Dark Angels: Ravenwing Bike Squad TO-DONE!!!

 

Hi folks,

Just before I got caught up in DreadTober shenanigans I managed to finally complete this Ravenwing squad. It had been sitting in sub-assemblies for about 7 years, waiting for some finishing touches on the bikes. Well, those "finishing" touches took about two weeks to complete. I had purchased some sculpted bases during the last lockdown for them, and they took almost as much time as the bikes themselves to paint!

The sergeant is equipped with a combi-melta to really double-down on the anti-armour capabilities of the squad. He used to have a thunderhammer, which is not an option in the new Codex, unfortunately. His head is a Native American sculpt from Puppetswar, which my mate Wade kindly 3D printed for me.

The special weapons are both meltaguns, which I have posed like the old school plasma gunner. The pose was really easy on the sub-assembly, but getting them to fit on the bike was a bit of a nightmare.

The biker with the raven was one of the first models I actually completed. The raven is actually a Dark Eldar Razorwing sculpt. I managed to purchase a few more in resin before they disappeared from my FLGS, so expect to see a few more birdy friends on my Ravenwing figures.

With this project finished I am focusing almost completely on Dreadtober for the next couple of weeks, with the exception of tinkering with some Tyranid schemes for the next round of the 2nd Edition Army Challenge. More about that later... until then, it's double big stamp time!!

See you across the table,

Marc

DreadTober 2022 Progress: Part 1

 

Hi folks!

DreadTober has launched for another year of stompy shenanigans. I will be curating the progress shots again this year, which is a joyful but also very time-consuming process. Usually, around Week 3, I get the hang of it and remember all of the tricks I have used previously to streamline the process. Until then I will be flying by the seat of my pants!

This year I am working on a Redemptor Dreadnought. I am not a huge fan of the newer Space Marine models, so I have to admit that this on is still in the process of growing on me. It is certainly chonky, and I do love me some plasma. There are two options for the torso, to either have the sarcophagus covered by pot-bellied armour, or open. I prefer the open option but it also feels a little silly to walk around a battlefield like that. It can articulate, so I am sure I will flit between the two, but I am also going to convert it a little to jazz up the sarcophagus. 

  

This Dreadnought is going to be the centerpiece in my urban combat Dark Angels list, so I am hoping to add some bits to it to make it look a little more... tactical/infiltrator-ish. We'll see how that goes during the week ;-)

See you across the table,

Marc

 

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