Deathwatch - Corvus Blackstar Flyer - WIP #2

Hello one and all,

Another week of slow progress with the Deathwatch Corvus Blackstar. I've added a drybrush of grey to the hull, which was then given a full wash of Nuln Oil Gloss wash to remove any chalkiness of the drybrush. The model then had two edge highlights of increasing brightness tone towards the very edges of grey. The model will have a final highlight of Thunderhawk Blue once completed.

I've started filling in the gold/silver details. These will get a couple of washes, then highlights.

The engines have had a coat of silver over them, which will then get a wash of Nuln Oil, then highlights.

Steady progress - the model stat wise might not be the best flyer in 40K at the moment, but it looks beautiful! Cheers, Lord Halfpenny.

Relictors 4th Company Ancient and Techmarine

Hello all, thanks for dropping by. I recently was browsing eBay and saw some Relictors up for sale, only a couple of squads but the scheme looked to be able to fit in with mine and I wanted to give them a new lease of life (or death) on the battlefields of the 41st millennium, so I bought them and then adapted them to fit my existing forces.

The rather impressive Company Ancient already had a freehand banner and the fortuitous "IV" finial atop the banner pole, (its a reversed "VI") so I overpainted the purple trim to match the 4th Company green, added the 4th Company numeral and added some script.

The Ancient himself was tidied up, pauldrons repainted with green 4th Company trim and the icon white. The leather was redone brown, cloak highlights reapplied, golds picked out, details done and the helmet re-painted bone to signify his Veteran status. The purity seals were repainted and he was rebased using 32mm adapters. Quite a significant change from the gloss coated original.

Why I bought these particular Marines was for the rather ornate flaming censer backpacks and the Command Squad 'book' icons on the backpacks giving a unique yet Relictor feel. These were old metal Dark Angel robed marine sculpts so fitted as Relictors come from UM and DA geneseed.

These particular ones actually have the original Relictors Chapter badges on metal sculpted pauldrons, so rather than rip them off to match my own 'skull' decal I have used extensively, I will keep these and limit them to Command Squad, Character and Sternguard roles.

Since the 8th Codex dropped I have been on the look out for a basic Techmarine too, healing D3 wounds back on to my Venerable Dreads or tanks is too good to pass by, a cheap HQ option too. This job lot came with this rather nice chap.

Again, the flaming censer backpack and this one holds an auspex and a Mechanicus Axe/Wrench, ideal for a basic servo-armed Techmarine, all my other Techmarines are Thunderfire Techmarines with full harness apparatus.

Again, I repainted extensively, picking out details and redoing the pauldrons and feet to Techmarine reds, the leather in brown and rebased to 32mm. The skulls received some Contrast Skeleton Horde.

Some awesome eBay re-appropriations for my growing 4th Company and extensive 5th Company! And yes, a distraction from getting my Primaris reinforcements done, but I wanted to get these done rather than add more to the to-do pile (like 10 Combi-Melta Sternguard...the other lot in this bundle) but now my 4th Company has a Company Banner to rally around and I'm rather pleased how these turned out after a bit of TLC.

Thanks for dropping by, cheers, Siph. (10 points, half points for Characters as basics were done) 

Adeptus Sororitas - Alternative Sisters of Battle - Squad #2

Hello all, thanks for dropping by, before the drop of the new Sisters of Battle line of plastic miniatures I felt I really had to get my alternatives painted and done before the release hits! 

Here is my second squad of my take on some puritan Sisters of Battle. I envisage these being a rather puritan and devout Order, more practical and substance, less baroque and myth - I know not to all tastes as the ornate bonkers bits makes 40K unique, but I got bored of waiting for plastic sisters. These are made using 3rd party Dreamforge Games Eisenkern Valkir Heavy Troopers and some Statuesque Miniatures Heroic Scale Female Heads.

I had to get these painted and out of the to-do list before the release of the much anticipated Sisters of Battle release next week! I will of course add to the ranks of my two squads with some of the new models as and when, I still have two Executioner Tanks of the older design to construct and build yet.

Again, I varied the heads with the Valkir Helmets too, to save painting so many faces and to give the more militaristic practical vibe. There are three styles, a Knightly Helm, a Vampish Helm and a Gasmask Helm, these were the Vampish Helms. I also found a really decent chap on Reddit to commission the faces, so I really lucked in and he did a great job on those. Thank-you Reddit user u/kooperkape. I think he did a great job compared to my efforts at the bottom of this post with the squad leader.

Here you can see I added some purity seals to link back to my other Sisters, the newer 'blinged up' range and the GW Bolters are from Betrayal at Calth Horus Heresy plastics.

A converted Melta Gun, using the muzzle from a combi-melta and the Dreamforge kit.

Here is a heavy Flamer, using the Dreamforge kit with the barrel subbed out for a SM Flamer nozzle.

And just looking at the Squad #1, I realise that this is the squad leader should be the original Battle Sister I converted way back when I bought the kit in Feb 2017! Well, I finally got around to finishing them before the new plastic release! Haha

Thanks for dropping by and go check out the new Plastic Sisters of Battle range, its very Gothic Grim Dark, looking great! Cheers, Siph. (9 points, one  done in 2017)

Adeptus Titanicus Choice of Legio Question?

Hello one and all,

I've recently picked up a box of Warhounds for Adeptus Titanicus, I love the models, and they look perfectly like miniature versions of the Forge World models.

Here is where I pause for thought, and the question for the post - have fellow titan players opted to do mini versions of their Forge World titans, or have they used this as a opportunity to try a new Legio? or side (Loyalist or Traitor).

Having read Titandeath and Doom of Molech I have found 2 other options that I like the look of other than Crucius, however, should I stick to my original Loyalist Legio? I do like the idea of having them to use both in AT and 40K, potentially sharing honours and kill markings across both formats.

What are your thoughts?

Thanks LH

Batrep - Necrons Vs Alpha Legion Chaos Space Marines - 1750pt

Hello all, not a massively detailed batrep as I generally have a good time in the moment and enjoy the game, but I do take some photos along the way and try to remember the best I can.

It was Capture and Control, 3 objectives with usual secondaries, and scoring at end of game not each turn. We rolled for deployment and got quarters, and it was 1750pts battleforged matched play.

I was playing Necrons (Battalion and Vanguard) vs a new opponent from work, Ben who was playing Alpha Legion Chaos Space Marines (Battalion).

Ben positioned his Rotor Cannon Havocs x2 behind the Promethium Pipeline, CSM squad and two Contemptors with Havoc Launchers and Reaper Assault Cannons with a Chaos Lord. A unit of cultists held the rear objective (in AdMech Building) and a Venomcrawler, Daemon Prince, Sorcerer plus more CSM made up the other flank. Another CSM squad positioned themselves in the backfield crater whilst a unit of 3 plasma Bikers were on the far left flank (top in above pic) and an infiltrated unit of 10 Beserkers were positioned in the cathedral (top right of 1st picture) nearest the Ghost Ark.

The Necrons were positioned quite far up in the face of the CSM, I saw not too many close combat specialists beyond the Venomcrawler and Prince and the Beserkers distraction - so wanted all my guns (max range 24in) to bear, and knowing Alpha Legion made -1 to hit at over 12in, I wanted to close to 12in rapid fire with a +1AP bonus for Mephrit Dynasty.

I positioned 15 Warriors on my backfield objective, 15 warriors up close to centre, 10 Immortals with the Lord in the chequered ruins, Destroyer Lord and 4 Destroyers (1 Heavy) by the Ghost Ark, the Triarch Stalker had Heavy Gauss Cannons so was happy to sit in a crater -  the Contemptors and Venomcrawler were the only real vehicles and I could see all three. The other two squads of Destroyers (one with a Heavy Destroyer) took the midfield and my left flank, mobility was not an issue. I also had 2x5 bases of Scarabs to tarpit.

I actually had 1st Turn and Ben failed to seize so it was destroy as much heavy firepower turn one and then speed bump with Scarabs and Warriors. The CSM bikers will be an issue turn 2 and the distraction Beserkers would have to be dealt turn 1 with with guns - plan was to move up to fire everything at short range to double my shots, improve AP and get around the -1 to hit. Ben chose to Go To Ground!

Turn 1 for the Necrons was quite devastating, the Triarch Stalker and 1 Heavy Destroyer managed 5 and 6 wounds on one Contemptor blowing him up to cause 3 mortal wounds on the nearby havocs, Contemptor and 1 on the Lord. That was a great opening salvo! I used Veil of Darkness to move the Immortals and Lord to the far left Gravatic Magnavent Platform and poured fire down into the remaining two Havocs of the wounded squad, killing them with Gauss even with -1 to hit and Gone to Ground and Cover.

On the other flank, the Destroyers and Scarabs moved up to face the lurking Beserkers, hidden in the church ruins but Gauss Cannons care not for close-combat fury and 5 were cut down and then charged by the Scarabs to prevent them charging the Destroyers.

In the Chaos turn, one squad of Destroyers were deleted by massed Havoc fire and buffed up, twice shooting Contemptor fire - ouch that combo really hurts. Elsewhere, large dents were made to the Warrior Squad in the centre, taking down 13 Warriors but at the start of turn 2, eight got back up! The Venomcrawler and Daemon Prince failing to wipe out the squad.

The Chaos Lord charged the Destroyers on the flank by the Beserkers, but a lucky Heavy Gauss Cannon overwatch to the face saw him fall without throwing a punch! The nearby Beserkers chewed through the Scarabs.

At the start of Turn 2 it was 1 VP each for First Strike.

The Destroyer Lord and the squad of Destroyers shot and then charged the remaining few Beserkers.

In the centre the other scarabs slowed down the Venomcrawler and the big guns targeted the Daemon Prince Warlord, taking him down. But being Alpha Legion, the Warlord changed and now the Sorcerer was the Warlord.

The Veil of Darkness warp-jumped Immortals and Lord ploughed fire into the rear of the Chaos lines, but failed to take down the Contemptor. In return the Contemptor buffed again with stratagems and psychic shennanigans tore through the Immortals taking down 9 of 10... but I spent a CP to auto pass morale and 5 stood back up at the start of Turn 3. Once again, failing to wipe the re-animation squads was Chaos' undoing.

At the start of Turn 3 it was still 1VP each. Objectives only counted at the end of the game, and the Daemon Prince wasn't the 'real' Warlord.

Turn 3 Necrons tore into the Venom Crawler with massed gauss fire and the Triach Stalker Heavy Gauss Cannons, wiping out the beast.

The ongoing combat with the Beserkers and the re-animating Destroyers saw the Destroyers pull down the final Beserkers and some shots from Ghost Ark tore down a Plasma Biker. In return the Plasma Bikers and nearby remaining Havocs destroyed the Ghost Ark, massed low damage weaponry getting past the Quantum Shielding.

The Lord and re-animated Immortals got in a better position to snipe the remaining Chaos Lord in the rear of the Alpha lines but failed to take him down. The Contemptor did fire at the nearby Warriors but without CP's left, no buffed double shots seriously hampered the damage output and poor rolls and cover saves meant little damage was done.

At the start of Turn 4, the Necrons were in a commanding position, in the centre taking the central objective and massing for rapid fire gauss at the improved -2AP would end the nearby Chaos Space Marines, the Destroyers backed these Warriors up.

On the flank, the now free Destroyer Lord and Destroyers eyed up the remaining two Plasma Bikes and the heavy guns of Heavy Destroyers and Triach Stalker eyed up the remaining Contemptor whilst the Immortals and Lord closed in on the rear objective held by the Cultists... and with the quick measuring up of his chances, the Alpha Legion knew they would not be able to re-take the centre, stop Linebreaker or dent enough of the re-animating robots so fled the field.

A turn 4 victory for the Necrons - it was getting late, so we didn't play it out. Chaos skulked back to the shadows and the Tomb was arisen!

A great game for both of us, new opponents, new forces for both of us and despite me warning Ben to concentrate fire and wipe re-animating squads, that is ultimately what undid the Chaos - 8 Warriors and 5 Immortals coming back was just dirty! And constantly as Beserkers tore down Destroyers, they popped back up. There was also the unfortunate overwatch casualty of the Chaos Lord and the scenario allowed me to set up and close the Chaos lines to overcome the -1 to hit outside of 12in, and also benefit from +1AP within Rapid Fire range. The best result was we both had a good time.

Cheers, Siph.

Relictors Space Marine Jump Captain w/ Teeth of Terra

Hello All, thanks for dropping in. I was reading the Codex the other day and watching some WintersSEO on YouTube and the subject of cheap HQ and Teeth of Terra came up - I was looking for a cheap HQ to head up a detachment, and Winters had made a Jump Captain with the Space Marine Relic 'Teeth of Terra' and the Warlord Trait “The Imperium’s Sword” which is a re-rollable charge and relic Chainsword - oh my, I needed one.

Never fear, by new found foray into Primaris Relictors continues however my to-do pile of 'old-Marines' is still huge and will continue to be chipped away at!

This Captain was made from Assault Squad base, Vanguard Veterans everything else and the shield
from the Limited Edition Forge World MKIII Boarding Marine with Thunderhammer. Game wise he
swaps his Master-crafted Boltgun for the Chainsword Relic, and drops the basic Chainsword for a Storm Shield.

I tried painting the exhaust vents for the Jump Pack, usually these are just drybrushed Leadblecher, but I did similar with the plasma on the Techpriest Manipulus and I like the effect here so much I am
tempted to go back and update my 20 Assault Marines, it's just Sotek Green with a brighter dot of Temple Guard Blue and a line highlight of Temple Guard Blue, simple but effective.

The big gold Pauldron reminds me of 2000AD Judge Dread, but ideal for a Captain, and the relic Chainsword 'Teeth of Terra' was a suitable blinged up Chainsword from the Vanguard Veterans sprues. The base from the newer Assault Squad gives a little more height.

And why - well, this Captain is mobile 12in and 'Fly' and hits like a ton of bricks against most Infantry, no he isn't a 'Smash-Captain' but he is a "Slash Captain" troop and squad killer, watch out castled up Hellblasters, there will be a reckoning - the Storm Shield 3++ ensures he gets across the table in one piece and avoids the Overwatch pain, then a Captain with Warlord Trait has a re-rollable Charge with 4+1 attacks, plus one for charging with Angels of Death Shock Assault rules, three additional for having the relic Chainsword (normally 1 extra for Chainsword), so (4+1+1+3=) 9 attacks on the charge, hitting on 2's, re-rolling 1's for a Captain, Strength 6 (user 4+1+1 for Teeth of Terra Relic and Imperium's Sword Trait), -2AP and 2dmg each. The two damage is the best as that kills Primaris each successful wound. And cheap to boot.

I wouldn't make him the Warlord as he'll be out on his own and will die to the counter-fire once they realise he is so good, I will look forward to unleashing him! Cheers, Siph. (10pts Character)

WIP Redemptor Dreadnought - Deathwatch

Hello All!

Hot on the heels of my first 2 Dreadnoughts for my Deathwatch force, is another one to add to their number. This time a Redemptor class dreadnought.

The model has been built to be striding forward, the kit has a number of options for the build which is great - I am not a huge fan of basic 'mono-pose' models, as you end up with all your models looking 'samey'. I think this is why the Deathwatch appeals to me, as you can convert the models to look like different chapters etc. like I did previously with the first 2 dreadnoughts.

I have built this and based exactly like the other dreads and the Corvus Blackstar with a metallic black over a base of Chaos Black. the left arm was then picked out with silver. A quick note, be very careful with this model if spraying the arms separately - I found I got some paint around the joint, which made it difficult to put the arms back into position.

I've opted for the plasma weapon for this dreadnought, I like the overall look of the weapon, and the stats are good too!

Thanks for looking! Lord Halfpenny.

Relictors Primaris Chaplain (Chaplain #7)

Hello All, so my Relictors are forgiven by Roboute Guilliman and bought into the fold of the Imperium once again and reinforced by Primaris Helix Astartes, but to ensure the purity and the steadfast devotion to the Imperium and not be swayed by insidious Chaos, taint from the Chaotic Relics the Relictors have stored away - Roboute Guilliman deemed it necessary to start with a Chaplain!

Not all my own work, not sure how I came across Black Hand Marines, but I saw in Heretic Deb's Store page that there was a very reasonably priced Primaris Chaplain for sale and with a little tweaking I could make him my own Relictors Chaplain.

The sculpt itself is a marvelous one, probably my favourite Primaris sculpt to date even, so I had to have one and I loved the leather effect Heretic Deb had achieved so with a few alterations to the base, pauldron, icons and a general tidy up on the metallics and underside I had myself a Primaris Chaplain ready to go.

Along with my other Primaris Marines in the works, gone is the glossy black pauldron, replaced with a matt finish Relictors icon and grey border, the Relictors Primaris reinforcements are not indoctrinated into specific Companies, but rather Command is held centrally so the Primaris Marines lack Company specific colours on the shoulder trim, just Relictors grey. When they are attached to a specific Company for actions, they do observe the Command structure as normal, I'm thinking the Primaris Ancient might have a 5th Company Banner as his Astartes Banner.

Chaplains are an excellent addition to the Primaris Space Marine forces, with the Litanies on a 3+ meaning you can tailor your character to boost firepower from the rear with the Recitation of Focus or Catechism of Fire or with a Jump Chaplain for example boost the attacks in the Assault phase with Mantra of Strength, Canticle of Hate, Exhortation of Rage or Litany of Hate.

An excellent start to my Primaris forces, some Intercessors in the pipeline, the two Scythes of the Emperor are now proudly wearing the new regalia of Relictors grey and I've even preserved the formal Red colouring for Sergeant helmets in accordance with the Index Astartes - I intend my Primaris reinforcements to be fairly strictly following the edicts laid down by Roboute Guilliman, I don't want to attract the wrath of the Lord of the Imperium and have ourselves Excommunicate once more! (Not to say a few Relictors character traits and decorations won't find its way onto my Primaris forces as I build and paint, got to inject some flavour in all this vanilla...)

Cheers, Siph (5pts - Character but half as not all my own work)

Lest we Forget...

Just a minute to say Thank-you, God Bless and Rest In Peace. 

Yesterday on Remembrance Sunday and today being Remembrance Day I am acutely aware of the sacrifice made by others in all walks of life, Service men and women; Emergency Services; Civilians and Merchant Navy, so I can forget about it every other day of the year and enjoy 'playing' with my WeeMen. 

Normal hobby blog service will resume tomorrow ;)