Damn and Blast - I'm an idiot

My order from Dark Sphere arrived today  I've only gone and oredered the Tomb Kings book instead of Vampire Counts.  My own daft fault - now I have two copies of Tomb Kings and none of Vampire Counts.

I'm a plonker of the first order.

Long Overdue Update - Revived Interest

I kind of fell out of love with the hobby a while back after buying a load of the new Warriors of Chaos kits when the new version of the book came out.  Not through any dislike of the new rules or models - for the record I think the new models were superb - mainly because I got a bit overwhelmed by the pile of stuff I had to paint (it's a lot!).

However the recent Nagash release got me a bit interested again and while looking at a video of the new model on YouTube I happened across a most excellent channel by a couple of guys who seemed to be having a blast with Warhammer.

Reef and his mate Martyn produce long format videos that are a hoot to watch.  They cover an eclectic mix of war gaming related topics - mostly Warhammer Fantasy but not entirely.  Even though some of the videos are around the 4 hour mark I really suggest you check them out.  They are irreverent, down to earth and at points hilarious.  It's refreshing to hear from people who don't take the hobby as seriously as some - after all "it's just toy soldiers".

So what has this got to do with anything? Well listening to their rants and passion has really re-sparked my interest in the hobby again.  I've started painting my models and could even see me having a few games with  the Gobbos.

My last post - way back - was a list of things I was working on at the time.  Some of it did get finished and I'll probably start the blog with an update on where my current army stands and some of the things on the list that I did complete before I fell out with the plastic crack.

And finally a look at a model I mentioned I'd started on way back here

I'm well chuffed with this as I tried really hard to be patient and take my time painting it to a high standard - really pushing myself with some new techniques.  It's no 'eavy metal but certainly one of my best and makes a fitting general for my army.

Projects On The Go

Plenty on the go at the moment.  Just a quick summing up.

Dreadfleet
Progressing quite nicely.  Having completed all but three of the ships (Heldenhammer, Bloody Reaver and Flaming Scimitar) I decided to take a break and start on the scenery pieces.  Have currently finished all the rock work and now need to paint up the details and the water on them.  Quite happy with the results.

Mighty Fortress
I managed to get this item immediately prior to the latest price hike, and thought it would complement the new Blood in the Badlands Siege rules I purchased.  Finally finished assembling it last night, along with a bit of custom battle damage on one of the towers.  Just need to undercoat it, base coat and drybrush - should be a quick process with the new airbrush and hoping to finish it tonight.

Mighty Empires
Bagged two sets from ebay for next to nothing and currently contemplating how to paint them.  Got a few ideas but this project is currently on the back burner.

Wood Elves
The missus has asked me to help her finally complete the painting of her Wood Elves army - I think she was embarrassed because even the kids had managed to complete theirs.  I'm working this weekend so won't get to start them until the next weekend but everything has been under coated so should be able to zip through the few units she has left.

Warriors of Chaos
Still got a few models to finish painting - A sorcerer (2 actually), Lord, and a bunch of marauders (who are half done).

Scenery
Also inspired by a picture in the new Battle in the Badlands book I am planing to scratch build a watch/bell tower.  Got some plans in my head which I hope to put on paper.  Just ordered some materials for it - notably brick effect plasticard, from a new on-line shop I discovered - www.anticsonline.co.uk.  Great place with loads of cheap materials and even discounted Games Workshop items.  Added to my favourites!

Miscellaneous
I spent most of last weekend clearing out the garage and when complete I ended up with a massive space - thinking of maybe building a hobby station and war game table in there - still undecided.  Can't decide whether to build a set of legs for my current base board or just to order a couple of folding tables to sit it on.

This post was just intended to be a quick update - as well as a place for me to keep track of what I have on the go.  Will post some more specific details - with pics - later.

Ghostly ship sighted on horizon

Just finished the Shadewraith.  Love this ship and enjoyed painting it.  Very simple process - grey base, green wash, grey highlight - couldn't be easier, and the airbrush made the basecoating even easier.

Ahoy!

The Wizard has moved in

As soon as the first rumours of Skullvane Manse appeared I knew I wanted one.  It’s a fantastic looking item and looked like a great addition to the tabletop.  Ordered mine as soon as it was available on the Games Workshop site.  It arrived a while back and I immediately set about assembling it.  The kit itself is massive, but offers little in the way of customisation out of the box as it is mainly made up of several large pieces that just fit together.  I say fit, but even with lots of glue and hard work the fit is still quite poor and results in a number of large gaps.

After the application of some greenstuff (I need to practice with this stuff as it is currently difficult for me to use) I undercoated it and put it to one side.  My intention was to follow the painting guide in the December ‘11 issue of White Dwarf but the first step suggested spraying it with Charadon Granite.  I’d been contemplating buying an airbrush for a while now but thought this would be a good excuse to buy one and use it.  The choices, however, were vast and being a complete beginner I had no idea what to look out for.  I did some reading up on finally decided on a model that was on ebay.  A few days later I had it in my hands

Good or Bad?  Who knows? I love it though!

It was time to give it a try.  I thinned some Charadon Granite, got the manse out and got down to it.  Wow – wish Ihad bought one sooner – what a great way to quickly paint.  If I’d done this with a brush it would have taken me ages, but in no time I had a thin even coat on the entire model – I’m converted!

Anyhow, with the main basecoat on I could get down to the rest of the paint job.  Didn’t take too long – completed the entire thing over two sessions and I’m happy with the results.  Not as stunning as the version in the marketing materials (pfft! my paint jobs never are!) but looks good.

A worthy lair for any astromancer

Plan to get the airbrush out again this weekend and use it for my Dreadfleet Shadewraith ship.

As you can probably tell, I’ve finally cleaned the camera lens!

Welcome to my abode

Finally got my hands on the Fortified Manor House and have to say I was even more impressed with this kit than I was with the chapel on its own.

Lots of sprue fluff and a whizz to assemble.  I’ve painted everything up now apart from the fences and dry stone walls.

Terrible photograph of it – but I’m really pleased with the paintjob – especially the brickwork effect which I got from a very good blog that detailed a more realistic method of painting them than that detailed in the GW guide.

Next in my sights is the recently announced Skullvane Manse, Lair of the Astromancer – as well as something a bit older, but more on that later.

Meet Asharah

My new Chaos Sorcerer.  Fantastic sculpt from Raging Heroes.  Better than any of the GW models – can’t wait to get this one assembled and painted.


She’s very much daintier than the GW models, but the detail is incredible.  Very reasonably priced too – with a couple of assembly options – the above picture shows her in vampire mode but she also has a Chaos Sorcerer option.  Will post more pictures once I have her painted.

Do you feel inferior?

Another bits of scenery added to the collection.  Scenery is my great love, and I prefer building and painting it doing anything else.

An elf way stone and a Chaos warp stone – and a girly wood elf betwixt them.

Failcast, FineCrap and other names…

You’ve probably heard them all and I have too but I was trying to avoid them until the reported problems went away.  However, on a recent trip the rest of the clan bought me one as a gift and so I was off on a rollercoaster ride.

Took three attempts to get a model that was usable – not good for the price – but I can’t fault GW for the customer service.  In each instance they unquestioningly replaced the faulty model.  I say replaced – they actually just sent me a new one so I now have a few spares!

The detail is great (difficult to judge in the dreamy picture above – must clean camera) when you finally get one that isn’t full of holes or just badly miscast.  Looking forward to painting it.

Guess what I bought!

I was weak – and the box was so tempting!

Only painted the above so far, and played through the first scenario – but seems like good fun.

I desperately need to figure out why my camera appears to be going all romantic with blurry round the edge pictures!  I suspect when the Gobbo Gobbo took the camera for her homework project she must have put her disgusting fingers on the lens.  Hmm where did I put that cleaning cloth.

A lakeside view

A quick and easy pond!  Made to shut up the Gobbo with the frogs – who was pestering for one ever since he found out about the skinks special rules.

I experimented with PVA glue for the water effect – turned out great the day after I made it, but then went this strange milky colour a day after that and has stayed that way ever since.  Still looks good enough though – and the Frog Gobbo loves it.

Mrreegghehllleeebluergh

“Aha”, I hear you cry.  “There was also some Chaos Spawn in that pile!”  And you would be correct.  Assembled one and painted.  Not a lot to say about it really.  The kit has an awesome selection of components so these beasties can be customised in a bazillion different ways – such is the will of the gods of Chaos.

My little darling took on the visage below – and he thinks Papa Nurgle was kind!

I'm watching you!

Down from the frozen North

You may have seen in my last pile of purchases a box of Chaos Marauders.  The plan was to beef up my current small band to a mighty war host – well at least add another few ranks anyway.  Well the latest models have been assembled and are standing in line ready to be painted.

At the same time I also went to the effort of magnetising the movement trays for the whole of my Warriors of Chaos army.

After reading a few tutorials on the ‘net I came to the conclusion there was no right and wrong way to do it.  So I just ordered a load of flexible metal sheets and a bunch of magnets – the really strong rare earth ones (I won’t attempt to spell the name – I’d only fail!).  Really pleased with the results.  In the end I plumped for a ‘hidden’ look – so you can’t see the edges of the movement trays – makes movement measurements much easier to do.

Sorry about the absence

Things on the blog front have been very quiet lately and I want to apologise.  I know I made a promise that I would not let this blog descend into the swirly pits of the internet abyss and I stand by that promise.  Unfortunately work has been very hectic at the moment and most of my waking moments are spent sorting problems – resulting in long days and very little weekend time.  What little time I have had free I have been busy painting and modelling – and as such the blog has suffered.

Things are easing though so I’m going to try and update the blog a bit more regularly.  I do plan to cheat a little though – I’m about to write up a number of posts about the projects I’ve been working on and schedule them to appear.  They will therefore look as though I am adding new content over the course of the next week or so when in fact I’m probably off on another painting spree (or work spree if I’m unlucky!)

Rats in the house

Bought these on a whim from someone on warseer.com


Both the Frog Gobbo and I had a hankering for a force of Skaven but not sure when I will get time to sort them out.  In the meantime they will no doubt stay in the box biding their time- till the blood god awakes!

I'm going to the chapel and I'm gonna get...

Spent the weekend putting together the new Warhammer Chapel I got last week.  Have to say the kit is a joy - one of the ones Games Workshop have got right!

To begin with, this thing is dirt cheap.  The official price is £15.50, which is what I paid, but look around and you can pick them up from independent stockist much cheaper. You get a lot of plastic for that money - and all of it beautifully detailed.  The amount of sprue fluff is awesome - allowing a myriad version of chapels to be built.  Personally I wasn't aiming for the chapel look - more a random warhammery house so much of the fluff is still on the sprue, but will come in useful for scratch builds or conversions.

Assembly was trivial but I wasn't really looking forward to painting such a large model, however, I fell across the painting guide on the Games Workshop website and once I got underway it turned out to be a complete joy to paint.  The initial stages are a bit frightening as the paint scheme starts out bright yellow (Iyanden Darksun to be precise) but the later process soon tones this down and the final scheme looks great.  It's also dead easy for a melon fisted dauber like myself.

My new abode.

As you will know if you read my last post, I actually wanted the fortified manor set but that wasn't available at the store.  I've now ordered one online which should be winging its way to me right now.  Can't wait for it to turn up so that I can have a go at another chapel and the watchtower.

Also managed to build a few other pieces of scratch built scenery over the weeked - but I'll probably cover them in another post.

News flash: GW Profits soar!

Had a bit of a splurge and got a whole bunch of models.

I guess this weekend is going to be spent assembling, gluing and painting!

You'll notice a chapel in the above pic - I had wanted the Fortified Manor set but they didn't have it in at that store (seems the shelves were full of Dreadfleet - but that's only to be expected).  The Chapel won't got to waste though - you can never have enough scenery.

Just need to find a good guide to painting it now.

Points if you can identify all the kits in the above picture!

Watch out! Gobbos!

I'd promised my daughter a copy of the new Orc & Goblin rulebook but she wanted a box of fanatics too.  Was browsing ebay and stumbled upon a guy selling both as well as a bunch of other gobbo bits and bobs - had a speculative punt and managed to win the entire lot for less than the book and fanatics would have cost from GW - was well chuffed.

My copy of Warhammer, The Generals Compendium also turned up today.  So all in all a good day.

Do I really want to do this?

During a recent bout of web trawling I stumbled upon a blog that recommended keeping track of all your expenditure on wargame items.  Unfortunately I don't recall whose blog I saw this advice on but did think it an excellent idea.

I'm about to start my own list - nothing fancy, just an Excel spreadsheet with details of each item, where and when it was purchased and how much it cost.

It's that last part that worries me though - am I ready to come to terms with how much money I spend on this pastime!

I'll report back once it's complete and perhaps we can compare - if you dare!

The New Warhammer room

Up until now our warhammer games have been played in the dining room, but for a number of reasons this has been far from ideal.  The main problem, as I see it, is that there just isn't enough room around the table.  The main problem as my wife sees it is that it means we can't eat in there.

Even after explaining that eating was secondary to playing my wife didn't agree.

The dining room taken over

The plan therefore is to have a dedicated gaming room.  When we bought the house last year we did so based on the fact that one of the spare bedrooms would be a 'Warhammer room' but things didn't go as planned, mainly due to lack of time, and it ended up just being a general TV watching room for the kids.

Time for all that to change.  Last weekend was spent clearing out the rubbish and re-arranging the furniture ready to begin the big conversion.  When the room was emptied it became obvious that it needed a lick of paint to freshen it up - which I'm planning to do next weekend.  Until then we've moved back in the TV and the old bookcases.

TV is going to be wall mounted.

The Gobbos in the new Warhammer room

So the ultimate plan is to paint the room - we've agreed on a light green - replace the old bookcases with some newer ones, possibly even wall mounted ones and to mount the TV on the wall.  That should give me enough space to build my custom, permanent games table - more on that in the future.