On the bench: Blood Angels tactical marines

The new codex has me painting my long-forgotten Blood Angel tactical squad.  I still don't want to play with them. And no, scouts are not a good answer either.

The first 5 are done, all bolter guys.  One of the models is a plasma cannon but that is getting done up as a devastator instead. I plan on getting a box of Sternguard and using the heavy flamer out of that to go with this tactical squad.

These guys I got in a trade and took a lot of work to get cleaned up enough to paint. Still not perfect.  Two of them are snap-fit guys not sure from where.  The rest got a Blood Angels shoulder pad from the death company kit.

After this unit is done and the Sternguard (plus another drop pod) are done, I might not do any more BA. A full bike unit with grav guns is something I am considering for later down the road.

Besides, I don't know how long my Blood Red will last.

Anyway, that's it for now. Not many posts this month as I've been busy painting. My BA take a long time to paint.

So I break out the Blood Angels..I still hate tactical squads.

Just open gaming for December so I decided to break out my Blood Angels.  Picked up a game also against Blood Angels.

My list:

Baal Strike Force

HQ: Priest
HQ: Priest w/jump pack

Troop: Tacticals x10, combi-plasma, plasma gun, heavy flamer, drop pod
Troop: Tacticals x 9, combi-melta, melta, rhino

Elite: Death Company x 10, 8x bolter, 2x power swords, rhino

Fast: 10 RAS, 2x melta, Vet w/fist
Fast: 2x Attack Bikes, 2x MM

Heavy: Devastators x6, 4x ML, Las-Plas Razorback
Heavy: Pred, lascannon sponsoons, overcharged engines
Heavy: Baal Pred, Heavy bolters

LoW: Dante

My opponent:
Combined Arms
HQ: Libby Dred, meltagun
HQ: Mephiston

Troop: 10 tacticals, vet w/fist, combi-melta, meltagun, MM, drop pod
Troop: 10 tacticals, heavy flamer, plasmagun, rhino

Elite: 10 death company, 2x power swords, fist

Fast: 10 RAS, 2x melta, Vet w/fist
Heavy: Baal Pred, Flamestorm
Heavy: Stormraven, AC/MM

Rolled Big Guns never tire, dawn of war.

Deployment:

End of turn 1:

End of turn 2:

End of turn 3:

End of turn 4:

 End of Game:

I have to say the combination of furious charge, +1 WS from the priest and +1 initiative from the formation is quite the amazing combination. 

Dante is an absolute beast!   He gets boosted by the priest and the formation as well, resulting in WS, strength and Initiative 7 on the charge...with 6 attacks.  WOWSERS!  Also now that he has eternal warrior he can tank for the whole squad. 

Death Company are pretty darn awesome too. I think a full unit with jump packs is a real powerhouse that can be on their own and do a lot of damage and/or soak up a lot of firepower.

I still hate tactical marines and am still pissed to no end that I have to take them.  Also I'm sure there is enough low-ap shooting out there to really deal a lot of wounds unlike what we had in this game.

The new book is better then the old one, no doubt. But just like in the Ork codex there seems to be an awful lot of change for change's sake, which is just plain dumb.

Showcase: Meganobz

Over the last week I've been painting Meganobz and watching Agents of SHIELD and Arrow.  It's pretty tedious with all the little magnetized bits to do as well.

I used Tin Bitz, which is now out of production but I have enough to use for a few more models.

Big Mek w/KFF

Big Mek w/Telyporta

I also went through and touched up my existing metal Meganobz, and then hit them with varnish.

Lastly, a comparison.  Metal on the left, plastic on the right.  The plastics are slightly bigger

Showcase: Evil Sunz custom Trukk

Finally finished the Trukk that goes with my Evil Sunz shootaboys.

It's absolutely fantastic.  I love the work I did on the model, giving it the single rear axle and the most-of-a-hood.  The base color is Vallejo Model Air Metallic black and I did chipping with the hairspray method. Color is Mephiston Red.   Not much else to say, just pics.

Army list: Orks for 1850pts BAO/LVO

Today I played in a 3-round BAO/LVO style (Frontline Gaming) tournament. I was the only Ork player. Most people had Eldar or some flavor of Marines. LOTS of Knights.

I didn't take any video batreps, because I wanted to just play. Sometimes I like shrugging off my YouTube duties :)

Anyway this post is just the list I took:

Primary Detachment: Ork Horde
HQ(warlord): Warboss, PK, Bosspole, 'eavy armor, Da Lucky Stick

HQ: Painboy
HQ: Painboy

Troop: 30 'ard slugga boys, nob w/PK&BP
Troop: 18 'ard shoota boys, nob w/PK&BP
Troop: 10 Grots

Elite: 5 Meganobz
Dedicated: Battlewagon, ram, kannon

Heavy: 12 Lootas, 1x mek
Heavy: 4 Lobbas, 2x ammo runts (due to points)
Heavy: Battlewagon, ram, kannon

Secondary Detachment: Allied
HQ: Mek, KFF, 'eavy armor, pk, bosspole

Troop: 10 grots

Heavy: 3 Tracktor kannon, 3x ammo runt

1849pts


I dropped the bikes in favor of the meganobz.  Meganobz are pretty much an universal troubleshooter, there is very little out there they can't deal with.  I didn't really want to take battlewagons but in any sort of competitive environment but Meganobz are your ace in the hole.  The KFF really helps with that first turn or 2 of keeping the wagons moving...if needed.

Orks don't have a lot to deal with Centurions, especially when supported by Draigo.  So taking on a Centurion Star really depends on the Battlewagon surviving and delivering the Meganobz package.

Painboys make all the difference in the world against Dreadknights and Helldrakes.  And almost everything else.

A single Knight does not stand much of a chance against Meganobz, but will usually kill the nobs at the same time with stomps and/or when it dies.  An Adamantine Lance is just too much to deal with though.

The Tracktor kannons are pretty much an auto-include both for the ability to bring down flyers, FMC's and the very, very low price. They are a HUGE threat.

I was thinking about the Stompa until I realized how easily it could be brought down by a Knight (or 3) so it stayed at home.

I can't say enough about Meganobz, especially when supported by Da Lucky Stick and a painboy. 

Now only if you could take mega armor on the painboy...

Showcase: Evil Sunz 'ard shootaboys

Completed the refurbishing of another unit, this time making a unit of my Shootaboys Evil Sunz and added bits to help them be more 'ard!

I didn't clean all the mold lines, mainly due to the fact that I don't have the color used for the clothing.  I just painted the armor bits red and kept the rest as was.  Then they got a shot of Dul-Cote, which, for some reason, has come out more satin than flat lately.

I have 26 shootas, 3 rokkits, 3 big shootas and the Nob with klaw and the awesome Evil Sunz bosspole.

Pics!

On the Bench: Evil Sunz refurbishing project nearly complete.

Only a few models left to finish, but today I did the Nob and just love how he came out, especially the Evil Sunz bosspole!

Don't look too close, these are only tabletop quality!

I'm also starting the trukk but I'm trying to do that as a video tutorial..

On the Bench: Evil Sunz refurbishing project in progress.

Finished the first 10 models that I'm refurbishing into Evil Sunz 'ard shootaboyz.

I've got an entire unit that needs touch ups and varnish, so I decided to do them up as Evil Sunz and will do one of my Trukks to match. 

I'm doing a quick mold line clean up and then touching up the models before adding in red and yellow over the armor bits.   The biggest problem I have is that the color of the unit is something GW no longer makes and AFAIK hasn't made in a very long time. I can't for the life of me remember the name.

Anyway, so far so good. The are going pretty quick, it's just kinda boring.  I might do a tutorial on painting the Trukk, not sure yet.

I also have only 26 shootaboyz, thought I had 27 for those times I don't run a nob.  Might have to get a replacement.

Converting Dark Vengeance Chosen to Plague Marines

In order to make a normal squad of Plague Marines I need to do some work on a couple of the models. While the bolter and power fist guys are fine as-is, the guy with the axe and the lightning claw guy just wouldn't work.

Also, the guy with the cloak seems to be more of a character then trooper.

So I went with converting the cloak guy into a HQ, with the main idea being a sorcerer with a force axe. I guess he could double as a lord as well. 

I took the axe and moved it over to the guy with the cloak, and then gave him an ornate backpack. Perfect, easy.  The guy that had the axe, had his hand chopped off and then I made magnetized plasma/melta options for him.  Also a regular backpack without a bolter attached.

I had to completely cut off the lightning claws, and had to use a tiny bit of greenstuff to fill a gap that came up. Then I gave him a bolt pistol and plague knife (a trimmed down power sword).

So now I have a playable unit of WYSIWYG Plague Marines along with another character to replace the now sold-off Kranon who was painted as Slaanesh.

Not a bad bit of work, very happy with how everything came out.

On the bench: next project up!

Finished the Nobs, dived into the next project.

I have a full set of the Chaos models from Dark Vengeance, all of which are assembled and primed. But otherwise forgotten. Until now.

I did the chaos lord as Slaanesh but abandoned that idea as unworkable, instead going with the much better option of Nurgle.  These are the test models, kinda. I did do a bunch of Nurgle bikes on commission last year so I'm just following what I did there for the most part.

These guys might also factor into some Book of the Beast videos soon..

Showcase: Nobs for Toys for Tots

Just pics.  Tired. Bed.

The Stompa will hit the table!

I will be shortly leaving for league night, which is playing under Frontline Gaming's rules for the LVO/BAO this month, in anticipation of a tournament on the 22nd (yes I'm going).

It took a while to build a list I liked while fitting in the Stompa. It's quite expensive in a 1850 list. But I finally did it.

Ork Horde Detachment
HQ: Big Mek, KFF, PK, Da finkin' cap, grot oiler, heavy armor
-moving away from da lucky stick, as I'm hoping the mek never makes it to combat. But has the PK just in case.  Who doesn't want a super heavy with an invul?

HQ: Painboy
HQ: Painboy, bike, bosspole

Troops: 30 Slugga boys, 'eavy armor, Nob w/PK&BP
Troops: 10 Grots
Troops: 10 Grots

-one unit of grots will ride along in the Stompa

Elite: 5 Burnaboyz, 3 Meks, 3 grot oilers
-Combined with the Big Mek, that's 4 repair chances a turn.

Fast: 13 Bikes, Nob w/PK&BP
These guys are too good to leave out.  Do you shoot at the bikes in your face or try to damage the Stompa before it gets to you? Also, fast objective grabbers.

LoW: Stompa, 2x supa-rokkits
-it's all about the stomping stompa

Looking at the guns of the Stompa, I almost gave up even trying to play with one.  It's got 2 main guns, 1 of which has a good chance of running out of ammo. That leaves a 7" S10 AP1 shot a turn. While it sounds cool, it still can only target 1 unit a turn.

The one thing I worry about more then anything is Knight Titans.  The only other thing I have to deal with them is Meganobz and those are at the mercy of the stomp table and how many 6's the other player rolls.

So I'll give this a try tonight. I don't think I'll do very well but the Stompa might just be enough of a psychological factor to give me an edge.

Quick take: Nobs WiP

Spent the last couple nights after work on my Toys for Tots Nobs. Making pretty good progress.

I really like this color combo. I might add this to my own army, if I ever make a new unit.

Anyway, pic, then off to bed!

Studio Update: Next projects on the bench

New month, new project time!

First for Toys for Toys I wanted to do more, so I dug through my stuff and came up with 4 nobs. To go along with the burna boys I gave them kombi-skorchas, and one has a klaw. They will be painted in the same colors as the burnas.

These won't take long, so I wanted to to do something else. I had a few ideas, but finally settled on my Cygnar.  Just for something completely different. 

Primed, drybrushed with necron compound and then I dove into the warcaster, Epic Haley.  Just base coats and washes so far. I also hope to play a game this weekend with them.

I will be concentrating on the Nobs, and the Cygnar will be more of a time filler with no hurry.

That's it for now!

Showcase: Farsight

Finished Farsight tonight.

Basically copied the paint job on the GW website, except I added some power weapon effects to his sword..

Sword arm is magnetized for easy transport.

That's the last Tau I own that's unpainted.  I would still like to get a 2nd Riptide, but that's pretty low on the priority list.

That's it for now!

Portland Armies on Parade

Well last Saturday night was the Portland Games Workshop armies on parade. There were only 6 entries. I thought it would have been much bigger considering how loose the rules were.

I didn't place. I was very disappointed of course, but meh stuff happens.  At least the Seahawks won.

I finished the last 10 of my hand weapon/shield guys. Didn't bother to take pics, because it's nothing exciting. They look just like these 35:

Still having a horde of Orcs is pretty impressive looking, even if not that great. GW really needs to bring Orcs up to the level of Orks. They should have the same base stats and cost. 

Anyway, I'm almost done with Farsight.  Pretty simple paint job, for a pretty simple model.  I might do something else with the sword, not sure yet. If not, all that's left is the basing.

That's it for now!

Quick take: Star Trek Attack Wing collection

A few other people did it on facebook so I decided to get out everything and snap a pic. It was also a good way to make sure I have not lost anything.

No Dominion anywhere to be found..

Not many updates this month. I'm working on the last 10 Orc boys with hand weapon/shield. It's one of those projects that's been in the bottom of a tub yet always nagging me.  Once these guys are done the only O&C model I'll have left to paint is a Grimgor.

That's it! Until next time..

Next project done: Burnaboys for Toys for Tots.

I just finished my latest project, 6 burnaboys for the Freebootaz forum Toys for Tots charity drive.

I have a much more modest donation this year because this is all I have to donate. 

I did some things different and I really like how they came out. I used colors I've never used before - greens - and a skin I've never done.

I washed the entire model - skin and all - with Agrax Earthshade and then used the waywatcher green glaze over the skin. The resulting shadow is just fantasic. A layer of goblin green and a subtle highlight of scorpion green finish off the skin.

I also used astrogranite texture paint for the first time. It's pretty darn cool looking after a light grey drybrush.

anyway, pics!

Ork Op Ed: Can you run super aggressive?

I've been playing a bit different last few games, running an aggressive assault army. So far, it's worked out pretty well, but won't work against everything.

Still, the idea of playing in-your-face is nothing new with Orks, but the new book allows for a level of durability never seen before from the boys.

Battlewagons, ho!

I've talked about Warbikes and durability.  Well, it wouldn't take much to really exploit this. Add in some troops in battlewagons and you will be playing the whole game on the other side of the table.

Ork Horde Detachment (2000pts)
Warboss, PK, Da Lucky Stikk, Warbike, bosspole
Painboy, Warbike, bosspole
Painboy, Warbike, bosspole

20 Slugga boys, 'eavy armor, Nob w/ PK&BP

20 Slugga boys, 'eavy armor, Nob w/ PK&BP
10 Grots/Runtherd

5 Meganobz
Battlewagon: Big shoota, reinforced ram

15 Warbikes , Nob w/ PK&BP
15 Warbikes , Nob w/ PK&BP
Battlewagon: Big shoota, reinforced ram
Battlewagon: Big shoota, reinforced ram

The one downside is not having any protection for the battlewagons, from like a KFF but hopefully some cover will be available. It's not an issue if you go first however.

But two full units of bikes, both with FNP and one with WS5 will be a huge threat.  But with the warboss tanking with his 3+ cover rerollable and FNP should mean that turn of shooting will be pretty much for naught.

The meganobz add in a little punch for tougher units, and after they get out you can always move a painboy over.

Orks have always wanted to play on the other side of the table, and now they might just be able to pull it off.

Ork Op Ed: Bikes are really good. Maybe the best unit in the Codex.

I recently made my Book of the Beast warbiker video, and after going over the rules it was obvious they are really good.

For my last couple of games, I've actually played them and theory translates into function even better then then I thought.

First, bikes are cheap.  They dropped 7 pts each from the previous book.  For that, they are T5, WS4, S4 on the charge with 3 base attacks.

Second, they are really survivable.  The aforementioned T5, a 4+ armor save and thanks to the new "exhaust cloud" rule they have a 3+ cover save when jinking.

Third, they still have great firepower with 3 twin-linked S5 AP5 shots each with a 30" threat range.  They can be a threat to most flyers with that..

Forth, they are FAST. Just like any bike the 24" a turn movement means you're in your opponents face right away. Did I mention they have 'ere we go, meaning they get to re-roll one charge die? On a BIKE!?!?  They are cheap enough and hardy enough to really be the hammer in the hammer and anvil. Boost them across the board while marching your infantry behind them.  Your opponent will be far to busy dumping firepower into the bikes to worry about anything else..

Last, you can really buff them up.  Now that you can take a painboy as a character, and give him a bike, giving the bike unit FNP is really amazing.

If you really want to go crazy give them a biker boss with Da Lucky Stikk for WS5 and LD9.  It will also allow the biker boss to tank those S10 shots!

The one downside is the low leadership.  Once they drop below 10 models it isn't hard for them to run away even with mob rule.  However if you have at least 10 models they won't run, as the S4 hits probably won't do very much with T5, 4+ armor and FNP.

So are they the best unit in the Codex?  I'm not sure, but it's hard to ignore all that speed, firepower, hitting power and survivability.

To refurbish or not refurbish?

Tonight I put the finishing touches on refurbishing my very first Warhammer 40k model - A metal Ork warboss with big choppa. Which is also my first conversion - adding 'eavy armor and making a grenade launcher for stikkbomz.

Didn't do much, cleaned up the chipped paint, washed, highlights and then a varnish to seal it up.

I've heard some people say you shouldn't redo your old models, but keep them as examples of how you've improved over the years.


Before

After

I'd rather have playable models then relics, but that's me. What is your opinion?