Tyranids: Aliens-Themed Objective Markers

Hi folks,

Progress has been a little hard to come by the past couple of weeks. Real life is biting back hard with a return to work after the winter break. I have had these little objective markers floating around for a while, which I purchased from Combat Company. With the completion of my Ravenors and a lack of time to spend on bigger things, I bumped them up the To-Do list.

I chose a scheme that matches the colours I use on the heads of my Nids, with the dark "shell" of each egg providing some contrast with lighter base and "lips". I also added some goopy red bits to match the blood effects I have been using around the mouths of my critters.

The sculpts come in two flavours; let's call them twin-closed and open. The twin-closed ones look pretty gnarly with there thin sepia washed lips. I added some green to the interior of the open eggs, to match the colour I use on my Nid eyes, as well as paying homage to the Alien film poster:

Hopefully, some time over the next couple of days, I can find some time to post about my great ripper hunt. It was... epic.


See you across the table,

Marc

Tyranids: Aliens-Themed Ravenors TO-DONE!

Hi folks,

I have been waiting to use these Alien xenomorph heads for a long time. I originally bought them from Chapterhouse Studios to use on a unit of Tyranids Warriors, but with my Nids taking on a particularly snake-like appearance, Ravenors seemed like a more characterful choice. I like how the burrowing rules for Ravenors suit the project as well; maybe they don't show up on infra-red at all...

I have armed them with rending claws and spinefists, to give them some real sting in close combat and a bucket-load of shots. Using the Jormungandr strategy, they'll probably end up escorting my Zoanthropes into combat.

I have added a bit of gore effects to the mouths and upper torso on half of them (rounded up!), which drums home that horror theme I think.

I had a lot of trouble finding enough rending claws for the project. Sgt Waz kindly donated five sets from the Tyrannid Warrior sprues, but I also had to cut some old Genestealer arms to fit. Those arms already have a creepy pose to them on a good day, but I have also tried to pose the models to make them look like they are looming over unsuspecting prey.

Posting these guys on social media has been fun, because things like this always spark an Aliens quotes war. My kind of people!

Next on the table are some custom infestation markers (eggs!) and a whole heap of rippers (chestbursters!!). Skreeeee!!!

See you across the table,

Marc

Battletech: Heavy Command Lance TO-DONE!

Hi folks,

It was about two years ago that KuriboGoomba gave me this lance of Mechs to work on, having found them in the depths of his oldest possessions. They were beaten up to hell and caked in goodness-knows-what, requiring hours of laborious cleaning up. It was originally my intention to get them finished in time for his next Birthday, but I ended up doing something else for that. Sadly, he didn't make it to his Birthday this year; trust me when I say he would have loved this lance of Mechs.    Looking beyond the 7 particle cannons and 12 medium lasers locked and charged, the 300 or so tons of aggression and the adequate paint job, these Mechs are special. These versions of the models are no longer available due to a long going legal battle between the makers of Battletech and Robotech. They are also the designs that got us into Battletech in the first place and will always carry that sense of nostalgia. When Goomba originally received them he was blown away but didn't quite know what to do with them. Perhaps now we can call them done.


Battlemaster

A dedicated command Mech, the Battlemaster packs a punch with its PPC and suite of six medium lasers, two of which are rear-firing (to counter back-stabbing jerk-faces). Two machine guns round at the weapons load, though up close you are better forgoing fringe them to smash home a punch in the physical attack phase.

Warhammers

The classic Tomahawk Destroid design from Macross is a striking figure. With its wide-bore arm cannons, torso weapon clusters and asymmetrically mounted missile system, it has long been a fan favourite. In Battletech the design was used to produce the Warhammer Mech, a close range brawler that can still slam the enemy at range with two particle projector cannons. The only thing better than having one Warhammer in a lance of Battlemechs is having two of them.

Marauder

Based on the "Glaug" Zentraedi Officer's pod from Macross, the Marauder was KuriboGoomba's favourite Mech. Compared to the humanoid figures of the other Mechs, it is a decidedly alien design. It is an elegant Mech to play, sniping with its PPC's and light autocannon, using its medium lasers for close range brawling when necessary. If I had to choose, I would hide my commander in one of these and provide supporting fire from range, whilst my second in command rumbles up the front in the Battlemaster. I think Goomba would approve.

These models will form the command Lance of a Mercenary unit I'll be dabbling in. I haven't named the unit yet, so if you come up with any good names, let me know and I will consider it ;-)

See you across the table,

Marc

Old School Gaming: Birthday Edition

Hi folks,

Yesterday I celebrated my Birthday in the best way possible; gaming with my family and friends. In preparation for the day I had purchased one of the 2017 Championship Pokemon decks and challenged the kids to a 2-on-1 battle. After a great deal of team work shenanigans, the kids finally beat my end of game boss Pokemon. They then spent over an hour splitting up the new deck and absorbing the cards into their own collections; getting presents on somebody else's Birthday is awesome!

As the Sun went down we got the fireplace roaring and my close mates started rocking up, lovingly known as The Guys. Most of these guys I went right through school with, so we have been friends for the best part of 25 years. Most of us met through the large Magic The Gathering community we had at school (2nd Edition, if you would believe it), so that is what we played.

To a soundtrack of old 90's songs we debated the finer points of gaming etiquette and how it conflicts with the joy of attacking a whinger. Alliances were made and broken. Bad advice was given. Chairs were cursed. Great fun was had by all. It really warmed my heart to see so many of my friends in one place, under happier circumstances.

Lobstermen vs Minotaurs vs more Fungus. 

The next day some of the guys backed-up to play some Battletech, with Sgt Waz piloting a Phoenix Hawk LAM to victory in one game, and me winning the second game with a modified Timberwolf in a particularly brutal game.

Clockwise from left: Timberwolf, Warhammer IIC and Shiro. The Trooper had a close combat weapon in both games but never got close enough to use it!

I am busy painting up some more Mechs that I had restored for KuriboGoomba. They are coming along nicely and I should be able to post the final pictures soon. I was a bit sad that they weren't finished for a game today, but I was too busy having fun to get their bases done!

Left to right: Battlemaster, Marauder and two Warhammers. 

For my Birthday I received a brood of Zoanthropes to complete my 2000 pt Jormungandr list. Sgt Waz and The Trooper also got me an Eidolan of Mathlann for Age of Sigmar (Idoneth Deepkin). It is an absolutely stunning model, which I had considered picking up myself but prioritised other things (like Zoanthropes!). I am looking forward to painting it, but also a bit overwhelmed; it is really going to test me.

I also got a bunch of Magic the Gathering cards which I will talk about a bit more on Friday night, when I open them for Friday Night Magic (FNM). Tomorrow, now that the dust has settled a bit, I should be able to do some more painting and construction. Let's see what I can get done...


See you across the table,

Marc