Project: 10 from 10 – One Box and My Imagination

Posted by johnnya10 on 01/12/2014
Posted in: My Painting and Modelling. Tagged: . 3 Comments

project 10 from 10 header

I wanted to bring you guys up to speed on a project I’m hoping to undertake in the new year that I want to really test me and to provide some variety to what I use in terms of paints and techniques. A year of the Mortifactors’ colour scheme has got me hankering for variety and I think i’ve found a great way to get that. The project stems from my love of one particular box (which I’ve worked with twice in the last year) and my desire to really push myself. So, what’s in the box?

burns mystery box

The box! The Box!!

Well, in many ways this is one of the most mundane, archetypal boxes that you can buy from GW – The Space Marine Tactical Squad. But as dull as that sounds, I maintain that this is a great kit. There are so many options, so many spares and so many weapons, that it gives you the chance to create a truly unique squad. Or, as I’m hoping with this one, a unique set of 10 sergeants…

tactical squad box

What’s The Plan, Stan?

I want to create 10 Space Marine sergeants from the ten miniatures in this box, holding a variety of weapons and in various poses. I’m only allowed to use the bits in this box, and a few spares from my bits collection (though I’m going to try and keep this to a minimum). Each sergeant is going to be from a 10th Founding chapter (hence the name) that I’ve invented as this gives me the freedom to really branch out creatively. It’s late enough that the old heraldry of the Legions has subsided/already been used up (or at least a fair bit has), and there’s not much detail about this founding in the existing 40k fluff. This will be my playground for this project.

I’ve already picked out 10 names of these chapters, and they range from those very much inspired by GW’s existing chapters and ideas, to things that I’ve dreamt up more in isolation. Here’s the list (subject to minor tweaks of course):

• Jade Tigers (White Scars Successor Chapter)

• Blood Hawks (Blood Angels Successor Chapter)

• Praetorian Consuls (Ultramarines Successor Chapter)

• Barbarians (Unknown)

• Cavaliers (Unknown)

• Dire Knights (Dark Angels Successor Chapter)

• Fire Sabres (Unknown)

• Conquerors (Unknown)

• Desert Spectres (Unknown)

• Iron Princes (Iron Hands Successor Chapter)

chapter colour design

I’ve already started dreaming up a bit of fluff for them (of course) and that list should give me plenty of space. I want to try painting techniques I’ve never worked with, trying to render materials and patterns and freehand work in GW paints that are completely new to me. This is a case of showing what can be done with this box, and what I’m capable of as a painter. I even want to base each one seperately and distinctly too. And all of this isn’t because I don’t love my Mortifactors (well, ‘love’ might be a strong word here) and they’ll continue alongside my other projects but this does definitely give me a chance to change things up colour-wise.

mortifactors tactical squad

What’s The Agenda, Brenda?

One each month. A single tactical sergeant each month should be something I can accomplish, and I might potentially speed up at the end of the project depending on how well I’m getting on. You see, this idea was inspired by my trip to October’s Golden Demon in a way. I wanted to work on something that could be a showpiece project but rather than going big and stumping up for FW Titan (one day…), I wanted to take the most basic, archetypal kit around and work with that. If I can’t make something special from something so simple, what chance do I have of doing it with something huge? That’s not to say that I won’t be working on something huge this year (probably will be at some point), but this is about doing the most i can with one of the most basic mainstay units in the range.

citadel-new-paint-range

And if it all goes super well, I’ll make some sort of display for them and throw them into the Open Competition at Golden Demon 2015. If it doesn’t, then we shall never speak of this project again.

So what do you think? A good use of my time in 2015? Comments and ideas below please!

Miniature Focus – Noise Marines

Posted by johnnya10 on 28/11/2014
Posted in: Thoughts and Comment. Tagged: . Leave a comment

They’ve not had many models over the years, but as one of the most unique units that wears power armour, the Noise Marines deserve some column inches. What’s more, it’s these guys that got me into Chaos, and made me forever pledge my soul to Slaanesh.

A Bit Of History

No_Sleep_'til_Hammersmith

Again, we have to travel back to West London in the early/mid 1980s when Hammersmith was a big centre for punk and heavy metal. Just down the road in Chiswick (a pleasant walk or a ten minute bus ride away on the no.267) Games Workshop was growing from a company that sold D&D miniatures to its own company. Is it any wonder that loud guitars found there way into the miniatures that were being created? I mean, when you’ve seen what Brian Ansell’s mullet was like back then, you can be pretty sure that those guys liked to rock out in the geekiest of ways.

old noise marine

So (along with the classic Goff Rockers for the Orks), the Noise Marines were born and were essentially, in the early days of 40k, just Space Marines with guitars and a questionable fashion sense. They were affiliated to Slaanesh and even the Emperor’s Children from pretty early on, but the were almost more of a novelty item than a real unit.

It was in 2nd Edition that Noise Marines got their first really usable, playable unit though, with the introduction of their three signature sonic weapons; sonic blasters, blastmasters and doom sirens. Each sold separately as lead/white metal minis in blisters, the maximum squad size was five. What’s more the sculpts were so goofy and bizarre, GW seem to have expunged all records of them ever having existed (there really aren’t many images of them out there).

2nd_ed_noise_marines

In 3rd Edition, a squad of eight miniatures was released (with three sonic weapons between them) and, aside from how you buy them, they haven’t changed to this day. This may be because Slaanesh is probably the least popular of the Chaos Gods (given how many miniatures and updates the other marks get), but it may also be because there’s also a little GW guilt about this unit. 40k is supposed to be its own universe and space marines playing loud music (sometimes on guns that still look a little guitar shaped) are bit too rooted in this century. Some people think the idea of Noise Marines is downright silly, and compared to the Thousand Sons, Plague Marines and Berzerkers, they don’t quite have the edge or identity that they deserve.

kakophoni

Rumours abound of an out of sync update to these miniatures some time soon but having waited since 3rd edition, not many Noise Marines fans are holding their breath. Though it should be noted that Forge World have done an excellent job both in terms of the Heresy era Legion Kakophoni and the Sonic Dreadnoughts.

Let’s Get Fluffy

When the Emperor’s Children were first seduced by Slaanesh on the Laer homeworld, the seeds of the Noise Marines creation were sown. Inspired by the dark new presence within the legion, a noted remembrancer named Bequa Kynska composed a symphony named the Maraviglia. Its debut performance brought with it hedonistic trances, demonic incursion and a violent orgy which brought the Emperor’s Children to a new low in their morals, and a new high in sensations. Discordant music made them, just as they would make discordant music.

NoiseMarine

One of their favoured captains, Marius Vairosean, was one of the first to utilise the sonic weaponry and as early as the Drop Site Massacre, hordes of deranged, thrill-seeking Emperor’s Children were marauding across the battlefield with Sonic Blasters levelled at the loyalists. By the Siege of Terra, the Noise Marines and the rest of the legion were too wrapped up in their own debauchery to take part in the assault on the Imperial Palace and spent their time on Terra marauding through cities and warping the general populace. When the Emperor’s Children split up into smaller warbands after the Battle of Skalathrax, Noise Marines were so numerous that each group included a significant number of these sonic weapon specialists, and many survived well into the 41st Millennium to reek havoc on their enemies with brain melting noise assaults.

dow noise marines

Time To Talk Tactics

Now, I’ve been told I’m a bit of a rebel with my Noise Marine tactics but I maintain they work for me so I shall share them here regardless of whether they’re the prescribed optimum or not. First thing’s first though – always take the doom siren. For the amount it costs and what it can do, it’s one of the best infantry mounted template weapons in the game. It always comes in handy and I’ve never not used one. What you do with the rest of the squad though is a little trickier as the other sonic weapons don’t really compliment each other.

Squads of five to ten guys with sonic blasters wading across the battlefield can be a great investment. Those salvo weapons unleashing huge volleys of solid strength shots (not great, but solid) can mess up infantry big style. Have a sorcerer walking with them and the right spells can give these guys relentless too. Ouch.

blastmaster

But I’m a big Blastmaster fan (it just looks better) and to use it, i’ve come up with a nice little tactic that makes it worth while. It’s a powerful gun capable of wounding multiple infantry or stripping hull points from vehicles so I like to take it in a squad of ten and camp it on a home-field objective in cover, using its long range to punish the enemy. If the opponent’s troops get too close, your other noise marines are all equipped with an additional close combat weapon and the extra point of initiative that comes with their profile. That’s a lot of ‘typically goes first’ hits in close combat on power armoured guys and it often means that the enemy really has to dig them out of cover. It’s held up for me a couple of times and though others might argue against it, it suits my style down to a tee.

If Looks Could Kill…

Noise Marine Illustration

Punk much? Metal much? Those old school Noise Marines from the Rogue Trader/Early 2nd era were all mismatched prints and vibrant colours and I love that look. It was a Space Marine painted like a light-induced headache. Regular readers will know that I still bring this into how I paint Slaanesh to this day, but that style has long since gone.

Blastmaster Noise Marine

The sonic weaponry has become its own thing now and no longer looks like and Washburn guitar. The weapons have become more dynamic but the look that GW promotes is far less rock n roll than it once was. In terms of colours we have the diluted purples and vibrant pinks lined with moody metals and black leather – far more a case of dominatrix Barbie than Motley Crue’s tour wardrobe. That being said, it has brought it more into line with the grimdark and the overall idea of the Emperor’s Children and their wider fluff. It’s a shame it couldn’t be both really.

Ah, The Memories…

noise marine blister

As I said at the beginning of this article, Noise Marines were the thing that drew me to Slaanesh in the first place and they still have a place in my heart and in the ranks of my armies. I used to bring three squads of them to war (including one that was badly converted from the Goff Rockers) and during the latter days of second edition, they cleaned house often. When I returned to the hobby a few years ago, they were among the first things I bought to paint, and regular readers will be familiar with my Dread and Knight wielding Sonic Weaponry. I guess I just always wanted to be a rock star, and I always loved 40k, so it’s kind of a no-brainer that this would be the unit for me. When I used to play bass, I even called my instrument ‘Blastmaster’ in tribute. Rock on.

In Conclusion

Games Workshop may not love them as much as they once did, but I’m still a big fan. They’re in desperate need of an update and right now I’d take a Finecast box over nothing. They just need to be look about 10% more Slaaneshi and 20% more Poison (as in ‘Every Rose has its Thorn’ Poison – I’m not saying GW should start making their minis out of actual poison). If the chaps in Nottingham could bring me some new Noise Marines, I would be very happy indeed.

modern noise marines

Did i miss some history? Do you think your tactics are better? Comments, questions and constructive criticisms below please.

INQ28 – Brother Exadon: Deathwatch

Posted by johnnya10 on 26/11/2014
Posted in: My Painting and Modelling. Tagged: , . 1 Comment

Brother Exadon

“… but we do not consider you to have deserted us, Exadon. You are fulfilling your duty, as prescribed by your own meditations, and confirmed by those of your company Chaplain. The more you learn of the Xenos threats in this part of the galaxy, the greater our strength will grow upon your return. Study your companions in this Inquisitor’s retinue as you would study your foes, and remember that one day you will almost certainly be called upon to despatch them or their kind. Know their weaknesses and their strengths as you know your own. The Emperor and Tezuka walk with you, and your brothers remember you in their oaths.”

– Chaplain Astador of the Mortifactors

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The fourth member of my Ordo Xenos team for INQ28 is now done, and I went with a bit of a classic – a Space marine of the Deathwatch. And guess which Chapter he’s come from. 😉 Well, I couldn’t not have a Mortifactor in there somewhere, could I? Welcome, Brother Exadon.

mortifactors deathwatch

This isn’t so much of a conversion as a straight up ‘kitbash’. The only time any converting was done was to change the sword to be held in a left hand rather than the right. Quite a lot of kits went into making this one though, so I should run through them here. The legs, torso and backpack come from the Grey Knights box, the helmet comes from the Chaos Space Marines box (Heretic!), the gun and Deathwatch shoulder guard come from the Deathwatch accessories kit, the chainsword comes from the Vanguard Veterans kit and I think both arms are from the Space Marines Tactical Squad box. How’s that for an informative run-on sentence?

The painting was a relatively simple affair too when you get down to it. Apart from the silver arm, the red gun and the bone coloured skull, it was pretty much a case of painting black with a few details here and there. But the silver arm is a good thing to look at because it highlights how I’ve changed the way I highlight with the minis in this INQ28 project. There is far less focus on basic edging and doing a lot more painting looking from the top down. Edges still often get highlighted, but only if they’d actually pick up light from light source directly above them. I don’t think I explained that particularly well and the photos don’t do this much justice here (can’t wait for that new camera) but it’s definitely a very different approach.

deathwatch shoulder

And of course the other shoulder has a skull, but you’ll have seen quite a few of those on this blog before so I won’t go on about it.

The Deathwatch are pretty darn cool. Elite even by Space Marine standards and drawn from every chapter, they are all unique and get to use some pretty special wargear, not least that bolter. The Mortifactors have always been a chapter that particularly dislike Xenos and supply an unusually large number of warriors to the Deathwatch. Brother Exadon joined the ranks of the Deathwatch years ago, but in his meditations, he saw an image of Inquisitor Joshan, stood beside a great dark figure, shrouded in shadow. He has now become Joshan’s personal bodyguard and the access he has to the Inquisitor gives him the opportunity to learn more about the aliens that threaten the Imperium, and also to follow his vision.

deathwatch backpack

So now that I have the big, burly Deathwatch Marine done (along with the cursed Eldar, the last true Hrud and a half human/half ork mutant), I think it’s about time I started work on the Inquisitor himself. He’s up next, so stay tuned for the final part of this warband for this year!

2015 Approaches – What Will The New Year Hold For This Blog?

Posted by johnnya10 on 25/11/2014
Posted in: Thoughts and Comment. Leave a comment

calendar-clip-art

As the nights draw in and this particular corner of Terra begins to resemble Fenris (or perhaps a slightly soggier deathworld), my thoughts are turning to next year. This blog was born in mid-December, 2013, and we’re fast approaching Heresy & Heroes’ first birthday. Despite not even being one year old yet, I’m looking at what I want to have accomplished by the time this place is two.

The Five Elements

captain-planet-kids

Aristotle only had four elements, so I’m guessing I’m going to be more like Captain Planet in 2015 as I have five points to work to for the next 365 (though I’m hoping to avoid the little gimpy kid who would coo ‘heart’ much to the chagrin of his confederates though they hid it well). Yes, there will be a five pronged (pentadent?) assault on the hobby from January and I’m going to tell you about more than half of those here. There are a couple of projects that warrant their own articles, so I’ll save those for now (yes, I’m a tease). What I’m putting in here will be of little surprise to more regular readers but I wanted to reassure you that the things you come to this blog for will be carrying on and improving in the new year. Here’s the skinny…

Mortifactors – With Added Skulls!

mortifactors army

What can I say. I’m hooked on these guys. I have definitely found my chapter and I want to continue working on them and really pushing the envelope in terms of defining the chapter in my own eyes. I want more squads, more armour and some experimental stuff in there too. I want options all over the board and while I’m confident of completing a 2000pt army this year (though it will be tight), I want to have a lot more than that by the end of 2015. I always said that I wanted this to be the sort of army project that might appear in Army of the Month in Visions one day and though I may not be at that level of quality to actually get in, that’s the sort of level I want to get to. Who knows – when I’ve added a little more, maybe I’ll submit it these guys to the White Dwarf team and see what they say! Rest assured though, more are coming.

INQ28 – With Added Grimdark!

ordo xenos team members

I’ve really enjoyed my first foray into this particular aspect of the grimdark and I want to do more of it. So far my conversions have been pretty simple and safe – focussing more on the painting aspect and getting a feel for more basic work. Next year, I want to start really delving into the weirdness. I want to riff on some John Blanche illustrations and let my own imagination run wild too. My original Ordo Xenos team may end up looking pretty pedestrian against 2015’s freak show. As for the current team, they may not be quite finished by the 1st of Jan, but they’re getting there.

10 from 10

ClassifiedStampCutout

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Records Not Yet Public

Sinphony of Bliss

heresy stamp

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Records Not Yet Public

Fun, And The Having Of It

Next year, above all things (but ironically near the bottom of this article), I want to enjoy myself. I want to have lots and lots of fun. I’ve spoken about it before here on this blog before, and I know all of you know what I’m talking about – sometimes, the hobby can be a real drag. It can grind and you feel like you’re working on a production line rather than taking part in something you love. Well, I’m going to do my darnedest to try and avoid that next year and with the variety I have here in terms of projects, and a pledge that if something comes out that I want to work on (regardless of the army) I will work on it, I should be in good shape.

fun-stuff

Like this, but imagine a Space Marine holding the umbrella.

I’ve had a relatively rough time with my health in the last quarter of this year and it reminded me that the most important thing to do is to enjoy things. Yes, I could go all over the world and see great sights and meet interesting people, and maybe I’ll get around to doing that, but for the rest of the time, I want the hobby to be something that gives me joy and comfort and a sense of accomplishment on a near daily basis. Yes, they’re little plastic men, but I like this stuff and for all the days when I’m not surfing the Grand Canyon or trekking through the Great Barrier Reef (something like that), I want to be hunched over my work bench with a smile on my face and a paint brush in my hand looking forward to the challenge in front of me. Time to start really having fun.

But wait! There’s More!

victorian camera

One of the best things about 2015 is that, starting in January, I will have my very own, brand new fancy pants camera to photograph all of my minis. I will be treating myself to a good DSLR and even some proper lighting equipment and a tripod so I’m hoping the look of the site will really improve. As many readers will know I apologise for the quality of my images in nearly every post and that really needs to stop. Not only will my new camera hopefully eliminate this issue, but I’ll also reshoot plenty of the old stuff too, and it will allow me to do better tutorials and showcases and much more besides. If that’s not something to look forward to, I don’t know what is!

I’m looking forward to the hobby in 2015, and I hope you are too. If you’ve got some specific plans of your own that you want to share, stick them below in the comments section.

Miniature Focus – The Tyranid Carnifex

Posted by johnnya10 on 21/11/2014
Posted in: Thoughts and Comment. Tagged: . 1 Comment

One of the very first big bugs to ever be produced by Games Workshop, The Carnifex has since become one of a number of Monstrous Creatures in the Tyranid range. To some of us though, it remains the original and best.

A Bit Of History

screamer killer

If you’re looking for a big bug on the GW webstore at the moment, you’ll find around 20 of them, but back in the early days of Second Edition, there was only one to choose from and that was the Carnifex, then called the Screamer-Killer. It was closely followed by a few others (the Hive Tyrant and Lictor among them) but it was the first big alien kit to see a lot of time on the tabletop (especially as it was almost impossible to kill) and it really pushed the boundaries of lead sculpting in the early 1990s.

The original model was deigned by Jes Goodwin and back in 1991, it was known by its Ordo Xenos designation (something that happily is still around to this day), the Screamer-Killer. It was thus called because of its shooting attack (apparently deemed more relevant than its huge claws) in which it utilised chemicals to help it create a high-pitched scream that exploded the brains of its enemies at range.

gw catalogue carnifex

As the editions moved forward, the Genestealer cults and smaller Tyranid broods gave way to a fully fledged army during 3rd Edition (with the groundwork being laid by the Original Codex Tyranids at the tail end of 2nd Ed) and the Carnifex began to fit better into its role as a member of an invading army as it had always looked a little too big in a cult. The model got a new metal sculpt too, but it lost a little of the majesty it had had in its previous form, having to sacrifice this to bring the look of the Tyranid army units more into cohesion.

gw carnifex

In the years that followed, it would get another (and much improved) update in plastic, making the kit larger again and giving it an intimidating bulk that has since been perhaps a little eclipsed by other sizeable monsters. Forgeworld also pitched in with kits for the even tougher Stone Crusher Carnifex, while the GW kit has more options for weapons too. It’s not the unstoppable monster on the table top that it once was, but for those of us that remember the original, it still inspires fear whenever it raises its ugly head on the opposite side of the table, and it can still pack a real punch.

stonecrusher

Let’s Get Fluffy

The Carnifex strain was constructed by the Hive Mind to be at the vanguard of the initial Tyranid assault. Its huge frame can not only provide cover for smaller aliens behind it, but its superior armour allows it to shrug off a lot of attacks. If and when it makes it into an assault, its claws can rip through flesh and armour alike with ease. So much firepower is directed towards these creatures in early assaults that the rest of the swarm can often reach its prey almost unencumbered.

screamer killer vs wolves

Standing over four metres tall and weighing in at around nine tonnes, this behemoth of an alien dominates battlefields and is often used in boarding actions when the Tyranid hive fleets encounter enemies in the vacuum of space. In the events preceding the Battle of Macragge (the first time these monsters were encountered by the Imperium), all attempts to engage the Tyranid bioships were thwarted, often with Carnifexes being deployed by spores or organic missiles into the heart of Imperial Navy and Space Marine ships.

dow carnifex

There is, among the ranks of Carnifexes, at least one with a unique personality and it is referred to as Old One Eye. It lost its eye (and initially its life) to a lucky plasma pistol shot. It developed the ability to heal wounds that might kill other Tyranid creatures and has gained some measure of independance having been long separated from the Hive Mind for an extended period. It is regarded as a great threat to humanity and the Inquisitors of the Ordo Xenos continue to hunt it to this day.

old one eye

Time To Talk Tactics

Carnifexes remain a very powerful unit that can really be the star performers of a Tyranid army. They’re hard as nails with a good toughness score and a great strength score, and they’re not that pricey when taken in their most basic form. But the star of many armies are the ‘dakkafexes’ which can use a pair of devourers to lay down a huge rate of high strength fire (and these are still not too pricey at all). The downside of these guns is that they have no AP number, but when you can pump out this many shots, you’ll be worrying all but the toughest armour. Terminators, Monstrous Creatures and Transports can be smashed to pieces by these things and if anything’s stupid enough to try and engage it in combat, it can still mess things up at close quarters too.

carnifex box

Close Combat-orientated Carnifexes have a slightly tougher time. They will draw a huge amount of shots away from the rest of the Tyranid army, but with an only OK save, they might get brought down well before they make it into charge range. They make a great part of a second wave though, especially if you can tie up some of the stronger enemy shooting units with more disposable troops. For many, a ‘dakkafex’ or two is an ‘autoinclude’ in their lists and the clawed and taloned variety often get a good look in too.

If Looks Could Kill…

Tyranid Carnifex Illustration

A lot of people point to the similarities between the look of Tyranids and the aliens from the film Alien that were inspired by the work of HR Giger. There are certainly elements in the Warriors that bear similarities, but the Carnifex holds a great deal more originality. The most you could say on that note is that they’re like aliens on steriods that have been bulking up and tacking on mass for a couple of years. They have always been huge and it’s only now, in the era of Imperial Knights, Forge World titans and Lords of War, that the Carnifex has started to look a little small. it always was the big monster of the army and it always should be.

eavy metal carnifex

The original model was such a hit back in the day and was really terrifying both in terms of Jes Goodwin’s sculpt and also the rules it came with. I wasn’t so much of a fan of its next iteration as it looked a lot less threatening and a lot more awkward. Today’s Carnifex has thankfully reverted to its menacing, hulking former self and really is a testament to how plastics can bring life to models. You can see it shoulder barging a Rhino out of the way, the bolter rounds deflecting off its armour as it bears down on a squad of Space Marines.

Ah, The Memories…

tyranid codex carnifex

Travel back in time if you will to the latter days of 2nd Edition. I had two squads of guard and a lone Ogryn left on the tabletop and one of these things was heading in their direction. The lasguns were useless, the grenade launcher was doing nothing and the first thing it did when it got into combat was munch the only guy with a power weapon that I had. After that, I just had to watch it eat through all of my troops. Game over. That’s where I get my fear of these things from. That’s why, when I see one of these things in the opposing battle lines these days, I throw everything I’ve got at it. It might be one of the reasons I don’t do so well against ‘nids, but there are plenty of other reasons as well. Plenty.

In Conclusion

Oldoneeye

This lumbering giant from the hive fleet will always have a special place in my heart and in my gaming nightmares (which thankfully are rare). I still call it a Screamer-Killer to this day – Carnifex is a fine and very Tyranidy name, but Screamer-Killer is definitely scarier – and I still love that first model more than today’s but the latest model still looks great. And for all the Toxicrenes and Haruspexes and whatever else they get, this will be my No.1 big bug forever probably. Kudos to that terrifying monster.

Do these bugs give you nightmares too? Are they your favourite mini? Comments below please!

INQ28 – Eshairr Lightblade: The Cursed One

Posted by johnnya10 on 17/11/2014
Posted in: My Painting and Modelling. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

inq28 eldar

“The paths of our kin wind through time and space, and to divine them all is beyond even the most gifted or studied seer. Lightblade’s path though is a cause for bitter weeping and for songs of lament to be sung. He has moved beyond the light but not drifted into darkness. Until he discovers the truth within his heart, within his soul, he can never be Eldar. He has entrusted himself to Joshan Thor Terran, the one who moves amongst all. May Lightblade’s seachran melt away, like a cloud that has wept all of its tears.”

         – Lan’Tyl Dusksinger, Seer

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The third member of my Inquisitorial Warband, Eshairr Lightblade, is now complete and this was one of those projects. It’s a really, really, really simple conversion but it has given me some real headaches along the way, both in terms of modelling and painting. I’m happy with the end result (by and large) but I’ll always see the annoyances whenever I look at it.

brown leather coat miniature

Only two kits were used for this miniature – the Harlequin Death Jester and the old Dire Avenger kit (when it was 10 plastic minis instead of five). Very simply, I chopped the head off the Death Jester, whittled out some room for a neck, added some green stuff to the ribcage (enough to leave some definition but no gaping holes), and filed off some details. The sword had the Dire Avenger rune trimmed from the blade, and the hands were resized a little to fit this kit (which is annoyingly slightly smaller than the Dire Avenger stuff). The head needed more work and was touch and go for a little while. The cheeks were even trimmed down to bring its dimensions more in line but eventually I got it to work. It was a pain in the backside to get it all right and I spent ages umming and ahhing about it – I just had to dive in and get it done.

There are bits of the paint job that I’m really happy with and bits I’m not. Spirit stones and sword blade – great. Trousers questionable and the skin is a little too blotchy for my liking but were I to use fluff as an excuse for that, I want this character to be a real Eldar outcast due to some mystery and curse – his soul absent from his personality, and so un-eldar. That can explain the skin, but the trousers are just a little dull and as for the purplish breastplate, that almost went very wrong so was a lengthy rescue job.

eldar death jester coat

The coat though. The coat I am very happy with. As per usual (admit it, you regular readers were expecting it, right?) my photography isn’t the best, but the worn, brown leather look of this cloak is great, if I do say so myself. There are parts of it that actually look like real leather – as if you’d touch it and it would be soft. Very, very happy with that. I’m also rather partial to the basing too – it’s in line with the rest of the Warband and I did enjoy doing that rust.

Eshairr Lightblade is in itself the perfect name for this character. Eshairr means ‘outcast’ and Lightblade is a recall to those old Rogue Trader era Eldar names (that some authors still use to this day). Upon his former craftworld, he was kept away from the general populace for the seers saw an unnerving strangeness in him. He had none of the glamour of the Eldar, and he seemed to be a void of nothingness where other souls were light or dark. When Inquisitor Joshan offered him passage and the chance to answer the questions he had about himself, Lightblade agreed, and the craftworld breathed a sigh of relief to see their strangest son depart. He is not exactly a loyal follower of the Inquisitor, but he shows no sign of betrayal in his words or actions. He fulfils the role of assassin, bodyguard and whatever else the Thor Joshan needs him to do.

So that’s another one done. Onto the next member of this Ordo Xenos team, which will hopefully follow soon. Onwards!

Miniature Focus – Gretchin

Posted by johnnya10 on 14/11/2014
Posted in: Thoughts and Comment. Tagged: , . 1 Comment

I want to talk about Grots. These diminutive greenskins don’t get a vast amount of attention or column inches, but I’ve always been of the mind that they are key to making the Orks what they are – loads of fun. So let’s take a look at the life and times of these little beggers.

A Bit Of History

old metal gretchin

Of all the alien races to appear in Warhammer 40,000 the first were the Space Orks (Ok, so the Eldar can claim that too, but give them this). These were the Space Marines’ greatest enemies. Well, they were the first of many great enemies but at the time, these guys were the greatest threat to the galaxy. And scurrying between the legs of the lumbering Orks, were the Gretchin and slowly they began to make their mark on the history of 40k.

When Rogue Trader came out, as discussed in previous articles, there was a lot of borrowing from Fantasy. When the Orcs were ported over, the Goblins were too and in the 1st edition of Warhammer 40,000, these were the Gretchin. Back then, these small pointy-nosed space goblins weren’t entirely the subservient grots that we know today. Indeed, these guys could outsmart the larger Orks and even had their own empires and fleets separate to the larger clans. And in 1991, they got their first batch of models with some 20+ lead Gretchin appearing that still bare a great resemblance to those available today.

2nd ed gretchin

Arguably their greatest moment was the inclusion of 40 plastic Gretchin in the 2nd Edition Starter Box, though they suffered from all sharing the same pose and they didn’t have any of the humour of their metal counterparts. But since this point, they have been a real ever present part of the Ork Army. In 1996 the metal range was bolstered further with another 20+ models either carrying autopistols and swords or autoguns, and these restored some of the comic-relief which the original models had offered, while staying more in line with the grimdark. But by this point they had become the lackies of their muscle-bound cousins, and their cunning was no longer enough.

eavy metal gretchin

Grots as we know them today probably first cropped up in Gorkamorka. 1997’s release saw them become more rebellious and cheeky (especially when led by the infamous Red Gobbo) as they formed rebel gangs on the scorched planet and this takes us to today.

gorkamorka grots

After a finecast release with a Runtherd just a few years ago, they now crop up in Ork kits in the same way that Nurglings crop up in Nurgle kits. Often hefting spanners, bizarre little knives and shootas, or doing something comical that is bound to get them stepped on by a Mek, they provide a softer edge that the Orks need. Without them the greenskins would just be scary and stupid. The grots provide a giggle here and there, often being the diminutive fall guy, almost a Mutley-like character, whether they’re hanging off the back of a dakka jet or getting sucked into Shokk Attack Gun.

shokk attack gun

Let’s Get Fluffy

All Ork clans produce grots. In fact, there are more grots than Orks. They are small, weak and cunning to a degree but their greatest strength is numbers. There are lots of them and together, when under the orders of a runtherd or mekboy, they can accomplish some great things (though they rarely get the credit).

grot illustration

As mentioned above, they used to have their own empires but this idea has been, for the most part, squashed (though there’s nothing to say you can’t have a bizarre ork society that doesn’t have a gene for creating bigger Orks). Forgeworld have given them a couple of nice bonuses though and you can now field grot tanks, forged from the scrap that the meks deem surplus to requirements. There isn’t a great deal more to their fluff anymore. The only named grot I can think of, Makari, has long since dropped Ghazghkull Thraka’s battle standard, so that’s about it for fluff. Oh, and there’s the Red Gobbo but he’s still stuck on Gorkamorka.

makari

Time To Talk Tactics

What tactics? They’re Gretchin! 😉 You get a great big mob of them (at least 10), hide them until they can claim an objective and then that’s it. They die pretty fast so keep them in cover and only use them to score when it’s safe. The good thing is though is that they’re so cheap (even by Ork standards) and that means you can have a bucket load of them, though if you don’t want them to run away (seriously, if you don’t know what their leadership is, you’ll laugh when you see it) as soon as another unit looks at them, a runtherd is a good idea. And that is seriously about it. Oh, and make sure they go to ground every turn – they’ll need to in order to survive.

gretchin and runtherd

The only other things you can try is using them as a tar pit (but you have to make sure your enemy can’t scare them away or dish out too many attacks) or as a human shield (even though almost everything can see over them). Really, the best thing to do is get them to an objective and keep them hidden.

If Looks Could Kill…

I think the GW designers did a great job moving away from the ‘Goblins with Guns’ look that would have been so easy to plump for with grots. Even in the Rogue Trader era, they had more to them than that. They have the look of the trampled upon masses, which is fitting because that is literally what they are. Scraps of clothing, pieced together weapons and tools and rags denoting that they do the jobs that Orks won’t do (probably because they’re too busy smashin’ stuff).

meganobz grot

I don’t know if you could ever go so far as to say that grots are cute, but for something with squinty eyes, a big pointy nose, green skin and fangs, they do have a certain charm. Their comedic nature is part of this and some of the facial expressions that GW’s designers have given them are priceless. Ranging from ‘nonplussed’ to ‘worst attempt at scary ever’, they have some great looks.

modern grots

Ah, The Memories…

You know, I think it was Gretchin that gave me my hatred of painting large squads of models. When I first got the 2nd Edition box all those years ago, I used to love painting the Orks and Space Marines. Alright, there wasn’t a lot of variation in those guys but at least you could change a few arm positions and you’d get a different type of gun every now and again. But those grots, all 40 of them, put me off for life. So many autoguns…

That being said, I probably didn’t paint them all anyway. I was a kid who got very easily distracted and I think I remember actually smashing one of those Gretchin up in anger. That was a shameful moment, so it’s only right to pay homage to the long-suffering Gretchin here.

In Conclusion

grot tanks

Do not pity the grot, but show it respect, for though it is small, and weak, and a bit of a pussy when it comes to actual fighting, it has a quiet, ugly nobility to it. It has been with us from the beginning and has made us laugh more often than cry. For those reasons, it deserves a little respect.

Are you a big fan of grots? Or do you plain hate them? What did you think of the post? Stick your comments below!

Mortifactors Predator

Posted by johnnya10 on 12/11/2014
Posted in: My Painting and Modelling. Tagged: , , . 1 Comment

Mortifactors Predator

Moving swiftly across the battlefield, its primary target in site, the Mortifactors Predator, Vyper, closes in on its prey. Ladies and gents, may I introduce to you this latest addition to my Mortifactors army. Let’s have a look at some shiny (if slightly poor quality and badly lit) pictures.

mortifactors predator tank sideCovered with enough lascannons to do some serious damage to the enemy’s larger, more heavily armoured units and war machines, Vyper (as I have named this one) is some much needed heavy support for my force which at the moment lacks a little in these stakes. I went for the ‘all-las’ load-out and I really like the look of these guns, and the range they give me in the game.

predator side

As mentioned in the WIP post from last week, the colour palette has remained the same but I’ve flipped the amounts of each colour I use, with the bone being used as sparing contrast against the predominantly black hull, turret and weapons. I painted the turret and sponsons separately to the hull and I would recommend this – it means you can still move things around and that you can paint in behind and underneath the weapons with ease.

predator rear

Why am I showing you a big picture of the back end? Well, I wanted to highlight a little more of the weathering that I’ve done on the tank and this picture picks it up quite well. Typhus Corrosion acted as mud for this tank and it’s flecked up all along the hull and on the back door here (as well as all over the tracks). And the black is lighter at the top of the tank than at the bottom with a few splodges and smudges of ink and Abaddon black to give it a dirtier look. Using Eshin Grey, I mixed it up a bit with lighter blends at the top going into darker blacks at the bottom of the tank. I need to clean up a bit of the edging still though (it never ends!) but I think as my first predominantly black big model, this went pretty well.

predator turret

And of course, with this being the Mortifactors, there has to be a skull in there somewhere. This one’s relatively small and understated, but it works great just sat above the main weapon here making the barrels almost look like fangs or tusks. I stuck a storm bolter and flash light on top though the light is just for decoration and the storm bolter gives me better odds in any ‘weapon destroyed’ scenarios. It’s still a darn cheap tank even with that option (considering what it can do with all that firepower).

mortifactors predator front

I also wanted to somehow represent that extra point of armour that Predators have on their front armour. To do this, I mounted this ‘plaque’ – a big slab of ceramite – on the front and used it to display the name of the tank too. I wanted to play around with the fonts I use and to use the name of a snake to denote the perceived ‘evil’ and threat of this tank as it skulks around the field looking for the enemy. Not wholly convinced with the font but I can live with it.

predator lens

And one thing that I have got really good at that I just wanted to show off a bit is my work on lenses. The one over this lascannon is the sort of little detail that I’m really proud of, and it’s a technique that I seem to just get better at so that’s a win. Always good to end these post work critiques with a positive. 🙂

mortifactors predator frontI hope you like it. I’m pretty happy with this tank and though I’m glad to be done, there’s still a bit of armour I need to get through this year. Still, this is something a little bit different but within the theme and I’m glad I got a chance to work on another Predator again – it’s been a while. On to the next project!

I’d love to read your thoughts, comments and constructive criticisms – stick them below!

Miniature Focus – Eldar Harlequins

Posted by johnnya10 on 07/11/2014
Posted in: Thoughts and Comment. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

Among the many iconic units in the Eldar Codex, few have the flamboyance, history and mystery of the Harlequins. They’ve been around since Rogue Trader and while the miniatures have progressed, the paint scheme has always had a touch of the crazy about it. Let’s take a closer look at the Laughing God’s most ardent followers.

A Bit Of History

Harlequin In Autumn by Pablo Picasso

Harlequin In Autumn by Pablo Picasso

The first thing you ought to know about Harlequins are about actual Harlequins that appear in Italian comic opera and date back to the 16th century. They are the foolish servants who essentially were there to offer Commedia dell’arte performances an almost slapstick element. Shakespeare still used similar characters years later in his productions as a bit of comic relief, though the Bard’s versions were far less nimble and acrobatic as the earlier Italian version whose speciality was elaborate, acrobatic dance. They were a classic folk character, but it’s important to also know that while they were comical and could perform those elaborate dances, their name meant ‘demon’.

Now, peddle forward along history’s timeline to West London in the late 80s where Rogue Trader was being written by Rick Priestly, and you have the origins of the Harlequins that we know in 40k. They were perhaps also influenced by the existence of West London’s Harlequins rugby team and for anyone with artistic knowledge, Picasso’s use of the Harlequin as a character of Death and warning. It’s all starting to add up and when you look at them, they have all the right things that you need for a good Warhammer 40,000 unit, especially for the Eldar who were at the time the newly ported over Space Elves.

The first harlequins

The Harlequins were released as a boxed set of lead miniatures back in 1989 and things were very different back then. For a start, the leaders of the ‘troupe’ were called ‘Avatars’ or ‘High Avatars’ (this still exists in the fluff but not in terms of playable characters), a name that would get repurposed later on for THE Avatar. The Death Jester existed but there were also Warlocks and, amazingly, a model for the elusive Solitaire. They would eventually get a Jetbike too, with a grinning face upon the front of it.

lead harelquins

Those models drifted somewhat into legend as the Harlequins wouldn’t get an update until 2006 during 4th Edition, some 17 years after the first kits were released (and eight years after they were a legal unit in the Codex!). By this point, the Dark Eldar had burst out of Commorragh and due to the Harlequins holding no particular allegiances they appeared in that Codex too. But the solitary Solitaire was now nowhere to be seen…

Harlequin Troupe

Aside from a rerelease in Finecast during 6th Edition, the Harlequins have remained pretty much the same since the mid-noughties, and are now an established part of the Eldar army (though they no longer appear in the Dark Eldar Codex).

Let’s Get Fluffy

The Eldar Gods are dead, save for the fragments of Khaine and Cegorach who moves through the webway, causing mischief and mayhem for the Chaos Gods and their followers (and anyone else who enters the webway for that matter). When the violent birth of Slaanesh wiped out the Eldar pantheon and condemned the Eldar to their fate, it is said that Cegorach, the Great Fool, the Laughing God, managed to escape the cataclysm, hiding within the webway where he has stayed with his own followers, the Harlequins, acting on his behalf.

Though they retain their mystery and have their duties to fulfil, the troupes of Harlequins still make regular contact with the rest of their race, performing for them and reminding them of their past. Perhaps their most poignant recital is The Fall of The Eldar, which recounts the destruction of the greatest empire that the galaxy ever knew.

blanche harlequins

Among their groups are some more flamboyant or noticeable than the ordinary troupers. The Troupe master leads the dance, Cegorach’s insane grin plastered across his mask. The Death Jester, playing the role of Ynnead’s servant, Death, and specialising in escapology stands apart from the rest, while Shadowseers generate illusions and hallucinations to accompany the dance. Then there are the Solitaires, so cursed that to even look upon them is to tempt death.

death jester

The Harlequins move through the webway, helping to fight the foes that their brothers and sisters need them to fight. They also guard the Black Library and during the 13th Black Crusade forced Ahriman from its doors to protect the greatest shrine of Eldar knowledge from falling into the hands of Tzeentch.

seer

Time To Talk Tactics

The Eldar have some pretty good solutions to close combat in the form of Striking Scorpions, Howling Banshees and Wraith Blades, but the Harlequins hold some pleasing advantages over the others that are far more specific in their roles. Harlequins remain a terrifying close combat unit that very few enemies would feel confident about taking on. But the trick is getting them into combat in the first place. Either Deep Strike into cover with them or stick them in a Serpent because the lack of Battle Focus (as if the Laughing God would give them that!) and only a poor invun save to their name means that a few bolt pistols could damage them enough to take them out of the game.

Harlequins kiss

But when you get them into combat, high initiative and weapon skill numbers, along with the legendary ‘Harlequin’s Kiss’ weapon (which now confers the rending USR to their attacks), means they can mess up even heavily armoured infantry, characters and monstrous creatures if you take a fair few of them. To make them even nastier, the Death Jester can cause pinning tests, the troupe master gets an extra attack (and he’s great for killing ‘must challenge’ characters – sorry CSM) and the Shadowseer brings Veil of Tears to the table – a nasty psychic attack that can stop other units from shooting at them – so that can help them get into assault too.

If Looks Could Kill…

colours of harlequins

The diamond pattern is taken straight from the old Italian Harlequins and along with the flowing robes and bright colours, the look of this unit reaffirms my long held belief that the Eldar are the hardest army to paint well. The Harelquins offer a freedom outside of guardian and even aspect warrior squads that have a uniform. These guys have real flair, and while the original Harlequins looked like an excuse for the early Eavy Metal painters to use all the pots they never got a chance to use, the new ones have developed a theme within the craziness and that’s something that works so well for their look.

harlequins eavy metal

The best Harlequins always show off great freehand work and a uniting colour palette across the troupe. And with the new sculpts offering poses that have a great deal more movement in them, they are always a unit that draws the eyes within any Eldar force.

Ah, The Memories…

On a personal note, I have a confession to make – in all my years taking part in this hobby, I have never painted a squad of Harlequins because, well, they scare me. Sounds ridiculous right? Well, they do. I know that once I start painting them, I’ll have fun, but just the thought of having a go at all those diamonds and bright colours makes me think of the young boy i once was, destroying Swooping Hawks by pouring the wrong paint all over them. But I am resolved that one day, I will have a go. One day, I will actually man up and try to paint some Harlequins. One day…

old eldar harlequins

In Conclusion

You may not find them in the most ‘optimal’ lists if that’s what you’re in the game for, but for fun, both in terms of how they look and how they play, accept no substitutes – the Eldar Harlequins are the way to go. They are the painting challenge to end all painting challenges and they’ve got one hell of a history, both within the game and without. All hail the Laughing God.

death jester blanche

Any thoughts or comments on the Eldar Harlequins? Stick them in the section below!

BREAKING (maybe – is it?): Is this big news for 40k? Or just for the Tyranids?

Posted by johnnya10 on 05/11/2014
Posted in: Thoughts and Comment. Tagged: . 3 Comments
Evolution of the End

What does this mean?!

So i just received an order from GW and despite having nothing in there Tyranid-related, the box contained a couple of very Tyranidy pieces indeed! Now I should stress that with the new big bugs, their supposed inclusion in the next campaign box and the confirmed upcoming pods, this could just be to highlight this month’s focus, but the phrase ‘Evolution of the End’ really caught my eye. The image above says it all, but what does it mean? A new campaign featuring Guard (you can see them in a couple of the images above) and Tyranids? Or is this the beginning of the ‘End Times’ for 40k (because that all looks very End Timey)? Is this 40k’s version of the Nagash book, heralding the greatest threat to the Imperium and, dare we say it, the progression of the 40k timeline? Or, as mentioned, is this simply throw away marketing material to remind people that Tyranids are getting a second wave?

This postcard sized piece of promo material appeared in my package and highlights the four stages of a Tyranid attack on a world. With the other side highlighting the second stage…

predation

When I first opened my package, my jaw hit the floor but it just seems so bizarre to do it like this. Everyone has always speculated that the Tyranids will have the final say in the fate of the galaxy – will this be the beginning of it?

Not to back peddle within one line of an outlandish speculation, but (not knowing what to think) this could just be (and in fairness most likely is) just part of a promotional campaign for a book/set that will come out, but the mind does boggle. Is this something more? Look at the colours and the layout – very similar to the End Times stuff…

tyranid badge

Whether this is throw away marketing or something bigger, I got another cool badge in this box, featuring Tyranid spores. Last month’s order landed me a badge with one of John Blanche’s illustrations on it (as seen below) and that did all herald in the Glotkin book and Nurgle models. I know they’re not much but I really like that they take the time to do this and it does make me want to order on a monthly basis just to see what i get.

nurgle badge

I guess we’ll have to wait and find out what the weeks ahead have in store but I am excited. And I don’t even like Tyranids!!