Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Whoa! Check Out These Jet Bike Models!



























I found these on a Russian forum.



The old and the new





















I've got a lot of projects on the go these days with respect to this hobby of ours.  A lot of uncompleted projects.  As I was getting geared up for the Eldar release I've going through all my models organizing bits and seeing what I may or may not wish to use the the Eldar's reboot.  One thing that struck me going through the models was that I never finished my Flesh Tearers.  So I cleared some space for them and went to work on putting a list together that uses my painted models.  This is what I came up with:

HQ:

Seth

Elite:

2 Priests

Troops:

2 x 5 Assault Squads - Flamer, HB Razorback
10 Assault Marines - 2 Flamers, Rhino
10 Tac Squad - Flamer, ML, Rhino
7 Death Company
1 Death Company Dread

Fast:

2 Baal Preds - Assault Cannons

Heavy:

2 Storm Ravens - Plasma Cannons, Multi-Melta's

Total Points: 1840

So 40 feel no pain marines and Seth.  I've come to terms with Seth's limitations.  I railed against the common opinion of the internet but at the end of the day, Seth is ok but not great.  So what.  The Army is nearly completed and I went with the Flesh Tearers because of Seth's model.  I should at least finish the army.  Against a hard 6th edition list full of cronair, helldrakes and so on, the list is going to struggle.  C'est La Vie.  The point is to finish this army and move on with one exception.  I've left room to throw in a furioso dread with drop pod should I expand to 2k points.  I've the forgeworld dread model yet to assemble and paint along with the pod.  At the end of the day a fun army that despite its limitations should prove fun to play.  I also want to pit Seth against the odds and the 40k universe.

With that project nearly completed I also went on a bit of a frenzy and put the following together:




















I had split 2 DV box sets with a friend and had taken the Dark Angel side.  My buddy could not get behind the new Chaos Marines and we decided to swap mini's.  I had also picked up 35 chaos marines from a trade last summer so now had the makings of a horde style list.  As I put the models together I could not resist picking up a couple of the new kits as you can see in the above photo.  So the army I've put together comes in at around 1500 points as seen above.  The point level of games played at my FLGS on Thursday nights is 1250 so I'm in a position to get some games in with my new Chaos marines.  The list I've been working on completing is as follows:

HQ:
-Abaddon (have the old metal mini - thinking about placing his bits on the plastic terminator lord model)

Elite:
-Hellbrute

Troops:
-20 Cultusts - 2 flamers
-2 x 10 Cultists - Autoguns, Stubber, Shot Gun
-2 x 10 Marines - 2 plasma guns

Fast:
-Helldrake

Heavy:
-Maulerfiend

Total Points 1230

Not set on Abaddon but I thought it would be thematic to pit his army up against my Flesh Tearers.  I've managed to get one game in so far that was a blast.  Won't write out the list but it had everything in above photo minus maulerfiend and hellbrute.  Don't really want to expand much more, perhaps another maulerfiend.  Would like like to put in some Demon allies.

So that is the old and new aspects of my hobby as they currently stand.  It will all shift dramatically in a little over one month hopefully.  Still looking forward to the Eldar.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

I think Robotech may be the death of 40K.

I've ordered my "battle cry" Robotech boxed set that should come with a good number of miniatures next December. If Eldar or Lizardmen fail to capture my imagination, this blog might switch gears to a new game system. From what I can tell Robotech is going to be a great game. I sure hope 40k remains a great game. Who am I kidding. Of course 40k will remain a great game. It still is. The problem is they might not remain at the top. Kickstarter may be their downfall. With 3D printers and the ability to send an idea across the internet, GW better pick up their game. I will continue to pay the high price if they continue to bring me a better product. But what can I say, I like Robotech better than any other IP. Now kickstarter has brought me this game in a miniature format. GW better pick up their game.

Robotech Demo From Adepticon

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Fire Prism's Coming Together


















The Fire Prism's are coming together.  All that's left for the yellow is to touch up with some foundation paints to provide some depth then run some white yellow mix highlights   Also started on the base plates for the remaining 3 tanks.  White prime, deneb stone, devlin mud then wraithbone over wash.

Saturday, April 13, 2013

WIP: 2nd Fire Prism



















Still needs quite a bit of work but it feels good to be painting Eldar again.  Having trouble matching the yellow to the old yellow painted awhile back.  Part of the problem is matching the new GW paints to my old ones.  Need to paint up more yellow bits such as the grill on the side and the little tabs through out the model.  Also need to go back and touch up the crevices with darker base paint to make the panels pop a bit more.

I want to get the four above tanks finished with decals then I'll start on my infantry   Also, I think I'm going to drop the Falcon from the paint que.  I've two of the models and think that I should save them for a Corsair ally contingent to add to the army should I feel like it down the road.

Friday, April 12, 2013

Getting Ready for New Eldar Codex




















Whew whee the codices are flying now, and at the earliest we may see an Eldar codex is as soon as June.  Loving the pace GW has been setting and must admit its hard not to be fired up for 40k right now.  I put most of my miscellaneous models away and have taken some time to gamble on what to work on with respect to the Eldar.  Looking at the pattern of last releases I would say its safe to model/paint any plastic mini's one may have.  With that in mind I've put together a 1250 point list that I hope will provide a solid foundation for what ever changes may come down the pipe in June (fingers crossed).

The list:

HQ:

Farseer - Guide, RoW, Spear

Elite:

5 Fire Dragons

Troops:

10 Storm Guardians - 2 flamers, Warlock, Destructor, Wave Serpent, Scatter Laser
2 x 10 Avengers - Wave Serpent, Scatter Laser

Heavy:

Falcon - EML
2 Fire Prism's

Total Points: 1250

I think a solid foundation to build an army around.  Not interested in footdar right now as I've all the tanks built and primed.  When the codex drops I'm confident that the above 1250 point cost will likely drop by a couple hundred points leaving a good amount of points then to flesh out the army.

What I want to do with the new book, and I'm certainly gambling on, is flesh out the remainder of my troops choices with jetbikes (betting we get a new sculpt).  Throw in some flyers (more new models) and we are likely sitting at around 1850 point army that will be very fast and durable.  Then to fine toon with what ever new abilities the Exarch's end up with and other new toys that may become available.

As an aside I don't think mech is dead in 6th and that the wave serpent is still a solid choice.  Don't think we will see a dramatic points drop in the tank itself but I figure the weapon upgrades will become more in line with 6th edition costs.  I also figure we will see a retooling of spirit stones, holo-fields and perhaps a return of the crystal targeting matrix (skyfire perhaps).

I'm not sure if painting a falcon is wise but I get the feeling (and there are strong rumors to suggest) GW will be adding another falcon chassis based tank.  I suspect that if this rumor is true it likely would be another bridge to forgeworld and perhaps something akin to the firestorm anti aircraft tank might become mainstream.  Likely a dual kit if released.  Also, major fingers crossed, perhaps the falcon might become a dedicated transport.  At any rate I believe the model will be usable in the advent of a new codex so its on my que to finish painting.

Wish listing indeed but here's a few ideas I've been thinking about would make the Eldar stand out.  All are just random thoughts to be sure:

-USR for shuriken weaponry - Off the top of my head perhaps something like rending at reduced strength?
-A return of the wave serpent protecting infantry with its energy field as was once the case in epic.
-A unique Eldar physic chart and perhaps a loremaster ability ala fantasy rules
-Dare to dream an assault vehicle...

Just some random thoughts that are bouncing around right now.  At long last a strong Eldar book is around the corner.  Its hard not to be excited.