 40k, and me quite disliking the idea of Space Marine vs Space Marine, I decided this was a prefect opportunity to get a new project going.

I've like Eldar for a long time. They have great models and a very cool background. Plu sit was a good excuse to do a lot of OSL lighting! Out of all the Craftworld's, the Biel Tan would be hands down the best in my opinion in terms of background. Vengeful and attacking all who threaten the emerging Eldar Empire, they utilize lots of Aspects and have a cool scheme that uses some freehand.

So I got round to collecting some models so we could have some games. I'm pleased to say that already we have had quite  a few with our relevant forces though sadly I have no photo's of them. I have however finished my first Eldar model, my Farseer Auric Stormseer. This is a name I have borrowed from the old Black Library book, Farseer, which is a very good read, if a little old.

So here is my first model. Hope you like!

My current Eldar force comprises of:
Farseer
10 Dire Avengers (So good)
10 Defender Guardians
2 Wave Serpents (Insanely good)
Wind rider squad (6 of them, these guiys are also really good, and they have a couple of shuriken cannons)

Considering how well my Dire Avengers do, I think they will be my next unit to work on.

Thanks for looking!

Cheers!

Hammertime!

I have finally decided to paint my Hammerers. They are a solid choice in the new book (and the old), and I think to reflect my Dwarf Lords status, they would be a good addition. Not to mention a 2 attack, Great Weapon wielding, Stubborn elite infantry unit is also pretty tasty!

This is actually the second time I have attempted to paint them, and the reason it has taken me so long to tackle them again. I remember maybe round 2006/2007, that I started to paint them for my force, but the colours just didn't work and I shelved them and the army. I was quite relucted to paint them again, as I wasn't sure if I could make them work. However, since I have painted most of the choices in my Dwarf army now, I thought its time to give them a go.

So without further ado, here are the test models. Please be kind, or constructively brutal.

With the shield, I tried to emulate the Goblobber, and have that cool wood look to it. To achieve that, I simply got the normal Dwarf shield and turned it around so the wood finish is on this side up. Then I just simply painted the wood grain as normal. I quite like the look, and it is unique.

So having got a scheme I rather like, I'm starting on the next two Hammerers now. I'm hoping I can get a few done before the next Blood in the Badlands Campaign turn, so I can give them a spin.

Cheers for looking!

Grimwald the Surly's Dwarf Throng

I thought it was about time I took another photo my my Dwarf Throng. It is rare that I see it all in one place, as it usually lives in its carry case, and only comes out piece meal depending on what I need for the game at hand.

It has taken a year and a bit now to paint this up. So not a bad effort at all. Of course there is still more things to add/paint up (when is there not?)

All told I think there is about 5k worth of points there. I realised after I uploaded the photo's that I forgot to include the gyrocopters. No doubt they are off doing recon.

Thanks for looking!

Cheers!

Longbeards finally complete, and a Marauder Siege Cannon

Well it certainly has been awhile since I updated anything here. I have been extremely busy with work and renovating another house, so my painting time has been limited and I’ve simply had no energy to paint anything. Well, I’m on holidays from work and I finally finished a few projects that have been on my table for a long time. I’ve effectively at this stage cleared my painting desk, so its a good feeling!

First up is an old model. I decided to make another Thane for my Dwarfs with a great weapon as there were some armour runes I wanted to try out. I also tried something new with this one and gave him a redish nose.

I also finally finished my Longbeard’s that have haunted me for so long. They are fantastic models, but the amount of detail on them really takes a long time. I now have 20 painted up and that is enough for now I think. I have a unit filler to bump them to 28, so I can now at least game with them.

Here is the full unit in all its glory. Glad that this unit is done for the time being!

Lastly is an old Marauder cannon. Great model and crew. I wanted a second cannon in case I needed one, and I like using different models. I real pleasure to paint.
So, that’s what I have been up to this week. Sorry for the very long hiatus. Hopefully I can be a bit more regular now. I now just need to think on what I’d like to paint next.

Thanks for looking!

Cheers!

Blood in the Badlands Summer Campaign wrap up

It certainly has been awhile since my last post. Unfortunatly ye olde Nurgle visited the house several times and we are still trying to keep him at bay. Nevertheless we have completed the Summer season for our Blood in the Badlands Campaign and I thought I would replay those details here.

 This shot is of the second campaign turn. It turns out, despite losing every game in the first season, the Dwarfs and the Empire have equal size empires which are bigger than the Orc's and Goblins and the Lizardmen.

 The advantage of starting far away and claiming back tiles as clearly been felt, as the Dwarfs and the Empire continue to claim tiles away from opposition. This round saw the Dwarfs fight the Lizardmen and the Empire fight the Night Goblins. The Empire game I was told was short, due to multiple Purple Sun's plowing through the Orc ranks. This ended in a victory to the Empire. The Dwarf game was about even till the last dice roll of the game shifted about 400 odd points to the Lizardmen! Victory to them! Though they couldn't wipe out my army banner and only pushed it back.

 Campaign turn 3.The Orc's and Goblin's try and claim a Dwarf tile by sending in 2 banners into the dwarf realm.

 My other Dwarf army continues to besiege the Lizardmen in their own lands.

 The Lizardmen and the Empire come head to head again in Lizardmen lands.

 The battles complete. Victory goes to the Dwarfs over the Orc's and Goblin's and the Empire defeats the Lizardmen. Both enemy armies are wiped out. But as this is season end, it isn't too bad.

So the final tally is:
Grimwald the Surly's Dwarf Empire - 13
Empire - 13
Lizardmen - 11
Orc's and Goblin's - 11

Next campaign turn my very well see all the Empire's go for everyone as now all tiles have been claimed by one or another. Who will rise supreme?

And now for something completely different...A Sternguard Sargeant

Well, I have finished the Sternguard Sgt just to paint something different for a change.  I must say I rather like the way he turned out. I've done a few new things to this model than what I used to do with my old Fists. The battle damage is different by using foam form a blister pack and Scortched Brown as a base, and I actually spent more time on the base than I normally do adding lots of washes of browns, blues, purples and blacks would you believe. Even some static grass made it. Overall I like this new look a lot better than my old method, though It may be awhile before I revamp everything (I'll not mention it again!).

Still, I may go through the rest of the Sternguard this way and see how they look as a collective. This is looking like it is shaping up to be my Imperial Fists army MKII. We shall see. Thanks for looking!

Cheers!

Manfred von Richthofen - The Dwarf Red Baron!

Got a wip here ready for your viewing pleasure. My Red Baron. I made sure to give him the tri-plane look, and even some extra motors for those dogfights he will be in. Background wise I'm thinking he is from a new stronghold, born in the Empire, but recruited back to the old holds for his skills at flying, hence the name!

The extra fins are just of my other kit that I still need to make into a bomber. Those parts aren't needed for it so that was handy. Greenstuff was used to meld it to the hull and to cover the holes in the top fins. 

 

Group shot of my airforce. Looking good!

Thanks for looking!

Cheers!

Look to the skies!

Finally had a chance to post! I've had this gyrocopter sitting here for a few weeks now done, but do to my son deciding that sleep is for the week, and he ain't week, these many late nights take their toll.

Still I did manage to have some games with my budding Dwarf airforce on the weekend, and I must say, very impressed! The gyrobomber didn't last long, but damn did it make itself felt! That and the gyrocopters themselves were just ace. Definately going to increase there ranks. Got another 2 to assemble, which will be 1 more gyrobomber and 1 gyrocopter that I'm going to convert into a triplane Red Baron.

Still here is the first of many gyrocopters! Enjoy!

 Side by side with my old gyrocopter.

The next one to be painted!

Thanks for looking!

Cheers!