Completed Phoenix

Completed Five Hexes Phoenix Fighter-Bomber

Over the past week, I have worked on completing the last of my Eldar - the Phoenix Fighter-Bomber.  This brings to a close the Eldar Army project I started in June 2013.

This last unit was a good capstone to the overall army and a center-piece I am happy to own.  I really appreciate, as 40k has changed over the past three or four years with the general introduction of flying units and super heavies, more players have become amenable to fighting against Forgeworld models.

On the base are broken Rhino doors, painted in a light seafoam green, similar to the Sons of Horus, like the helmet the Banshee Exarch is stepping on.

In addition, I have created a page showing the whole Eldar army and outlining its makeup.

After the break, some shots of the Phoenix in work.

Full Cast of Players

The Full Cast of Players

Having finished the Shadowseer (hiding in back), the Cast of Players formation is complete.  This leaves just the Phoenix Bomber for my Aliatoc and the Five Hexes army.  The Harlequins have really allowed me to practice the motley technique and build my confidence and skill sets as a painter.  The painting guide Games workshop produced was outstanding for learning these techniques.  As I finish up the Eldar, i am hoping I will be able to transfer these skills into making superb Horus Heresy forces.

Deathjester

Straightforward painting of the Harlequin Deathjester model.  The actual Deathjester was painted using the Harlequins Painting Guide from Games Workshop.  Following the painting guide has really helped me improve my overall technique.

I painted the model up in over the course of Sunday, probably totaling three or four hours of effort.  I really like how the contrast between the sandstone base and the dark colors of the Deathjester turned out.

This leaves two models remaining to paint for the Eldar army I started about almost 2 years ago.  When I complete the Phoenix and Shadowseer, they will be complete (barring an unanticipated addition).

At least 3 more Eldar blog post to come - one for each of the remaining models and a final completed army post.

Progress shots after the break.

Banshees Complete

Ten Angry Screaming Armed Elfin Women!

After two weeks of working on the Banshees off-and-on, they are complete!  I had originally hoped to complete before my new Danes showed up, but no luck.  Between the heat and a head-cold, I have just not had energy post-work day.

I do like how they turned out.  After the break, I have a few progress shots.  The very light bone armor was an opportunity to really practice the build up of colors all the way from black to the very light bone white.   The Eldar have really been my breakout collection for the use of washes and I am always impressed with how much more depth it gives the model.  My 40k Ultramarines appear very flat in comparison.

A Unit of Scary Ladies

10 Banshees in work

A simple update.  This weekend I have been working on painting up the unit of 10 Banshees.  Once complete, it will leave 3 models* to paint for the Eldar army and then it is focus on new Danes, followed by World Eaters (which will probably only be 1,000 points total).

Lots of wash techniques and purple power swords.  Straight-forward enough with most of the detail work still to go.
*Deathjester, Shadowseer, & Phoenix bomber

Eldar Rangers

Same five Rangers from different angles

This weekend's painting project was the last,  five Rangers for my Eldar.  For these five Rangers, I decided they would be from Craftworlds other than Aliatoc.  Saim-Hann, Ulthwe, Biel-tan, Lugganath, and Altansar each are represented.

This leaves 10 Banshees, a Shadowseer, a Deathjester, and Phoenix to complete for 1,850 pts of Eldar. I have multiple options to consider to bring it up to more than 2,000 pts - expansion of the Harelquins, adding Illic Nightspear, or a squad of Dark Reapers.  I am excited about nearing completion of the army, both for completing the project and I am getting excited about some future projects.

Codex Eldar: Craftworlds Discussion

Army for Armies on Parade

The new Codex Eldar: Craftworlds is interesting to say the least.  The armylist I have been working towards for about a year has become cheaper points wise.  I added Harlequins to fill out the list from ~1700 points (without Illic Nightspear) to 2000 points. Now, the army with the Codex Eldar: Harlequins Cast of Players formation is 1850 points!  Illic Nightspear will bring it back up to 2000 points. The list however has a not insignificant point sink in the Phoenix fighter-bomber.  All of this is a long way of saying that the new Eldar are cheaper and deadlier than before.

Killer Space Fools!

Troupe leaping into the fight.

The Troupe for my Cast of Players is complete.  These models were really enjoyable to paint and practice/learn new techniques on. These were painted following the guide in Warriors of The Laughing God for the Veiled Path. I was very intimidated by the motley (the checker pattern).  I started it on small/mostly flat surfaces like the Master's coat and two knee pads.  I worked the straight leg first followed by the bent one.

More pics below.

Two Serpents

Pair of Wave Serpents

Late Sunday, I completed the second Wave Serpent.  The pair largely match with the main difference being the "parallel" lines versus X racing strips.  The plan is for the parallel lines Serpent to carry a squad of Dire Avengers and the X Serpent to carry a squad of Howling Banshees.

Given the new rules with Howling Banshees, I am very happy with their inclusion in the list from the beginning.  I however need to order the old metal models as the Finecast is less than useful given the slenderness of the models.

More pictures after the break...

Work on Wave Serpent 2

Based

Washed

I worked on the basing and washing the second Wave Serpent, intended to carry Banshees into combat.  It has been a nice change from the jetbikes I finished up previously.  Painting a tank is simply a different experience, minimizing the repetition found in painting an infantry/bike/light vehicle squadron.

Also I have seen the leaked new Eldar Jetbikes.  I think they are nice looking bikes, but I am a bit frustrated that Games-Workshop did not also create more plastic Aspect Warriors (which are currently only mail order Finecast).  Probably will Ebay old metal Banshees for the last four; I may even order 10 to replace the Finecast I currently have.

I am not sure if the Eldar really needed a new Codex.  They were already a solid Codex.  We will see how it impacts my existing army list probably near the end of the month.  I hope it is still viable.

Nothing after the break this time.

Completed Jebikes & a Game

Five Hexes Jetbikes swoop in.

Sunday night, I finished my Five Hexes jetbikes (played as Windrider jetbikes in my Eldar Army).  I tried to keep the scheme matching my two Vypers; I think they came out well.  Process pictures after the battle summary.

On Saturday, I got a 2,000 point game in against an Chaos Space Marine Emperor's Children army. We had to call it at the bottom of turn 3, I lost 2-1 on objectives.  The jetbikes scored my victory point, achieving Linebreaker.  A longer summary after the break.  (Sorry no pictures)

Jetbike Progress & Harlequin purchase

In work jetbike

Progress is slow on the Jetbikes, but I have completed the basic blocking of colors on one and am assembling lining them at this point.  We will see if they get some attention this coming week or not.  Hopefully I will have them done by the weekend, when I have a game or two planned.

I also decided to pick up Codex: Harlequins, a Troupe, and the three characters.  This will allow me to either field the Cast of Players formation or The Heroes' Path formation. Together, these units will boost the total Eldar force to around 2,500 points when all completed (hopefully by the beginning of summer).

Sorry for just the brief update, but plenty still in work.

Corsair Jetbikes

Three Five Hexes Jetbikes and their Warlock on Jetbike

When I last played my Eldar, my opponent and I decided I had a definite hole in the list, namely another "infantry" unit.  Previously, the 1,500 point list had a Farseer with 10 Dire Avengers in a Wave Serpent, 10 Banshees in a Wave Serpent, 10+5 Rangers, a Crimson Hunter, 2 Vypers, and a Phoenix.   Including the Phoenix and Crimson Hunter at 1,500 points led to a significant chuck of firepower not being on the table early on and thus concentrated fire against units like the Dire Avengers and Rangers.

My solution is to move the Phoenix to the 1850-2000 point list and bring in a squad of Jetbikes with a Warlock.  This will be the Five Hexes "infantry" and deploy turn 1 alongside the Aspect Warrior.  But how to build Corsair Jetbikes.  I went with a combination of the Dark Eldar Reaver Jetbikes and Eldar Guardian parts and a healthy dose of green stuff.  For the Warlock, I picked up the new Harelquin Skyweaver kit and again mixed in parts form the Dark Eldar Reaver Jetbikes and Eldar Guardians.

More pictures follow.

Second Vyper and Sealing

Pair of Vypers

I finished up my second Vyper today.  There is not much different than the first in terms of techniques applied.  Sorry for not having good progress shots on these.  I will endeavor to provide some progress shots with the Reaver/Skyweavers jetbikes that I am going to use for my Five Hexes jetbikes.  Importantly, builds for yellow take a lot of layers.

A friend asked that I provide a tutorial for sealing models.  I think of this as fairly straightforward, but realized there are some important nuances, after the link.

Silver at Park Plaza

Alaitoc and its outcasts on move

I took 2nd (of 2 serious entries) for Armies on Parade at Games-Workshop Park Plaza on 25 October.

Nothing Crazy...

Well gents and T,  not a whole lot to report here.  Just completed 5 more wraith blades.  A couple pictures below.  Progress is slow as work picks up.  I will try to post more regularly...

My Return to the painting table.

Well gents and ladies, I have been on a long hiatus, plenty to paint but certain other activities have drawn me away from the much beloved painting table.  That being said, I have returned with a new set of projects, well really all the old projects just expanded upon .  Here is whats on the agenda, plus a box of wraith blades purchased after this photo was taken.

New Rules, Inspiration, & Community

On Friday night, I went to my favorite local gaming store (FLGS) and hung out painting the Eldar Phoenix and waiting to buy the new rulebook just after midnight. (Jason, do not buy a copy, one will be on the way this week!)

So, instead of continuing to work on Dwarfs and my Taking Back the Dark list, I have swung back to slowly working on Eldar. Really, I have no one to blame but myself - I am choosing where my evening time goes.   Between Jason's awe-inspiring near-continuous stream of work and new rules for Dwarfs and 40k as a whole, I just need to focus a bit.

5 Wraithblades

Did up 5 wraithblades for the Iyanden to wrap up last week.  Same colors as the Wraithknight.  Goal is an 1850 Blood Angel Iyanden ally list for a tournament next month.  Should be fun.

Completed Wraith Knight

Finally done after 12+ hours of work...