Xiphon Pattern Interceptor WIP - Heat Effects

Just a quick mini update, I had to share. I thought the Xiphon deserved a little heat staining on the engine exhausts and after a quick delve into the FromTheWarp archives from the talented Ron (hope he is enjoying his hiatus away from blogging) I found a simple tutorial of how to achieve this effect using simple washes.

I used Nuln Oil, Asurman Blue, Leviathan Purple and Seraphim Sepia one after the other, blending somewhat the edges between colours to achieve the pictured nozzles. Not bad at all.

The Xiphon Pattern Interceptor is now built, wings, engines and nose all pinned for strength and primed.

Great little technique I thought, cheers Ron.

Blog Wars 9 - the6thdegree's Iron Warrior list

Hi guys - its that time of year again when I actually get involved in the gaming side of 40K and enter a tournament. This will be my ninth Blog Wars - so I am still at 100% attendance, although this time I will be joined by GreyLamb and fellow Weeman LordH.

Blog Wars is constantly evolving with the changing state of 40k and whilst Forgeworld units still aren't allowed (maybe next time Alex???), with the addition of Knights in the mainstream, some other super-heavy Lord of War's are now legal.

I really wanted to do something different for this Blog Wars - I've been lucky enough to win the painting competition (both army and character) quite a few times, so don't feel like I could enter again without changing things up. The state of the CSM codex means that unless I want to move away from my fluffy Iron Warriors (for example to a Nurgle-themed list) I don't really have that many options for what I can take (you could argue I have the entire codex to choose from, but with only 2 core Troops and a few super-expensive characters that will actually stand a chance in-game, I think I am pretty limited).

As such, I present to you....quite possibly the most dangerous tournament list ever! I say dangerous - that's because if you can't deal with the one main threat, I will probably break some face - but if you can deal with it...the remainder my army is pretty useless.

HQ:
Abaddon 265pts

Troops:
16 Cultists (Autopistols & CCWs) - in Hellcult formation 74pts
16 Cultists (Autopistols & CCWs) - in Hellcult formation 74pts

Elites:
Helbrute (Multimelta & Power Fist) - in Hellcult formation 100pts
3 Terminators (2 x Power Axes & 1 x Power Sword) 95pts

Heavy:
3 Obliterators (Mark of Nurgle) 228pts

Lord of War:
Lord of Skulls (Daemongore Cannon & Skullhurler) 1013pts (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Total: 1849pts

So - more than half my points in a single model - but it is a beast! For the uninitiated, the Lord of Skulls is a super-heavy walker, Daemon (so 5++), 9HPs, Thunderblitz, It Will Not Die, Fleet, 4 attacks basic, Rage (+2 attacks on the charge) and a nifty rule that gives an extra attack for each HP lost - which you keep even if you regen the HPs (this thing potentially has up to 14 attacks). It is armed with a Helstorm weapon (16.5inch flamer) that is S9 AP3 Primary & Instant Death, a 10inch blast weapon that is S9 AP3 Primary with Gnaw (re-roll successful saves) and a D-weapon in combat. I have had several games now where this thing has caused 20+ HPs of damage in a single round of combat! Anything that doesn't have a 2+ save or decent invun, should be afraid indeed.

There are downsides - it's a super heavy walker, so can be tarpitted...and whilst I3 is enough to ease any worries about Thunderhammer Terminators, going up against an I4 Knight with a D weapon can cause some buttock clenching moments during dice rolls (there is roughly a 10% chance a Knight will be able to kill me outright in combat before I can swing back). There is also the worry of Grav and Haywire weapons, but they can be mitigated against a little (reserving, meat shields etc).

The rest of the army is pretty inconsequential; the Hellcult formation gives me Fearless cultists for objective grabbing and meat shielding, the Obliterators are ALWAYS the most resilient unit of any game I have ever played (to the point I did actually toy with the idea of running a Black Legion list to take four units of them...) and Abaddon is the only choice of CSM character that is worth taking to a tournament IMO (although I would have much preferred a tooled-up Warpsmith for fluffy and repair reasons).

I've had a few games with the list now and whilst they were against very similar Knight-based lists, I have managed to come out on top - so what do you guys think - it would be great to get your thoughts on how you would tackle it and what I should be afraid of.

Wish us luck!

Next Project WIP - Space Marine Xiphon Pattern Interceptor

My next project, the great looking and fast agile flyer that is the Space Marine Xiphon Pattern Interceptor from ForgeWorld! What a great kit, and simple to clean up and pictured ready for construction, gluing and pinning and then painting. Watch this space... cluster warhead rotary missiles and dual TL lascannon fun soon...  ;)

Blue glowing effect tutorial (without an airbrush).

Hi guys, the6thdegree here - we've had a couple of people comment on how I do glowing effects (including Siph), so I thought I would throw up a quick tutorial. Luckily I had a spare model lying around that needed some glowing effects...

Bit of a caveat - I'm not saying this is the best or only way to do it - its just how I do it (and its pretty easy and doesn't require an airbrush).

Lets start off with the paints:

They are all citadel paints and although aren't the newest range, you can get the idea of the 3 shades being required: Regal Blue, Enchanted Blue, Ice Blue and Scar White.

Starting with the darkest blue (Regal Blue), paint in the source of the light (this is to make sure the light source has the colour in from the start - after this point its all drybrushing).

Using a drybrush from here on out, drybruh on the darkest blue, brushing away from the source of the glow in the area you want the glow to be seen - this needs to be painted on as far as the glow effect is going to stretch, because we are going to work our way back in with the lighter colours. Remember the glow will be in 3 dimensions, so you want to catch parts of the model that would be naturally hit by the light.

Next up, drybrush on the middle blue (Enchanted Blue) in the same way as before, this time not reaching out as far as before. You still want to hit those parts of the model that are going to be reached by the light, but just apply less of it.

At this point you can jump straight to the lightest blue (Ice Blue), but I like to mix the middle and lightest blues to help the transition a bit more - I find that the effect really starts to pop with the lighter colours, so I want to work my way up to them a bit more gradually.

At this stage I am just using the lightest blue (Ice Blue) and am trying to stay closer to the source of the light (but still clipping those parts of the model that will be reached by the glow).

At this stage I am now mixing the lightest blue with white (it should be obvious, but throughout the drybrushing steps, I am not cleaning or changing my brush). Now that we are working with the lightest colour, make sure you are getting it on the actual source of the light as well as radiating from it.

Here I am just using pure white - so probably the easiest part to go overboard on and mess up - so make sure you have almost none on the brush and you are only applying the lightest of pressure - go back and do several passes, building up each time until you are happy instead of going in heavy to begin with.

The final touch is a fine line of pure white painted onto the actual light source with a detail brush - it doesn't need much - just a touch.

Here is a sneak peek of the model in its current state - finished pics coming soon.

Looking to Blog Wars...

I've just submitted my list to Alex over at fromthefang for Blog Wars 9, which takes place 2 weeks tomorrow.

Following a few test games, I have decided to opt away from my Ultramarines, and try something a little different. I won't spoil the army list just yet, however I can tell you that currently 33% of my force is complete, with 17% still on sprues, and the rest of my force is still yet to be base coated.. see below..

Will I be finished in time?!?!? watch this space..

6MMRPC II - 6 Month Mountain Reduction & Painting Challenge

I saw this and thought I'd give it a go, at least for the times I am in country and this way it'll give a formalised plan to my often haphazard painting progress. The pre-season has begun! David at Spiderweb of History has taken the lead on burnishing the rules and started the collective dash of lemmings towards the mountains of lead/plastic and resin. It's simply easier to copy and paste his informative post here:

Alright everybody, it's time for the 2nd Annual 6 Month Mountain Reduction and Painting Challenge or 6MMRPC.  We've changed up the time frame - it's going to run from 1 June 2015 through to 30 November 2015.  This avoids Christmas.  There have also been a few rules changes, and some exciting additions IN BOLD.

1. No purchasing of new miniatures, EXCEPT if you use a joker.  You get three jokers to use on a figure purchase.  Could be a blister pack, an ebay bundle, or a single figure...you can't splurge. The 

only exception to this rule is if you need bitz or A FIGURE (Singular) to complete a unit/warband etc.

1.1 - There is an opportunity to "earn" additional jokers.  If you complete an entire project (whole unit/army/warband etc.) with pictures of starting, WIP, and completion, you earn yourself a Joker. 

2.  Gifts do not count against you. Holidays, birthdays etc. Also, if you're given gift cards by your hobby illiterate family or friends, you can without penalty use them on anything you want miniatures wise.

3.  Paints, terrain (or materials), and other hobby supplies do not apply to the no purchasing rule.

4.  At least one hobby related blog post and/or Instagram update a week, if possible. If you instagram, be sure to hashtag your pic with #6MMRPC

5.  Zombtober will be part of the 6 month challenge so, Zombie related stuff during October is ENCOURAGED. Other theme suggestions are welcomed.

6.  Anyone that wants to submit a before and after picture of a miniature that they are proud of completing during the course of the challenge to dmcffd@gmail.com will be entered into the running for a gift certificate to a online wargaming store of their choice.  Judging will be by an un-biased person.  Amount on the gift certificate will be dictated by winners nationality but should work out to about $30 U.S. (Spiderweb of History) will not be eligible to win. 

So spread the word folks, and lets make this an even better challenge than the last!

For those looking for additional info about this madness, please check out -

6 Month Mountain Reduction and Painting Challenge Master List 

Warhammer World - Warlord Titan Close-Ups

Head over to Recalcitrant Daze for awesome 3 Part photo dump of his time at WHW this weeekend.

Link to Part 1 here Warlord and Ordinatus WIP

Link to Part 2 here Gulliman and Invictarus Suzerain, Thunderfire Rapier, White Scars and Sigismund.

Link to Part 3 here Chaos Knight, Lord of Skulls Walker and Nurgle Daemon And some Word Bearers

Thanks Rictus, from all at Weemen... We want a Warlord and 6thDegree wants a Chaos Knight and Lord of Skulls conversion kit! You didn't say if you picked one up? ;)

Relictors Forgeworld Damocles Command Rhino

Hello Readers, thanks for dropping by to have a look at my latest offering. It only seemed apt that on the day GW offer us the Command Rhino, I finally painted the FW one! Here is a small dent in the FW to-do pile, in the form of my Damocles Command Rhino. In the latest IA book, War Machines of the Adeptus Astartes it costs the same as a Stalker from Codex SM, and for that you get Teleport Beacon, +1/-1 to Reserves and a once per game Orbital Bombardment, and fills one of the HQ slots.

I haven't yet seen the rules for the new SM Command Rhino, but I guess I'll get one of those too!

I've painted the Damocles in a similar way as my other 16 Rhino based tanks(!) with black flash and panels and adorned it with the usual skull motif with crossed bones denoting a command vehicle, and a chain. As it is a command vehicle, I left off a numeral on the front panel and added a wreathed skull motif instead to denote it's command status.

I think these small Aquila were from the Stormtalon kit, the FW kit comes with the nice additional comms box at the rear of the tank, I've added a small scale aerial to the top of it, but the stub aerial it comes with is fine.

This one is called 'Ferrum' as a nod to 6thDegree's Iron Warriors and Canis Ferrum the newest Titan to Weemen's armies which accounted for over 7000 hits to the blog in February!

Next up, maybe a Hunter to accompany the Stalker, or some Necrons... hmm...

Thanks for dropping in, hope you like.

BatRep Relictors Vs Imperial Knights and Grey Knights - 1850pts

Hello Readers, well after that 4000pt 3-way Superheavy Smash Up, Lord Halfpenny and I had a normal batttle, a little smaller than the previous, the standard 1850pts in order to test out his BlogWars list for the 'From the Fang' upcoming friendly tournament. 6thDegree and Lord Halfpenny will be attending again this year, so 100% attendance from the Weemen! I've personally managed 1... and again will be out of the country for this one too.

Anyway, back to the matter at hand, it was a BlogWars scenario, Purge the Xenos, Hammer and Anvil Deployment, points awarded for destruction of units, 50% points for units over 50% damaged/lost and this was converted to VPs at the end with a maximum 30VPs, plus 1VP for each Slay Warlord, First Strike (First Blood in either first turn) and Linebreaker.

The Relictor force comprised of Marneus Relicgar (Calgar), a Termie Assault Squad in Landraider Godhammer, 3 Grav Centurions, 3 Attack Bikes with MM, a Squad of Scouts with ML, a Tac Sqd with ML, a 10 man Tac Squad with Grav/Combi Grav and two Stormtalons armed with Skyhammer Missiles and TL Assault Cannons - the Knights have no AA.

The Knights force had a Senschal Paladin Knight, a Paladin Knight and an Errant Knight, along with Draigo, Dreadknight with Gatling Psilencer, 5 GK Terminator Squad and a GK Termie Librarian. Small but hard hitting.

Relictors Turn 1 - the Relictors moved up, Grav Centurions out of range, 3 Attack Bikes moved up to fire on the Knight Senschal, two MM were in range and struck the Knight, but double 1 was rolled so both failed to damage (over half distance). Marneus Relicgar orbital bombard was the only damage, leaving Knight Errant on 5HPs, a Terminator also caught in the blast made his invulnerable save. Krak missiles, Landraider Lascannons and Razorback Lascannon all failed to damage the Knights. A poor opening turn.

GK and IK Turn 1 - the GK force rolled for Psychic winds, 5 dice pool plus 5 more from units and promptly Gate of Infinity towards the Relictor back lines, however a mishap occurred and they materialised within a ruined building, one taking a wound but saving. All three Imperial Knights moved up. The Dreadkhight Gatling Psilencer, emboldened with 'Force' slew one of the Grav Centurions, another was wounded by IK Battlecannon blasts, the Senschal opened fire with Battlecannon and Heavy Stubbers wiping out all three Attack Bikes, the heavy stubber bypassing the Power Armour twice with rolling double ones giving 'First Strike'! The Errant Thermal Cannon glanced the Landraider Godhammer down to 3HPs.

Relictor Turn 2 - The Grav Centurions returned fire on the Dreadknight, wiping him out. The Landraider moved toward the Errant, Ion Shield saving the Lasscannon and MM shots, disgorging its cargo of Thunderhammer Terminators who charged the Errant, striking him in the knees and reducing to 2HPs but losing one of their number. The Razorback again hit the Senschal Knight but the Ion Shield saved again. Krak missiles slammed into the wounded Knight Errant, but failed to penetrate the thick armour.

Knights Turn 2 - Imperial Knights all move up, Draigo's Gate of Infinity is successful after a perils roll of 1 and successful leadership so just wounding Draigo once, into the back lines of the Relictor force. The Knight Paladin battlecannons the Centurions but fails to bypass their armour. Heavy stubbers hit five times but fail to damage. The Knight Senschal Battlecannon shots wipe out 6 Tac marines in the centre but charges Marneus and totally destroys him with 11 'D' hits so no saves! This gives the Knight force 'Slay the Warlord'. 3 Thunderhammer Termies locked in combat with the Knight Errant fall to his stomp attacks and Reaper Chainsword. The GK force open up Storm Bolter fire on the wounded Tac Squad in the centre killing another two, leaving just the Grav weapon marine and Sergeant.

Relictor Turn 3 - Seeing the Knights bearing down on them, and seeing their commander wiped out the force holds its ground and concentrates efforts on the GK force in it's backfield. The single arrived Stormtalon, Grav Centurions, Grav Tactical marines and Razorback with Las/Plas wipe out Draigo and his squad, Draigo falling to Stormtalon Assault cannon fire, nice, gaining 'Slay the Warlord'. The Landraider who had turned to aid the force against the GK force had limited targets left, so shot the Knight Paladin but failed again to damage the Imperial Knights - Lascannons doing nothing so far this game. Locked in combat, the remaining Terminator Sergeant got stomped, Knight Errant remaining on 2HPs.

Imperial Knight Turn 3 - The Knight Errant shot the Centurions but missed, the Knight Paladin targeted the same Centurions with the Battlecannons but failed to get through the armour. The remaining Knight Senschal hit the Razorback and a Scout. The Knight Errant charged the Landraider Godhammer destroying it with Reaper Chainsword and a Stomp! The Knight Paladin charged the remaining two Tac Marines in the centre and squished them both. The Senschal failed his charge range against the Grav Centurions, their overwatch fire missed 10 times.

Relictors Turn 4 - Krak Missile fire from Tac Marines and Scouts bounce off the thick armour of the Errant, however the second Stormtalon arrives and shot the Knight Errant, bringing him down with Skyhammer Missiles and Assault Cannon shots.

The second Stormtalon used his Assault Cannon on the Knight Paladin taking two HPs. The Grav Centurions fire at the same Paladin glancing 4 times but the Ion Shield saves 3 times reducing the Knight to 3HPs. The Las/Plas Razorback fails to damage the Senschal.

Imperial Knight Turn 4 - The Knight Senschal shoots the hiding marines in the rear ruins killing 3 of 5 and rakes the scouts with the Heavy Stubber but the Scout Armour holds firm - the Knight then charges the Scouts in the Chapel of Sanctuary ruins and destroys them underfoot, the Knight Paladin charges the Razorback and Grav Centurions in a disorganised charge failing to damage the Razorback but squishes both Centurions with the Reaper Chainsword and a stomp!

Relictors Turn 5 - The Stormtalons separate to get around the Ion Shields of the remaining two Knights, the Razorback fires Las/Plas again, failing with the Lascannon and glances with the Plasma Gun, but again it is absorbed by the Ion Shield! The Stormtalons both open fire on the Knight Paladin on 2HPs and destroy him leaving just the Knight Senschal.

Imperial Knight Turn 5 - The Senschal destroys the Razorback in CC and roll is made for a sixth turn but it ends.

Siph - A great fun battle and surprisingly close run thing overall with the GK/IK Force on 28VPs with 'Slay the Warlord', 'LineBreaker' and 'First Strike' and the Relictors a close second after the first two turns it looked over, but with 25VPs with 'Slay the Warlord'. A bloody battle with the only survivors being a Knight Senschal and two Relictor Stormtalons and two marines. A sixth turn may have been interesting as both Stormtalons could of seriously hurt the Knight to no reply, but alas.

The Draigo/Libby/GK terminator Squad after one Mishap and a Perils of the Warp managed to kill 2 Tac Marines! And Marneus Relicgar managed to take 1HP off a Knight. Both Warlords potentially being the game's big hitters but failing in this instance and did squat all. Every Lascannon failed to damage anything all game. The Imperial Knights again proved to be a hard nut to crack, but towards the end, concentrated fire started to bring them down one at a time, I think that is the key - it's better to have two knights on 6HPs each dealing out damage than all three wounded Knights with ranged fire and 'D' Weapons in CC!

Lord Halfpenny - Great battle, I really wanted to see how the force would cope with a list Siph would have put together for BW- the force faired well, with the Knights running through the Relictors force. It'll be interesting to see how Knights change with their new codex and some AA support from the Wardens.

Best of luck to Lord Halfpenny and 6thDegree at June's BlogWars 9.

Battle Report - 3-way 4000pt Superheavy Smash Up - Pic Heavy

Thanks for dropping by, this post is an overview of sorts from a battle all three of the Weemen contibutors had the chance to do, Lord Halfpenny, 6thDegree and myself, Siph, got together for a smash up using lots of the 'big toys' we have just for the fun of it, what transpired was like a knife fight in a telephone box, but what fun!!

It was decided that it would be 4000pt each side with up to 2400pts to LoW or Superheavies, with the rest made up of various shiny toys, FW kits, and even some mere mortal troops... well for Siph anyway! Even with Reaver Titans and Imperial Knights a plenty, one shouldn't overlook the foot slogger Marine...

The Chaos Iron Warriors force consisted of the Warhound Canis Ferrum, a Shadowsword, a Lord of Skulls (IW - Lord of Iron), a Sicaran, Decimator, Hellblade x2, Contemptor, Forgefiend, Vindicator, Fire Raptor Gunship and a Helldrake, plus some other bits maybe...

The Relictors bought along a Landraider, 2x Termi Assault Squads, 1x Termie Shooty Squad, Capt Blaylock (Termies are Troops), Stalker, 2x Storm Talon, 3x Rapier Laser Battery, Grav Centurions and oh... Reaver Honorum and Warhound Canis Praetor...

The Imperial Knight Order bought 6 Knights (2x Paladin, Errant, Castigator, Lancer and Acheron) and an Armorcast Reaver and a Vindicare Assassin...

We rolled for table space, and the unlucky Relictors had the sandwich inbetween the Chaos and Imperial Knight forces, meaning for the first few turns they would be hit by both sides... oh well, they'll have fun dying!

Relictors Turn 1 - opened with the Grav Centurions taking down the Armorcast Reaver void shields and the Warhound with twin Turbo-Laser Destroyers stripping 10 hull points, the Rapier Laser Battery reduced the Knight Lancer to 3 hull points, the Landraider Godhammer failed to damage the Chaos forces, Relictor Thunderhammer Termies moved up to be a road bump for the Knights and the Imperial Reaver took out the Chaos Vindicator and using the Gatling Blaster firstly to strip the Chaos Warhound void shields and then the Triple Laser Blaster reduced the Warhound to 3 hull points!

Iron Warriors Turn 1 - Everything opened up on the Reaver and Godhammer, stripping Honorum to 14 hull points! The Lord of Skulls Iron Lord moved up and charged the Shooty Termies killing 2, but they fought back with their Powerfists 2 hull points reducing him to 7 hull points.

The Landraider Godhammer was reduced to a single hull point.

Imperial Knights Turn 1 - The Cerastus Knight Acheron flame cannon incinerated one Thunderhammer, the Paladin Knights open fire on the Centurions with Battle Cannons and Heavy Stubbers but fail to penetrate the Centurion Armour. The Knight Errant Thermal Cannon wounded two of the Centurions. It's Heavy Stubber more effective than the Paladins, killing one Thunderhammer Termie. The Cerastus Knight Lancer used it's energy shock lance to kill 2 Centurions leaving the Centurion Sergeant left on his own.

The Armorcast Reaver open fires on the Turbo Laser armed Warhound, first with the Apoc Missile Launcher, failing to strip his voids, the Assassin turbo penetrates one void and then the overcharged Plasma Blastgun strips the final void, then the Triple Laser Blaster smashes the exposed Warhound and it explodes leaving a double crater! Boom! The Knight Lancer is prevented from charging the Centurions he shot at by the Thunderhammer Termie road block!

Boom!

Relictors Turn 2 - The Thunderhammer Termies charge the Cerastus Knight Lancer, reducing him to 3 hull points. The Imperial Reaver Honorum and Centurion Sergeant opened up on the Armorcast Reaver reducing him to 3 hull points.

On the other side, the Godhammer shot the Lord of Skulls and disgorged its cargo of Capt Blaylock and Thunderhammer Terimes to charge the daemon engine to strip 3 hull points leaving him on 5 hull points and tying him in combat to prevent it from charging the Reaver.

The Rapier Laser Battery and a newly arrived Stormtalon reduced the Cerastus Knight Castigator to 4 hull points, the other Stormtalon reduced the Cerastus Knight Acheron to 4 hull points.

The Thunderhammer Sergeant in combat with the Knight Lancer and Centurion Sergeant are holding the right flank, but for how long...

Iron Warriors Turn 2 - The Chaos Warhound opened fire on the Reaver Honorum, stripping some void shields, the arrived Hellblade opened fire against the Armorcast Reaver reducing him a single hull point to which the Shadowsword Volcano Cannon easily removed, destroying the mighty war machine in a huge explosion which took a hull point off the nearest Knight Lancer.

Everything else Chaos shot the Reaver Honorum reducing him to 10 hull points and no voids. The chainfist wielding Iron Warrior Contemptor smashed into the Relictor Landraider Godhammer, destroying the tank. The Decimator and Lord of Skulls in combat with the Thunderhammer Termies and Capt Blaylock killed the entire squad except a single Terminator, Siph forgetting that the Captain Mordaci Blaylock character has a Mastercrafted Chainfist and Iron Halo, more than the simple Powersword the model was armed with... that's why you should play WYSIWYG! Doh. He could have done some serious damage to the Lord of Skulls. But the lone marine means that the Lord of Skulls will not be able to charge if he survives the next turn! The Fire Raptor and Helldrake also entered play. The Chaos Warhound regenerated a hull point with It Will Not Die, up to 2 hull points.

Imperial Knights Turn 2 - The Cerastus Knight Lancer remains in combat with the Terminator Sergeant Siph. One of the Knight Paladin's opened up with a Battlecannon on the Chaos Warhound but the Daemon saved it. The Knight Errant destroyed the lone Centurion Sergeant, and the Cerastus Knight Acheron armed with the D-Weapon Chainfist failed his charge toward the Reaver Honorum.

The Cerastus Knight Lancer fluffed all his attacks against the Termie Sergeant, and Sergeant Siph struck back taking another hull point, leaving him on one hull point, can a Termie take down a Knight?? (It helps when Lord Halfpenny forgets his Stomp Attacks) Elsewhere, shooting from the Bolt Cannon on the Cerastus Knight Castigator stripped a hull point from a Stormtalon, leaving it on one HP.

Relictors Turn 3 - Both Stormtalons opened fire on the Iron Warriors Fire Raptor reducing him to 1 HP, which the Icarus Stormcannon array on the Relictors Stalker easily stripped, downing the aircraft. The Reaver Honorum Gatling Blasted the Cerastus Knight Acheron to a single hull point. The Apoc Launcher and the Rapier Laser Battery took the Cerastus Knight Castigator to 2 hull points remaining. The Reaver Laser Blaster overkilled the Chaos Warhound Canis Ferrum, removing 15 hull points from an available 2!! In CC, the lone Powerfist Terminator was ground under the treads of the Lord of Skulls...

On the other side, the Termie Sergeant Siph withstood two hits from the Cerastus Knight Lancer and remained tied in combat for a fourth round, yet again Lord Halfpenny forgot to conduct his stomp attacks.

Iron Warriors Turn 3 - The Chaos Forces sensing a weaker foe, stream passed the Reaver and open fire on the Cerastus Knight Castigator but fail to damage, the Hellblade opened up on the Knight Errant reducing him to one hull point.

The second Hellblade, Shadowsword, Sicaran, Helldrake and Lord of Skulls eventually destroy the Knight Errant!, leaving 5 Knights. The remaining forces fire at the Relictor Stalker and Stormtalon stripping a hull point from each.

Imperial Knights Turn 3 - The Cerastus Knight Castigator turns round and at point blank range opens upwith the rapid fire Avenger Bolt Cannon and reaps the Rapier Battery in the ruins.

The Cerastus Knight Acheron charges the Reaver Honorum, and smashes the mighty war machine with the Reaper Chainfist, stripping 10 hull points and destroying it in a mighty explosion - catching the remaining two crew from the Rapier platforms wiping them out.

In CC, the Termie Sergeant Siph ties in combat with the Cerastus Knight Lancer (forgot Stomp attacks again...) for a fifth round of combat, what a hero.

Relictors Turn 4 - the two remaining Stormtalons swoop over the battlefield, one targets the Cerastus Knight Acheron that felled the Reaver Honorum, so in revenge destroys the Knight, vengeance is ours. The Stalker opens fire on the Helldrake felling the foul beast. The remaining Stormtalon fells another Hellblade, a great turn for the remaining Relictors, not going down without a fight.

The aerial view of the battlefield shows the carnage unleashed, the Termie Serg Siph strikes back at the Cerastus Knight Lancer, penetrating once but the Knight saves on the huge Ion Gauntlet Shield, six rounds of CC.

Iron Warriors Turn 4 - The Lord of Skulls open fires at the Knight forces and the explosion catches the Cerastus Knight Lancer and Serg Siph, destroying the Lancer, removing a HP from both Paladins and Serg Siph saves!  The Sicaran plus the Contemptor open up on the Knight Paladin nearest the terminator, destroying it but unfortunately even a Storm Shield and Tactical Dreadnought Armour cannot save the galaxy's finest marine from the toppling war machine! The Knight falls over and the mighty explosion consumes Serg Siph! Boo...

The Volcano Cannon on the Shadowsword takes another hull point of the green Knight Paladin, leaving an Assassin and 2 Knights, one on 2 HP and another on 1 HP. Things not looking good for the Imperial Knight forces. The Chaos forces still have a Lord of Skulls on 6HPs, Decimator, Contemptor, Sicaran, one Hellblade, Forgefiend and mighty Shadowsword.

Imperial Knights Turn 4 - The Vindicare Assassin with Exitus Rifle fails to hit the Lord of Skulls even though it is the size of a house (and a re-roll)! The Cerastus Castigator opens fire on the Lord of Skulls failing to wound, the Knight Paladin fails to damage the Lord of Skulls, daemon saves. The Paladin charges the Lord of Skulls, the Baleflamer glances on overwatch but the Ion Shield saves the Knight from sure destruction on the final HP, the Reaper Chainsword removes 5HPs, reducing to 1HP. The Lord of Skulls strikes back now with 13 attacks, stripping 25HPs from an available 1HP!! Needless to say, the Knight Paladin totally destroyed, the Lord of Skulls consolidates towards the lone Cerastus Knight Castigator!

Relictors Turn 5 - The two Stormtalons swoop away from the Lord of Skulls, failing to glance the Sicaran Battletank. The Stalker opens up on the remaining Hellblade, destroying the Chaos aerial forces.

Iron Warriors Turn 5 - The Lord of Skulls opens fire on the Cerastus Knight Castigator reducing him to a single hull point, the Contemptor hits also, but saved by the Ion Shield. The Sicaran shoots down one of the Stormtalons. The Stormsword opens fire with the Volcano Cannon and a Lascannon both hitting the Knight on the Ion Shield, three saves in a row! The Forgefiend see's his opportunity for the Chaos God's favour and opens up on the Cerastus Knight, finally destroying the Knight! The Decimator reduces the Relictors Stalker to 1HP.

Imperial Knights Turn 5 - Finally the Vindicare Assassin steadies himself for another shot at the Lord of Skulls, aims, fires and gets the Lord of Skulls in the Daemon Eyes, stripping the final HP and vanquishing the Daemon Engine finally!

We roll for a turn six, but alas no more. The lone survivor of the Imperial Knight forces silently slips away into the night, the battlefield tells the story loud and clear, smoking craters strewn across the ruined city tell of the epic struggle that took place here!

Siph - What a super epic battle that was, mighty war machines and Titans dueling with lowly Terminators, epic airstrikes and pieplates, void shields bursting like balloons and a whole Knightly Order wiped out by the foul Chaos Iron Lord (with help!).

Man (Marine) of the Match definitely goes to Sergeant Siph, my very own blog avatar Terminator Sergeant! Holding up the CC Imperial Knight Lancer for 6 rounds of CC before falling, being crushed under the falling victim of Chaos fire - not the Knight Lancer! Brilliant effort and proved that maybe my choice to bring Troops wasn't so bad after all - holding up the Imperial Knight advance for 4 turns!! What a hoot!

Lord Halfpenny - What a battle, the new additions to my Knight force worked well, unfortunately I forgot about the stomp- as I might have managed to move the Terminator Sergeant earlier, and managed to get the Lancer into combat with the other Super Heavies in the centre of the board. My favourite moment was when the Cerastus Knight Acheron charged the Reaver Honorum - and smashed him in single combat- showing how deadly 'D' weapons are.