Back Once Again...

Hey folks

Half a year has passed since I last posted!

Moving house, getting evicted from new house....blah blah blah. Generally very minimal miniature time has prevailed! Sometimes real life just gets in the way and we have to get by, gaze longingly at Harlequin releases etc and get nothing done!

This last three weeks though, I am thoroughly back in the swing of things! My local game club; Club HATE (Hackney Area Tabletop Enthusiasts) has launched a campaign based on all things Badab.

General successor chapters are allowed to take part as well as the 'true' Badab chapters so I took the opportunity to update the Angels Sanguine and build some of my Christmas presents!

Three friends have joined too, playing Charcharadons, Lamenters and some other guys that I forget!

I'm hoping this means that a semi-normal service can resume here at the Grotto and some more interesting posts than this one will follow soon.

Uploaded a small stack of pictures to give an idea what I'm up to at the moment :)

Raging Heros: Toughest Girls of the Galaxy Arrive! Lulu pic

However long ago it was now (my memory sucks) a friend and I pledged on the awesome looking Raging Heros kickstarter for there soon to be released Toughest Girls of the Galaxy.

Basically three different types of army chicks that'd make awesome subs for the Imperial Guard...sorry, Astra Militarum.

Delays, resculpts and layers more detail added later we received the first few of our order late last week.

Here's a pic of the only one that doesn't need building to give you an idea of scale (the pic is a 'Lulu' - child snipers - so it's meant to be small).

I'll post more when I've built them and am not stuck with posting on my phone from the work canteen!

From The Chopping Board - Scion Commisar Kitbash

Morning/Afternoon/Evening all. Super quick post as it's way past my bedtime.

I've been building the odd Scion model here and there and they're all looking cool. I also received the stowage for my long range desert group style Taurox transports, hopefully they'll look great in the near future.

Back.to the men. I wanted a Commissar as it's the Guard, y'know? Guard ain't Guard with out a bossy guy in a flouncy hat threatening to shoot them!

I like most of the Commissar sculpts but none felt like they fit alongside an army of elite, teched up dudes.

Therefore I got the plastic one as, failing everything at least he comes with a hat that can be easily used elsewhere (the majority of it is a separate piece).

An hour or so of trimming, sanding and gluing later and we have what's shown in the pic! Gone is his pointy little face replaced by a standard Scion helmet. Gone too are his nasty jodhpurs and odd stance and his ugly-arse sabre; again replaced with parts straight from the Scion (sooooooo many bits in that box!).

He's come out pretty much exactly as I hoped! He might even just get to skip the building queue and go straight to paint!

Until next time everyone, thanks for checking in!

Today I Built A Zombie Chihuahua

It's becoming a bad habit, my blog tardiness. Apologies.

This time's excuse is pretty much just that I haven't focused on anything for weeks so have nothing to report!

I've started building axles for the Taurox conversions I'm working on so I'll report back on how they come out soon but, in brief, they're a huge pain.

I also bought the Malifaux McMourning box for some fun and because the models are amazing! Except for one...

The zombie chihuahua is small. Really small. Too small?

At what point does someone look at CAD designer's mock up and say "woah woah, people can't actually handle those pieces mate" or "hang on, aren't those legs too tiny to actually glue to anything that'll let it support itself?". See the photo's if you need an idea.

It's silly small. Yes they're packed with detail but its so small I'm yet to see a painted version that makes very good use of it all! It's a shame but I guess I'll see how I get on with it once it's based and the paint flows.

Sorry again for the big wait and then this substantial lack of content! I'll have a word with myself and get back to something useful!

Taurox 8 Wheeler WiP

I promised myself Eldar were next. I'd finish the Dark Angels, sell the Grey Knights and redo all my old, beloved 'Dar.

Then GW took it upon themselves to release the Knight Titan and I had to have one. That was the quickest I've ever bought-built-painted something to finish ever. I love it, I'll be getting another. But now onto Eldar...

Then GW took it upon themselves to release Scions and the Militarum Tempestus. I would resist. No more distractions from my one true love of 40K. Eldar time!

THEN my friend gave me some Scions because I spent he whole of the Friday at Throne of Skulls helping him paint his Tau. Bugger. Now I had Scions I might as well have a Taurox right? Right??

Imperial Knight - WiP

Throne of Skulls is on Friday and the objective is to have this guy up to scratch of at least reasonable table top quality. Here's where I'm at from two evenings paint...

The pic with the Deathwing is the one with the leg armour in the right places.

Doesn't look massively different to the previous 'in pieces' shot I posted but that trim took a good while. Also done washes, silvers etc. Two evenings to go!

Imperial Knight Progress

I'm trying something new to enable to keep the blog up to date - small posts!

Because I'm SO unorganised I always, as any regulars will have noticed, end up doing catch up posts and back tracking. Or I start something new and then forget to update about it until it's finished.

It's mainly because, for 'full' posts I use my camera and computer. So, to get smaller, less long winded, updates I'm trying the smartphone/app route. Let's see if it works right?

I, like most other 40k folk, got excited about the Imperial Knight release. Then I realised it solved a couple of issues I have with my Dark Angel Army - namely taking a weight of fire off the bikes and also killing tanks.

Today I've got.it from black to a bunch of base coated pieces. I'm painting it in 22 pieces at the minute - it's a pain in the arse.

I am quite pleased with the diamond pattern shoulder though!

More mobile updates soon!

Tardiness, ToS and 2014

It's over two months since my last post...oops! Sorry for that. You've not missed much, honestly. I had Throne of Skulls, a (small, minor) heart operation (!), and Christmas working in a clothes shop. The Grotto has very much been on a back burner, along with most hobby stuff.

Painting: 48hrs To Go Until ToS Time

Toward the end of last week I posted with plans of an action packed few days over the weekend getting stared painting my Dark Angels ready for Throne of Skulls a little over a week away. I also promised updates.

Unfortunately for the painting a friend came to stay for the weekend at short notice...nothing like being two days behind before you even start!

I got some done today so here's how it's going...

Painting: Dark Angels ('Dualwing')

It's been a few weeks since my last post because I've been putting off the inevitable: PAINTING.

Goddammit though, I have to bite the bullet sometime.

That sometime is now. A week on Friday a few friends and I head to the GW November Throne of Skulls at Warhammer World. Last time I was there I ad a pretty sucky timebecause my 5th ed Angels Sanguine got trounced. Repeatedly. No fun. 

To mend that I'm taking an army I don't really know, it's really my play style and that I've barely practiced with. On top of that it needs painting. I essentially have five full days. (away with work, travel etc) so it's going to be a challenge for sure. Here's where things are at...

From The Chopping Board - Darkshroud Progress

I've been adding little bits and bobs to the bikers this week and finishing off the last few riders. It's not the most exciting for photo's so I'll show them when it's time to paint.

Yesterday I went back to working on the Darkshroud. I'd started working on it a few weeks ago and then put it to one side as I couldn't decide quite what to do with it.

Whole bunch of pictures after the jump...

Ravenwing Building Progress

My work bench has been in full production mode this last week or so.

Stacks of sprues. Two trays (and a frisbee) full of various bits and parts. Bikes pulled apart by hand. Thumbs sliced apart by knife.

You get the idea.

I came to a point of indecision with the Darkshroud - I think I'm going to entirely rebuild the front turret as part of the body. I put it to one side so I can come back to it after sourcing some parts and having thought about it a lot.

In the mean time I've been doing all the tedious jobs involved with this hobby - scraping flash lines and drilling bolter barrels (two different diameter drills per barrel). You know the stuff.

Today I started on the Command Squad which will be five men with the grenade launcher and banner option built as well making 6 total. You can see where I'm up to in the top picture. Aside from that I've added a few slightly different riders to break up the standard rather static pose. Here's a couple of them for now:

This Sgt is a super simple bit swap with a head from the Drakshroud and a Grey Knight hand. I also doubled up his wing banner things on the bike to bring it in line with the Dark Vengeance Sgt.

This guy is using one of the very old Dark Angel upgrade pieces (I think from early-ish 3rd edition?).

This chap is the rider from the Heresy era jetbike which I converted into Sammael (see last post). He didn't fit the bike too well so he needed leaning right forward to reach the handlebars and is pinned at each joint.

Lastly here's one of two attack bikes. This is the old metal-plastic hybrid model and I lost the gunner and used the melta for the old converted Stormraven. The old version like this had the gun on the stand rather than the rail so I could have built it all but decided to have a little fun instead. 

Initially the gunner was going to be stepping from the sidecar but it looked like he's kneeling. Not cool. So then I thought 'why would he be not staying sat down?' well if his driver is dead leaving him a sitting duck of course.

So I killed the rider. 

Open hand from the Sang Guard kit, straight bolt pistol arm, drill holes. Job done. His other hand has been blown off but still dangles from the handlebar! I showed a few friends this on Facebook and they said I had to play it as single wound, no +1 toughness (as he's off the bike) and either no move or always difficult terrain. I said 'hahaha, no'. 

I'll be making a downed biker for one of the other squad too. I also have a couple of (hopefully) cool flamer conversions on their way too. Pics of all that soon.

See you all soon!

Dark Angels Mk.II - Ravenwing & A Little Deathwing

Table top::most of new army
Table below: so many more bits to add!

Hi All,

I'm finally getting back into the hobby swing of things here at the Grotto. After my 'quick' Deathwing project ground to a halt over the last couple of months I've finally had another couple of games.

Getting the dice back rolling is always a good boost to anything gathering dust on the work bench.

With a mixed bag of results under my belt from the Deathwing I'd built up it's time to take a step back and see what I can change with plenty of time before ToS rolls round in November.  

The gist of it is - add more bikes!

After the break check out where I'm at with a few conversions and general plans...

7 Weeks Away - Slow Progress

My last post was 7 weeks ago tomorrow. I've been lazy, and lacking enthusiasm.

But no longer!!

Facing up to painting up my third Marine army in a row (Blood Angels, Grey Knights then Dark Angels) sapped me of all enthusiasm.

I actually packed away everything and started to get back into drawing. It's been a nice break!

With Eldar, my first 40k amy, released last month I'm getting back toward looking forward to models again. As the picture above says, there's no point working on things you want to be good if you don't have the enthusiasm to make them so!

Painting: Deathwing

In the two or so years I've been blogging away here on the big old internet, and across the 90-ish posts I've thrown out there, there has been ONE completed model shown on these colourless pages!

It's time for a change dear reader!

Even the picture to the left, designed to be my 'painting article' header is out of date - I've recently started using a wet pallette (how did I used to cope without one??? If you keep thinking about doing one, DO IT) and recently have been getting some practice in with my airbrush.

Anyway, onto todays project: getting the Dark Angels coloured in...

From The Chopping Broard - Cataphractii Deathwing Knights Build Finished

I'll keep this simple as it's past my bedtime. I'll just slap up a bunch of pictures with minimal writing...

I did little but work over Easter, apart from yesterday when I had time to finish off my Knights and start of Sammael's Jetbike. Everything is still WiP to different degrees. Knights are 90% finished apart from a little tidying up. Sammael (just Corvex at the moment) has a fairly long way to go yet...

From The Chopping Broard - Cataphractii Deathwing Knights

Hey folks.

I'm keeping this brief today as I really, really need to go eat, but I know I won't have chance to post after food tonight or over the Easter weekend.

So, we went to Throne of Skulls. I got my arse kicked 4 out of 5 games. Kinda expected. Two losses were close (the kind I'd have won if the game hadn't ended on turn 5), two I got tabled. One I won. I had a good weekend but I'll leave it there before I start complaining to make myself feel better!

While there I (of course) bought some stuff I really didn't need from Forgeworld - Cataphractii Terminators and a Scimitar Jetbike:

The Scimitar is destined to become my own version of Samael, I have quite a bit of work planned for that model, though it'l be well after I start painting the Deathwing.

As for the fancy Terminators they're in the process of becoming my Deathwing Knights. I've not done much in the way of WiP but will do a post on how I built them another time. For now, just a quick blu-tac mock up will have to do for you. I'm THAT hungry!

Hope you like the look of them, more to come after the weekend hopefully. Happy Easter :)

Throne of Skulls - Today!

It's just gone 2:45am here in London. In 8.5 hours I'll be on the train to Warhammer World in Nottingham for March's Thrne of Skulls tournament.

Of course, the fact I'm awake means my army is definitely not as painted as I'd like it to be, but I've reached a cut off point where 'they'll do'. Last time I pulled an all nighter and couldn't actually count out dice by the time I was part way through my first social game!

So I probably shouldn't be updating the blog either oh well...

The additions to the army were a Furioso Dread, a new 'naked' Sgt, an attack bike and another Stormraven. Here's my work tonight:

Pretty much nothing in the army is 100% finished but these guys are my bare minimum level I can let myself stop at. Plenty more work on these to come.

Happy how this Furioso has turned out, despite having totally misplaced his left shin guard!

My converted Reclusiarch

Custom objective marker (also in need of paint)

Whole army, from left: Death Company with Reclusarch, Assault Squad, Assault Squad with Priest, Stormraven, Furioso, Attack Bike, Stormraven and Death Company Dread

That's all folks. I'm taking my camera so will hopefully have some photo's to post come Sunday or Monday. Bed time!

Left Handed Frag Cannon

I know, I know - not the promised painting progress. Instead of painting one thing a day I'm doing bits of everything all at once so there's not yet much to show.

What I have done inbetween layers drying/whilst watching the first Grand Prix of the season is fit my Furioso with a Frag Cannon.

His unipue pose required it to be on the wrong side though - here's how I made it work...

Quick Update

Assault cannon bodied Sgt

Hey there.

Been a couple of weeks since I posted so here's a quick refresh.

Dark Angels are pretty much all built, just a couple of bike riders to finish off. The photo left and the ones further down this post show the (very simple) variety I've got from some of the DV miniatures.

The impending task is not finishing the DA build though, it's a brief trip back to Angels Sanguine.On Fri 22nd four of us head to Warhamer World for Throne of Skulls. Thisis likely the last time I'll run Angels Sanguine/the BA codex at this tournament, it's their third trip there and it's time for something fresh (*cough* Eldar *cough*).

I do need to get paint on them though. 6 Tac Marines, an Assault Sgt and finish off my second Raven and a Dread. I have one ay off before the 22nd - tomorrow - so I'll hopefuly be able to post this time tomorrow with some finished tabletop quality guys.

Azrael kitbash (with Ravenwing head and trimmed Deathwing watcher)

My list is:

Reclusiarch
6 Death Company (power fist, maybe an axe)
Death Company Dread (talons, hvy flamer)

Priest (jump pack)

Assault Squad x 10 (fist Sgt, melta, flamer)
Assault Squad x 5 (naked)
Tac Squad x 6 (combi-melta Sgt)

Furioso Dread (fists, hvy flamer)

Stormraven
Stormraven

In all the games I've played the troops all start on the table and pretty much get wiped out. Tournament scenery will see them die even quicker too.They o usually last long enough for the Ravens to come in though and, if they get into the enemy, they generally wipe out most things.

It's aaimed at being a fluff list over everything being optimised, though I think I'm likely in for some flak for two Ravens, we'll have to see.

By the time I got to doing the guy on the left, and realised that the standard chest piece fits this model it was too late for the other three! Still, not all identcal at least.

Beyond that I want to paint up some Malifaux some time and try and figure it out properly finally. I also have now owned my Revenant Titan for a year - time to bite the bullet and get building really! Good things are coming...

Catch you all soon!