Terrian & Board for AoP

Broken Imperial Eagle

For Armies on Parade, I needed a display board and some terrain for the Eldar to be moving through. I picked up the Honored Imperium box set and used the ruined eagle (pictured left) and the ruined Cathedral top.

For the board itself, I used one of the sections of the Realms of Battle board acquired 3 years ago (finally beginning to paint it).  I kept it straightforward with browns and greens, but may need to adjust the amount of grass on the other six sections - they take a lot of flock.

A Wave Serpent for the Dire Avengers

Painted Wave Serpent

In preparation for Armies on Parade this past Saturday (25 Oct 2014), I spent the previous week's evenings painting up a Wave Serpent for my Aliatoc Dire Avengers.

The model assembled readily enough, with a few green stuff touches. My biggest complaint is that the cockpit does not fit properly, which means it has to be secured to the hull versus opening.  Other than that, all the doors and movable parts work.

For the model, I went with Twin Linked Shuriken Cannon for the turret and and Shuriken Cannon upgrade to the catapults.  In addition, I placed what is probably the Crystal Targeting Matrix next to the cockpit.  For games, the upgrades are actually going to be Holofields and Star Engines.

Some progress shots after the break.

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.

Wood Elf Glade Guard

First unit of Glade Guard 1/2

So I have finally returned from a summer of little to no hobby related activities. Frankly being up to the hilt in PhD work has severely limited my available time for anything else. In addition I have been to New Mexico, California, and Colorado (not to mention several places in between) in the last 60 days. Enough excuses this fall will hopefully see more work on my wood elf army.

Trees

Completed Trees

For Armies on Parade, I am not doing anything special for the board.  It will be a hill section of the Realms of Battle board with the wrecked imperial eagle, ruined Gothic arch, and forest.  This past weekend/week, I have been working on the trees.  I decided to go with an autumn foliage and try to match the broad flat surfaces to the model bases.

This establishes the color palette for tables worth of terrain going forward in our house.  Any terrain destined for our Realms of Battle board will draw on elements of this.  However, plenty of armies have a different color scheme.

Ineffective Ultramarines

Ancients of Macragge

To put it simply, I have a lot of Ultramarines.  I have been collecting Ultramarines for 18 years As I was graduating from college, I provided my club with a basic army from some of my early miniatures.

However, over this past weekend, I did poorly (in my opinion) versus Dark Angels at both 2,000 points and 1,500 points (different opponents).  Both games were Maelstrom (objective cards).  I felt that my lack of Terminators and general lack AP 3 and AP 2 left me ill-equipped and prolonged the games.

What additions, I should consider?  No real restrictions; I probably do not need more Tactical, Assault, or Devastator squads, Rhinos, Razorbacks, Dreadnoughts, or Scouts.  I am currently considering Terminator Assault Squad (all Lightning Claws), Terminator Squad (Assault Cannon, plus 2 Chainfists), Vindicator tank, or 3-5 Devastator Centurions.

Space Hulk!

Cover Art Poster

We bought Space Hulk!  Robbie (my son) and I have been working on cutting out the miniatures and getting ready to try.  The game is intended for 12+ years of age, but we will see how the 6 year old manages.  Based on the last release, it may very well not be until 2019 or 2020 for another rerelease, at which point he will be 11 or 12.

In addition, it is a great introductory game to the 41st millennium.  The miniatures are outstanding and offer the opportunity to take a break from other projects to paint up something else.

Aliatoc & Five Hexes Eldar - Armies on Parade

Dire Avenger Exarch

Armies on Parade is 25 October and I have decided to build/paint a significant portion of the Aliatoc and Five Hexes Eldar force as an entry!

The plan is for the force to consist of 1 Farseer (painted), 10 Rangers (painted), 10 Dire Avengers (see after the break), a Wave Serpent, a Crimson Hunter (painted), and 2 Vypers (1 already painted).  This will all be on a standard Games Workshop 2' x 2' battlefield section with a standard Games Workshop forest, a few pieces from the Honored Imperium set, and a few of my objective markers.

A decent amount to get done in the next five weeks!  Just finished up five of the Dire Avengers.

OOP Games - Aeronautica, Gothic & Epic

Circling for the kill, 12 Sep 2014

Friday, I took my Aeronautica Imperialis (AI) to my FLGS and introduced the game to two other individuals who were not playing Pathfinder.  Played about 1.5 games until the store had to close.

Both really enjoyed the game.   AI has a fairly straightforward rules set and special rules can be kept at a minimum.  When AI came out, I picked up all the models necessary to play all the small games. Thus I have a wide range of choices to put on the table top.

Sadly, Forgeworld supported AI for only a short-while and when Games Workshop closed down Specialist Games and Battlefleet Gothic (BFG) & Epic Armageddon (EA) with it five to six years ago.  At the time, AI had only been around about two years.

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...

Objective Markers & Battle Summaries

Objective(s) Complete!

This weekend has been a hobby-filled weekend.  I played a game of 40k and Fantasy, picked up the new Codex: Grey Knights, and assembled and painted 6 objective markers for 40k.  A very "productive" hobby weekend.

My game of 40k really inspired the need to make objective markers.  At the beginning of the game, my opponent and I numbered clockwise each 2'x2' section and placed a market of some kind in each (4 Inquisitorial henchmen and 2 statues).  I wanted to make sure the markers "hid" the numbers as part of a small diorama on each base.

Quick battle summaries after the break.

Dwarf Nobles

The nobles of Odinfir's Throng

Tonight, I have completed all the Dwarf Lords and Heroes, except for the Dragonslayer/Demonslayer.  Tomorrow, I will seal them with Purity Seal.  I have not gone to the n-th detail on these models; my evolving painting style means the large areas of armor and beards do not get a lot of individual detailing.

One of my disappointments is that the images are just not as sharp as I would like.  After the break, I have pictures of the four newly painted lords/heroes.

Odinfir, Dwarf Lord & 2 battles in M41

Odinfir taking a swing

For my FLGS Fantasy campaign, I am fielding Odinfir as my main character.  He is a Lord on Shieldbearers with a shield and a great weapon to start off.  No magic items, argh!  Sadly, I did not get the opportunity to field Odinfir and his throng against Chaos Demons this weekend.  My opponent never got back to me.

The last step the the Dwarf Lord will be sealing him, but that may wait until I have a few more characters to seal.  I am thinking my next model will be either a Runesmith with great weapon or a Thane with the Battle Standard.  After those two, it will leave two Thanes to paint up.

In other news, got in two games of Warhammer 40,000 this weekend.  A game Friday night, my Eldar (1,000 pts) allied with Astra Militarum (1,000 pts) against Chaos Crimson Slaughter (2,000 pts).  My game Sunday was 2,000 pts, Ultramarines vs Nurgle Chaos Space Marines.