Another Squadron of Fafnirs

Fafnirs 5 & 6 and their attached  air wings

Last Thursday, I finished up two more Fafnirs and the supporting SAS for my Kingdom of Denmark Dystopian Wars fleet.  These are the last two capital ships I had to paint of my collection and enable me to deploy my latest fleet list (2 x 2 Fafnir Squadrons) fully painted. I still have 5 mine markers and 6 Korsor Corvettes I can paint, but I currently do not have a list that leverages my 5 painted Korsors. The mine markers have a bit more variance to them.  Either way, I like the idea of having those as an alternative quick project if I am feeling unmotivated about the next project(s).

I really wanted to finish up this squadron ahead of my vacation (which I am on currently).  This means that when I get back, I can dedicate most of my hobby time to the 1,000 point World Eaters Zone Mortalis army.  If I need a break from that effort, I have numerous other side projects available, like Execution Force, the remaining Danish corvettes, Space Hulk, and Betrayal at Calth.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Betrayal at Calth

The Boxed Set

This past weekend, Games Workshop released The Horus Heresy: Betrayal at Calth board game.  I had pre-ordered it the previous week because it is an amazing deal for the miniatures that come with it.  Anyone interested in playing games set during the Horus Heresy should pick it up, even if you do not intend to play the game that comes with it.  The exact contents of the box can be found various places, like these unboxing videos.

I have been weighing two options for its contents. 1) Build the set as it is sold to play through the scenarios, much like Execution Force (another project still on the list to do).  2)  Use the models solely for building out larger Heresy era armies.   Having played a game with and lost to my son (after the break); I am going to go with option 1.

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.

Relaxing, Painting Marines

Five more Legion Astrates

Over the past several days, I have spent time painting up five World Eaters Astrates for my first Horus Heresy force.  I found it rather relaxing compared to the effort on more recent models like the Shadowseer, Deathjester, or even Kingdom of Denmark ships.   Something about painting such a familiar object, in which most of the scheme and process was already understood and captured just made it very relaxing.

I am close to finishing up the Eldar army and Kingdom of Denmark ships, the World Eaters will take center stage on my painting schedule.  I have completed the first 10 of 31 models in my intial World Eaters army.  I am mulling over the idea of adding 5 Cataphractii Terminators and a Praetor to my collection to field a Great Crusade/Istavaan III force, which adds 6 more Terminators.

After the break, a picture of the full squad and some progress shots.

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.

Tyr-Assault Boats and Mines!

DK Aegir with Assault Boats

 Last week, I updated DK Aegir with a few more details to match the rest of the fleet and painted up the 6 Tyr-Assault Boat markers.   In addition, I painted up 5 of 10 mine tokens I have (after the break).  For these bases I used George of Full Spectrum Dominance's water effect technique as a guide.  His are much better than mine.

Close-ups after the break.

Asgard-Class Heavy Battle Carrier

DK Aegir, Asgard-Class Heavy Battle Carrier

Nothing particularly spectacular about painting the Asgard model.  Its size made for a lot of nooks and detail.  Overall the process was similar to painting the other ships.  More pictures through the link.

1,000 Points to Paint

31 World Eaters to Paint

I have fully acquired all the miniatures needed for my 1,000 points of World Eaters for Zone Mortalis.  It is a pair of Tactical Squads, one with Chain-Bayonets (close combat weapons) and one with Chainaxes, a squad of Rampagers, a squad of Butchers, and Kharn.  Actual painting is at least a few weeks away as I finish up the other two projects, Eldar and Kingdom of Denmark.

Magni Assault Airships

Squadron of Magni Assault Ships ready to prowl

After I got into it, painting these four ships up was straight-forward.  It followed the same style as my previous ships.  These ships lack ranged weapons, other than Ack Ack (Anti-Air fire).  This makes it hard for them to have an impact unless they can get on-top of a hostile ship.  I have played a few games with these, but I am still learning how to appropriately field them.  In the first game, they were quickly destroyed by my opponent.  In the second game, they were out of position due to coming in on my flank, far enough away to be rather useless for the fight in the middle of the table.

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

Learning to Off-Load Unused Minis

BFG I am selling!

When a person has been playing miniature games for almost 20 years, you end up collecting lots of models.  Many of these languish in boxes until you finally pull them out to work on them and add them to your finished collection.  Others end up not being used for a number of reasons.

A little over 10-years ago, I was building out my collection for some dying games, chiefly Epic Armageddon (EA) and Battlefleet Gothic (BFG).  This effort led me to buy from numerous sources to complete my growing forces.  It also resulted in me buying more than I ended up needing as projects would complete with no push to expand.