2022/2023 To-Do List

 

Hi folks,

In previous years my To-Do lists have been extremely optimistic, including far too many projects for me to possibly complete in a 12 month period. As a result, a bunch of projects from last year have carried over to this year. I have deleted a couple that aren't a priority anymore and included a couple of extra projects that have been bumped up the list. I am not quite sure what will be in my 2nd Edition Tyranid list yet, but you can be sure it will contain all of the classics.

Here's my list!

2nd Edition 40K

Legion of the Damned

Legion of the Damned Chaplain on Bike

Legion of the Damned Techmarine on Bike

Legion of the Damned Bike

Dark Angels

Ravenwing Squad

Ravenwing Attack Bike

Chaplain in Terminator Armour

Master of the 3rd Company

Callidus Assassin

Tyranids

1000 point Army List

9th Edition 40K

Dark Angels

Redemptor Dreadnought (DreadTober)

Hellblaster Squad

Intercessors

Infiltrators

Blade Guard

Talonmaster

Ravenwing Attack Bikes

Ravenwing Bike Squadron

Imperial Agents

Culexus Assassin

Inquisitor Erasmus

Iron Snakes

Whirlwind Scorpius

Iron Snakes Bladeguard

Iron Snakes Terminators with Thunderhammers

Orks

Boyz (with The Boi)

Nobz (with The Boi)

Warboss (with The Boi)

Deff Kopters (with The Boi)

Kommandos (with the Boi)

Squighog Boyz (with the Boi)

Objective Markers

Fortress of Redemption

Ammo Dumps

Age of Sigmar

Sylvaneth Dryads

Druanti the Arch Revenant 

Warhammer Underworlds

Grashrak's Despoilers

Skaeth's Wild Hunt

Elthain's Soulraid

BattleTech 

Jade Falcon Mixed Star

Jade Falcon Mixed 2nd Line Star

Ghost Bear Command Star

Ghost Bear Scout Star

Ghost Bear Assault 2nd Line Star

Foxfire Scout Lance

Foxfire Pursuit Lance

Foxfire Assault Lance

Foxfire Support Lance

ComStar Heavy Level II

ComStar Command Level II

ComStar Support Level II

UrbanMech

Daishi Widowmaker

Space Hulk

Blood Angels Boarding Party

Cypher

Genestealers

Objectives

 

2021/2022 Hobby Season Review

 

Hi folks,

This hobby season I feel like I have been achieving just enough to keep everything ticking over. At least half of the year has been spent contributing to the 2nd Edition Army Challenge, which is amazing fun but all-consuming. My Legion of the Damned project was particularly intense, as it involved a lot of free-hand and conversion work. As a result, a lot of other projects have fallen by the wayside due to lack of time. The exception would have to be the time I chiselled out to help my son with his Orks, which I wouldn't give up for anything! Let's take a look at what I managed to complete in 2021/2022:

2nd Edition Legion of the Damned

These models are a pretty accurate reflection of my dream army circa 1996! I have a couple of models still left to paint, but I was feeling a little burned out after the challenge (pun intended). In particular, the army needs a Techmarine to be playable.

Iron Snakes

My Iron Snakes army is probably my favourite collection, so not working on them grates on my nerves a little during the year. I did manage to finish this Captain in gravis armour to lead my fire support elements; he's a beast on the counter-charge.

Van Diemen's World Devils

Every now and then I add to my mate Wade's collection of Devils. They are all sculpts from Victoria Miniatures. The addition of Ogryn-sized slouch hats to their model range was a masterstroke :-)

Space Hulk Dark Angels

These Deathwing Terminators double as a Space Hulk boarding team and some elite "first born" auxiliary for my urban Dark Angel army. I painted them in the old Deathwing scheme, which is stark white.

DreadTober

For DreadTober last year I painted this Imperial Knight Warglaive. I only have one in my 1500 point list, which is perhaps a mistake, but I liked the idea of having a little "Patroclus" running around with my larger "Achilles" Knight Preceptor. Always a joy to be painting the blessed verdigris. The custom parts (sword and helmet) were all from Taro Modelmaker.

Oscar's Orks

Painting 40K with my son is a real long-term project. I haven't pushed him very much, but have jumped in whenever he has shown interest. He has built up a 500 point army so far, which can table my Tyranids in 3 turns! This season we painted a Squig Buggy and Ghazza himself. My son generally puts down all of the layers and even some very fine details (eyes, lenses etc). I then help him with the washes a little and some of the more fiddly edge highlighting. There will certainly be more of these next season.

Hive Fleet Numereji

With the new Tyranid Codex I have been working on adding some extra details to my mostly-painted Nids, including colour shifting carapace armour and lighter claws. The first completely finished model is my converted Deathleaper. I am really enjoying working on them every once in a while, but I will have to post a list and get stuck into some of the bigger monstrous units soon, which will be a challenge.

I guess that is it for the season. I have a bunch of ideas for the next To-Do list, but that will have to wait for another post.

See you across the table,

Marc

Ghazghkull Thraka with the Boi!!

 

Hi folks,

Blog posts have been few and far between this year, but that doesn't mean I have been sitting around doing nothing on the hobby-front. This month I worked with my son to finish off this monstrosity. The Boi is at the stage now that he can accurately lay down layers, including some very small details (eyes and glyphs, for example). He had his first go at dry-brushing and we spent a whole session working on highlights, which he was really proud of. 

He had a really good go at using washes, even though he spilt half a bottle of Nuln Oil. I had warned him about them and I always keep a wad of blue tac on the bottom of each bottle, but it somehow still ended up on the floor. He was a bit bummed until I showed him all of the posts on social media with people doing exactly the same thing 😂 To finish him off I added some edge highlighting and added the Goff's classic checkered pattern on the shoulder pads. In our games together he has been enjoying the using the Goffs and their exploding 6's (more about that later). 

He was super excited when he woke up in the morning and I had completed the final assembly. Both of us are very happy with the final result, particularly as we worked on it together and so many of the techniques used were his first ever attempt at the skill. I find the little guy's colour choices refreshing; there are a few things I would have done differently but this is his army and I wanted him to have that ultimate control over the scheme. "The boss needs his bling!".

Here are some final shots of the finished product:

I have been suffering from some decision paralysis when it comes to other projects; I just don't know what to work on. With DreadTober coming up I am thinking about switching back to my 9th Edition urban Dark Angels and getting them closer to completion. I have a Redemptor Dread ready to go as the centrepiece of that list. But I have also just got my hands on the new Tyranid Codex and have been adding a few more details to my swarm. Decisions, decisions...

See you across the table,

Marc 

2nd Edition Army Challenge Round 3 Complete!

 

Hi folks,

May was the final month of the 2nd Edition Army Challenge, run by Dr The Viking over at Cowabunga Journal. With over 20 2nd Ed. enthusiasts contributing it was amazing to see the final showcase of armies. The forces painted were diverse, painted in all different styles but each oozing with that '90s 40K flare. My model count at the end was a little embarrassing, you really don't get many Legion of the Damned marines for 1000 points, but I don't think I would have had time to do more even if I wanted to. Each required a huge amount of preparation time and the free-hand work was wonderfully time consuming. I really have to tip my hat off to the folks who painted 50+ models, just amazing!

Reflecting on what I have managed to put together, I have to say I am very proud. This was the kind of army I was dreaming of when I started in 40K. It's not prefect by any stretch, but it has the vibe I have always carried in my heart. When I painted them back in the '90s I encountered heaps of painting, modelling and logistical challenges that I never really overcame. For example, I always wanted a model for Sergeant Centurius, but being a limited edition model that was only available overseas, I was told time and time again that I would never get my hands on one. I could never settle on a way to paint the Dreadnought's powerfist, so repainted it many times. One time I painted it (as I have done during the challenge), but decided it was too garish! It's back now in its old glory. I also simply did not have the brush control to do much free-hand back in those days; all that work on my Iron Snakes has finally brought me to a level where I can give it a go.

I still have a few models to paint before I can truly call this army complete. I think I am going to aim for 1500 points in total, which will include some more bikes, a techmarine and a Chaplain (both on bikes). The techmarine I had put aside as a bonus model will probably now get bumped down the line and join a future 2nd Ed. army, which means I need to convert one of the bikers I have left over.  At this stage, I am not sure whether I will punch on with them immediately or have a little break, as I am feeling a little burnt out from the scheme.

The last model I painted for the challenge was a Landspeeder. I painted it in a bunch of sub-assemblies but it went together easy enough. They are a bit of a pain but if you take your time and let certain parts set before you do the rest it is a lot easier. Overall I am very happy with how it turned out, though I wish I had added another bite of bone to the front somewhere.

The best part of the challenge has been catching up with other vintage 40K collectors and gamers from around the world online. We share so much more than 40K in common, it is a shame we can't all meet up and have a few games together. Im hoping to meet up with the Australian challengers, so hopefully I can post some retro battle reports here soon.

See you across the table,

Marc