31 Dec 2018

Terrain and Scenery - DIY Fuel Storage Tanks from CDROM Tower

Hi All, if you need some LOS blocking terrain and that is cheap, easy to do and blocks even Imperial Knights, then check your workplace or school for the leftover packaging from blank CD-ROM disks. They come with a central spine which you might be able to use too.
I used the transfers from the Imperial Guard Tank decals, and a bit of 3mm Hardboard / Fiberboard to base it - you'll need to base it otherwise it will flex and the paint will fall off. Firstly roughen the surface with fine sandpaper so the paint will adhere. I sprayed with chaos black on the inside as they are see-through, and then the outside with car spray (VW Tornado Red) makes a good Khorne Red. I attached the container using epoxy resin. I added a drop of waterd down old Citadel Chestnut Ink as grime streaks, Agrax will do fine.
The only piece I used from my bits box was an old SM Vehicle hatch on top, and the next WIP tanks have an additional spare ladder from the new terrain kits (an off cut from a Titan Weapon conversion). Here you can see the hardboard / fiberboard.
You can embellish the base however you like, an earlier set I did HERE in 20102, I used barrels and sprue offcuts and Rhno doors for a barricade, and some plastic plumbing bends for pipework.
Size wise it is perfect to hide Imperial Knights. And this cost pennies, the car spray being the only purchase if you haven't any suitable sprays - but that I had from the previous tanks in 2012, still fine.

Hopefully this gives someone an idea and helps them out, for me, its more easy terrain.

Have a great New Hobby Year!

HAPPY 019 M3 !!

Cheers, thanks for dropping in. Siph. (Terrain = 5 painting points)

28 Dec 2018

Legio Crucius - Warhound Titan - WIP #4 - Further Progress

Hi All,

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you all had a fantastic Christmas!

Blackstrider, the Warhound of Legio Crucius is up, and virtually done, all remaining is 2 drybushs over the gold edges, and a few details/tidy up on the armour panels to have the model finished. I also will probably add a white portion on to the right side of the carapace to add the legio symbol onto.
The Warhound will need the magnets adding to the shoulder caps to fit on to the converted shoulders. The wargear had to be 2x Twin Turbo Lasers..
I will be doing a bulk weathering over the warhound, along with the Reaver and other warhound so that there is uniformity of the weathering across the 3.
Thanks for looking! Cheers DH

25 Dec 2018

Glorious Emperor's Ascension Day / Merry Christmas / Happy Holidays

A very Merry Christmas and a hobby filled New Year to you all, whatever you celebrate - hokey religions or the cold hard Imperial Truth ;)   from us three not so wise men at WeeMen

Cheers! Siph, Lord Halfpenny and the very elusive 6thDegree  ;)

Scroll down for more hobbyist Christmas themed pictures...
(Santa Claws by https://www.reddit.com/user/jojothepirate87)

(Zanta Klawz by https://www.reddit.com/user/Mackelroy_aka_Stitch)
(Image by GW, altered by GregorytheImpaler)

(Image from eldritchepistles - check it out, old school cool collectors blog)

21 Dec 2018

Legio Crucius - Warhound Titan - WIP #3 - Progress

Hi All,

Thanks for stopping by.

Hot on the heels of the completion of 'Wolfshead' Warhound, I'm making steady progress with 'Blackstrider'.
The Titan is complete, with armour plates painted- with just details needed to complete. I am also at the stage of waiting for the delivery of some new LED lights for the Head of the titan - the head has been prepared ready for the cables.
The Armour plates share similar stripes as my other titans, and also shares a link with having 4 armour plates painted with a metallic red to link them together. I really like the look of having one side completed black coloured, and the other white/black hazard stripes.
I need to detail the warhound, and add heat tones to the weapons, which is on my to do list before the end of the year. Hopefully Blackstrider will be complete to end the year.

Thanks for Looking! LH

17 Dec 2018

Alternative Sisters of Battle - Dreamforge Valkir with GW Parts and Statuesque Miniatures Heads

Welcome All, thanks for checking these out. So, after a year and a half and the GW Plastic Sisters just around the corner, I thought it was about time I cranked out some of these Alternative Sisters.  I bought two GW Immolators, Canoness Veridyan and a bunch of Dreamforge Games Eisenkern Valkir Heavy Troopers and some Statuesque Miniatures Heroic Scale Female HeadsThese were made with GW bases and weapons mostly, but based on the DreamForge Games Troopers for the bodies and Statuesque Miniatures Heroic Scale Female Heads - mainly 'Angry Bobs'... 
This I made into an Imagifier, now a seperate choice from a Battle Sister equipt with a Simulcrum Imperialis, for the want of a better phrase, a SoB Standard Bearer or Ancient. The Simulcrum Imperialis was made from the AoS Lord Relictor model with a few additions of an Aquila and Crux Terminus. The Bolter is from the set in Betrayal at Calth, they suit my image of puritan sisters well.
And from the rear, I really enjoyed the Simulcrum Imperialis, it took a lot longer than the Battle Sister herself. And please don't look at the faces too much - but they get the job done :) I did send off the faces to a Commission Painter in Russia, but after a lot of 'lack of communication' and lack of progress, I asked for a return and refund.. it came through eventually so no harm done.
The armour is simply Eshin Grey over Black basecoat weathered with a little Leadblecher; with Mephiston Red cloth highlighted Evil Sunz Scarlet. and some gold details - Gehennas Gold highlighted Auric Armour Gold.
This is the test scheme Sister Superior I did back in Feb 2017, and was quite a hit with t'Internet... still one of the top five posts here, seen in the sidebar >>>>
The second Sister Superior will lead my second squad, these will have Flamers and Heavy Flamer, so I armed her with a Power Sword, the helmet on the waist belt is one of three styles you get with the Valkir Heavy Troops, its 'vampire-ish' so suits the balck and red and gold armour. She loks quite angry - one of the Statuesque 'Angry Bobs' heads!
This is my test scheme for my line Battle Sisters, a solid choice, Bolter suits and I might just add some grenades, but otherwise I am very pleased with the look - not for everyone, certainly not baroque like GW SoB, but I envisage this Order as a Puritan Order, hence the toned down plain armour and no 'boob-plate'. These scratch my itch for some "nuns with guns"... for now...
Lastly, the first of my alternative Heavy Weapons bought ages ago from a Kickstarter from PDC games, where I got my Alternative Rapier Laser Platforms, and the modular Heavy Weapons make a variety - before FW bought out their Legion upgrades - and promptly stopped most of the Legion upgrades...
I plan on cranking out the remaining 20 Sisters this side of the SoB plastic release in 2019, and will accompany my Saint Celestine and Geminae posted last week. I have two Immolators to do too, in honour of my friend's dear Mum who sadly passed, I will name them after her - she was a Battle Sister if there ever was one!

Thanks for dropping by. Cheers, Siph. (5 painting points - one already posted complete, Imagifier could be classed as Character, but 2pts will suffice)

14 Dec 2018

Abaddon the Despoiler Conversion from FW Horus Lupercal

Hi All,

So previously I've been working on my Abaddon the Despoiler model, using the Horus model as the body and then parts from the original model added to create this version.
Previous posts are found at:
https://weemen.blogspot.com/2018/03/abaddon-despoiler-wip.html
https://weemen.blogspot.com/2018/11/abaddon-despoiler-wip-2.html

The model was a conversion, (or kitbashing to some..) that I've planned for a while. I really like the size of the Horus model, and felt it was the appropriate size to represent Abaddon in the 'true size' 40k world of today. I also was keen to get the model finished prior to the new model being shown.

The model has had knee pad elements cut from the finecast version, and then had them added to the Horus version using green stuff to fill in any gaps. The 'Waist band' was also added from the original model. These were elements that made the original model I felt. These fit in to get the character right.
Using green stuff, I built the piping around the Torso, trying to make them big enough, but not too big to take over the head of the model, for which I used the class head. The wires were made with a green stuff roller.

The sword - Drach'nyen is from the original which has been modelled onto Horus' hand, rather than a hand swap- this adds to the model with the angle of sword to the arm.
The Talon of Horus is a combination of both models versions with the claws from the original added to the Horus claw. I've also modelled the claw so that it has an Ultramarine Primaris helmet in the claw, about to be crushed as Abaddon looks at it. The helmet is a spare from the Primaris captain model. I've also added the original spikes to the armour, as it needs spikes, I've also modelled an eye of Horus onto the left pauldron with green stuff.
I've used a metallic black for the armour, and then picked out details as seen in images of Abaddon.  The only additional part is the cape, which I feel adds to the feel of the model. I've got for a rich red inner to match the red leather around the waist and pauldrons, and a deep purple exterior
Drach'nyen I've painted with a mix of purples, blues and a hint of green, similar to the original images on the 1995 codex. The Talons are painted with a hint of purple along the claws to add to the 'baddie' look about him. Blood for the blood god has been added to add to the dead helmet with the blood added to the floor beneath the claw.
The base was kept to a minimum colour scheme as not to take anything away from the model. 
I'm really happy that the model, and the overall look. Its what I was aiming for when I started the project.

Thanks for Looking! Lord Halfpenny

10 points to the annual painting total (any extra for the conversion Siph? :)

10 Dec 2018

Adeptus Sororitas - Sisters of Battle - Saint Celestine and Geminae

Hello All, thanks for having a look-see. I am posting my latest purchase, not my own work but beautiful so I wanted to share. I bought these via eBay, a commission piece by an artist and seller "paintingcoach", a fair price, not the cheapest but certainly I believe when it comes to commissioning, you do get what you paid for (except if using Blogger Buddies rates - insanely cheap Nick Thrower and Rob Hill buddies!), not the most expensive either and I think he did a great job!
I chose what scheme I wanted them in, gave a few Internet examples and Lloyd 'paintingcoach' did a great job matching my requirements, good communications throughout, a little quiet at first I admit - but he was doing another commission which he told me about any delays, but once started on mine I received regular updates and sample photos. Trustworthy, well packaged and a decent commission all round. WeeMen recommend.
I chose golden classic armour for Saint Celestine and heavenly white wings, a nice glow from her pupil-less eyes and ethereal doves.
The rich red of the cloaks contrasts well and ties in all three. I chose Mephiston Red as its a really nice red.
I chose black armour for the Geminae to tie in with my Alternative Sisters of Battle fledgling force, quietly growing in the to-do pile... I'll post progress when I get some done. The black allows St Celestine to pop even more, and whilst the Geminae wear black to tie in with the force, they also stand apart with the move curved power armour and gold bling than my puritan Sisters.
A great commission, one more thing from the Triumvirate off my to-do pile mountain so I'm happy. So little time and so much to do... if that's a familiar thought and you have the funds, hit 'paintingcoach' up via eBay and get a commission you can trust (I'm not sponsored by him in anyway, just my opinion and experience).

Cheers, Siph.

7 Dec 2018

Be'lakor The First Daemon Prince Conversion

Hi One and All,

Steady week on the painting front, with both Abaddon and Be'lakor getting a lot of painting love. For this post I'm showing the completed Be'lakor conversion that I've done.
I've used the above picture from the codex as inspiriting for the model, I also had a 'spare' Balrog model from the Lord of the Rings game, the model was originally going to be used as a Skarbrand model.
I've converted the models hands and sword from the daemon prince sprue, these were green stuffed into place to make sure the fit was perfect.
The colour scheme, using the above picture as my guide is a simple black undercoat, black over that, with a wash, then highlights. The daemon cloth and should pad were picked out in purple to match the purple sword. The wings were painted with an old 'Elf Flesh' with a wash of sepia over that.The flames were picked out with an initial Memp' red, then heavy highlighted with Troll' Orange and then Flash Git' Yellow.
I'm really happy with the overall look of the model- definitely pleased with the conversion.

Cheers, Lord Halfpenny (10 Painting Points)

3 Dec 2018

BatRep - Blood Angels Vs AdMech and IK - 1850pts

Hello All, I recently had the opportunity to battle a work colleague and friend with his finely painted Blood Angels. I chose my AdMech army as I have not used them since 7th and asked if he would like to face an Imperial Knight - I know they are not every ones cup of tea, but his Smash Captain was very keen to test his mettle... It was a maelstrom of War mission - Spoils of War, any Secure Objective X could be won by either player whilst the card was in hand, and any captured cards were added together at the end of the battle - the player with the most gains an additional VP. 
Blood Angels consisted of 3x5 Scouts, Aggressors, Baal Predator, DC Dread, Libby Dread, 12x Jump DC, Chaplain, Sanguinor, Smash Captain and Lieutenant accompanied with 2x Culexus and a Callidus Assassin.
AdMech comprised of  Dominus, 9x Fulgrite Electropriests, 10x Rangers, 2x3 Breachers, Onager Dunecrawler, 3x Castellan Robots and Datasmith, 2x Sydonian Dragoons, 5x Sicarian Ruststalkers and a Knight Errant.
We set up six objectives, rolled for sides, placed our armies, the AdMech gained a +1 to the roll but first turn went to the Blood Angels, and AdMech failed to seize.
BA Turn 1 - The Aggressors moved up to a crater for some cover, the Scouts on the right flank start to defend Objective 1. Behind them, the Scouts behind the promethium pipeline secure Objective 6. The DC Dreadnought, Chaplain Sylvanus and Smash Captain Fox move up to the central Mechanicus platform structure. The Libby Dreadnought also moved forwards behind the jump Characters. Shooting from inside some ruins the Baal Predator made short work of one Torsion Cannon wielding Breachers.
The Assassin Execution Force make their presence known, the Callidus appearing 4in behind the AdMech lines and charging the Rangers whose panicked volley managed to take a wound from the approaching shadow before dispatching two of the Rangers. The Culexus (Culexii?) appear on the central Mechanicus platform and in the building next to the Scouts holding Objective 1, but both fail their charges.

Blood Angels secure Objective 6 for 1VP and start to defend Objective 6 but two failed charges meant no First Strike earned. BA failed to complete No Prisoners. BA 1VP (1 card) : AdMech 0
AdMech Turn 1 - The Sydonian Dragoons speed forward lining up to charge the Scouts defending Objective 1, the Electro Priests move forward to charge the Culexus in the ruins opposite. The Breachers line up their Torsion Cannons for a gravity bending volley toward the DC Dreadnought in the centre taking a ht but his Black Rage meant he shrugged of 4 FNP wounds! The Ruststalkers move toward the centre Mechanicus platform and the Kastellan Robots change protocol to Protector and the Knight Errant completely fails to harm the Aggressors but struck them with his Heavy Stubber failing to get past the Gravis armour. The Datasmith seeing a disturbance in the noosphere targets the Culexus opposite him on the Mechanicus platform and stripped him of two wounds. The Onager Dunecrawler Neutron Laser found its mark and stripped 6 wounds from the Baal Predator, the Breachers failed their shots with the Torsion Cannons and left the Kastellan Robots to strip the Baal vehicle to 2 wounds. The remaining Kastellan who couldn't see the Baal Predator struck down 3 Scouts holding Objective 6.
In the fight phase, the Sydonian Dragoons stampede over the Scouts leaving one Scout and contest the defending. The Fulgrite Electropriests charge the Culexus and the Voltgeist Field slammed into the Assassin taking 3 mortal wounds before easily slaying him in combat boosting their Siphoned Vigour save to 3++ and securing First Strike for the AdMech.
The central platform saw the Sicarian Ruststalkers challenge and slay the second Culexus Assassin, normally a tar pit beast hitting only on sixes and invulnerable saves but Transonic Blades made short work of the warp anathema.
The Callidus Assassin fared better, two more Rangers fall. In the Morale phase the ATSKNF Scout facing down two Sydonian Dragoons might have felt fear - and made a tactical withdrawal off the battlefield.  The Sydonian Dragoons orders were to Secure Objective 1 and the Datasmith Secured Objective 5. BA 1VP (1 card) : AdMech 3VP (2 cards)
BA Turn 2 - The Aggressors fire the Boltstorm Gauntlets ripping into the Sydonian Dragoons obscured by their incense cloud killing one before charging the remaining vehicle destroying it and the AdMech machine deliberately Explodes to seek revenge hitting the Lieutenant and an Aggressor with 1 mortal wound each. The DC Dread mounted the centre platform charging the Sicarian Ruststalkers and killing them, the Librarian Dread used psychic Wings of Sanguinius to move to 7in of the Onager Dunecrawler but failed his charge. Smash Captain Fox and Chaplain Sylvanus made it into combat with the Onager Dunecrawler and the Kastellan Robots stripping the Onager to 1 wound only and taking one wound from a robot, shutting down overwatch with the Angels Wing Relic. The Sanguinor charged the Breachers sensing an easy win however his armour buckled and crushed as a lucky overwatch took 6 wounds killing the Primarch's representative outright! That charge was followed up by a wave of blood hungry DC jump troops wiping out the heavy battle Servitors.
The Callidus failed to kill any Rangers and in return they took a wound from her. The Baal Predator stayed in the ruins, the techmarine driver seeking the protection of the ruins for the rest of the battle in his wounded machine. The BA achieved D3 rolling 2VPs for Take No Prisoners killing Breachers, Sicarian Ruststalkers and Sydonian Dragoons. BA 3VP (1 card) : AdMech 3VP (2 cards)
AdMech Turn 2 - The Knight Errant did nothing again, targeting the Aggressors and fluffing his shooting, the Breachers aimed at the Librarian Dread taking two wounds off the Psyker but missing with two of the guns... everything else was pretty much in combat so had their shooting shutdown. The Electropriests and Knight Errant charged the Aggressors and Lieutenant, the Electropriests tore both units to pieces  leaching the life energy from the veterans and leaving the Errant to do nothing once more...
In the centre, the Dominus repaired the Onager 3 wounds and then he and the Datasmith foolishly charged the Smash Captain and Chaplain, triggering the Red Thirst once again, and the Captain Slayed the enemy Warlord. The Chaplain hit back at the Datasmith taking two wounds but the Datasmith Power Fist attacks were frustrated by the Rosarius.
The Rangers failed to harm the Callidus in combat and the Callidus danced around the robed warriors killing 3 more leaving just 3 Rangers in combat. The AdMech Secured Objective 1 again with the Techpriests and Knight. BA 4VP (1 card) : AdMech 4VP (3 cards)
BA Turn 3 - At the start of Turn 3 the DC jump troops repositioned using the On Wings of Fire stratagem moving across the battlefield to threaten the Electropriests. But, the fates turned against them and they failed their charge but small arms fire took out two Electropriests.
In the Psychic phase the Librarian Dreadnought used Smite to kill a Breacher and then in the shooting phase killed another leaving one Breacher. The DC Dreadnought charged the final Breacher and slew the heavy construct with ease - taking 9 wounds from the Servitor's 3 remaining...
The Captain and Chaplain battled the Kastellan Robots and Onager, the Captain smashing the Onager with ease, the Chaplain struggling with the high toughness of the Robots.
The Callidus slew another two Rangers leaving just the Ranger Alpha. The BA gained Big Game Hunter for the Onager Dunecrawler and the Captain also gained Behind Enemy Lines. BA 6VP (1 card) : AdMech 4VP (3 cards)
AdMech Turn 3 - After a brutal turn seeing half the force wiped out and the Dominus falling the AdMech felt the pressure and needed a break... The Priests stormed the DC Jump Troops, the Knight failed with his Thermal cannon for the third turn in a row so chose the easier cowardly path to charge two Scouts to try and gain Linebreaker tactical Objective and redeem some if little honour. The ElectroPriests killed 7 Death Company for two losses leaving 5 DC and 2 Electropriests. The Knight killed the two Scouts under his titanic feet. Elsewhere, the Callidus killed the Ranger Alpha and was free to move once more. The Kastellans fighting the Chaplain failed to harm the veteran and his Crozius smashed two wounds from one of the two robots remaining. BA 6VP (1 card) : AdMech 5VP (3 cards)
BA Turn 4 - Seeing only the Knight Errant and two Priests remained on the flank the Captain left the Chaplain and Callidus Assassin to deal with the wounded robots, using On Wings of Fire, backed up by the Librarian Dreadnought using Wings of Sanguinius both hammered into the unscathed Knight. The Death Company Dreadnought charged to assist the remaining DC Troops to squish one of the two remaining Electropriests. The Callidus took a wound from the robots.

The Libby Dreadnought and Smash Captain Fox smashed the Imperial Knight down to 9 wounds but the Knight struck back with Titanic Feet to wound the Captain twice. The Kastellan Robots hit back at the Chaplain taking him to one wound and the Electropriests dodged the Thunder Hammer of the Death Company. The Blood Angels scored Area Denial holding the centre and scored my Secure Objective 3 with the Baal Predator. BA 8VP (2 cards) : AdMech 5VP (3 cards)
AdMech Turn 4 - The Litany of the Electromancer was enacted striking down the Chaplain with a burst of electrical energy from the Kastellans and mortally wounding the DC Dreadnought once. There was no shooting so straight to the fight phase - the Knight finally began his redemption, his Thunderstike Gauntlet ripping the Librarian Dreadnought apart and the sarcophagus was hurled at the Smash Captain mortally wounding him twice, now down to 1 wound! That epic hulk smash secured Slay the Witch. The wounded Captain failed to take the Knight down only taking one more wound leaving the Knight on 8.
The DC Dreadnought failed to hit the Electropriest, in return the Priest empowered by the Litanies perhaps, struck down two more DC Thunder Hammers, leaving just one who in his Black Rage failed to damage the Electropriest!
Elsewhere, the Kastellan Robots slew the Chaplain and Assassin and consolidated towards the central Scouts lurking on the central platform and out of the path of the Baal Predator guns and out of my deployment zone scoring Advance. BA 8VP (2 cards) : AdMech 7VP (3 cards)

BA Turn 5 - With the AdMech clawing themselves back into the running, the ElectroPriest had to die! The Smash Captain failed to damage the Knight, the Electropriest failed to get past the DC Troop FNP, the DC Dreadnought finally smashes the Electropriest. The Knight Errant finally redeems himself, taking the Smash Captain down under his feet, giving AdMech Slay the Warlord. BA 8VP (2 cards) : AdMech 8VP (3 cards)
Ad Mech Turn 5 - Back on an even keel and with the Imperial Knight surviving the Smash Captain and Librarian Dreads attentions he was now free to set his sights on the remaining DC Dread. The Thermal Cannon for the first time hits its target taking 6 wounds off the DC Dreadnought, and the Kastellan Robots claimed Objective 4 in the centre wiping out the Scouts lurking there with volleys of Phospher Blaster rounds. The Knight Secured Objective 6 and scored Kingslayer in the preceding turn, so risked Objective 6 by charging into combat with the now wounded Dreadnought, staying within 3in of the Objective but needing to slay the Dreadnought to claim the Objective at the end of the turn - in familiar territory the Knight smashed the Dreadnought with its Thunderstrike Gauntlet once more hurling the carcass at the nearby DC Troop slaying him too! BA 8VP (2 cards) : AdMech 11VP (3 cards)
A bloody battle, swinging both ways and finally the Imperial Knight rose into ascendancy, all that was left on the battlefield was a wounded Baal Predator, AdMech had two Kastellan Robots and the wounded Knight Errant. The final score took into account the Objective Secured Cards - BA 8VP (2 cards) : AdMech 12VP (1 VP for 3 cards). An Adeptus Mechanicus Win.

The Smash Captain performed as expected, tearing down large multi-wound machines, but an unlucky missed round of strikes in Turn 5 meant the Knight could squish him and then tear into the DC Dread. The star of the show for AdMech was the Siphoned Vigorous Fulgrite Tehpriests - once they get the 3++ they stay around and the Voltgeist Field giving Mortal Wounds on the charge if 6+ is rolled is really handy and helped deal with the usual tar pit Assassin. Resisting a DC Dread and DC armed with Thunder Hammers for several turns whittling them down, killed a Lieutenant, Aggressors, Culexus, DC Troops.

What didn't perform well was the Torsion Cannon Breachers, one shot on BS4 is not good in 8th, multi shot Heavy Arc Rifles are probably more reliable. The Culexii placement was not great and they died but that was a symptom of them failing their charges, not knowing the Voltgeist Field mechanic and an unlucky Gamma Pistol shot followed by Transonic Blades making short work of them.

A great game and thanks to On_Wings_Of_Fire, check out his Blood Angels on Instagram.

Cheers, Siph.