A combination of Dark Angels Green, Goblin Green and Snot Green. When the water is dry, I'll put some varnish on them to make them all shiny.
Just worth trying out to see how it works.
12/23/2006
Lilly pads
One last thing for now: I put lilly pads in the water:
A combination of Dark Angels Green, Goblin Green and Snot Green. When the water is dry, I'll put some varnish on them to make them all shiny.
Just worth trying out to see how it works.
A combination of Dark Angels Green, Goblin Green and Snot Green. When the water is dry, I'll put some varnish on them to make them all shiny.
Just worth trying out to see how it works.
The Experimental Jungle
First, I painted the table with black (no pic). After I had that all done, I painted it over with Bestial Brown (as was the methodology explained here, which is my template for this project). Even though I suppose I could have guessed this was going to happen, I was actually a bit surprised by how the undercoat of black made a different and really made the brown more complex and interesting and, most importantly, "earthy".
I vaguely remember a table at the Bayshore Games Workshop that had a pond on it, and the pond was lined with dark green ink. It looked great, so I'm stealing that approach.
I was pretty tentative about how to bring the brown shading of the earth up from the Bestial Brown. I decided to go with Desert Yellow, and it worked out nicely. I'm almost disappointed that it worked well because, honestly, Desert Yellow is one of the hardest Games Workshop colors to dry-brush with. Well, it looks pretty damned good and I'm now sentenced to drybrushing 48 square feet with this accursed color.
If you know me, you'll know that I think that Bleached Bone is one of the miracle colors that can do no wrong. I drybrushed over the Desert Yellow, and (as I predicted) it made everything look amazing... as usual. BB FTW!
Ok... here's my first stupid mistake: I added some GW Water Effects (left over from this project) before the ink was totally dry. Now I have green floating around in the water effects. Aw, well... that's what "experimenting" is all about, right?
Ah, who cares? I filled up the rest of the pond. We'll check back in 24 hours and see how it looks.
Not too jungley yet... obviously. I'm trying to get the jungle floor right, so the foliage and so-on will come later. For now, however, Im working on earth tones that have something of a Mayan/Desert look. Next? I try to figure out how to get lichen and mould and undergrowth into the scheme.
We'll see.
I vaguely remember a table at the Bayshore Games Workshop that had a pond on it, and the pond was lined with dark green ink. It looked great, so I'm stealing that approach.
I was pretty tentative about how to bring the brown shading of the earth up from the Bestial Brown. I decided to go with Desert Yellow, and it worked out nicely. I'm almost disappointed that it worked well because, honestly, Desert Yellow is one of the hardest Games Workshop colors to dry-brush with. Well, it looks pretty damned good and I'm now sentenced to drybrushing 48 square feet with this accursed color.
If you know me, you'll know that I think that Bleached Bone is one of the miracle colors that can do no wrong. I drybrushed over the Desert Yellow, and (as I predicted) it made everything look amazing... as usual. BB FTW!
Ok... here's my first stupid mistake: I added some GW Water Effects (left over from this project) before the ink was totally dry. Now I have green floating around in the water effects. Aw, well... that's what "experimenting" is all about, right?
Ah, who cares? I filled up the rest of the pond. We'll check back in 24 hours and see how it looks.
Not too jungley yet... obviously. I'm trying to get the jungle floor right, so the foliage and so-on will come later. For now, however, Im working on earth tones that have something of a Mayan/Desert look. Next? I try to figure out how to get lichen and mould and undergrowth into the scheme.
We'll see.
12/22/2006
You can't spell "Painting" without "Pain"
Here's how it goes with War Walkers in the Baast Warhost: You gotta paint everything separately. I've painted the legs separately from the cab, as you can see below:
I even built little stands out of soda bottle lids so I could prime and paint the "ears" of the War Walkers.
Before long all three will be built, but it's a slow process that's fussy. I just keep telling myself that I'll be so glad I took all this extra time when they're done.
Speaking of all that fussy still I'll be glad I did when I'm done, the Vypers are a good chunk of the way there. As you can see, the assembly is mostly done, but there's painting and inking still to be done.
War Walkers and Vypers are the most fussy models in the Eldar line because you gotta assemble and paint in stages, whereas you can just slap other models together and then paint without having to think about what comes first, what comes second, etc. Due to the fact that I'm sort of bad at this kind of organization, I play it extra carefully and move very slowly.
I'll be glad when these are done. Seriously.
I even built little stands out of soda bottle lids so I could prime and paint the "ears" of the War Walkers.
Before long all three will be built, but it's a slow process that's fussy. I just keep telling myself that I'll be so glad I took all this extra time when they're done.
Speaking of all that fussy still I'll be glad I did when I'm done, the Vypers are a good chunk of the way there. As you can see, the assembly is mostly done, but there's painting and inking still to be done.
War Walkers and Vypers are the most fussy models in the Eldar line because you gotta assemble and paint in stages, whereas you can just slap other models together and then paint without having to think about what comes first, what comes second, etc. Due to the fact that I'm sort of bad at this kind of organization, I play it extra carefully and move very slowly.
I'll be glad when these are done. Seriously.
12/21/2006
Here We Go Again
Planning for Eldar Megabattle '07 has begun. More details on that later, but I can tell you that we're making ourselves a "jungle" table for this year. Who's making it? Me, of course! And I wouldn't make a table without me doing a test piece first to make sure it looks good. So... here I go.
Step one: Get an old, nasty chunk of styrofoam out for a "test terrain" piece.
Step two: Carve a "swamp" hole, cover with white glue.
Step three: Use the last bit of GW sand I have to cover the foam. Let it dry, then seal it with a layer of glue on top.
Step Four: Take a good, close look at the sand. Wait for it to dry.
Step Five: Eat some soup.
Step one: Get an old, nasty chunk of styrofoam out for a "test terrain" piece.
Step two: Carve a "swamp" hole, cover with white glue.
Step three: Use the last bit of GW sand I have to cover the foam. Let it dry, then seal it with a layer of glue on top.
Step Four: Take a good, close look at the sand. Wait for it to dry.
Step Five: Eat some soup.
Dear Mr. Wraithlord: I'm In Love With You
The airbrush is responsible, ladies and jellyspoons:
Obviously no interesting base or details yet, but mmm-mmmm... he looks gooood.
Obviously no interesting base or details yet, but mmm-mmmm... he looks gooood.
12/19/2006
My Blogger Profile
I'm trying to change my profile in a way so that my posts are no longer signed "Deimhinn Sinn" and, instead, are signed "Baast". This probably has something to do with my profile. I'm not sure.
Here's a picture I found of a really cute cat.
Here's a picture I found of a really cute cat.
My Airbrush Makes Me Happy In My Pants
I've spoken a bit about the airbrush that my brother got me for my birthday. Really, it was a combination of airbrush and compressor and, as people who own these things will attest, the compressor is usually the expensive part... so I'm really grateful to him for that. He confessed the airbrush part was a cheap one, and he was right; it fell apart like kleenex origami in a rainstorm. I put a few bucks on the table for a new one (about $25, because I didn't need anything fancy), and it really did the trick. You would have enjoyed watching me use the first one, though; it jammed every time I would think of using it, and would otherwise spray paint in all sorts of different directions like fountains at the Bellagio Hotel (like, imagine this, only in your hand, and instead of water you have Hawk Turquoise).
Anyhow, the new brush soved that problem.
So here's what I'm doing now:
- Prime the models using whatever primer does the job
- Use the airbrush to base in Snakebite Leather
- Use the airbrush to cover in Bleached Bone
- Ink the models
- Done
The results are amazingly flat, amazingly even, amazingly smooth basecoats. I'm just blown away. Here are some shots of what I'm getting so far (after the primer/Snakebite/Bone/Ink process I described above):
Now, it's not that I can't get these results with a brush, but the time factor is a huge consideration. With this kind of thing, I'd need to put maybe 5 or so layers of super-thinned Bleached Bone down on top of the Snakebite Leather to get what I'm going for. The airbrush gives it to me in a matter of hours and, if I didn't have to wait for the layers to dry between between coats, I'd be able to do it in almost no time at all.
Obviously this is going to change how I do my models from here on out. I would leave so many models on the shelf for months or longer simply because I couldn't face the long hours of labor required to get the basic bone and ink coats on them. I'm much less put off by doing details and freehand and other "fun" stuff than I am by the mind-numbing assembly-line work of basecoating properly... so this is a lot like all the fun stuff and none of the dreary.
Best of all, using the airbrush is fun. Come on; I turn on the compressor and press that little button and spray paint at the model. It's awesome. Watching the model get painted up in no time flat is fantastic.
In time I'll experiment a bit with doing those really neat gradients you see people do with airbrushes and, eventually, will get myself one of those fancyshmancy airbrushes that allows me to do super cool details.
For now, however, I'm having a lot of fun. I've got two War Walkers and a Wraithlord in the other room with silky-smooth Bleached Bone coats drying right now.
This airbrush rocks. Thanks, Bro!
Anyhow, the new brush soved that problem.
So here's what I'm doing now:
- Prime the models using whatever primer does the job
- Use the airbrush to base in Snakebite Leather
- Use the airbrush to cover in Bleached Bone
- Ink the models
- Done
The results are amazingly flat, amazingly even, amazingly smooth basecoats. I'm just blown away. Here are some shots of what I'm getting so far (after the primer/Snakebite/Bone/Ink process I described above):
Now, it's not that I can't get these results with a brush, but the time factor is a huge consideration. With this kind of thing, I'd need to put maybe 5 or so layers of super-thinned Bleached Bone down on top of the Snakebite Leather to get what I'm going for. The airbrush gives it to me in a matter of hours and, if I didn't have to wait for the layers to dry between between coats, I'd be able to do it in almost no time at all.
Obviously this is going to change how I do my models from here on out. I would leave so many models on the shelf for months or longer simply because I couldn't face the long hours of labor required to get the basic bone and ink coats on them. I'm much less put off by doing details and freehand and other "fun" stuff than I am by the mind-numbing assembly-line work of basecoating properly... so this is a lot like all the fun stuff and none of the dreary.
Best of all, using the airbrush is fun. Come on; I turn on the compressor and press that little button and spray paint at the model. It's awesome. Watching the model get painted up in no time flat is fantastic.
In time I'll experiment a bit with doing those really neat gradients you see people do with airbrushes and, eventually, will get myself one of those fancyshmancy airbrushes that allows me to do super cool details.
For now, however, I'm having a lot of fun. I've got two War Walkers and a Wraithlord in the other room with silky-smooth Bleached Bone coats drying right now.
This airbrush rocks. Thanks, Bro!
12/16/2006
My last Sabol post for a while. I promise.
I put one of my old trays in that last remaining Army Transport spot. In it you'll find 9 Striking Scorpions (including Exarch), 6 platform crewmen, three Support Platforms (kitted out for D-Cannons). That's 171 models in two cases.
Right here.
Ok, I know you're getting sick of how much I love these Sabol cases, but come on... 171 models, not including heavy weapons, books, dice, measuring tape and flight stands.
Can't. Touch. This.
Right here.
Ok, I know you're getting sick of how much I love these Sabol cases, but come on... 171 models, not including heavy weapons, books, dice, measuring tape and flight stands.
Can't. Touch. This.
More fun with Sabol
While I'm on a tear about how great the Sabol cases are, I'd like to add a couple things about what I've done with my own cases over the past year or so that I've had them (a bit longer, I think).
The Sabol paint tray is damn good for holding paints (and, as you'll notice on the website, 28 standing models). What it doesn't offer me is a space for my brushes, my files, my glue, the whole thing. When you're painting at Games Workshop, you need your own brushes and stuff because they're not technically allowed to lend you certain things... so it's good to have them on hand. This is a pic of how I have it set up and, if you're a person who paints on the go, you should know this kind of thing is possible.
You might notice that I have an eyedropper. I was taught a technique by a friend named Urban who is a fantastic painter. It goes like this: A bit of flow improver with a little water mixed with the paint makes it the perfect consistency without destroying the pigment. I have a pot of Reaper Mini Flow Improver, a pot of water, and an eyedropper to drop them into the paint (rather than dipping in a brush or something and getting paint into the pot). I routinely carry four GW empty paint points. One with Reaper Mini Flow Improver, one with Reaper Mini Brush-on Primer (great for fixing paint chips), one with Reaper Mini Pure White (the best white paint I've ever found) and one with straight-up H2O.
I started asking myself what else I could do with my Sabol trays that could increase my convenience, and I realized that one ongoing problem I have is what to do with my "stuff" while I'm playing in a store or hobby center. There are great gaming tables at some of the places in my area, but I often find that I show up with stuff that I don't want to keep in my pockets but I don't want to put down (lest they get lost or stolen)... so I did this.
The trays are pretty beaten up because I've had them in heavy use for quite a while. During the Forge Primus campaign I was trotting these out several times a week. My current setup only allows for one more tray, so I can't put them both in and keep all my models as well, but it's a small thing to swap that extra tray space out as I have different demands.
That's Sabol Designs, kids.
The Sabol paint tray is damn good for holding paints (and, as you'll notice on the website, 28 standing models). What it doesn't offer me is a space for my brushes, my files, my glue, the whole thing. When you're painting at Games Workshop, you need your own brushes and stuff because they're not technically allowed to lend you certain things... so it's good to have them on hand. This is a pic of how I have it set up and, if you're a person who paints on the go, you should know this kind of thing is possible.
You might notice that I have an eyedropper. I was taught a technique by a friend named Urban who is a fantastic painter. It goes like this: A bit of flow improver with a little water mixed with the paint makes it the perfect consistency without destroying the pigment. I have a pot of Reaper Mini Flow Improver, a pot of water, and an eyedropper to drop them into the paint (rather than dipping in a brush or something and getting paint into the pot). I routinely carry four GW empty paint points. One with Reaper Mini Flow Improver, one with Reaper Mini Brush-on Primer (great for fixing paint chips), one with Reaper Mini Pure White (the best white paint I've ever found) and one with straight-up H2O.
I started asking myself what else I could do with my Sabol trays that could increase my convenience, and I realized that one ongoing problem I have is what to do with my "stuff" while I'm playing in a store or hobby center. There are great gaming tables at some of the places in my area, but I often find that I show up with stuff that I don't want to keep in my pockets but I don't want to put down (lest they get lost or stolen)... so I did this.
The trays are pretty beaten up because I've had them in heavy use for quite a while. During the Forge Primus campaign I was trotting these out several times a week. My current setup only allows for one more tray, so I can't put them both in and keep all my models as well, but it's a small thing to swap that extra tray space out as I have different demands.
That's Sabol Designs, kids.
12/15/2006
Sabol: You Are The Wind Beneath My Wings
You might remember from my complaining here, I've needed extra storage space for my models. I got myself 5 extra trays for my Sabol Army Transports (just two standard ones) and went to work re-arranging how all my models are stored. Here's what I managed to store:
30 Dire Avengers (including Exarchs)
10 Warp Spiders (including Exarch)
9 Banshees (including Exarch)
9 Fire Dragons (including Exarch)
9 Swooping Hawks (including Exarch)
11 Striking Scorpions (including 2 Exarchs)
10 Dark Reapers (including 2 Exarchs)
20 Wraithguard
Autarch
3 Warlocks
2 Bonesingers
3 Vypers
2 Fire Prisms
7 Jetbikes
12 Guardians
2 Heavy Support Platforms
Wraithlord
2 Farseers
Eldrad Ulthran
Yriel, Autarch of Iyanden
Fuegan
Maugen Ra
3 Wave Serpents
3 War Walkers
(These items are stored in the pockets:)
All my heavy weapons (too many to list)
All my flight bases & stems
1 Eldar Codex
1 Rulebook
Ok, to be fair, I trimmed out some stuff from the old list I made in the previous post. For instance, I removed a bunch of the old Striking Scorpions, reduced the number of Jetbikes, and put all the weapons in the pocket. Don't scoff, however; That's 153 models in the cases ranging from basic infantry to vehicles (not including the heavy weapons in the pocket). Let us not forget the amazing way that Sabol Designs allows you to create shaped slots for various models so that they sit perfectly in the tray (here's an example, and here's another, and here's a third). Also, note that the models lay on their backs (instead of the GW case... where stories abound of models falling through the case to the bottom) and you can get trays of varying thickness so that the model is properly covered and not left hanging out of the foam.
Sorry, GW army case, but you can't touch this.
So I've got everything I need in there now. There's nothing left I need to store. Here's the part that's gonna make you a believer: I still have room for one tray left over. I'm not even kidding. I could put one more tray of models in there if I want to. Wanna hear about the Super Dazzle Extra Fantasy Rock And Roll Bonus Treat? Sabol sent one of these for free. For freakin' free. Ok, granted, I've done a better version of the same thing on my own with the standard 1" tray, but it's still cool.
Friends... if you're looking for a way to store your models and carry them around, this is it.
Oh, btw. I'm gonna save up to buy another one. They're too good not to.
30 Dire Avengers (including Exarchs)
10 Warp Spiders (including Exarch)
9 Banshees (including Exarch)
9 Fire Dragons (including Exarch)
9 Swooping Hawks (including Exarch)
11 Striking Scorpions (including 2 Exarchs)
10 Dark Reapers (including 2 Exarchs)
20 Wraithguard
Autarch
3 Warlocks
2 Bonesingers
3 Vypers
2 Fire Prisms
7 Jetbikes
12 Guardians
2 Heavy Support Platforms
Wraithlord
2 Farseers
Eldrad Ulthran
Yriel, Autarch of Iyanden
Fuegan
Maugen Ra
3 Wave Serpents
3 War Walkers
(These items are stored in the pockets:)
All my heavy weapons (too many to list)
All my flight bases & stems
1 Eldar Codex
1 Rulebook
Ok, to be fair, I trimmed out some stuff from the old list I made in the previous post. For instance, I removed a bunch of the old Striking Scorpions, reduced the number of Jetbikes, and put all the weapons in the pocket. Don't scoff, however; That's 153 models in the cases ranging from basic infantry to vehicles (not including the heavy weapons in the pocket). Let us not forget the amazing way that Sabol Designs allows you to create shaped slots for various models so that they sit perfectly in the tray (here's an example, and here's another, and here's a third). Also, note that the models lay on their backs (instead of the GW case... where stories abound of models falling through the case to the bottom) and you can get trays of varying thickness so that the model is properly covered and not left hanging out of the foam.
Sorry, GW army case, but you can't touch this.
So I've got everything I need in there now. There's nothing left I need to store. Here's the part that's gonna make you a believer: I still have room for one tray left over. I'm not even kidding. I could put one more tray of models in there if I want to. Wanna hear about the Super Dazzle Extra Fantasy Rock And Roll Bonus Treat? Sabol sent one of these for free. For freakin' free. Ok, granted, I've done a better version of the same thing on my own with the standard 1" tray, but it's still cool.
Friends... if you're looking for a way to store your models and carry them around, this is it.
Oh, btw. I'm gonna save up to buy another one. They're too good not to.
12/05/2006
GW: Are you kidding me with this?
Games Workshop Vehicle Damage Dice.
$16.00 Cdn, plus tax.
For 12 dice. Before tax, that's roughly $1.33 per die.
I bought a pack. They seemed expensive to me when I got them and I was thinking "this is a stupid expenditure, but... I bet I'll like having them". Then I got home and opened them up, saw there were only 12 dice inside, closed it up, found the receipt, and I'm taking them back tomorrow.
Check it out. The outside of the tin:
And the inside:
Come on already with this.
$16.00 Cdn, plus tax.
For 12 dice. Before tax, that's roughly $1.33 per die.
I bought a pack. They seemed expensive to me when I got them and I was thinking "this is a stupid expenditure, but... I bet I'll like having them". Then I got home and opened them up, saw there were only 12 dice inside, closed it up, found the receipt, and I'm taking them back tomorrow.
Check it out. The outside of the tin:
And the inside:
Come on already with this.
12/01/2006
You think YOU got problems?
I can't fit all my stuff into my cases.
I've got two Army Transport cases loaded with trays of all sorts. Can you believe that? I got some new foam trays and managed to put some of my new models into them and, before I knew it, I was out of space! Can you believe that?
Here's what they currently hold in them:
30 Dire Avengers (including Exarchs)
10 Warp Spiders (including Exarch)
9 Fire Dragons (including Exarch)
9 Swooping Hawks (including Exarch)
20 Striking Scorpions (including Exarchs)
10 Dark Reapers (including Exarchs)
20 Wraithguard
7 Rangers
Autarch
3 Warlocks
2 Bonesingers
Wraithlord
6 Platform Crew
3 Farseers
Eldrad Ulthran
Fuegan
Limited Edition Autarch
3 Wave Serpents
3 War Walkers
2 Heavy Weapon Platforms
3 D-Cannon Platforms
2 Starcannons
Twin-Linked Brightlance
3 Twin-Linked Scatter Lasers
2 Twin-Linked Starcannons
3 Twin-Linked Eldar Missile Launchers
20 Eldar Missile Launchers (yeah, 20)
3 flight bases with stems
1 Eldar Codex
1 Rulebook
...Hmm. When I look over that list maybe I shouldn't complain.
Alright. So maybe I don't have it that bad. That's a lot of cabbage to cram into two vinyl bags. That having been said, here's what I'm looking at:
Maugen Ra
3 Vypers
2 Fire Prisms
9 Jetbikes
12 Guardians
10 Banshees (including Exarch)
I can probably cram the War Walkers in there and maybe one Fire Prism, but that's it. I'll be outta room.
I figure I can retire a couple things (some of those extra Scorpions and the Rangers) and move some stuff around using new trays, and it'll all work out great. Thing is... I need some more trays. That's the trick.
Time for a visit to these folks to get more trays. I'd better hurry.
I've got two Army Transport cases loaded with trays of all sorts. Can you believe that? I got some new foam trays and managed to put some of my new models into them and, before I knew it, I was out of space! Can you believe that?
Here's what they currently hold in them:
30 Dire Avengers (including Exarchs)
10 Warp Spiders (including Exarch)
9 Fire Dragons (including Exarch)
9 Swooping Hawks (including Exarch)
20 Striking Scorpions (including Exarchs)
10 Dark Reapers (including Exarchs)
20 Wraithguard
7 Rangers
Autarch
3 Warlocks
2 Bonesingers
Wraithlord
6 Platform Crew
3 Farseers
Eldrad Ulthran
Fuegan
Limited Edition Autarch
3 Wave Serpents
3 War Walkers
2 Heavy Weapon Platforms
3 D-Cannon Platforms
2 Starcannons
Twin-Linked Brightlance
3 Twin-Linked Scatter Lasers
2 Twin-Linked Starcannons
3 Twin-Linked Eldar Missile Launchers
20 Eldar Missile Launchers (yeah, 20)
3 flight bases with stems
1 Eldar Codex
1 Rulebook
...Hmm. When I look over that list maybe I shouldn't complain.
Alright. So maybe I don't have it that bad. That's a lot of cabbage to cram into two vinyl bags. That having been said, here's what I'm looking at:
Maugen Ra
3 Vypers
2 Fire Prisms
9 Jetbikes
12 Guardians
10 Banshees (including Exarch)
I can probably cram the War Walkers in there and maybe one Fire Prism, but that's it. I'll be outta room.
I figure I can retire a couple things (some of those extra Scorpions and the Rangers) and move some stuff around using new trays, and it'll all work out great. Thing is... I need some more trays. That's the trick.
Time for a visit to these folks to get more trays. I'd better hurry.
11/29/2006
Why the hell am I working on Striking Scorpions right now?
I'm working on my Striking Scorpions right now (the ones with the Warp Spider foot and the nearly-impossible-to-remove mold lines) instead of things I actually need like my Dire Avengers. I don't know why.
What's nice, though, is that I finally busted out my airbrush. You know... the one I got back in May... and gave these guys a few squirts. Know what? It WORKED! I shouldnt be so surprised, but seriously... I just mixed Scorpion Green with Flow Improver, lined 'em up, and fired away. I love the results!
I'll be painting bone armor over the armored parts, but this makes a really nice basecoat, I say.
What's nice, though, is that I finally busted out my airbrush. You know... the one I got back in May... and gave these guys a few squirts. Know what? It WORKED! I shouldnt be so surprised, but seriously... I just mixed Scorpion Green with Flow Improver, lined 'em up, and fired away. I love the results!
I'll be painting bone armor over the armored parts, but this makes a really nice basecoat, I say.
11/27/2006
Warp Spider Foot
Eldar players know what I'm talking about: Warp Spiders have feet that curl up at the end. You gotta actually use the end of a paintbrush or the handle of a pair of side clippers to push them down. If you don't, it looks like they have excited toes that point up to heaven. It reminds me of Mad Magazine cartoonist Don Martin's work; he'd do these pictures of people whose toes would jut up in the air like magnets pointing due north.
The reason I mention this is because the new Striking Scorpions from Games Workshop? I'm working on a bunch tonight. They have Warp Spider Foot.
The reason I mention this is because the new Striking Scorpions from Games Workshop? I'm working on a bunch tonight. They have Warp Spider Foot.
11/25/2006
March of the Dire Avengers
The new Eldar codex has one new factor that I really support and am glad to see: Eldar players must now take troops, just like everyone else. I don't mean "troop slots". I mean troops; not Wraithlords, not Vypers, not non-Dire Avenger Aspect Warriors. Real, honest-to-goodness troops. The new codex goes a long way to try and sweeten the pill, and we should be grateful: Storm Guardians, Defender Guardians, Rangers, Pathfinders, Dire Avengers, Jetbikes and, in some cases, Wraithguard. This sounds pretty good, but it's still an adjustment for those who have been juggling the Force Org Chart to suit their whim for years with the 3rd Ed Craftworld Eldar codex. No more all-Banshee Scorpion armies. No more Wraithlords as troops (freeing up heavy support slots for 3 Falcons or whatever). No more mass-Vyper attacks. It's simple, straight-forward troop choices.
Just because I am all for this change in the new codex doesn't mean that it's a walk in the park for me to get my troops ready. Like a lot of guys, the new codex hit me with no real troop choices on hand. Rather than try to put it off and somehow force the stuff I have into some sort of list (I did give two squads of 10 Wraithguard some thought, but the 800 point total or so put me off), I decided to bite the bullet and start getting a healthy contingent of Dire Avengers together. I've scored a nice infusion of free Eldar models lately (don't ask how; you wouldn't like the answer), and I have 3 units of Avengers now.
All are assembled (save the arms, which go on after the body is painted). 30 of them. Exarchs and all. Here you go:
God, that is one crapload of painting I have ahead of me.
*Long exhale* ...back to it. Talk later.
Just because I am all for this change in the new codex doesn't mean that it's a walk in the park for me to get my troops ready. Like a lot of guys, the new codex hit me with no real troop choices on hand. Rather than try to put it off and somehow force the stuff I have into some sort of list (I did give two squads of 10 Wraithguard some thought, but the 800 point total or so put me off), I decided to bite the bullet and start getting a healthy contingent of Dire Avengers together. I've scored a nice infusion of free Eldar models lately (don't ask how; you wouldn't like the answer), and I have 3 units of Avengers now.
All are assembled (save the arms, which go on after the body is painted). 30 of them. Exarchs and all. Here you go:
God, that is one crapload of painting I have ahead of me.
*Long exhale* ...back to it. Talk later.
11/22/2006
Painting List
There's this thing that happens when you acquire a whole bunch of models at once: You put them all out on a table and look at them and feel a swell of joy. Soon, however, your smile melts away as you realize that you have to assemble and paint them, and how much work that's going to be. I took a good look at what I have to paint right now, and I think I've come down with a case of hives just from reading my own list.
HQ
To paint:
Limited Edition Autarch
Farseer
Prince Yriel of Iyanden
Eldrad Ulthran
3 Warlocks
Farseer on Jetbike
Troops
To paint:
9 Dire Avengers, 1 Exarch
7 Jetbikes
7 Rangers
1 Heavy Support Platform
To assemble and paint:
18 Dire Avengers, 2 Exarchs
3 Jetbikes
Elites
To paint:
8 Howling Banshees, 1 Exarch
5 Wraithguard
9 Fire Dragons, 1 Exarch
To assemble and paint:
9 Striking Scorpions, 1 Exarch
Fast Attack
To paint:
9 Warp Spiders, 1 Exarch
9 Swooping Hawks, 1 Exarch
To assemble and paint:
3 Vypers
Heavy Support
To paint:
Wraithlord
2 Fire Prisms
2 War Walkers
To assemble and paint:
Wraithlord
1 War Walker
Will I get them done? Of course. Will I enjoy it? 75% of the time I'll enjoy it very much... the other 25% Well, you know how it goes.
What I'll do is make up a lit and then paint what I need to fill it. Over time as I adjust lists and change my approach, I'll paint more.
Yep. That'll work.
(Good Lord)
HQ
To paint:
Limited Edition Autarch
Farseer
Prince Yriel of Iyanden
Eldrad Ulthran
3 Warlocks
Farseer on Jetbike
Troops
To paint:
9 Dire Avengers, 1 Exarch
7 Jetbikes
7 Rangers
1 Heavy Support Platform
To assemble and paint:
18 Dire Avengers, 2 Exarchs
3 Jetbikes
Elites
To paint:
8 Howling Banshees, 1 Exarch
5 Wraithguard
9 Fire Dragons, 1 Exarch
To assemble and paint:
9 Striking Scorpions, 1 Exarch
Fast Attack
To paint:
9 Warp Spiders, 1 Exarch
9 Swooping Hawks, 1 Exarch
To assemble and paint:
3 Vypers
Heavy Support
To paint:
Wraithlord
2 Fire Prisms
2 War Walkers
To assemble and paint:
Wraithlord
1 War Walker
Will I get them done? Of course. Will I enjoy it? 75% of the time I'll enjoy it very much... the other 25% Well, you know how it goes.
What I'll do is make up a lit and then paint what I need to fill it. Over time as I adjust lists and change my approach, I'll paint more.
Yep. That'll work.
(Good Lord)
11/11/2006
Cow Walkers
Games Workshop has released the new War Walkers in a three-pack splash release (single War Walker boxes will be out soon). I got mine yesterday and, instead of posting all about sprues and bases and other things which are typical celebrations of new models, I'm going to link you to something else: This is a screenshot of a post I made at Warseer when photos of the new War Walkers were just starting to emerge. I have to show you a screenshot because, oddly enough, the original post was deleted.
Wonder why.
Wonder why.
11/10/2006
I'm Semi-Sorta-Kinda Micro-Famous
I was interviewed by Games Workshop Ottawa. Wasn't just me, though; it was my trusted and respected compatriot, Bill Dullemond (who is far, far more knowledgable about Eldar than I am). In my usual, inimitable way, I blather on and on and on every time I answer a question and use ten words where one would do... but those of you who follow this blog should be used to that by now.
Anyhow, I sorta feel a bit like a coat-tail rider by being on the same marquis as Bill, but it was fun all the same and, for the record, if you're not too up on the current Eldar stuff then you might get some new info from this interview.
Anyhow, I sorta feel a bit like a coat-tail rider by being on the same marquis as Bill, but it was fun all the same and, for the record, if you're not too up on the current Eldar stuff then you might get some new info from this interview.
11/07/2006
Poor Derek
So I was at the Bayshore Games Workshop last night, and I ran into my old pal Derek. He's a huge Ultramarine fan and has tons and tons of models, and we always end up talking about our respective armies when we get together. I decided, for the heck of it, to ask him about how he likes to transport his models, and he said he likes the Games Workshop cases a lot. I asked him which cases he had. He said this:
"I really want the big hard one because right now I only have the big soft one", and then went on to explain why sometimes the models don't sit right in the big soft case because the walls move and sometimes let the models drop to the bottom.
"What was that you just said?" I asked him.
"I want the big hard one because I only have the big soft one" he replied.
I called Red Shirt Adam over.
"Now tell me again," I said to Derek. "You really want the...."
Derek, who had already figured out what I was doing, murmured through his teeth... "big hard one", he said.
"Cause you've already got... what?"
"The big soft one" he replied.
"I think I've heard enough." I told him.
Poor Derek. He needs better friends.
"I really want the big hard one because right now I only have the big soft one", and then went on to explain why sometimes the models don't sit right in the big soft case because the walls move and sometimes let the models drop to the bottom.
"What was that you just said?" I asked him.
"I want the big hard one because I only have the big soft one" he replied.
I called Red Shirt Adam over.
"Now tell me again," I said to Derek. "You really want the...."
Derek, who had already figured out what I was doing, murmured through his teeth... "big hard one", he said.
"Cause you've already got... what?"
"The big soft one" he replied.
"I think I've heard enough." I told him.
Poor Derek. He needs better friends.
10/21/2006
130 Days
It's been 130 days since I last made a substantial, 40k-relevant post here. Late June, summer was nearing its zenith, I was just wrapping up heavy involvement in the Forge Primus campaign, and the mysteries of the new Eldar codex were just starting to truly flow forth in earnest.
Now, fall is a hair's breadth away from giving into winter, I haven't touched a paintbrush or a bottle of glue since the above-mentioned post. I've had three haircuts, acquired a new computer, enjoyed a turbulent up-and-down love life, had my car in the shop for repairs twice, had a visit from my mother, took the kids on a trip to visit my brother in Ohio, and got a cat. Thoughts of Eldar and 40k have barely crossed my mind. My models and tools have all been neatly stashed in a closet, out of sight.
It's been a while, but I am so back. Oh, you heard me.
I got the giganticus Eldar box (which includes Codex, Wraithlord, Dire Avengers, Guardians, Fire Dragons, Howling Banshees, Limited Edition Autarch, Falcon and Vyper), managed to score two Bonesinger models, and am dusting off a bunch of my old stuff again. There's tons of stuff to paint, but I'm slowing priming and prepping models.
Am I hot to play? Only sorta. Right now it's about the models and the new book. We'll get to the rest later.
So where did I go? I just lost interest for a while. I'd had enough. Life changes, love changes, priorities change, and sometimes you just don't need tiny space elves to be your priority in life.
But I do now. Oh, you heard me: I do now.
Pics will follow as soon as I can find the stupid cable that connects my camera to my computer. I've got a Limited Edition Autarch carrying a Reaper Launcher that you have *got* to see...
Now, fall is a hair's breadth away from giving into winter, I haven't touched a paintbrush or a bottle of glue since the above-mentioned post. I've had three haircuts, acquired a new computer, enjoyed a turbulent up-and-down love life, had my car in the shop for repairs twice, had a visit from my mother, took the kids on a trip to visit my brother in Ohio, and got a cat. Thoughts of Eldar and 40k have barely crossed my mind. My models and tools have all been neatly stashed in a closet, out of sight.
It's been a while, but I am so back. Oh, you heard me.
I got the giganticus Eldar box (which includes Codex, Wraithlord, Dire Avengers, Guardians, Fire Dragons, Howling Banshees, Limited Edition Autarch, Falcon and Vyper), managed to score two Bonesinger models, and am dusting off a bunch of my old stuff again. There's tons of stuff to paint, but I'm slowing priming and prepping models.
Am I hot to play? Only sorta. Right now it's about the models and the new book. We'll get to the rest later.
So where did I go? I just lost interest for a while. I'd had enough. Life changes, love changes, priorities change, and sometimes you just don't need tiny space elves to be your priority in life.
But I do now. Oh, you heard me: I do now.
Pics will follow as soon as I can find the stupid cable that connects my camera to my computer. I've got a Limited Edition Autarch carrying a Reaper Launcher that you have *got* to see...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
