40K WIP: Melta Vets

Well I was just able to pick up 3 Necromunda Delaque Heavy Stubber models from Ebay, perfect fodder for some melta gun vets to go with my Hardened Vet squad. Pricy in a few ways, but worth it in the long run.

When they arrive, they will have their heads lopped off like the others and the heavy stubbers will be swapped for meltas and finished the same way as these guys.

They will probably be my eleventh hour project before the holiday bat rep... and probably not the only one.

Priming in Cold

Just thought I'd share my thoughts on priming in the cold since it is about 1 degree outside.

I’ve found that it helps to do 4 things when it is cold:

1.       Not let the miniature get cold.

2.       Not let the primer can get cold.

3.       Not let the primer “fan” go very far in cold air (i.e. spray from far away.)

4.       Not let primed minis dry in the cold. This is probably most important.

So what I’ve been doing is opening a window and priming right there on the sill, holding a box with the minis on it... I haven’t dropped any yet. The rush of warm air out sucks the paint fumes away sorta like a spray booth. So technically you are spraying outside as far as the fumes go but then you bring the minis right inside to dry there. Way less fumes that way too. Usually takes 2 coats this way.

Or, you can find an area outside that is sheltered from the wind then just spray primer there but the trick is the further the spray goes in dry cold air the more it dries by the time it gets to the mini… the dreaded “frosting.” So get your sprays closer with tighter bursts and then get them right inside to dry. I used to spray prime under my front deck during winter months.

40K WIP: Vehicle Stowage and Autocannons

It'll be a short week, with a paper and final due by next Saturday, so I'll only try to paint 3 autocannons and some vehicle stowage for the tanks this week.

I'll be using all of the stowage I have nested away for outfitting the tanks in this company; Forge World, GW and Tamiya parts.

As for the autocannons I think the theory of what they do for a squad holds up well: good against troops, transports and skimmers. Getting orders works well for them too as a bonus (which can't be counted on.)

I took the sight blades off the muzzles of the autocannons with Xacto and file. I also tapped barrel holes. I left the crew shields off too, obviously. I may add them later, not sure.

The two already-completed squads will each get an autocannon. The third squad on the paint table will only be 8 guys plus an autocannon and two painted guys from the other squads.

After that I'll get to the Company Command Squad and to whatever remaining things need doing, like scratch building a Medusa gun and getting something going for a Master of Ordnance.

40K: Completed Valhallan Platoon Command Squad (Sorta)

So the Platoon command squad (PCS) is done. I already decided that the melta gunners will probably end up in basic squads or with the Company Command squad (CCS.) As the CCS gets painted, I'll do up some flamethrowers to put into this squad, to replace the reassigned meltagunners. Seems to me BS 3 frontline meltas may not be so bad... especialy if they have the possibility to get Bring it Down orders. I figure the PCS will probably ride in a Chimera anyway and stand off.

PCS in process...

Some point soon I'll make some Banners in GIMPshop and get the guardsman with a stick some flag to fly.

Overall, I'm happy with how the squad came out, but there isn't much time to admire anything. My goal is 50 painted IG by Christmas.

... and completed.

40K WIP: Valhallan Commander

Valhallan Commander

Here's a mock-up of the Valhallan Commander. I used Solar Macharius' cloak for the back. I completed him with the binoculars and arms from the tank commander sprue.

In his previously painted version, he had a plasma pistol and power fist. I've since disassembled and stripped him. This time around I'm looking to give him a power sword and plasma pistol.

I think these bits work becuase:

1. He's in a more realistic "commander" pose. He looks like he's moderating the fight.
2. The tank commander arm bits have frogging and that will tie the commander visually to the Lt's in the Platoon Command Squads who also have frogging. Commisars have that as well.
3. Macharious' cloak has a sheathed power sword poking out, good for arming the commander. The bigger area of fur on the cloak will tie him in better with the fur lining of the troops while bulking him out a bit.

His arms/hands aren't really styled like the other Valhallans but I'm fine with that. I could bulk them out with greenstuff but I'm on a deadline.

The final model will be trimmed and put together tighter but that's basically it.

Let me know what you think.

40K: Valhallan Company Standard Idea

I was just cruising the news on BBC.com at lunch. I saw an ad for The Economist, showing an article with a painted illustration of a Communist in uniform riding a horse while holding a very young Korean or Chinese boy.

Check it out here: Next of Kim, The Economist: Next of Kim


I think I may do something with that for my Valhallan company standard... with a battered Valhallan riding a horse over piles of dead orks, with ice mountains and Aquila in the background, a Valhallan youth in his free arm.

Movies

I try to watch a good movie to stay inspired with my projects, something that you can put on even while you paint and just to listen to it. To me, a good movie is something that you can watch in your mind as you listen to it while concentrating on painting/building... and it brings ideas to you army.

Right now, I've got Where Eagles Dare on in heavy rotation as inspiration for my Valhallans. One idea from the movie I used with my Valhallans was making snow plows for my tanks, similar to what was on the bus at the end of the movie.

Besides being a war monger classic, it combines 6 things I love in life:

1. Mountain warfare
2. British accents
3. Clint Eastwood perpetually annoyed
4. 60's dramatic "BUM BUM BUUUUM" music
5. Bill Murray, I mean Richard Burton
6. Nazi M*A*S*H* helicopters

Check out Where Eagle Dare on IMDB but skip the fan synopsis, it's not accurate and leaves out the awesome.